After Shen Nan won the top three honors in high school, he returned to Yunzhou and made the Shen family very happy, especially his grandparents, whose faces were full of wrinkles from smiling.

Grandpa quickly ordered, "Ye Qing, go to the workshop and call back the eldest and second sons' families so we can celebrate properly. Invite all the close neighbors to a feast and tell them that our Xiaonan has passed the imperial examination. We're just inviting them over for a meal, free of charge."

"Yes, yes, let's celebrate. Our Xiaonan is amazing. He's a scholar at the age of ten and his father is as old as him. Our Shen family's ancestral graves are smoking."

Shen Nan felt that his grandfather was exaggerating a bit. He was just a scholar, not the top scholar. He scratched his head and felt a little embarrassed. "Grandma and Grandpa, I only passed the exam to become a scholar, not the top scholar. There's no need to be extravagant and make a fool of myself."

"You are the first person to become a scholar at the age of ten, and you are even a 'Little Three Scholars'. This is something that many people dare not even dream of. If this happened in the village, I would definitely treat the whole village to a feast."

Shen Nan said embarrassedly: "Grandpa..."

Shen Xue quickly looked at Shen Nan and said, "Xiao Nan, it's a great thing that you passed the exam. Let your grandparents be happy."

"OK then!"

Grandma was so happy that she wanted to hug Shen Nan and give him a few bites. "My dear grandson is so cute. I can sleep well tonight."

Shen Xue asked worriedly, "Grandma, are you having trouble sleeping? Let me take a look at you."

"Ever since you guys went back, your grandma has been so nervous she can't sleep. I've been trying to get her to trust our Xiaonan, but she won't listen."

"Old man, why do you tell the children everything and make them worry?"

Shen Xue hugged her grandmother and said coquettishly: "Grandma, you are old now, you must take care of yourself, otherwise I will be distressed."

Grandma touched Shen Xue's head, smiled and burst into tears, choking with sobs: "If only your mother and your elder sister were still alive, they would definitely be happy. It's a pity that they passed away so early that they couldn't see the day when my little Nan became a scholar."

"Old woman, today is the happiest day for our family in over a year. How could you bring up such a sad thing in front of the two children and make them sad too?"

When Shen Xue and Shen Nan heard what their grandma said, sad expressions instantly appeared on their faces.

Grandma quickly wiped the tears from her cheeks and said, "I'm sorry for making you sad. Don't be sad today. We should all be happy. Our Xiaonan's four years of hard work finally paid off."

"Xiaoxue, when you go to the capital, you must thank Master Yang. Without his careful guidance, Xiaonan would not have passed the scholar exam so smoothly."

"As human beings, we must be grateful and repay kindness. Do you understand?"

"Grandma, don't worry. When I get to the capital, I'll bring generous gifts and visit Master Yang."

Grandpa held Shen Nan's shoulders with both hands and said seriously and earnestly: "Xiao Nan, when you become an official in the future, you must never forget your roots. We poor people have a hard time. You must strive to be a good official who serves the country and the people. You can't be like other officials who only know how to exploit the people. If I find out that you are ashamed of the people and act against your conscience, I will be the first to deal with you. Do you understand?"

Shen Nan ran back to the room with a ruler and handed it to Old Man Shen. His eyes were firm and his childish voice came out, "Grandpa, if I make a mistake in the future, you can use this ruler to beat me. This ruler was given to me by Master Yang before he left. It was also a warning for me not to let down the people and the country."

Grandpa held up the ruler and shouted, "Master Yang is right. We must never let down the people and the country. Next time I go to the capital, I must drink with Master Yang. He taught my grandson how to behave. Even if I kowtow to him, it wouldn't be too much of a thank you."

"Grandpa, if anyone needs to kowtow, I should kowtow to Master Yang. How can you kowtow to others at your age?"

"Kowtowing to someone who has helped you is not a sign of servility or weakness, but a sign of gratitude. Although my grandfather is from the countryside and illiterate, I understand the principles of life. We must be upright and honest in our conduct and actions."

"Grandpa, I remember it."

"Good boy, the pride of our whole family."

At this time, there was a commotion outside. It turned out that Shen Dashan's two families and good neighbors had arrived.

Everyone congratulated Shen Nan, praising him for being so smart and promising at such a young age, and said he would have a bright future when he grows up.

Shen Nan thanked them one by one obediently.

The Shen family set up thirty banquet tables in front of the breakfast shop. Anyone could come and have a meal without paying a penny.

The prefect came with local officials to offer congratulations, and the steward of the Prince Mu's Mansion in Yunzhou also came with servants to offer congratulations and asked the servants to help out.

Shen Xue also gave Grandma three days of free breakfast at her breakfast shop. She also gave all the workers two months' extra wages to make everyone happy.

At noon the next day, the sound of horse hooves was suddenly heard outside the door. Shen Xue and the others heard the sound and came out to see the young eunuch coming with his guards.

"Shen Nan, Mr. Shen, please accept the order."

Everyone in the Shen family knelt down to receive the order.

"By the providence of Heaven, the Emperor proclaims: Shen Nan is gifted, a child prodigy born into this world. He won the top three places in the imperial examination at the age of ten. He will be a pillar of the nation in the future. I am deeply pleased. I have specially summoned him to the palace to serve as a companion and study with the Fourth Prince. I decree this!"

"Thank you, Your Majesty, for your grace."

Shen Nan excitedly stretched out his trembling hands to take the imperial edict. He became the prince's study companion. This was an honor and grace from the emperor. Even the children of princes and generals might not be able to enter the palace to study companions.

Shen Nan was overjoyed, feeling both nervous and excited. After all, this was an opportunity that many people dreamed of.

But Shen Xue was a little worried. The palace was full of crises, which made her frightened and terrified. If something happened to her elder sister, she would never let her younger brother get into trouble as well.

The emperor's decree has been issued and cannot be refused. Disobeying the decree is a capital crime. All members of the Shen family will suffer and can only enter the palace to serve as companions in study.

The eunuch shouted again: "Ya'an County Princess Shen Xue receives the order."

"Your servant Shen Xue accepts the order."

"By the Will of Heaven, the Emperor proclaims: Princess Shen Xue of Ya'an, with her virtuous heart and noble character, has been instrumental in saving the Third Prince. She is hereby honored as the Great Qi's First Female Saint Hand and granted a plaque. One thousand taels of gold, ten thousand taels of silver, and one hundred pieces of brocade. This is my decree!"

"Thank you, Your Majesty, for your kindness."

Shen Xue never expected that she would be named the number one female saint in Da Qi by the emperor, and that she would be able to make further progress in medical skills in the future.

If it weren't for her elder sister, she would have no future at all. She would not be able to see the emperor's reward today. Thinking of this, tears welled up in her eyes.

The entire Shen family was happy for the future of Shen Xue and her brother, but Shen Xue couldn't be happy.

The next morning, she took Shen Nan to the capital.

On the way, Shen Xue repeatedly warned Shen Nan not to be competitive, to hide his edge, and to be cautious of everyone in the palace.

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