The group entered the post station and each returned to their own rooms to settle in. They hadn’t slept in beds for a while, so as soon as Manbao lay down, she couldn’t help but let out a satisfied sigh, rolled half a circle with the quilt, and then rolled to the outside, letting Zhou Liru sleep on the inside.

Zhou Liru was also sleepy, yawning as she climbed inside and asked, "Little Aunt, what medicinal herbs do we need to procure?"

Manbao replied, "We need to replenish what we’re lacking and prepare some herbs for treating smallpox. We’ll see how things go along the way."

Zhou Liru kept this in mind, and after another yawn, she fell asleep.

Most people at the post station were already asleep, but other families in Liangzhou didn’t go to bed that early.

Governor Duan at the Prefecture returned to his residence just then.

An aide followed him into the study, reporting on some matters he hadn’t had time to handle this afternoon. Finally, recalling something, he mentioned, "There was a message from the post station today saying that dignitaries from the capital are passing through on their way to the Western Regions; they might stay a few days in Liangzhou."

Governor Duan remarked, "Just another public expenditure for food and drink? Did they bring many people? If there aren’t too many extras, then just report it, but tell the Post Station Steward to prepare more staples. Vegetables and meat are expensive, and while I’m willing to pay, they shouldn’t be wasteful."

"My Lord, you misunderstand. The Post Station Steward said that beyond the authorized numbers, they paid for the extras themselves." All that was provided was an official discount, making it cheaper than staying in a guesthouse outside.

Governor Duan merely raised an eyebrow, not overly concerned with the matter, "Anything else?"

"Aren’t you curious about who is on this official duty?"

Hearing the aide’s question, Governor Duan asked, "Which general? Is it someone I’m connected with?"

"It’s not a general, but Imperial Doctor Zhou Zan from the Imperial Hospital."

Governor Duan didn’t immediately recall who that was, so the aide lowered his voice, "Don’t you remember? She’s also a compiled author in the Chongwen Pavilion, currently the only female official in court."

Governor Duan immediately realized, "It’s her? What’s she going to do in the Western Regions?"

Isn’t the Western Regions a place for brute men? Shouldn’t it be the people from Honglu Temple going? What’s the need for a doctor there?

The aide nodded, "I investigated a bit and the post station said it seems they’re going to the Western Regions to find a method to prevent smallpox."

Governor Duan immediately sat up straight and asked solemnly, "Is there a method to prevent smallpox in the Western Regions?"

"I don’t know, but they seemed very serious about it, and after all, they are dispatched by the Emperor." He continued, "Apart from this Imperial Doctor Zhou, there’s also Lord Zhuang accompanying them. He was previously the Assistant Lecturer to His Royal Highness, and the four accompanying young gentlemen are all students of the Chongwen Pavilion." 𝘧𝓇𝑒𝑒𝑤ℯ𝑏𝓃𝘰𝑣ℯ𝘭.𝘤ℴ𝘮

Governor Duan finally understood the aide’s implication, surprised, "They’re all people from His Highness?"

The aide nodded, lowering his voice, "And furthermore, there’s someone named Bai Cheng among them."

"What’s his identity?"

"He’s the future son-in-law of Princess Mingda."

A legitimate Prince Consort.

Governor Duan’s eyes gleamed briefly, "Write an invitation and send it tomorrow. Invite them over the day after tomorrow for a banquet. I must host a dinner as a welcome to them, though they won’t be staying long, as a local host, I should extend some hospitality."

"Yes, I’ll write it right away."

Governor Duan stroked his beard, deep in thought. It seems the Western Regions really have a remedy, otherwise, why would the Emperor and His Highness send them out?

The Prefecture took this matter seriously, so early the next morning, the aide personally brought the invitation to the station to invite them.

But everyone was still asleep.

The Post Station Steward awkwardly said to the aide, "The dignitaries are tired from their journey, so they might wake up a little late. Shall I wake them up?"

The aide stopped him, "There’s no rush. I can wait slowly."

The Post Station Steward, not daring to let him wait idly, personally brewed a pot of tea to serve him.

However, today Manbao and the others seemed to be sleeping very soundly. Even after the aide drank two cups of tea, there was still no movement from their rooms, except that Mr. Zhuang had woken up.

After washing up, he came downstairs, and upon reaching the second step, he was met with a beaming smile from someone below. Mr. Zhuang couldn’t resist smiling back.

Thus, when Manbao had finally slept enough and stretched herself awake, Mr. Zhuang downstairs had already finished breakfast with the aide and they had been chatting about various topics for half an hour.

The sleep patterns of young people were quite similar. As soon as Manbao woke, there was noise from the other rooms.

The Post Station Steward breathed a sigh of relief. He had hosted many officials at this post station but had never before seen a principal like Zhou Man who slept in so late.

When Manbao came downstairs and met the aide, she looked at the invitation in his hand with some embarrassment, saying, "But we arranged to go explore the Great Wall with friends tomorrow. If you don’t mind, can we visit you the day after tomorrow?"

The aide had been somewhat flustered upon seeing Zhou Man. He knew she was young since her reputation was so prominent, but he hadn’t expected her to be this young.

The same words said by different people have different effects. If Mr. Zhuang or other middle-aged officials like him said such a thing, the aide would assume they looked down on Governor Duan and Liangzhou and were deliberately putting it off.

But when someone Zhou Man’s age said it... it seemed very sincere.

After a moment’s thought, the aide nodded, "Of course, we can’t let you break a promise. I will await you at the Prefecture the day after tomorrow."

He then smiled, "It turns out you have friends in Liangzhou too. I’m not sure who they are, but Liangzhou isn’t large; I might know them."

Manbao didn’t mention that she had just met her friends the previous day, smiling, "I’m not sure if you would know them, but one is named Guo Tian, another is Yue Zheng, and there’s yet another one called Quan Rui."

The aide was taken aback and then laughed, "What a coincidence. These three are students at the Prefecture School and are friends with our young master."

Manbao also smiled brightly, "What a coincidence indeed?"

As soon as the aide left, Manbao touched her chin and asked, "Is it really that much of a coincidence?"

Bai Shan glanced at the invitation and said, "What does it matter? Liangzhou isn’t big, and neither is the Prefecture School. It’s normal for everyone to know each other, isn’t it?"

Weren’t they the same in Yizhou Prefecture School?

Manbao nodded, dismissing the matter from her mind, while the aide hurried back home to report, and so the next day, Guo Tian and the others came to the post station with a fourth person to pick them up.

Guo Tian introduced the newly arrived young man with a smile, "This is our classmate from the Prefecture School, named Deputy Chief Duan..."

Bai Shan looked up at him and then smiled, asking, "Might your father be Governor Duan?"

Deputy Chief Duan nodded, "Yes."

Pushed by his father’s instructions, Deputy Chief Duan felt a bit embarrassed. After all, they didn’t know each other, and he was unsure of what his father intended. If he wanted to build a relationship, there was time for that tomorrow.

Bai Shan, however, didn’t show any other expression. Instead, he nodded with delight, "How fortunate, how fortunate. We were just planning to visit your residence tomorrow, and here we are meeting Deputy Chief Duan today."

Seeing that Bai Shan wasn’t being sarcastic, Deputy Chief Duan finally breathed easy.