Sitting on the boat, watching the ripples left by the oars slowly fade behind them, Ning Qingtian hesitated for a long time before finally speaking.

“My lady, what were you thinking? How could you swear an oath so carelessly? How could I possibly go take that imperial examination?”

To be honest, even now, he still felt like he was trapped in a dream.

He had already made up his mind—he absolutely would not take the exam.

If things truly reached a dead end, he had even considered dragging the old man up the mountain by force to crush his hopes completely.

But what he never expected was that his firm resolve would be stabbed in the back… by his own wife.

Now that the oath had been made, if he didn’t participate in the exam, something terrible might happen to his wife.

Thinking of this, Ning Qingtian slapped his thigh in frustration.

It was all his fault for not staying firm from the very beginning—now he had created this awkward mess for himself!

Meanwhile, from Ning Qingtian’s reaction, Wu Qianlan once again confirmed another conclusion—this “bandit husband” of hers truly cared deeply for the woman named Yan Bailu.

No matter what he did, he always considered her first.

But for Wu Qianlan herself… there’d never been anyone who treated her that way.

In the past seventeen years, only as an infant had she received genuine affection from her mother.

After her father, the emperor, named her his heir because he had no sons, everyone who approached her did so with ulterior motives.

Thinking of this, she couldn’t help but feel a touch of envy.

“My lady, what’s wrong?”

Seeing her suddenly fall into a daze after his question, Ning Qingtian immediately waved his hand in front of her eyes.

“Ah… nothing. Ahem. Actually, taking the imperial examination isn’t so bad. If you really manage to pass and become an official, that would be a good thing. If you can be assigned to govern Anqing Prefecture, it would be greatly beneficial to our plans, wouldn’t it?”

Snapped out of her thoughts, Wu Qianlan quickly came up with an explanation.

Ning Qingtian heard this and, though he felt she made some sense, still didn’t like the idea of acting as an undercover official.

He scratched his head and said, “Well… isn’t that a bit risky? Wouldn’t it be better to take advantage of the floods in Jiangnan right now? There’ll be many refugees fleeing north—we should seize the opportunity to recruit more people.”

He glanced at his wife and added, “And what about the stronghold? We can’t just abandon the brothers and all go to Bianjing, can we?”

Wu Qianlan knew he was wavering, but was reluctant to leave the mountain. That irritated her.

If he didn’t go to Bianjing, how could she confirm who the person commanding the empire in the palace really was?

If she didn’t confirm that, how could she return to the throne?

If she delayed too long and the imposter ruined the foundations of the Great Song, she would become a sinner for all ages.

With that in mind, Wu Qianlan turned around, her expression firm.

“There is nothing to worry about. I will watch over the stronghold. You may go take the exam without concern. You studied for more than ten years—how could you abandon that for my sake? And as for being called a bandit, it was I who forced you up the mountain. How could that make you a bandit?”

Over the past few days, after this “bandit husband” reorganized the stronghold, everything was running smoothly. She hardly needed to do anything.

And as for the fearsome reputation of Yan Bailu, no one dared speak ill of her.

So getting Ning Qingtian out of the way first and then finding a way to contact Celestial Master Zhang was a good plan.

Even if it was slower, it was far safer than going to Bianjing herself.

Ning Qingtian had no idea what she was plotting.

But after being with her for three years, he knew his wife—once she made a decision, she would not change her mind.

That meant his trip to Bianjing for the imperial examination was now unavoidable.

Still, he quietly came up with a plan.

He’d just pretend to fail.

Tell them he was incompetent and didn’t pass.

Surely they couldn’t force him again after that?

Having made up his mind, he no longer argued.

“Since that is the case, then I shall try. My lady, please stay at the stronghold and wait for my return. I will go and return quickly.”

Wu Qianlan finally felt reassured and allowed herself a small smile.

Ning Qingtian froze.

In three years, although they got along well, he had almost never seen her smile.

Knowing how she carried the sorrow of her clan’s destruction, he worked so hard to help her exact revenge and free her heart.

So when he finally saw her smile… he was deeply moved.

Looking at her youthful features softened by that faint smile, Ning Qingtian instinctively pulled her into his arms and kissed her.

Wu Qianlan’s body stiffened instantly.

The accidental smile disappeared without a trace.

Fortunately, Ning Qingtian let go immediately.

Even so, the moment the boat reached the shore, Wu Qianlan bolted off like a startled rabbit.

Ning Qingtian scratched his head on the boat.

Since when was his wife… so shy?

* * *

Three days later, on the official road to Anqing Prefecture, a black-covered carriage rolled forward under the guidance of a sturdy young man.

It was nearly noon. The late-autumn heat was still oppressive, and the man soon broke into a sweat.

Still, he said nothing, simply urging the horses forward.

Only when the gates of Anqing Prefecture came into view did he slow down and say to the carriage, “Chieftain, we’re almost at Anqing Prefecture. Shall we enter now?”

The curtain lifted.

A young man dressed like a refined scholar tapped the sturdy man’s head with his folded paper fan.

“Yang Ba, how many times have I told you—out here, call me Young Master Ning. Do you want everyone to know I’m a bandit?”

Yang Ba scratched his head and laughed awkwardly, apologizing.

The scholar shook his head and gave him a few more reminders before looking ahead.

Not far away stood a tall city gate, with the large characters “Anqing Prefecture” written above it. Guards watched over the entrance.

He lowered the curtain again.

“Go. Let’s visit my teacher first and get my student record.”

Yang Ba grinned and obeyed, guiding the carriage toward the city gate.