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

"Shopkeeper!" Li Xing called out.

The thin shopkeeper, who looked to be around thirty, narrowed his eyes and looked Li Xing up and down, saying, "What brings you here, young guest?" In the capital, the most prestigious city, this child's clothes were clean, and he didn't look like a timid little beggar. It was best not to offend him for now.

Li Xing, acting like a little adult, put his hands behind his back and tilted his nose up, saying, "That old man who just walked out of your place, the one dressed so poorly, look," he pointed, "I think he didn't pay for his meal!"

The shopkeeper glanced at it, then turned back and smiled, "Thank you for informing me, young guest. That was a distinguished guest of our owner, and the money has naturally already been paid."

It's related to the owner, but not to this shopkeeper... Li Xing said "Oh," and then asked, "Who is your owner?"

The innkeeper ignored his question and smiled, asking, "What brings you here, sir?"

It seems he's not going to tell anyone... Li Xing narrowed his eyes, thought for a while, and then waved to the outside.

Lü Lin and Zhou Tianfu immediately walked in.

Seeing the two burly men walk in, the skinny shopkeeper frowned. One of them looked somewhat familiar; it seemed he had just come in to buy some steamed buns, acting like a troublesome beggar who had been chased away by him.

Li Xing pointed at the skinny shopkeeper and whispered, "This one can be hit." Since Li He has a relationship with the owner but not with this shopkeeper, then this shopkeeper is someone who knows a little bit but doesn't really have any real interests... If we hit this person without Li He and that owner finding out, we won't have to worry about alerting the enemy.

"Oh..." Zhou Tianfu and his companion raised an eyebrow, chuckled, and pulled a card from their pockets.

They then bypassed the front desk, flanked the shopkeeper on both sides, flashed the sign underneath, and whispered.

"The Imperial Guard Commandery, the Embroidered Uniform Guard... Let me tell you the truth, your master is suspected of treason. If you don't want to be beheaded and have your property confiscated along with your master, then find me a quiet place..."

The thin shopkeeper's face turned pale, and he swayed.

"Hey, you—" He looked up and calmly addressed a waiter pouring tea not far away, "Keep an eye on the shop. My brothers from my hometown are visiting, I need to go keep them company..."

……

……

After having dinner at the Marquis of Jingbei's residence, Ning Nan, considering that they had been traveling all day, asked the Imperial Guards to rest a bit more in the flower hall to recharge their energy.

They were going to return to Lijia Village that very night to personally verify something.

After drinking tea for a while, it was almost 9 PM.

A young maid in a peach-colored, narrow-sleeved dress carried a steaming golden basin and, with small, quick steps, handed Ning Nan a towel.

Ning Nan smiled and said, "Thank you, young lady."

The maid's face immediately turned red, and she said in a barely audible voice, "Young Master, I wouldn't dare."

Nearly an hour had passed. Earlier, someone had heard this nephew of the Marquis say that he would be the "heir apparent of the Marquis's mansion," and the mansion was still skeptical at that time.

But after so much time has passed, accurate information has already come from Grandpa Ningfu.

Grandpa Fu said that the Marquis did indeed say that, and he was even arranging the grand ceremony for the young master to be included in the family genealogy!

The date is set for the day after tomorrow... The news has spread throughout the manor... The Marquis is keeping a close eye on this grand-nephew.

As the young maidservant carried the golden basin, she secretly glanced at the young master's profile a few times... Hmm, he's very handsome...

"I wonder if the young master is already married... If he is... then... can the young master take a concubine?" the maidservant thought to herself, blushing.

At this moment, Ning Nan frowned and asked the little maid a question: Where did the Second Young Master Ning go?

Ning Er... Ning Zhiyuan... He had actually had a pretty good impression of this person before.

The two were classmates at the private school in Liuye Lane and had a pretty good relationship.

The maidservant panicked, not knowing what the young master meant, and honestly replied, "Your Highness, we haven't seen Young Master Ning for several days."

Ning Nan nodded, but he was a little confused. In his memory, Ning Er had asked for leave earlier than him.

When he asked for leave, Ning Er had not been to the private school for at least seven days. At the time, he thought that since Ning Er had passed the provincial examination, he should be at home preparing for the metropolitan examination.

Ning Zhiyuan was quite talented; in fact, he was one of the few students in the private school who was liked and recognized by Mr. Huang Lizhou.

For other students, Mr. Lizhou had a cold, transactional relationship: the students paid him money, and he taught them the eight-legged essay.

But the teacher treated Ning Zhiyuan differently. The two didn't just talk about the eight-legged essay; they also discussed the ills of the previous dynasty, current affairs, new and old laws, and so on. Judging from their manner, Ning Zhiyuan was somewhat of the other's disciple, or even a confidant.

Unfortunately... Ning Nan's eyes darkened slightly.

After Ning Zhiyuan heard his name—Ning Nan—spread throughout the North-South Poetry Gathering, he visited him the very next day and even brought up the case from twenty years ago… This shows that the other party must know a lot, but it's unclear what his stance is.

Ning Nan stood up and woke up San Zhuang, who was sleeping soundly on the bench in the flower hall, drooling.

At the same time, Qian Sijin also summoned all the Imperial Guards.

The white horse from Ningnan, along with the horses of the three strong men and the Imperial Guards, have all been fed top-quality feed by the Marquis's mansion and are now in excellent spirits.

When leading the horse out of Ning Mansion.

Ning Nan asked the steward of the Marquis's residence again, "Where did the Second Young Master Ning go?"

The steward frowned, thought for a moment, and said, "About ten days ago, the second young master made an appointment with a friend to go out of the city for a spring outing and visit friends. He then left the city and has not returned since..." He spoke lightly and casually, but the back of the steward's clothes was already soaked with sweat, fearing that the young master would think he was the second young master's man.

Although the second young master is humble and polite, and a refined gentleman, since the Marquis has spoken directly, the overall situation is settled, and he cannot afford to be foolish.

Spring outing, visiting friends... Ning Nan frowned. At this time? After thinking for a while, he put his mind at ease and decided not to worry about it for the time being.

Twenty years ago, Ning Zhiyuan was only a few years old, so naturally he wouldn't have much to do with him.

"drive!"

Ning Nan rode his white horse, intending to go home first to tell his wife, Cui Cui, before riding out of the city again to return to Li Family Village to verify something.

Da da da!

The crisp sound of horses' hooves echoed through the streets late at night.

Qian Sijin and others raised torches to illuminate the horses.

Occasionally, when encountering soldiers patrolling the city with bows, one would show the Prince Xin's gold token and be allowed to pass.

When we reached the middle of Dazheng Street.

"call out!"

A sudden gust of wind howled!

"Bow and arrow!"

Ning Nan's hair stood on end, and he instantly ducked down on the horse's back!

Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!

The sound of swords being drawn rang out, and the Imperial Guards, startled, rushed forward and surrounded Ning Nan.

"Who?"

Qian Sijin's heart skipped a beat, and he suddenly roared into the shadows ahead.

At that moment, a dark figure appeared from the shadows. The figure was not tall and seemed to be wearing night clothes. It glanced at them, then suddenly retreated, ran to the left, and nimbly jumped over a low wall, disappearing into the darkness.

"Young Master Ning, why don't we return to the Marquis's residence first?" Qian Sijin said cautiously.

Having suffered a loss from being ambushed by Dahei before, he felt it was best to retreat to the Marquis's residence for the time being, just to be on the safe side.

Ning Nan glanced in the direction the man in black had left, frowned, and shook his head.

That arrow wasn't meant to be shot at anyone.

"Young master, there's a note on the arrow." A member of the Imperial Guard took down the arrow that had been shot into a door panel on the street, and there was a note tied to it.

Ning Nan unfolded the paper and saw that it contained only five words—

Li Erlai is in trouble.