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

Husband... Tch... We're not even married yet... Zhu Qingmian's delicate little nose wrinkled on her fair and translucent face. After a few breaths, she seemed to finally not be able to hold back... She let out a soft 'humph'.

This remark was somewhat rude, and the atmosphere in the room immediately became a little strange.

But Cui Cui's gaze lifted slightly, and the corners of her lips became rounder.

The girl in the white dress and gold hairpin openly expressed her emotions, but she was also clever. She blinked and then naturally added, "Well, I just feel a little sorry for Sister Cui." It was as if her previous "humph" had nothing to do with what the other girl had said.

Cui Cui raised an eyebrow: "Oh?"

"Look at you," Zhu Qingmian laughed, "Sister Cui, you're so beautiful, and your wedding is so close, but Brother Ning is still running around every day, not making any preparations for your wedding. He even goes to Yaoshan to watch plays all the time! Tsk tsk tsk..."

Zhu Qingmian rested her chin on her hands and swayed her head between her palms a few times.

His tone was somewhat hesitant, yet also tinged with pity.

"Sister Cui, you're not even angry with him, you really have a good temper. No wonder Brother Ning likes you so much... Hmm... Sigh, if it were Qingmian with a temper like that, her fiancé would be busy supporting other actresses all day long, not taking her own marriage, which is imminent, I'm afraid this marriage... would have to be called off!... Ugh... I can't stand this."

The girl with the golden hairpin spoke in a calm tone, but with a hint of disdain and anger. Her eyes and brows revealed her indignation on her behalf.

Cui Cui rested her left hand on the table, her palm supporting her cheek, and smiled: "Hmm, Qingmian, you really have a good idea, I admire you... Then I wish Qingmian... that she will soon find a suitable husband who suits her heart... that they will live in harmony, have many children, and grow old together in happiness..."

"ha……"

"You have so many idioms..." The girl with the golden hairpin gave a polite, squinting smile. "Thank you so much, Sister Cui."

A fishy breeze swept across the river, refreshing yet causing one to frown at the fishy smell. Cui Cui smiled faintly and silently picked up her teacup and took a sip.

Just then, a loud "smack" sound came from not far away!

"General!"

Zhu Cuiwei glanced over and saw two people playing chess near the other side of the boat window.

She had met both of them.

Sitting on the left was a scholar in a white robe—Li Yanting, the studious boy from Lijia Village. He had heard about the trouble in his hometown and had rushed back from Hangezhuang yesterday.

Originally intended to serve as a able-bodied young man, the other party patted his chest, displaying a scholarly air, saying that he knew nothing about military affairs and could not advise, but he had strength in his arms and could be used as a laborer!

Li Baoxin, the village head, readily agreed, smiling and nodding, patting him on the shoulder, praising him as a true treasure of the Li family and a fine son of the Li family!

But the young doctor, who had always disliked those who were good at reading, defied all objections this time and arranged for Li Yanting to be on this ship, along with some secret agents of the Embroidered Uniform Guard, to act as a guard for women and children.

Li Yanting blushed and said that this was looking down on him. The young doctor said that the village head and the village chiefs were not here. If the bandits chased them to the water, someone from Li Family Village would need to step forward and discuss with the boat owners how to escape. Upon hearing this, Li Yanting's face immediately turned solemn, and he clasped his hands and accepted the order without hesitation.

Right now, the scholar is playing chess with Mr. Han, the schoolteacher whom the young doctor calls "Old Monster Han".

Although Mr. Han was only a scholar, his words and actions had the demeanor of a great Confucian scholar.

Perhaps she simply didn't do well on the eight-legged essay and couldn't pass the imperial examination, but she still had talent... Cui Cui's eyes flickered as she put down her teacup.

The two men were quite engrossed in the game of chess, exchanging blows on the board, but their conversation revolved around the recent bandit raid.

"What is your opinion on this matter, sir?" Having been "checkmated" by his teacher, Li Yanting readily resigned and began collecting his pieces, then rearranged the pieces again.

Old Han, who was fifty years old, chuckled and said, "I can't be sure about this matter. We'll do whatever Ning Nan says."

Li Yanting arranged the chess pieces for Mr. Han, remaining somewhat silent.

This is something he can't quite figure out.

The bandit who came to Black Tiger Stronghold this time, I heard, is named Xiao Chun. He is a failed scholar, but his methods are extremely cruel, unlike someone who has studied the classics.

Xiao Chun led his bandits to massacre the Pang family village, raid several villages, and rob caravans. Countless lives were lost at the hands of these bandits.

Not long ago, this thief attacked Hangezhuang. He was studying in Hangezhuang at the time and witnessed the incident.

Han Taiye's estate lost a lot of mules and horses, and a full thirty able-bodied villagers died, resulting in extremely heavy losses.

The government recently received word that this extremely vicious bandit would soon attack Li Family Village.

He was called back yesterday because of this matter.

Ning, that big scoundrel, sent someone to summon him, saying that Xiao Chun would be here soon, and if he was afraid of dying, he shouldn't come back... He was so angry that he slammed his fist on the table in Lingshui Study, saying that Li Yanting swore to live and die with his hometown!

After saying that, he hurriedly ran back... and then found that some government officials in black uniforms had come to the village, and a constable surnamed Chen had come to take charge of the situation.

Something's strange.

These officials called Ning Nan, this scoundrel, "Young Master Ning," and said that the county magistrate had ordered that all able-bodied men in the area be at the beck and call of this devilish Ning.

Although the village head and the elders of Lijia Village were unwilling, the county magistrate had given the order, and Ning the Demon was looking murderous.

With those two rascals, Li Sanzhuang and Li Erlai, standing behind him, they looked like wolves ready to devour anyone. Old Master Li, leaning on his cane, nodded on the spot.

Without their leader, the village head and clan elders had no choice but to grit their teeth and agree.

"Ningwa has done something terrible!" As soon as an elder stepped out of the ancestral hall, he flicked his sleeves and spat angrily, saying that the village was going to suffer a terrible disaster this time!

At dawn today, around 5 a.m., the sky was just beginning to brighten.

Then some people started beating drums and gongs, going from house to house shouting that bandits were coming!

Under the organization of the village head and other village leaders, the entire village, young and old, began to flee for their lives.

Through the bamboo grove behind his house, we entered the back mountain and split at the fork in the road.

More than a hundred young men carried hunting bows, kitchen knives and woodcutting knives at their waists, and hoes.

Led by Li Erlai and Li Sanzhuang, they went to that mountain stronghold built by some merchant guild... to seek refuge and prevent a counterattack.

The elderly, women, and children rode in donkey carts and mule carts, swaying and wobbling, downstream to take refuge on these merchant ships... These two measures were relatively prudent. Ning the Demon was not entirely without merit.

Li Yanting looked worried when he mentioned Hongpao, saying that even if they could withstand Xiao Chun's raid this time, what would happen next time?

Old Han moved a pawn to the side of the chessboard, nodded in a gentle voice, and said with a smile, "That's right, Xiao Chun is quite formidable."

"Black Tiger Stronghold has become a scourge to Jiangxi. The imperial court should send a high-ranking official..." Li Yanting picked up a chess piece and sighed.

Ordinary people can't suppress such bandits.

Old Han nodded approvingly, "Yan Ting's words make a lot of sense, but..."

He abruptly changed the subject, stopped talking, and after a few breaths, shook his head and laughed, "During the reign of Emperor Shenzong of the Zhao Dynasty, a similar strange thing happened. A bandit gang occupied the Great Marshland in Jiangxi, robbing merchant ships, disturbing neighbors, killing and robbing, committing all kinds of evil. The court repeatedly sent people to suppress them, but all their efforts came to nothing. This bandit gang still dominated the Great Marshland... It wasn't until the early years of Emperor Zhezong's reign that this bandit gang was completely quelled. Does Yanting know why?" Old Man Han raised a piece, capturing one of Li Yanting's pieces.

Li Yanting jumped off his horse across the river, frowned, and tentatively asked, "Has the imperial court sent a high-ranking official?"

Old Han shook his head and chuckled, "Not so... When the bandits were at their worst, it was during Wang Linggong's reforms. Emperor Shenzong died in one day, and Sima Linggong returned to court with great power in his hands. When the old party was eliminating the new party's supporters, they accidentally dismissed a general from the area around the Great Swamp. When the new general took office, his clan had merchant ships that needed to pass through the swamp... Three months later, the new general wiped out all the bandits in the Great Swamp."

Old Han takes over the cannon and checks the table once again.

Li Yanting was taken aback and lowered his eyes thoughtfully.

At that moment, a woman's voice, cool and slightly aloof, came from the side.

"Mr. Han, are you saying that Black Tiger Stronghold is protected by powerful figures, and as long as these powerful figures don't fall, Black Tiger Stronghold won't fall... and can't be destroyed?" Zhu Cuiwei stood in front of the two people's table, frowning.

Looking up, he saw Ningwa's fiancée. Old Man Han was taken aback at first, then shook his head and smiled bitterly, saying in a somewhat apologetic tone, "Miss Zhu, please forgive me... I... had absolutely no such intention."

After a while, Old Man Han said with some helplessness, "Of the four high-ranking officials sent by the Zhao Dynasty to conquer that great swamp, two drowned, one died of illness in office, and only one returned to the capital unscathed..."

He pretended to think, then paused to recall, "That high-ranking official was the prime minister's younger brother... hence he was spared... Ah... I only wish to live out my days in peace..."

Li Yanting stared at the chessboard, his face full of worry, hesitant to make a move. After a moment, the scholar let out a long sigh, his expression seemingly helpless as he was forced to make a move by the game.

At the edge of the table.

Zhu Cuiwei frowned and pondered for a moment, then her eyes flickered. She gently nodded her chin, then silently turned and left.

Not long after.

She left the second floor, found a secret agent of the Imperial Guard, and calmly ordered, "Prepare the small boat; I want to go ashore."

The undercover agent was taken aback: "Um, Miss..."

It wasn't even time to stop it.

Zhu Cuiwei frowned again: "We also need to prepare fast horses..." Her voice was cold and resolute, "I... am going to Black Tiger Stronghold."

……

……

The second floor of the chaotic merchant ship was both noisy and peaceful.

The women chattered noisily, but the two chess players remained remarkably calm.

The schoolteacher, whose real name was Han Qing and courtesy name was Wencheng, smiled as he leisurely played chess with his favorite student while leaning against the second-floor window, occasionally glancing at the open water, letting the fishy wind from the river whip his no-longer-young face.