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

"My lord," Doctor Shen said in a hoarse voice, bowing his head.

"Where to?"

"The medicine is gone. I'll go back to the pharmacy to get some."

The man in the black jacket glanced at him, frowned, and pointed to a black-clad guard sitting on the steps of the Siamese embassy, ​​saying, "Treat his injuries first."

Doctor Shen replied, "Yes, sir."

He walked up to the black-clad guard and saw that the guard had a cut on his arm.

He opened the medicine box and skillfully took out water, cotton cloth, and some kind of wound-treating powder.

The doctor's fingers were slender and dark, stained with a lot of blood. He carefully cleaned the wound of the black-clad guard with gentle and skillful movements, clearly indicating that he was an experienced and renowned physician.

After bandaging the guard's wound, Doctor Shen stood up and asked in a hoarse voice, "Does Your Excellency have any further instructions?"

Seeing his practiced movements, the man in the black jacket frowned but said nothing more: "Go quickly and come back quickly."

Dr. Shen quickly bowed his head and agreed.

He turned around and headed towards Chessboard Street, his steps hurried, and he even forgot to pick up the little donkey that was tied to the pillar next to him.

…………

Mounting a large white horse, Zhen Susu followed behind on a large black horse, while a group of Imperial Guards and servants raised torches.

Behind them were about a dozen people with resolute faces, but some of their eyes seemed to waver slightly, dressed in gray or black.

These people were spies of the Embroidered Uniform Guard in the capital.

The leader was Shi Sidong, a commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard, and the other two were Chen Yaoqing and Zhao Yunji.

Shi Sidong had a wound on his arm, left when he tried to escape after being stopped by the Sticky Rod Office. After being blocked, the Sticky Rod Office gave him Ning Nan's warrant, and only then did Shi Sidong come over with some doubt.

Upon finally meeting the true Grand Prince Consort and his retinue of Imperial Guards, the thirty-seven-year-old spy, tears welling in his eyes, hurriedly knelt and kowtowed, saying, "Your subordinate pays respects to the Grand Prince Consort!"

Ning Nan quickly helped him up.

Chen Yaoqing and Zhao Yunji were in similar situations, both with excited eyes.

Although his identity was exposed, such exposure was naturally a good thing. The Grand Prince Consort said that he would serve under him from then on, and after the two countries formed an alliance, he would return south with him.

Everyone was immediately overjoyed.

Ning Nan then ordered them to quickly summon some spies from the inner city. Although the group looked at each other somewhat bewildered, since the other party had given the order and said that they needed manpower at that time, they should not think any further.

They obeyed the order and, led by the men from the sticky pole office, rode away at full speed, bringing back about ten men to fill the ranks of the household guards.

Ning Nan held the reins, and to his left was a broad-chested figure riding a large brown horse.

This first-class guard from the Sticky Rod Office, named "Alin," wore a melon-shaped hat and a thick black mandarin jacket, with a golden unicorn embroidered on his left breast.

Ah Lin has a square face and slightly sinister eyes. He holds a riding whip in his right hand and the reins in his left. On his left thumb is a jade thumb ring that glitters in the moonlight.

Behind Alin stood two rows of imposing cavalry, a total of three hundred riders, stretching as far as the eye could see, with the rear of the column already outside Taibao Street.

Unlike the armored infantrymen before, these three hundred cavalrymen... were all equipped with muskets!

Ning Nan glanced at them and saw that each rider carried not only a flintlock musket, but also a three-barreled gun on the side of the horse, indicating that they were well-equipped.

The cavalry commander, Alin, calmly glanced at the Southern Dynasty's grand prince consort beside him and said softly:

"Yue Le's swordsmanship is excellent. He once killed eight bandits single-handedly in the outskirts of the capital, without even wearing armor."

Ning Nan said regretfully, "Brother Yue Le's martial arts skills are superb, and I admire them greatly."

"I taught him."

"Heh," Ning Nan clasped his hands and laughed, "A great teacher produces great students, and I imagine Brother Alin is an even greater master of swordsmanship."

"Yue Le didn't draw his sword even once tonight."

"Yes, he was beheaded without even drawing a sword. Those traitors of the Heavenly Principle Sect are truly hateful!"

"Tonight I will keep an eye on those thieves who killed Yue Le, and I will behead them."

"Ning will count the heads for Alin at that time."

Alin gave the man a deep look and smiled:

"Thank you very much, Lord Ning."

"Calling me 'sir' would be too formal."

Ah Lin said, "It's better to be a little distant."

Ning Nan chuckled, neither confirming nor denying, then flicked his whip, and the white horse reared up and galloped forward.

…………

Liuye Zhai is located in the middle of Chaoyangmen Inner Street. It occupies a very large area, with a large courtyard and about ten smaller courtyards.

As one of the most famous brothels in the capital, Liuye Zhai stands out among all the brothels. It only has about ten courtesans who are skilled in playing the zither, chess, calligraphy, painting, poetry, singing and dancing.

To the outside world, they would say they sell their art but not their bodies, but it also depends on the courtesan's mood. If she finds a suitable man, she will naturally choose him to marry. If he can afford to pay or save enough money to redeem himself, he will usually marry her as a concubine.

If she doesn't marry, she will continue to stay in the monastery. As long as she has a few male admirers, she can live for a few more years, save up some money, and if she wants to redeem herself, she can do so and get married.

Unwilling to redeem himself, he could use the money to teach the new maids in the monastery and live a life of comfort.

The most famous dancer at Liuyezhai was a courtesan named Zhen Susu.

Unfortunately, the young masters and wealthy men who went south a few months ago, determined to catch the eye of Miss Su Su, to style her hair, and even to take her home as a concubine, have felt very lonely these past two months. When they come to Liuye Zhai to drink, they can't help but make this once beautiful brothel feel a bit melancholy.

Tonight, Liuye Studio was as lively as ever, welcoming and seeing off guests with smiles and laughter.

After the sudden major incident at Dongjiang Rice Lane, the high-ranking officials and nobles who were enjoying themselves here immediately lost their mood and scattered in all directions.

Those with connections went home, while those without stayed at a nearby inn, not daring to linger.

Ning Nan, accompanied by Zhen Susu, who had changed into a black men's outfit, Qian Sijin, who was dressed in brown, and... a figure wearing a black mandarin jacket with his hat pulled low, entered Liuye Zhai. There were only two gatekeepers and a few servants carrying lanterns to lead the way.

The Imperial Guards and their servants, holding the waist tokens given to them by Ah Lin, scattered throughout the streets and alleys.

The three hundred cavalrymen disguised themselves as night patrol cavalry and circled back and forth in the next few streets, waiting for Alin's signal.

Upon entering Liuyezhai, one walks along a narrow, winding path.

Ning Nan cautiously scanned his surroundings, but apart from the servant's lantern in front, it was almost completely dark all around.

Just like Yue Le, A Lin, with a knife in his arms, walked calmly beside Ning Nan.

"The master's guest... seems not to have arrived yet..."

Ning Nan exhaled, the breath rising in wisps of white smoke under the moonlight, and said with some annoyance, "I probably alerted them."

Alin's expression remained calm, but the knife in his arms slid down slightly.

Whether Han Qing will come... is unknown... but he and Lord Mu Shu dare not gamble... dare not gamble that Han Qing won't come...

Starting from the entrance of Liuye Studio, passing Mingli Xiaozhu, passing banana groves, passing a covered walkway, we arrived at a bamboo forest.

Inside the bamboo grove, there is an artificial hill.

Ning Nan took a breath, squinted and looked around. After waiting for a while and seeing that there was still no one around, he pushed the southeast side of the artificial hill as instructed in the letter.

Click click.

The rockery wall immediately loosened.

Alin's eyes narrowed instantly.

…………

The Hall of Mental Cultivation.

Yinzhen leaned back on the dragon throne covered with mink fur.

Two people sat on each side of the lower seat.

One was Ortai, wearing a red feather headdress, and the other was wearing a light green striped mandarin jacket... his third son, Hongchang.

A long silence followed inside the hall.

Ortai rose and said, "Your Majesty's health is the foundation of the nation. This servant dares to request that Your Majesty return to the palace to rest. With this servant and the Third Prince here, if Han Qing truly appears in the inner city tonight, this servant and the Third Prince will dig three feet into the ground to find him!"

Prince Han Chang, whose Han name was also a prince, immediately stood up and said, "Lord Ortai is absolutely right. Your subject also dares to advise Father Emperor to return to the palace to rest first."

Yinzhen, holding a hand warmer covered in a fox fur coat, looked pale and tired, but his tone was still disdainful:

"I can endure it, so there's no need for the Left Protector to worry."

With a thud, Han Chang immediately knelt down and kowtowed, "Your subject knows his mistake!"

Yinzhen was taken aback. After a few moments, his expression turned somewhat helpless. He chuckled and said, "You, you've always been so reserved since you were little. Your father was just teasing you. Get up. Do you know you've done something wrong? What did you do wrong this time... Get up quickly."

Just then, a series of hurried footsteps sounded outside the door.

The main gate of the Hall of Mental Cultivation was tightly closed.

"Report!"

The visitor entered through a side door, suppressing the excitement in his voice, and kowtowed to report:

"Your Majesty! Lord Alin... Lord Alin has come to report!"

"They've found Han Qing!"