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

……

The Ning Mansion has five courtyards, and its size is among the largest even on Datong Street.

In the front courtyard of the mansion sits a shimmering lake, with waterside pavilions built on either side. The pavilions are surrounded by water on three sides and rise a foot above the water.

A pavilion stands atop it, with red pillars, yellow tiles, and upturned eaves. Inside, the bluestone is flat and elegantly arranged, furnished with stone tables and benches.

Sit down on the stone bench and gaze eastward. Strange rocks, lush aquatic plants, and intertwined vines create a picturesque scene of a Jiangnan water town. As the autumn wind sweeps by, willows sway in the water, and fallen leaves fall silently, only stirring up ripples.

After changing his clothes, Ning Nan hurried to the western waterside pavilion, where his maid Qiu Mu had already served him pre-Qingming tea. The aroma of the tea was already enticing even before he got close.

The Imperial Guards were ordered to keep watch, and as long as the young man didn't leave the Ning Mansion, there would be no trouble. However, they did thoroughly search and examine the visitor, and only after confirming that the young man wearing a melon-shaped hat and a yellow-patterned jacket did not have any weapons on him did they let him in.

Even so, at each of the four corners of this waterside pavilion stood a member of the Imperial Guard with an embroidered spring knife at his waist.

Xiao Qi Qian Sijin followed closely behind Ning Nan, just in case this unexpected Northern Dynasty man had come to avenge the fourth son of the Prince of Heshuo.

But Ning Nan disagreed.

Because the visiting card presented by the other party clearly stated "My father, Han Qing".

Han Qing, the real name of Han Laoguai.

"Greetings, elder brother." Ning Nan clasped his hands in greeting and smiled at the young man.

"Hehe, greetings, junior brother." The other person was handsome and refined. He stood up, his eyes were bright, and he smiled and cupped his hands in greeting to Ning Nan.

Ning Nan wasn't sure if it was just his imagination, but he felt that the young man's features resembled someone he knew, yet he didn't look like Old Man Han, which was quite strange.

But unable to recall it at the moment, Ning Nan suppressed the doubt in his heart.

He hadn't paid any tuition, but he had indeed learned a lot from Old Monster Han, making him practically a student of Old Monster Han. So it wasn't wrong for the other party to call him junior brother. Ning Nan simply addressed the other party as "senior brother".

After exchanging pleasantries, the two exchanged courtesy names.

The other person's name was Han Chang, courtesy name Guiyu, and he was about three years older than Ning Nan.

Ning Nan only then realized that the old monster's hometown was actually in the Northern Dynasty. However, the old monster's wife and parents had all passed away early, and his only son had been entrusted to relatives.

Over the years, the old monster has only sent some letters and money back home, and hasn't really gone home much.

Ning Nan sighed deeply, remarked with emotion, and said that his senior brother had truly had a tough time these past years.

Old Han is so irresponsible to let a child who is only a few years old live under someone else's roof.

Han Chang laughed and said, "It's alright. My father sent money and books so I can study. After I passed the county-level imperial examination, our family's situation improved a lot. Later, I passed the provincial-level imperial examination. Although I am naturally leisurely and do not want to take up an official post, I use my reputation to do some elegant poetry and painting business, and my life is still quite comfortable."

"A Juren!" Ning Nan's eyes lit up, and he immediately smiled and cupped his hands in greeting, saying that this was a case of the young phoenix surpassing the old phoenix in talent. His father had only passed the Xiucai exam, but his senior brother had passed the Juren exam before his father!

Han Chang smiled and waved his hand, not arrogant, and didn't say much. He only said that he had just arrived in the capital a while ago and had already visited his father at Bailu Academy.

It was also because I heard from Bailu Academy that Leng Leng Qingqing was my junior brother that I came to pay him a visit. Please forgive me, junior brother. Ning Nan was immediately a little embarrassed and laughed, saying that it was no trouble at all.

The news of beating the son of the Prince of Heshuo this morning hadn't spread yet. The other party seemed unaware of the incident, unaware that he had beaten the prince's son, and unaware that he had been confined to his quarters. Ning Nan naturally wouldn't mention it either.

After exchanging pleasantries, Han Chang frowned and asked, "I wonder, Junior Brother, do you know of Emperor Wenzong of the Northern Dynasty?"

Ning Nan nodded, saying he knew a little, but not much.

"I heard that the Northern Dynasty's Emperor Nalan was coming to see you today, so I was a little worried and rushed over. But I didn't expect that I was overthinking it. It turns out that Emperor Nalan did not come."

"See me?" Ning Nan asked, puzzled.

"Indeed," Han Chang said with a smile, "His name is renowned throughout the North and South. When Mr. Nalan heard this poem a month ago, he regretted not having personally attended the North-South Poetry Gathering. This Mid-Autumn Festival, he personally went to Nanjing, and half of the reason was because of his junior brother."

Ning Nan gave an "Oh," then shrugged and laughed, "My talent has run dry. I've lost my poetic talent and can't write many more poems. I'm afraid I'll have to disappoint Mr. Nalan."

Han Chang slowly suppressed his smile, and after considering it for a moment, solemnly said, "I have something I'd like to tell you, junior brother. Please consider it carefully."

Ning Nan smiled and said, "Senior brother, please speak freely."

Han Changdao said, "As for Mr. Nalan... I, your foolish brother, advise my junior brother to avoid seeing him if possible, and simply claim to be ill."

Ning Nan frowned and said, "Wouldn't that be too impolite?"

Han Chang shook his head and smiled, "Junior brother, you can rest assured. Mr. Nalan's temper... well, his temper... his temper is eccentric... You've met Mr. Nalan, and neither the literary circles of the Southern Dynasty nor the Northern Dynasty will hold any prejudice against you. Your reputation as a poet will not decline."

Ning Nan frowned, somewhat puzzled. But seeing how serious Han Shixiong's words were, he nodded in agreement... which was fine since he didn't want to see him anyway.

It was nearing noon, and since they had come from afar, Ningnan originally wanted to invite them to stay for lunch. However, Senior Brother Han smiled and said he had important matters to attend to, so he took his leave first.

Before leaving, he also gave Ningnan a generous gift.

An inkstone.

It is said to be an ancient inkstone belonging to Zheng Yue, a great Confucian scholar of the former Liang Dynasty.

Ning Nan's eyes widened as he picked up the inkstone and examined it closely. He smacked his lips a few times and said, "Senior Brother, this is a very generous gift. This ancient inkstone is priceless." Senior Brother Han chuckled and said, "It's our first time meeting, so I should give you a small gift." Ning Nan was immediately very grateful.

Not long after seeing off Senior Brother Han, the Ning family held a meal.

Having just killed someone that morning, Chunyu and Qiumu cleaned their blood-stained clothes and applied medicine to their wounds. At this moment, the two girls were pale and unable to eat.

Ning Nan didn't care at all; even with Chef Xu's culinary skills, he ate three large bowls of white rice.

But when he went to get the fourth bowl of rice...

A servant came to report that more guests had arrived at the Ning residence.

Grand Secretary Liu Zhenxi, along with several other prominent figures in the literati, arrived together.

Ning Nan was startled and quickly put down his chopsticks and got up to greet him.

He welcomed the elderly gentlemen in with a smile.

When they arrived at the flower hall to serve tea, several venerable figures in the literary world frowned, looked left and right, and suddenly asked, "Bai Xuan, didn't Mr. Nalan from the Northern Dynasty come to your residence today?"

Mr. Nalan? Ning Nan frowned in confusion, then shook his head.

Liu Zhenxi and the others exchanged glances, their expressions showing surprise.

They received the news this morning that the Northern Dynasty delegation was arriving in the capital today. Nalan would personally visit Leng Leng Qing Qing's residence on the morning of his arrival. Upon hearing this news, they gathered together to discuss it, but couldn't make up their minds for a long time. Only just now did they finally decide to come.

Unexpectedly, it turned out to be false information. The group patted their chests lightly and breathed a sigh of relief. Then, Liu Zhenxi solemnly said to Ning Nan, "Bai Xuan, if this Northern Dynasty's literary emperor Nalan Zhen comes looking for you, you don't need to meet him."

A renowned elder with white hair and beard nodded and said, "Indeed, Bai Xuan, I think you should leave the manor and go to the countryside. After a few days, wait for Nalan to leave the capital and return north before coming back."

"Um?……"

Ning Nan found it strange that the words spoken by these elders sounded so similar to those spoken by Senior Brother Han.

Seeing that they were still unaware of his death that morning, when he had killed the Northern Dynasty's commander and been placed under house arrest, he could only awkwardly say, "Gentlemen, how about I feign illness?"

Everyone's eyes lit up immediately, and they clapped their hands and laughed loudly, "Claiming illness is good! Claiming illness is good!"

Liu Zhenxi patted his shoulder, her eyes filled with emotion, and said, "In short, Nalan, he, he has a strange temper... As long as you don't see him, everything will be fine."