However, Cui Shu Ruo could not immediately discern the reason; perhaps she would have to wait until another day to find out.
Cui Shu Ruo suppressed her thoughts and entered the courier station with a calm expression.
Only after entering did she realize that the courier station seemed different. There were additional guards with swords at the entrance, all wearing uniforms of the same style, likely well-trained. Moreover, their boots had thick soles—black official boots—suggesting they were likely government employees.
It seemed a distinguished guest had arrived at the courier station, possibly even someone with a noble title.
Cui Shu Ruo never expected her luck to be so good—encountering such an extraordinary figure in a remote wilderness courier station.
Cui Shu Ruo observed carefully and noticed the unusual atmosphere. Veterans like Zhong Xuanjie, who had spent years in military camps, were even more likely to detect the anomaly. However, unlike Cui Shu Ruo’s tension, they appeared more relaxed.
Having a figure with numerous attendants and guards in the courier station meant ordinary thieves and bandits would think twice before causing trouble. For Zhong Xuanjie and the others escorting Cui Shu Ruo, this was actually a good thing.
As they ventured further inside, the differences became even more apparent.
This was merely a small courier station. The plaque at the entrance was covered in a thick layer of dust, the courtyard lacked paved stone tiles and was instead packed with earth overgrown with moss. The tables and benches were far from refined, covered in scratches and even worn smooth from use.
Usually, few people passed through, at most some yamen runners and minor officials escorting prisoners, none of whom bothered to complain.
But today was different. It felt as though the place had been renovated. Flowers were placed under the eaves, insect-repellent powder was discreetly sprinkled in hidden corners, every table was polished to a shine, and in the center of the room stood a gilded bronze incense burner half a person tall, adorned with peony vines, masking the chaotic odors.
Most striking was a screen framed with rosewood at its edges, each panel adorned with ink-splashed paintings of profound artistic conception, showcasing the host’s refined taste.
Presumably, behind the screen sat the female family members of the distinguished guest. Outside, attendants and servants occupied over twenty tables, filling even the courtyard and kitchen. The servers carrying trays were no longer the courier station’s staff but their own servants and maids, all neatly dressed, walking with disciplined steps and impeccable manners.
Even before entering, Cui Shu Ruo faintly caught the scent of pear blossoms, though it was not the season for them to bloom. She thought she might have imagined it until she entered the main hall and saw the massive bronze incense burner, its rich fragrance overwhelming her senses. Only then did she realize she had not been mistaken.
Moreover, this was the first time since her transmigration that Cui Shu Ruo truly grasped the meticulousness and grandeur of ancient nobility and official households. Even while resting on a journey, everything had to be comfortable, detailed, and refined.
Cui Shu Ruo had now witnessed the lifestyle of the ancient upper class, broadening her horizons.
In contrast, her companions remained much calmer.
Li Sanniang did not find them particularly impressive. After all, the Li family was the local ruler of Qunan. If the Li family were to travel, who could say whose entourage would be more extravagant?
What concerned her was something else: why hadn’t any courier station staff rushed to fawn over them? Did their group lack prestige?
The esteemed Li Sanniang could not tolerate being overlooked by anyone!
No matter the time or place, she had to be the center of attention, surrounded and admired by all!
Li Sanniang's almond eyes widened as she was about to start cursing, but fortunately, Zhong Xuanjie stepped in first, producing the official documents and identification he carried with him and placing them before the stationmaster, who was eagerly instructing his subordinates to attend to the distinguished guests.
The stationmaster's attitude toward them immediately shifted from indifference to enthusiasm. Although it still fell far short of the fawning reserved for the servants of the nobility, he managed to squeeze two small tables into a corner for them.
As for Cui Shu Ruo and Li Sanniang, they had already donned veiled hats that reached their ankles with Yan Rong's assistance when they alighted from the horse carriage. As they moved, the black gauze hanging from the veiled hats swayed gracefully, drawing considerable attention.
At one of the tables surrounded by maidservants and frequently glanced at by the guards, two men dressed in luxurious attire, clearly the masters, stood out. The one in his forties, in the prime of life, treated his subordinates with courtesy, drinking and chatting amiably with them. The younger one, appearing only fifteen or sixteen years old, had peach-blossom eyes and delicate features, looking like a clever but ill-tempered young noble.
The youth occasionally glanced toward Cui Shu Ruo and her companions, clearly curious.
However, his father seemed to notice his distraction and sternly furrowed his brow, his expression turning severe. "Zhiguang, what are you looking at?"
Zhao Zhiguang withdrew his gaze, adopting a serious and obedient demeanor. "Father, I was merely lost in thought."
"Hmph!" The middle-aged nobleman's tone was filled with displeasure. "With such lack of composure, how can you compare to your third brother?"
Zhao Zhiguang's face flushed with embarrassment, but under his father's oppressive presence, he lacked the courage to resist. Instead, he chose to submit, concealing the resentment and anger in his eyes as he muttered, "I apologize, Father."
The man paid him no further mind, and Zhao Zhiguang no longer looked toward Cui Shu Ruo's direction.
While peace settled on their side, commotion arose around Cui Shu Ruo.
Of course, it wasn't Cui Shu Ruo causing the disturbance—she preferred to avoid trouble on the journey. The one making a scene was Li Sanniang.
Spoiled rotten by her family, she couldn't tolerate the slightest disrespect and insisted that everyone accommodate and flatter her to be satisfied. However, the stationmaster, whose duty was to attend to traveling officials, was adept at currying favor with the powerful and slighting the lowly, treating people according to their status.
With an obviously distinguished family present, why would he bother to fawn over the relatives of a mere eighth-rank official?
Impossible, absolutely impossible.
For the sake of peace on the journey, Zhong Xuanjie could only present his own official rank, unable to invoke the name of Dingbei Wangfu or Wei Cheng Huai. Thus, being slighted was inevitable.
They had been seated for quite some time, yet the station still hadn't served their meal. After repeated requests, what finally arrived was millet rice, with even the accompanying dishes served cold. Li Sanniang suspected the station staff were passing off leftovers from the previous day.
Undoubtedly, they assumed that since the group appeared vulnerable and unlikely to cause a scene for fear of displeasing the distinguished guests, they would quietly swallow this humiliation.
Being treated this way would upset anyone, but as the station staff had guessed, it was unwise for them to lose their temper in such a setting. However, Li Sanniang could. As a young woman, if she caused trouble, there would be an excuse to deflect blame—Zhong Xuanjie could simply step forward to apologize on her behalf, claiming his younger sister was young and spoiled, and promising to discipline her properly upon their return.
So when Li Sanniang lifted the bowls of cold dishes and smashed them to the ground, neither Cui Shu Ruo nor Zhong Xuanjie stopped her.
Of course, Li Sanniang had no clue about the twists and turns behind the scenes.
She was brimming with pent-up anger and nowhere to vent it. If she didn’t turn the post station upside down, she swore she wouldn’t bear the surname Li!
After smashing the dishes, Li Sanniang’s delicate voice mercilessly began to berate, “What lowly trash dares to serve leftovers and scraps to fool people? I think every one of you has been kicked in the head by a donkey, taking me for an easy target?
Hurry up and throw this eyesore away for your ancestor, or I’ll smash this wretched post station to pieces. Hmph, I’ll even scrape the ground bare!”
Li Sanniang truly had a fondness for smashing rooms and scraping the ground. Whenever things didn’t go her way, she’d bring this up.
The commotion she caused was enough to draw everyone’s attention, and even the postmaster, who had been scheming how to please the distinguished guests, was startled. He hurried over, hoping to stop Li Sanniang from causing further trouble. What if the distinguished guests were disturbed?
In front of everyone, the postmaster bent over with a smile—though his bow was mainly directed toward the distinguished guests.
“Everyone, please continue, please continue. I’ll handle this,” the postmaster said with a beaming face.
Only after the others resumed eating and drinking did he turn to Cui Shu Ruo and the others. The smile that had been plastered on his face moments ago immediately vanished. It wasn’t exactly ugly, but the stark contrast left an uncomfortable feeling in their hearts.
Lowering his voice to a sinister whisper, audible only to Cui Shu Ruo and her companions, he said, “Today, a great noble from Luoyang is staying at the post station. See that one over there…”
The postmaster pointed toward the middle-aged male noble. “He’s the maternal nephew of Empress Bi. If we disturb his mood, neither you nor I can bear the consequences.
It’d be best if you all finish your meal quietly. It was my oversight earlier. I’ll have two more dishes sent over as an apology. How does that sound?”
Though displeased with the postmaster’s attitude, he had apologized and offered extra dishes. Yet, letting it go just like that felt like swallowing a bitter pill. Threatening someone before apologizing—what kind of behavior was that?
But being away from home, it was unwise to make enemies. Seeing that Zhong Xuanjie and the others remained silent and Li Sanniang had been calmed by Cui Shu Ruo, the postmaster felt rather smug. Though he was only a minor official, this stroke of fortune had fallen into his lap. The young master of the noble family seemed quite pleased with him, promising endless wealth and glory in the future.
Thinking of this, the postmaster’s slightly plump, pale face revealed a hint of pride. His gaze toward Zhong Xuanjie and the others couldn’t help but turn disdainful, his lips curling downward. Glancing at the red headband on Zhong Xuanjie’s forehead, he muttered, “Ill-mannered soldier slaves!”
He spoke softly, unaware that he hadn’t yet walked far away, and his words clearly reached Cui Shu Ruo and the others. It was nothing short of an insult.
Though Li Sanniang had no friendship with Zhong Xuanjie and the others, the post station staff had repeatedly provoked her, making Zhong Xuanjie and his companions seem like allies by contrast. This stirred a sense of shared grievance in her, and she raised her slender neck, ready to retort. But Cui Shu Ruo pressed a hand on her shoulder, stopping her.
Through the black gauze of the veiled hat, Cui Shu Ruo’s features were unclear, only a faint outline visible, suggesting the makings of a beauty.
She let out a soft laugh, her voice as clear as jade, refreshing to the ears. “Postmaster, do watch your step. Your eagerness to please the distinguished guests is so intense—what if you trip and fall right into their arms…”
Cui Shu Ruo seemed the most even-tempered and thoughtful in her actions, but when she mocked someone, it was like driving a knife straight into their heart.
The postmaster's plump face turned pale with a mix of green and white, choked into speechlessness. Yet in this era, for an adult man already holding an official position to argue over a few words with a young noblewoman was considered highly improper.
Choked half to death and thoroughly embarrassed, he dared only to hurriedly utter, "I will not stoop to argue with an ignorant woman like you."
Then, with a flick of his sleeve, he fled in disarray, as fast as if a tiger were chasing him.
His awkward posture fell into the eyes of several people, who all laughed in unison. After the man had gone far, Zhong Xuanjie suddenly spoke, "We come from military households, not comparable to those of good civilian status. When traveling, we occasionally face ridicule. Young noblewoman need not trouble yourself on our account."
Zhong Xuanjie's words could not be considered grateful, but his tone had softened considerably compared to before, carrying at least a hint of human warmth.
Cui Shu Ruo smiled gently, unbothered by his reserve. "Many in this world tend to flatter the high and trample the low, but justice resides in people's hearts. If not for the many like Zhong Xuanjie guarding the frontiers, how could we enjoy today's peace?
Should I encounter such injustice in the future, I will still act thus. This is a matter of my conscience as a person, unrelated to anything else."
Only then did Zhong Xuanjie say no more, but he clasped his hands toward Cui Shu Ruo in a salute.
As their conversation ended, several guests approached.
Several maids in lake-green ruqun skirts, holding trays, bowed gracefully. "Our Matron says that meeting is fate. As this place is remote with few fine things, she has ordered us to bring some dishes and pastries as a humble offering to all."
Who would have thought that a mere postmaster, borrowing the authority of the noble, would act like a fox assuming the tiger's might and become so overbearing, while the true noble family's womenfolk were instead approachable and amiable.
The group thanked the maids delivering the food, who then began to arrange the dishes on the low table like flowing water.
The small table suddenly bore six or seven dishes, filled to the brim. Among them was a "dripping pastry snail" (a delicate pastry resembling puff pastry cream puffs), a refined delicacy affordable only in noble households.
As Cui Shu Ruo tasted it, she found the texture reminiscent of cream. Could it be that cream existed in this era?
However, with the northern nomadic tribes thriving, it was reasonable that their favored cow's milk had been refined into various preparations.
After the meal, they should have gone upstairs to rest, but the noble family's womenfolk also seemed to have finished eating and were preparing to leave.
Though surrounded by screens, they were not completely sealed off. As Cui Shu Ruo stepped onto the wooden staircase, she could catch a glimpse of the scene inside. The young noblewoman seated in the main position appeared to be in her late thirties, nearly forty, yet her skin was radiant, her face gentle and amiable—favored by time, her beauty was the kind that could soothe the heart and refresh the spirit.
Cui Shu Ruo had only a fleeting glance, yet she unconsciously halted her steps, pausing in a daze.
That young noblewoman's appearance bore an extreme resemblance to Cui Shu Ruo's modern-day deceased mother.