CHAPTER 33: CHAPTER 33: WHY DO THOSE HONORED GUESTS ALWAYS OCCUPY THIS PLACE?

In the latter half of the night, the sky suddenly began to snow heavily with large, fluffy flakes, making it hard to even see the road.

It was the first time Ruan Mian had seen such heavy snow, and within no more than a cup of tea’s time, the entire world was covered in a layer of white.

The temperature dropped sharply, as if the good weather of the previous days was just the calm before the storm.

Everyone was shivering with cold, trying their best to wrap themselves up tightly.

The heavy snow was mixed with a bone-chilling wind, cutting across their faces like knives.

They barely managed to hold on until the following morning, when they cooked some hot porridge and quickened their pace towards Hui City.

Once they reached the post station, they could warm up significantly, and possibly even receive some thicker supplies.

With this motivation, none dared to slack off, even trekking through the snow.

But everyone’s faces and skin suffered greatly, even Ruan Mian felt her facial skin cracking, turning red and tight.

Shao Xi, seeing her discomfort, said, "Miss Ruan, we’re almost at my place. I made some ointment myself, which can be applied on the face to resist the cold and prevent cracking. I’ll give you some when we arrive!"

Ruan Mian, hearing this, thought, isn’t this just face cream?

Indeed, they needed such a thing while traveling northward.

She searched through her space but couldn’t find anything for facial application, nor did she find it among the items taken from the medicine shop.

All she had were a few cosmetics taken from the Qi Mansion, which weren’t of much use.

"Is the ointment your own creation? Do you have this skill?"

Shao Xi replied, "To be honest, I come from a poor background and couldn’t afford a few taels of silver to buy the ointment, so I researched and made it myself. It works quite well, even though it doesn’t have a fragrance."

"Having a skill is remarkable! Don’t belittle yourself; you must have confidence in yourself."

Ruan Mian’s words truly inspired Shao Xi, though sometimes reality left her powerless.

"It’s great that you have such an open-minded thought," Shao Xi said.

Ruan Mian seemed to discern her worries and had a faint suspicion: "Are you afraid of the Magistrate in Hui City?"

"He’s committed too many crimes; people won’t tolerate it. Someday, he will face retribution!"

As they chatted, they came upon a small village ahead.

It looked like a paradise within the snowy valleys.

Shao Xi, feeling excited, pointed to the first small wooden house in the village and said, "Miss Ruan, do you see it? That’s my home!"

"My parents must be very worried about me right now. Since you’re passing by, why don’t you rest for a while in our courtyard? I can make some delicious food for you to fill your stomachs, and give you some ointment for the road?"

However, when they arrived outside the courtyard and opened the wooden door, they were shocked to find that the white snow was stained with splattered fresh blood everywhere.

The bright red blood was extremely striking against the white snow!

Women and children in the group screamed repeatedly in fright!

"There’s been a murder, a real murder!" Shao Xi widened her eyes, frantically running into the courtyard.

There, she saw two middle-aged couples lying on the ground, covered in blood, and even the seven-year-old child hadn’t been spared from this disaster.

With her entire family murdered, Shao Xi couldn’t hold it together and immediately knelt down, crying in agony!

"Father, Mother! Xi’er is back, wake up! Xi’er is back!!" She cried until she was out of breath, while Cui Zhu and the elder sister, witnessing this tragedy, couldn’t help but shed tears as well.

Ruan Mian looked around and saw that the bloodstains had been there for some time, probably since last night.

No doubt, it was that magistrate who couldn’t snatch Shao Xi, pursued her, and ended up questioning her parents.

This led to the current situation.

Ruan Mian clenched her fists and went forward to comfort Shao Xi softly.

However, the government officers were unwilling to linger, fearing the murderer might return and they would become collateral damage.

They urged Ruan Mian to leave.

Shao Xi had to be taken, otherwise, following the original storyline, she might be used as leverage by Princess Chun.

But Shao Xi, overwhelmed with emotion, couldn’t leave for the moment as she had to handle the aftermath, so Ruan Mian could only have a word with the government officers.

"Lord, this family was killed last night; the murderer won’t return so quickly. Please give us a little more time to help the young lady handle the aftermath..."

"You’re betting all our lives on this! Ruan Mian, don’t go too far!"

She hadn’t finished speaking when Qi Nanfeng interrupted her sharply: "You say the murderer won’t return, but what if they do?"

"Besides, we have no ties with her. We’re exiled, not you Ruan Mansion folks out on a leisure trip! How can you delay our journey to save people? Lord, I think it’s best we leave quickly. Only by reaching the post station before dark will we be safe."

Though Madam Liu recovered as soon as she woke, Qi Nanfeng kept a grudge against Ruan Mian in his heart.

He wanted to make amends, but Ruan Mian scorned his feelings!!

Then he would not be polite!

Ruan Mian saw through his hostility, and Qi Nanfeng’s words scared the others into agreeing hastily, none daring to stay there any longer.

At this moment, Shao Xi suddenly approached Ruan Mian, her eyes bloodshot as she slowly bowed and said.

"Miss Ruan, you should go first, don’t get implicated because of me."

Despite her immense grief, she forced back her tears and bid farewell to Ruan Mian.

Ruan Mian looked at her deeply and nodded.

Yet, after the group continued on their journey, she lingered a bit longer, whispering to Shao Xi, "Young lady, you must know, seeking revenge alone is as hard as reaching the sky."

"But I can help you. If you want to avenge your family, after handling their affairs, come find me at the post station. We’ll stay there for three days, barring any accidents."

Seeing the snow falling heavier and heavier, and knowing the path ahead was full of mountains and forests, if snow blocked the paths, it would be impossible to proceed.

After delivering this message, Ruan Mian returned to the group.

The elder sister hurried over, speaking softly, "Sister, are we really not going to help Miss Shao? Her family... her family was murdered."

Ruan Qing couldn’t imagine what she would do if this happened to her family.

Ruan Mian gazed at her, speaking earnestly.

"Sister, don’t you see that we are currently in a difficult situation too? Saving others requires acting within our capacity."

···

The post station was ten miles away.

They hoped it would provide some shelter from the wind and snow, but upon arrival, they found a group occupying the inner room while they, the exiles, were decisively blocked outside, only able to rely on a shaky stable shed for shelter from the wind and snow.

The government officer went for negotiations but returned unsuccessful.

Upon inquiry, he told Ruan Mian and others, "The road ahead is blocked by snow for now, preventing entry into the city, so some of the Magistrate’s honored guests are temporarily staying at the post station."

"Now the post station is full; you’ll have to make do until the road ahead is clear and you can start moving again." This news was a bolt from the blue for them.

"Lord! Can we still receive supplies? In such harsh weather, there must be thicker clothing, right?"

"Yes, otherwise, staying outside like this, we’ll freeze to death sooner or later! The snow’s so heavy, the shed probably won’t hold up."

How could those honored guests occupy such a place!

But their only response was baton blows; not even a resting place, let alone supplies.

Seeing this, Ruan Mian temporarily settled their belongings and distributed thick clothing and bedding among them.

Everyone huddled together, holding warm stoves, and lit some charcoal in the middle, even those from the Qi Mansion got some warmth.

At least they wouldn’t freeze to death.

Yet, before they could enjoy any comfort, several sharp-eyed, shrewd men passed by, noticing the ceramic heaters Ruan Mian’s group held and the fur blankets they were using, they were astonished! Pointing at the constable outside the post station, they asked, "These exiles? How do they have such good things?!! I’ve never heard of such a thing!"

Without hesitation, they immediately kicked away their charcoal fire and brazenly snatched the ceramic heaters used for warmth.

Ruan Qingsong saw this and abruptly stood up.