I Am This Type of Woman

Lord Bo, there's nothing unusual here.”

“Lord Bo! There's a box here.” A guard handed a wooden box to Du Jiu. Du Jiu scrutinized it for a while, and after deciding it was probably just an ordinary box, carefully opened it.

Gleaming gold ingots were neatly stacked inside, filling a thick layer. Colorful gemstones were scattered in the corners and crevices, dazzling Du Jiu, making him blink repeatedly.

“L-Lord Bo, they really came here to bury treasure.” Du Jiu had never felt so bewildered. Were the people from the Jingting Marquis Residence so bored they had nothing better to do?!

Did they have so much money they didn’t know what to do with it, so they ran to the remote mountains and forests to bury treasure for fun?

Rong Xia looked at the box of gold and gems, momentarily speechless. His jade-like face was, for a fleeting moment, stunned.

“Lord Bo, it seems they weren't lying. They must have wandered in here by mistake…” Du Jiu thought for a moment. “Perhaps it's because last time, when Heir Ban was burying treasure, you stumbled upon them and they couldn't finish. So, this time, they changed locations.”

They just didn't expect to run into them again.

He’d heard that when the Grand Princess married the Jingting Marquis, her dowry procession stretched for ten li, attracting the entire city to watch. With such a wealthy mother, it wasn't surprising that the Jingting Marquis lived extravagantly. But to come out and bury treasure for fun, that was truly the act of a prodigal.

He’d heard that some merchants in the south, when competing to show off their wealth, would throw gold and silver leaves into the water during high tide, causing ordinary people to jump in and retrieve them, and many drowned in the scramble for gold and silver. Compared to those merchants, the Jingting Marquis's approach was more mindful of karma and much cleaner.

No matter how he thought about it, he still didn't quite understand the thinking of these nobles.

“Put it away,” Rong Xia said, putting his hands behind his back. “Since it’s found by someone destined to find it, I suppose I am that destined person.”

Du Jiu glanced at Lord Bo's expression and, after confirming he wasn't joking, his expression became a little strange.

“Lord Bo, there are a few other places where the soil has been disturbed.” The guard looked around. The people who’d buried the treasure had done a poor job of concealing their work, making it obvious where the earth had been moved.

“No need to look,” Rong Xia reached into the wooden box and picked up a gold ingot. The gold was of excellent quality, a single piece enough to keep an ordinary person fed and clothed for ten years. “Clean this place up. Don't let anyone discover that the soil has been disturbed.”

“Yes, sir.”

Rong Xia put the gold ingot back into the wooden box and took the box from Du Jiu. The box didn't look big, but it was quite heavy.

Looking at the Lord Bo in his excellent mood, Du Jiu felt that this was somewhat dishonest. But then he thought, the Ban family buried the gold waiting for someone destined to find it. Lord Bo found the gold… so Lord Bo was the destined person.

Yes, no problem. Their Lord Bo was definitely not shameless!

In the Ban family villa, the three members of the Ban family sat around a round table, gulping down tea.

“I was so scared just now,” Ban Heng hugged his teacup, looking pitiful. “Sister, you used me as an excuse again.”

“I'm sorry.” Ban Hua felt a little guilty for always using her younger brother as a scapegoat. She clasped her hands together and looked at Ban Heng apologetically. “But I was so nervous at the time, this was the only thing I could think of. Don't be angry with me, okay?”

“F-Forget it. Anyway, I'm a wastrel. This small matter doesn't matter.” Ban Heng was most afraid of his sister looking at him pitifully. As long as she looked at him like that, he had no ground to stand on.

“Hengdi, thank you.” Ban Hua refilled Ban Heng's teacup. “I'm just worried about one thing. If Cheng’an Bo finds out about this, will he dig up the things and take them home?”

“Impossible,” Ban Heng waved his hand. “Lord Bo Rong is not that kind of person.”

“Right,” Ban Huai nodded in agreement. “A righteous gentleman like Lord Bo Rong, how could he do such a thing?”

Ban Hua touched her nose. It seemed she was judging a gentleman by her own petty standards. Someone like Lord Bo Rong didn't lack money. How could he possibly care about the little they buried?

“It's late. Go back to your rooms and sleep. I'll take you back tomorrow.” Ban Huai pulled at the back of his clothes. His inner clothes were soaked with cold sweat from the earlier encounter, sticking uncomfortably to his back.

The next morning, the entire land was enveloped in a dense fog. Ban Hua fastened her cloak, swung herself onto her horse, and said to her father and brother, “The fog is heavy today. Don't ride too fast later, lest you startle the horses.”

Ban Huai and Ban Heng obediently nodded. When it came to riding, the father and son could only listen to Ban Hua.

The family of three, along with their guards, hadn't traveled far on the official road when they heard the sound of hoofbeats approaching from behind. Ban Huai, fearing bandits might take advantage of the heavy fog, sent a guard to check.

A moment later, the guard returned, accompanied by a man on horseback. All three members of the Ban family recognized him; it was Du Jiu, Cheng’an Bo’s guard, who had insisted on escorting them back the previous night.

“Guard Du,” Ban Hua glanced at the distance behind Du Jiu. “What a coincidence.”

“Greetings, Marquis, Junzhu, Young Master.” Du Jiu dismounted and bowed to the three.

“No need for formalities while traveling,” Ban Hua said with a smile. “Are you also returning to the city?”

“Yes, Junzhu. We are escorting Lord Bo back to the city.” Du Jiu looked at the smiling young woman on horseback. Even he, not a man given to lustful thoughts, couldn't help but be amazed. What a breathtaking beauty. He was a rough man and felt that any man in the world fortunate enough to marry such a beautiful woman would willingly attend to her even if it meant watching her apply makeup all day. He truly didn't understand why such a beauty had been rejected from a marriage proposal.

“So Lord Bo Rong is also here.” Ban Hua looked up and saw a group of people emerging from the dense fog. At the front was Rong Xia, riding a white horse and dressed in a light, crescent moon-colored robe.

Their eyes met, and Ban Hua gave him a bright smile.

Rong Xia wanted to dismount and greet Ban Huai, but Ban Huai stopped him. Rong Xia noticed the somewhat peculiar riding order of the Ban family. Ban Hua, as a woman, was at the front, while Ban Huai and Ban Heng followed behind. It was rather unconventional.

However, he wasn't one to meddle. After exchanging a few pleasantries with Ban Huai, he said, “Last night, my guards disturbed your… enjoyment. I apologize on their behalf.”

“Cough.” Ban Huai coughed dryly. It was rather embarrassing to bring up this matter, let alone apologize for it.

“Lord Bo Rong, what kind of enjoyment is that?” Ban Hua controlled her horse’s pace. “It was just us being bored and finding some amusement. You must be laughing at us.”

“Buddhism emphasizes karma. Today, you planted a seed of good karma. Tomorrow, someone will receive help because of your actions today, and that will be the good fruit. This is naturally an elegant act.” Rong Xia cupped his hands towards Ban Hua. “Good karma brings good results, good deeds bring good rewards. The person who received the treasure will surely thank you.”

Ban Hua opened her mouth, but couldn't utter a single word in rebuttal. Scholars truly had a way with words, able to make even an absurd thing sound so philosophical. Even she almost believed it. This was the power of knowledge!

She glanced back at Ban Heng. Look at him, then look at herself. Wasn't she ashamed?

Ban Heng turned his head away, displaying passive resistance, pretending he couldn't hear or see anything.

“Junzhu,” Rong Xia urged his horse to within half a horse's length of Ban Hua. “I hear you are fond of white fox furs?”

Ban Hua turned to look at Rong Xia. A beautiful face was always pleasing to the eye. “Yes.”

“I have a few intact fox pelts. If Junzhu doesn't mind, I'll have my servants send them to you today.” Rong Xia smiled. “A fox fur complements a beauty, creating true perfection.”

The morning breeze rose, and the white fog moistened Ban Hua's eyelashes. She blinked. “I do like such things, but I can't accept your gift without reason. How can I accept something from Lord Bo?”

“Consider it a thank you for the plate of pastries two days ago.” Rong Xia moved his horse a little closer, now less than half a horse's length away. “The pastries from your residence were incredibly delicious. The cooks in my residence can't seem to replicate the flavor.”

“You mean you want me to trade the pastry recipe for the fox fur?” Ban Hua suddenly understood, and with a generous air, she said, “Don't worry, when I return to the residence, I’ll have the servants send you the recipe.”

The smile on Rong Xia's face stiffened slightly, then he said with a smile, “Then I thank Junzhu.”

On the other side, Ban Heng rode his horse next to Ban Huai and gave him a meaningful look.

Could it be that Lord Bo Rong was interested in his sister?

Ban Huai shook his head. It was unlikely.

Although Hua Hua was his own daughter, he had to be honest. His daughter and Rong Junpo together… it wasn’t really suitable.

“Junzhu, you are quite impressive when you draw your bow and shoot. If you were a man, you would certainly become a remarkable general.”

“That probably wouldn't happen.” Ban Hua shook her head frankly.

“Why?” Rong Xia couldn't see any hint of modesty on Ban Hua's face.

“Life in the military camp is so harsh. If I were a man, I would be the heir to the Marquis Residence, surrounded by beautiful maidservants, sleeping on a soft bed. With such a comfortable life, why would I ever think of going to the military camp to suffer?” Ban Hua cupped her face in her hands, her delicate cheeks looking incredibly cute. “All the soldiers willing to go to the battlefield are remarkable, but I don't want to be one of them.”

Rong Xia was silent for a moment, then looked at the charming young woman before him and smiled. “Junzhu is certainly forthright.”

It was a pity that life was full of suffering, and few could see through it, let alone act with such carefree abandon.

The sun finally broke through the dense fog, casting its rays upon the earth. Although there wasn't much warmth, it gradually dispersed the boundless fog.

Ban Hua pointed her riding crop forward. “The city gates.”

At the city gates, a luxurious carriage was heading out. Ban Hua recognized the emblem on the carriage; it was the Shi family crest.

Remembering Shi Feixian's infatuation with Rong Xia, Ban Hua couldn't help but look at him.

Rong Xia, however, seemed not to notice the carriage at the city gates. He simply smiled at her, then turned his head to look into the distance.

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