While they had only spent a few days together, in her observations, the other person did not seem like someone with pure intentions, willing to become a monk.
Thus, a year later, when her master took her to visit Bodhisattva Bai, she also met her "old friend."
And when the other person looked at her with a completely unfamiliar gaze and asked who she was.
She then confirmed it.
She was not "Qiu Yu."
No, she should say, she was not the "Qiu Yu" who captured the lecherous thief with Shazhou.
But the woman she met at the door today, she saw a shadow of the previous "Qiu Yu" on her.
Although Wushuang had her suspicions, she did not expose them.
She followed the other person's words and said:
"So that's how it is, it seems I have a great destiny with this young lady."
Nian Jiaojiao's eyes lit up.
"Yes, yes, I also feel we are very compatible."
Wushuang suddenly let out a light laugh.
She then said:
"Let's sit in the teahouse."
Nian Jiaojiao was startled.
Wushuang, this cold beauty, was truly beautiful. When she suddenly smiled, it was like ice and snow melting, yet it still sent a chill down one's spine.
However, Nian Jiaojiao did not hesitate and directly agreed.
Teahouse.
All the good seats by the window were already occupied. To find a quiet place, Nian Jiaojiao called for the waiter and booked a private room on the third floor.
The waiter poured tea for both of them and then withdrew.
After a moment of thought, Nian Jiaojiao said to Wushuang:
"Then let's introduce ourselves first. My name is Nian Jiaojiao, and I am currently studying at the Royal Academy."
Wushuang nodded gently and replied:
"Qingzhou Wushuang."
The atmosphere fell silent for a moment.
Nian Jiaojiao touched the back of her head. She knew Wushuang was a person of few words, but this was really... a bit awkward...
She thought for a moment and spoke:
"Speaking of Qingzhou, I haven't been to Qingzhou for a long time. Nowadays, the demons from beyond the heavens are becoming more rampant. I wonder how Qingzhou is doing?"
Wushuang, having just come from Qingzhou, replied:
"Qingzhou is doing well. The major sects and reclusive powerhouses in Qingzhou are all fighting for Qingzhou. Does Academician Nian know how the imperial examinations are going?"
Nian Jiaojiao said:
"The final imperial examination is in a while. After the examination, I might return to Qingzhou."
Upon hearing Nian Jiaojiao's words, Wushuang's fingers twitched slightly.
She looked at the light smoke rising from the tea and said:
"Then if there's a chance in the future, we'll meet in Qingzhou."
Nian Jiaojiao nodded, "Perhaps we can even fight side by side then."
As soon as Nian Jiaojiao finished speaking, both of them couldn't help but recall the scene of fighting side by side in Shazhou more than two years ago. After a while, Nian Jiaojiao and Wushuang exchanged a smile.
Everything was understood without words.
...
When Nian Jiaojiao returned home, Tongzi Yao handed her an invitation.
He looked somewhat helpless.
"My wife, the Prince of Duan's mansion has sent another invitation."
Nian Jiaojiao was a bit speechless.
She wasn't some sought-after commodity, just a minor Jinshi (successful candidate in the highest imperial examination). Within a few days, she had received another invitation from the Prince of Duan.
She opened the envelope and glanced at it briefly. Then she thought of Shangguan Xi, the top Jinshi who had suddenly visited her yesterday, and her heart immediately understood.
She thought that Shangguan Xi, being the top Jinshi, wouldn't be so despicable as to seek trouble with her.
It turned out that these princes were engaging in internal strife, recruiting future talent.
She guessed that Shangguan Xi favored Prince Ying more, but to maintain her position in Prince Ying's heart, she deliberately adopted that attitude when inviting her to the mansion, aiming to make her refuse voluntarily.
Within the moment she received the invitation, Nian Jiaojiao had already guessed Shangguan Xi's intentions with considerable accuracy.
However, she did not care about these calculations in the other person's heart.
Because even if the other person genuinely wanted to invite her to the mansion, she would still refuse.
Of course, as for the Prince of Duan...
Nian Jiaojiao lowered her head to look at the invitation and pouted.
She disliked her even more.
Since the person who sent the invitation had already left, Nian Jiaojiao called for a carriage driver and asked her to run an errand to the Prince of Duan's mansion.
Of course, she also asked her to bring her handwritten letter.
Refusal was necessary, but it couldn't be too blunt, otherwise, it would be a sign of her own low emotional intelligence and lack of gratitude.
Therefore, Nian Jiaojiao wrote a lengthy reply to the Prince of Duan.
The general meaning was:
First, she thanked the Prince of Duan for the previous invitation, indicating that she had accepted the invitation last time. She wasn't coming just because you invited me.
Then, Nian Jiaojiao began with flowery praise.
It was her reflection after seeing the Prince of Duan at the banquet last time... Five hundred words omitted here.
Finally, she expressed her determination not to leave the mansion until after the final imperial examination.
Of course, at the very end, Nian Jiaojiao once again expressed her gratitude for the Prince of Duan's invitation and her regret for being unable to attend.
Very well.
She stopped writing.
Nian Jiaojiao sealed the letter, handed it to the carriage driver, and gave her ten taels of silver as a running errand fee.
The carriage driver immediately took the letter with a beaming smile to carry out the task.
However, after the carriage driver left, Tongzi Yao worriedly said:
"My wife, will this work? Won't the Prince of Duan resent you because of this?"
Nian Jiaojiao shook her head and said:
"Don't worry, none of them will attend, but among those who didn't attend, I am the one who showed the most respect to the Prince of Duan. Therefore, she won't resent me."
...
The next day.
As expected, no one came to the banquet that day, and not even a single word was exchanged. The Prince of Duan was furious.
"What are they thinking? Do they think that because they have the support of the eldest, second, fourth, and sixth princes, I can't do anything to them?"
Her subordinates all wiped their sweat and tried to console her.
"Your Highness, please don't be angry. They are ungrateful."
The Prince of Duan soon vented her anger on her advisors.
"I said it wasn't necessary to pay attention to them. It's all your fault for insisting that I recruit them. Now look, you've made me lose face! Where am I supposed to put my face? I can already imagine how the second prince and the others will mock me!"
As the Prince of Duan spoke, she angrily picked up a wine cup from the table and smashed it at her advisor.
The advisor dared not dodge, and a gash was directly opened on his forehead, causing blood to flow.
The Prince of Duan was not yet appeased and said:
"I will personally drag them out one by one and make them kneel and beg for my forgiveness.
What about Shangguan Xi, right? And Nian Jiaojiao?"
When Bai Qingqing heard Nian Jiaojiao's name, his heart skipped a beat.
He hadn't even met his love interest yet, and he was truly afraid that the Prince of Duan, in her anger, might get rid of her.
So, he whispered beside her, "This Nian Jiaojiao, prior notice was given for her Jinshi examination, and a letter was received. Your Highness saw it at the time and praised this Jinshi as someone who knows how to speak..."
The Prince of Duan paused.
She then remembered the letter from yesterday. At the time, she hadn't expected that no one would come, so she had praised the other person's literary talent.
Now, it was inconvenient for her to find fault with her.
So, she skipped Nian Jiaojiao's name and said:
"Let's go, guards, get Shangguan Xi, Quan Shui, Chen Minghua..."
Hearing this, Bai Qingqing couldn't help but breathe a sigh of relief.
However, he did not notice the advisor looking at him thoughtfully.