After taking a sip of wine, Si Yi looked at the three teachers with a little apology, made a gesture of invitation, and showed respect.

"Let's continue eating!"

Fang Hai, the leader, nodded. The previous events were indeed exciting, which made him more curious about Xia Xiao's future performance. After the lunch, it was time for the final selection.

Fang Hai picked up a glass of wine, and the sound of stringed instruments began again. But it was no longer as cheerful as it was at the beginning. Instead, it frightened the ministers and made the quiet hall quite strange. It was heavy and depressing, like the end of an injustice, but this period was drawn too quickly and too roundly, and it was not as perfect as it was imagined at the beginning, giving people a huge gap. But the shock in it was never missing.

Under the music, the talented man and beautiful woman who had been pouring wine and raising their glasses earlier lost their color and remained silent, as if they had lost contact with the surroundings.

Xia Xiao and Shu Shuang just drank without saying a word. Although they were not very drunk, they still drank one cup after another.

I have been thinking about this day day and night, and now my wish has finally come true.

He didn't lift his chopsticks again. The slightly cold food on the plate had no taste. Xia Xiao sighed and poured another glass of wine.

There will be the final round of Ningshen Academy soon, but Shu Shuang did not persuade Xia Xiao to stop drinking. She knew Xia Xiao and knew what he was doing at the moment. At this point, Xia Xiao could finally put down the heaviest thing in his heart.

Si Yi leaned on the dragon chair and looked at the various officials. Many of them were Si Buwen's accomplices. It would take some time to make them follow him. But now that Si Buwen fell, he could control the government.

Eunuch Mu was busy going in and out, and saw a young eunuch standing aside. He quickly stepped away from Si Yi and went over to ask him what was the matter.

"Her Royal Highness's condition has worsened."

When Eunuch Mu heard this, he hurried back to His Majesty, but his expression did not change. He had assisted three generations of emperors and knew how to control his expression. As the closest person to His Majesty, his expression and demeanor were linked to His Majesty's mood.

When Si Yi heard this, he felt helpless and could only shake his head.

His father and mother passed away when he was young. As an elder brother, he should take good care of his only sister, but the latter is too weak and it is probably the limit for her to have survived until today.

"Have the Imperial Hospital take care of him all the time, and proceed with everything else as usual."

Eunuch Mu nodded, then walked away slowly.

Raising his glass, Si Yi could only sigh in his heart, not showing it on his face.

When he was a child, he also had meals with his younger sister in this palace. Under the golden dragon pillar next to it, he once fed his sister a bite of slightly sweet hazelnut pastry. But those days are gone forever, and his sister will also leave.

Thinking back to his childhood, most of the memories were vague, but extremely beautiful. It seemed like yesterday, and it seemed like a previous life. He didn't understand why he wanted to grow up quickly at that time, and now he regretted it. He really wanted to get drunk and find out that everything was just a dream. When his father was still alive, the ministers in the court were selfless and dedicated to their duties, and they were clear-headed. How could they be like now, when people don't know and have their own ulterior motives.

With a wry smile, Si Yi stopped drinking. Drinking too much is a big taboo, and he still has state affairs to deal with.

The lunch did not last long. Afterwards, the person who advanced to the finals stood up and left the hall ahead of everyone else.

"Huiyue, please help Uncle Su."

"I will bring Miss Huiyue back home later, don't worry."

Huiyue stood beside Su Zhongmou, and sent Xia Xiao and Shu Shuang away with a worried look on her face. As if sensing the latter's worry, Su Zhongmou said:

"Don't worry, with their qualifications, they should be able to pass. Even if they can't, they still have a place in the dynasty."

Once the finalists left, the luncheon should also end. Walking out of the hall, Su Zhongmou twisted his neck and walked down the steps with Huiyue. Looking at the weather today, it might rain. The sky was so clear in the morning, but now it is cloudy.

"Uncle Su, the topic is different every year. What was the topic in previous years?"

"The topic of the last session was: How many flowers bloom in spring? The one before that was: Who moves when the river moves and the fish move? There was even a question about how many stars there are in the sky."

“What a profound feeling.”

"Yes, and there is no absolute answer. Advisors of our level can only give advice within the dynasty. Outside, I'm afraid we are of no use."

"Uncle Su is being modest."

Su Zhongmou shook his head. He was not being modest, but speaking the truth. Compared to the great wisdom of the members of Ningshen Academy and Zou Shou Church, his brain was only considered low-level.

When I reached the side door, there was a carriage waiting.

"When Xia Xiao and Shu Shuang are done, it will probably be evening. They will have to go back to the Xia Mansion, so you don't have to worry too much."

Huiyue nodded and sat in the carriage, her pretty little face calm and expectant, waiting to reach the destination.

In the corridor on the side of the front hall, eighty-six people were waiting. There were originally eighty-seven people, but Si Ying had no chance. The rest of his life was ruined because of a momentary pleasure in his lower body.

The corridor was spacious and everyone was very quiet. They were nervous, but they didn't want to show their lack of confidence. Instead, they prepared for the worst. Even if they couldn't enter the Ningshen Academy, it would be good to find a good job in the dynasty. If they were lucky enough to enter, they would cherish it!

In addition to being quiet, everyone kept their distance, and only a very few people stayed close to each other, such as Xia Xiao and his six companions.

Si Ta patted Xia Xiao's shoulder and praised him. Si Bu Wen's face was twisted with anger. It was really refreshing to see. Xia Xiao was a little drunk and his face was a little red, so he didn't say anything, but just mentioned one thing.

"Last time you asked me to buy you a drink, I took it to heart."

"Hahaha, no problem! If you didn't drink enough at noon, I'll drink with you in the evening."

"I have Shu Shuang, why do I need you?"

Siqin leaned in Si Ning's arms. She was in a good mood seeing Xia Xiao so majestic today.

"Then I'll bring you some wine, which will definitely be no worse than the one we had at noon today."

"I've been waiting for you to say that."

Xia Xiao smiled and listened to Si Ta:

"Let me tell you, the wine at noon is really good, but there are too many people, and the real good wine is hidden in the wine cellar."

"Your family doesn't manage the wine cellar, does it?"

"clever!"

Xia Xiao was stunned and couldn't help but smile.

"Then I'll wait for the wine at Xia's house tonight."

"No problem, I promise to arrange everything for you clearly!"

Si Ta's cheerful personality is particularly likable, but when he turns around, he becomes silly again.

"Others know that there will be a final round later, so they don't even dare to eat too much meat, for fear of feeling sleepy after eating too much. But you are so drunk. By the way, why are you going back to the Xia Mansion tonight? Come to my house and get drunk?"

"Dee dee! You are not on the same level."

Siqin pulled Sita aside, and he touched his head, not quite understanding. Siqin explained it to him, not forgetting to say something sarcastic.

"With your stupid brain, I'm afraid you won't be able to enter the academy."

"You can't blame me. I used to be very smart. It was all Stone and Earth that did this."

Forehead……

Su Huan sat next to Xia Xiao, watching him propping up his thighs with his arms, one hand drooping, and rubbing his eyes with the other, and asked:

"Are you okay?"

Xia Xiao shook his head, but still felt something was wrong. He had drunk a lot of wine before and thought he was still sober, but when the cool breeze blew, he immediately felt dizzy. However, the final selection was about to begin, and the instructor would not give him special care and let him go back to sleep.

An elderly man on the side of a public corridor said:

"Everyone, prepare to enter."

"Walk!"

Shu Shuang put down the hot water cup in her hand and helped Xia Xiao up. The latter had a fever at this time, and every time he breathed heavily, he pinched his fingers, as if he wanted to pick up the wine glass and drink until he was dizzy.

When the heart is intoxicated, the person will be drunk too!

“Get the alcohol out.”

When Shu Shuang reminded him, Xia Xiao just shook his head, as if he was fine. But as soon as Su Huan's hand fell, his body was like a bow, and he was about to shoot backwards. Shu Shuang pulled him back and watched a pungent mist spread behind Xia Xiao.

Xia Xiao coughed a few times, and Shu Shuang quickly patted his back.

"Don't let down your guard at the critical moment."

After Su Huan finished speaking, he turned his head away.

Holding Shu Shuang's hand, Xia Xiao smiled and walked forward.

"Better?"

Su Huan's method was too brutal, and Shu Shuang felt that Xia Xiao was hurt.

"Much better."

In front of the examination hall, eighty-six people lined up and prepared to enter together. In order to prevent the questions from being leaked, they would conduct the final selection together. Although many people could not understand how to proceed, one of the three teachers, Chuan Lian, was a talisman master!