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

The bright moon hangs in the sky.

The procession of people calling out names in the evening marched all the way from the county government office of Shangyuan County to the Ning family's home.

The fact that a top scholar had emerged from Datong Street was already common knowledge.

The families on the street were greatly honored and felt proud.

Passing the imperial examination was already an extraordinary achievement, let alone winning first place and becoming the top scholar!

Besides, this is the top scholar from the Southern Zhili region, a place teeming with talented individuals!

He was naturally slightly better than the top scholar from other provinces.

It's safe to say that this top scholar has already passed the imperial examination! The only question is whether he will be ranked in the first or second class.

To share in the good fortune brought by this celestial star of literature, every household along the long street decorated their homes with lanterns and set off firecrackers.

As for the top scholar himself, it was almost midnight before he slowly rode back to Datong Street in his carriage.

"Greetings to Lord Jieyuan!"

As soon as the master of Ning Mansion stepped off the carriage, he saw Steward Wang leading a large group of servants from Ning Mansion who were all beaming as they bowed to him.

Master Ning was both amused and exasperated. He told them to get up and waved his hands, saying he would reward them with silver.

Chunyu said with a grin, "Master! Madam already gave you a reward!"

Qiu Mu jumped up and down happily, saying, "Madam gave each of us five taels of silver! She also gave us silk and lots of meat!"

Upon hearing that Cui Cui's wife had already given her a reward, Master Ning smiled and said, "That's good..."

……

"Someone has been sent to inform the Marquis's residence...and someone has also been sent to Li Family Village to inform the Old Madam...The Gongsun residence has also sent someone...Madam sent someone to deliver one hundred taels of gold to Mr. Huang of the private school in Willow Leaf Lane..."

Ning Nan nodded and hummed in agreement.

After the master had gathered his thoughts, Steward Wang continued, bowing slightly, "..."

"Sir, there's also... Magistrate Ye of Shangyuan County has sent a visiting card... indicating that he will be paying a visit to you soon..."

"...Fu Lai Tavern delivered five roast suckling pigs this evening, so we can try their cooking first... Manager Chen of Fu Lai Tavern said he hopes they can cover the entire seven-day Ning Mansion banquet starting tomorrow. The Ning Mansion won't have to pay a single penny; it's just to thank you, sir... Sir, this old man wouldn't dare to presume... We haven't received a reply yet..."

"Xianyue Pavilion sent thirty jars of top-quality wine and said they would host a continuous banquet... so the Ning family wouldn't have to pay anything..."

"Hmm, Tianjinlou and Songhelou on Fengwei Street, and Heminglou on Gongyuan Street... they all sent gifts... Tianjinlou's gift list included fifty sheep, saying they specialize in mutton soup... Ningfu's banquet... they said they could send their head chef to only prepare the mutton... and leave the rest to other restaurants..."

"...Su Jin Ge has sent thirty bolts of fine silk, and said...and that they'll see if you have time tomorrow...they'll send a tailor to take your measurements and sew you a fine scholar's robe...Manager Liu Xin came personally...and said that you must not let other shops take advantage of you..."

"The grain shop and Da Chen rice shop on the east side of the street... delivered rice..."

"Ge's Oil Shop, Chen Shui Wine Shop... and some other miscellaneous shops sent all sorts of gifts... The gift lists are all kept... Don't worry, sir..."

……

Like moonlight reflected in water.

Ning Nan walked with his hands behind his back, while Steward Wang told him some things.

Ning Nan nodded repeatedly, secretly relieved that he had kept the old steward with him.

Wang Baoqi had previously served as the steward of the residence of the Vice Minister of Rites, so he was adept at interpersonal relationships, meticulous in his work, and quite familiar with all kinds of neighbors on Datong Street. He managed the accounts very well and was also an expert in etiquette, so Ning Nan was quite at ease with him.

Pass through the main hall of the courtyard.

Entering the second courtyard.

In early winter, the yard is bare.

Inside the dimly lit flower hall, a figure dressed in emerald green stood waiting for him, holding a cup of tea in one hand.

When Steward Wang saw that the lady was waiting for the master, he naturally dared not linger. He smiled sheepishly and took his leave. Master Ning smiled and waved his hand.

Step into the flower hall.

Cui Cui's wife glanced at him, offered him tea with both hands, and curtsied, saying:

"This humble servant greets the top scholar."

Ning Nan pretended to accept the tea, took a sip, smacked his lips, and said:

"It's gone cold. But the tea leaves are good, it's just a pity that the person who brewed the tea didn't do a good job."

With a whoosh, Granny Cui immediately straightened up, snorted, glanced at him with her long, bright eyes, and said:

"Master Ning, the top scholar, is truly impressive!"

"Clang!"

Ning Nan placed the teacup on the jade round table.

Without any hesitation, he stepped forward and picked up his wife in his arms.

Zhu Cuiwei felt a lightness in her body as her black hair fell down. Although she had been married for a long time, her two maids, Chunyu and Qiumu, were standing beside her. When the other party made such a move, her face couldn't help but blush slightly. The two maids immediately ran out of the flower hall and hid outside.

Master Ning snorted and looked down at his wife, saying:

"You're already a top scholar, can't you still show off your power?"

Zhu Cuiwei lay in his arms, looking at his bloodshot eyes and his somewhat thin face... Lately, he had been studying and writing every day, and often hadn't even eaten.

She stretched out her fair right hand, pinched the young doctor's cheek, and whispered to him:

"Just because you're not the top scholar in the imperial examination doesn't mean you can't have fun!"

"Hmm?" Ning Jieyuan paused in his breathing.

Immediately...

Tap, tap, tap, tap... A series of hurried footsteps echoed in the flower hall.

The two maids, Chunyu and Qiumu, who had been hiding outside, saw the master carrying the mistress back to their room.

As their personal maids, they could only blush and follow behind... Ignoring the sounds coming from inside, the two maids dutifully slept on the couch in the outer room, covering their heads tightly with the blankets, pretending they couldn't hear anything...

……

……

The imperial examination was scheduled for the third day of the twelfth lunar month.

Given the importance of the imperial examination, it was practically within reach.

Therefore, when the Ning family held a seven-day banquet, Ning Nan only appeared in the morning, bowed to thank the neighbors and the chefs who came to cook, and then went to the Gongsun family with his books to prepare for the imperial examination.

The guests naturally understood, and not only understood, but admired him even more, feeling that Ning Jieyuan was not arrogant or impatient, and truly had the demeanor of a literary star.

The main chefs, assistant chefs, and cooks at the Ning Mansion's banquet were all from Fu Lai Tavern.

Tianjinlou was responsible for some mutton, Xianyuege was responsible for some wine and some of Xianyuege's signature dishes, and Songhelou also sent several master chefs and some kitchen helpers... The seven-day banquet stretched from the second courtyard of Ning Mansion all the way to the first courtyard, out the door, and all the way to the main street...

In the past few days, he has met all sorts of people.

The day after the results of the provincial examination were announced, Ye Huaimin, the magistrate of Shangyuan County, came to visit. Ning Nan naturally received him with a warm smile.

Although he was from Jiangning County, he lived in Shangyuan County and participated in the Southern Zhili provincial examination. In addition, there was the matter of Lou Jizuo... On the night the results of the provincial examination were announced, Lou Jizuo left the city in disgrace and rushed to Dazhou. He didn't even wait until the next day... Ye Huaimin naturally didn't hold back and counted his "top scorer" as the achievement of Shangyuan County.

On the third day after the results were announced, there was a banquet for the top scholars. As the top scholar, he naturally had to be present and socialize with the chief examiner, fellow examiners, and even his fellow examinees... Ugh, his face was practically frozen from smiling...

After the banquet was held and several dinners were attended, the lavish feast was over.

The Ning family returned to peace on November 27th.

It snowed early last night, but fortunately the snow was thin and melted slowly soon after dawn.

He was walking down Datong Street, heading towards his finally opened "Ning's Money Shop".

But on the street, they saw a large procession.

At a glance, there were twenty-four large horses on each side of the front of the procession.

The knights on horseback wore gleaming Northern Dynasty red-studded armor and hats, each carrying a banner to lead the way.

Following the horse team was a palanquin pulled by four horses.

The carriage was entirely golden, with a phoenix singing aloud carved on it; at a glance, one could tell that it was of immeasurable nobility.

An official with a full beard rode atop a black horse, guarding the imperial carriage.

Following the imperial carriage was a guard of about a hundred men, carrying long spears.

The procession marched in unison, making a rumbling sound as they passed through Datong Street, seemingly heading towards the Imperial Palace.

……

Ning Nan accepted the sugar cakes from the vendor, who wrapped them in a copy of the Nancheng Daily newspaper that he had somehow acquired.

Master Ning was not surprised. He took the sugar cake, and since his fingers were a little hot, he switched hands from time to time.

He clicked his tongue curiously, nodded towards the line, and asked, "Who's this? Do you know?"

That Tartar prince?

The vendor, having lived in the capital for a long time, was no stranger to such scenes. He wiped his hands with a handkerchief, his face beaming with smiles, and said cheerfully:

"Who else could this be, sir?"

"Isn't that the Northern Dynasty princess?"