After saving the Empress, I became the top scholar in the imperial examination.

Datong Street runs east-west, is three li long and six zhang wide. The main road is straight, with smooth blue bricks, and can accommodate three horse-drawn carriages side by side. It is the most prosperous and bustling street in the entire capital.

The shops on both sides of the street are lined up one after another, and the decorations are luxurious. Even a small general store near Ningnan has a sign made of small-leaf sandalwood.

An inch of sandalwood is worth an inch of gold. The reason the host family was so extravagant was naturally because the items inside were more expensive than gold.

Dried abalone, bird's nest, ginseng; spices, glass, tortoiseshell; sable fur, antiques, live rare and exotic animals... all are priceless, extravagant and complicated items, most favored and loved by high-ranking officials and nobles.

There were also about twenty taverns, all renowned establishments popular throughout the country. They offered delicacies and rare treats; even the most discerning gourmets would find something to satisfy their cravings on Datong Street. The street also boasted a plethora of other shops, including silk stores, pawnshops, bookstores, money exchanges, and antique shops, all bustling with activity and lively conversation.

The pedestrians, carriages, and sedan chairs passing by on the street, some dressed in gold and silver, others in simple clothes, but judging from the clothing and demeanor of their servants, one could tell at a glance that only wealthy and noble masters could train such obedient and respectful servants.

But right now, even on the bustling Datong Street, something seems to have appeared at its western end that has piqued the curiosity and surprise of the people on the street, drawing a large crowd to watch.

Even the nobles in passing carriages and sedan chairs would lift the curtains, curiously widen their eyes, and peek inside.

Even the vendor behind Ning Nan, who ran a small sesame seed cake stall, was standing on tiptoe, peering through the rising steam from the steamer.

The sound of orderly footsteps grew closer and closer.

Upon seeing who it was, Ning Nan's pupils contracted and his brows furrowed as he was jostled by the crowd.

There were about twenty people, lined up in two rows, carrying muskets on their shoulders that were different from the Liang bird guns.

They were all of average height, but because their heads were relatively small, they appeared tall from a distance, but upon closer inspection, they were just average-sized.

They wore short, fitted red robes with thin white ribbons wrapped around their shoulders and waists. Some had blond hair, others brown, and they had high cheekbones and prominent noses. Their appearance and clothing were quite different from those of the Han Chinese.

Ning Nan narrowed his eyes... Huff... He slowly exhaled.

"A Rakshasa demon?" At this moment, Old Monster Han exclaimed softly.

Rakshasa?

Rakshasa?

So...the Russians?

Ning Nan turned his head and frowned at Han Laoguai: "What? Laoguai, do you know him?"

The sounds of bustling activity filled the streets.

Generally, they were described as "looking very strange," "uglier than the Hu people," "having blue eyes," "having blond hair," "Oh, so this is a Rakshasa demon..." "Aren't they fighting with the Northern Dynasty?" "How did they get to our Great Liang?" "I wonder if they can speak Chinese..."

The crowd's voices rose and fell; some were curious, asking questions of those around them; some mocked, saying how barbaric they were; while others praised, feeling they had learned something new that day.

Some children, regardless of whether others understood them or not, shouted in unison, "Golden Monkey!" After they finished shouting, a group of children gathered together and laughed... and the adults started hitting them.

The more mischievous ones even started picking up stones from the ground, wanting to throw them at them, and some children even took a step forward, wanting to rush up and tease them... but they were all pulled back by the adults by the ears.

Han Qing's expression turned slightly solemn. He nodded and said, "I've heard of what they look like before. They should be Rakshasa people."

Datong Street is Datong Street after all, and the two were only puzzled for a short while by the sudden appearance of the Rakshasa in the capital.

There was someone nearby who looked like an official, speaking in an official tone, saying that Prince Xin was about to ascend the throne, and that the Kingdom of Rakshasa had sent an envoy to form an alliance with our Great Liang to jointly resist the Northern Dynasty.

Upon hearing this, a scholar exclaimed excitedly, "If that's the case, then it truly is a blessing from heaven for the Great Liang! While the Rakshasa Kingdom and the Northern Dynasty are both exhausted, our dynasty can reap the benefits, launch a northern expedition against Youyan, and reclaim all our lost territories!"

The scholar, his face flushed, waved his arm, but before he could finish speaking, someone next to him sneered and said, "Brother, you seem to have forgotten the history of the Great Zhao. When we allied with the Jin against the Liao, the Liao fell and we lost the north. Then we allied with the Mongols against the Jin, and the Jin fell and we lost the south!"

Another scholar muttered, "Make friends with distant states and attack nearby ones, make friends with distant states and attack nearby ones... You can only do this if you are the Great Qin. If the Great Qi makes friends with the Great Qin... wouldn't that be courting its own destruction?"

In an instant, similar arguments erupted.

The Rakshasa delegation and musketeers headed east; the Court of State Ceremonial had arranged accommodations for them, and their figures gradually disappeared from sight.

Ning Nan then looked away.

Old Han was indeed very knowledgeable. He could only tell that the person was a foreigner and was still guessing which country they were from, but Old Han immediately recognized that the other person was a Rakshasa.

After a while, the discussions of others confirmed this.

The Ning residence was on Datong Street, so he only had to walk a short distance to get home. Bailu Academy was far away, so a carriage was sent to take the old monster there.

The old monster chuckled and said, "The Rakshasa is really annoying... Even with such great talent and ambition, there were places he couldn't conquer. Goryeo and Annam only needed to submit to him, but the Rakshasa wanted everything from west to east." Ning Nan exclaimed in surprise, then smiled and nodded, saying, "You old monster, you actually know so much about the Rakshasa."

Old Han's expression turned serious as he said, "They've killed quite a few people in the north."

After chatting for a while, Han Laoguai patted the Xuan paper tucked under his arm, smiled, and boarded the carriage to say goodbye.

Ning Nan waved his hand. The roll of Xuan paper that Lao Guai was carrying under his arm was a poem he had just written at the restaurant. However, it was not an original work. Lao Guai had taken out the Mid-Autumn Festival poem written by Emperor Wenzong of the Northern Dynasty last year and asked him to make a copy.

It is said that there was a teacher at Bailu Academy who was obsessed with this poem. Han Laoguai, to please the teacher, used his own calligraphy to match the poem.

In exchange, Han Laoguai brought out about ten top-scoring examination papers he had collected at Bailu Academy over the past few days, as well as the examination experience of several great scholars from Bailu Academy.

Those great Confucian scholars simply did not choose to serve in official positions, not because they lacked academic achievements. When a suitable official position became available, they would immediately assume the post of a third-rank or higher official.

Ning Nan gasped as he looked at the items, then beamed and praised the old man's social skills. These kinds of tips for the imperial examinations were usually passed down through families, but he never expected that the old man would manage to trick him into handing them over.

Old Han cleared his throat, raised his chin, and said, "I know Master Ning isn't short of money right now. Exchanging these treasures for a piece of your calligraphy, isn't that a good deal?"

Ning Nan was immediately moved and gave a thumbs up: "Hmm, you really know me and understand me..." She put away the pile of reference materials as if they were treasures.

The Mid-Autumn Festival is approaching.

Emperor Wenzong of the Northern Dynasties' poem became popular again last year.

The old man reminded him that the two months before the exam were the most important, and the most important thing was to study behind closed doors, not to relax for a moment, and not to be disturbed by external things.

But once the Mid-Autumn Festival arrives, the capital will be incredibly lively. As a renowned scholar from both the north and south, you'll likely be sought after by all sorts of events, from poetry gatherings and literary parties to brothels...

Before the old man could finish speaking, Ning Nan interrupted him with a smile, saying that he wasn't stupid and how could he not distinguish between what was important and what was not? Besides, he really didn't like poetry gatherings or literary events and wouldn't attend a single one.

Han Laoguai sighed with relief, saying that Bai Xuan was as insightful and far-sighted as ever, knowing the true path of the Great Dao.

The carriage rumbled along, and Old Man Han slowly drove away with the calligraphy he had copied.

Ning Nan slowly let out a breath and returned home with a bundle of reference materials. With the scientific expedition imminent, there was indeed no time to relax.