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

Ning Nan swung his whip, striking the back of the large yellow horse in front of him.

This kind of whipping doesn't hurt; it's just a signal to the horse.

Upon receiving the signal, the big yellow horse raised its head, exhaled a puff of white breath, and, dragging its reins, began to move forward with difficulty. The wheels rolled, the carriage creaked, and it started to move forward.

As soon as the car started moving, the yellow horse felt much more relaxed due to inertia. It exhaled less white breath, and its nostrils opened and closed, making its breathing even and long.

Ning Nan held the reins and cracked the whip, his expression calm. This carriage and the big yellow horse were left behind by Uncle Fu when Uncle Bo asked him to, and they came in handy today.

Sanzhuang sat next to him, cross-legged, watching with envy.

My older brother has always been like this since he was a child; he learns everything incredibly quickly.

Last time I went to the city with Seventh Sister's nephew, Brother Bing, I learned how to drive a carriage.

He looked up and around again. A group of Imperial Guards were following them, about twenty in number. Most of them were familiar faces, dressed in uniform blue and black clothes, riding big horses, and carrying swords. They all looked very imposing.

Since the Imperial Guards on horseback were so imposing, San Zhuang, who was riding in a carriage, also puffed out his chest.

"Big brother, you're really impressive." He leaned closer and whispered.

When his elder brother and sister-in-law moved to Nanjing, it was this female Imperial Guard, who intimidated him, who came to pick them up in person!

San Zhuang was extremely pleased with himself.

Li Xing once secretly asked him how old this lady was, and he immediately gave the kid a flick on the forehead!

He had seen it before. That night, when this female Imperial Guard arrived, she fought with that iron-willed mute. This woman's hands were also as strong as iron, and the two fought with a clanging sound.

In terms of status, she was still a commander of a thousand households. He tapped Li Xing on the head and said, "You're so small, what have you gotten into lately that you dare to covet this woman?"

Li Xing clutched his head, his eyes reddening as he protested, "I was just asking!" He called himself "I" in front of him... San Zhuang chuckled and gave him another flick on the forehead.

Seeing San Zhuang's smug look, Ning Nan smiled and took out a hard-boiled egg, gesturing for him to peel it.

Well, I still have some face.

Qin Qianhu must have come to pick him up on Zhu Yuanwai's orders.

This shows that Master Zhu was a man of integrity and not the kind of leader who would betray his trust after achieving his goals.

After all, he is a member of the royal family, and judging from the wealth of Changqing Trading Company, he probably wields considerable power.

For the emperor to appoint Grand Tutor Gu as governor and Wang Daban as military supervisor, mobilizing various counties to besiege Black Tiger Stronghold, it would be an underestimation of Jian's standing with the emperor.

Commander Qin had been in charge of this matter all along, and today he came to pick me up to go to Nanjing to hand over the house, so it could be considered that everything was finally settled.

Such thighs are actually extremely thick.

Presumably, if he were willing to kneel down and say something like "I'm willing to do anything for the master," the other party would give him a chance and let him be a manager or something similar.

Like Chen Ruhai, he could do business, engage in shady dealings, and seize one or two opportunities to slowly climb the ranks, becoming a trusted confidant... or rather, a high-ranking servant?

In short, wealth and prosperity are always attainable.

But if that happens, I'm afraid I'll have to kneel for the rest of my life.

Not only will they have to kneel, but their descendants will likely also have to kneel, becoming household slaves and trusted servants.

As long as the other party doesn't fall, our family will always have food to eat.

But if that's the case, then there's no point in living, and there's no point in having children.

If you can avoid kneeling, then don't.

At least in the Southern Dynasties, once one obtained an official position through the imperial examination, one could still maintain a certain level of self-respect. This self-respect was supported by Confucius, Mencius, Dong Zhongshu, emperors of successive dynasties, and the classics, historical texts, and renowned officials that had been passed down for a thousand years.

Even if you don't become an official, just passing the county-level imperial examination will still earn you respect from others.

The city walls of Nanjing were towering and imposing; the three strong men's necks ached from looking up, and their mouths were so wide open they could fit an egg in them.

He did indeed put an egg in his mouth.

He tugged at Ning Nan's sleeve, his eyes gleaming with excitement, and mumbled something Ning Nan couldn't understand.

Ning Nan nodded perfunctorily.

It was extremely beneficial for the Imperial Guards to enter the city together.

When ordinary people entered the city, the soldiers guarding the city gate would search their goods and luggage.

Yesterday, I made a hidden compartment under the carriage to store the four steel muskets I made earlier... There were originally six, but two were damaged when the Shili Gorge exploded and couldn't be retrieved.

This hidden compartment was carefully designed by myself and Dahei. To prevent the musket from making noise, it was specially wrapped with cloth strips and secured with several wooden strips.

It can only be opened from inside the carriage; it can't be opened from the bottom. This way, it's enough to deal with the city gate search.

With Qin Yuanyao accompanying them, after Qin Daqianhu flashed a gold medal, the city gate guards clasped their hands in a fist salute and stepped back, allowing Qin Daqianhu and his group to enter the city directly.

After noon, when the sun begins to set in the west.

Ning Nan then arrived at his own residence.

"Wife," Ning Nan called out, tossing the riding crop to San Zhuang, "Get out of the carriage!"

He jumped off the carriage, his backside aching from the jolting. He stomped his feet to catch his breath.

As Cui Cui stepped out of the carriage, Ning Nan held her hand, and she jumped down, her small embroidered shoes landing outside the Ning Mansion gate... The plaque above the gate had been replaced with the two characters "Ning Mansion" in gold on a black background.

This residence is naturally incomparable to the Zhenguo Marquis's mansion, with only five courtyards, but for Ningnan, for the vast majority of people in Nanjing, and even for most officials, it is already an extraordinary residence.

After all, not long ago, the person living in the mansion was the recently retired Vice Minister of Rites.

Two large, nine-foot-tall black doors opened.

Upon entering the courtyard.

A shimmering expanse of light came into view.

Ahead lies a horizontal pond, with a wooden arched bridge spanning it.

Ning Nan's breathing became slightly rapid. He squinted and glanced at Cui Cui's wife.

The other person, having seen it all, held his chin up, completely unfazed.

An old steward with a face full of wrinkles came forward with two maids and several servants.

The old man smiled nervously, introducing himself as Wang Baoqi, the head steward of the household, and saying he had met the master and mistress before.

Ning Nan nodded and smiled, "Greetings, Uncle Wang."

Wang Baoqi was immediately flattered and repeatedly said that he dared not, and that the master could simply call him by his name.

Ning Nan then addressed the other party as Manager Wang.

I asked.

It turns out that these people were left behind by the former Vice Minister of Rites. The Vice Minister of Rites and his family went back to their hometown. If Ning Nan wanted these stewards, maids, and servants, he could keep them; if not, he could dismiss them.

Ningnan then kept them all.

A new contract was signed, and the wages remained the same.

Wang Baoqi and the others were overjoyed and thanked their hosts repeatedly.

Ning Nan said it was alright.

Steward Wang bowed as he stood up, inquired about Ning Nan's needs, and after receiving permission, he began to arrange some matters, instructing several servants to go out and lead the master's carriage to the side gate and into the Ning residence.

He then inquired about Ning Nan and his wife's preferences and arranged for the cook and two maids to prepare the meal.

He then led Ning Nan, Cui Cui's wife, and the three elder brothers inside to familiarize themselves with the mansion.

Ning Nan said that San Zhuang was his brother and also the head of the guards of the Ning family.

They then called Sanzhuang "Uncle Sanzhuang." Ning Nan found it strange, but Sanzhuang listened with pride and swagger, his back arching backward.

The Ning family mansion's courtyard is antique and elegant; it doesn't look big from the outside, but it's quite spacious inside.

Ponds, rockeries, arched bridges, gardens, waterside pavilions, studies... Ning Nan was overwhelmed by the sights.

After passing through the first courtyard, they entered the second courtyard. When they reached the main hall of the second courtyard, Ning Nan saw the dowry that her brother-in-law had sent over.