Author: Yue Xia Die Ying

NOTES:

  1. Fǔ – household; official residence; mansion
  2. Hou Shizi – Viscount; Marquis’ heir
  3. Xiangjun (Country Lord) – Title given to wives or daughters of high ranking noblemen
  4. Gōng zǐ – title used for sons of officials or nobility (I’ve translated this as Lord)
  5. Analects of Confucius, Mencius, Book of Rites – These are all books that are part of the “Four Books” and “Five Classics” that were tested in Imperial Examinations
  6. Hating iron for not becoming steel – Disappointed in someone for not improving as expected

Chapter 5 (Part 1) – Hiding Silver

Ban Hua got out of the sedan chair and asked the servant who had come to greet her, “Has Shizi come back?”

“Xiangjun, Shizi came back half an hour ago,” the servant bowed and answered, “He is studying in his study.”

“Studying?” Ban Hua raised her eyebrows. Her younger brother usually became dizzy as soon as he entered the study. If he could actually calm his mind and read a book, it would really be like the sun rising in the west. “Lets go. I want to take a look at him.”

As soon as Ban Hua walked to the door of the study, she heard the sound of Ban Heng reading out loud, “Confucius said: Do not worry that others don’t understand themselves. Only worry that you don’t understand others … “

She pushed the door open and saw him looking smug and serious. Folding both arms over her chest, she said: “Don’t pretend. You’re reciting “The Analects of Confucius” while holding “The Book of Rites” in your hand. You are really amazing.”

“I am studying by the mixing up method. My eyes read “The Book of Rites” but in my heart I’m reciting “The Analects of Confucius”. Only this kind of method can help me improve my memory.” Ban Heng lied without blushing or skipping a beat “What would you know about such things being a woman?”

“Huh?” Ban Hua raised an eyebrow. “What did you just say?”

“I… I didn’t say anything, ah” Ban Heng put down the “Book of Rites” in his hands and moved closer to Ban Hua with an ingratiating smile, “Sister, you know that my brain doesn’t work very well. I was just speaking nonsense just now.”

Ban Hua ignored him, walked to the bookshelf and pulled out a collection of “Mencius”. As soon as she opened the book she found that though it had the cover of “Mencius “, on the inside was actually some other random book. Before she could open it, Ban Heng hurriedly snatched away  the book.

“Sister, my good sister, you can’t read this book.” After grabbing the book, Ban Heng desperately hugged it to his chest. If he let his sister read this kind of book, his mother would beat him to death.

“I don’t have to read it to know what’s inside. It’s nothing more than stories about encountering fox immortals in the mountains or a young nobleman and young lady’s mutual promise of marriage.” Ban Hua glanced at the shelf full of books and asked, “How come you’re so well behaved today?”

Ban Heng lowered his head and did not speak.

“Did you get into trouble outside again?” Ban Hua glanced at him suspiciously. “Or are you short of money?”

“That … it’s not a big deal,” Ban Heng’s eyes looked up at the roof and down at the ground but he dared not look at Ban Hua, “It’s just a little thing.”

“Tell me quickly. What’s wrong?” Ban Hua sat down on a chair and pointed to the seat next to her. “Sit down and tell me slowly.”

“Today, when I was coming back after riding, a person suddenly scuttled out from a side lane and my horse accidentally kicked him.” Ban Heng felt that he himself had suffered a grievance. Clearly, he had ridden the horse very slowly. Who knew that someone would suddenly emerge from nowhere to scare his horse and then get kicked by the horse?

One must know that this horse was given to him by his grandmother. It is said that it was a pure-blooded horse given as tribute from beyond the Great Wall. It had strong legs and he suspected that the one who was kicked by it had been badly injured.

“And then?” Ban Hua frowned. Although her brother was an idle wastrel, he absolutely would not do things such as releasing his horse in crowded areas and hurting people.

“And then, I was about to take him to see the doctor, but suddenly a few more people rushed out from the side, hauled him off the ground and ran away before I could respond.” Ban Heng touched his not very smart head and asked, “What do you think should be done about this?”

“Report it.” Ban Hua shelled the nuts on the fruit tray before her and said lazily while eating. “Anyway, we can’t find that man again and we don’t want to be plotted against by others. So just report the case to the authorities. “

“What if they arrest me? “

“Do you have a pig brain?” Ban Hua stared at Ban Heng in a mood of hating iron for not becoming steel, “You must say that today you saw someone who looked like they were being hunted down to be killed and he also crashed into your horse. Moreover, you were worried that he might have met with some mishap and you wanted to report this case to the officials” Ban Hua gently stroked the blood jade bracelet on her wrist,”Who would dare to touch you then? “

“That’s also true.” Ban Heng thought that anyway he wouldn’t be out of luck until after five years had passed and he was full of confidence. “What if it wasn’t a kidnapping? “

“You just reported your suspicion as a matter of goodwill, right? “Ban Hua dusted off her hands and stood up,”Are you in charge of his business? Get yourself out of trouble first before worrying about other things.”

“I understand, I will go immediately.” Although Ban Heng’s brain didn’t work too well, he too had his strengths, one of which was that he could act on others’ good ideas. So now that Ban Hua had said so much, he obediently did as told like a good child.

As night was about to fall, Zhao Dongan, the county magistrate of Beijing, was about to change out of his official gown and go home to dinner when he was interrupted by a bailiff informing him that Jingting Hou Shizi had come to report a case.

As a petty official of the Eighth rank who was responsible for public security in Beijing, Zhao Dongan spent his days between the devil and the deep blue sea because this was beneath the nose of the Emperor and any trivial event could blow up into something major at any time. In addition, there were many nobles in the capital and even ordinary people may have one or two prominent relatives. So for the sake of law and order in the capital, he went to a lot of trouble.

When he heard that the son of Jingting Hou had come and that too in order to report a crime, he almost spit out blood.

What couldn’t be resolved directly by the grandson of the eldest princess? Even if something really happened, shouldn’t he go to the Lord Mayor to report it instead of coming to him, a lowly eighth-ranked little petty official? Although he felt incomparably suffocated in his heart, County Magistrate Zhao didn’t dare to show even a bit of displeasure on his face. He put his gown in order and strode out with large steps to welcome him.

 As soon as he walked through the door, he saw a young boy wearing a brocade robe with a jade crown in his hair and an embroidered belt tied around his waist, standing in the yard. Contrary to expectations, he looked like a handsome and elegant young noble.

It was a pity that it was just in appearance.

“This petty official, Zhao Dongan, is pleased to meet Ban Shizi.”

“Master Zhao is too polite.” Ban Heng saw that Zhao Dongan was not very old, but his hair had already turned mostly white and reached out considerately to support him “I came here today in order to report an incident to you.”

County Magistrate Zhao shuddered. ” May I know what incident Shizi wishes to report? “

“It may be a murder case.”

A… a murder? !

County Magistrate Zhao felt like his heart was crumbling to pieces and his inner voice was saying, “Don’t think that you can talk nonsense just because you’re a Shizi. A matter involving human life is not trivial at all!”

You can click the author’s name at the top of the chapter to see a list of her works in the original Chinese. If you’ve found this translation interesting, please do support the author if you can.

TL’s Meanderings:

This was a tough chapter to translate. I’ve taken some liberties with the text because it didn’t make sense otherwise when translated. Can you guys guess where I’ve changed things? Does it make the reading experience weird?

Also, something weird happened with the previous chapter. I forgot to put the link on NU but today when I went to check, the release was already listed!!! How did that happen? If one of you guys did it, thank you!