Schemes of the Noble Households Chapter 136

December 12th of the fifth year of Taihe

Rain mixed with snow fell all night long, and a layer of ice crystals fell on the banks of the Qinhuai River.

Just as the sky was getting light, more than ten ox carts drove out from Wuyi Lane in Qingxili. Most of them had red-painted walls and black silk roofs. Behind the carts followed several strong servants in straw raincoats and bamboo hats, indicating that the people in the carts were either noble or had a title, or an official rank of more than 1,000 stones.

Occasionally, a few carriages painted red and covered with black cloth would pass by, and they would move aside at a distance, allowing the distinguished ones to go first.

When meeting someone of similar rank and official rank walking side by side, they would simply nod through the car window, and rarely would they open the car door and bow, or exchange a few words of greeting.