A peasant girl travels through time with a hospital, rising to become an empress.

Before long, a neat and orderly procession slowly appeared at the end of the street and walked towards the crowd.

At the very front of the procession was a large, vermilion sedan chair carried by four strong porters. The chair was entirely red and glossy, with intricate and exquisite cloud patterns carved on it. Blue curtains hung around the chair, swaying gently in the wind, making it look both grand and dignified.

Two officials in official robes, holding vermilion flags, walked at the front of the sedan chair, clearing the way. Four other yamen runners stood on either side, taking turns striking gongs. Each gong was deep and powerful, repeatedly signaling to the surrounding people and bystanders to make way.

Following the main sedan chair were two sedan chairs of relatively simpler specifications, presumably for the relatives accompanying the official. The curtains of the sedan chairs were embroidered with delicate dark orchid patterns, exuding a low-key and understated elegance. Each sedan chair was carried by two porters, steadily following behind the main sedan chair.

On both sides of the sedan chair, several warriors dressed in tight-fitting clothes and with long swords at their waists escorted the carriage along the way, their eyes sharp and their expressions vigilant.

Beside the family sedan chairs and accompanying vehicles behind, four sword-wielding servants in blue robes stood upright, expressionless, and always alert, yet they were not ostentatious, silently guarding the side, ready for any possible accidents.

This ceremonial procession was not extravagant or lavish, lacking excessive decorations and redundant attendants, yet it exuded strict etiquette and dignity. Every move it made showcased the dignity and grandeur of the officials, inspiring awe in all who beheld it.

Jiang Wenxuan had previously been unconvinced by his father's words and harbored a deep resentment. However, upon witnessing the awe-inspiring pomp and circumstance of the officials and feeling the overwhelming sense of authority and pressure, he felt as if reality had given him a harsh lesson.

Only then did he truly realize that as the son of a merchant family from a small county town, even if his family had some money, he was nothing but an insignificant existence in the face of real power. At this moment, he could only stand obediently on the side of the street, solemn and courteous, without even the courage to look up and glance at them, not daring to even breathe loudly.

The winter wind was already biting cold, and suddenly a gust of wind swept in with great force, howling across the street and even blowing open a small corner of the blue curtain of the main sedan chair.

It was this fleeting gap that Nie Qianqian, who had been secretly observing, happened to capture.

The figure sitting inside the sedan chair had a strange sense of familiarity.

Upon seeing the man's facial features clearly, Nie Qianqian was taken aback.

The person in the sedan chair was none other than the noble lady from the capital who had given Doctor Qian the jade pendant in Fulin County, inviting her to the provincial capital for treatment!

No wonder she was so aloof and proud when I met her in Fulin County that day.

Looking at this grand and high-profile procession, Nie Qianqian understood a bit more.

This woman must come from an extremely noble family. She must be the daughter of a high-ranking official in the capital. Only someone of such status could receive such esteemed treatment and dare to be so undisguisedly arrogant and confident.

Huan'er, the personal maid inside the sedan chair, felt a sudden tightness in her chest and her face turned pale instantly, fearing that the people outside would see the scene inside the sedan chair and offend her young mistress's dignity.

She quickly reached out and grabbed the curtain that had been blown open, her movements swift and gentle, not daring to delay for even a moment.

The curtains were closed tightly again, and the sedan chair returned to its previous tranquility.

Huan'er quickly lowered her head, bending even lower, and admitted her mistake, saying, "Miss, it was Huan'er's carelessness that caused the curtain to be blown open by the wind, which offended you. Please punish me, Miss!"

Jiang Muxin didn't look at Huan'er, nor did she even lift her eyelids. She simply lowered her eyes and gently touched the warm, jade-like hand warmer in her hand. Her fingertips slowly traced the delicate intertwined vine pattern on the body of the warmer. Her tone was flat and emotionless as she softly replied, "Go back and receive your punishment."

Huan'er nodded obediently, still keeping her head down, and replied respectfully, "Yes, Miss."

There was not a trace of complaint or dissatisfaction in his tone, only complete obedience and reverence.

She knew very well that her young mistress was always extremely strict about etiquette and rules, and as the most noble lady in the capital, she strictly disciplined herself and every servant around her, not tolerating the slightest mistake or negligence.

Although what happened today was not a big deal, it still broke the rules. The young lady only said "go back and receive your punishment," which was already exceptionally lenient and kind to her.

If it were any other maid in the mansion, she would probably have faced even harsher punishment.

Only after the procession had been gone for a long time did the people on the street dare to breathe a sigh of relief, patting their chests and panting heavily.

Jiang Wenxuan couldn't help but pat his chest, "My goodness, this is too much! Just standing on the side and watching it makes me feel like I can't breathe!"

Gu Xiao frowned slightly, his expression showing some confusion: "According to this protocol, if it were a high-ranking official from the capital, the governor and all the provincial officials would be lined up at the city gate to welcome him, and the people in the city should have been notified in advance and lined up along the street to wait. But today, this is obviously not the case, which is rather strange."

Upon hearing this, Nie Qianqian pondered for a moment and said, "Perhaps this lord simply dislikes such formalities and doesn't want to engage in such extravagant displays."

Jiang Wenxuan raised an eyebrow, his face full of surprise: "Wasn't that kind of spectacle considered high-profile? If this is a simplified version, what would the full set look like?"

Gu Xiao shook his head slightly: "This is indeed not the complete set of rules; it has been greatly simplified."

He thought to himself that, just as Qianqian had said, this official did not want to trouble the officials and people in the city, but he needed to make sure that the person in the capital knew that he had arrived in the provincial capital, so the necessary ceremony still had to be held.

The local residents gradually came to their senses, and the streets returned to their previous bustling state. Everyone gathered together, discussing with great interest what had just happened:

"That display just now was truly awe-inspiring! I wonder which high-ranking official from the capital has arrived?"

"Yes, yes, to have such a grand display, it must be a very important person of high rank and power!"

But everyone was just an ordinary citizen with no access to information. After discussing it for a long time, no one knew the official's identity.

Suddenly, a commoner lowered his voice and said, "My goodness! Just now, the curtain of the main sedan chair was blown open by the wind, and I think I glimpsed a woman sitting inside!"

Immediately, someone asked, "Did you get a good look at her? What kind of beauty does she have?"