Nian Jiaojiao visited the Gongyuan to exchange her identity credentials for entering the imperial palace, as the imperial examination was approaching soon.
As expected, Nian Jiaojiao ran into Shangguan Xi, the top scholar, again.
However, this time Shangguan Xi was not as spirited as before. She looked bruised and battered, as if she had been severely beaten.
Shangguan Xi glanced at the unharmed Nian Jiaojiao, and then as she passed by, she intended to violently bump into Nian Jiaojiao's shoulder.
Unexpectedly, the bump felt like hitting a steel plate.
Shangguan Xi clutched her shoulder, her face contorting in pain. Coupled with her pig-like visage, it gave her a ferocious appearance.
"You!"
Shangguan Xi pointed her finger at Nian Jiaojiao.
Instead of backing down, Nian Jiaojiao stepped forward and casually said:
"Try pointing that claw at me again?"
Shangguan Xi felt as though Nian Jiaojiao was about to snap her finger off, and instinctively lowered her hand.
Then, realizing she had been suppressed by Nian Jiaojiao's aura, she uttered a threat, "We'll see," before turning to leave.
In reality, this confrontation was not solely due to Shangguan Xi's displeasure that Nian Jiaojiao had not suffered the "beating," but more so a test of Nian Jiaojiao's capabilities.
The current imperial examination was different from the past; it was conducted through a "literary duel."
Nian Jiaojiao, despite having only completed two missions, had done so with ease, which demonstrated her unusual talent.
Furthermore, the second mission was of the Control Material realm difficulty, yet she had completed it single-handedly. Considering this, Shangguan Xi, who was also in the Control Material realm, felt uncertain.
Unbeknownst to them, their exchange was observed by many discerning individuals in the vicinity, some of whom had even set up betting pools to wager on who would ultimately win the top scholar position.
Among them, Shangguan Xi had the highest odds and was the most favored.
This was because Shangguan Xi was an established scholar, and the missions she undertook were beyond what others could achieve.
Nian Jiaojiao's odds were ranked fourth. Although her performance in the two missions had been impressive, too few people knew about her.
However, what people didn't realize was that after this brief encounter, their perceived favorite to win had already identified Nian Jiaojiao as a formidable rival.
Not far from the Gongyuan.
Two young men in fine robes were seated inside a carriage.
The two gentlemen had clearly witnessed the scene that had just unfolded.
"Brother Tong, Mother wants to betroth me to that person? I won't marry!"
Cui Qingluo anxiously shook Cui Tong's arm.
He found the pig-faced woman extremely unappealing and thought she resembled the villain from a story "Qiu Yu" had once told him.
Cui Tong looked on helplessly.
His mother had also arranged a match for him, with a candidate who was a Juren, not a Jinshi, but whose family was quite prosperous. Most importantly, the candidate's household only had two husbands.
And Mother had found a potential top scholar for Qingluo, undoubtedly for Qingluo's own good.
However, given Qingluo's personality, if he wasn't fond of the match, it would likely lead to considerable complications.
"Qingluo, perhaps Miss Shangguan met with an accident that caused her face to be like that. Don't jump to conclusions. Wait and see, just wait and see."
With no other recourse, Cui Tong could only try his best to persuade him.
Cui Qingluo pouted.
Although the other was his elder brother, their thoughts were too different. He gave up on trying to make him share his opinion and simply made a mental cross through Shangguan Xi's name.
...
On the other side.
After Nian Jiaojiao entered the courtyard of the Miscellaneous Studies faction, Jin Xue rushed forward and respectfully addressed Nian Jiaojiao as "Senior Sister."
Nian Jiaojiao looked at the single-lidded-eyed woman before her and recalled her first visit to the Gongyuan, when this woman had tried to trick her into calling her "Senior Sister."
Jin Xue wore a wry smile.
"Senior Sister, I was blind before. I even asked you how long it had been since you detached yourself from worldly matters. I presume you were at least in the Control Material realm back then."
Nian Jiaojiao smiled, not denying it.
Jin Xue continued, "I heard you had a dispute with Shangguan Xi at the entrance today?"
Nian Jiaojiao raised an eyebrow and said:
"I didn't expect the news to spread so quickly."
Jin Xue replied:
"How could it not? Senior Sister, you rarely come to the Gongyuan, so you might not understand as deeply. You and Shangguan Xi are currently the talk of the Gongyuan. Of course, Shangguan Xi was already quite famous before."
Nian Jiaojiao felt indifferent upon hearing this.
Although she wished to remain low-key, she was now at the final stage of the imperial examinations, and it was clearly unrealistic to continue being so discreet.
Seeing Nian Jiaojiao's lack of a strong reaction, Jin Xue became bolder and continued, "Senior Sister, do you know about the Shangguan family?"
Nian Jiaojiao nodded.
She had gained some understanding of the influential families in the royal city when she had previously represented the Qiu family in competitions.
The Shangguan family was one of the major families.
Jin Xue added, "Shangguan Xi is currently at the height of her fame. If you don't have absolute confidence in defeating her, it would be best to avoid her brilliance."
As they both belonged to the Miscellaneous Studies faction, and this faction had finally produced such a genius, Jin Xue naturally hoped that Nian Jiaojiao would become a pillar of their faction in the future.
This was why she was so earnestly analyzing the current situation for Nian Jiaojiao.
Nian Jiaojiao also felt intrigued and asked curiously:
"Oh? What do you mean?"
Jin Xue frowned slightly and said:
"Shangguan Xi is a direct descendant of the Shangguan family, with an exceptional background. Furthermore, the Shangguan family has now pledged allegiance to Prince Ying, making them part of Prince Ying's faction.
And I heard that not long ago, the Cui family patriarch intended to betroth young master Cui Qingluo to her. With the marriage alliance of two prominent families, who else could compete with her?"
Towards the end, Jin Xue was filled with envy and jealousy.
That was young master Cui Qingluo, someone she couldn't even dare to dream about, yet she was going to marry him so easily.
Nian Jiaojiao felt a pang of displeasure at the thought of that radiant young man marrying her.
It wasn't that she had fallen for Cui Qingluo; rather, they had shared a sort of revolutionary friendship during their brief shared experience of "escaping." She didn't think much of Shangguan Xi...
She wondered who Cui Tong had been betrothed to.
Nian Jiaojiao suddenly recalled that the Cui family patriarch had once considered betrothing both of the Cui family's young masters to her. She narrowed her eyes and nodded, stroking her chin.
Ultimately, it was her own excellence.
Even the disguise film couldn't conceal the charm radiating from within her.
Seeing this, Jin Xue's lips twitched.
Had this person gone mad, believing victory was hopeless after listening to her analysis?