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

Madam Jia held the red wedding invitation in her hand, her eyes filled with surprise and uncertainty.

If it were just the name Zhu Cuiwei, one might assume it was a commoner's ignorance of taboo and that she had chosen the same name as Prince Xin. But when the place name "Datong Street, Shangyuan County, Jinling" was added, her eyes suddenly darkened.

If the place name on the wedding invitation is real, it means that the nephew is marrying a woman who lives on Datong Street. Datong Street is located near the capital, and people who live there are either rich or noble. It is impossible for any parents not to know the taboo. Even if they did not know the name of Prince Xin before, after the emperor issued an edict half a year ago to inform the ancestral temple and establish Prince Xin as the crown prince, they should have changed their daughter's name.

But... the wedding invitation was for Zhu Cuiwei, and the Prince Xin's mansion was indeed located on Datong Street, which made her frown.

My nephew is going to marry Prince Xin?

Arabian Nights... How could that be possible?

Madam Jia couldn't help but glance at Ning Nan, and some strange thoughts inexplicably arose in her mind. For example, her unreliable son excitedly told his nephew, "Come, I'll teach you a way to play a trick on my mother and scare her." This unfilial son might actually do such a thing.

But then she saw that her talented and well-behaved nephew had a sincere smile, genuine eyes, and a shy demeanor typical of young people, and didn't seem to be teasing her. So she became hesitant again.

Lady Jia composed herself and calmed her mind. Prince Xin was right behind the screen, and all around her were prominent scholars and noble families. She had no choice but to suppress her doubts and not make a fuss or ask her nephew in public.

If this turns out to be a misunderstanding and someone were to slap a label on Prince Xin's reputation, his nephew's life would likely be in danger.

She calmly put away the wedding invitation, a smile of joy and relief spreading across her face, and offered a few words of congratulations, such as "May you have a long and happy marriage."

She turned back and smiled at the crowd, saying, "Today, the Huanyue Poetry Gathering was disturbed by a few mischievous children. I am truly sorry for my rudeness."

Everyone immediately laughed and said it was no problem. Liu Zhenxi stroked his beard and joked that it was all thanks to the madam, otherwise how could we have seen Ning Xiaoyou's new work, or seen Ning Xiaoyou's Wei stele calligraphy? The scholars also smiled and nodded, saying that it was true.

The unmarried young ladies of Xun Gui's family twisted their handkerchiefs, looking at Ning Nan with a resentful gaze that conveyed an indescribable emotion. Their eyes held admiration, expectation, a touch of longing, and... a hint of resentment.

Seeing this, Ning Nan was completely bewildered. What's going on?

Following the gazes of some people, I suddenly realized that the painting "Green Jade Table" had already been displayed by Madam Jia.

His temples throbbed slightly, and his smile instantly turned awkward.

Seeing his expression, Madam Jia knew he was a little uncomfortable, so she smiled slightly, turned her head, and ordered the steward waiting to the side to bring more fruits, pastries, tea, and wine, thus slightly shifting the focus of everyone's emotions.

She then instructed someone to collect the calligraphy that Ningnan had given to the Marquis's residence and send it, along with the other gifts, to the Marquis for his perusal... This was, of course, a pretense. The steward had been in the Marquis's residence for many years and naturally knew that the lady's intention was simply to collect the calligraphy and painting and not to give it to the Marquis. This was merely a pretext to prevent the guests from noticing anything amiss.

She then explained to Ning Nan what had just happened with the deputy envoy from the Northern Dynasty.

Ning Nan suddenly realized. No wonder that man in the melon-shaped hat praised him as soon as he came up.

After explaining the situation, Madam Jia bowed slightly to the guests and said, "Distinguished guests, I will first take my nephew to pay his respects to Prince Xin. Please make yourselves at home."

The crowd forced a regretful smile. Some of the young ladies were still clutching pieces of paper with their own poems on them, their eyes filled with anticipation as they wanted to show them to the talented Ning. But now they could only make way for him, each going their own way to look at the other treasures with absentmindedness.

Madam Jia took his hand and led him forward, bypassing the "Poetry Reciting on a Donkey's Back" painting and other Tang tri-colored pottery artifacts on display in the front row, and walked towards the screen at the very top.

Ning Nan's smile became forced... Prince Xin? If he had known this important figure was coming here, he wouldn't have come.

Previously, when they were playing chess, it was because of this Prince Xin's arrival that the Marquis of Zhenguo and Old Man Liu and his group saw that they had an excuse to flee Mu Dong Pavilion and stop looking for trouble at the chess fanatic in the Northern Dynasty. That so-called Chess Saint Wu also ran away.

Unexpectedly, we ran into each other here again.

Ning Nan gave a forced bow towards the screen: "Ning Nan greets Prince Xin."

Madam Jia stood to the side, slightly raising her eyes to scrutinize her nephew. Her eyes narrowed as she noticed his normal, somewhat reserved expression, which didn't seem to indicate he knew Prince Xin. Her doubts deepened... Could this wedding invitation really be a misunderstanding? Is there truly a woman on Datong Street with the same name as Prince Xin?

At this moment, a eunuch's voice came from behind the screen:

"By order of Prince Xin, Talented Scholar Ning, you may dispense with the formalities... Today, Talented Scholar Ning's calligraphy is powerful and vigorous, and the ink is as beautiful as brocade, living up to the reputation of Jiangnan. I am very pleased... I will reward him with one hundred gold pieces."

Eh!

So generous?!

Ning Nan's eyes lit up; he thought to himself, "I made the right choice!" He quickly thanked him, saying, "Ning Nan thanks Prince Xin!"

"Please make yourself at home, Master Ning," the eunuch's voice came again.

Ning Nan glanced at Madam Jia, and after Madam Jia nodded slightly and replied "Yes," he withdrew.

Not far from the screen.

Old Man Liu and the others pulled him over and asked about the poem "Qing Yu An". Ning Nan could only smile and say that it was a gift for the Marquis and Aunt Jia, a virtuous couple.

Before the old men could ask any more questions, Ning Nan changed the subject, pointing to the painting "Poetry Recited on a Donkey's Back" and saying that it was a really good painting and wondered who painted it.

"Hehe, this was written by Xu Wei, Xu Wenchang, of the Former Liang Dynasty."

Ning Nan frowned and asked, "Xu Wenchang?"

Once the topic was brought up, and seeing that Ning Nan didn't understand, the old men immediately perked up and started showing off their knowledge, each taking turns talking about Xu Wei's life.

Ning Nan nodded repeatedly, praising Xu Wei from time to time, and also praising the old men for their extensive knowledge. Occasionally, he would ask a few key questions, such as when Xu Wei was imprisoned, and the old men would answer seriously. If they encountered a difficult question, they would think it over carefully before answering. In short, he did not feel that he was being perfunctory at all, but was quite gratified.

Madam Jia withdrew her gaze from Ning Nan and stood nervously in front of the screen for a while.

Judging from what just happened, Ningnan's nephew did not know Prince Xin. Although Prince Xin rewarded his nephew with one hundred gold pieces, this was only a matter of course and did not prove that the two knew each other. On the contrary, it made the two seem estranged.

But this matter is of great importance.

She couldn't help but feel uneasy; she had to find out.

Especially when recalling what Prince Xin had just said, he was certain that among the congratulatory gifts received by the Marquis's residence today, there would definitely be a Wei stele calligraphy that could overshadow Ning Jiexiao of the Northern Dynasty.

If this is because Prince Xin knew that his nephew from Ningnan had given him this calligraphy... then the whole thing makes perfect sense.

Madam Jia slowly exhaled and walked behind the screen.

At this moment, Prince Xin was talking to the eldest daughter of the Marquis of Hepinghai.

Prince Xin smiled slightly and asked the other person what book he was reading. The other person blushed and said he was reading the Four Books. Prince Xin then laughed and said, "Very good. Your father is a hero, but he is illiterate and often insults scholars. You must not follow his example."

The young woman waved her hands repeatedly in fear, saying no, no.

Lady Jia, however, knew that Prince Xin's key point was the phrase "your father is a hero." He was asking this naive young lady to pass on a message to her father. When Marquis Pinghai found out, he was overjoyed and smug.

After this young lady left.

Seeing an opening, Madam Jia stepped forward and said she had something important to report to Prince Xin. As she spoke, she glanced at the eunuch beside her.

Zhu Cuiwei did not dismiss the eunuchs, but glanced at Madam Jia with a flicker in her eyes.

After a moment of silence.

"Did he send you a wedding invitation?" She slightly raised her eyes and asked casually.