After saving the Empress, I became the top scholar in the imperial examination.

The young eunuch in front of me looks a bit older.

He had broad eyes and a rhinoceros horn belt around his waist, and his black gauze hat looked different from the others.

The young eunuch who had been leading the way immediately stepped back upon seeing Shen Pei, saying, "Greetings, Eunuch Shen."

It seems that Shen Pei's rank is not low.

Ning Nan, wearing a scholar's cap, looked puzzled, but didn't show it on his face. He chuckled and reached into his right sleeve with his left hand.

After examining the material, he took out a silver note worth fifty taels of silver, hid it in his sleeve, and handed it to Eunuch Shen.

"May I ask, sir...?"

Before he could finish speaking, the young eunuch, who looked to be in his early twenties, quickly stepped back, bowed even lower, and said with his hands in his sleeves:

"Young Master Ning, please rest assured. Princess Yong is seeking your presence to discuss important matters and has no other intentions. Furthermore, Marquis Jingbei and Lady Xiao of the Marquis's residence are on their way to the palace. All three are your elders, so please have peace of mind."

The young eunuch's voice carried both a wry smile and a solemn tone.

Upon hearing that his great-uncle and great-aunt Xiao had also arrived, Ning Nan's expression relaxed. He subtly withdrew the silver note, smiled, and bowed, saying:

"Please lead the way, sir."

"I wouldn't dare," Shen Pei quickly returned the greeting.

In front of Shen Peiju, three eunuchs carrying lanterns were scattered around.

Before dawn, the night was as dark as ink, the sky was pitch black, and the group walked around the left side of Fengtian Hall, stepping on the white snow.

"Shh...shh..."

Ning Nan, dressed in a dark blue robe, calmly followed behind Shen Pei.

After passing the Fengtian Hall, he glanced to his right and saw another grand hall, thinking to himself that this must be the Huagai Hall.

By this time, quite a few palace servants had already begun shoveling snow.

After passing the Hall of Literary Glory and then the Hall of Diligent Conduct, Shen Pei led him to turn right onto the main road.

Not long after.

The group arrived at the gate of a magnificent palace. Ning Nan looked up and saw a blue plaque with gold characters hanging high on the red walls and golden tiles, bearing the three large characters "Qianqing Gate".

"Young Master Ning," Shen Pei bowed slightly, his voice gentle and warm, and said, "Her Highness the Princess is waiting for you in the Qianqing Palace."

At that moment, "rustling...rustling..." several dim yellow lanterns suddenly appeared inside the Qianqing Gate.

An old eunuch led about seven or eight palace servants out of the door.

Shen Pei was taken aback, and after a few moments, he bowed and said:

"Shen Pei greets Eunuch Xu."

The old eunuch, expressionless and with a dry, stern voice, said:

"Princess Yongguo has been invited to Yongshou Palace. Marquis Jingbei will also go there after he enters the palace. You may all come with me to Yongshou Palace now."

Shen Pei paused, and after a few breaths, forced a smile and said, "By order of Eunuch Xu, Shen Pei is acting on orders..."

The old eunuch scoffed and sneered:

"It's not surprising that our words don't carry any weight. Does Eunuch Shen think that Her Highness the Princess's words also don't carry any weight? Or does Eunuch Shen think that the Empress Dowager's words also don't carry any weight?"

"The Empress Dowager?" Ning Nan's eyes narrowed slightly.

Shen Pei quickly lowered his head: "Eunuch Xu has misunderstood. How could Shen Pei dare?"

"That's right, you shouldn't dare."

The old eunuch said something impolitely, then ignored him, took a few steps forward, and said to Ning Nan in a harsh tone:

"Young Master Ning, the Empress Dowager also wants to see you, so she called the Princess over there. Please come with me."

After saying that, the old eunuch turned and walked westward, while seven or eight palace servants surrounded Ning Nan and Shen Pei.

Ning Nan raised an eyebrow, somewhat puzzled. He glanced at Shen Pei and saw that the young eunuch also had his head down. He then suppressed his doubts and turned to follow the old eunuch westward.

Yongshou Palace is one of the Six Western Palaces. After walking for a while and passing through several palace gates, the group arrived outside Yongshou Palace as the sky gradually turned white.

Following the old eunuch's instructions, Ning Nan waited at the palace gate, with four tall eunuchs carrying lanterns guarding his side. Shen Pei and the other three were called inside by several palace servants.

He was puzzled, but being in the palace, he dared not say much. He simply lowered his head and waited obediently, lest he break any taboos.

Besides the silver notes, he had nothing else on him, and nowhere to run.

The two vermilion gates of Yongshou Palace are inlaid with many exquisite gold door studs, arranged neatly.

Before he could finish counting how many door studs there were, the old eunuch came out, bowing, and beckoned him, his voice still hoarse.

"The Empress Dowager invites Young Master Ning into the palace."

Ning Nan nodded.

After taking a deep breath, he strode into Yongshou Palace.

Bypassing the stone screen wall directly opposite the gate, the trees planted in the courtyard are now all bare.

The icicles hanging from the branches faintly emitted a cold white light under the moonlight.

Ning Nan followed behind the old eunuch and saw that the main hall of Yongshou Palace was emitting a dim yellow light.

At that moment, a figure emerged from inside the hall and headed towards the main gate.

This man wore a melon-shaped hat and a red and yellow striped mandarin jacket. He was tall and handsome.

Ning Nan paused, a look of confusion suddenly appearing on his face.

What's this person doing here?

The other person also noticed him at this moment, paused in their steps, and frowned, seemingly just as puzzled as he was by his presence.

"Greetings, Prince of the Northern Dynasty." The old eunuch bowed and said, "After Your Highness leaves, someone will escort you back to the side hall of Fengtian Hall."

The Northern Dynasty prince, who had inexplicably appeared there, smiled and bowed: "This humble prince thanks Eunuch Xu."

He straightened up, his smile still humble. After giving Ning Baixuan behind Eunuch Xu a deep look, he looked away and strode out of the palace.

Ning Nan also suppressed her doubts and turned her head away.

The old eunuch continued walking forward, and Ning Nan followed behind him.

Step onto the stairs.

We arrived at the main hall gate of Yongshou Palace.

He glanced inside and his expression immediately froze.

Inside the main hall, an elderly woman dressed in a magnificent robe sat at the head of the table.

Two palace maids stood beside the old woman, their heads slightly bowed.

At the lower part of the hall, there were seven or eight people standing on each side.

These people all had an extraordinary air about them, some wearing magnificent python robes, others wearing brocade garments that clearly indicated their status and position.

The moment he entered the hall, the dozen or so people all turned their heads and focused their gazes on him.

Tap, tap, tap, tap… His light footsteps echoed in the hall.

Even without looking to the side, Master Ning, who was entering Yongshou Palace for the first time, could still feel the strangeness of the dozen or so gazes sweeping over him.

Some scrutinized him, some were curious, some were disdainful, and some... even showed a hint of anger. Some people even snorted a few times when they saw him.

"Ningnan pays respects to the Empress Dowager."

Master Ning respectfully bowed to the Empress Dowager at the head of the table.

"Young Master Ning, please rise."

The Empress Dowager seemed to have a rather humble personality, and she smiled and raised her hand.

"Thank you, Empress Dowager."

Ning Nan straightened up.

Young Master Ning… He couldn’t help but feel a little uneasy when faced with the way the other party addressed him.

The Empress Dowager glanced at this handsome "grandson-in-law," sighed inwardly, took a slight breath, and then smiled:

"Ning Changling is getting old, and with such a virtuous grandson as you to carry on his legacy, he must be very happy. I am also happy for him."