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

The other person's hands were wrapped in two handkerchiefs.

Even so, Ning Nan noticed that beneath the handkerchief embroidered with mandarin ducks, the other person's hands... were both somewhat incomplete.

My left hand is missing a little finger.

The right hand is missing its little finger and ring finger.

There are ten fingers, but three are missing.

In addition, there's that obviously lame right leg.

Ning Nan remained silent. He couldn't imagine what kind of torment the woman before him had endured.

The woman sat on the edge of the bed.

"Tang... Caifeng..." Ning Nan uttered.

"Hmm!" The woman gripped his mutilated hands with a little force and nodded heavily.

She seemed to be overjoyed that her younger brother had said her name.

Ning Nan took a breath in and then slowly exhaled.

Then he frowned and asked a question:

"How...or rather, how did you... determine that I am your brother?"

Tang Caifeng smiled and reached out her left hand to wipe his forehead, like she was touching a child.

"Where did your godfather abandon you in that village?"

"Godfather?"

"Han Qing," Tang Caifeng said with a gentle smile.

"Your adoptive mother who raised you is amazing. You should take good care of her in the future."

Foster mother?

Ning Nan shook his head and said, "She is my biological mother."

Tang Caifeng smiled as she wiped his forehead, saying:

"Yes. She's your biological mother, your real mom."

Han Qing… Ning Nan narrowed his eyes: “Han Qing…where are you now?”

"I don't know either." Tang Caifeng shook her head.

He didn't say much.

Are they intentionally avoiding this topic?

Just then, someone brought something over from outside.

Xixue went over to take it and received a food plate with a black earthenware pot on it, which was steaming.

The maid placed the food tray on the coffee table beside the bed.

There was also a porcelain bowl, a wooden spoon, and a pair of jade chopsticks on top.

Xixue opened the earthenware jar.

A burst of steam and aroma wafted out all at once.

The entire room was immediately filled with a fragrant aroma.

Ning Nan, who was already hungry, couldn't help but sniffle and swallow.

The little maid ladled a bowl of soup into a white porcelain bowl with a wooden spoon and carefully blew on it.

Tang Caifeng held up her two hands wrapped in handkerchiefs and smiled:

"Black chicken soup with ginseng. My sister's hands aren't good anymore, so let Xixue feed you. Don't complain that she's clumsy."

Xixue said in a serious tone:

"Madam, Xixue has very skillful hands!"

…………

While sorting through various confusing and contradictory pieces of information in his mind, he drank the soup fed to him by the maid.

He turned to Tang Caifeng and asked, "Where...am I...?"

The same question was asked a second time.

The answer he received the first time was so unbelievable, even absurd.

"Your brother-in-law's residence," said the dignified lady of the Prince's residence.

"Brother-in-law?" The doubts did not lessen, but instead increased, and Master Ning widened his eyes slightly.

"Um,"

Tang Caifeng's expression was gentle, and her eyes looked at her younger brother with a calm expression:

"The current emperor's third son has been granted the title of Beile, and will soon be granted the title of Junwang or Qinwang."

The old woman and two maids inside the room remained silent, as if they were deaf and mute.

"at the same time,"

Tang Caifeng quietly watched her younger brother, whose lips were smeared with chicken soup:

"He is also the Left Protector of the Heavenly Principle Sect..."

…………

afternoon.

The sun has set in the west.

As March approaches, the temperature seems to be rising slightly.

The white clouds in the sky had dispersed a bit, and the light entering the room was much brighter than in the previous few days.

Click.

The door was opened.

The maid Xixue tiptoed over and brought a newspaper to Ningnan, who was still lying in bed.

Today's Beijing Daily.

"Young master, here you go." The little maid said nervously.

She couldn't help but be nervous.

The young master's small courtyard was guarded by at least thirty or forty menacing guards.

Every time she came in.

Two more female tutors sent from the palace will search the body.

Even the lady of the house would be searched if she came here.

No knives or firearms are allowed, and no letters are permitted on your person when you go out.

It was this newspaper.

Actually, the tutor was not allowed to be brought in, but the prince gave the order and the tutor was allowed to enter. However, she said, "Your Highness, this servant will tell the Emperor the truth."

Ning Nan reached out and took it with a smile: "Thanks."

He held up the newspaper and spread it out.

The light was blocked, and shadows pressed down on the bed.

"The Rakshasa colluded with the rebels of the Southern Heavenly Principle Sect and launched a night attack on the Southern Kingdom's embassy. The Emperor was furious... Third Prince Hongchang led his troops out of the city late at night, chasing the rebels for over a hundred li, capturing more than three hundred rebel heads, which have been executed according to the law. The Emperor said: 'If benevolence and virtue are not cultivated, the people's hearts will be lost. The Rakshasa has betrayed virtue, and Heaven has forsaken him...' Third Prince Hongchang, benevolent, outstanding, virtuous, and filial, is hereby granted the title of Prince Duan..."

"The envoys from the Southern Kingdom are all safe and sound and have moved into the separate residence in Mi Lane, Dongjiang. King Jing of the Southern Dynasty respectfully reports: We are fortunate that our neighboring country is so virtuous and has protected our humble lives. We are deeply grateful for the great grace of Your Majesty and thank the heroes for their service..."

"The owner of Leshan Hall said: The alliance between the North and the South to jointly resist the Rakshasa is like a great flood flowing eastward, a natural consequence of the situation, and a grand event unprecedented in a century..."

"..."

No.

Ning Nan flipped through the newspaper several times.

still none.

"Heh," Ning Nan sneered, leaning his head back on the pillow.

His hand dropped.

The newspaper was placed down, making a rustling sound.

He said softly, "As expected, there isn't..."

Last night, he gave Chen San a strange tale.

Let Chen San be published in the Beijing Daily.

He knew that Chen San was a member of the Left Protector's faction.

Although he couldn't completely trust Chen San, he simply didn't trust that Chen San would side with him when he clashed with other members of the Heavenly Principles Sect, such as the old leader, the left protector, or the right protector.

However, Ning Nan never doubted Chen San's anti-Northern Dynasty stance.

After all, the other party had once accompanied him to kill Amurtu at Tiger Crouching Mountain.

He also asked the other party to set off the fireworks, and they did.

This strange tale is quite ordinary.

Chen San... was also acquainted with the owner of Leshantang, the owner of the Beijing Daily.

and so……

He originally thought there was a 90% or higher chance that there wouldn't be any problems with this matter.

But that was him back then.

One extremely important point has been overlooked... why would Chen San, the master of the Northern Qiantian Altar, be acquainted with Hongli, the owner of the Leshan Hall who is the fourth prince?

I asked Chen San before.

Chen San vaguely said that they could wait for the Xiangshan Conference and let the Left Protector and the Old Master explain.

Since the matter involved Han Qing... or rather... Han Qing, who was very likely to be Han Laoguai... Ning Nan did not ask any further questions.

Thinking that this was a "family matter" of their Heavenly Principle Sect, he didn't want to ask too much. Anyway, he planned to return this so-called sect leader's iron plaque to Old Monster Han later, and then cooperate with the Heavenly Principle Sect as a Southern Dynasty person to launch a Northern Expedition.

But to my utter surprise...

Only today did he realize... that the Left Protector wearing the Guan Gong mask... was actually the dignified Third Prince Hongchang!

The third prince, Hongchang, had just been granted the title of Prince.

Prince Duan!

Ning Nan's eyes sharpened slightly, and he unconsciously gripped the newspaper tightly with both hands!

When Ning Nan heard his "older sister," who treated him like a younger brother, mention this incident during lunch, his heart sank.

At this time.

Click.

The door was pushed open.

Ning Nan glanced over out of the corner of his eye.

A figure wearing a light green mandarin jacket walked in.

rustling.

The other person was handsome and had bright eyes. He waved a newspaper in his hand.

"If I'm not mistaken," he said calmly as he walked, "that clumsy maid Xixue bought you today's newspaper."

"But you..."

He stuffed the newspaper from February 27th of the Wuchen year into the other person's hand and took back the newspaper from February 28th of the Wuchen year that was on the bed.

"He's been unconscious for two days."