I Am This Type of Woman

38

Ban Hua was in a daze as she gazed at the man standing under the roof of the winding corridor.

Ay, and a gifted prince have we.
Polished, as by the knife and file.
The graving-tool, the smoothing-stone!

Ay, and a gifted prince have we.
Rare costly stones his ears adorn.
Gems on his bonnet starlike shine!

Ay, and a gifted prince have we.
Pure as gold or tin refined.
Sound as the sceptre in his hand!

Ban Hua who had never liked studying suddenly had these flashing in her mind. She didn't remember the origin or the author of the poem, only those three verses appeared out of nowhere at the sight of Rong Xia.

She lightly smiled and tilted her head. Turned out she was still capable of reciting a poem or two, she just had never been in the right situation that could incite her to do so.

When the beauty comes upon the eyes, anyone is a poet, for example .... herself.

Being aware that Ban Hua's attention was on himself, Rong Xia straightened his back and patted his robe, he walked up to Ban Hua and Yan Zhen, "Are you two leaving?"

Yan Zhen had picked the time to meet Ban Junzhu while everyone else was supposed to be enjoying poems and flowers or riding and playing balls, he didn't expect someone would still come to disturb them. He stared at Rong Xia beelining towards them in bewilderment, only after a while did he reacted and gave Rong Xia a salute.

"Count Rong." Yan Zhen hated so much he couldn't drive Rong Xia away but he couldn't say it.

"Yan-gongzi." Rong Xia returned his salute, then turned to Ban Hua, "Junzhu, won't you stay to enjoy the fun a while longer?"

Ban Hua shook her head, "It's not early anymore, I have to go back."

Yan Zhen looked up, it was less than an hour past noon and the sun was still at it's warmest, how could it be not early anymore? Suddenly realising that Fule Junzhu must be feeling bored, he hurriedly said, "There is a place with good view not far from here, if Junzhu doesn't mind, I will accompany you there."

For Rong Xia the sun had shone too brightly today, it made him uncomfortable and his heart felt parched. He put his hands behind his back, his eyes fell on the edges of Ban Hua's skirt. The peacock tails pattern embroidered on it reflected glorious lustre under the sunlight. As if in a trance, he saw Ban Hua had turned into a beautiful and proud peacock, her whole body glowing.

"I think better not," Ban Hua brushed her skirt, with a slight smile she said, "The clothes I am wearing today is not suitable for walking far."

Yan Zhen stared blankly at the smiling Ban Hua, he was completely blown away, "You, you are very beautiful."

"Thank you." Ban Hua touched the hairpin at her temple, accepted the compliment without humility.

"I, that....." Yan Zhen's face abruptly turned red as if it was bleeding, "I am not lying."

"En." No girl would refuse a compliment on her looks, Ban Hua smiled at Yan Zhen, "Yan-gongzi, is there anything else you want to say to me?"

"I....." Yan Zhen turned to Rong Xia and bowed, "Count Rong, I have something to say to Junzhu." Can you please move away?

"Apologies." Rong Xia smiled at him, then said to Ban Hua, "Junzhu, I am just over there."

Ban Hua returned his smile with a wide one of her own, was Rong Xia worried about leaving her alone with Yan Zhen so he pointedly said so?

What they said was right, Rong Xia was really a rare gentleman.

Ban Hua didn't tell her maids to move away. After Rong Xia was far, she said, "Yan-gongzi please speak."