Three days later.
Nian Jiaojiao finally gave up.
She returned to the academy dejectedly.
"Nian Anshou, long time no see."
"Anshou, you're back for classes!"
Upon returning to the classroom, her classmates were surprisingly enthusiastic.
Nian Jiaojiao was puzzled. She had been gone for three days, why did everyone seem more familiar with her?
"Are you perhaps curious?"
A female voice came from behind Nian Jiaojiao, slightly hoarse, sounding like a smoker's voice.
She turned her head and saw a person with thick eyebrows and large eyes, and a small but conspicuous beauty mark on the corner of her mouth.
"Who are you?" Nian Jiaojiao asked.
"Although we are all classmates, we haven't introduced ourselves yet. Let me introduce myself."
The thick-browed woman introduced herself:
"My surname is Huang, and my given name is Ba Tian. I entered this class last year, the previous cohort. I'm an elder student of the Tian Er class. Nian Anshou, please guide me."
Huang? Huang Ba Tian?
Were her parents serious about giving her a name that bullied females and dominated males?
She suddenly felt that "Nian Da Bao" was actually... acceptable?
After her inner musings, Nian Jiaojiao still politely nodded to the other person.
"Xiucai Huang, hello."
Huang Ba Tian smiled:
"I'm good? Of course, I'm good! However, calling me Xiucai Huang sounds too distant. From now on, call me Sister Ba Tian!"
Nian Jiaojiao nodded.
At this moment, the other person continued:
"By the way, you haven't been to the academy these past few days. You might not know, but in two days, it will be our Qingzhou Poetry Festival. There will be many poetry gatherings of all sizes.
However, the most famous one is the Chrysanthemum Garden Poetry Gathering."
"Chrysanthemum Garden Poetry Gathering?" Nian Jiaojiao repeated softly.
Huang Ba Tian nodded:
"That's right. This time, the Chrysanthemum Garden Poetry Gathering is being held at our Huang family's residence. Naturally, we can't do without Nian Anshou. We hope Nian Anshou will grace us with her presence on that day, bringing a family member."
As she spoke, Huang Ba Tian took out a golden invitation from her embrace and handed it over.
Nian Jiaojiao took the invitation and nodded in agreement.
Little did she know that the invitation she obtained effortlessly was something others had racked their brains for but failed to get.
After school, Nian Jiaojiao immediately headed out.
However, not far after leaving the classroom, she saw Nian Zhenzhen rushing towards her class.
Nian Jiaojiao had a vague premonition.
She flashed and disappeared around the corner in an instant.
"Senior Sister, Senior Sister, has Nian Anshou come to the academy today?"
The senior female student who was stopped glanced at Nian Zhenzhen and said:
"Nian Anshou has come to the academy today."
Nian Zhenzhen, who had no hope, her eyes lit up, and she pressed further:
"Is Nian Anshou still in class?"
The senior female student was already eager to go home and was unwilling to waste any more time with Nian Zhenzhen.
So, she said impatiently:
"How would I know? You go and find her yourself."
With that, she ignored Nian Zhenzhen and walked straight towards the academy gate.
A hint of anger flashed in Nian Zhenzhen's eyes, but she couldn't afford to think about it further. She strode into the classroom to find someone.
However, after searching for a long time, she had to admit that she had missed the other person again.
Nian Jiaojiao, hiding in the shadows, saw how anxious Nian Zhenzhen was to find her and was curious about her intentions.
At this moment, she happened to hear Nian Zhenzhen murmuring:
"Young Master Huang, Young Master Huang, is our fate truly over?"
Nian Jiaojiao: ???
...
Huang Family.
Chrysanthemum Garden.
The Huang family's Chrysanthemum Garden was famous throughout Qingzhou.
Because the Huang family loved to admire chrysanthemums, they specifically built a Chrysanthemum Garden, a place for the Huang family and their guests to admire chrysanthemums.
The outer perimeter of the entire mansion was enclosed by blue brick walls. Within the garden were ancient residences covered with red brick tiles.
Wandering through the garden, one could see cloud-like pavilions nestled among green trees, their eaves and corners peeking through the flowers and trees.
At this moment.
A beautiful young man in a white jade brocade horse-face skirt sat elegantly in the courtyard.
"Young Master, I've inquired. That young lady has enrolled at Baichuan Academy."
A young servant in green quickly moved to the young man's side and said.
"Mm."
The beautiful young man continued to read the book in his hands.
The young servant in green couldn't help but say:
"Young Master, what is so extraordinary about that young lady that makes you look upon her with favor?"
After their young master passed by Shan Shui Town, he saw a village woman and became obsessed, not only helping her but also using his family's influence to help her get an exceptional admission to Baichuan Academy.
In the vast Qingzhou, the noble ladies and talented women pursuing their young master could form a queue outside Qingzhou city, yet their young master showed no favoritism towards them.
The beautiful young man's fingers moved as he turned the pages of the book upon hearing the servant's words, and he fell into thought.
He didn't know why himself, but he couldn't take his eyes off that woman when he first saw her.
But now, recalling it, she seemed... ordinary?
At this moment, the servant tentatively said:
"Young Master, I see that young lady is neither an Anshou nor a Tongshou, nor is she from a wealthy family. It might be difficult for her to enter our Chrysanthemum Garden for this poetry gathering."
The beautiful young man, however, said:
"If she can't even enter the gates of the Chrysanthemum Garden, then it's fine if we never meet again."
Hearing the young master's words, the servant felt a bit more at ease.
He was the personal attendant, and when the young master married, he would follow to serve.
That woman seemed to be living a worse life than him, this servant. If she followed the young master, she would have to suffer herself...
...
Nian Family.
Nian Jiaojiao returned home and pondered for a while. She decided not to go to the academy before the poetry gathering began.
Although the female lead no longer posed a threat to her, it was still wise to be cautious.
She was too lazy to bicker with the female lead.
Wouldn't it be more enjoyable to admire handsome men at home?
However...
Nian Jiaojiao took out the invitation from her embrace.
The invitation stated that she could only bring one family member, so whom should she bring?
Nian Jiaojiao was a bit troubled.
However, she could understand the organizer's intention.
After all, in the Great Yue Dynasty, who didn't marry four or five husbands? If there were no restrictions, the family members attending might outnumber the actual participants, wouldn't that change the nature of the event?
After dinner.
Taking advantage of everyone being present, Nian Jiaojiao asked her four husbands:
"For the poetry gathering the day after tomorrow, I can bring one family member. Who among you is interested?"
Upon hearing that they could bring a family member to the poetry gathering, all four looked over, their eyes focused on the shimmering golden invitation in Nian Jiaojiao's hand.
Xing Yun, in particular, asked with excitement:
"Will there be good food at the poetry gathering?"
Nian Jiaojiao nodded hesitantly and said:
"Probably. I've eaten quite a lot at banquets like these in Fengcheng before."
After the excitement, everyone realized that only one person could go.
The dinner table suddenly fell silent.
At this moment, Xuan Yi was the first to break the silence.
"Wife, I'm not interested, so I won't go."
He was a rough man and understood nothing about poetry. Moreover, his appearance...
It was better not to embarrass his wife.
And as soon as Xuan Yi finished speaking, Xing Yun and Yu Chuan spoke simultaneously:
"I won't go either."