Zhu Xinning nodded gently, then asked, "There are quite a lot of people today, you must be tired!"

"It's not hard at all!"

The two were taken aback by the fact that the aloof and powerful Zhu Sheren would show them such concern, and were momentarily flattered, stammering as they spoke.

Then one of them replied, "We're just looking at some poems at the entrance, how could it be hard work? It's probably Zhu Sheren who has to review even more poems today, that's the real hard work!"

"That's right!"

The other person quickly echoed, feeling somewhat annoyed, thinking that he had been a step too slow and his companion had taken the opportunity to speak with Zhu Sheren.

Zhu Xinning nodded without exchanging pleasantries, and continued walking forward. The two Grand Secretaries quickly made way for her.

But she had to stop after only a few steps.

Because someone was standing in front of her, blocking her way.

Zhu Xinning didn't speak, but frowned and looked up, trying to see who it was. But when she saw Jing Zhe, she suddenly froze.

Especially when her eyes met Jing Zhe's in the air, her heart skipped a beat for no reason, and then all sorts of inexplicable emotions welled up in her heart, making her feel somewhat dazed.

She swayed slightly, then steadied herself by holding onto Xiangru beside her. When she looked at Jing Zhe again, her eyes held a hint of doubt.

"Miss…"

Xiangru had never seen her young mistress so out of control before. She could clearly feel the pain in the place where her arm was being held, so she quickly asked with concern.

"Hey, who are you?!"

The two scholars, standing behind Zhu Xinning, couldn't see the changes in her facial expression. They assumed that Jing Zhe was blocking the way, preventing Zhu Xinning from moving forward.

"Yeah, what are you standing there for? Are you the performance pillar?"

"Do you really think you can attract Zhu Sheren's attention with this kind of attention-grabbing tactic? Dream on!"

"Get out of the way! Don't block Lord Zhu's path!"

After the two scholars finished speaking, they stepped forward again to clear the way for Jing Zhe and then showered Zhu Xinning with flattery.

"Master Zhu, you may enter the garden!"

Coming to her senses, Zhu Xinning glanced thoughtfully at Jing Zhe, then, supporting Xiangru, slowly entered Wuxian Garden.

The scholars and talented men watching the spectacle cheered: Don't think you can seduce Zhu Sheren just because you're good-looking!

Zhu Xinning entered Wuxian Garden and looked back again. Jing Zhe was already hidden by a group of enthusiastic scholars, so how could she see him?

I let out a long sigh, but I still felt uneasy.

Xiangru noticed her mistress's unusual behavior and quickly asked, "Miss, what's wrong?"

"Xiangru, that young master... have we met before?"

Xiangru shook her head.

Are you sure?

"I'm sure! That young master is so handsome, more handsome than any other young master Xiangru has ever seen! If she had seen him before, even just once, she would never forget him!"

Xiangru provided a reasoned and well-founded analysis.

"I've never seen this before... Why do I have this feeling..."

Zhu Xinning murmured to herself, but Xiangru didn't hear her clearly.

"What did you say, Miss?"

"nothing."

Zhu Xinning shook her head, deciding not to think about it anymore.

"Let's hurry to the backyard. His Majesty should have arrived by now, and Father must be getting impatient, right?"

After saying that, she disappeared into the Wuxian Garden hall with Xiangru. The many talented men watched her back and immediately followed. The huge hall was instantly empty.

...

Jing Zhe experienced all the emotions Zhu Xinning had just gone through, and because he knew her identity before she did, his understanding of those emotions was much stronger than hers.

From the moment he transmigrated to this world, what supported Jing Zhe in his courageous journey was his second sister, who sought refuge in Jingzhou, while Zhu Xinning, through subtle influence, even became his belief.

So when Jing Zhe made the decision not to acknowledge them for the time being in the alley that day, separated by a thin layer of car curtains, his heart was filled with anxiety.

He thought he was determined enough.

But when Zhu Xinning appeared alive in front of him, he almost called out "Second Sister," but he swallowed it back in the end.

Now that we've come this far, a few more hours won't make a difference if we recognize each other.

He wanted to appear in front of Zhu Xinning in his best possible light!

However, he was somewhat disgusted by what the two scholars had just done.

"what you do?"

The two scholars went back and continued to examine the poems handed to them by the scholars at the door. When they looked up, they saw Jing Zhe still standing in front of them like a pillar, his face indifferent.

"Of course, we'll enter the garden!"

"Entering the garden?"

One of them snorted and pointed to the long queue next to him, "Can't you see clearly? Can't you see everyone is queuing? Are you the only one who's special? If you want to get into the garden, hurry up and join the back of the line!"

The two scholars did not have a good first impression of Jing Zhe—what's the point of a grown man being so handsome? He stole my thunder in front of Zhu Sheren!

The other students in line shared the same idea and all nodded in agreement.

"Yeah, you came so late and you still wanted to cut in line?"

"Let me tell you, I don't care if you sleep with other people, but you can't sleep with me!"

"Hey, what kind of talk is that? You're talking like I'd be willing to have sex with you!"

"..."

Jing Zhe glanced at the withered buttocks of those scholars and spat: Damn it, even if you beg me to insert it, I won't!

Seeing that Jing Zhe did not move, the Grand Scholar became furious: "What's wrong with you? Are your eyesight and hearing failing you? Didn't you hear me tell you to go and line up?"

"I heard you."

Jing Zhe remained calm and asked, "But why did I see some people go in without having to queue? Like the one who just went in!"

As soon as he finished speaking, everyone knew who he was talking about. Who else could it be but Chen Jiannan?

"hehe."

The Grand Scholar sneered, "You want to be like him?"

Why not?

"He's Chen Jiannan, a brilliant scholar. He got first place in the imperial examination, and his poetry is second to none. Of course he doesn't need to wait in line!"

After the Grand Secretary finished speaking, the scholars in line started making noise again, most of them just flattering Chen Jiannan. Jing Zhe sneered: He's not even here, what are you flattering him for?

"So you mean, you know him, so he doesn't have to wait in line, but you don't know me, so I have to wait in line, right?"

If they treated everyone equally and everyone lined up, Jing Zhe wouldn't say anything more. But since they were applying double standards to him, Jing Zhe had to fight back.

"You, your eyesight and hearing are terrible, and your brain doesn't work well either, right?"

Both Grand Secretaries were amused by Jing Zhe's words. "Anyone who can enter the Imperial Academy must have some outstanding poetry. We have heard of the great talent Chen's poetry, and it has long met the standards for entering the Academy, so we will let him in directly!"

Then he looked at Jing Zhe with disdain.

"But what gives you the right?"

————