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

Even the most tempered iron will eventually become brittle.

Ning Nan was somewhat worried because her uncle's health was not good.

However, this is not just his personal matter; the steel in front of him has the right to know, and the greatest right to know at that.

Ning Nan spoke slowly and carefully, trying to be tactful and accurate, allowing things to unfold gradually on their own.

Such evil and sin far exceeded his previous imagination.

He even hoped that his own petty thinking had led him to push things too far to the dark side.

My uncle did indeed ask the Ning family in the capital to find my grandfather's family thirty years ago, but the Ning family's reply was always that they had not found them.

After finding his own family, Uncle hadn't really spoken to them yet, planning to formally discuss it when he was included in the family genealogy.

When he moved south, his first wife passed away. He never remarried or took a concubine, and he only had one son from his first wife, whom he kept by his side.

Twenty-two years ago, my uncle was enfeoffed as the Marquis of Jingbei, but he has always stayed with the Marquis of Zhenguo, guarding the two northern cities.

Twenty years ago, in April, Uncle's only son fell ill and died in almost half a month. Uncle returned home for the funeral. At the funeral, Uncle adopted Ning Guangtiao's son, Ning Zhiyuan, as his adopted son... And Ning Guangtiao is now the head of the Ning clan in the capital.

Eighteen years ago, my uncle married Madam Xiao, the legitimate daughter of the Minister of Rites, and they had a daughter named Beizhi.

Ning Nan listed these events one by one on a piece of paper.

Then, he added a few more strokes below the date April twenty years ago.

Twenty years ago, in May, my father, Ning Beiwang, passed away from illness, beyond the reach of medicine. In August, my grandparents drowned themselves in the river. Li Baoxin clashed with the Ning family in the capital...

Hey!

After a long silence...

He pressed the brush heavily onto the paper.

His gaze hardened, but quickly returned to calm.

"Uncle," he said in a low voice, standing beside the desk, to the old man sitting in a chair, somewhat saddened by memories of the past, "I..."

Ning Nan paused, his voice dry, "I'd like to ask you for a favor for my grand-nephew."

……

……

It was late July, and the scorching sun was a bit wan today. By early afternoon, the sun was obscured by clouds, and the sky changed from a bright golden yellow to a bluish-green.

It wasn't until around 7 PM that Ningfu came over and said that dinner was ready, but the sun still hadn't risen.

Ning Nan walked out of Uncle Bo's study.

Ningfu went in and asked the master, who said that the physician's disciple had already delivered the medicinal meal.

Ning Changling sat silently in his chair. After a long while, he shook his head and said he wouldn't eat tonight.

His wife, Lady Xiao, took Bei Zhi back to her parents' home to visit the Minister. The two families live not far apart, and they will be back tomorrow.

I had originally planned a family dinner, but now... it's not really appropriate.

Ning Changling remained expressionless and instructed Ning Fu to send someone to the Minister's residence to ask the Madam and Miss to return a few days later.

Ning Fu was somewhat puzzled, but immediately nodded in agreement.

Immediately, Ning Changling said, "Please take good care of Bai Xuan... barring any unforeseen circumstances..."

The old marquis's eyes narrowed, and he solemnly said, "He is your heir. After my death, Bai Xuan will be the next Marquis of Jingbei."

Ning Fu stared wide-eyed, stunned on the spot.

Ning Changling said, "Two days later, a clan recognition ceremony will be held, and he will be included in the genealogy of my Beining clan... At that time, I will petition His Majesty to say that he will continue the Ning family line and inherit the title."

"Prepare the invitations tonight," Ning Changling said, slightly raising his chin. "...Hmm, send them to the Ning family in the capital first...invite them to the ceremony..."

Ning Nan, along with the somewhat dazed San Zhuang and Qian Sijin, and thirty other Imperial Guards, dined at the Jingbei Marquis's residence.

"We don't need any wine," Qian Sijin said cautiously to the steward serving them. "We need to protect Young Master Ning tonight."

The manager immediately obeyed and left, instructing everyone to remove the drinks.

"Big Brother?" San Zhuang, holding a braised pork knuckle in his hand, licked his fingers. "What's going on?"

At this moment, a pretty maid came over to refill his tea.

Ning Nan glanced at the pretty maid, then smiled at San Zhuang and said, "From now on... call you Eldest Brother, Young Master!"

The maid's hand trembled as she poured the tea.

Steaming hot tea spilled onto the table, creating a cloud of mist.

"I'm sorry, Young Master Ning, I'm sorry..." the maid said hurriedly, her face flushed red.

Ning Nan chuckled and said it was alright.

The maidservant hurriedly wiped the table.

He picked up the tea and slowly drank a cup.

Not long after.

The waiters serving them food in the spacious lobby unconsciously straightened their backs and quickened their pace.

The managers' smiles became more obsequious, and when they approached Ning Nan to ask if he needed more food, their voices were lower, their tones more humble, and they bowed more deeply.

The pretty maids swayed their slender waists a little more, and their gazes lingered a little longer on the young master who was leisurely eating...

No wonder the Marquis hasn't named the Second Young Master Ning as his heir... Everyone's eyes widened slightly in shock, but they didn't show it on their faces, even holding their breath tightly... Huff... So the Marquis's chosen heir... is someone else entirely...

……

……

Night gradually fell.

Li Xing, with his hands tucked into his sleeves, leaned against the wall, his mouth wide open, and let out a huge yawn.

"Curfew is approaching," said a man in shorts next to me.

"Hmm." Li Xing nodded.

Another man carrying a load said, "Xing-ge'er, why don't you go back to the Ning residence first? You're still young. We two brothers can keep an eye on things here."

Li Xing's face tightened, and he shook his head, saying, "Brother Tianfu, Brother Lü Lin, my elder brother must have his reasons for sending me here to keep an eye on Uncle Li He."

Zhou Tianfu and Lü Lin were Jinyiwei (Imperial Guards) whom the elder brother had called over to stake out Uncle Li He's place together.

Li Xing quite liked them both; they respected him a lot, and they discussed everything with each other.

He squinted his sleepy eyes.

To be honest, I didn't quite understand my older brother's orders at first.

After all, Uncle Li He didn't seem like there was anything worth keeping an eye on. He was a dry, old man who spent the whole day in a dilapidated restaurant with Aunt Li Yi and other people from Li Family Village.

More than a dozen uncles and aunts squeezed into three rooms, while Aunt Li Yi and her daughter stayed in another room.

They ate only the dry rations they brought from the village; they would never touch the food in restaurants, no matter what—it was ridiculously expensive, they'd rather die.

But around 3 PM, they saw Uncle Li He leave the house alone.

Only then did Li Xing and the other two realize that something was amiss.

They followed each other the whole way.

It took about half an hour to walk there.

Uncle Li He arrived at a place called Shuangyang Tavern.

That's really strange.

Uncle Li He was dressed like an old farmer, with many patches on his clothes. He was so shabby that even a dog would bark at him and try to show off.

But as soon as the owner of Shuangyang Tavern saw him arrive, he respectfully trotted out to welcome him inside.

Zhou Tianfu also went into the restaurant to buy some steamed buns, but the manager chased him out like a beggar. Zhou Tianfu said that the manager had served Li He all the best dishes.

They've been squatting there ever since.

Uncle Li He lingered for over an hour, drinking, eating, and enjoying tea and music before finally leaving Shuangyang Tavern and rushing to Aunt Li Yi's place before curfew.

Li Xing frowned, his small face full of doubt.

Zhou Tianfu said, "Should we arrest him and interrogate him?"

Lu Lin nodded sternly: "Interrogate him. If you beat up this kind of old man, he'll definitely tell you everything."

Li Xing quickly pulled them both back, saying urgently, "How can we fight now!"

When the two Imperial Guards saw that Li Xing disagreed, they had no choice but to give up. After all, although Li Xing was young, Young Master Ning trusted this child.

Li Xing frowned and thought for a moment.

After a moment, he straightened his clothes and strode into the tavern.