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

Outside on the street, flames flickered beneath several iron pots used for boiling water, and the crackling sound of burning firewood could be heard from time to time.

Jiang Luzhi, smelling the herbs and blood in the wounded soldiers' camp, squinted and spoke in a tough, rough tone, his voice full of an unyielding and domineering attitude.

The middle-aged general, aged forty-five, had a short beard.

He had a foul temper and was stubborn, never flattering others. This was the reason why, despite his many military achievements, he was only promoted to the position of General of Jiangpu City this year.

He owes his current position to the strong recommendation of the newly appointed Governor-General of Jiangbei, Shangguan Yun.

My son was wounded in the chest by an arrow. Such an injury is a matter of luck; if it festers and stinks, there's no way to save him.

If it turns green, it won't last more than a day or two.

Having served in the military for many years, he had witnessed this situation countless times, and had long since given up hope.

Seeing that even the imperial physicians thought her son was beyond saving, she felt utterly despondent.

At the same time, her resentment towards the prince consort had already reached its peak.

He wished he could immediately submit a memorial to the emperor, impeaching the Grand Prince Consort for rashly provoking a border conflict and catching the Jiangpu army off guard.

Dong Anguo gripped the long sword at his waist, his eyes fixed on Old Jiang's face, which was glowing with the flickering firelight. For a moment, he couldn't bring himself to offer any further words of advice. He could only sigh and stand quietly outside.

The hour slowly progressed from the hour of Xu (7-9 PM) to the beginning of Hai (9-11 PM).

The tightly closed door opened and closed twice.

Both times, Physician Cheng, drenched in sweat, came out carrying a wooden basin to change the hot water, and forbade them from going in.

Dong Anguo and the others glanced into the wooden basin and saw that it was full of blood and some bits of flesh floating in it, which made them feel a little horrified.

Imperial Physician Cheng asked several times, "Mr. Cheng, what's the situation inside?"

Imperial Physician Cheng, however, simply held up the freshly boiled water, glared at them, and said:

"If you want to get rid of this guy surnamed Jiang, then go ahead and make a scene outside!"

They were afraid that if the other party continued to pester them, it would affect the young master inside.

When Imperial Physician Cheng instructed his disciple to wipe the cold sweat from his forehead, he said:

"General Jiang, Deputy General Dong, if either of you steps into this room without my permission today, I will lead my men back to Nanjing tonight and never return to your Jiangpu City!"

After uttering these extremely heavy words, Physician Cheng walked into the house and slammed the door shut.

Dong Anguo immediately looked embarrassed and said repeatedly, "I'm sorry..."

One of the guards, however, was indignant and retorted, "What's so great about them!"

At this moment, several wounded soldiers outside turned their heads and immediately cast cold glances at this personal guard.

The guards immediately fell silent.

Time slowly passed until midnight.

The medics' water boilers were shut down, leaving only two boilers standing.

Jiang Luzhi stood outside the door, his mind in turmoil.

Jiang Shikuan was a stubborn man who insisted on joining the army and specifically on becoming a night scout. Every time Jiang Shikuan went out of the city to investigate the Tartars, he felt both happy and worried.

The joy was naturally that the boy was not bad; he had lived up to his father Shih-kuan's expectations.

What worries him is that if this kid dies, he will have let down the comrade who used him as a stepping stone.

And now, the day I've been worrying about has finally arrived.

At midnight, the sky was as black as ink.

A faint groan could be heard coming from inside the room, and the smell of blood was very strong.

When the watchman rang the clapper for the hour of Chou (1-3 AM).

"Clang!"

The door, which had been closed for more than two hours, was finally opened.

A figure in a moonlit robe emerged from inside, pushing open the door.

A blood-stained hand reached out.

Jiang Luzhi's pupils contracted involuntarily, his right arm bulged, and he suddenly gripped the hilt of the knife. Dong Anguo immediately reached out and grabbed Jiang Luzhi's arm, signaling him to calm down.

Besides his hands, the white mask on the moonlit robe was also covered in dark bloodstains.

His eyes were tired, and with a tug of his left hand, he pulled the blood-red mask off his face.

He revealed a young, clean-cut, and handsome face.

They spent a long time cleaning Jiang Shikuan's wounds on the bed, stuffed a cloth strip into his mouth, and then carefully cut off all the rotten flesh from his wounds with a ruthless heart.

The young man was exhausted and gave a weary smile to the people outside.

"He's alright, the fever's gone down, and he's bandaged up... He's lucky, he's not allergic to penicillin, and he's already taken it... Hmm... Tomorrow, if he can pull through by tomorrow, he should be able to..."

He went out the door, and the female Taoist priest inside followed him out.

Upon hearing this, Jiang and Dong, who were outside, looked at each other blankly, unable to understand what the young man was saying.

The female Taoist priest closed the door. She had just participated in cleaning the wound and stopping the bleeding. Her hands were covered in bloodstains, and her eyes were both indifferent and tired.

Both of them took off their masks. A medic, who had already followed Physician Cheng's instructions, quickly brought hot water to a wooden table and then shouted, "Young Master! Taoist Priest!" to beckon them over.

The two smiled and agreed, then went to the side to wash their hands and faces with soap powder.

Jiang Luzhi, unaware of the situation inside, remained silent.

Dong Anguo immediately walked up to the young man, clasped his hands in greeting, and said:

"I am Dong Anguo, Deputy Commander-in-Chief of Jiangpu Army. Regardless of Shi Kuan's actions, on behalf of Commander-in-Chief Jiang, I thank you for saving my life."

After a long day of work, Master Ning's forehead was covered in sweat, and his back was soaked with sweat. It was very cold in the middle of winter, and he just wanted to get back to the delegation's residence as soon as possible to take a hot shower.

He shook his head and said:

"You're welcome."

"May I ask your name, sir?"

"My surname is Ning, my given name is Cao, my courtesy name is Nan, and my elders bestowed upon me the courtesy name Baixuan."

Dong Anguo immediately smiled and said, "I've met Brother Ning before. May I ask what official position you hold? Do you have a place to stay in the city?"

Seeing that Imperial Physician Cheng treated this person with utmost respect, he asked the medic guarding the gate and learned that this person seemed to have been sent by His Majesty to inspect the wounded soldiers' camp. He wondered if the person had a place to stay in the city and if any arrangements needed to be made.

Ning Nan changed the water in the basin, wet her face with warm water, rubbed it thoroughly, and said:

"I... um... am currently a compiler in the Hanlin Academy, and I am traveling with the mission. I have accommodation, so there is no need for Lord Dong to trouble himself."

As the top scholar in the imperial examination, his official position was decided a few days ago: compiler of the Hanlin Academy, a sixth-rank official position, which is his fundamental and very prestigious post.

The deputy envoy of the mission could only be considered an official dispatched by the imperial court.

Upon hearing this, Dong Anguo was taken aback: "Hanlin..."

How could it be a Hanlin scholar?

Shouldn't it be something like the Imperial Hospital?

"Hanlin... delegation... Ning..."

Dong Anguo's expression gradually froze.

"Ning...Nan..." His brows slowly furrowed.

Jiang Luzhi had been waiting outside the door, quietly asking the imperial physician inside if he could come in to check on the patient…

At this moment, Imperial Physician Cheng also came out.

"General Jiang, please come in," Physician Cheng said with a smile, wiping his hands with a hot towel as if he had breathed a sigh of relief.

"Your son is awake. Although he is still weak, he can say a few words. Don't disturb him too much. After he says a few words, come out immediately so that your son can sleep peacefully."

Jiang Luzhi was overjoyed. He quickly thanked them and rushed into the house. After taking a few steps, he worried that his son would catch a cold, so he quickly closed the door.

Dong Anguo's expression gradually froze as he watched the young man standing by the wooden table, constantly washing his face and hands with hot water.

"Ning..." His heart pounded wildly as he tentatively uttered two words, "Nan?"