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

As the southern gateway to Beijing and Tianjin, the city wall of Cangzhou has been increased to three zhang (approximately 10 meters) in recent years, based on the original two and a half zhang (approximately 10 meters) wall.

During the Mingkai era of the Former Liang Dynasty, this city had 27 artillery forts, but now the number has increased to 45.

This demonstrates the importance the Northern Dynasties attached to this city after establishing their rule in the north.

A strong, dry, and desolate wind swept up outside the city, howling as it swept across the city walls from north to south, causing pedestrians on the road to turn their heads and shield their eyes from the wind.

As Ning Nan sat drinking in a restaurant, he squinted and glanced outside, letting the wind carry him away.

He glanced at the city walls one moment, and then at the city within a city—the Tartar garrison town—not far from the restaurant.

This garrison town was built in the northwest of this city.

The city was fully equipped with the garrison commander's office, barracks, arrow emplacements, and a training ground for birds. I heard that 500 elite Eight Banner troops were stationed there.

After gazing at it for a while, Ning Nan slowly looked away.

When we arrived in Cangzhou, the weather had become much colder.

He was wearing a hooded, moon-colored fur-trimmed cloak.

When the princess gave him the cloak, she sneered, "We sent you to our north, but we didn't even prepare a cloak for you. Aren't you afraid you'll freeze to death?"

This sentence lacks a subject. The implication is that it refers to his Southern Dynasty empress.

Master Ning didn't know how to reply, so he could only tighten his cloak, smile, and say, "Thank you, Young Master Zhu."

The princess reverted to women's clothing, sporting a sophisticated and elegant "horse-like" hairstyle adorned with several expensive jewels.

The most dazzling item is undoubtedly a pure gold "phoenix wing".

The craftsmanship is intricate, the design is exquisite, and the phoenix perches on it, making it lifelike.

In the gloomy weather, a dazzling white light flashed on the "Phoenix Wings".

After parting ways in Chuzhou for one night and meeting again the next day, their relationship became much more normal, and the awkwardness lessened day by day.

Generally speaking, the two of them are... very good friends.

For more than twenty days, it was mostly the princess who sent Tuan Tuan, dressed in a black riding jacket, to ask him if he was free today.

If Lord Ning says yes, Tuantuan will say, "My young master has heard that the dishes of so-and-so restaurant are famous throughout the north and south."

Sometimes Ning Nan would go with the other person to try it, and sometimes she would say, "I can make this too, I'll make it for you for lunch."

After finishing her meal, the princess would sometimes hum and nitpick.

Sometimes she would put on a smile on her delicate, fair profile and offer a compliment.

It depends on the situation. If a certain fox spirit is present, she will be more critical; if that fox spirit is not present, she will not hesitate to praise her.

"This dish is quite good today. What would you like as a reward?"

Ning Nan then held out his hand: "A golden bean."

The other person snorted, took a delicate little purse from Yuanyuan's hand, took out a small, exquisite gold bean, and placed it in his warm palm with a smirk.

He certainly didn't lack for money, so she was even happier giving it to him.

The weather is getting colder and colder.

The trees are becoming increasingly barren.

The magnificent city of Beijing is almost here.

They were about to part ways.

After the other party completes his mission and returns to the south, the two will likely never see each other again in their lives.

The further away from the south Princess Burbuza went, the more gentle and graceful she became in her eyes, reminiscent of a southern lady. In recent days, she has been spending more and more time in silence.

Today, when the two of them came to the famous Langyinlou restaurant to eat roast chicken and donkey meat sandwiches and enjoy the scenery of the canal, they almost tacitly fell silent.

Burbuza, wearing a black cloak with a patterned fur collar, scooped a bowl of tea with a spoon in her delicate hand and said softly:

"There are many delicious foods in Tianjin. Since you've come all this way, why don't you go? I'll have the delegation change their itinerary."

As the sun was setting, a long-absent touch of orange appeared on the horizon. Ning Nan lowered his head and remained silent. After a while, he shook his head and said:

"Never mind, it's better to go to Beijing sooner rather than later."

Burbuza nodded and hummed in agreement.

She took a sip of tea, then looked up at Ning Nan.

A pair of clear eyes blinked, their gaze bright.

Ning Nan glanced at her but didn't say anything.

White clouds drifted across the horizon, and she suddenly scoffed, "You're not going? I'm definitely going!"

"I won't be traveling with the delegation for the next few days! My cousin is going to Tianjin to take up his post as prefect, and I'll be going with the prefect to Tianjin to show off my power. I'll be returning to Beijing a few days later than you."

Upon hearing this, Ning Nan was taken aback.

The other party's cousin was named Nian Xi, the eldest son of Nian Gengyao, the "King of the Northwest" of the Qing Dynasty.

He was originally going to Tianjin to take up the post of prefect, but since his start date was still far off, he actually went south to Chuzhou to pick up his cousin first. He had been traveling with the delegation these past few days.

When Ning Nan learned that the other party was Nian Gengyao's niece, he was somewhat taken aback and shocked.

Nian Gengyao... served as governor of Shaanxi and Gansu provinces. At the same time, the Qinghai Commissioner, the Resident Minister in Tibet, and the General of Ili, all three regions in this frontier, were under Nian Gengyao's command.

He was granted the title of First-Class Duke and General Who Pacifies the Distant Regions, a rank exceeding the official grade, making him a true King of the Northwest.

In Chuzhou, he was introduced by the Seventeenth Princess and met her cousin, who was around thirty years old. After returning home, he ordered someone to copy General Nian's detailed resume for him.

General Nian should have been killed by Emperor Yongzheng long ago.

However, this world is not yet unified between the north and south. Various tribes in Qinghai and the Dzungar Khanate are constantly rebelling. Apart from the brilliant strategist Nian Gengyao, no one else can really control the Northwest... Perhaps that is why this arrogant Northwest King has survived to this day.

Of course, as the daughter of the highly favored Consort Nian, Ning Nan was not worried about what troubles might arise for Princess Gege after Nian Gengyao's downfall.

As things stand, the Qing Dynasty is not so likely to pacify the world so easily.

"When the birds are all gone, the good bow is put away," meaning General Nian's official position and head should still be quite secure.

When Burbuza said she was going to leave the mission and change her route to Tianjin, she looked at Ningnan with her rippling eyes, her gaze carrying a hint of pride and a faint expectation.

After a moment of stunned silence, Ning Nan raised his hand and poured the other person a half-warm cup of wine, then raised the cup and smiled:

"Have a safe trip, see you in Beijing."

With a heart full of sorrow and lips slightly pale, the Seventeenth Princess smiled and raised her glass:

"Um...See you in Beijing..."

…………

The delegation was accommodated by the Cangzhou government in a quiet residence next to the government office.

Ning Nan, however, booked an inn on the street next to the government office.

Night fell.

Spread out the paper.

Just as the ink was being ground.

Knock, knock, knock—someone was knocking on his door.

Wearing a bright red cloak and holding a hand warmer, Miss Zhen Susu and Taoist nun Xu Xiyin, dressed in a simple and thick Taoist robe, pushed open the door and entered.

Zhen Susu stared wide-eyed at the cult leader who was holding a pen in his hand.

Her eyes sparkled, she blinked, and walked up to Ning Nan, her fragrance wafting through the air, and said softly:

"Is Master going to have me warm his bed again tonight?"

With a slight bend of her slender waist, the woman's breath came very close to Lord Ning.

Xu Xiyin shook the whisk in her hand and sighed... She was incorrigible.

Master Ning said calmly to the woman who looked almost like a vixen, "If you keep making noise, I'll really send you off to get married."

Zhen Susu was on the verge of tears: "Who am I to marry? My innocence has been ruined by the Sect Leader."

"Shut up!" Master Ning cursed angrily.

To avoid suspicion, he even invited Master Xu to come along. Zhen Susu plopped down opposite Master Ning, covered her mouth with her hand, and tilted her head to show Ning Nan.