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

She spoke hesitantly, a blush returning to her face after a long time, as if she were somewhat embarrassed, and didn't finish her sentence.

The horse galloped onto the official road, a gentle breeze rustling past its ears.

Ning Nan didn't know what his wife was going to say, but he didn't have time to think about it now. His eyes darkened, and his gaze gradually became complicated.

"Well……"

He gave a wry smile and said...

"Maybe we should wait a little longer."

Zhu Cuiwei's grip on his collar tightened suddenly, and she couldn't help but look up at him again.

Why?

She frowned slightly.

As soon as she finished speaking, she felt a little regretful. Her voice was somewhat urgent, as if she, as his wife, was eager to covet the title of Marquis of Jingbei.

Ning Nan didn't think that much about it. With his wife nestled in his arms, he felt much more at ease. He pulled on the reins, pressed his cheek against her forehead, and said, "I..."

Zhu Cuiwei's eyes dimmed, she sighed, and leaned against him again, interrupting him:

"Do you always feel guilty for taking away Bei Zhi's family business?"

She pursed her lips slightly, feeling a mixture of joy and sorrow. She knew that her young doctor always possessed a blend of pride and loyalty. Without even thinking, she instinctively knew what he was thinking.

Ning Nan squeezed the horse tightly with her legs, and the horse went a little faster, remaining silent.

The title of Marquis of Jingbei was earned by his uncle through hard work and battles. In his mind, the best solution was for him and his wife, Cuicui, to have a son who would be adopted into his uncle Beiyue's lineage, so that the son could continue the lineage of his uncle and protect Beizhi, while he himself would remain in the Changping lineage.

Zhu Cuiwei sighed, feeling a little empty inside. She reached up and touched his cheek.

He laughed and said, "If you don't want to inherit, then you don't have to. I'll just go and tell Uncle."

Ning Nan felt a little apologetic, knowing that his wife could no longer be a marquis's wife.

He held the reins with both hands and pulled her even tighter in his arms.

"Look, you'll have to have two sons."

Zhu Cuiwei said, "We still need to have a daughter."

Ning Nan laughed and said, "I couldn't be happier."

Zhu Cuiwei snorted, "It's not you who's exhausted. Do you want to have a baby?"

Ning Nan didn't take the bait and changed the subject, saying, "Having one son and one daughter is actually fine, it's best to finish the pregnancy in one birth."

"Dream on." She rolled her eyes and said softly, though her mind was already wandering.

Ning Nan embraced his wife and laughed, "Don't worry. You may not be able to be the Marquis's wife, but you might become the wife of the top scholar."

"The top scholar?" Zhu Cuiwei's eyes narrowed slightly.

"Yes," Master Ning said matter-of-factly, "Now that Prince Xin has ascended the throne, the special imperial examination will be held, and your husband will be taking it right away. At that time..."

As he spoke, he frowned slightly, realizing that it wouldn't be good to speak too definitively, so he said:

Even if I don't become the top scholar in the imperial examination, I'll definitely become the wife of a Jinshi (a successful candidate in the highest imperial examination)... well... the wife of a Juren (a successful candidate in the provincial imperial examination)!

Zhu Cuiwei got up from him, turned her head to look at him, narrowed her eyes and said, "What? You want to be the top scholar? Have you heard some rumors that you also want to be the imperial son-in-law?"

Ning Nan was taken aback: "The Grand Prince Consort? Also?"

Zhu Cuiwei glanced at him carefully, looking him up and down. Seeing the puzzled look on the young doctor's face, she felt relieved. However, as soon as she felt relieved, she couldn't help but feel a little angry and annoyed.

Isn't being a prince consort a good thing?

Ning Nan was completely bewildered, not understanding what was wrong with his wife all of a sudden.

Zhu Cuiwei took a breath and said with an unfriendly look:

"Haven't there been rumors in the capital these past few days? They're saying that this imperial examination is how the Empress chooses her husband. Whoever she appoints as the top scholar in the palace examination will be the one she favors and will become the imperial son-in-law."

There was a hint of resentment in the woman's voice.

Ning Nan suddenly realized, "Oh... I see, no wonder you opened the special course."

Zhu Cuiwei was stunned, her face instantly turning bright red. She wished this scoundrel would inherit the title of Marquis of Jingbei today and then propose to her. "Bang!" She punched his chest, gritting her teeth and whispering, "That's a rumor!"

Ning Nan felt a sharp pain in his chest, hissed, and said repeatedly, "Good, good, good..."

Zhu Cuiwei glanced at him and snorted again. Suddenly, a thought struck her. She wanted to say, "If you really pass the imperial examination and the Empress really appoints you as the top scholar in the palace examination, what will you do?" But after thinking about it carefully, she realized that no matter what he answered, it would only make her uncomfortable. So she sighed slightly and stopped asking.

The horses trotted along the official road, and in the distance, they could see several bonfires lit on the walls of Nanjing.

For a moment, her mind was filled with thoughts. Sometimes she thought that once the other person passed the imperial examination, or even just the provincial examination, she could arrange an official position for him and then have him propose marriage to the emperor from a humble family, so as to prevent the powerful imperial son-in-law's family from influencing the court. Such a reason seemed plausible.

Sometimes I think, is it better this way? He never knows who he is, but the two of them know and love each other. They ride their horses slowly, through autumn, through winter, through spring, through summer, and keep going until she becomes an old woman with white hair and he becomes an old man with white hair.

The two of them, leaning on their canes, went to the Qinhuai River to release lanterns for the Mid-Autumn Festival. He wrote "Master Zhu is so beautiful," and she wrote "Young Physician Ning is as dashing as ever"... Hmm... Thinking about it... Zhu Cuiwei's lips curved slightly.

After a while, her eyelashes trembled again... She wondered if he knew her identity... would he treat her with the utmost respect and live an uncomfortable life? Or would he live in constant fear, calling her "Your Majesty" and "Your Majesty" as if serving a tiger, afraid of offending her?

A series of false images flashed through her mind. She was both annoyed and angry, and the question "Am I a tiger?" almost slipped out. She felt a mix of emotions.

After a long while, she blinked silently, her eyes bloodshot, looking exhausted, and then stopped thinking about it.

She leaned back into his arms and said:

"Call me when you arrive in the capital."

"I'll call you when I get home," said Master Ning.

The woman shook her head and said, "I still have to go to my shift."

He closed his eyes, completely relaxed, and mumbled sleepily, "I got promoted."

Ning Nan smiled and asked, "How many taels of silver do you earn per month?"

After a while, he saw that his wife did not answer.

I looked down.

Seeing that Cui Cui's eyes were closed and her breathing was steady, it was clear that she had fallen into a deep sleep.

He then quietly and carefully removed his robe, then embraced his wife and covered her with the robe.

……

……

The sky was beginning to lighten with the first light of dawn.

A red sun peeked over the horizon.

On August 29th, Prince Xin ascended the throne, and the imperial city was decorated with lanterns and colorful streamers, and Datong Street was about to become lively.

Master Ning yawned and rode his horse hurriedly through the street.

Just as they arrived at Datong Street, they bumped into Qin Yuanyao.

Cui Cui dismounted, mounted the chestnut horse Qin Yuanyao had led over, and said to him, "Husband, I'm going to my duty." Ning Nan replied, "Remember to eat breakfast."

I was so sleepy and hungry.

He arrived at Fulai Tavern on Datong Street, where the waiter greeted him warmly and arranged for a groom to lead and feed the horse.

Ning Nan chuckled and tipped the waiter two qian of silver, ordered a pot of tea and some breakfast. The waiter exclaimed "Oh dear!" and said with a beaming smile, "Thank you for the tip, Master Ning."

Ning Nan waved his hand and laughed it off.

The steaming hot tea was served, and he had just sat down and taken a sip, not yet tasting it, when he heard someone at the next table say in a shrill voice:

"Hehe, Brother Geng, have you heard? That Tartar really did propose marriage. He went to the Ministry of Rites and even submitted a gift list."

Another person sneered, "He's delusional. A Tartar, with the audacity to propose marriage to the newly enthroned Empress of our Great Liang Dynasty."