The palace walls stood imposingly tall.

Xie Shi’an entered through a small door on the east side of the palace gate and followed a young eunuch for over a quarter of an hour before finally arriving at the Imperial Academy.

The Imperial Academy was a school established specifically for imperial princes and princesses. Children of various meritorious noble families could all enroll, while each generation of high-ranking officials only had one slot. For instance, the Yun family, being a prominent clan, could only send one child… Some families of slightly lower rank could only rely on their children being excellent and outstanding enough to enter the Imperial Academy to accompany these noble personages in their studies. As for common people, they shouldn’t even think about it…

Xie Shi’an walked to the entrance of the school hall. Everywhere he looked, he saw either imperial princes or sons of princes, sons of marquises and earls… His status was the lowest here.

He stepped inside and was about to find a seat.

Then a mocking voice reached his ears.

“Well, if it isn’t Young Master Xie?”

He looked toward the voice and saw a person dressed in expensive finery walking up to him.

Although he hadn’t met many of the palace’s noble personages, one look at this attire, this entourage, this tone, and he knew it must be one of the imperial princes.

He cupped his hands and said respectfully: “Greetings, Your Highness.”

The person was the Sixth Prince.

The five princes above him were now all grown and held important positions at court. Therefore, the person with the highest status currently in the Imperial Academy was this Sixth Prince.

“Young Master Xie is impressive, becoming the top scholar in the prefectural examination at such a young age!” The Sixth Prince sneered coldly. “That certainly makes the rest of us look as stupid as pigs!”

The group of nobles nearby looked at Xie Shi’an with changed eyes.

So this was the youngest prefectural examination top scholar, Young Master Xie of the Xie family. Every time they got scolded, the elders in their families would compare them to this Young Master Xie.

Comparing people to people—wasn’t that just infuriating?

Just because the capital had such an outstanding person, they didn’t know how many times they’d been whipped by their grandfathers and fathers at home.

In the school hall, there was also a small figure—the young heir of Prince Pingxi’s residence, Chu Hongyu.

He sat in a seat in the first row, glanced at Xie Shi’an, and felt a trace of jealousy rise in his heart.

He wasn’t jealous that Xie Shi’an could pass as top scholar, but jealous that Xie Shi’an could openly call his birth mother “mother.”

Upon hearing the person before him speak, Xie Shi’an immediately guessed that this should be the Sixth Prince. He lowered his head and said: “A small prefectural examination top scholar title doesn’t prove much. I heard long ago that the Sixth Prince possesses exceptional talent and knowledge, with clever wit beyond measure—a paragon among men.”

The Sixth Prince picked at his ear: “What clever, what measure—what does that mean?”

A dandy beside him spoke up: “It means praising Your Highness for being intelligent.”

“If you’re going to praise someone, just praise them. Why be so flowery about it? Aren’t you just trying to show off your learning?” The Sixth Prince lifted his leg and placed his foot on a stool. “Young Master Xie is so good at studying, you should be good at polishing shoes too. Come, polish this prince’s shoes clean!”

A group of dandies started jeering nearby.

“Isn’t the Xie family from humble origins? Young Master Xie should be accustomed to doing such things.”

“The Sixth Prince asking you to polish his shoes is your good fortune. Hurry up, get on with it!”

“Young Master Xie wouldn’t be unwilling, would he!”

Xie Shi’an’s lips pressed tightly together.

He knew that entering the Imperial Academy to study would definitely mean someone would make things difficult for him, but he hadn’t expected to be made difficult on the very first day, and to be asked to do something so humiliating.

The Sixth Prince had the highest status here. If he offended the Sixth Prince, it would likely be very difficult for him to continue staying at the Imperial Academy in the future.

He clenched his fingers, his lips pressed into a straight line, and slowly bent down.

Just then, a clear voice rang out: “Sixth Imperial Brother.”

It was the Eighth Prince approaching. Though only ten years old, he had already grown tall, like a young pine tree. He walked up to the Sixth Prince: “Young Master Xie’s hands are for holding brushes, grinding ink, and writing essays. Small matters like polishing shoes should be left to servants.”

As soon as he finished speaking, a palace maid from behind him walked over, took out a handkerchief, and wiped the Sixth Prince’s shoes of nonexistent dirt.

The Sixth Prince snorted.

This person surnamed Xie had a legitimate mother from the Yun family, and the Eighth Prince’s imperial concubine mother was also from the Yun family. It wasn’t strange for him to protect Xie Shi’an.

General Yun had just returned to the capital and was constantly appearing before Father Emperor.

He’d let it go this time, but next time when the Eighth Prince wasn’t around, he’d see how he’d make Xie Shi’an lose face!

At this moment, the Director of the Imperial Academy entered, and the school hall immediately quieted down. Everyone found seats to sit in.

“All the returning students already know me. The newcomers should be meeting me for the first time, so let me introduce myself.” The Director stroked his beard and said, “My surname is Wang. You may call me Teacher Wang. From now on, I will mainly be responsible for your academic life here. I don’t care whether you seated here are imperial princes or young lords, young marquises or young earls—once you enter this door, you have only one identity, and that is my student. If anyone here uses their status to pressure others or bullies others with their power, then I will have no choice but to write a memorial and submit it to the Emperor’s desk.”

The Sixth Prince looked disdainful. This Teacher Wang only knew how to tattle to Father Emperor. He’d write memorials about the tiniest matters. He really didn’t know how Father Emperor could stand it.

“We won’t say more preamble.” Teacher Wang continued. “Now, I’ll test the level of the new students. I’ll pose a few questions for you to answer.”

There were over a dozen new students. Apart from Xie Shi’an, the rest were all sons of meritorious nobles.

The questions the teacher asked at the beginning were very simple, and basically everyone could answer them. As it went on, fewer and fewer people could answer, until finally, only Xie Shi’an remained who could still handle the teacher’s difficult questions.

Chu Hongyu sat in his seat feeling somewhat dejected.

He had only thoroughly studied the Three Character Classic, Hundred Family Surnames, and Thousand Character Classic. Beyond these, he knew nothing.

Everyone else had studied at private academies for three to five years before coming to the Imperial Academy, but he was only four years old when Father Prince sent him here.

Xie Shi’an was so, so excellent—it made him seem really stupid.

He bit his teeth, opened his book, and while others were still watching the excitement, he had already begun studying seriously.

Teacher Wang was very satisfied with Xie Shi’an’s performance: “Truly worthy of being the prefectural examination top scholar. You indeed have real ability. Xie Shi’an, from now on you’ll sit in the seat next to the Sixth Prince. Sixth Prince, you should learn more from Xie Shi’an.”

The Sixth Prince’s expression was very unpleasant. He, a dignified imperial prince, learning from a student of humble origins—wouldn’t that be utterly laughable if word got out?

He snorted and paid no attention to the teacher’s words.

Teacher Wang had been teaching the Sixth Prince for three or four years already and naturally knew this prince’s temperament—unlearned, incompetent, and always causing trouble. Arranging for Xie Shi’an to sit beside the Sixth Prince, he only hoped the Sixth Prince could receive at least some positive influence.

After registration at the Imperial Academy ended, everyone was dismissed to return home. Formal classes would begin once the ninth month arrived.

As soon as the teacher left, a group of people gathered around Xie Shi’an’s desk. Among these nobles were dandies, but naturally there were also students seriously pursuing learning. Several young men held their book scrolls and earnestly discussed problems with Xie Shi’an. Xie Shi’an didn’t hide his abilities either, and conversing with these people whose status far exceeded his own, both parties found it quite enjoyable.

Through this, Xie Shi’an got to know several young lords of very high status.

He once again deeply understood that one must stand in high places to know those people in high places, to reach those high places…

Since he had come to the Imperial Academy, he absolutely had to establish a firm foothold here, absolutely had to distinguish himself, absolutely had to ensure the Xie family would no longer be labeled as being of humble origins…