Baichuan Academy.
Today is the day for new students to begin their studies, and the entrance of Baichuan Academy has once again become bustling with activity.
"Manlan, long time no see."
"Bai Qing, I hope we're still classmates."
"If nothing unexpected happens, we should be. After all, we both qualified as Xiu Cai in the top tier."
"It truly was fortunate. Of us two from the Earth class, only we made it to the top tier. Now we should be in the Heaven class!"
"You really are... please restrain yourself. If our former classmates saw you like this, they'd be heartbroken."
"I was wrong, I won't say anything more.... But look at these naive young newcomers; it truly reminds me of my own past!"
The student named Manlan changed the subject, pointing at the real "newcomers" below with her fan.
Bai Qing was somewhat speechless.
You've only just shed your Tong Sheng status and are already acting like an elder.
Today, in addition to the Xiu Cai who passed the exam previously, Tong Sheng who did not pass are also here to register.
Furthermore, the largest group of registrants are Tong Sheng enrolling for the first time.
At this moment, among the Tong Sheng in the registration line, if Nian Jiaojiao were present, she would undoubtedly recognize these "acquaintances."
Coincidentally, these few individuals happened to be traveling together.
Counting from the first acquaintance sequentially:
Qi Qinghe
Chen Jie
Nian Zhenzhen
Fang Fang
These four are lining up and chatting.
Chen Jie: "This truly is a prefectural city. I initially thought the academies in Fengcheng were already quite good! But seeing Baichuan Academy today, I realize 'one mountain is always higher than another!'"
Qi Qinghe nodded: "Indeed, this is why our parents insisted we come to the prefectural city for our studies. Since I wasn't entirely confident of entering the top tier, I didn't participate in this year's imperial examinations. I hope that by studying at Baichuan Academy, I can achieve the status of a top-tier Xiu Cai in the next examination."
The Xiu Cai examinations are held every two years, and with two years for preparation, Qi Qinghe is full of confidence.
As for Qi Qinghe's words, Fang Fang is dismissive. She pouts, as if talking to herself, yet loud enough for the other three to hear clearly:
"Tsk~ If you're so capable, why didn't you take the exam this time? You're all talk..."
Fang Fang's words made Qi Qinghe's face darken.
However, Qi Qinghe didn't directly confront Fang Fang. Instead, she spoke coldly to Nian Zhenzhen beside her:
"Nian Zhenzhen, keep an eye on your little follower!"
Fang Fang was about to retort but was stopped by Nian Zhenzhen.
At this moment, Nian Zhenzhen felt a headache coming on.
Although Fang Fang is her friend, she has caused her quite a bit of trouble along the way.
Earlier, upon learning that she was coming to Qingzhou, Fang Fang cried and begged to be brought along, claiming she wanted to find Bai Qingqing and was willing to act as her study attendant.
Now, looking at her, she's no study attendant; she's clearly invited a troublemaker.
...
When Nian Jiaojiao arrived at the academy, her unique attire drew envious gazes from everyone around.
"Look, it's her, the top scorer from Qingzhou this year!"
"Wow! She truly has an extraordinary aura!"
"Comparing oneself to others is maddening! This person is beautiful, comes from a good family, rumored to be a descendant of some prominent figure, and now, she's also this talented. It's truly unbearable!"
The crowd's whispers piqued the curiosity of Nian Zhenzhen and her companions.
However, at this moment, they all felt a sense of confusion.
Why does this person look so familiar?
So, Fang Fang casually asked someone queuing behind her:
"Who is this person? She seems to be doing quite well here."
The person queuing behind her was an upperclassman who hadn't passed the exam. He looked at Nian Jiaojiao with admiration and said:
"Of course! This person is the top scorer of Qingzhou!"
Nian Zhenzhen and Qi Qinghe looked at Nian Jiaojiao's resplendent appearance.
They both thought to themselves, "One day, I too will..."
As Nian Jiaojiao approached the entrance, an academy official personally came to greet her.
The official said kindly:
"Top scorer Nian, the Dean wishes to see you."
Nian Jiaojiao hesitated slightly:
"I haven't completed my registration yet."
The official smiled and took out an exquisite wooden token from his robe:
"Top scorer Nian, please rest assured, everything has already been arranged."
Nian Jiaojiao politely expressed her thanks, took the wooden token from the official, and then, under the envious gazes of the crowd, followed the official into the academy.
However, after only a few steps, Nian Jiaojiao suddenly stopped.
Her sharp gaze swept across a long line of people.
When she spotted four familiar faces, she froze.
Why had they also come to Qingzhou?
Nian Jiaojiao's brows furrowed.
She didn't care about the others, but Nian Zhenzhen's presence in Qingzhou at this time clearly didn't align with the story's timeline.
According to the book.
Nian Zhenzhen should have just gone through her first trial by now and met and fallen in love with her first husband.
Now that she was here in Qingzhou, how could she meet her first husband?
Could it be that her own arrival here had created a butterfly effect, disrupting the plot?
Just as Nian Jiaojiao was lost in thought, the official's voice came from behind her:
"Top scorer Nian, is something amiss?"
Nian Jiaojiao shook her head. Just as she was about to say something, Chen Jie spoke first:
"Surname Nian? You're Nian Jiaojiao!"
Nian Jiaojiao had undergone significant changes while in Fengcheng, so Chen Jie and Qi Qinghe could still recognize her somewhat, but the protagonist Nian Zhenzhen did not recognize her.
Nian Jiaojiao glanced indifferently at the four of them and did not reply.
She had interacted with these four, but none of the encounters were pleasant.
They were not friends.
Therefore, she turned and entered the academy.
Chen Jie watched Nian Jiaojiao's retreating back, muttering repeatedly:
"It's over, it's over. We had a falling out with her before, and now she's thriving at Baichuan Academy. Will she seek revenge on us?"
Qi Qinghe stared intently at Nian Jiaojiao's back, not replying.
As for Nian Zhenzhen and Fang Fang, they hadn't recognized her as "Nian Dabao."
Fang Fang immediately complained:
"Damn it! What are you guys up to? Before we've even registered, you've already offended such a big shot?"
Chen Jie was also annoyed at this point:
"Can you shut up? Know your place. You're just a study attendant. If it weren't for Zhenzhen, I..."
"You, what? What can you do to me? It's true, now that we're in the academy, don't say you know us, lest you implicate me and Zhenzhen."
Fang Fang's words infuriated Chen Jie to no end.
This country bumpkin, why couldn't she make sense to her?
Qi Qinghe looked coldly at the two of them:
"Nian Zhenzhen, do you feel the same way?"
Nian Zhenzhen immediately shook her head.
"Sister Qinghe, please don't misunderstand. Fang Fang is just quick-tongued. We came out together, so we must look out for each other."
She had a terrible headache.
What was Fang Fang doing? Since the imperial examinations were held at the end of the year, she hadn't yet taken the Tong Sheng exam, so she wasn't even considered a Tong Sheng.
Perhaps it was because that person had pulled strings for her, allowing her to attend a preparatory course here.
Although she also looked down on Chen Jie, the two in front of her were Tong Sheng and their temporary support. Why would she offend them so drastically?
After hearing Nian Zhenzhen's stance, Qi Qinghe's expression improved slightly.
However, she still issued a warning:
"Keep an eye on her. Qingzhou Academy has many young nobles, and if you offend someone one day, they won't be as understanding as we are."