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

After a hearty meal and drinks, both host and guests enjoyed themselves immensely.

"I am but a commoner, and I am truly grateful for Uncle Chen's trouble today."

Outside Fulai Tavern, Ning Nan calmly bowed to Manager Chen, his expression slightly embarrassed, as if he were somewhat ashamed.

Shopkeeper Chen responded with an "Eh," feigning displeasure, "Young Master Ning, you're too kind. It's an honor to have you condescend to call me Uncle Chen; it's nothing, just a small token of hospitality!"

Ning Nan smiled sincerely and thanked him again. The other party waved his hand to indicate that he didn't mind, and then said with a smile that his plump boss, Chen Ruhai, would be returning to Nanjing tomorrow. At that time, he would personally deliver the letter to his boss, so young master could rest assured.

The drunken Shangguan Xiu was supported by two Imperial Guards and stood to one side, his face flushed and one eye slightly open.

Ning Nan turned his head to say goodbye to Shangguan Xiu. Shangguan Xiu opened his hands, rubbed his eyes, winked at Ning Nan, and smiled as he made a promise with him to meet at Yanchun Pavilion at 7:00 PM.

"There's going to be a good show at Yanchun Pavilion tonight... Miss Qingyue from the Northern Dynasty... Miss Jin'er... tsk... competing for beauty on the same stage... hehe..." he chuckled intermittently.

Ning Nan shook his head and said seriously, "I would avoid places like brothels unless Brother Yushan invited me."

"Shangguan naturally knows Brother Ning's character well... but wouldn't it be a pity if Brother Ning didn't experience the local customs and the sights of the capital?" Shangguan Xiu gave him a knowing look.

Ning Nan adopted a receptive expression, raising his eyes and saying, "Brother Yushan is right..."

There's nothing we can do about it... it's all about local customs and culture... you really should experience it...

Datong Street is about three li long and six zhang wide. The ground is paved with neat bluestone slabs. It is a bustling commercial street with people coming and going. From time to time, you can hear the energetic shouts of sedan chair carriers and the creaking of horse-drawn carriages rolling on the road.

Ning Nan slung a gray bag over his shoulder, waved goodbye to the two, turned and disappeared into the crowd, his hurried steps fading into the end of the street.

As the other party walked away, Shangguan Xiu's originally red and cloudy eyes gradually cleared up. His face was still red, but he lifted the arms that were pressing on the shoulders of the two Imperial Guards and straightened his back.

A quick-witted guard beside him chuckled and casually inquired of Manager Chen, "Manager, what is this Young Master Ning's relationship to your master?"

Manager Chen chuckled and said, "Young Master Ning is an old friend of the master, and there is a token as proof. I don't know the specifics, so just focus on entertaining this distinguished guest."

While giving a flawless answer, he secretly glanced at Shangguan Xiu.

The Embroidered Uniform Guard has a notorious reputation; it's better to avoid trouble.

The man before us, Commander Shangguan, is no ordinary man. He is the seventh son of the Marquis of Zhenguo, and next month he will become one of the Marquis's only two legitimate sons.

This young master of the Marquis's mansion was a frequent visitor to brothels in the past few years. He was a notorious playboy on the Qinhuai River, never hesitating to spend money like water.

But this year, for some reason, he suddenly changed his mind. Not only did he join the Embroidered Uniform Guard to become the emperor's personal guard, but I also heard that he is very ambitious. He started from the rank of captain and hasn't been to the sensual Qinhuai River for several months.

Without the extravagant spending of Young Master Shangguan, the courtesans of the Qinhuai River seemed to have lost some of their luster, like peonies in bloom. It's said that quite a few even shed tears for him.

Shangguan Xiu was unaware of the gossip surrounding him; he only stared in the direction Ning Nan had left, and slightly raised his eyes.

...

...

It was June, and the afternoon sun was getting increasingly scorching.

After lunch, Zhu Cuiwei sat by the window, slowly flipping through a book left behind by Ning Nan to pass the time.

Ning put on a straw hat and went out, saying she was going to check out the land.

Before the only man in the family left, he had actually made arrangements. He hired two day laborers to water and fertilize the land, so Ning didn't need to go herself. Sanzhuang would also help watch over the land. But the old woman was still worried and wanted to keep an eye on things.

Zhu Cuiwei wanted to stop her, but after opening her mouth, she stopped.

She felt that Ning was not quite right in the day; her steps were unsteady and her face was pale.

At lunchtime, the old woman, who usually had a great appetite, only ate a few bites before putting down her chopsticks, saying, "It's too hot, Godmother can't eat anymore."

Zhu Cuiwei silently thought, "Why don't I cook a meal for Ning Shi myself tonight?"

Before Chef Ning left home this morning, Madam Ning lit three incense sticks and asked him to kowtow several times to the three ancestral tablets in the main room.

"May the late Ning Changping, Zhou Rui, and Ning Beiwang protect their descendants Ning Nan and ensure their safe passage..."

She was standing next to Ning Shi at the time, listening to Ning Shi muttering devoutly as she inserted three incense sticks into the incense burner.

Zhu Cuiwei raised her eyes, looked at the scorching sun outside, and stood up.

She nodded her chin, a determined expression on her fair and delicate face.

"I'll cook dinner," the woman said to herself.

...

...

At the scorching early afternoon, Ning Nan finally arrived at Doctor Jiang Sixue's Shangchun Hall. The location was surprisingly easy to find, as Shangchun Hall was unexpectedly famous.

"I never imagined that Doctor Jiang's reputation was so great!"

Ning Nan stared at the plaque above his head with the three large characters "Shangchuntang" inscribed on it, somewhat speechless.

It's not because the characters are so big, or so well written, but because the signature is so unusual that it's almost overwhelming.

"Changjun, the thirteenth year of Longchang"

Changjun is the name of Emperor Longchang, the grandfather of the current emperor. This is the name written by the late emperor.

"With this plaque, you can walk around Nanjing with impunity," Ning Nan remarked.

While we were eating at Fulai Tavern, I asked about Shangchuntang. Shangguan Xiuxiu said that Shangchuntang is located in Jiangning County, adjacent to the Qinhuai River.

The owner of the pharmacy is a peerless physician and is respectfully called Physician Gong. Although he is not an imperial physician, the current head of the Imperial Medical Academy is Physician Gong's apprentice... Ning Nan felt that the prestige of the title Physician Gong had to be raised even higher.

Standing in front of the gate, patients coming and going ranged from those in coarse linen clothes to those in fine clothes. Those who went in had furrowed brows, while a few who came out always had smiles on their faces.

Ning Nan took a breath and stepped into the pharmacy, the faint scent of herbs gradually filling his chest.

Enter through the gate.

Looking around, the pharmacy was enormous. In front of it was a large medicine cabinet about ten feet long, with dozens of small drawers neatly arranged up and down, filling one wall. The small drawers were labeled with names like "Panax notoginseng," "Angelica sinensis," and "Musk."

A large counter stands in front of the medicine cabinet, and five clerks stand behind it, carrying small brass scales, weighing medicine for patients with meticulous expressions.

Turning to the left, there seemed to be about three doctors inside. The patients were lined up in three long queues. Some patients seemed worried that he would cut in line, staring at him with wide eyes, their gazes filled with wariness and scrutiny.

Ning Nan then stepped back a little.

The pharmacy was crowded, but very quiet.

Seeing that no one greeted him, Ning Nan frowned and walked further inside.

He discovered that he was currently in the front hall.

I looked inside.

There's another yard in the back, planted with many flowers and plants, I don't know what kind they are, they're probably all medicinal.

Patients still come and go in the backyard from time to time, but the number has decreased significantly.

I guess there's a doctor in the backyard too, just treating different specialties.

For example, the doctor in the front room treats illnesses like colds and headaches, while the doctor in the back room treats more serious illnesses.

Ning Nan politely asked a young man, "Excuse me, where is Doctor Jiang Sixue? My name is Ning..."

"Oh, you're looking for Senior Sister Jiang?" He pointed inside. "Go to the backyard, she's treating patients there... You'll have to wait, there are quite a few people looking for her..." After saying that, he grabbed a handful of Panax notoginseng, put it on the small brass scale, and lifted it up.

Ning Nan was about to ask again, but seeing the look in the eyes of the woman waiting for the young man to get her medicine, she awkwardly withdrew her hand and walked towards the backyard.

The doctors in the backyard were also very busy, and the line was quite long. We searched several rooms but couldn't find Dr. Jiang.

Then, with an appreciative heart, I began to stroll around the flowers and plants in the yard.

The yard is very large.

Walking a little further in, a small pond came into view. The sun was shining brightly today, and the water was sparkling.

There is a pavilion by the pond, with a stone table and stone benches inside.

There were two people sitting inside, enjoying the cool air.

Thinking that he shouldn't disturb the doctors treating patients in the backyard, Ning Nan walked towards the pavilion, intending to stay there and talk to Doctor Jiang when he had time, without getting in the way.

Enter the pavilion.

He then realized that the people sitting in the pavilion were two old men, playing chess on a stone table.

Ning Nan placed his gray bag on the bench and squinted at the chessboard on the stone table.

The situation is good; the two players are evenly matched.

But after the two took a few steps, he frowned.

After looking at a few more steps...

"Ha, two lousy chess players." He muttered in a very low voice, pursing his lips.

But as luck would have it, both old men had such sharp ears that they both turned their heads to look at him.