The bead curtain swayed gently, and the pearls and jade collided with each other, making a clear and melodious sound.

A palace maid with a velvet flower pinned to her ear came in and whispered in Le Zhu's ear, "Aunt, Miss Wenren is here."

Le Zhu nodded in understanding: "Bring it in."

After saying that, he burst into laughter and walked slowly to the Queen Mother and the Princess: "Old Lady, Your Highness, the Second Miss of the Wen Family has arrived."

Lin Ping's eyes lit up, and he turned to look at his mother: "Did Xuan enter the palace?"

The Queen Mother smiled and said, "Your uncle was afraid that I would be lonely during my illness, so he surrounded me with servants and maids. After all, they are servants and cannot be as caring as family members. Xuan'er has always been filial and considerate, so he sent her to accompany an old woman like me."

As they were talking, the palace maid had led forward a young girl of about fifteen or sixteen. She had a small bun on her head and a beautiful pearl lotus crown on her head. Her eyes were full of love, her cheeks were flushed, her clothes were elegant, and there was a jade belt hanging from her waist. She moved without making any sound, and was very graceful.

When she reached the center of the hall, she knelt down on the prayer mat and kowtowed, saying, "I, Wen Renxuan, pay my respects to the Empress Dowager and Her Royal Highness the Princess. May the Empress live a long life and Her Royal Highness live in peace."

The Queen Mother called out "good" twice, and after accepting her greetings, she hurriedly ordered him to stand up, and told Le Zhu to look after the seat: "Good boy, stand up."

Wen Renxuan then stood up, declined the offer, and sat down at the head of the table.

Lin Ping smiled and asked, "I wonder if my uncle is in good health and if my big brother is doing well?"

Wen Renxuan hurriedly stood up and replied, "Thank you for your concern, Your Highness. Grandfather is in good health recently, and father is doing well. I am just very worried about the Queen Mother and Your Highness, so I asked Xuan'er to say hello to the Queen Mother and Your Highness."

Lin Ping smiled and said, "Okay, sit down. We are all family, why should we be so formal?" She turned her head and said to the Queen Mother with a smile and a look of anger, "It turns out that with such a beautiful niece to accompany you, it's no wonder that the Queen Mother doesn't need her daughter to accompany her."

The Queen Mother laughed and scolded, "Listen, you are the eldest princess of a country, but you are angry with a little girl. Le Zhu, serve tea to the second girl."

Wen Renxuan was immediately flattered: "I dare not trouble Madam Le."

The Queen Mother looked at her expression and said with a smile, "Just enjoy yourself, don't be so reserved." She looked at Xuan'er kindly and chatted with her, "I haven't seen you for a while, and you've grown a lot. You look like a grown-up girl. How old are you now?"

Wen Renxuan blushed and replied, "Her Majesty, Xuan'er is already sixteen this year."

"Sixteen years old is really like a budding flower." The Queen Mother sighed with emotion, her eyes full of reminiscence, "I just entered the palace when I was sixteen, and I was also the same age as you are now, about to bloom. But in the blink of an eye, I have become old, and even my grandchildren are this old. For the rest of my life, I am just waiting to die."

Lin Ping interrupted her and said in a feigned anger, "Don't talk nonsense, mother! You are still in your prime, how can you say you are old? Look at your appearance in the mirror. If someone else saw you, who wouldn't think we were sisters?"

The Queen Mother laughed and said, "I don't believe you can fool me like this. I am already over fifty years old, how can I compare with you?"

She turned her gaze to Wen Renxuan and sighed, "Looking at these lively and lively children, I finally understand what youth is."

Wen Renxuan's heart tightened when she heard this. Before she could think of how to reply, she heard the Queen Mother slowly add, "It's a pity that Wenren's granddaughter is already so old, but I don't know where my grandson is."

It’s over.

Lin Ping's heart sank. What did his mother mean by bringing up this matter in front of Xuan? Could it be that she really had a sudden idea to marry a girl from her natal family into the palace?

Lin Ping suddenly felt dizzy when she thought of her increasingly unpredictable imperial brother.

------

"Your Majesty, Miss Ning, no, Young Master Ning has been accompanied by Young Master Lou Xiao to the academy, and the class is expected to start soon."

Chu Huan had just shortlisted the candidates and decided how to organize the funeral of the old minister, so he summoned Wu Shilu over and asked, "What did Ning'er say? Has everything been arranged?"

Wu Shilu smiled and replied, "Your Majesty, rest assured. Nothing could be more appropriate. Young Master Ning asked me to tell Your Majesty that you don't have to worry about her. Lou Xiao gets along very well with the young master and knows his limits. I think Young Master Lou has already given him instructions at home. When he first entered school, Young Master Lou introduced his classmates to Master Ning in detail, and especially introduced the Sixth Young Master of the Wen Family."

"Is the Sixth Young Master of the Wen Family the black-skinned boy?"

"That's right, his name is Wenren Xi. Because of his parents, Master Lou seems to be very close to Master Wenren."

Chu Huan was flipping through a memorial. Upon hearing this, he frowned and asked, "What is the character of that boy? It would be too rash to introduce him to you."

Wu Shilu looked at Emperor Zhaoyuan's expression and said with a smile, "Your Majesty, please don't be upset. In my humble opinion, the Sixth Young Master is a rare and honest person in the Wen family."

He tactfully advised His Majesty: "Master Lou probably only thinks that Master Ning is a delicate young master, and Master Wenren is tall and strong, so he wants to ask him to take care of him."

Chu Huan frowned unhappily and scolded, "What do you mean by treating me as a young master? Didn't I tell you that when Ning'er is in and out of the palace with her hair tied up, she is Young Master Ning? If you let it slip again, I will punish you severely."

Wu Shilu took the blow and just laughed: "Thank you, Your Majesty, for your teaching."

Emperor Zhaoyuan took out a long-prepared decree from the table, put it in Wu Shilu's hand, and ordered: "Since Ning'er has entered the school, the decree should be passed on. There are many beautiful girls in the Wencui Palace. It would be bad for her to walk around the palace without a status that she can rely on."

Chu Huan's beautiful, almost sharp eyes were filled with indescribable tenderness. He smiled slightly and said, "By the way, tell Ning Er that I will go to see her when she has a break from classes."

------

In the Wencui Palace.

There was a sudden commotion in front of the court. The students who had been gathered in groups of three or five suddenly dispersed and lined up neatly on both sides. "The lecturer is here."

Lou Xiao hurriedly pulled Ning'er to stand together and whispered, "The academic official in charge is named Cui. He is a Jinshi who ranked first in the second class of the sixth year of Zhaoyuan. He is very knowledgeable and kind, but his requirements are also very strict."

For the first time in her life, Ning Er felt the nervousness of meeting a master. She couldn't help but clench her hands and asked in a low voice: "But I haven't learned anything seriously yet."

Lou Xiao comforted him, "Don't be afraid. After giving a lecture, Lecturer Cui will check the names of the students and divide them into different classes according to their academic abilities. He will teach students in accordance with their aptitude and will never force their progress."

Ning'er felt a little relieved. She looked up and saw a handsome middle-aged man walking to the front of the hall surrounded by a crowd of people. He was wearing a bright red round-collared robe with a white pheasant square patch, a black gauze official hat on his head, and had a solemn expression.

Everyone was silent for a moment. After Cui Jiangguan sat down, everyone said in unison: "Disciples greet our Master."

After lecturer Cui received the etiquette from everyone and gave them the usual instructions, an attendant unfolded the roster in front of the desk so that the lecturer could call on the students.

He glanced at it casually, then cleared his throat. When he was about to start calling out the names from the beginning as usual, his eyes suddenly fixed and widened in shock.

On the list filled with princes, grandchildren of the emperor, nobles and relatives, a completely unfamiliar name suddenly appeared at the top, and it was clearly written:

"Ning Chao, thirteen years old, Prince of Linqing!"

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