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

"I won't look." He shook his head.

Cui Cui's wife sneered, "She is a princess."

"Hmm," Ning Nan nodded, turned another page of the book, and said casually, "Impressive."

Hearing the young doctor's seemingly indifferent reply, Cui Cui's delicate nose snorted, but the corners of her lips subtly rounded out.

After a moment, she said calmly, "If you go to Guangfu, she might be able to persuade the Tang King to let you become a high-ranking official without taking the imperial examination. If the Tang King tells the court that he wants you to be the Fujian Provincial Governor, the court will have to reluctantly agree. If you want to be a general, that's even more convenient; the Tang King can appoint you directly."

Ning Nan shook his head, his tone slightly solemn, and said, "A vassal king's reign won't last long."

"Hmm?" Cui Cui's wife immediately raised her eyes. "You also think the power of the princes should be reduced?"

Ning Nan frowned. The reduction of the power of the regional military governors had been a consensus in the court for many years, but the consensus was also that it shouldn't be done easily. It had dragged on and on for so long.

After thinking for a while, he still didn't say much to his wife. After all, she was a clerk in the Embroidered Uniform Guard, and if he said too much, she might accidentally tell someone else, which would cause trouble.

In his view, once Prince Xin ascends the throne, the new laws will begin to be implemented.

Either the power of the princes is reduced, or the officials whose interests are harmed will use the two princes, Gui and Tang, to intimidate the faction behind the new laws, and might even do something like "purging the court of corrupt officials."

He wouldn't wade into such muddy waters; honestly taking the imperial examinations and entering officialdom was the right thing to do. Going to the Tang Emperor's side and winning against the soon-to-be-crowned Empress would be gratifying, but losing would mean certain death.

By passing the imperial examinations, one could become a minor official in the capital. If the empress won, a host of official positions would be vacant in the capital and across the provinces, allowing one to rise to prominence. If the Tang or Gui kings won, one could joyfully welcome their imperial army. A win-win situation, winning in this and winning in that—how delightful!

Ning Nan smiled, but quickly wiped the smile away. He didn't want to talk about these things with his wife, lest she let something slip to her colleagues.

Master Ning pointed to the tatami mat in the study where he usually slept, and changed the subject, saying, "I'm sleeping in the study tonight."

Cui Cui's expression froze for a moment, then turned cold, and she put her bare feet down from the rosewood stool.

"You can sleep here forever. I'm going back to my room."

*Thud!* Ning Nan slowly tossed the book aside with one hand and grabbed her hand with the other. Granny Cui was startled and before she could even frown, the young doctor blew out the study light and pulled her into his arms.

"Well……"

In the darkness, Cui Cui's mother stared wide-eyed, her breath catching in her throat.

"You'll be sleeping in the study tonight too... And don't ask me questions like that again."

Ning Nan wiped the drool from the corner of his mouth and took a breath.

"Even if a million princesses lined up in front of me, I wouldn't be tempted."

"Really?" she asked, her gaze fixed intently on the young doctor in the moonlight.

"certainly."

Ning Nan said solemnly,

"All I know how to do is use my hands..."

Huh? Cui Cui's wife's eyes widened immediately, but before she could speak, everything went black, and then she began to have difficulty breathing.

"Ugh... my... balls... ugh... ugh..."

"And then..." Ning Nan said, pausing for a moment, "...moving his feet..."

……

……

August 12th.

The sun peeked out from the horizon, its fiery red head peeking out.

However, the Baiyufang, a highly sought-after establishment in the capital, has not yet opened.

As the heir of the Prince Gui's mansion, Zhu Xianze unusually refrained from reckless behavior last night. Instead, he got up early and, accompanied by his two advisors, Zhang Qingping and Cheng Qianqiu, as well as a group of guards, rushed to Baiyufang.

Upon arriving at the tavern closest to Baiyufang, they discovered that Liu Zhengyang from the Tang Prince's Mansion was also there. Only after asking did they learn that Princess Tang had arrived even earlier than him.

In addition, the Prince of Qi and his advisor Dou Yuan also came and even sat down with the Princess of Tang.

Zhu Xianze didn't intend to mock Dou Yuan; it was just a coincidence. After all, the Prince of Qi and the Princess of Tang were there, and Liu Zhengyang had seen him, so it wouldn't be good to avoid them.

Moreover, last night I had dinner with Princess Tang and the Seventh Young Master Shangguan, and everyone enjoyed themselves.

Moreover, during the banquet, he noticed that Princess Tang looked worried and said that she wanted to sell all the cotton futures contracts today, which piqued his interest, and he thought it would be a good opportunity to take a look.

Ideally, Princess Tang would sell the item while I happen to buy it, and then the price would conveniently rise. If that were the case, that would be the most wonderful thing imaginable.

No matter how much silver the other party earned, they would still be inferior to him. After all, this would show that the other party only gained an advantage by being first, without any particularly brilliant strategy.

Zhu Xianze walked into the private room with his back straight.

Prince Zhu Ensong of Qi was dressed in an inconspicuous set of clothes today, but because of his tall stature and bold personality, he still exuded an extraordinary aura.

Upon seeing Zhu Xianze enter, he immediately stood up and laughed heartily, saying, "My dear nephew, you've arrived! Please, take a seat!"

His smile was wide, and he was indeed quite pleased. Before, he only knew to listen to Dou Yuan and buy promissory notes, spending tens of thousands of taels of silver as he pleased. But in just a few days, when Dou Yuan said he had earned thirty thousand taels, Zhu Xianze's eyes widened.

Especially yesterday, Dou Yuan's brilliant prediction that the futures contract would fall in the morning, and it did indeed fall in the afternoon, made him extremely proud!

Yesterday, I personally participated in the event and witnessed the price of the issuer fluctuate up and down. It gave me a sense of battlefield combat, which was quite exhilarating!

It's a pity that the price of this coupon rose back up a bit in the afternoon.

If Mr. Dou hadn't hesitated so much, and had sold at 350 coins, then bought back at the lowest price of 230 coins yesterday, and then sold again at 280 coins, who knows how many taels of silver he could have made!

"Greetings, elder brother." At this moment, Zhu Jiamu also stood up with a smile to greet his cousin.

There were some expensive breakfast items on the table, and Zhu Xianze casually picked up a few and ate some.

Then, as if casually, he said softly, "Mr. Zhang, please don't act on your own today."

The King of Qi and his companions were puzzled.

Zhang Qingping immediately smiled wryly, clasped his hands in a fist salute to Dou Yuan, and said, "I'm so sorry, I regret not listening to Mr. Dou's advice yesterday!"

Dou Yuan smiled and said, "I wonder what Mr. Zhang means?"

Zhang Qingping said regretfully, "Yesterday, His Highness the Crown Prince sent me to guard this Baiyufang, saying that if the price fell below 220 coins, I should buy promissory notes as Mr. Dou suggested. But I was greedy, and seeing that the promissory notes had fallen to 240 coins, I immediately bought several..."

King Qi narrowed his eyes.

"What a pity," Zhang Qingping sighed, "I never imagined it would drop to 230 coins... I, I have ruined His Highness's important plans!"

Dou Yuan's smile froze instantly.

Zhu Jiamu laughed and said, "Then Mr. Zhang has done a great service, hasn't he? The price of that promissory note later rose to two hundred and eighty."

"Alas, alas," Zhang Qingping said with distress, "This is just because I was lucky. I am far less composed and strategic than Mr. Dou."

King Qi narrowed his eyes slightly. Being the astute man he was, he naturally understood the other party's meaning. He forced a smile and said, "Mr. Zhang, you flatter me. In my opinion, Mr. Zhang's talent is no less than Dou Yuan's. This promissory note business is similar to other businesses; making money is the right thing to do."

Zhu Xianze immediately clapped his hands and laughed loudly, "What Uncle Qi said is truly profound."

Immediately, he became very talkative and shared his views on the purchase and sale of this futures contract, explaining Zhang Qingping's strategy from the previous day: buy when prices fall, sell when prices rise, buy more as prices fall, and continuously lower the cost price.

Zhang Qingping was his advisor, and Zhang Qingping's wisdom was his wisdom. To take Zhang Qingping's actions and claim them as his own thinking was not only without the slightest embarrassment, but also with great pride. Zhang Qingping and Cheng Qianqiu stroked their beards and smiled.

Dou Yuan frowned.

Zhu Jiamu chuckled upon hearing this and praised him repeatedly, "Brother, you are truly talented. It's regrettable that I, Jiamu, didn't even think of such a simple principle."

King Qi's eyes lit up, and he immediately clapped his hands and laughed, "That makes sense! That makes sense! The greatest truths are the simplest; the ancients were truly right!"

"Heh." Zhu Xianze straightened up and smiled slightly.

Just then, a series of footsteps, noises, and bustling sounds came from outside the building.

Baiyufang has finally opened its doors.