Suddenly, a sarcastic voice rang out from the side; it sounded somewhat familiar.

When I turned around, I was surprised to see Guo Yaqin dressed in a simple and elegant manner.

As the granddaughter of the Vice Minister of the Ministry of Personnel, she was also in this selection process.

"Who are you?"

Pei Shushu frowned, clearly not recognizing her, while Guo Yaqin, for some reason, did know Pei Shushu.

However, while she was speaking to Pei Shushu, she was looking at Jiang Shuwan with a meaningful gaze.

"What, is the Crown Prince's wife interested in the Fourth Prince?"

"Just chatting." Jiang Shuwan smiled, not accepting her provocation.

Guo Yaqin snorted coldly, glanced arrogantly at Jiang Shuwan, and was about to leave when she heard Jiang Shuwan say something.

"Miss Guo, I hope you don't get chosen by the Fourth Prince..."

"you--"

Guo Yaqin glared angrily at Jiang Shuwan, gritting her teeth.

"You dare curse me?"

"..."

With a gentle smile, Jiang Shuwan tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. "No, I was just saying. After all, anything can happen. Maybe I'll have to call you 'Your Majesty' when I see you in the future."

"you……"

These words directly stirred up a hornet's nest. Guo Yaqin's expression changed instantly. Just when Jiang Shuwan thought she was about to make a move, a palace maid came over and pulled Guo Yaqin away.

"Don't argue with her. It's time to go in."

Guo Yaqin glared at Jiang Shuwan before following the other women into the palace.

Jiang Shuwan narrowed her eyes as she stared at their retreating figures.

"What's wrong with my sister-in-law?"

"nothing."

Jiang Shuwan lowered her head lazily.

The Guo family is the Minister of Personnel, the most powerful of the six ministries, and one of the eight great families. With the Guo family's power, they have plenty of ways to find connections to avoid the imperial examinations.

The fact that Guo Yaqin is here now means either someone in the palace wants her to participate in the imperial concubine selection, or the Guo family wants to take a position in the family.

"Go in, don't be afraid."

Jiang Shuwan patted Pei Shushu's hand and watched her leave.

Pei Shushu's going through the motions can be said to be tacitly approved by the old emperor and the Marquis's mansion. If something unexpected could happen to this, then the old emperor might as well give up being the emperor.

Therefore, Jiang Shuwan was not worried at all.

All she has to do is wait here for Pei Shushu to be eliminated.

"Miss, there's a breakfast stall over there. You haven't eaten anything this morning, so please have something to eat first."

Qingxing pointed to the area under the palace wall, where a long row of breakfast stalls was set up some distance from the palace gate.

Steaming hot air from the steamer, like swirling clouds, filled the air. They sold everything from soup noodles and wontons to steamed buns.

The guards by the palace wall did not drive them away. Today was a grand court day, with as many as a hundred officials attending. The stalls were doing very well, and officials in their robes would often go to the stalls to eat.

These adults came from different economic backgrounds; some were wealthy, riding horses, while others rode in carriages. The carriages were decorated with gold and phoenixes, making them quite luxurious.

Some couldn't even afford an ordinary carriage, so they rented a small sedan chair in the market. After getting out of the sedan chair, they gave the sedan chair bearers a few copper coins and went to the cheapest wonton stall.

These officials have very distinct circles. Those who know each other well will sit around a table eating and drinking together, while those who don't belong to the same circle or have a bad relationship with them will not join in, even if they are just standing there eating steamed buns.

When Jiang Shuwan passed by, she was very conspicuous.

"Why is there a woman here?"

Who is it?

"It seems to be the heir apparent of the Marquis of Wenyuan's mansion. I heard that last time, Princess Nan'an tried to make things difficult for her at the plum blossom viewing banquet, but ended up making herself look bad instead."

"Pei Yanzhi's wife? No wonder she's a ruthless character!"

Scattered sounds reached Jiang Shuwan's ears, along with various glances scrutinizing her from head to toe, as if trying to see right through her.

Such a gaze would have frightened most young ladies into hiding long ago.

Jiang Shuwan, however, acted nonchalantly, pretending not to notice their gazes, and went straight to the owner to order two bowls of tofu pudding.

"Sir, would you please go somewhere else? There's no room here..."

The shop owner said with a troubled expression.

Jiang Shuwan was taken aback. How could there be no seats? This restaurant was relatively inexpensive. After all, poor officials were a minority, so this restaurant had more empty seats than other restaurants.

"Miss, let's go."

Qingxing said the same thing. Jiang Shuwan looked at the location in the shop again in confusion and found that the five tables set up by the shop owner did have empty seats, but each table had one or two people sitting on it.

According to current etiquette, it is inconvenient for her to sit with these men.

If those in power are all men, and you can't even sit at the same table with men, how can you build a career?

Frowning, Jiang Shuwan was about to sit down when she suddenly noticed that the people at the most crowded table had all dispersed and sat down at another table, eating steamed buns while secretly watching her.

The look in his eyes was quite polite; it was just a simple observation, without any other malice.

On their original table, only one person remained, dressed in a sky-blue official robe.

The sky was only a pale white, and in the dim light, the man was backlit, making it impossible to see his face.

Only a silhouette was revealed by the morning light, and the street in the dawn had a hazy beauty.

In the capital, where princes are everywhere and vice ministers are less than dogs, you can tell from this person's official robes that he is not of high rank.

The officials who had just surrounded him were not of high rank, but for a minor official to command such deference from so many others, he must be an important figure.

"Miss, it is the young master."

Qingxing's surprised voice rang in my ears.

Frowning, she looked up at the other person, and their eyes met. Jiang Shuwan unconsciously flicked her finger, which was hidden in her sleeve.

"Boss, two bowls of tofu pudding, sweet."

"Miss, the young master is ordering our food."

Before Jiang Shuwan could react, Qingxing pulled her to sit down.

"You sit down too," the boy said to Qingxing in a cool, aloof voice.

"Thank you, Your Highness." Qingxing sat down happily. When she saw the owner bring over the tofu pudding, she quickly took it and placed a bowl in front of Jiang Shuwan first, before finally serving herself.

"It smells so good! Freshly baked food is always the best."

Qingxing scooped a large spoonful of tofu pudding into her mouth without a care in the world, eating it without even looking up, praising it as she ate, showing no discomfort whatsoever from the stares of those around her.

Jiang Shuwan didn't really care, but being watched while eating wasn't a pleasant thing.

Especially after she sat down, every move she made seemed to be magnified. If she raised her hand, someone would stare at her with wide eyes; if she picked up a spoon, someone would say "Oh," just like watching animals in a zoo.

These people were all the ones who had been sitting around Pei Yanzhi just now.

"..."

Do you think I'm a monkey?!

With a slight smile, Jiang Shuwan was about to turn around when Pei Yanzhi gave her a look first.

Those people's eyes flickered, and they quickly withdrew their gazes. Some drank their porridge, while others ate their steamed buns, and they dared not cause any more trouble.

"..."