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

When I first came to the capital, if I hadn't studied for a few years and had a grand vision, I probably would have been like him. Upon seeing the prosperity of the capital, I would have looked like I had never seen anything like it before, standing foolishly outside, showing my ignorance and making people laugh at me, thus embarrassing my hometown.

"Minister Yang, is this your fellow townsman?" a colleague asked.

Yang Bing's expression froze, and he immediately regretted it. He shouldn't have greeted her... He should have pretended not to see her.

Although Ning Nan hadn't read many books, he had traveled with me the whole way and didn't seem like an ignorant person; he wouldn't abruptly call out to me.

But if you take the initiative to greet someone, things change, and you'll have to explain yourself, which could easily lead to unnecessary trouble.

"Ah, yes." Yang Bing forced a smile.

Lijia Village and Yangjia Village are separated by Yaoshan Mountain. Many people from the two villages intermarry, so it is not wrong to say that they are from the same hometown.

Tian Xiong, the head of the clerks and clerks, smiled kindly, his large belly protruding:

"Minister Yang, you should catch up with your fellow townsmen first. It's still early, we're not in a hurry."

"Thank you very much, Magistrate Tian!" Yang Bing gratefully cupped his hands in thanks.

He breathed a long sigh of relief, and was about to pull Ning Nan away to give him a few words of advice, telling him it would be best to stand back and watch the show from a distance.

The capital city is not like the countryside. If you offend someone important, you might accidentally suffer a great disaster. There is also a curfew at night, so it is best to go back to your place as soon as possible.

But to his surprise, the grateful smile on Yang Bing's face had just appeared when his actions were interrupted by a discordant voice.

"Hehe, there's no need for that."

An official dressed in a long blue and black robe with a purple-blue jade belt around his waist came out.

He chuckled and said, "Minister Tian, ​​a chance encounter is worse than a planned meeting. Since we've happened to run into a fellow townsman of Magistrate Yang, and it's such a grand occasion, why don't we go in together for a drink? Standing here outside Yanchun Pavilion reminiscing... what's the point?"

Upon hearing this, Yang Bing's expression immediately froze.

The officials' eyes turned somewhat strange, and a few of them even had a mocking look on their lips, but they suppressed it so well that most people wouldn't notice.

They were all shrewd people who had spent many years working in the county government.

How could anyone not understand what Qian Tong meant by those words?

Reminiscing at Yanchun Pavilion?

Ha... Qian Tong is just jealous of Yang Bing's youth and talent. Once Magistrate Tian is promoted, there's a high chance Yang Bing will jump out and compete with him for the position of Chief Clerk. So he tries to embarrass Yang Bing from time to time.

Everyone kept their eyes down, neither responding nor arguing, just watching with smiles. Tian Xiong glanced at him with interest, wanting to see how Yang Bing would answer.

Anyone with eyes could tell from the boy's clothes and where he was standing that he was just a country bumpkin who had come to join the fun. Where would he get the money to go to Yanchun Pavilion?

He wanted to see whether Yang Bing intended to pay for the villager's visit to Yanchun Pavilion himself, or to make excuses and send the villager away.

Qian Tong truly lived up to his reputation as someone who had spent over ten years working in the county government; his move struck Yang Bing right where it hurt.

If Yang Bing had chosen the former, he wouldn't have earned a reputation for generosity and righteousness; he would have been ridiculed for being taken advantage of. Moreover, inviting a fellow villager to a brothel was not a respectable thing to do.

If the latter option is chosen, one will be branded as heartless and disrespectful to the villagers, and both options will result in being punished with noodles being cut off.

"Tsk." Tian Xiong chuckled, his chubby cheeks bouncing up and down.

"Well……"

Ning Nan was stunned for a moment.

He glanced at Yang Bing, then at the man who jumped out and spouted nonsense, and finally at the fat man who was clearly the leader of the group.

I roughly understand what's going on.

He had no intention of getting involved in such petty squabbles, nor did he have any idea of ​​playing dumb to take advantage of others, saying with a trembling voice that he was waiting for the "Hundred-Household Commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard" to slap him in the face.

He turned around, clasped his hands in a fist salute to Yang Bing, who looked struggled and unsure how to begin, and said with a smile, "Brother Yang, it's been a long time."

Yang Bing also awkwardly clasped his hands in a fist salute.

He clenched his back teeth.

There's not much you can do in this situation; you can only invite them into Yanchun Pavilion, and of course, you'll have to pay for it yourself.

One tael of silver was already a big problem. Clerks' salaries were low, and they mainly relied on making extra money outside. But as a newly recruited clerk, he hadn't even mastered the skill of making extra money yet, and he was already short of money.

Moreover, one tael of silver is just the entrance fee. Yanchun Pavilion is a den of iniquity. Once inside, even the cheapest pot of tea costs at least two taels of silver. Pastries are unaffordable. Being able to enjoy tea while watching the song and dance performances is already a rare privilege.

But before he could even grit his teeth and extend the invitation, Ning Nan had already smiled and said, "Thank you so much for your kind act this morning, Brother Yang..."

Yang Bing was about to speak when Ning Nan interrupted him again.

Ning Nan sincerely explained that his family was poor and he had come to the capital to find some work. Brother Yang drove his carriage to pick him up from the village, and after arriving in Nanjing, he introduced him to a menial job at a restaurant... He was just waiting for his friend here, not intending to enter this den of iniquity. He would leave after his friend arrived, not daring to disturb everyone's enjoyment.

His words were impeccable, taking care of everyone's emotions and face.

At this moment, not only Yang Bing, but the other officials also looked at him differently, and couldn't help but carefully examine him from head to toe.

The country boy's speech, demeanor, and eyes didn't resemble those of a waiter working in a restaurant; he seemed more like a scholar on his way to the capital for the imperial examinations!

These words, delivered with a balanced and measured approach, not only extricated Yang Bing from his predicament but also subtly elevated his status, drawing a strange glint in the eyes of the crowd.

Yang Bing felt completely relaxed.

He gave a grateful look and quickly said something like, "Brother Ning, you're too kind. We're all from the same village, and it's only natural to help each other. As the sage said..."

"Well, that's a relief..." Ning Nan nodded with a smile.

The clerk who jumped out gave him a cold look and snorted.

Ning Nan didn't care about the other person's gaze.

But I remembered it.

After the minor incident, Tian Xiong chuckled and said, "This young friend isn't interested in brothels. We common folk can't follow his example. We can't have come here for nothing." Everyone immediately laughed and agreed, becoming good accomplices to their superior, and they decided to go in together.

At this time.

A deep yet shrill voice suddenly rang out.

"Brother Ning! What are you doing here?!"

The voice was strange; there was a hint of surprise in the tone, but the timbre was rough, and it didn't sound like a man, but rather like a woman deliberately speaking in a rough voice.

Yang Bing had already composed himself and planned to enter Yanchun Pavilion with his superiors and colleagues.

Upon hearing this sound...

Like everyone else, he was drawn in and turned to look.

Two scholars in white robes came into view.

They were all short, and each of them carried a folding fan.

The girl on the left ran towards the country boy; she had a fair and pretty face.

The one on the right was pouting, seemingly somewhat dissatisfied, but still jogged after her. She was quite good-looking and on par with the one on the left.

"Alright, they are two young ladies."

The group stopped in their tracks, looked around, and were filled with curiosity.

The two women were exceptionally beautiful and had a refined air about them. Although they were dressed as men, their appearances far surpassed those of ordinary women. Upon closer inspection of their attire, one could see that they wore high-quality black and purple jade belts around their waists, adorned with jade pendants and red tassels. The crowd's eyes narrowed slightly. The clerks, who were seasoned in judging people, could immediately tell that the two women were either rich or noble.

But why do these two obviously extraordinary young ladies seem to be quite familiar with this country boy?

Could these two be the friends the young man was waiting for?

The moonlight tonight is a cold white.

The light in Yanchun Pavilion, however, was a mix of gold and red.

The two lights blended perfectly together and fell on the other person's face, making their appearance appear even more radiant.

Ning Nan stared in astonishment at the scholar in front of him with a burning gaze.

"Uh... ginger..."

Snapped--

Jiang Sixue flicked her folding fan with her fair hand, raised her chin, and said in a rough voice, "Call me Brother Jiang!"