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

Lieutenant General?

The adjutant general of the most elite Yongwei Battalion?

Shang Jiuyang's pupils contracted. Jiang Qingtian? A third-rank military officer?!

The people in the room looked at each other, wondering what had happened.

Ning Nan frowned, somewhat puzzled, wondering why such a high-ranking officer and a centurion addressed him as "Young Master Ning" and referred to himself as "this humble general" or "this official."

However, since they were being so polite, he naturally responded with a flattered tone, cupping his hands in greeting:

"General Jiang, you are too kind. I am unworthy of such praise."

Jiang Qingtian and Su Dachuan smiled in unison, clasped their hands in praise, and said:

"What is there for Young Master Ning to be afraid of? You killed Mu Lang, a commander of the Northern Dynasty, in the street, and smashed half the face of the fourth young master of the Northern Dynasty's Iron-Cap Prince family."

"At the Mid-Autumn Festival banquet at Prince Xin's residence, the Northern Dynasty's Danzhu and the Rakshasa people acted violently, killing skilled craftsmen from the Ministry of Works and expert Portuguese musketeers. They then killed Korean and Japanese musketeers, and finally killed and wounded two of our military officers."

"If it weren't for the young master's valiant action, fighting two against one and killing one and injuring the other, thus greatly enhancing the prestige of our Great Liang, the warriors of Great Liang would have lost all face!" The general in deep red armor spoke with a resounding voice, and as he spoke, a hint of excitement appeared on his face.

Ning Nan was somewhat surprised, and also somewhat enlightened, never expecting that these military officers would know about these things now.

Upon hearing General Hongjia's words, all the servants of the Ning family, including Steward Wang, turned their heads in unison to look at their seemingly unreliable and idle master, their eyes filled with astonishment.

Master...you've killed someone? And he's from the Northern Dynasty? You've even assaulted someone, what kind of fourth son of a Northern Dynasty iron-hat prince?

They didn't quite understand some of what was being said, and couldn't fully grasp the meaning behind it. However, they could understand that such a high-ranking general was praising the master. The more they thought about it, the tighter their hearts clenched, and they didn't know what to say.

The two maids, Chunyu and Qiumu, were so shocked that they could fit an egg in their mouths. Xia Wan and Dongying, who had always taken care of Qinghuan and were almost oblivious to worldly affairs, were even more surprised. How could their son-in-law be so bold?

The commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard, who had recently returned to the capital, gradually turned pale.

His mind raced, and he finally realized that something was amiss. This commoner had once killed a Northern Dynasty military officer? And even smashed half of the face of one of the Four Princes of the Northern Dynasty?

Compared to the four young masters, he only received one slap, and Shang Jiuyang couldn't help but grit his teeth.

He didn't admire the other person's courage; he just wondered, how is this person still alive after doing something so outrageous?!

Although Shang Jiuyang didn't understand why, his heart sank.

Prefect Liu...why did you mislead me? He suddenly gritted his teeth.

"Hmph!" Desperate, Shang Jiuyang glared and, in a fit of rage, demanded, "General Jiang, if I remember correctly, General Jiang is a third-rank official, isn't he?"

His original intention was to say, "However, since General Jiang has made peace, I will put this matter aside for the time being and go to fulfill His Majesty's decree first," thus taking the opportunity to back down and leave with his men.

Unfortunately, he only got halfway through his sentence.

Jiang Qingtian interrupted with a cold laugh:

"Commander Shang, please don't be anxious. I know my place and that a third-rank military officer would not dare to meddle in your affairs. Fortunately, my superior is right behind me. I have already sent someone to invite him."

Shang Jiuyang's expression froze.

Before he could come up with an excuse to leave with his men, a "hissing" sound came from outside the gate. Ning Nan looked up and saw a white horse being reined in.

A middle-aged man dressed in white dismounted nimbly and tossed his riding whip to the guards following behind him.

The newcomer had a beard, sharp eyes, and a powerful stride. Although he was not wearing armor, his aura as a great general was undeniable. As he slightly clenched his fists, a thick, pungent smell of blood seemed to rush towards everyone.

The newcomer walked at a leisurely pace. All the armored soldiers in the courtyard, including Jiang Qingtian and Su Dachuan, bowed to him and said, "Greetings, General!" The roar of a hundred tigers shook the heavens!

Even though the servants and maids of the Ning family knew that these people seemed to be on the master's side, they were still startled by the voice and their faces turned pale!

Shang Jiuyang's pupils contracted repeatedly.

The commander of the Imperial Guard Battalion, a general, is one rank higher than a general appointed outside the capital, and is a second-rank military officer!

Shang Jiuyang felt a chill run through his body.

The commander of the Yongwei Battalion was undoubtedly the emperor's most trusted confidant.

The general went straight to Ning Nan, and with a booming voice, clasped his hands in a fist salute and said:

"General of the Brave Guard Battalion, my humble name is Fan Shiwei, greetings to the Young Marquis."

Fan Shiwei...

Ning Nan's eyes froze for a moment, and he silently repeated the other person's name. Then his heart suddenly clenched!

Ning Nan's mind went blank for a moment, and his eyes widened in surprise. He never expected to run into this person on such a day, especially in his own home. Master Ning's breath hitched slightly.

Fan Shiwei...

This name is truly legendary.

I had already heard of this man's name when I was suppressing bandits in Black Tiger Mountain—Fan Shiwei, the general of Yunhu Camp.

The second time I heard this person's name was when the Ning family in the capital framed me.

This man's subordinate, Kong Xiang, colluded with the Ning family in the capital to sell military equipment from the Great Liang to the Northern Dynasty. The Ning family and his subordinate were exterminated by the emperor.

Fan Shiwei volunteered to go to the capital to await the emperor's judgment.

Ning Nan narrowed his eyes slightly, staring at the white-clad general before him with a fierce and ruthless demeanor, and couldn't help but sigh softly in his heart.

The world is impermanent.

I never expected that.

This man was so trusted by the emperor that he was promoted instead of demoted, and became the commander-in-chief of the most elite army in the Great Liang, the Brave Guard Battalion!

call.

Ning Nan exhaled and solemnly clasped his hands in greeting:

"Ningnan greets General Fan."

Unlike Ning Nan, who was curious and shocked by the name "Fan Shiwei," the others in the room were shocked by the name "Young Marquis."

Steward Wang and the other servants of the Ning family stared blankly at their master. The young marquis? The master is the young marquis? Whose young marquis?

Shang Jiuyang felt a chill in his heart and began to curse Liu Xinghan, that scoundrel, for giving such an order. Why did he order Liu Xinghan to be rude to the Ning family? Resentment welled up in Shang Jiuyang's heart, and he felt that this scoundrel might be trying to demote him to make way for others. He almost ground his teeth to powder.

The golden sun slowly rises on the horizon.

The thin mist gradually dissipated.

The lighting in the room was clear and soft.

Ning Nan paid no attention to the Imperial Guard commander, focusing instead on General Fan before him. After a moment, he shook his head and said:

"Ning may not inherit the title."

Fan Shiwei remained calm and said:

"Young Marquis, you are too modest. My godfather has already finalized the golden edict with His Majesty. We only need to wait for Prince Xin to ascend the throne and then choose a date to bestow the title."

"My godfather said that even if Heaven takes pity on him and he has another child with Madam Xiao, the title of Marquis of Jingbei will be inherited by the young marquis or his son, and will be transferred from the Changling lineage to the Changping lineage..."

General Fan's voice was not loud, but it was like a thunderclap from a clear sky.

The moment those three words, "Marquis of Jingbei," were uttered, Shang Jiuyang sighed inwardly, closed his eyes, and exhaled, cursing Liu Xinghan's ancestors for eighteen generations in his mind. The Ning family members were even more stunned. Marquis of Jingbei? The master is the young marquis of the Jingbei Marquisate? A marquis?!

As the autumn wind swept by, fallen leaves and dust swirled around the Ning Mansion, which had been trampled into a mess by the soldiers.

The large banana leaves rolled and turned on the ground, blown by gusts of autumn wind to everyone's feet.

However, no one was in the mood for sentimentality anymore.

Upon hearing these words, Ning Nan's eyes glazed over for a moment.

He had no idea that his uncle had secretly arranged all of this. He felt both moved and uneasy, unsure of what to say.

However, something else bothered him more than that, and he frowned at the other person and said:

"Godfather?"

Fan Shiwei nodded: "I was careless and made a grave mistake in a moment of weakness. I am now unworthy to be the Marquis's adopted son."

Ning Nan was taken aback for a moment, but then he understood what the other party meant. After a moment of silence, he still bowed and said, "Ning Nan greets Uncle."

Fan Shiwei quickly returned the greeting, saying, "Young Marquis, you're too kind."

That's all.

The white-clad general, who enjoyed the emperor's deep trust, turned to look at Shang Jiuyang and slowly said, "This Commander, you..."

Before he could finish speaking, Shang Jiuyang said seriously:

"Since it was General Fan who recommended you, and Young Master Ning is the young master of the Jingbei Marquis's mansion, and I have already finished searching your residence, I will not disturb you any longer."

He waved his hand and ordered everyone to call out all his men.

"etc,"

Ning Nan raised an eyebrow and said calmly,

"Commander Shang, you still haven't answered me... What did you just say?"

Uh… Shang Jiuyang’s body stiffened, and the body that was about to leave turned back.

He gritted his teeth.

After a moment of struggle, he walked straight towards Qinghuan.

Bowing respectfully:

"Please, miss. I... I didn't say anything... I apologize for offending you..."

That's all.

"Snapped!"

His eyes flashed with anger, and he slapped himself hard! Everyone was stunned. This commander of the Imperial Guard was indeed a ruthless man, capable of taking things in stride.

Shang Jiuyang did not rise from his seat.

Qinghuan stared blankly, then glanced at her brother-in-law. Ning Nan smiled and nodded, and Qinghuan stammered, "N-nothing."

"Thank you, Miss!" Shang Jiuyang stood up.

His back was turned.

Without batting an eye, he raised his arm and roared:

"withdraw!"

……

Fan Shiwei and his soldiers then took their leave.

To Ningnan's surprise.

They didn't just search Ning Mansion.

As soon as Shang Jiuyang left the Ning residence, he rushed to the wine shop across the street.

Before leaving, Fan Shiwei gave Ning Nan three tokens, saying that the city gates were closed today and the Yongwei Battalion and Jinyiwei were ordered to conduct a thorough search of the entire city.

The young marquis can give these three tokens to acquaintances for use within the city. Ning Nan asked what had happened, but the other party remained silent and hurriedly took his leave.

The Ning family members, their legs giving way and their clothes soaked with sweat from fright, knelt down before Ning Nan, their faces flushed with excitement, under the leadership of Steward Wang, saying, "Greetings, Young Marquis!" Ning Nan was both amused and exasperated.

He ordered everyone to rest first, and then clean up the mess at Ning Mansion.

Not long after the armored soldiers left, a black carriage came from the west and hurriedly stopped outside the Ning residence.

A tall figure lifted the curtain, took a large step, and stepped down from the carriage.

The newcomer was dressed in a magnificent black robe, with an expensive jade belt around his waist.

Behind him, a figure holding a white fan also got off the carriage. The two hurried along and headed straight for the Ning residence.

As soon as they stepped into the gate of the Ning Mansion.

Seeing the Ning residence almost completely destroyed, the two exchanged a glance, their pupils involuntarily contracting slightly.

"Second Uncle?" Ning Nan was standing in the front yard, not yet left. He looked at the tall man who had come, thought for a moment, and then exclaimed in surprise.

Second Uncle... Cui Cui's uncle, what brings him here? Ning Nan hurriedly stepped forward to greet him.

"Hahaha," Zhu Ensong's expression returned to normal, and he laughed heartily. He hurriedly stepped forward and helped Ning Nandao, who was about to bow, "Nephew-in-law, please don't be so polite, please don't be so polite."

He glanced back and saw that almost all the flowers and plants in the Ning residence had been trampled. Zhu Ensong looked away, his tiger-like eyes gleaming as he said:

"My dear nephew-in-law, may I ask about my niece, Cuiwei?"

Is she home?