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

The moonlight, like water, quietly spilled onto the road leading to Dingjiang County. The clattering of horses' hooves, like muffled thunder, came from afar and then receded into the night.

Ning Nan's body rose and fell with the horse, his hands gripping the reins tightly, his gaze heavy.

"Xiuxiu is no match for her older brother..." He couldn't help but sigh inwardly.

Having met him today, I can see that the heir of the Marquis of Zhenguo is extremely steady and capable in handling matters. He is not the kind of foolish second-generation rich kid who just wants to make a living, but rather a mature bureaucrat with extremely ruthless methods.

Ning Nan slowly exhaled wisps of white breath, hoping that Xiu Xiu could see the situation clearly and not have any improper thoughts about competing with her elder brother for the title of Zhenguo Marquis, even if she became the eldest son of the Zhenguo Marquis in two days. Otherwise, she might really be played to death by her elder brother.

"He should just be a spoiled rich kid and hang out in brothels..." Ning Nan concluded in his heart. But given Xiu Xiu's personality, it seemed unlikely that she would do that. He heard from Qin Yuanyao that after defeating Xiao Chun three days ago, Xiu Xiu was in high spirits and was about to put on the red flying fish robe and be promoted to commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard. She even complained in her letter to him why he wasn't allowed to come to Black Tiger Mountain.

Ning Nan curled his lip. When fighting Xiao Chun, they should use slow tactics to defeat fast ones, because Xiao Chun's movements are elusive and they can hardly outrun him; when fighting Black Tiger Mountain, they should switch tactics and use fast tactics to defeat slow ones, taking advantage of Black Tiger Mountain's lack of reaction time, as speed is of the essence in warfare.

Xiuxiu was injured at the time, and I had to run around to quickly connect with various garrisons. I didn't have time to let him recover. It would be better to give him a title and let him be in charge of cleaning up the Shilixia battlefield. That would be a great achievement.

Dingjiang County is a medium-sized county. The county seat is about 40 miles away from Black Tiger Mountain, but the road is difficult to travel at night. Ning Nan and his group finally arrived at Dingjiang County at midnight.

Qin Yuanyao had already handed the old man in black on the carriage over to Shangguan Yun. At this moment, she came over with Ning Nan and Cuicui.

She handed over the documents and the gold token, and the soldiers guarding the city opened the city gates.

"There's a Fu Lai Tavern up ahead," Cuicui said. "We'll stay there tonight."

Ning Nan nodded. Fu Lai Tavern was owned by Changqing Trading Company, but he never expected that there would be one here as well. That fat owner named Chen Ruhai was really something.

Upon arriving at Fulai Tavern, the local manager had already prepared food and wine, and I had a hearty meal before going to bed.

During the meal, Dahei didn't want to sit here, but Cuicui called him over. "You and your older brother sit here... the wine here is quite good," she instructed, raising her chin.

"Thank you, sister-in-law." Dahei smiled憨厚ly.

The food at Fulai Tavern was quite good, and Ningnan enjoyed his meal.

Having not had a proper meal for days, he ate this and even burped quite a few times. He felt a pang of regret; if he hadn't let Sanzhuang go back to Lijia Village sooner, this meal would have been enough to restore the boy's energy.

After finishing his meal, Ning Nan went to the room prepared by the waiter. Cui Cui said that after paying respects to the governor tomorrow, the matter would be settled, and he could return to Li Family Village that same day... He let out a deep breath, and exhaustion immediately surged from every part of his body.

Just then, a knocking sound rang out on the door.

It's Big Black.

After Ning Nan opened the door, she asked the other person curiously what was wrong.

Big Black walked in with a somewhat grave expression, closed the door, and said in a low voice, "Big Brother, would you like to take a look at this?"

He reached into his pocket and pulled out a square object wrapped in black cloth.

"Well……"

Ning Nan opened his mouth, took the copper token that Da Hei handed him after opening the black cloth.

Dahei said that this was found in a cloth bag when they rescued Sanzhuang from Xiao Chun's horse.

Logically, this thing should be handed over to the Embroidered Uniform Guard, but he felt that he should let his elder brother take a look first, and after his elder brother made a decision, he would have a better understanding of it before handing it over.

Ning Nan glanced at it. The bronze plaque had intricate patterns and looked like a rather ancient style.

Both sides are engraved with characters. But the script is somewhat old, not the official script of the Great Liang Dynasty, nor the regular script commonly seen in previous dynasties, nor even the clerical script, but rather it looks like... small seal script?

Small seal script was generally used during the Han Dynasty, but this bronze plaque is clearly not an antique; it's just that the characters are old.

Ning Nan took a look.

One side of the bronze plaque is engraved with the character "坎".

The other side has two columns of text engraved in vertical lines.

Ning Nan squinted and could only vaguely make out the eight characters: "Though my body is but grass, I aspire to tread the heavens."

"Heh..." He smiled and said that this thing was not very important, and he would hand it over to Governor Gu tomorrow.

Dahei nodded and said with a smile that the Embroidered Uniform Guard had rewarded him with a lot of silver this time. He planned to take advantage of the stronghold built by the Embroidered Uniform Guard in the back mountain, recruit some unregistered people as apprentices, move the steelmaking blast furnace there, and open a blacksmith shop inside.

Upon hearing this, Ning Nan paused for a moment, then looked up, patted Da Hei on the shoulder, and laughed, "This isn't urgent, we..." He exhaled slowly, "...shouldn't need to go that far."

Despite being rejected by his elder brother, Dahei's expression suddenly relaxed.

"Then, brother, I..." Big Black's steady voice carried a sense of reassurance, "So, you'll just focus on forging for now?"

"Hmm... Focus on your blacksmithing." Ning Nan nodded his chin and smiled calmly... If nothing unexpected happens, Da Hei will soon be going to Nanjing with him to work as a blacksmith.

Before long, Dahei left, his steps light, as if a huge weight had been lifted from his heart.

Ning Nan glanced at his retreating figure and couldn't help but smile.

If they can't get a household registration, and they don't want to become fish on the chopping block of the government when they get old, they will choose to go up the mountain to become outlaws when they are young. Dahei knows this.

Ning Nan also knew that if that day ever came, Er Lai and San Zhuang would definitely follow him, needless to say... and Da Hei would also carry his stroke-stricken master up the mountain with him.

Dahei is not Erlai or Sanzhuang; he is older and more mature.

The more mature you become, the more you understand the dangers involved. Now that you've told yourself that you might not have to take that path, you naturally feel a little relieved.

Ning Nan held the palm-sized bronze plaque in his hand and tapped it on the table. The image of Xiao Chun's severed head lying on the ground and the lifeless eyes on that head floated into his mind.

"They've already rebelled, and they're still so unprofessional." Ning Nan curled his lip in disdain. "With this level of skill, what kind of Lingxiao is this..."

Snapped!

He threw the bronze medal onto the table.

I'm going to bed.

...

...

The next morning.

The government officials, banging drums and gongs, shouted in the streets, "Black Tiger Mountain has been captured!" and "The bandit Meng Hao has been beheaded!"

Cheers and shouts of joy immediately filled the streets!

After being woken up by the cheers from all sides, Ning Nan was so agitated that he couldn't fall back asleep. He covered his head with the blanket and forced himself to stay in bed until Chenshi (7-9 AM) before finally getting up.

He didn't want to get up... but there was nothing he could do. Cui Cui came to call him, saying that he had to see Governor Gu in the morning and return to Lijia Village in the afternoon.

"I bought groceries." Cui Cui was wearing a more expensive emerald green dress today.

"When we get to the county government office, at noon, you will cook a meal for the Grand Tutor," she said, raising her eyebrows slightly.

"Huh?" Ning Nan looked up abruptly upon hearing this, his mouth still full of noodles, his eyes filled with confusion. "Why?" he mumbled incoherently.

Cui Cui pursed her pink lips, said nothing, and quietly looked at him.

"Have you bought all the groceries?" Ning Nan's eyebrows furrowed, and he immediately changed his question.

"Hmm..." Cui Cui's lips curled slightly, and she nodded her chin. "All done."