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

Ning Nan frowned, somewhat surprised by the domineering female manager's loss of composure.

The other person looked surprised, their handsome features contorted as if they had heard some terrifying news, but they managed to suppress the hesitation on their face and walked away in a hurry, telling themselves not to move. Things were getting a little strange.

After thinking for a while, but still having no clue, he slowly exhaled and looked away.

I glanced down at the teacup on the table. The tea in the cup was fragrant, with a light mist rising from it. The tea leaves, having been steeped and unfurled, floated up and down in the cup, like a small boat that was unwilling to sink completely.

Ning Nan placed her fingers on the table and tapped them lightly.

Upon reflection, Steward Qin's behavior just now was somewhat unusual, but it wasn't entirely bizarre.

Cui Cui was, after all, Miss Zhu's personal maid, yet she was engaged to him. This might indeed surprise the steward to some extent, forcing him to consult with Master Zhu to see if he was willing to let her go.

After all, having gone through life and death with Miss Zhu, Cuicui should be considered one of the core figures in the Zhu family. Otherwise, Old Man Xu wouldn't have come to her house for dinner yesterday.

The other party was clearly after Cuicui. Her return was unexpected; before she arrived, Old Man Xu was already sitting in the main room.

Hmm? ...Or is it that this female manager, seeing that he had an affair with Cui Cui, is worried that he also had an affair with Miss Zhu? That's why she was so surprised?

Hmm…no…what does “also” mean? …Hmm…no, that’s not right either…what does “having an affair” mean?!

He rubbed his forehead; "having an affair" was a derogatory term... His mind wandered into a jumble of thoughts.

Bringing my thoughts back to the steward's words, I pondered for a moment and still felt there was something wrong. I decided to ask Master Zhu... That's the strange thing.

Communication efficiency was extremely low in those days. There was no telephone, not even a telegram. Even the emperor had to rely on fast horses and urgent messages to communicate.

Manager Qin said she would go ask Master Zhu, and told me not to move, as if she would be back soon. What does that mean? Master Zhu lives very close by?

Or did they have some kind of fast way of communicating, like sending messages by carrier pigeon?

Could this really be true? ... Ning Nan suddenly found it amusing and became somewhat curious.

He turned to look out the window, where the big white horse was snorting under an elm tree in the yard.

The sun was shining brightly today, and the shadow cast by the elm tree on the ground was less than ten feet long. I counted the length in my mind and silently calculated the time.

It was quite hot outside, but after the other person closed the door, the room became much cooler.

As the bright red sun gradually rose higher, the light golden hue in the courtyard gradually turned into a deep gold, the cicadas' chirping grew louder and louder, and the shadows of the elm trees slowly shrank.

He estimated the time; about 15 minutes later, the door opened, and a wave of heat swept in.

The female manager, dressed in a black outfit, closed the door.

He slowly walked to sit down opposite Ning Nan, raised his head, and looked somewhat silent.

Ning Nan glanced at the other person and found that the other person was staring at him with an extremely complicated look in their eyes.

"Manager Qin?" Ning Nan frowned and asked the other party how Master Zhu had decided.

Qin Yuanyao lowered her eyes slightly.

After a moment, his eyes filled with a mixture of solemnity and doubt.

"We just spoke with Master Zhu... um, we sent a message by carrier pigeon."

Well, they really can send messages by carrier pigeon... Ning Nan was somewhat invigorated and filled with anticipation.

"Master Zhu wants Yuan Yao to ask Young Master Ning three questions." As if emerging from some kind of emotion, Steward Qin's gaze and voice became increasingly steady.

"Please speak, Steward Qin." Ning Nan nodded his chin, his voice calm, but his heart was pounding... It wasn't fear, but rather the inevitable embarrassment if the other party asked him questions like whether he was being sincere.

The female steward's gaze darkened. "The first question is, what is Young Master Ning's purpose in wanting to do these things... in other words, what is his purpose in helping Master Zhu?"

"Uh..." Ning Nan's expression changed.

Has it nothing to do with the engagement with Cui Cui? It's back to getting back to work?

He hesitated for a moment, then decided to tell the truth. He sincerely said that he was a northerner who had returned to the south and did not have a household registration in Daliang. He wanted to take the imperial examination and hoped to exchange his merits, such as helping Master Zhu overthrow Black Tiger Mountain and find the traitor, for Master Zhu to help him to make an exception for him in the government.

"Is that all you're after?" Qin Yuanyao asked, frowning.

Ning Nan frankly stated, "That is indeed the only purpose."

Once you have a household registration, you can rely entirely on yourself for the rest of the time.

Qin Yuanyao lowered her head for a moment to think, then looked up and asked, "My second question is, does Young Master Ning have feelings for Miss Zhu... um, that is, Miss Qingmian? Is your work for Master Zhu just a way to win Miss Zhu's heart?"

"No intention." Ning Nan shook his head, shrugged with some distress, and said with a smile, "Miss Qingmian wouldn't even look at me... Besides, I'm already engaged, so I wouldn't dare to presume." Ha, so pretentious, interviews are really boring... he thought to himself.

Qin Yuanyao opened her mouth as if she wanted to say something, but quickly held back and instead lightly bit her red lips.

"The third question."

She slowly exhaled, her expression solemn.

"If Young Master Ning gets involved in this matter, can you guarantee your own absolute safety?"

Uh, this is the third question? Concerned about his own safety... Ning Nan raised an eyebrow, looking somewhat surprised.

Is it the other way around?

I want to see if I have the resolve to die for Master Zhu.

"Master Zhu is unwilling to owe others such a large favor," Qin Yuanyao said calmly.

Ning Nan nodded in understanding... Worried that he might look like a scholar, or a fragile person? That's reasonable.

This time, he thought about it quite seriously. Of course, absolute safety was impossible. He said he wanted to take on Black Tiger Stronghold, but he had too few cards to play right now, so he wouldn't risk his life so easily.

But if an opportunity presents itself, how can one expect others to risk their lives alongside him if one is not willing to risk everything?

He twitched his lips and smiled, saying, "Absolute safety cannot be guaranteed... However, this minor ailment of Black Tiger Stronghold is not enough to take my life."

Qin Yuanyao spoke sarcastically, sneering, "Young Master Ning, do you know how many people Black Tiger Stronghold has?"

Oh, it seems that this sour tone is Manager Qin's true nature... Ning Nan smiled: "Probably more than a thousand."

"Since you know that, you still talk so big. You'll get people killed," Qin Yuanyao said coldly.

Ning Nan shrugged nonchalantly, his smile gentle: "Anyway, it has nothing to do with me anymore... it's fine to brag a little." Bragging isn't illegal, so what's it to you?

"Now it concerns you." Qin Yuanyao's expression gradually became solemn, and her eyes became complex and deep again.

"Hmm..." Ning Nan's expression froze, and he frowned. "What does Steward Qin mean?"

"Master Zhu has agreed to your request." The woman's tone was calm yet resolute.

Ning Nan narrowed his eyes slightly, then straightened up after a moment: "To what extent can we share information, and how many men is Master Zhu willing to lend to someone?"

"all."

Ning Nan's lips parted, his brows furrowed: "All of them?"

Qin Yuanyao seemed deflated, her shoulders slumped, and she glanced at the young man opposite her. Her complex and deep gaze became even more intense, and even a sense of powerlessness was added.

"The literal meaning." She shrugged, her tone and eyes returning to their usual coldness.

"Including me...everyone."