Lord Wu had no objections, nodded, and said, "The Emperor is wise!" Lord Zhang moved slightly and had to follow, saying, "The Emperor is wise."

Xiqiu was taken aback upon hearing this and asked Fourth Master Xiao, "Does Fourth Master also have to submit a list?" Fourth Master Xiao set down the tea cup, nodded, and said with furrowed brows, "Of course, we must submit!"

In the Xuanning Marquis Mansion, among those who met the criteria, only Min’s name could be submitted, since Sheng was born of a concubine in the mansion, making it unsuitable, and as for Xing, being the Princely Heir, it was impossible for him to serve as a reading companion in the palace.

"Fourth Master wants to submit Min’s name?" Xiqiu looked full of worry.

Fourth Master Xiao paused and said, "The process must be followed." He didn’t say much more.

Xiqiu’s heart immediately rose with concern. The next day, Fourth Master Xiao submitted Min’s name. She anxiously waited at home for the result, but until the afternoon, Fourth Master Xiao had not returned. Xiqiu called Tiancheng: "Go check in the government office, see if Fourth Master is there or if he has entered the palace."

Tiancheng acknowledged the command and left, returning hastily over an hour later, reporting: "Fourth Master spent the whole day in the palace and did not come out. I inquired outside the palace gate and heard that the Emperor hasn’t had a meal since noon, seemingly discussing matters with the ministers."

Could it be about the matter of the Eldest Prince’s reading companion? 𝙛𝒓𝓮𝒆𝔀𝒆𝙗𝓷𝒐𝙫𝒆𝙡.𝒄𝓸𝓶

She nodded and said, "I understand, you may go back." Tiancheng left for the outer courtyard.

Xiqiu had just finished dinner with Min and Zhi when the Grand Dowager and Mrs. arrived. Xiqiu welcomed the Grand Dowager to sit on the rose bed, saying, "Mother, if you have any matters, just send someone to call, and I would come to you. There’s no need for you to come here in such discomfort."

"It’s nothing," the Grand Dowager waved her hand and directly asked, "Has the Fourth not returned yet?"

Xiqiu nodded, and the Grand Dowager continued, "I heard Min’s name was submitted to the palace; is that true?"

"Yes, the Emperor issued an oral decree that officials above the second rank must submit the names of eligible young boys from their homes. Fourth Master had no choice but to submit Min’s name."

The Grand Dowager took a sip of tea and said with a heavy face, "Accompanying a prince in study has never been an easy task. Min is like a treasure to us at home, but in the palace with the Princes, his status might be lower, and he might be overlooked..." With a look of unwillingness: "Amitabha Buddha, please bless our Min not to be chosen."

Mrs. glanced at Xiqiu and consoled the Grand Dowager, "I heard many children’s names were submitted. It’s not certain that Min will be chosen!"

Xiqiu also nodded in agreement: "Min, after all, is born of a concubine, even if the Emperor agrees, the Empress might not."

What Xiqiu said was not without reason. If the family background is comparable, then personal status becomes a key factor, and those born of the legitimate wife are higher in every aspect compared to those born of concubines.

"I hope so," the Grand Dowager sighed and looked at Xiqiu, asking, "Have there been any news these past couple of days, is Consort Le in good health?"

Xiqiu nodded and said, "I heard she’s much better. Even if she had a moment of stubbornness, being young, she would eventually understand." The Grand Dowager nodded, "This child hasn’t had an easy life, finally having a child only to encounter such difficulty."

"Mother," Mrs. held the Grand Dowager’s hand softly and said, the Grand Dowager nodded and patted her hand, "Let’s not speak of it anymore!"

Xiqiu sat chatting with the Grand Dowager in the room, and after a while, they heard Bihuai greeting outside. Xiqiu stood up and said, "It must be Fourth Master returning." And indeed, Fourth Master Xiao strode in, not surprised to see the Grand Dowager and Mrs. there. The Grand Dowager hurriedly asked, "Fourth, is there a result?"

Fourth Master Xiao saluted the Grand Dowager and Mrs., took the tea handed over by Xiqiu, and replied calmly, "It’s settled."

Xiqiu’s heart rose as she looked toward Fourth Master Xiao, who said, "They’ve chosen Shen Ji’s eldest son..." Then glanced at Xiqiu, "and Min."

"You!" Madam Tian furrowed her brows, "How could you be so muddle-headed, serving as a companion to the Eldest Prince is no easy task. There will be endless relationships and ties that can’t be easily untangled!" She pointed at Fourth Master Xiao with a look of anger for his lack of discernment: "You are usually smart, how could you become muddle-headed at this critical time? If you couldn’t manage, you should have asked your second brother to handle it, why harm our Min?"

Mrs. lowered her eyes and said nothing, while the Grand Dowager, filled with anxiety, did not contemplate the deeper implications behind this. Since it involves the Eldest Prince’s reading companion, it must have been chosen by either the Emperor or the Empress, and even Fourth Master Xiao had no power over it. This matter came suddenly and without time to prepare. Besides, when the Imperial Family grants you such an honor, how can you pretend to be noble and refuse it?

Xiqiu looked sideways at Fourth Master Xiao, showing a hint of doubt. This matter indeed came suddenly, but it was news from the Imperial City. If Fourth Master Xiao didn’t want Min to enter the palace, surely it was within his capacity to prevent it. Why did he accept it happily?

"You..." The Grand Dowager waved her hand: "Min, call Min over."

Xiqiu stood up and obeyed, letting Bihuai fetch Min over.

The Grand Dowager looked at the tender-skinned Min and felt a deep affection, thinking of how he would be entering the palace to accompany the Prince in study, causing her heart to ache, and she increasingly disapproved of Fourth Master Xiao: "... If Min is wronged, I won’t let you off lightly."

Fourth Master Xiao lowered his head to drink tea, without refuting!

"Mother, it’s getting late; let’s discuss these matters tomorrow. Let Fourth Brother and Sister-in-law rest early, and let’s return." Mrs. supported the Grand Dowager, fearing she might have said something that could create a rift between her and Fourth Master Xiao.

"It’s so late, why don’t you stay here for the night?" Xiqiu looked at Mrs.

Mrs. shook her head, "Xing is alone at home, we are not comfortable leaving him." She said as she looked at Xiqiu, "When you’re free in these couple of days, take the two children to visit." She glanced at the Grand Dowager.

Xiqiu nodded and agreed: "Alright, I’ll have a maid inform you before I go." Mrs. nodded.

The Grand Dowager reluctantly held Min’s hand. Min sensed something unusual in the Grand Dowager’s mood, but it was inconvenient to ask, so he silently followed behind to see her off.

After the Grand Dowager and Mrs. left, Min quietly asked Xiqiu, "Mother, what’s happened?" He gave a glance at Fourth Master Xiao, realizing that the Grand Dowager was displeased with him.

Xiqiu led him into the courtyard by the hand, and softly replied, "The palace is choosing a reading companion for the Eldest Prince." Before she finished, Min was already sensitive to the news, staring at Xiqiu, until she said, "The names of eligible children from second-rank officials’ households have all been submitted..."

"You mean?" Min asked dazedly.

Xiqiu sighed, holding his hand with an aching heart, "The Emperor has chosen you to be the Eldest Prince’s reading companion!"