Min agreed, and after washing up, he followed Xiqiu to the main hall. On the table were the same plain boiled eggs as in years past. Min and Naturally each took one, dipped it in a little soy sauce, and ate it slowly. Only after finishing did they start eating breakfast.

"Eat more rice. If you get hungry later, you won’t find anything to eat." Morning calls for a protein supplement to be more energetic in the morning. Nanny Cen smiled broadly from the side, later joking, "Madam nags the two of you even more than I do!"

Xiqiu laughed heartily as well.

Min and Fourth Master Xiao rode in the same carriage and parted ways at the palace gate. Min was then ushered in by a little eunuch who had been waiting early. Behind him followed Erquan and Wuzhong. Wuzhong, noticing the little eunuch’s glance, slyly slipped a dark green pocket into his hand, whispering, "Buy yourself a drink, my good man!"

The little eunuch weighed it in his hand, his smile growing even warmer, and bowed, saying, "Please, Master Xiao!" Leading Min all the way to the Wenhua Hall...

Upon entering the hall, Min found Shen Ji’s son, Shen Wenli, already there, accompanied by two slightly older servants. He and Min had met once before. After greeting each other, Shen Wenli quietly asked, "Min, if we don’t learn well, will the teacher make us stand as punishment?"

Min was not sure either, so he replied with a smile, "Well, if you work harder, there’ll be nothing to fear." Shen Wenli still felt uneasy, his eyes darted to the entrance as someone came in, and he immediately tightened his expression and sat down with a thump. Min stood calmly and greeted the newcomer.

The person appeared to be just over forty, sporting a beard similar to that of the First Master, exuding an ethereal demeanor. Min was silently curious, attempting to guess the man’s identity when the eunuch announced at the entrance: "Scholar Dai has arrived!"

So this was Scholar Dai. Min couldn’t help but take another look.

Seeing Min greet this man, Shen Wenli also stood up and saluted with cupped hands.

Scholar Dai nodded slightly at the two, without saying much, as Lord Wu, Lord Zhang, and several Cabinet Scholars entered. Min spotted Tong Shen Zhi enter among them, secretly relieved.

After about half the time it takes for a stick of incense to burn, the Eldest Prince and the Emperor arrived gracefully. Everyone bowed, the Emperor sitting high at the head seat, surrounded by several cabinet ministers. The Eldest Prince, Shen Wenli, and Min sat cross-legged in front of them. Scholar Dai bowed to everyone, and the first lesson began.

Min took up his brush and ink, attentively taking notes, his gaze steady, though his writing hand trembled slightly, trying hard to stay composed.

The Eldest Prince, clad in a crimson robe adorned with cloud patterns, sat solemnly at the forefront, listening intently with a face full of seriousness. The Emperor, observing him, nodded silently, his gaze sweeping over Shen Wenli before settling on Min. Seeing his head raised, listening to the lecture, yet his hand never paused, curiosity piqued the Emperor, and he leaned over for a closer look, noting with surprise how the brush strokes were upright and effortless. He turned back, intrigued, and whispered to Tong Shen Zhi, "I didn’t expect he could write so neatly without looking."

Tong Shen Zhi glanced quickly at the Emperor, finding no change in expression, and nodded in acknowledgment.

The Emperor sat for a while longer before leaving with the scholars, accompanied by Tong Shen Zhi. Scholar Dai set down his book, stroked his beard, and said, "Take a fifteen-minute break!" before walking out of the hall with his hands behind his back.

With the Emperor gone and no teacher present, the three children relaxed to varying degrees. Shen Wenli, peeking his head out, giggled and called, "Cousin!" The Eldest Prince turned to look at him, frowned slightly, and asked, "Did you understand what the teacher said?"

Shen Wenli shook his head, "Some of it I understood, some I didn’t!" The Eldest Prince raised an eyebrow, "Remember to review it again later." Then he turned to Min, who nodded and saluted. The Eldest Prince’s gaze lingered on Min briefly before turning away without expression.

Min froze for a moment. Wuzhong, who had come in with tea, discreetly tugged at Min’s sleeve, and Min smiled and shook his head, saying, "It’s nothing." Then he sipped his tea.

During the midday break, they went to a side hall for lunch. The Empress entered, and Min and Shen Wenli quickly knelt to greet her. The Eldest Prince ran over with a smile, "Mother, why are you here?"

The Empress patted his head, smiling, "Just checking to see if you’re being mischievous." Then she turned to Min and Shen Wenli, "Get up, quickly."

The Eldest Prince frowned, releasing the Empress’s hand, and muttered, "Mother, there are outsiders here." The Empress chuckled, "Alright, alright, I won’t say anything more." Then she looked at Shen Wenli, asking with a smile, "Are you used to the meals? If there’s anything you’d like to eat, tell them to inform me, and I’ll have the Imperial Kitchen prepare it for you."

"Thank you, Empress!" Shen Wenli cupped his hands in gratitude. The Empress then turned to Min, her expression subtly changing as she frowned slightly. She looked at Nanny Mao beside her, noticing the astonished look on her face as well.

This appearance, does he resemble the Emperor?

Underneath her confusion, the Empress’s mind raced several times over. Outwardly, she had already put on a smile and asked Min, "Are you Xiao Huaimin, the eldest son of Grand Commander Xiao?" Min replied with his head lowered, "Yes!"

"Good, good!" The Empress nodded slightly, then accompanied the Eldest Prince for lunch before returning to Fengwu Palace with Nanny Mao.

"Go out of the palace and ask the Grand Dowager to come in the afternoon. Tell her there’s something I need to discuss with her!" The Empress, holding her tea, again envisioning Min’s appearance. She had seen Zhi’s face and how much he resembled Fourth Master Xiao, yet she hadn’t expected Min’s appearance to be so vastly different.

With her thoughts swirling, she shook her head, convinced she might be overthinking things.

Nearby, Nanny Mao nodded in agreement, changed her attire in her quarters, and left the palace gates.