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

The Yushui County government office was less than five li away from the garrison office, and the Grand Tutor even sent a carriage to pick them up.

Ning Nan was somewhat surprised. He rubbed his face without ceremony, tipped the driver a string of copper coins, and excitedly climbed into the carriage.

Qin Yuanyao and more than thirty other Imperial Guards rode horses closely behind the carriage, acting as its protectors.

Yushui County was quite wealthy, and the county government office was grand and imposing. The entire building faced south and had a rigorous structure. Two imposing stone lions stood at the entrance, and two large vermilion wooden doors stood tall. After entering, there was a courtyard with a layout of four corridors and six palaces.

The courtyard is furnished with civil and military offices on the left and official residences on the right, with the main hall for handling official business and cases, the second hall for handling county government affairs, and the third hall for living quarters.

At this time, Grand Tutor Gu Xichuan and Wang Daban were staying in a quiet courtyard in the Third Hall.

The Three Halls were originally the residence of the county magistrate, but for safety reasons, before Governor Gu and Wang Daban arrived, the magistrate cleaned up the Three Halls and solemnly said that the governor's safety was of paramount importance and that he must stay in the county government office. He himself moved to the post station... It is said that Wang Daban was very happy and said that this magistrate was thoughtful and considerate.

The lamplight was dim and yellow, burning like beans.

Grand Tutor Gu Xichuan sat upright in a grand chair, holding a scroll in one hand and resting the other on the armrest, quietly observing Ning Nan across from him across a pear wood desk.

Governor Gu was around fifty years old, with a thin face and slightly graying temples, but his eyes were bright and powerful, giving him a commanding presence.

Ning Nan stood ramrod straight... Unlike the Northern Dynasties, in the Southern Liang Dynasty, one did not need to kneel when meeting high-ranking officials, except for certain ceremonies.

If this were in the Northern Dynasty, one would be kneeling on the ground and kowtowing, saying things like "May Your Majesty be blessed with good fortune, may Your Majesty enjoy peace and prosperity, this servant greets you"... Ning Nan pursed his lips, imagining the tone of a servant in his mind. His thoughts wandered, and he couldn't help but feel a little fortunate... Thank goodness I'm in the Southern Dynasty.

After observing for a moment, the Grand Tutor seemed to sigh softly, lowered his eyes, and his expression and demeanor became somewhat complicated and difficult to describe.

"Are you confident you can break through Black Tiger Stronghold?" After a long silence, the Grand Tutor asked softly, his voice slightly hoarse, yet calm and composed.

"Yes, it's finally here..." Ning Nan took a slight breath, nodded emphatically, and said, "Yes!"

The plan was made long ago.

Destroying Black Tiger Stronghold is not difficult.

The difficulty lies in identifying the real culprit who plotted to murder Miss Zhu.

He did have a plan for this, and he had already prepared his thoughts on the way here.

But just as he opened his mouth, about to speak, the old scholar opposite him simply nodded his chin and said, "That's good." Then he lowered his gaze and stopped looking at him.

Uh… Ning Nan choked for a moment. Looking at the other person's expression and obvious disinterest, he didn't know whether he should continue.

It's good that it's there... Don't you want to listen to it?

Then, the tutor seemed a little tired and asked him questions such as how many people were in his family, what books he had read, and what books he usually read.

Upon hearing that he had read some books on the imperial examination system, the Grand Tutor frowned and said, "One can become an official by relying on the eight-legged essay, but one cannot become an official by relying on the eight-legged essay."

Uh... that's an interesting point, but the other person didn't elaborate, so Ning Nan didn't press for details. The other person then asked if he was ready for his wedding.

Ning Nan nodded and said he was ready.

Zhu Yuanwai is quite influential. Judging from the other party's attitude, not only did they not make things difficult for him, but they even treated him like a junior. The questions they asked were the kind of questions that learned elders often ask, rather than questions that superiors ask subordinates... Hmm, not difficult to get along with.

After these questions, the other party gave him a complicated look, waved his hand, and said that he would take care of everything and that he should get some rest early tonight. He could sleep in the county government office, where there was a room for him.

"Thank you, sir!" Ning Nan said with relief, nodding his chin and solemnly clasping his hands in a fist salute, "I thank the Governor for his trust!"

On the way here, Qin Yuanyao gave him a brief explanation, saying that since the Grand Tutor had been appointed Governor of Yunhu, he should address him respectfully as "Governor" or, according to his status as a staff member, as "Lord Ming".

He slightly raised his eyes, glanced at the Grand Tutor's expression, and found nothing strange, so he knew that he hadn't made any mistakes... Hmm, Secretary Qin is still very reliable.

We walked out of the county government office.

Seeing some Imperial Guards yawning, Ning Nan mounted his horse and asked them with a smile if they were tired.

The night was dark, and Qin Yuanyao's wheat-colored skin made it impossible to read her expression. The female commander shook her head and said she wasn't tired.

The other Imperial Guards had no choice but to force themselves to stay alert, repeatedly saying, "Young Master, you're too kind. We're not tired at all."

The Imperial Guard who had been yawning awkwardly stopped yawning and put on a bright, alert expression.

Ning Nan laughed and said, "Let's go to the inn now."

He was indeed going to an inn. The Grand Tutor said he had a room at the county government office, but he was in a hurry to finalize some things tonight and probably wouldn't have much time to sleep.

The group rushed to a restaurant called Fulai Inn in the county.

Ning Nan dismounted, tossed the reins to the servant, and turned to instruct the Imperial Guards to take turns resting at the inn... The group felt as if they had been granted a pardon.

Footsteps sounded inside the inn, and someone came up to greet him, saying that the owner had been waiting for him for a long time.

"Haha, Ningnan greets Boss Chen!"

Ning Nan smiled and walked into a private room, addressing a large, plump man with a prosperous appearance inside.

The fat man Chen Ruhai always had a smile on his face. The chief secretary of the Prince Xin's mansion said that he was like Maitreya Buddha, blessed with good fortune, and the God of Wealth of the Prince Xin's mansion.

Having managed the Changqing Trading Company of the Prince Xin's Mansion, this God of Wealth should have been numb to money by now.

However, at this moment, Maitreya Buddha stood up, holding a stack of account books, and said to Ning Nan with a bitter face, "Young Master Ning, this expense of yours... is really too large... Even if, even if Master Zhu agrees... Ru Hai has no choice but to meet you in person... I want to ask you... is this money... really necessary to spend...?" Chen Ru Hai clenched his teeth tighter and tighter, and his face became more and more bitter...

If this amount of silver is actually spent, the Prince Xin's estate... could very well begin its decline from prosperity, and might even be destroyed!

Ning Nan took the ledger, flipped through it, and then calmly smiled and said, "Master Chen, I also brought two hundred gold coins this time. Although it's not much, it's a token of my appreciation, and it will all be included in this amount... If this amount is still not enough, I will borrow from friends. I can borrow some more, um... three hundred gold coins should be enough... It won't all be borrowed by your merchant guild... In short, this money... we absolutely have to spend it."

Shangguan Xiuxiu and Miss Ning are both wealthy people, so they can still scrape together some money... No matter how much money they spend, once they take over Black Tiger Mountain, obtain residency, and have capital... they can earn it all back.

Chen Ruhai's plump face froze for a moment, then he exclaimed "Oh dear!" and threw the account book on the table, saying, "Young Master Ning, what are you saying! Young Master Ning is working for the Zhu family, how can you expect him to spend money!"

Maitreya Buddha gritted his teeth and said, "Since Young Master Ning says this money is absolutely necessary, I believe you! Don't worry, Young Master, this matter of money..." He slammed his palm onto the ledger, "...is all yours to me!"