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

"Brother?"

Cui Cui nodded and hummed in agreement, saying calmly... After recovering from her injuries, she contacted her brother a few days ago. Her brother was very happy that she was safe and sound, but he was unwell and currently living in a house in Nanjing. He couldn't come to see her or attend their wedding.

Ning Nan frowned, but quickly relaxed, nodded, and hummed in agreement, though his mood suddenly became somewhat complicated.

He knew beforehand that Cui Cui's parents had passed away, which he found somewhat regrettable. After all, without the bride's family present, the wedding always seemed a bit disrespectful. And... it also gave him a sense of unease.

Today is the first time I've heard that she actually has a biological brother. This is wonderful. Even if this brother-in-law can't come to the wedding, as a member of her family, he knows that his sister has married him... so he can be considered a legitimate brother-in-law.

Later, when visiting Cui Cui's parents' home, there was another place to go.

He leaned forward and asked somewhat nervously, "What does your brother think of our marriage?"

"He disagrees," Cui Cui said succinctly.

Huh? Ning Nan's face stiffened, and his expression immediately became awkward. Granny Cui's words were not tactful, and he couldn't help but curse himself inwardly... What the hell was the point of asking?

"But since the marriage certificate has already been written and I've even put my fingerprint on it," Cui Cui glanced at him, her face slightly flushed, and gently raised her chin, "my brother has no choice but to agree for now. He'll even prepare a dowry for me, but... he wants to see you first."

A thin, white mist floated slowly in the air, and a girl dressed in a simple green dress spoke with a voice as melodious and clear as the cold mist.

She turned her head and stared quietly at the young man in white in front of her. Her clear, bright eyes were waiting for his reply. The white clothes he was wearing were bought for him yesterday at a clothing store in Dingjiang County. They were relatively inexpensive but fit him well.

Hearing that her brother-in-law had finally agreed and was even willing to prepare a dowry for his sister, Ning Nan breathed a sigh of relief... It seemed that her brother-in-law was quite reasonable and that he and Granny Cui had a good relationship.

Ning Nan nodded with an air of resignation and replied with an "okay," feeling a little relieved... Judging from the woman's expression, although her brother-in-law disagreed, she herself... agreed.

Hmm... I guess I won't run away from the wedding.

After helping Granny Cui into the second carriage, Ning Nan smiled and said to the coachman, Old Jiang, "Thank you for your trouble, Uncle Jiang." Old Jiang smiled and waved his whip, saying, "Please rest assured, Young Master Ning, I guarantee I will drive the carriage smoothly and there will be no mistakes."

Ning Nan smiled and thanked him.

After greeting Qi Dongsheng at the first carriage, he climbed into it.

The two carriages hadn't gone far.

The sound of horses' hooves rang out, and Qin Yuanyao led a group of Imperial Guards to catch up, saying that they were also returning to Nanjing and could travel together.

Ning Nan immediately smiled and said okay, saying he thought the Embroidered Uniform Guard would be protecting Miss Zhu in Li Family Village. Qin Yuanyao replied indifferently that Miss Zhu had her own expert to protect her.

The female commander also told Ningnan a piece of news.

"Regarding your household registration, the Jiangning County government has already taken care of it, but you need to go there in person. The clerks there need to record your physical characteristics and write them into the Yellow Register. They also need you to put your fingerprint on it. After that, they will give you a household registration certificate. Once you bring the certificate back, the matter will be considered complete... Hmm... Master Zhu instructed me to tell you about this."

Ning Nan lifted the carriage curtain, and the cold wind outside howled, slapping his face with moisture, causing his eyes to well up with tears.

He opened his mouth, paused, and finally said calmly, "It's a farmer's registration, right?"

Qin Yuanyao rode on her large white horse, her body rising and falling, her gaze fixed on the distance. She nodded and casually replied, "Yes, I'm from Lijia Village, Jiangning County, Yingtian Prefecture, Southern Liang Dynasty. I belong to the Ning family."

"Can one take the imperial examination?"

"You still plan to take the imperial examination?" Qin Yuanyao turned to stare at him, her tone somewhat surprised, then quickly added sarcastically, "What's the point?"

Ning Nan thought the other party was mocking him for not needing to pursue an official career through the imperial examinations, since he had already climbed the social ladder by marrying Governor Gu and Master Zhu.

"No wonder he has the mind of a warrior; his vision is so short-sighted..." Ning Nan glanced at the female commander with some pity, then said with a serious tone, "Commander Qin, you must know... the imperial examination is the only true path for our Great Liang. Generals and ministers are not born into their positions; a man should strive for self-improvement. In my life, I, Ning, absolutely do not wish to depend on others, live under someone else's roof, or be controlled by someone else... Studying the classics and serving the emperor—that is the great ambition that I, Ning, have been thinking about day and night, eagerly anticipating, and scratching my head in longing..."

His face was serious, and his tone was sincere and earnest... The other party was a member of the Embroidered Uniform Guard, and he might just hand over his flattery that afternoon, saying things that the young emperor would like to hear. It wouldn't cost him anything, and he wouldn't lose anything either.

But Qin Yuanyao seemed too lazy to pay attention to him, waving her hand and saying, "Fine, I won't depend on you... Go ahead and take the exam. Once you have the household registration, you'll naturally be qualified." The female commander's tone was extremely perfunctory.

Ning Nan pursed his lips, flung the carriage curtain down, and lowered it.

"You ignorant, stupid woman..." he couldn't help but mutter to himself.

After silently grumbling to himself, Ning Nan composed himself, leaned back against the cool, hard nanmu wood planks of the carriage, and closed his eyes. He exhaled a long, gentle breath, as if finally releasing a long-suppressed feeling from his lungs, and felt a sense of relief wash over him.

Two carriages rumbled along the road, the black horses strong and the carriages luxurious, attracting much attention.

With about twenty large horses following on either side, passersby and caravans immediately recognized this as a distinguished entourage, and their faces paled as they hastily made way for them.

The road was clear, and Old Jiang and Qi Dongsheng were experienced drivers, so they drove with great skill. When they encountered a good road, they would whip their whips quickly, and when they encountered a bad road, they would whip their whips twice to slow down.

The carriage journey was much smoother than when Ning Nan and Yang Bing had come here last time.

Around dawn, as the summer sun blazed down on the earth like a golden crow spreading its wings, turning Nanjing into a golden, sweltering city, the group from Ningnan finally arrived outside the city.

Walking along the main road outside Jiangdong Gate, the moat shimmered in the sunlight.

Ning Nan didn't stay in the carriage any longer. Instead, she sat down next to the driver, Qi Dongsheng, in a good mood and enjoyed the bustling city of Nanjing.

Upon reaching the city gate, even though Ning Nan had the travel permit prepared by Qin Yuanyao in his arms, he didn't need to take it out this time... After Qin Yuanyao showed a token to the general guarding the city, the group was allowed to pass.

As the carriage rolled along the bustling streets of Jiangning, the smooth surface of the cobblestones made the swaying noises even less.

After passing the pleasant climate of Mochou Lake, the carriage drove onto a long, three-arched bridge, beneath which lay the Qinhuai River, which we hadn't seen for many days.

Ning Nan glanced at the painted boats and pleasure boats passing by on the river, and seemed to catch a long-lost scent of perfume... But before he could show a look of infatuation, he thought about who was in the carriage behind him, and said seriously, "There are so many big fishing boats on the Qinhuai River..." pretending that he knew nothing.

Qi Dongsheng said with a smile, "Young Master Ning is truly a distinguished and virtuous gentleman."

Old Qi's words are well said... Ning Nan smiled and waved his hand, saying that he was a country bumpkin with little knowledge and was afraid he had made a fool of himself.

The carriage swayed and rattled as it entered the stone city gate, arriving at the territory of Shangyuan County.

At this moment, Qin Yuanyao rode forward and said that Master Zhu had something to discuss with Miss Cuicui, and that Miss Cuicui would probably not be able to come to the Zhenguo Marquis's mansion to see him until the afternoon or even the evening.

Ning Nan frowned and looked back. Cui Cui had already stepped down from the carriage and mounted a white horse.

"I have something to take care of... um... I'll take care of it as soon as possible." As they rode past Ningnan, Cuicui pulled on the reins and said this to him.