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

The meal wasn't exactly a pleasant one for both host and guests, but Master Ning certainly did his best to liven up the atmosphere.

Before leaving, Li Yanting glanced at Qinghuan subtly. Qinghuan turned her head away, and Li Yanting's eyes flickered, a hint of sadness in them. His gaze shifted unpredictably, but his words continued:

"Brother Ning, well, the date for the prefectural examination has been set. You must cheer up. The results haven't been posted by the prefectural government yet, but it should be around the beginning of October..."

Li Yanting was among the top ten in the county, and Jiangning was an attached county. At dusk, the top ten scholars, except for the top scholar in the county, were summoned to the county government office by the county magistrate and a mentor-student relationship was established.

The county magistrate smiled and encouraged them, saying, "Jiangning is a land of outstanding people and abundant resources. You are the hope of the county. The prefectural examination will be held at the beginning of next month... You must do your best..." Li Yanting and the other nine were naturally very grateful.

By subtly revealing the unannounced date of the prefectural examination to them in advance, the county magistrate used this as a small tactic to win people's hearts, thus incurring a favor.

The county magistrate was in a hurry to entertain his guests, so he did not keep them any longer.

Ning Nan smiled and thanked him.

Madam Xiao brought gifts, including a priceless Tang Dynasty inkstone, as well as many writing brushes, ink, paper, and other tonics such as ginseng, deer antler, bird's nest, and lingzhi mushrooms.

"Grandson."

The stunningly beautiful Marquis, only forty years old, called out with a smile, her tone perfectly natural.

Ning Nan responded helplessly and called her "Grandma".

Madam Xiao was quite pleased and smiled as she encouraged him, saying, "Whether it's the county exam or the prefectural exam, it doesn't really reveal much. Your great-aunt's father was only mediocre in the county exam, but that didn't stop him from passing the provincial exam at twenty and becoming a Jinshi at twenty-three. With your talent and diligence, you will soon stand out..."

Mr. Gongsun will not be able to become the Minister of Rites for another three months, while Xiao Minmin's father... is the current Minister of Rites.

Xiao Minmin was overjoyed to learn that her father was about to retire. She had already prepared a house and would move to Taiping Street next to her once her father retired.

Ning Nan smiled and clasped his hands in thanks to his great-aunt for her advice.

Madam Xiao sighed again, "Your uncle didn't come to congratulate you on passing the county exam. It's not that he doesn't care about you, it's just..."

Madam Xiao frowned, her tone somewhat complicated, and said, "He's been acting strangely lately, always fuming... and he keeps running to the palace... When I ask him what's wrong, he won't say..."

Ning Nan was taken aback, and said in a slightly hurried tone, "Uncle's health..." He didn't finish his sentence to avoid breaking the taboo of prophecy.

Madam Xiao understood what he meant and shook her head with a smile, saying, "No, no, no, don't worry, your great-uncle is in good health... Doctor, Doctor, do you know him?"

Physician Gong, the master of Doctor Jiang Sixue… Ning Nan nodded: “His name is legendary.”

"The physician and his apprentice traveled all over the country for months collecting herbs, and they actually found a miraculous medicine that has a remarkable effect on your uncle's chronic cough... Your uncle is much better now..." Madam Xiao said with a smile.

There was a slight bitterness in her smile. Because the doctor said... there wasn't much medicine left... and her husband's illness hadn't completely healed.

However, since this talented grand-nephew was about to take the imperial examination, he naturally only listened to the good points.

Hearing that his uncle was recovering, Ning Nan felt relieved and let out a long sigh of relief, saying with a smile, "That's good. Bai Xuan will personally visit later to thank Physician and Doctor Jiang..."

A soft, warm moon hung in the sky.

Aunt Beizhi was in a bad mood. She took out her purse and, as always, stuffed a silver note worth a thousand taels of silver into his hand.

Ning Nan neither inherited the title nor returned to the Marquis's mansion. All the money in the Jingbei Marquis's mansion belonged to her. Her maternal grandfather, who was the Minister of Rites, only had one daughter. Her maternal grandfather and grandmother doted on her and often gave her money and gifts. She had more money than she could ever spend.

Ning Nan held the silver note, called out "Little Aunt," and said with a wry smile, "I don't lack money."

Ning Beizhi said, "Your aunt only has money to give you."

Ning Nan had no choice but to obediently accept the thousand taels of silver.

Ning Beizhi smiled, snorted, and said like a little adult, "Study hard and bring honor to the Ning family."

Upon hearing the little girl's words, Madam Xiao and Ning Nan exchanged a smile outside the Ning family mansion gate.

Immediately, Madam Xiao took her leave and reached out to take her daughter's hand.

Ning Beizhi, however, flung her hand away, snorted, and angrily walked towards the carriage of the Marquis of Jingbei's residence.

Madam Xiao gave Ning Nan an apologetic smile, her eyes filled with helplessness, as if to say, "Look at my ignorant daughter."

The well-educated and reasonable Marquis's wife was not angry with her daughter. She simply lifted her skirt and quickly followed after her.

Ning Nan chuckled. She wondered what had gotten into her aunt and great-aunt, but mother and daughter rarely hold grudges overnight; they'd probably be fine by tomorrow.

……

The lights were dim and yellowish.

Of the two sandalwood desks in the Ning family's study, one has been vacant for a long time.

The county examination has ended, but the prefectural examination is just around the corner.

Ning Nan dared not slack off. After rubbing his face, he opened a copy of "Qinglongmen Examination Records" and began to read it carefully.

This book was a gift from Mr. Gongsun. It contains a series of essay questions and corresponding eight-legged essays, some written by candidates of that time and others by great Confucian scholars later on.

With a serious expression, Master Ning read the problem while pondering in his mind how he would solve it if he were in that situation, and then compared it with others to see where his solution was lacking.

The lamp oil gradually burned out.

The bright yellow light in the study gradually turned into a dim yellow.

A soft sound of footsteps was heard outside.

Ning Nan didn't even look up, knowing that it was Chunyu, his dutiful little maid, who had come to add oil to his lamp.

really.

The figure went toward the lamp, and a moment later, the room became bright again.

Ning Nan rubbed his slightly sore eyes and smiled, "Go to sleep early, Master still needs to read for a while longer."

The figure did not answer, but slowly approached him.

Ning Nan was taken aback.

I put down the book and looked up.

A pretty, fair-skinned face, yet somewhat haggard, appeared before him.

"Um?"

Master Ning smiled at his wife and said:

"Why are you back so soon?"

"It's already midnight," said Cui Cui's wife as she walked over, placed her hand on his shoulder, and whispered.

Ning Nan put his left hand back on his shoulder, holding her fingers, which were a little cold.

"It's so late..." He couldn't help but gasp.

The two went back to their room together. During the trip, Ning Nan said to her with a smile, "From now on, people who fail the county exam won't say they've failed; they'll say they've failed Ning Nan."

Zhu Cuiwei took his hand, listened to the young doctor's words, and glanced at him in the night.

Seeing the young doctor's expression—a mixture of sighs, emotions, resentment, confusion, and composure—she pursed her lips and quietly took his hand.

The two fell asleep in each other's arms.

The next morning, as dawn broke in the east.

Ning Nan woke up, even earlier than Cuicui.

If you fail the county exam, you have to work even harder for the prefectural exam.

He planned to get up early and write another eight-legged essay to show to Master Gongsun.

But as he slowly sat up and moved the blanket covering him toward his wife, his gaze suddenly became fixed. Through the blurry vision, he saw that Cui Cui's wife's face was covered in tears. He reached out and touched it, and found that both of their pillows were soaked with tears, turning them black.

……

……

September 22nd.

The weather was gloomy, and the autumn wind swept across the long street.

Ning Nan stood outside the government office located on the main east-west street of Jiangning City, his clothes fluttering in the wind, and silently took a breath.

The prefectural government has just posted the results, and the date for the prefectural examination is set for the second day of the tenth month.