Early on the third day, Jiang Liannan got dressed neatly and was sent on a carriage by Jiang Jinsheng.

Before getting on the carriage, Jiang Liannan kowtowed to him three times- he was afraid that he would not come back and be unable to repay his father's nurturing kindness.

Jiang Jinsheng was naturally surprised. Although working as a palace attendant meant he wouldn't return for long periods of time, it was not like he wouldn't be back for several years. So why go through such a grand ceremony? He had thought that Jiang Liannan had become sensible, but he hadn't considered the deeper implications.

He stood for a long time at the entrance of the mansion, watching the horse carriage gradually fade away, unaware that his son's departure would forever change his life.

......

Jiang Liannan arrived at the side entrance of the imperial palace, Xi-xiang gate, where a eunuch came to greet him. Jiang Liannan got off the carriage and saw that many carriages had already stopped there. Numerous young gentlemen from prestigious families were standing around with different expressions - some were joyful, some were nervous, some unwilling, and some seemed distressed. Their ages varied, with some already being sixteen or seventeen years old, while others, like Jiang Liannan, were only fourteen or fifteen. Some were exceptionally handsome, while others appeared ordinary. Some were dressed splendidly and magnificently, while others were plain and unremarkable... The variety was extensive.

Jiang Liannan naturally knew about it. In his dreams, many ministers would bring their daughters and sons to the palace banquet, hoping to gain some face in front of the emperor. Once, an ignorant minister even tried to offer his own son to the emperor as a male attendant, but he was scolded by the emperor and accused of "currying favor for personal gain."

Jiang Liannan became increasingly familiar as he walked with the crowd towards the imperial palace. The palace felt so familiar, as did the scenes he had experienced.

He suddenly became nervous, as he realized that if all of these in front of him were indeed the same as what he had seen in his dreams, then could it be that Emperor Ling Xu, too, was the familiar Ling Xu he knew?

Walking beside him was a young boy of similar age, who noticed his unfavorable expression. He discreetly touched the sleeve of his companion's clothes and whispered in a low voice, "Are you nervous?"

Jiang Liannan turned his head to look at him, smiled at him, and shook her head.

If it is truly like in a dream, then the one destined to be chosen can only be him. So what use is there in him being nervous?

And so, he went calmly.

The place where the eunuchs were selected to serve as readers was the Xihua Palace in the Imperial Palace, which was also where the palace examinations took place. Choosing eunuchs to serve as readers was much like competing for the top place in the imperial examination, which was truly interesting.

The crowd stood in a row at the entrance of the Xihua Hall. They called out their names and entered one by one. This was different from selecting a concubine, where only one would be chosen. Once selected, there was no need to look at the rest.

Jiang Liannan stood there in a daze, gazing at the grandiose entrance of the palace and the dragon-carved pillars on both sides. He didn't find it particularly novel, after all, in his dreams, he had been here countless times before.

After waiting for about the time it takes to brew a pot of tea, he grew tired from standing and finally heard the eunuch calling his name:

"Jiang Liannan, the son of Grand Minister Jiang Jinsheng, is 14 years old."

He hurriedly lowered his head and walked in. After standing for a while, his feet were still a little disobedient, nearly tripping on the doorstep. After taking a few steps, he respectfully knelt down on the ground and paid his respects, saying, "Your Majesty, the humble servant pays homage. Long live Your Majesty, long live for ten thousand years."

The grand hall was exceptionally spacious, which made his voice sound small and crisp, like a tiny pearl falling on a jade plate.

Silence. The surroundings were quiet, not a sound could be heard. Just as Jiang Liannan was about to raise his head to look, he heard a very familiar male voice say:

"Why are you kneeling so far away? Come closer."

"Oh." Jiang Liannan was still a bit dazed, forgetting to say "yes" as he lifted his outer robe and got up, taking a few small steps forward before kneeling down again.

He thought, could this voice be just like the one in his dream? Could it be that they look exactly the same?

He then heard the voice from the front continue, "Raise your head."

Upon hearing this, Jiang Liannan couldn't help but feel a little nervous. In his dream, when he secretly went to see the selection of the imperial concubines by Emperor Leng Xuxuan, this was how he addressed those women. Now, he couldn't help but feel like he was participating in a selection of his own.

He pondered for a moment before slowly raising his head, only to unexpectedly collide with a pair of dark and profound eyes.

He was taken aback and suddenly snapped back to reality, then he saw Emperor Leng Xu sitting on the dragon throne.

He was wearing a black imperial robe embroidered with a lifelike golden dragon using golden thread. It seemed that he had just returned from court, as he hadn't even taken off his imperial crown or changed out of his court attire. Despite being only nineteen years old, he was incredibly handsome. His slanted eyebrows extended into his temples, complementing his straight and attractive nose. His thin lips were slightly pursed into a straight line. The black court robe accentuated his aura, making him appear as if he were a mighty dragon silently coiled on the dragon throne.

Jiang Liannan was stunned when he saw that he looked exactly like the person in her dreams.

Tian Ce Di Leng Xu saw him staring at him blankly, with a silly expression on his delicate facial features. Unable to resist, he slightly curved his lips.

"Bold, daring to meet the Emperor's gaze, causing a loss of decorum in his presence!" Suddenly, the chief eunuch standing below, Qin San, reprimanded with a scolding tone.

Jiang Liannan didn't know what he was thinking. When he heard these words, he was so startled that he almost jumped up. He quickly prostrated himself on the ground and apologized, saying, "Your Majesty, please forgive me, this humble one..."

He kept thinking about Leng Xu's face in his mind, but at that moment, he couldn't find any words to explain what he was feeling.

Leng Xu, who was sitting at the head of the table, found his reaction amusing and said, "You are innocent. Do you know that today we are choosing attendants for us?"

Jiang Liannan replied quickly, "In response to Your Majesty, this humble one understands."

Leng Xu nodded in response and then said, "So, let me ask you, what books have you read at home?"

Jiang Liannan was about to blurt out "Four Books and Five Classics," but something flashed through his mind and, as if by a stroke of luck, he changed his words, "My father taught me to read the Four Books and Five Classics, but I am dull-witted and don't enjoy reading those books. I only recognize a few characters."

"Oh?" Leng Xu's voice rose at the end, seemingly skeptical.

In the grand hall, silence returned for a moment. Jiang Liennan felt a cold sweat break out on his back, dampening his close-fitting clothes. He carefully pondered the opinions of the people around him, all saying that he was intelligent but too mischievous to focus on studying... If so, it would be for the best. If the Emperor had investigated him earlier and knew that he excelled at studying, but he had hidden his abilities in front of him, he feared that his life would be forfeit.

For a while, the emperor spoke again, "If you haven't read any books, how would you be able to serve me?" His tone was calm, as if it were an ordinary question.

But Jiang Liannan became even more nervous. In his dream, Leng Xu had killed him. Coupled with the fact that Leng Xu was the esteemed emperor, he couldn't help but feel a bit afraid of him. His body trembled slightly, and it took him a while to gather the courage to say, "Um... I didn't want to enter the palace either, but my father insisted that I must come. Otherwise, he would withhold my allowance, and then I won't be able to have candied plums..."

He spoke more and more softly, unable to resist sneaking glances at Leng Xu.

In the dream of illusion, Leng Xu knew that he loved to eat candied plums, but she didn't let him have any, saying that eating too much would damage his teeth. She would only give it to him based on her own mood. Sometimes, when she was in a good mood, she would reward him with a plate of candied plums. But when she was in a bad mood, she would withhold it from him, causing him to never have his fill until the day he died.

Cold Xie listened to his childish and naive chatter, and saw him secretly glancing at her. She couldn't help but find him more interesting and asked, "Why don't you want to enter the palace? Being my attendant, isn't it good?"

Jiang Liannan saw that he wasn't angry, so he knelt down and said, "I don't like being confined by the rules and regulations in the palace. Besides, I can't freely roam and run around in the palace... I really love to run around freely."

A cold smile appeared at the corner of Leng Xu's lips as his deep black phoenix eyes locked onto him, revealing a cold glint. He said, "But if I am pleased, I can bestow you with fame and honor. You will become revered by all, held in high regard. You will be able to do whatever you want. Isn't that desirable?"

He spoke casually, but Jiang Liannan sensed the danger in his words. Wasn't he testing him with this question, trying to see if he coveted the throne?

He had already tasted the bitter taste of being insignificant in his dreams, so naturally he no longer harbored any desire for that dazzling and icy imperial throne. Thus, he shook his head and said, "What's good about being an official? I'd rather be a farmer and cultivate the land. It's much more relaxing. Look at my father, he has to attend the early court sessions and write memorials every day. It gives me a headache just thinking about it!"

Leng Xuyou's dark eyes slightly narrowed, and the curve of his lips deepened. He said, "Although I dislike being pressured by others, I quite like you. So, stay."

Saying that, he smiled and got up, then left.

Only Jiang Linnan was left kneeling on the ground, staring blankly at his receding figure.

Sure, here is the translation: 'As expected, I was left behind. Although it's a bit different from what I dreamt, the outcome is still the same...'

In other words, it is true that he is a prince who is now wandering outside, and Leng Xu intends to confine himself within the palace... So, does that mean if he doesn't covet the throne, he won't end up like in the dream, being granted death by Leng Xu?

Chongming Hall.

Emperor Tiance Leng Xu sat in front of the imperial case, holding a wolf-hair brush in his hand, attentively reviewing memorials. Seated beneath him was a man dressed in a pale jade-colored python robe, appearing to be in his early thirties. He had a handsome and refined appearance, emanating an imposing aura. There was a slight resemblance in his cold and indifferent expression to Leng Xu's face.

"Your Majesty, are you planning to let that child go?"

Hearing this, Leng Xu stopped writing and looked up. There was a hint of indiscernible smile on his handsome face. He said, "In my opinion, he seems naive and doesn't appear to be someone driven by power. However, since he carries the bloodline of the royal family, let's keep him and take care of him properly."

The man continued, "If all of this is just an act put on by him, how will you respond?"

There was a hint of doubt in Leng Xu's eyes, and he said, "It seems that the Prince is being overly cautious. That child is only fourteen years old, even Jiang Jinsheng doesn't know his background, so how could he himself know? Moreover, I have already investigated him thoroughly. Those around him say that although he is clever, he only knows how to play all day and doesn't like to study... Tell me, how could such a young man with such a personality understand how to hide his incompetence in front of me?"

The man nodded slowly in response and said, "In that case, then you make the decision for yourself. However, Your Majesty should remember to take good care of him, follow his heart, and comply with his wishes. If he doesn't have an interest in studying, then do not force him to study."

Leng Xu's lips curled into a smile as he said, "Naturally."

He is his own "younger brother", isn't he? Naturally, he should be "well taken care of".