This is the true immortal of the Taoist sect.

"Is he looking at me?"

Wang Yangming's heart skipped a beat.

At that moment, there was a distinctly different look in the Prince of Jin's eyes when he looked at him.

However, Wang Yangming didn't think much of it; it was just a fleeting glance and didn't mean anything.

After some polite conversation, everyone took their seats.

Wang Yangming arrived late and, being of low status, was seated in the outermost position.

There were some fruits and drinks on the low table in front of him. He was a little hungry, so Wang Yangming started eating by himself.

And at this moment, the gathering of young people finally officially began.

The King of Jin stood up from his seat, holding his wine cup and looking around. Seeing this, the others also stood up and raised their wine cups.

Upon seeing this, the Prince of Jin smiled and said in a relaxed tone:

"Today is the Mid-Autumn Festival, a joyous occasion for all. You are all talented young people of our Great Zhao Dynasty, the pillars of its future. I am honored to receive you all on His Majesty's orders. Let us raise a toast to you all, gentlemen... let us drink together..."

Everyone raised their glasses in return, and said in unison:

"Thank you, Your Majesty, thank you, Prince Jin..."

After finishing his cup, the Prince of Jin refilled it and looked at everyone with a smile:

"The Mid-Autumn Festival, a time for worshipping the moon, is an important day for the entire nation of Zhao to celebrate."

"You gentlemen have been granted His Majesty's grace to attend this grand gathering, and you are truly exemplary scholars throughout the land."

"Therefore, I have an idea. I would like to ask you all to compose a poem or essay for today's festival, which will be presented to Your Majesty at that time to repay Your Majesty's grace."

What do you all think?

Upon hearing this, everyone instinctively paused.

Here it comes, the main event.

No one would suspect that this pre-dinner gathering was just a party, or that it must have some other purpose.

As expected, they were asked to compose poems and essays...

Wang Yangming suddenly realized why they had asked them to come in the afternoon.

Upon hearing this news, most of the people present showed an eager expression.

This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. If their poems and essays are selected by the Prince of Jin and presented to the emperor, winning his smile, they could probably avoid taking more than a decade of detours.

Upon realizing this, others immediately echoed the sentiment, expressing their willingness to do their utmost to repay the Emperor's kindness.

The Prince of Jin smiled with satisfaction and waved to someone not far away.

Eunuchs and palace maids had already prepared writing implements and brought them in, distributing a set to everyone.

Wang Yangming was no exception.

He tidied up his writing implements, set them aside, and was just about to take a bite of a pastry when he suddenly noticed someone standing in front of him.

Looking up, the first thing that catches the eye is a royal robe embroidered with a golden divine bird.

Wang Yangming was taken aback, quickly stood up, hurriedly swallowed the snack in his mouth, and mumbled:

"Your Highness, Prince Jin..."

Everyone in the attic turned their gaze in this direction, each lost in their own thoughts.

The Prince of Jin patted Wang Yangming's arm and laughed:

"Don't stand on ceremony, relax..."

Wang Yangming lowered his hand, stood with his head down, feeling somewhat uneasy.

The Prince of Jin glanced at the pastry he had just taken a bite of and smiled:

"Was the snack delicious?"

Wang Yangming pursed his lips, somewhat embarrassed.

"tasty..."

The Prince of Jin laughed and turned to the eunuch not far away, saying:

"Bring me my share too..."

Upon hearing this, a strange light flashed in Wang Yangming's eyes.

The others couldn't help but get a little agitated.

The King of Jin was clearly showing special regard for Wang Yangming; such an honor is not something everyone receives.

The eunuch brought over some snacks and handed them to the Prince of Jin. The Prince of Jin personally put down the plate of snacks and picked up a piece to present to Wang Yangming.

Wang Yangming quickly reached out his hands to receive it.

The Prince of Jin gently placed the pastry in Wang Yangming's palm and said in a slightly teasing tone:

"Eat slowly, there will be plenty of snacks. But after you finish, you'll have to submit a masterpiece to me, or I won't let you off the hook..."

Holding the pastries, Wang Yangming felt a surge of excitement in his heart.

"The students will certainly do their best..."

The Prince of Jin nodded, then patted him on the shoulder and said:

"It's good that you've done your best. Keep writing, I'm looking forward to your poems and essays..."

Having said that, the Prince of Jin turned around and prepared to leave.

Wang Yangming breathed a sigh of relief and was about to sit down when he suddenly heard the Prince of Jin ask softly:

"By the way, if I remember correctly, Yangming, you're from Anyi County, Lijiang Prefecture, right?"

Wang Yangming had no choice but to stand up straight and reply:

"Your Highness, I am indeed from Anyi County."

The Prince of Jin nodded, pointed at Wang Yangming, and laughed:

"It seems Anyi County is a good place; it has talented people..."

After saying that, the Prince of Jin turned and left.

Wang Yangming was left with a puzzled look on his face and a lot of confusion.

He instinctively felt that the Prince of Jin was not referring to him.

If it wasn't me, then who else could it be? My father? Or my husband?

That's not important. What's important is why the Prince of Jin suddenly said that?

Wang Yangming was completely baffled, but dared not ask any further questions.

I could only sit down silently and prepare to write an article to submit.

Upon returning to his seat, Prince Jin had barely settled down when Princess Wenrui, sitting next to him, asked curiously:

"Second Brother seems to treat him differently?"

The Prince of Jin put down his wine cup, his gaze indifferent, and a slight smile played on his lips as he said:

"This kid... is not simple..."

A strange look appeared in Princess Wenrui's eyes.

She couldn't help but glance curiously at Wang Yangming, who had just finished the exam. Although his appearance wasn't particularly outstanding, his demeanor was quite different from the other students around him.

He possesses both the integrity of a scholar and an air of detachment from worldly affairs, making him quite aloof.

However, as the only daughter of the Emperor of Dazhao, Princess Wenrui, who had been showered with love and affection since childhood, had extremely high standards. In her eyes, Wang Yangming was at most just considered decent.

So she was very curious as to why her equally arrogant second brother would treat her so differently.

"I've heard about his discourse from others; it certainly had its merits. But I wonder what else you value in him, Second Brother?"

Princess Wenrui asked calmly.

The Prince of Jin glanced at Wang Yangming, a strange light flashing in his eyes.

"Because he...is from Anyi County..."

Princess Wenrui frowned slightly, puzzled.

"Anyi County? What's so special about that place?"

The Prince of Jin shook his head.

"The place itself isn't special, but the people there... are extraordinary."

Princess Wenrui did not ask any further questions, and looked thoughtfully at Wang Yangming, who was sitting at the end of the table and had already begun to write.

The Prince of Jin turned his head and looked at the girl in tight-fitting clothes holding a long sword on the other side, and said calmly:

"Ping An, what do you think of him?"

Princess Ping'an's real name is Jiang Ping'an. She is the only daughter of Prince Xianping, the younger brother of the current emperor.

Prince Xianping was in poor health and died when Princess Ping'an was less than five years old.

Out of consideration for his brotherhood, the emperor brought Princess Ping'an into the palace and raised her alongside the princes and princesses, treating her as his own daughter.

Upon hearing the Prince of Jin's question, Jiang Ping'an carefully examined Wang Yangming before finally pursing his lips and saying:

"You look weak and frail, but I can cut down a hundred of you with a single sword strike..."