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

After finishing breakfast, Ningnan leisurely rode off on horseback.

With the groceries she had bought, Cui Cui boarded a nanmu wood carriage provided by Fu Lai Tavern.

Qin Yuanyao and a dozen or so Imperial Guards changed into civilian clothes and rode horses to guard the carriage.

Using the Embroidered Uniform Guard as bodyguards, tsk... Ning Nan blinked, his eyes somewhat unfocused, but the corners of his eyes turned up slightly. His fiancée's face was a bit too much.

A dozen or so tall horses were walking down the street, which was quite a sight, but fortunately, Dingjiang County was very lively today, so their outing wasn't too conspicuous.

Dingjiang County is laid out in the shape of the Chinese character "土" (earth), with four main streets, eight smaller streets, and sixty-four crisscrossing lanes.

The Dingjiang Street that Ning Nan and his group were traveling on was paved with bluestone slabs, four zhang wide, wide enough for two horse-drawn carriages to travel side by side, running east to west. The street was full of restaurants and bustling with people.

The carriage swayed along the street, and everywhere you looked, every house was decorated with lanterns and colorful decorations. The sounds of firecrackers and popping firecrackers filled the air, and several lion dance troupes passed by, beating drums, making the whole street lively and bustling.

After Ning Nan got up, he heard Qian Sijin say that starting at dawn, the Grand Tutor ordered people to post notices everywhere, saying that Black Tiger Stronghold had been wiped out by the government, and the bandit leader Meng Hao had been beheaded. Meng Hao's head was still hanging above the city gate and would be left to rot for ten days.

Before dawn, many people had already heard the news and rushed to the city gate, wailing and throwing rotten eggs at Meng Hao. Many others held memorial tablets, lit incense and candles, and scattered paper money, crying out to call back the wronged soul and see the fate of this scoundrel.

The Grand Tutor also said that two days later, the Black Tiger Stronghold bandits captured alive would be paraded through the streets. After being interrogated by the county government, those who committed the most heinous crimes would be taken to the execution ground on the east side of the main street, where they would be beheaded or subjected to slow slicing, to uphold justice and appease the people.

In an instant, the entire Dingjiang County was greatly encouraged! In every building and every place, there were those praising the young emperor's wisdom and martial prowess, those praising the Grand Tutor's shrewdness and competence, those praising the court's skillful management, and those praising the county magistrate and the Dingjiang Guard's thousand-household garrison for their loyalty and dedication... All sorts of praises had already reached Ning Nan's ears when he was at the Fulai Tavern.

In addition, the Grand Tutor has also made arrangements in the surrounding counties to beat drums and gongs along the roads and in the villages, so that every county and village would know that Black Tiger Mountain has been completely wiped out by the government.

The people around them, who had been filled with anxiety by the Black Tiger Mountain incident, gradually calmed down.

Cui Cui lifted the carriage curtain, her beautiful eyes taking in the heartfelt smiles on the faces of the passing people, and her face flushed slightly.

Several groups of children were playing and laughing in the streets and alleys. One group was dressed as the bandit Meng Hao, and the other was dressed as the Grand Tutor holding the Imperial Sword, shouting things like "I will kill you today!" At this moment, even the usually aloof Cui Cui couldn't help but smile. But when Ning Nan looked at her, the smile on Cui Cui's face disappeared again.

Ning Nan, holding the reins, watched this scene and couldn't help but smile. He bought two strings of candied hawthorns from a roadside vendor and handed one to Cuicui. He originally wanted to ask each of the Imperial Guards to have one, but Qin Yuanyao refused. Not only did she refuse, but this Black Thousand-Household Commander even snatched one from the string in Cuicui's hand, saying nervously that just in case, she wanted to test for poison first.

"Poison my foot..." Ning Nan thought to himself, but at the same time, he pulled out the first one and handed it to Qian Sijin. Qian Sijin took it awkwardly and stuffed it into his mouth.

"Don't worry, Young Master Ning," he puffed out his cheeks, "this candied hawthorn is not poisonous."

"Heh, who asked you if it's poisonous or not?" Ning Nan laughed. "I just want to know if it's sweet or not."

Qian Sijin awkwardly spat out the pit and nodded... It was sweet... but also a little sour.

Cui Cui, munching on a candied hawthorn, raised her chin and said to the young doctor riding a horse outside, "The notice doesn't mention your merits yet. The Grand Tutor said he needs to ask you first. If you're willing, the government can use the title of 'Righteous Man of Ningnan' to mention your merits."

Ning Nan shook his head and said that it was best to forget about credit. He was just a commoner, and it was only through the trust of Master Zhu and Governor Gu, as well as the efforts of the Embroidered Uniform Guard and various commanders, that Black Tiger Mountain was wiped out. Moreover, he had spent so much money on Master Zhu... There were still some issues to resolve. He had promised his fat boss, Chen Ruhai, that he would help him earn the money back later.

Cui Cui rested her left hand on the carriage window, her head slightly tilted back, and held a skewer of candied hawthorns in her right hand. She stared at the young doctor's profile for a long time before finally saying indifferently, "You don't take credit for anything."

Ning Nan hummed in agreement, but immediately added warily, "That house is indispensable!"

The household registration was a small favor for Master Zhu, so he wasn't worried. But he was indeed worried that this woman would side with outsiders and, before leaving the Zhu family mansion, save Master Zhu the house that was originally intended as a reward for him... well, the house in Nanjing!

A house? ... Cui Cui's expression froze.

Oh... She slightly curved her eyebrows, raised her chin, and parted her pink lips to take a bite of a candied hawthorn.

"Too sweet and sour," she said softly, "It's not good."

Ning Nan curled his lip and glanced sideways at the woman... Hey, she's really hard to please.

"You can have the rest." Cui Cui handed over the candied hawthorn skewer. Her left wrist, illuminated by the golden light, looked as white as a piece of pure white porcelain.

Ning Nan refused the candied hawthorn, and sneered, "If you throw it on the ground, a dog will always come and eat it."

"Do you still want the house?" the woman asked in a cold voice.

Ning Nan immediately straightened his back, raised his hand sharply, took the string of candied hawthorns that were indeed so sour they made his teeth ache, stuffed them into his mouth, and his cheeks bulged out.

She rolled her eyes and gritted her teeth, saying, "I knew you little wench... you'd side with outsiders..."

His mouth was bulging, and he deliberately spoke unclearly. Cui Cui didn't quite understand, but she knew it couldn't be anything good. She narrowed her eyes, ignored him, and just looked at the bustling street. Her lips turned round, and she silently felt... that the firecrackers in the city could actually be louder.

The county government office is located in the center of the central axis of Dingjiang County. It has nine courtyards and is not as grand as the one in Yushui County, but the two stone lions at the entrance and the two Bixie carved on the plaque of the county government office are equally majestic and imposing.

When they arrived outside the county government office, the magistrate, the county constable, the clerk, and others from Dingjiang County were already waiting on the street.

Upon Ningnan's arrival, the county magistrate greeted him with a smile and said that he had long heard that Governor Gu had hired a young advisor who was outstanding in appearance, intelligence and courage. Today, he saw that he was indeed extraordinary!

Ning Nan smiled politely, knowing that the other party was actually flattering Governor Gu. He didn't take credit for it, and his deliberate gesture, while skillful, carried a youthful naiveté and awkwardness, without showing any signs of being a seasoned veteran. He said it was all thanks to the cultivation and trust of his elders, and that the county magistrate was too kind.

The magistrate of Dingjiang County said "Eh eh" twice and laughed, saying that the young Ning was humble and reserved, with the style of the young Zhuge Liang of Nanyang. No wonder he was able to achieve such an unparalleled feat!

This is truly an overstatement… Ning Nan waved his hands repeatedly, saying awkwardly that it was all the governor's plan, and he was merely acting according to the rules.

The magistrate laughed heartily, praised him a couple more times, and then asked Ningnan for his courtesy name. Ningnan replied that he had not yet reached adulthood and therefore did not have a courtesy name.

The magistrate said, "Very well, very well," and who knows, Governor Gu might bestow a calligraphy upon the young man in the future.

After exchanging pleasantries, the county magistrate and his entourage greeted Commander Qin again.

As for Cui Cui in the carriage, upon hearing that she was a member of the Ning family, he smiled and said that the honored guest did not need to get out of the carriage, as the governor was waiting for young friend Ning in the backyard of the county government. Ning Nan then smiled and took his leave.

A moment later, Ning Nan met Gu Xichuan for the second time in the backyard of the county government office, at a place called Yaxu Residence.