Before he could finish speaking, Eunuch Ma announced from outside, "Your Majesty, lunch is ready."

Jiang Shuyue had no choice but to follow Xiao Jingzhao to the other side of the Imperial Study.

The dining table in the Imperial Study was not large, which shows that Xiao Jingzhao often ate there.

As soon as the two sat down, dishes were brought in like a flowing stream.

The palace maids carried trays containing exquisite utensils.

After setting out the bowls and plates, Eunuch Ma waved his hand, and the head palace maid placed the dishes from the tray on the table.

The palace maids announced the name of each dish as it was served, and a total of twenty-eight dishes and a soup were served.

As the palace maid lifted the exquisite lid, an enticing aroma immediately filled the room.

Eunuch Ma took out silver needles to test the dishes, but Jiang Shuyue smiled and said, "Not every poison can be detected with silver needles."

"Then, this servant will try another method."

Just as Jiang Shuyue was looking forward to seeing what better ingredients Eunuch Ma would bring out for tasting,

Then, Eunuch Ma turned around, took a plate and a pair of chopsticks, and started putting small pieces of each dish into the Emperor's plate, starting with the one closest to him.

Jiang Shuyue looked at Xiao Jingzhao.

Xiao Jingzhao immediately understood: "Does Yue Niang have any better ideas?"

"Your Majesty, there is no way. If someone puts a slow-acting poison in the food, tasting it won't work."

Jiang Shuyue hadn't said anything yet, but shouldn't good food be eaten while it's hot? Many dishes don't taste the same when they're cold.

By the time the eunuchs who were tasting the food finished eating, the hot dishes on the table had all gone cold. Especially in winter, eating such food regularly is not good for the stomach.

When Eunuch Ma heard that his method of testing the dishes was ineffective, he put a mouthful of food in his mouth and looked at Xiao Jingzhao.

Xiao Jingzhao waved his hand, "You may all leave. From now on, there's no need for tasting the dishes. Just make sure the purchasing and kitchen staff are in good condition."

Jiang Shuyue also didn't like being waited on while eating, so the two of them didn't feel too constrained during the meal.

The dishes prepared by the imperial chefs were truly exquisite; every dish was a feast for the eyes, nose, and palate.

Xiao Jingzhao picked up the serving chopsticks and helped Jiang Shuyue set out the dishes several times.

Jiang Shuyue didn't have a big appetite to begin with. She tried a little of each dish and drank a bowl of soup before she was full.

Jiang Shuyue had become accustomed to the table manners here, which included not speaking while eating or sleeping.

Aside from occasionally saying a word when serving her food, Xiao Jingzhao barely discussed anything serious during the meal.

After putting down her chopsticks and bowl, Jiang Shuyue picked up a handkerchief and dabbed her lips.

He looked at Xiao Jing with a questioning gaze, "Does Your Majesty really have something else to say?"

"Yes, of course. I would like to discuss with you whether it is inconvenient for Sui Sui to live in the Imperial Academy. Should we bring him to live in the Cining Palace?"

Jiang Shuyue nodded, "I understand. The Empress Dowager and the Princess both care about Sui Sui. But I let him stay in the palace for one night every few days, and the rest of the time I let him stay at Su Jin's place."

Xiao Jingzhao looked resentful and said, "Can't you spare me even a little time to spend with him?"

"His Majesty is busy with state affairs, and I am afraid he will disturb you. If His Majesty has free time, he may occasionally visit Su Jin's residence."

Jiang Shuyue didn't care what the Emperor thought; she just wanted Xiao Jingzhao to spend more time with Su Jin.

Xiao Jingzhao hadn't really thought about it too deeply, and nodded, saying, "That's fine too, Su Jin's residence isn't far from the palace gates after all."

Jiang Shuyue took her leave of the palace, and Xiao Jingzhao had Eunuch Ma send a sedan chair to escort her.

Watching Jiang Shuyue leave the palace gate, Eunuch Ma said to the guards at the palace gate, "No matter when the young lady enters the palace, you must not stop her."

He then said to the eunuch in charge of the sedan chair, "Be more careful next time, and don't let the young lady get tired."

The eunuchs and guards respectfully accepted the order.

After Eunuch Ma left, the guard asked the eunuch, "Who is this young lady?"

The eunuch shook his head. "I don't know. A woman who can be escorted to the palace gate by the Grand Steward is no ordinary woman."

...

The next morning, Cangyun took Sui Sui, Su Nan, and Yao Zu to the Imperial Academy for their interviews.

The man conducting the interviews looked down and flipped through the booklet in his hand, checking the names on it to ensure they were genuine, in case someone was impersonating him.

The real scholar happened to be walking this way.

Newly enrolled students will be divided into classes according to their age. Students of the same age will take a unified exam after enrollment, and then be divided into classes based on their scores.

The Grand Scholar came here to see how the students were doing in the interviews, so that he could have a better idea of ​​whether he could put together a Class A student.

Seeing Sui Sui waiting in line, he couldn't help but stop.

He suddenly remembered what his grandson had said to him in the study last night.

“Grandfather, the Imperial Academy is full of hidden talents, so we must be careful in everything we do. Some students’ true identities are not what they appear to be.”

Looking at his composed grandson, the Grand Scholar, for the first time, pressed for an explanation.

Zhen Jingxiu voiced his suspicions, and during the palace examination, he deliberately mustered his courage to glance at the emperor's face.

That day, the emperor sat on a high place, and the twelve tassels on his crown swayed back and forth in front of his face, making it difficult for him to see them clearly.

The Grand Scholar had seen the Emperor up close in the Imperial Study.

Thinking about what her grandson had said, her gaze fell on Sui Sui's exquisitely beautiful face.

Two figures overlapped in my mind.

They look exactly alike. If Sui Sui were to move her bangs aside, they would look exactly like she was made from the same mold.

One is mature and experienced, while the other is innocent and naive. If one didn't want to make a comparison, one would never associate these two completely unrelated people together.

The Grand Scholar was stunned and stood there for a moment. After a while, he strode forward.

"Sui Sui, don't wait in line."

"Real Grandpa?" Sui Sui called out in her usual clear voice.

"Good boy, come over here. From now on, you can just call me Real Old Man."

Under the questioning gazes of everyone, Sui Sui was put on the roster without going through an interview.

"Xiao Sui'an".

Looking at the surnames on the roster, the Grand Scholar became even more convinced of his grandson's conjecture.

Back in the Zhen family private school, everyone was used to calling her Sui Sui, and even Zhen Jingxiu thought that Sui Sui's surname was Jiang.

Seeing that Su Nan and Yao Zu were closely following Sui Sui, the Grand Scholar understood and casually asked two questions before letting them in.

"Who is Su Jin to you?" the Grand Scholar asked, looking at Su Nan.

Su Nan bowed respectfully and said, "Replying to Elder Zhen, I am Su Jin's younger brother."

The scholar then said to the three of them, "Come with me. We will be assigned to different classes tomorrow. I will arrange accommodations for you first."

The Grand Scholar led the three to a courtyard. This courtyard was different from ordinary houses. Rows of side rooms were built along the sides, and there was a large garden in the middle.

Perhaps out of concern that the scholars might fall into the water while playing, there was no pond in the entire courtyard.

They led the three people into a room with four beds.

The scholar told the three of them where to fetch water to wash up and where to eat.

He then glanced around the room and said, "The room is fully equipped. If anything is missing, please let the manager know."

After the Grand Scholar left, Su Jin asked in bewilderment, "Wasn't it said that accommodations would be assigned according to age?"

"Second Uncle, don't think about it anymore. If Old Zhen says we can get a piece, then we can get a piece. Uncle Cangyun is still waiting outside. Go and tell him quickly, and send a message to Mother that we won't be going home today."

At that moment, two handsome scholars were peeking out from outside the courtyard, searching for something.