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

Zhen Susu remained silent for a long time.

Ning Nan pondered for a while, then came to his senses and glanced at the girl, only to find that she had fallen asleep with her head resting on the table.

Xu Xiyin said apologetically:

"Susu was injured. After escaping at Yin Shi, she was worried about being caught and didn't rest. She must be exhausted by now."

Ning Nan nodded indifferently, and let the female Taoist priest help the sleeping female assassin sit up halfway.

He took out his key and clicked it open the handcuffs on the other person's hands and feet.

"Carry her to your room and get a good night's sleep," Ning Nan said.

"Thank you, Master!"

Xu Xiyin said gratefully.

The female Taoist priest closed her whisk, and the sharp blade was hidden inside the plain wooden handle.

then.

With a strong pull, she carried the woman, who was fast asleep and snoring softly, on her back to her west wing.

Qian Sijin, who was outside, helped close the door.

Ning Nan thought for a while, rummaged through his bag, and took out a copy of "Journey to the West," which was the codebook he and his wife, Cui Cui, had agreed upon.

Pour water.

Grind the ink.

When the fragrance of ink dissipates.

When he saw the character "朕" (zhen, meaning "I" or "the Emperor") in Yongzheng's memorial, he would flip through "Journey to the West" to find out which page, line, and character it was, and then write down the number.

Using this encrypted method, he wrote a letter to Cui Cui's wife. The letter not only transcribed the secret letter but also conveyed some of his thoughts to her.

This is a slow and painstaking process; until the security personnel are properly trained, he has to do it himself.

It took him more than an hour to finish writing the letter filled with numbers.

……

……

The next day.

In the morning, he processed and approved many matters in the east wing.

He now handles all the affairs of the mission, big and small.

He had to oversee every detail, including the procurement of winter clothing for the mission, the replacement of mules and horses, the transportation of provisions, and even the maintenance of the mission's various weapons, when they went north.

Not only should you be aware of this, but you should also be aware of it yourself.

The junior official in green robes in charge of this matter should also be aware of the situation.

He asked questions such as, "How many more days will the mission's food supply last?"

If a minor official in green robes stammers or utters a number that is clearly illogical, he will look up at the person and then turn to ask the person's deputy. If the deputy can answer, the person in charge will be promoted to deputy, and the deputy will be promoted to head.

After returning to Nanjing, he was promoted to the rank of deputy.

If the deputy cannot answer, then the official will be reprimanded.

After a few days, whenever he asked a question, all the officials were filled with trepidation, and the delegation was in perfect order.

The memorial he received last night had left him feeling uneasy all day.

I just want to go to Beijing as soon as possible to verify some things.

At noon, the Governor-General's Office of Jiangnan hosted another banquet for the Southern Dynasty delegation, but this time it was not at the office, but at Xiaohu Lake.

The government not only invited high-ranking members of the delegation such as Prince Jing, Jia Shi'an, and Wu Yuanlei, but also imperial censors like Cai Tong.

Ningnan excused himself to be ill and did not go.

However, Zhang Yaojie and Tong Shun were each assigned a cavalry unit to protect the important officials.

Everyone left.

As a result, Crane Garden became mostly empty.

At the hour of Chen (7-9 AM), Li Wei's adopted daughter, Li Xinlian, came to visit with two maids, while Ning Nan continued to feign illness.

Xu Xiyin received the governor's daughter on his behalf in the main hall.

"They only talked about poetry, mostly about romance and nature, praising the cult leader to the skies."

At noon, Xu Xiyin returned to report.

He ate in the east wing and smiled, "Let's hide for a day. We'll get through this. We'll leave Huai'an tomorrow."

Xu Xiyin nodded as well.

Only Zhen Susu glanced at him a few times with her slightly alluring eyes and said:

"That Li Xinlian is extremely beautiful. With her throwing herself at you like that, does the cult leader really not have any interest?"

Master Ning casually raised his eyelids, glanced at the other person who was idly scooping chicken soup from the bowl, and said:

"Fox Girl, is her 'Green Waist' dance better, or yours?"

Zhen Susu rolled her eyes, about to say, "Of course it's me!", but then her expression softened, and she smiled sweetly:

"Why don't we call her into this room, and then the two of us will dance together for the leader to see? Whoever the leader says is better, is better."

Hmm… Ning Nan choked on her words, and with a soft tap, Xu Xiyin calmly tapped her smooth forehead with her chopsticks:

"Shut up. Drink your soup."

After being tapped by the nun Xu, Zhen Susu lowered her head with a flicker of emotion and picked up the slightly cooled chicken soup with one hand.

Afternoon, around 3 PM.

On her second visit, Li Xinlian brought a doctor and medicinal herbs.

Xu Xiyin stepped forward again and received the other party in the main hall.

"Hehe," Xu Xiyin bowed and smiled, "Thank you, Miss Li. But I am also somewhat knowledgeable in traditional Chinese medicine, and besides, Vice Envoy Ning is not seriously injured. I'm grateful for your help, Miss Li."

Li Xinlian's eyes were red and swollen, and she looked pitiful as she said:

"Master Xu, is Young Master Ning truly alright?"

"It's just a case of acclimatization issues. After taking a few doses of medicine, Vice Envoy Ning should be fully recovered by tomorrow."

Li Xinlian wrings her handkerchief: "Since Vice Envoy Ning is suffering from such a serious illness, he could postpone his departure from Huai'an for a few days."

Xu Xiyin shook her head: "The mission bears a heavy responsibility, and Vice Envoy Ning cannot leave for even a day or two."

After lingering for a while, Li Xinlian sighed a few times and left.

The sun is westward.

Night gradually fell.

Just when Ning Nan thought he was about to get through the day, Li Wei arrived in person.

Ningnan continues to claim illness.

The other party then sent someone to pass in a note.

Ning Nan held the note, his expression turning slightly astonished.

People say that Li Wei is illiterate, which is obviously a false rumor, but it is true that Li Wei is not very literate.

The note contained only one line of small print, written clearly and unambiguously:

"I, Li, am here by order of the Emperor to host a banquet for Vice Envoy Ning. I cannot disobey the imperial decree. I humbly request that Vice Envoy Ning do me the honor of meeting me and sharing a cup of Huai'an wine. It is freezing cold, and my men are currently clearing the ice from the roads for the mission. Wine can ward off the cold. If we do not drink, the mission may not be able to depart tomorrow."

Inside the main hall of Heyuan Garden.

Li Wei laughed and pulled Ning Nan, who had come over, to sit down.

"Brother Ning, it's been a long time!"

The round table was already laden with delicacies from land and sea.

A maid is pouring wine for Ning Nan.

Li Wei, dressed in a black silk robe but not in official attire, gleamed with a sharp light in his eyes and smiled:

"Originally, I intended to have a private conversation with Bai Xuan at today's banquet at Xiao Lake, but Bai Xuan dislikes crowds and claimed to be ill and did not attend. So I had no choice but to resort to this tactic and invite Bai Xuan for a chat."

Ning Nan glanced at the sincere-looking Governor-General of Jiangnan and smiled:

"Lord Li, I am a little confused right now. I had a minor disagreement with Prince Hongfeng of your dynasty before, a little squabble over pride. Such a trivial matter is nothing to us in the Southern Dynasty."

"Your dynasty, however, feels sorry for that porcelain doll-like Prince Hongfeng and keeps pressing him, saying that if our dynasty does not 'escort' me personally to the capital to apologize to your Prince Yi, then this important matter of the North-South alliance will not count."

"I, Ning, traveled north to your esteemed court with the intention that the relations between our two nations are of paramount importance, and that personal honor or disgrace is of little concern. Why then, Lord Li, do you make things difficult for our delegation, forcing us to linger here instead of continuing our journey north?"