In the late August of Jinghan 12th year, the capital city, crowded with martial artists, concluded the martial arts imperial examination. Search:\(\、Complete、Book、God、Station、) to read premium literature for free. Originally intended to align with the amnesty edict issued in the first half of the year, this martial arts examination was grand and unprecedented. However, with the news of Wanyan Aguda's death in late July, the atmosphere in the capital suddenly changed. Several conflicts that disrupted public order surfaced, and the Kaifeng Prefecture dispatched officials to arrest some individuals. Discussions about not tolerating martial artists committing crimes also circulated among scholars.

These events seemed unrelated to the martial arts imperial examination, and everything proceeded as usual. Subsequently, a man named Wei Sannian, nominally affiliated with the Imperial Boxing Academy, won the top prize in the martial arts examination. After parading through the streets on horseback, he awaited his assignment. The external clamor had already begun to subside...

"...It's all petering out."

As the carriage moved forward, nearing Bianliang, Ning Yi looked at the intelligence report he had received and sighed softly. After the martial arts examination, the assignments for the various martial arts graduates had not yet been issued, but the general arrangements, the positions to be given, and so on, had already been drafted by the Prime Minister's office.

The participants and candidates in this martial arts examination mostly came from the north, and many were beneficiaries of the amnesty edict. To consolidate the effect of this amnesty edict, to ensure that the favor came from above, and that these people would be loyal to the emperor and the country rather than to a particular force or individual, this open and fair selection was held.

Originally, after this selection, most of them would be given important positions. Through the title of "Emperor's Disciples," they would be given real positions and real power, even autonomous authority above civil officials in certain areas and aspects of the north, in the hope that they would play a major role in future events. However, in this intelligence report, all the arrangements had been drastically adjusted.

Politics itself is an extremely delicate matter. Ministers are mutually opposed, vying for people, and the relationship between the emperor and his ministers is often one of opposition. How to make this group of military officers loyal to the monarch rather than to individuals requires a great deal of skillful arrangement. Otherwise, if you put a lot of effort into promoting someone, only to benefit a certain powerful force, it would be extremely inconsistent with the principle of checks and balances.

Before Wanyan Aguda's death, the emperor had the ambition and idea to do this, but after the news of his death came, he clearly took a step back. Because the power of the civil officials began to counterattack, the initial tacit understanding was lost. Officials from all sides were trying to suppress the power of the military generals, while also trying to win over the martial arts graduates who had passed the examination. To promote the plan according to the original plan would require a lot of energy and a lot of political maneuvering. The emperor saw the problem and simply suppressed and dispersed the follow-up of this martial arts examination, and continued according to the previous steps. He took a step back to avoid trouble, and the change below was earth-shattering.

"Before the allocation even started, the civil official faction started to move. They really know how to do things... The chief instructor of Cai Jing's mansion secretly made contact with Wei Sannian at Fan Lou, and Wei Sannian reportedly suffered a hidden loss. Tsk tsk, Cai Jing..."

Looking at the intelligence report, Ning Yi shook his head and smiled. Zhu Biao, who was beside him, curled his lips.

"I've seen the chief instructor of Cai Jing's mansion. He's only slightly better than me. If we really fought, we wouldn't be able to determine a winner in a short time. This martial arts champion is quite easy to become. If I were in the capital, it would be me."

Ning Yi smiled and turned the intelligence report over: "Naive. Do you know that Grandmaster Zhou Tong also participated in the martial arts examination, and only became a martial arts scholar in the end? He sat in the Imperial Boxing Academy, fought his way to the top instructor, and became famous throughout the world, but in the end, it was difficult for him to get a real military position..."

Zhu Biao touched the back of his neck: "Then I... don't I have a backer now?"

"That's true." Ning Yi put down the intelligence report and thought for a while. "If you really took the exam, you could really win the martial arts champion. At least the Prime Minister's Office would definitely support you, and you could get a real position after winning."

"Haha, never mind. I've seen so many things. I don't know what the army is like. If I go, I'll be suppressed by those civil officials who point fingers. It's better to be carefree now." After Zhu Biao finished speaking, he said again, "However, Brother Ning, you were originally promoting chivalrous deeds in the Jianghu world, and this martial arts examination is also very important. Now that it's being suppressed, wouldn't all your previous efforts be wasted?"

"The martial arts examination was never important." Ning Yi shook his head. "Whether it's done well or not, I didn't have too many expectations for it. The promotion of chivalry is the key. We rose up with this wind, and although we're a little affected now, it doesn't seem to be too much of an impact."

He handed one of the papers in his hand to Zhu Biao: "Everyone is working hard to divide the fruits of this martial arts examination. Grand Tutor Cai is old and wants the status of scholars. The others mostly think about their own families, and both win over and suppress. Prime Minister Li and Prime Minister Qin want to build a real line of defense in the north. This is one of Tan Zhen's achievements. He also hopes that military officials can rise up a little. In the end, those people have to give him some face..."

He smiled: "Suppressing military generals, but not completely suppressing martial arts practitioners. With Prime Minister Qin in charge, they will maintain an indifferent attitude towards my Bamboo Union's publicity. This can also be regarded as taking Prime Minister Qin's face into consideration. Although the martial arts examination is a mess, we have benefited. But..."

After saying these words, his brow suddenly furrowed when he saw a page of intelligence. After reading it for a while, he took a breath: "Qin Hui..." Zhu Biao curiously glanced over here. Ning Yi showed him the page and turned his gaze to another staff member in the carriage who was processing information from the Secret Intelligence Division.

"What is the detailed situation of Luo Jinyan at present?"

The staff member cupped his hands: "We are certain that he died that night."

As the carriage moved forward, bumping slightly, Ning Yi was silent for a moment, tapping his fingers on the seat below, and then said, "What about his wife and children? How are they?"

"There is no definite information yet. We believe they may also be dead."

"Don't believe, be sure." Ning Yi said, "Immediately start investigating this matter. If they are still alive, try to develop a rescue plan, but it must be done skillfully, so that Qin Hui doesn't know it was us... This matter must be handled with caution. Go do it immediately."

"Yes."

The staff member cupped his hands, lifted the curtain directly, and got off the speeding carriage. He took a horse from the returning convoy and galloped into the distance.

Zhu Biao finished reading the intelligence report about Luo Jinyan in his hand, and slapped his palm on the seat: "This old dog." Then he frowned and looked at Ning Yi, "However, Brother Ning, isn't it a little early for us to take action against Qin Hui now? If we startle the snake, will it be worth the loss? His reputation as an official is extremely good, and Luo Jinyan is dead, so there is no evidence. Even if his wife and children are alive, I'm afraid they can't threaten this guy."

Ning Yi smiled and looked at him. Zhu Biao is actually a straightforward person. Seeing injustice, to him personally, it's definitely just indignation. But after being in the Secret Intelligence Division for so long, he has also understood the principles of the overall situation. His current concern is not so much for himself as for Ning Yi and the entire Secret Intelligence Division.

"I'm not Luo Jinyan. It's certainly good not to challenge Qin Zhongcheng. If we really fight, it may not be that terrible. If we can really save Luo Jinyan's wife and children, it won't be useful for the time being, but maybe it can be used as a foreshadowing. There will always be a place to use it in the future. It can reassure people and may have benefits, so why not do it?" Ning Yi sat there, watching the curtain occasionally raised by the autumn wind, the scenery of the road shaking outside the curtain, "But for you and me, after seeing so much of this kind of thing, the most important thing I think is... cherish the people in front of you. After returning to the capital, I'll give you a few days off. Go spend more time with the Wang family's girl. Don't overthink it."

"Got it!" Zhu Biao waved his fist cheerfully.

Ning Yi looked at the other side of the carriage curtain. He said some words, but some words he didn't say after all. Qin Hui, a person like this, says he's forced to, but in reality, he's very decisive when he does things.

The most terrible people in the world are usually not the bad people who simply do evil, just like the Yang Yi and Yang Heng brothers who kidnapped him in the Jiangning boathouse a few years ago. No matter how harsh they speak, they still think they are doing bad things, just feeling that they can't survive without being ruthless. This self-awareness of "doing bad things" is determined by the universal moral values of a society. This kind of person's damage to the entire world is usually not strong.

Only those who have philosophical cultivation, have a way of thinking, and think that everything is reasonable, will make themselves do things without hesitation, because they will fundamentally distort the evaluation concepts of morality and values from the logical chain. The monitors lurking around Qin Hui said that Luo Jinyan finally accused Qin Hui of "being forced to." It seems that people in the world are forced to do everything, but once they sincerely accept this forced to, they will be more determined and more proactive in doing evil than in doing good.

Because they have found sufficient reasons, things can only be done. They may have superficial guilt, but they usually won't hesitate again.

...That Luo Jinyan's wife and children may already be dead

Ning Yi actually had this kind of speculation in his heart. But because it was still speculation, he didn't say it.

The wind blew through the post road near late autumn. Outside the carriage window, yellow leaves and yellow flowers danced in the autumn sun. Outside Bianliang City, there were gradually more pedestrians, and someone came to join them along the way. Then several large carriages in the middle of the convoy broke away from the team and went to the countryside near Bianliang.

The road twisted and turned, winding for a while, merging and separating from the surrounding small roads. There were occasional streams, and old waterwheels could be seen in the distance. After the Autumn Equinox, the rice in the fields had been harvested early, leaving yellow rice stubble. The carriages slowed down when they saw the village ahead in the distance. When Ning Yi got out of the car, yellow leaves fell from the trees by the road.

At the fork in the road not far away, pedestrians came from there. In front were several women, including female chivalrous figures with weapons, and behind were several attendants.

The one leading the way was a tall and beautiful woman. Her face was soft, intellectual, and delicate. She was wearing a white autumn outfit, and her embroidered shoes were also white. She looked like a typical lady from a wealthy family. The autumn wind blew, blowing a strand of hair on her face, and the sun shone softly.

She paused there for a moment, and then ran towards here.

She wouldn't have run like this before.

Nie Yunzhu, this intelligent and quiet woman who met and knew him in Jiangning and experienced many things, has also changed slightly compared to when he first met her.

She stopped when she got close, her chest rising and falling, her clear and joyful eyes looking at Ning Yi on her slightly raised face. Ning Yi had already come over and picked her up directly.

She was immediately at a loss.

Beside the surrounding carriages and roads, many subordinates smiled and watched this scene between the young couple. They had long been accustomed to their boss's shocking behavior and were not surprised.

Only some people would still smile and consciously turn away...

Not long after, in the courtyard of Fan Lou in Bianliang City, a maid also walked in, looked at Miss Shishi, who was sitting idly arranging flowers in the room, and said, "Miss, I heard that Master Ning is back."

"Yes." Shishi nodded casually and continued to complete the flower arrangement in her hand. Soon after, a clean and neat work took shape on the table.

She supported herself on the floor with her hands, leaned her body back, and looked leisurely at her work. Feeling the sunlight shining in from the courtyard outside the door, she raised her head and squinted her eyes slightly, feeling the warmth, like a cat basking in the sun in autumn.

When the summer of this year passed, she also officially rejected Zhou Bangyan's proposal to marry her. Although there have been successive people making such requests, making her a hot topic in the "redemption" and "marriage" discussions, in a sense, the best possibility may have passed.

What will the future be like? She has no answer yet.

But perhaps someone will have something to say.

She wanted to talk to him.

Squinting her eyes like this, after a while, a bang suddenly came from the room. When the maid came to see, her lady was sitting up from the floor, covering the back of her head. The autumn sun cast a bright boundary in the room, and her lady sat in that boundary, beautifully and cutely squinting one eye and pursing her lips at her.

She really looked like a cat that charmed all living beings...

Even the maid who had been by her side for a long time couldn't help but be stunned at this moment, and then covered her lips and laughed...

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