Nian Jiaojiao's spirit instantly lifted when she heard the student named "Zhang Jing" mention the female protagonist's name.
From her words, it seemed the female protagonist had already begun to have conflicts with Madam Jia at this point.
Zhang Jing spoke with more animation:
"Madam, she wants to take her as a disciple. What did she say? She said that when she first started, she was shut out, and now she feels it's good to learn by herself. Listen to this, what kind of talk is that!
Chen Jie, tell me, who among us was accepted by Madam from the beginning? It's her, and she even holds a grudge against our Madam for this matter!"
Chen Jie said no more after hearing Zhang Jing's words.
On this point, she also thought Nian Zhenzhen was in the wrong.
Madam Jia frowned and interrupted the topic before it continued:
"Alright, I just taught you to speak less, listen more, and observe more. We haven't reached Fengcheng yet, and you've forgotten?"
Although Madam was gentle, her authority still deeply impressed the few people present. The three stopped talking and began to eat in earnest.
After listening to this conversation, Nian Jiaojiao shook her head.
The female protagonist's personality was simply a female version of Long Aotian.
At the private school, the four finished their meal and prepared to rest for a while. Chen Jie, with sharp eyes, spotted Nian Jiaojiao watching from the side and exclaimed in surprise:
"You are… Nian Jiaojiao, Nian Tongshou?"
Nian Jiaojiao's movements froze, and she looked at the other person and greeted them, which was an indirect admission.
The people in the caravan looked at Nian Jiaojiao with some surprise.
"So it's Tongshou, pardon my disrespect. You're too low-key; no one knew throughout this journey."
"Yes, yes, Nian Tongshou is truly low-key."
Madam Jia asked Chen Jie:
"Who is she?"
"Oh, Madam, allow me to introduce you. This is the Tongshou for our current Tong Sheng examination, her name is Nian Jiaojiao!" Chen Jie introduced her Madam with great excitement.
Upon hearing this, Zhang Jing pouted and said:
"Isn't that the one who snatched the Tongshou position from Qinghe Jie?"
As soon as these words were spoken, the atmosphere in the room became somewhat stiff. Chen Jie, who had been in high spirits, became flustered.
She looked at Nian Jiaojiao, then at Qi Qinghe, feeling a bit conflicted.
She saw that this Nian Tongshou had a gentle and refined demeanor, giving off a comfortable feeling like a spring breeze. Especially with her outstanding appearance, it made her seem approachable.
Therefore, she genuinely wanted to befriend Nian Tongshou.
Madam Jia looked at Zhang Jing disapprovingly and said:
"Zhang Jing, what you said is inappropriate. In an examination, everyone relies on their own abilities. How can you become emotional just because someone's results are superior to yours?"
Qi Qinghe also said:
"Xiao Jing, do not speak nonsense."
Zhang Jing, finding herself at an impasse, finally stopped speaking.
Madam Jia stood up and looked at them, saying:
"You young people continue chatting. My old bones can't take it anymore, so I'll go and rest."
Nian Jiaojiao nodded at Madam Jia, and the three students quickly got up and bowed to Madam.
Seeing that Madam allowed her to associate with Nian Jiaojiao, Chen Jie happily walked over to Nian Jiaojiao to chat.
"What a coincidence. I didn't expect to run into Nian Tongshou here. Where are you heading, Nian Tongshou?"
Just as the two were exchanging pleasantries, a noisy commotion suddenly erupted from outside, with several people arguing heatedly.
Seeing that something was happening, Nian Jiaojiao stood up, smiled at Chen Jie, and walked outside.
And when she saw the man who had left and returned the previous night, the smile that had been on her lips instantly stiffened.
Because Nian Jiaojiao's identity as "Tongshou" was exposed, many people in the caravan became much more enthusiastic towards her. Seeing her go out, someone immediately whispered in her ear to explain:
"When I came out, I happened to see this man running towards the temple in a disheveled state, with a woman following behind. However, this woman looked fierce and insisted that the man was her runaway husband, demanding to take him away as soon as she entered.
At first, no one in the caravan wanted to interfere, but then the man hugged the leader's thigh and refused to let go.
Seeing this, the woman insisted that the man was involved with our leader and wanted an explanation, but as soon as she approached, the leader made a move.
Later, we tied up this woman."
Then, Nian Jiaojiao came over and saw the scene before her.
The man, barely clothed, was crying pitifully, pleading with everyone to help him while clinging to the guard leader's leg.
Yet, despite appearing pitiful, the man gave Nian Jiaojiao a chilling feeling, as if she were being stared at by a venomous snake.
The man before her was using his clumsy acting skills, resorting to any means necessary to achieve his unspeakable goals.
As if sensing Nian Jiaojiao's gaze, the man looked in her direction. When he saw Nian Jiaojiao, followed by Chen Jie and Zhang Jing, his eyes deepened.
Zhang Jing, seeing the man crying in front of him like a falling pear blossom, immediately took off her outer robe and intended to drape it over him.
Chen Jie also reacted and wanted to do the same but was stopped by Nian Jiaojiao.
Chen Jie was somewhat confused, while Zhang Jing proudly raised her head and walked over to drape her outer robe on the man without looking back.
After completing this series of actions, Zhang Jing provocatively glanced at Nian Jiaojiao, as if to say: See, I'm better than you at being human!
Nian Jiaojiao: ...
Don't cry in a moment…
Chen Jie couldn't help but say:
"Nian Tongshou, why are you stopping me? This young master clearly has been greatly wronged. That vicious woman is definitely not his wife. How can we stand by and do nothing at such a time?"
Before Nian Jiaojiao could answer, Zhang Jing said smugly:
"Exactly, exactly! Some people have wasted all those years of reading the classics!"
Chen Jie also chimed in:
"Nian Tongshou, I misjudged you."
Nian Jiaojiao: ...
She had initially thought Chen Jie was a good person and wanted to subtly remind her not to be deceived.
Fine.
Her good intentions were now taken for a donkey's liver and lungs.
Nian Jiaojiao couldn't help but roll her eyes towards the sky.
Either they were too foolish from reading, or they were blinded by this man's charm, not to understand such a simple play.
Regardless of whether it was the former or the latter, Nian Jiaojiao no longer intended to get closer to Chen Jie.
Forget it.
Now, she would just watch to see who this man's target was. If it wasn't her, she would wait by the side and enjoy the show.
If something happened afterward, Nian Jiaojiao would not feel guilty.
As a stranger, it was already an act of utmost benevolence for her to remind the other party once.
Unfortunately… they didn't appreciate it at all.
Actually, Nian Jiaojiao didn't know that such plotlines were currently the most popular in novels from the Great Yue Dynasty. Therefore, poor scholars like Zhang Jing and Chen Jie naturally harbored daydreams of a hero saving a beauty, and the beauty reciprocating with her body.
Of course, this was also something that most women in the Great Yue Dynasty fantasized about.
They wouldn't care whether these men had a clear origin or not. If they delivered themselves, they might as well take them, and they wouldn't lose out in any way.