Meng Xueming was overjoyed and pulled the two of them together to the Xiangyun Inn where they were staying.

Meng Xueming beamed with joy, “Ms. Han, Ms. Ji, it is truly an honor to meet you two.”

Ji Xiao and Zhuang Xinyan disliked each other, but they were also very familiar with Meng Xueming, since they had both participated in the insurance program together.

"Sister Meng, why are you so late!"

Master Lin and Master Zhang both specifically instructed us to arrive at Yuntianfu a few days in advance.

"The examination hall is tomorrow; have you got the time wrong?"

"Well, to put it simply, I was just held up by other things!"

Ms. Zhuang and I have not yet found a place to stay.

"I wonder if Ms. Ji and Ms. Han could help us out of consideration for our shared school days?"

Zhuang Xinyan looked ashamed. It was all because of her poor health that Meng Nujun almost missed the appointed time.

Now that they have nowhere to stay, they've also lost some of their usual arrogance.

He bowed respectfully to Ji Xiao and Han Zixuan and said, "I apologize for offending you both in the past!"

You don't need to consider me, just help Lady Meng!

I can find another place to stay.

Seeing this, Ji Xiao sighed and teased, "Oh, even the talented Zhuang has to bow her head one day. It's truly rare."

Zhuang Xinyan's face was grim, but she didn't argue with Ji Xiao.

Han Zixuan lowered her head and finished her tea, glancing indifferently at Zhuang Xinyan. She truly hadn't expected her to lower her guard so quickly.

Meng Xueming sighed softly, "No matter what, Ms. Ji is still our classmate. Why bother arguing over such trivial matters!"

They were used to the two bickering in class, and now was not the time for them to bicker.

"Ms. Meng is right. After all, we are classmates, and we certainly won't stand idly by if you two are in trouble!"

Han Zixuan smiled faintly and poured tea for the group. Putting aside everything else, the most they did with Zhuang Xinyan was to bicker.

There weren't any major conflicts, and they couldn't just sit idly by because of Master Lin.

"We have booked three rooms. If you don't mind, we can give one room to the two of you!"

"Ji Xiao, why don't you live with me?"

It's not a problem to let Ji Xiao share a room with me, after all, the top-class room is quite large!

Meng Xueming happily cupped his hands and said, "I don't mind at all, thank you for your generosity, Miss Han."

"Don't worry, Ms. Han, we'll cover the room fee ourselves!"

Zhuang Xinyan looked at Han Zixuan with a complicated expression, and also bowed and thanked her.

"Thank you, Lady Han and Lady Ji!"

Ji Xiao smiled and said, "You're welcome, you're welcome. Just make sure you don't make sarcastic remarks about me too much in the future!"

Zhuang Xinyan paused, "Uh... I..."

Finally, he sighed and said, "I'll be more careful next time!"

She's still the same arrogant Zhuang Xinyan!

On the second day of the prefectural examination, students from several surrounding counties who had passed the county examinations all came to Yuntian Prefecture.

It is also much larger in scale than Mingxi County, with nearly a thousand people.

Similarly, at the entrance of the examination hall, people lined up to undergo inspection before entering.

The prefectural examination consisted of two sessions. The first session mainly tested the content of the eight-legged essay and other classical texts, and it took a little longer.

The exams last for five days, with a one-day break in between, and then continue.

The second exam covered topics such as poetry, essays, and policy discussions, and lasted for three days!

Because it was two exams in a row, Han Zixuan was already feeling quite exhausted after just leaving the examination hall.

The exam itself was fine, but it was really stuffy having to eat, drink, and relieve yourself all in a small exam room.

Indeed, the imperial examination was not something ordinary people could endure!

Han Zixuan came out relatively early and went back to Xiangyun Inn to rest first!

The next day, after resting and recuperating, the group sat around the table discussing the exam questions.

"Your poetry in the second round is one of your strengths, Miss Zhuang. It seems you will definitely be on the list of successful candidates in this prefectural examination."

Meng Xueming couldn't help but praise her, and Zhuang Xinyan quickly waved her hand and replied modestly.

"Not at all, there are many famous students this time, and there must be some who are far superior to me."

Ji Xiao, who was standing to the side, slumped into a chair and said, "These past few days have almost cost me my life."

Could you please stop making me think about it?

She didn't want to go through another post-exam review after finally finishing the exam.

Aren't they tired?

Han Zixuan smiled and turned to ask, "Why are you so lacking in confidence for this exam?"

All eyes turned to Ji Xiao. "I'm not very confident, but it's all written. The rest is up to fate!"

This state of giving up drew a smile from the group.

Zhuang Xinyan looked at Han Zixuan, who had a calm expression, and asked slowly, "Ms. Han, you must be confident of victory."

Han Zixuan smiled faintly, "I wouldn't dare say I'm absolutely certain of victory, but I'm certainly confident that I'll be on the list."

She found the test questions quite simple; memorizing them was a piece of cake for her.

The only possible deviation is in the strategy, but I'm still confident that we'll be in the top ten.

But then a burst of mocking laughter came from the side.

"Oh, what a boastful person! He's already bragging before the results are even out."

The group looked in the direction of the sound and saw three women walking down from behind them.

The woman at the head of the group was dressed in brocade robes, with delicate patterns outlined in gold thread, and her skirt flowed like clouds.

Her eyes were bright yet aloof, like cold stars, and when she glanced at someone unintentionally, they carried a hint of nobility and detachment.

A smile played at the corners of his lips, but it didn't reach his eyes, keeping people at arm's length.

The three people following her kept surrounding her and praising her.

"I'm afraid he's just some poor student from some remote, impoverished place, arrogant and boastful!"

They looked at Han Zixuan and her group with disdain and contempt.

This left Han Zixuan, Zhuang Xinyan, and the others quite puzzled.

Ji Xiao, with her fiery temper, immediately sat up straight, her previously lazy demeanor vanishing.

He stared straight at the group and began to angrily retort, "Ha, I thought it was a bedbug that had come out of the latrine!"

This is disgusting so early in the morning!

What did it do to these people that they were just talking nicely? They had no choice but to interfere.

"How dare you talk like that? Who are you calling a bedbug?"

"Whoever responds is being criticized."

"you……"

Before he could speak, he was stopped by the elegantly dressed woman next to him.

He glanced indifferently at Ji Xiao and her group's table, then turned and left!

The group followed the arrogant woman and left.

Ji Xiao couldn't help but ask in confusion, "Who is this guy, putting on such an air?"

Han Zixuan stopped the second sister who was about to leave, and a piece of silver appeared in her hand.

The waitress was delighted to see the silver. "What can I do for you, sir?"

Han Zixuan said calmly, "I'd like to ask you who that woman was just now."

Zhuang Xinyan and the other two immediately focused their attention on the second young lady's face.

The waitress smiled sheepishly, "Hehe, sir, you're inquiring about Lady Su!"

She is Su Yaoguang, the legitimate daughter of Su, the textile commissioner of the Jiangnan Textile Bureau! She is also a student participating in this prefectural examination.

Meng Xueming frowned. "Why would the Jiangnan Textile Bureau come to our Yuntian Prefecture to participate in the prefectural examination?"

"Hehe, sir, you may not know this, but this textile master Su's ancestral home is in our Yuntian Prefecture."

This Miss Su wasn't participating in the imperial examinations to return to her ancestral home.

Everyone suddenly realized, but Ji Xiao looked puzzled. "Oh, so she's the daughter of an official. No wonder she's so arrogant!"

The second young lady happily took the silver coins from Han Zixuan, wiped them on her clothes, and put them in front of her chest.

"Hehe, you gentlemen do not know, this Miss Su is a famous talented woman in the Jiangnan area!"

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