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

A stark white light streamed into the room.

The Southern Dynasty's Grand Prince Consort, who was being "protected" by a full thirty imperial guards, threw off the covers and sat up in bed.

He rubbed his head, glanced at the light emanating from the grid on the ground, and noticed a few red veins in his eyes.

He put on cloth shoes lined with fleece, and his expression gradually became somewhat complicated.

Outside the room where he couldn't see.

Although the guards knew that there was only a scholar-looking man from the Southern Dynasty living there, after more than ten days, as some things spread and fermented, everyone regarded this person as a formidable enemy.

Click.

The head maid of Prince Duan's mansion was very familiar with the place and helped him get dressed as soon as she entered.

The little girl named Xixue looked busy, her bun hair bobbing back and forth.

I straightened his moon-colored robe, wrapped it around his little hands, and tightened it, and a black belt inlaid with jade was tied.

This young master has never been pretentious. The maid with a blue ribbon tied in her hair was working happily, humming a pleasant tune.

"Young master, you're dressed!"

The little maid said happily.

Her voice was like a nightingale's song, and her appearance was charming.

In fact, she is quite authoritative in public.

Even the most senior stewards in the manor had to respectfully address her as "Miss Xixue".

Not to mention the other servants, a mere glare from them could send shivers down the spines of any maid who was trying to slack off.

But I don't know why.

In front of this seemingly down-on-his-luck young master, her prestige vanished completely. She felt that some of the young master's demeanor was...like...similar to that of a prince.

Let alone looking down on her, a single compliment from the young master can make her happy for a long time.

Ning Nan straightened the corner of his clothes and nodded silently.

I've finished washing up.

Xixue led two maids to bring him breakfast: sesame-sprinkled horseshoe-shaped flatbreads, sweet rice porridge, a bowl of tofu pudding, a plate of stir-fried braised beef with sesame sauce, and several dishes of green vegetables, all emitting a wonderful aroma.

He also placed several dishes of peanuts, broad beans, and dried tofu on his desk so that he could fill his stomach if he got hungry. Finally, he brewed a pot of tea.

"Young master, I'm going out with the Fujin today. She said she won't be back. Other servants will bring you your meal later. Please don't mind their rough hands."

The head maid of the Prince's mansion gave her earnest instructions.

Ning Nan scoffed:

"I can't eat it if it wasn't sent by you."

The maid was immediately satisfied, her eyes crinkling with joy: "Then I'll tell the Princess Consort that I'll stay and serve her..."

Ning Nan waved his hand and smiled:

"Go keep your wife company, lest your monthly salary be docked."

Upon hearing the words "monthly salary," the maid's smiling face immediately froze. She quickly said "Oh" and nodded vigorously...

Until noon.

His wife, who always dined with him, did not come, nor did Xixue.

It was indeed a servant who brought the food.

As for Princess Gege and Su Su the fox, who have been missing for several days, they naturally haven't come either.

However, the sun peeked out from the sky.

The window is open.

In front of the room, which faces south, there is a pond with a rockery in the water. Behind the pond is a narrow path paved with pebbles. A few steps further along the path is a courtyard wall about seven or eight feet high.

The courtyard wall is covered with glazed tiles.

In front of the courtyard wall stood several sentry guards, wearing yellow riding jackets, red feather hats, and waist knives, looking imposing and glaring at him across a small pond.

To be fair, ignoring the seven or eight guards visible from here, the scenery of this courtyard is quite nice.

The muddy ground was covered with lush green grass, full of vitality, and the willows by the pond had sprouted buds, their branches bursting forth with verdant green.

The peach trees in the courtyard were all in full bloom. Ning Nan, sitting at his desk, could see a cluster of pink blossoms on the nearest branch.

…………

Late spring, March.

In this season when peach blossoms are in full bloom.

Emperor Yongzheng issued an edict that starting from March 9th, court sessions in Beijing would be suspended for five days.

Forty-nine days, meat was forbidden; for one hundred days, marriage was forbidden; and for ten days, rituals and music were forbidden.

On the streets, people were required to wear mourning clothes for three days.

Brothels and opera houses were closed, and some taverns and teahouses spontaneously hung up white cloths in mourning.

Those who used to tell stories, play stringed instruments, and perform crosstalk in teahouses have been out of work these past few days.

The streets were deserted; apart from the children, the passersby dared not smile.

Occasionally, I would pass by a few officials who wore official robes inside but white formal attire outside.

Without even looking at the plume or the insignia on the chest, just by looking at the official's uniform, one can tell that he is an official of the fourth rank or above.

The Emperor issued an edict.

Princes, nobles, and officials of the fourth rank or above were required to wear mourning clothes and observe a seven-day mourning period.

Regardless of who this person who passed away suddenly was, such a funeral was already considered to be of the utmost honor and respect.

An old spy wearing a melon-shaped hat slowly walked out of a teahouse draped with white curtains.

He shielded his eyes from the sun with his rough hands.

Not long after he came out, an old man also came out and passed by him.

Lu Chong didn't even glance at the old man's back.

Wearing a thick black mink coat, the old spy felt a long-lost warmth after the long winter.

He put his hand down and turned to walk towards Fuchengmen Inner Street.

Fuchengmen is one of the nine gates of Beijing, located on the west side of the inner city. Beyond this gate lies the western suburbs of Beijing.

About ten miles from Fuchengmen, there is a temple called Dinghui Temple. It is a popular place of worship, and the coffins of royal female relatives are often kept there before they are buried.

Lu Chong arrived at a blacksmith street.

He walked into a shop, picking and choosing items while speaking in a Liaodong accent:

"Is the knife I ordered ready?"

Zhang, the blacksmith at the blacksmith shop, quickly grabbed a towel to wipe his hands and came out to greet him.

"Sir, you're done, all done!"

Zhang the blacksmith shouted.

One of his apprentices came over carrying a gray cloth and six knives. His arm muscles were bulging, indicating that he was quite heavy.

All six knives were three feet long, with blades three feet and one inch long and one inch wide, weighing four and a half pounds. They were all identical in appearance, each a finely crafted knife with a gleaming, shiny blade.

Lu Chong casually picked up a knife from the table and then took the fine knife from his apprentice's hand.

He waved his right hand, then grunted and smiled with satisfaction: "Good knife."

Clang!

With a powerful thrust of his arms, he slashed at the two swords, and sparks flew as the blades collided.

Hearing the crisp sound, Zhang the blacksmith's expression remained unchanged, but his heart couldn't help but tremble.

This big spender is indeed generous, but he's also an expert among experts.

He didn't dare let his apprentices handle the six knives, fearing they would mess things up. So he insisted on forging two knives himself and invited his four fellow apprentices from the blacksmith street to help him forge one each.

Only then, within the timeframe set by the wealthy customer, were all the knives forged.

Lu Chong held up the knife and examined it. The fine knife was intact, but the ordinary knife had a half-inch nick.

"Hey." He grinned and added, "Good knife."