Chapter 63

The post station was a place for those who delivered official documents and military intelligence, or for officials traveling to and fro to rest, eat, and change horses. Wangjing Post Station was the first post station west of Kangdu and also the closest one to Kangdu. Its architectural scale and facilities were among the best in the Dakuang post stations.

However, no matter how good the facilities were, the accommodation rooms were clearly divided by class. Hu Xiaotian, a lowly official of the ninth rank, could only enjoy the same treatment as ordinary postmen. After showing his documents and official seal, the post station provided them with two rooms: one single room and one large room. The single room could accommodate two people, but it was pitifully small, with no space to move around except for the two beds. The large room had a row of bunks along the wall, which could accommodate six people.

Hu Xiaotian originally thought the single room was for him, but since Murong Feiyang was a woman, even if he was willing to share a room, she wouldn't agree. After asking the postmaster, he learned that the single room was for Murong Feiyang, and he was assigned to the bunks. This made him somewhat depressed. "Am I supposed to sleep with these four servants? I'm at least a ninth-rank official," he thought.

However, Hu Xiaotian didn't get angry. After all, the postmaster was of a higher rank than him. When traveling, it was best to avoid trouble. He smiled and said, "We have a female companion. Could you give us an extra room? It's a bit inconvenient otherwise."

The postmaster's attitude was very poor. He clearly didn't take the ninth-rank official seriously. He coldly replied, "We've already given you more than enough by not making you all sleep in the bunks. Who do you think you are? A ninth-rank official demanding a private room?"

Hu Xiaotian inwardly cursed, "You damn snob, I'll remember you. If you ever fall into my hands, I won't let you off." Murong Feiyang said, "Forget it, let's just make do. I'll go to my room first." She took her luggage and handed her horse to Hu Fo to take care of, then went to her room.

Hu Xiaotian, suppressing his anger, said to the postmaster, "Sir, how about this? We'll pay extra for another room?"

"Full? No, you can stay or not as you like!" The postmaster turned and walked away.

Hu Xiaotian was furious, but he didn't want to make a scene over this. Public institutions were always like this, treating people differently based on their status. The smaller the official, the more snobbish and practical they were. Once someone got used to a life of luxury, they would find it hard to adapt to a different environment. Lying on the hard bunks, Hu Xiaotian tossed and turned. The five of them sleeping in a six-person bunk was relatively spacious, and the servants deliberately left space for him to sleep comfortably. However, once asleep, people's actions were no longer under their control.

First, Liang Dazhuang started snoring, followed by Hu Fo, Li Jinhao, and Shao Yijiao, none of whom were light sleepers. One after another, their snores were deafening. Just as one would quiet down, another would start up again. They also moved around in their sleep, and before long, Liang Dazhuang had rolled into Hu Xiaotian's space.

Hu Xiaotian was extremely frustrated. He covered his ears to block out some of the snoring, but then someone started grinding their teeth. The stench from the servants' feet was unbearable. Hu Xiaotian couldn't take it anymore. He sat up, ready to get out of bed, but Liang Dazhuang's fat leg landed on him. He mumbled, "Damn, damn... hmm..."

Hu Xiaotian thought, "Is he cursing me?"

"Hu Xiaotian... damn your father..."

He was called by name. Hu Xiaotian looked at him helplessly. This guy must really hate him, even cursing him in his dreams. In the past, Hu Xiaotian would have grabbed his ear and punched him until he was bloody and toothless. But he didn't do that. He had more self-control. He gently moved the fat leg and quietly got out of bed, opened the door, and stepped into the courtyard.

The moon was high in the sky, and the moonlight was bright. The clear light of the moon enveloped the post station. Hu Xiaotian, wrapped in his robe, stood in the moonlight, feeling much calmer. No one's life was smooth sailing. Living a simple and peaceful life wasn't easy. He looked at the neighboring room, where the light was still on. Murong Feiyang must not have slept yet. He wondered what she was doing. He had the urge to peek into her room, but it wouldn't be right to disturb her. So he sat on the stone steps. The late spring night was still a bit cool, and he wrapped his robe tighter. He heard the door behind him open, the hinges creaking. The orange light from inside spilled out and blended with the white moonlight.

Murong Feiyang, wearing a dark blue robe, slowly walked out. She had just washed her hair, and her long, black hair cascaded over her shoulders. Her skin was as white as jade, and under the moonlight, it had a translucent quality. Her eyebrows were sharp and her eyes clear and bright. Standing on the steps, she looked down at Hu Xiaotian. Although her gaze held no contempt, Hu Xiaotian still felt belittled. When someone looks down on you, it's because of your position. Sitting on the ground, you can only look up at them.

Fortunately, Murong Feiyang didn't maintain this posture for long. She lifted her robe slightly and sat down next to Hu Xiaotian. Murong Feiyang was a straightforward and open-minded girl. She rarely cared about the image of a lady, being simple and natural yet positive and healthy. She lacked the coquettishness of most women. For example, she could wear men's clothing and walk around boldly, and she could be as competitive as a man. She didn't care about her posture, often sitting with her legs spread wide in a chair. Now, sitting on the steps, she didn't hug her knees like most girls to create a pitiful and weak image. Instead, she stretched out her legs, crossed them, and leaned back on the steps, looking up at the starry sky. "Why aren't you sleeping?"

Hu Xiaotian gave an answer that didn't match his character: "Admiring the moon!"

Murong Feiyang knew he had some culture but didn't believe he had the refined taste to admire the moon. A smile played on her lips. "Can't sleep, can you?"

"How did you know?"

Hu Xiaotian looked at her and then realized, "Oh, I get it. You were spying on me!"

"Who's spying on you? Look at yourself!"

Hu Xiaotian said, "If you weren't spying, how would you know I couldn't sleep?"

Murong Feiyang replied, "My room is next to yours. Your snoring is like a mountain collapsing. I can hear it clearly."

Hu Xiaotian said, "I see! So you were eavesdropping. If I do something private at night, you'll hear it too, won't you?"

Murong Feiyang's face turned cold. Although their relationship had improved, it wasn't to the point where they could joke like this. Her eyebrows furrowed, and her eyes were stern. She coldly said, "Do you want me to cut out your tongue?"

Hu Xiaotian grinned, "Just a joke, what's wrong with you? No sense of humor at all."

"What?" Murong Feiyang didn't understand what humor was; the term was a foreign concept.

Hu Xiaotian sighed, "It means you can't take a joke and lack a sense of fun!"

Murong Feiyang said, "You think being vulgar is funny? You're too low!"

"How can you talk to me like that? I'm your superior, right? We'll be working together and in a leadership-subordinate relationship. You can't deny that, can you?"

Murong Feiyang blinked, unsure what this guy was up to, but what he said was true. She nodded, "So what?"

Hu Xiaotian smiled, "In private, we can do whatever, but in public, you should show some respect to your superior."

Murong Feiyang laughed, and Hu Xiaotian joined in. Both of them laughed insincerely.

Murong Feiyang suddenly stopped laughing, "Do you think you have any qualities that deserve my respect?"

Hu Xiaotian nodded without hesitation, "Yes, you just haven't noticed!" He couldn't help but be a bit evil when he said this.

********************************************************* In the Three Rivers, I need Three Rivers votes!

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