The System was still trying to justify itself.
【Darling, our settings are based on reasonable considerations.】
“Hmm, tell me what’s reasonable about it?” Cui Shu Ruo wasn’t going to be swayed by the System’s evasive tactics.
【Killing is easier than saving lives. The Merit Points deduction for your Crow’s Mouth ability is precisely designed considering these factors, darling.】
Upon hearing the System’s explanation, Cui Shu Ruo recalled her previous use of Crow’s Mouth against the Hu people at the gates of Suizhou. The System was right—killing only required a few casual words, hardly stirring any significant feeling.
If Cui Shu Ruo had to describe it herself, it felt like unleashing a powerful skill in a game, lacking any genuine empathy.
But every person here was a living, vibrant life, not merely virtual code.
Viewed this way, the restrictions on using Crow’s Mouth were indeed quite reasonable. Although they increased the difficulty, they preserved the user’s rationality, preventing them from eventually treating human lives as worthless.
Cui Shu Ruo was clever and quickly grasped the true essence.
So she stopped arguing with the System. Instead, she rose from the bamboo mat and slowly walked over to Li Sanniang, grasping her wrist to pull her up from the ground.
Unaware of Cui Shu Ruo’s intentions, Li Sanniang stared blankly at her actions, no longer causing trouble.
Cui Shu Ruo lifted Li Sanniang’s chin, carefully examining her face, while the maids beside Li Sanniang watched Cui Shu Ruo’s hand warily, ready to tear her apart at any sign of unusual movement.
But Cui Shu Ruo did nothing. She released her hand and smiled gently, “It’s fine, just a minor injury. It won’t leave a scar.”
Cui Shu Ruo appeared gentle and warm, yet she controlled the emotions of everyone in the room. They all unconsciously reacted to her every move.
Li Sanniang also stared at her foolishly.
Cui Shu Ruo spoke softly. Though physically younger than Li Sanniang, she seemed like a caring elder sister, offering detailed advice, “Go back and eat less meat, consume more light meals. Also, use freshly boiled and shelled eggs to roll over your nose. It will soon heal.”
Originally, Li Sanniang believed Cui Shu Ruo was a cunning, wicked woman. But upon careful reflection, all the words Cui Shu Ruo had spoken to her seemed filled with goodwill. Perhaps…
She had truly misunderstood her.
Li Sanniang opened her almond-shaped eyes and said blankly, “Oh, thank you.”
Entranced by Cui Shu Ruo’s consistently considerate care, generosity, and gentleness, Li Sanniang forgot to cause trouble. She was coaxed back by Cui Shu Ruo’s few words in a dazed state.
She barely remembered how she left the villa, only recalling that Cui Shu Ruo seemed to be a good person and that she had misunderstood her.
When she returned, her close friend asked whether she had clarified whether Wei Cheng Huai liked that woman. Only then did Li Sanniang realize that her purpose at Wei’s villa was to confront Cui Shu Ruo and determine whether Cui Shu Ruo would become an obstacle between her and Wei Cheng Huai.
Now, everything had gone awry. It was essentially a wasted trip.
Under her friend’s incredulous gaze, Li Sanniang’s face burned like fire, filled with shame and anger. How had she been so easily swayed by Cui Shu Ruo’s few casual words!
Absolutely despicable!!
No matter how furious Li Sanniang was after returning home or how many rare porcelain pieces she smashed in the governor's mansion, Cui Shu Ruo remained seated with perfect composure. She even had the presence of mind to ask Yan Rong if there were any unground tea leaves, as she wanted to steep them in plain water to taste.
She truly couldn't get used to tea that tasted like a hodgepodge soup…
The other maidservants were still worried about the earlier conflict with Li Sanniang's people. Even as they went about their tasks, they couldn't calm their minds. Those fanning Cui Shu Ruo wore expressions of concern on their brows.
Cui Shu Ruo did not take offense, nor did she offer words of comfort. Instead, she quietly observed them.
Yan Rong soon returned. Not only did she bring back whole tea leaves, but perhaps fearing that Cui Shu Ruo would still find the tea unpalatable after her experimentation, she also brought chilled Five-Colored Beverage.
She was thoughtful and thorough. Although she, too, was troubled by the matter of Li Sanniang, it didn't show on her face, and she carried out her duties as steadily as ever.
Cui Shu Ruo inhaled the fragrance of the tea leaves, feeling refreshed and at ease, a relaxed smile gracing her lips. She picked up the teapot used for brewing tea beside her, placed the tea leaves in a bowl, and poured boiling water over them. Steam rose, carrying the invigorating aroma of the tea.
For a moment, Cui Shu Ruo's face seemed veiled within the mist.
She set down the teapot, her smile still gentle, and said softly, "Alright, stop your tasks for now."
Those fanning with round fans, those standing in attendance, those fanning the ice chest…
All ceased their movements. They knelt respectfully, eyes lowered and hands carefully folded over their chests, awaiting Cui Shu Ruo's instructions or teachings.
Cui Shu Ruo knew that notions of nobility and baseness, honor and humility, were deeply ingrained in their hearts. She wasn't foolish enough to preach grand ideals of equality in the prince's estate's villa. Moreover, she herself was in a precarious situation, unsure how long she would live. If she were to stir new thoughts in them, in the rigidly hierarchical ancient times, it might only bring them harm.
What she was about to say was merely to set their minds at ease. "You need not worry. The governor's mansion will not hold you accountable."
The maidservants had been respectfully keeping their eyes lowered, but at Cui Shu Ruo's words, they perked up their ears and instinctively looked toward her.
Perhaps Cui Shu Ruo's greatest skill lay in her ability to easily sway people's hearts.
Having long been under Manager Wu's strict discipline, the maidservants in the estate, though burning with curiosity, dared not voice their questions. Cui Shu Ruo didn't mind and continued to explain, "Li Sanniang came to find me, ultimately over matters of romance between a man and a woman. If word got out, it would be unseemly. If the governor's mansion were to punish you on some pretext, wouldn't that invite gossip?
Moreover, if they truly wanted to do something, they should come for me. Going to great lengths to vent their anger on you—do they not have enough servants in their own mansion? It wouldn't be worth the effort."
Cui Shu Ruo always spoke unhurriedly, her words like pearls falling to the ground, pleasant to the ear. They not only reached people's hearts but also unconsciously soothed their emotions, gradually calming them.
After her explanation, the seven or eight maidservants finally felt settled.
Exchanging glances, Yan Rong reacted quickly and took the lead, prostrating herself before Cui Shu Ruo, pressing her forehead to her hands. "Thank you for your comfort, young noblewoman! We are deeply grateful!"
The other maidservants followed suit, their movements uniform.
Cui Shu Ruo personally helped Yan Rong up. "There's no need for such formality. The matter arose because of me. If anything, I should thank you for protecting me earlier."
Not wanting to dwell on the subject, she naturally turned her gaze to the other five bowls of differently colored beverages on the wooden tray.
Yan Rong understood Cui Shu Ruo's expression at a glance. As the only maid aware that Cui Shu Ruo could not recall most past events, she cleverly offered an explanation, "These are the Five-Colored Beverages freshly chilled in the estate. They taste excellent. Would the young noblewoman care to try them?"
The Five-Colored Beverages varied in hue, ranging from emerald green to pitch black. Even without knowing their flavors, they were a feast for the eyes. Each color had its own name: the emerald green was called Qing Beverage, the pitch black was Xuan Beverage…
There were five beverages in total—Qing, Bai, Chi, Xuan, and Huang—fitting their name perfectly.
Cui Shu Ruo picked up a bowl of the pitch-black beverage and took a sip. It was quite pleasant, with a discernible flavor of dark plum. Under Yan Rong's eager gaze, she sampled the other bowls one by one, but still found the Xuan Beverage she had tried first the most enjoyable.
The one she struggled with the most was the Bai Beverage. Though it was sweet and sour, it carried a distinct fermented aftertaste. Fortunately, it proved exceptionally thirst-quenching after drinking.
Seeing Cui Shu Ruo had tasted them all, Yan Rong, who had been cautious all along, finally allowed a smile to grace her face.
Yan Rong appeared to be around seventeen or eighteen, a young woman in the prime of her youth, with an amiable oval face. Most importantly, Cui Shu Ruo noticed that despite her careful demeanor and seemingly timid caution, she possessed an underlying boldness and willingness to take risks. For instance, when Li Sanniang had earlier attempted to act, it was Yan Rong who made the decisive move to intervene first.
Cui Shu Ruo was unfamiliar with both the place and its people. Though she knew of this dynasty, she was largely ignorant of its customs and social norms. Having someone to guide her could help avoid many pitfalls.
From her observations, Yan Rong seemed an ideal candidate.
However, she was unsure of Yan Rong's intentions. Perhaps the maid wished to remain in Qunan? Cui Shu Ruo decided to find an opportune moment to sound out Yan Rong's thoughts.
That opportunity arrived near evening.
People of this era ate only two meals a day, so the evening meal was served early, while daylight still lingered.
Perhaps due to a misunderstanding of her status by the estate's staff, the evening feast was lavish beyond what a mere guest might expect.
Apart from pearl-like plump rice—a staple reserved for nobles and the wealthy—there were three main dishes: sesame cakes roasted to a golden crisp and sprinkled with fragrant sesame seeds, and plump, round steamed buns.
The steamed buns resembled modern mantou but were not snow-white in color, likely mixed with other ingredients, and carried a hint of lard fragrance.
Cui Shu Ruo thought to herself that consuming such steamed buns daily would likely lead to high blood pressure and diabetes. Given her distrust of the era's medical standards, she decisively chose the rice.
But when it came to selecting side dishes, she found herself even more troubled.
Roasted lamb, raw shrimp, fish sashimi, stewed winter amaranth, vinegar-pickled celery, and elaborately prepared delicacies like "Gold and Silver Layered Slices" filled the table.
The so-called "Gold and Silver Layered Slices" were pastries made with crab roe and crab meat, though their preparation was intricate, making them a luxurious treat.
Faced with over a dozen dishes, Cui Shu Ruo felt at a loss. Historically, this dynasty might have lacked advanced iron-smelting techniques, as stir-frying was not practiced. Dishes were mostly boiled, fried, or roasted.
Moreover, lamb and similar meats carried a strong gamy odor, masked with various spices. While aromatic, the heavy spice flavors left Cui Shu Ruo feeling unaccustomed to the taste.
She ate sparingly before setting down her chopsticks, claiming she was full.
Perhaps noble young women naturally ate little, so her modest appetite did not raise any eyebrows.
After finally finishing the meal and rinsing her mouth, Cui Shu Ruo hadn’t even had a chance to rest properly before Wei Cheng Huai came looking for her again.
This time, however, her body had recovered considerably, and as dusk approached, he met her in the pavilion outside the courtyard.
When Cui Shu Ruo was escorted by the maids to the pavilion, Wei Cheng Huai was drinking the tea broth prepared by the servants.
Seeing Cui Shu Ruo arrive, he also ordered the servants to prepare her portion.
It was once again that nightmare-like tea broth, full of the flavors of scallions and ginger. Cui Shu Ruo chuckled as she accepted it, pretended to sip it, and never touched it again.
Instead, she focused intently on Wei Cheng Huai, ready to hear what he had specifically sought her out to say.
“After noon, Li Family’s Third Daughter came to see you. Did you say something?”
Wei Cheng Huai’s steady and profound demeanor lasted less than three breaths before his personality was revealed by a single sentence.
“Well said!” He flashed a set of white teeth, smiling brightly.
Wei Cheng Huai continued, “After Li Family’s Third Daughter returned, my people’s covert investigations went much smoother. The Li Family wasn’t as guarded as before. I didn’t do anything, so after careful thought, it must have been because of you.”
Previously, Wei Cheng Huai had doubted Cui Shu Ruo’s background, and the atmosphere between them had been tense. But aside from the information she brought, sitting alone and chatting heart-to-heart felt like intimate friends, relaxed and comfortable.
What Wei Cheng Huai showed Cui Shu Ruo was not the imposing, battle-hardened general, but rather like a wealthy young lad riding through the streets of Luoyang.
A youthful disposition that loved laughter and mischief, yet was free-spirited.
After all, he was only seventeen or eighteen years old; even from an ancient perspective, he was still not yet of age.
Cui Shu Ruo also relaxed a bit, adopting a casual tone befitting a friend, without being overly polite. “You mentioned it to me, and I just casually said something at the time. I didn’t expect they actually passed it back.”
“Words casually mentioned during a dispute are more believable. You’ve helped me greatly. When we return, I’ll properly thank you!” Wei Cheng Huai raised his tea bowl, laughing heartily, “Let tea substitute for wine!”
This era admired spontaneity, and Cui Shu Ruo, born in modern times, naturally possessed such qualities.
She was completely unhesitant and also raised her tea bowl to clink with his. “Cheers!”
“Cheers!”
Meeting a true friend, a thousand cups are too few. Although Cui Shu Ruo held the unpleasant tea broth, for the sake of this new friend’s hearty laughter, she was willing to drink it all.
Just then, the System, which almost never spoke proactively, suddenly emitted a deliberately sweet, charming, pink-bubble-filled mechanical voice.
【Dear, this young man has quite a favorable impression of you. Why not try to win him over?】
The sudden voice startled Cui Shu Ruo, nearly causing her to drop her tea bowl.