Feng Jiu’er and Zhan Luori had already exchanged more than a dozen bouts in the combat arena.

At the outset, everyone had worried that Feng Jiu’er, beautiful as a flower, would be soundly and embarrassingly defeated. Of course, what the young men worried about most was whether Jiu’er’s face might come to some harm.

Yet to everyone’s surprise, after Zhan Luori conceded the use of her dominant left hand, her match against Feng Jiu’er had turned out to be genuinely even. Neither could claim a clear advantage.

Feng Jiu’er was no longer the simple-minded Ninth Miss she had once been. Even at the time she first entered the Imperial Guard Academy, she had defeated Seventh Princess’s Red Tassel in a single move.

But that outcome had undoubtedly been a result of Red Tassel being provoked to anger, with Feng Jiu’er seizing the element of surprise. In a genuine contest, Feng Jiu’er would certainly not have been Red Tassel’s match. And Red Tassel herself was far inferior to the Seventh Princess.

Even with one hand restrained, not one of the students present would have readily claimed they could defeat the Seventh Princess.

Yet now, Feng Jiu’er had held her own against Zhan Luori for at least the time it takes two incense sticks to burn — and had not even been defeated.

It was truly astonishing. In less than a single month, Feng Jiu’er’s martial skill had advanced with extraordinary speed.

Still, in the contest against Zhan Luori, Feng Jiu’er had remained at a disadvantage throughout.

Though the scene appeared evenly matched on the surface, Jiu’er’s face was flushed crimson and her breathing slightly disordered, while Zhan Luori remained composed and unchanged in expression. Who had won and who had lost was already settled.

Huo Yan was not troubled — after all, his most formidable student, Mu Mu, had not even been deployed today.

Feng Jiu’er was an absolute dark horse. That she had traded more than a dozen blows with the Seventh Princess today had already won him more than enough face.

“Jiu’er, the Seventh Princess’s hard-style techniques are beyond you. Step down.” Huo Yan called out in a clear voice.

“Yes.” Feng Jiu’er drew back her palm force and immediately stepped backward, retreating outside the circle.

She then cupped her hands toward Zhan Luori and spoke aloud. “This Jiu’er thanks the Seventh Princess for her mercy. Jiu’er concedes defeat.”

Though she had conceded, not a single person in the arena — audience or participants — felt she had truly lost. This outcome had surpassed everyone’s expectations entirely.

Feng Jiu’er’s breathing was still slightly unsteady. Zhan Luori’s gaze fell upon her face, and for some reason, she fixed her eyes there and remained still for a long moment.

Only then did she step out of the ring and walk toward Feng Jiu’er.

Standing beside someone so tall, Feng Jiu’er still felt the weight of that presence. She took half an instinctive step back and smiled. “Seventh Princess, thank you!”

The other party had genuinely shown mercy just now — Feng Jiu’er knew it clearly. The true energy within her was not yet something she could fully control, and fearing she might cause an accidental injury, she had not dared to use it freely during the bout.

Zhan Luori kept her eyes fixed on Feng Jiu’er’s face, her gaze deep and unreadable, giving nothing away about what she was thinking.

Red Tassel, who had been waiting below, also had no idea what she was thinking, and walked forward. “Your Highness…”

But Zhan Luori paid no attention, her gaze still fixed upon Feng Jiu’er’s face.

Both Huo Yan and the Adjutant Yan found it odd, but the other party was a princess of the realm. If she chose to stare at someone, who could object?

After all, she was only staring — there was no other action to speak of. Saying anything to prompt her would also be out of place.

Feng Jiu’er felt a flicker of uncertainty in her heart. Could it be that this person had only just remembered a commission she had taken — to ruin her face?

With Zhan Luori’s level of martial skill, ruining her face would truly be no great challenge.

“Your Highness.” Red Tassel took two steps forward, risking a reprimand. “Your Highness, the bout has concluded.”

She then looked at Feng Jiu’er with a measure of hostility. “Miss Feng, since you have lost, please step back.”

Jiu’er glanced down at her own position. While she was no longer inside the combat circle, she was still standing on the arena floor.

She looked back at Huo Yan, then cupped her hands once more toward Zhan Luori, turned, and stepped away.

Red Tassel quietly exhaled in relief and looked to Zhan Luori. “Your Highness…”

Unexpectedly, Zhan Luori’s eyes darkened and she gave a cold sniff. “This princess’s affairs — since when is it your place to advise?”

With that, she flicked her sleeve, turned, and left.

Behind her, she dropped only a few cold words. “Adjutant Yan, I am unwell. For the remaining bouts, I concede.”

And she truly just walked away. Red Tassel stood frozen in a moment of bewildered panic before hurrying after her.

“Your Highness, this subordinate overstepped. Please, princess, impose your punishment.”

But the Seventh Princess walked ahead, apparently genuinely displeased, and paid no attention.

Mistress and servant departed together, and no one could see through or make sense of the Seventh Princess’s behavior just now.

Why had she been staring at Feng Jiu’er? Could it be that she envied and resented Feng Jiu’er’s face as well?

The young men could not help but grow worried. If the Seventh Princess had set her sights on Feng Jiu’er with resentment, could Feng Jiu’er’s face still be kept safe?

Xiao Yingtao walked quickly over and gently tugged at Feng Jiu’er’s hand. “Jiu’er, she…”

“It’s all right. She bears no hostility toward me — truly.” That much, at least, Feng Jiu’er could sense.

Zhan Luori’s feelings toward her were not what everyone assumed — there was no jealousy, no dislike. The way she had looked at her just now had carried no ill intent whatsoever.

But even Feng Jiu’er herself could not guess the reason. Why had the Seventh Princess looked at her that way?

After the Seventh Princess departed, new bouts began in the arena.

There were few students remaining, and in the end, Longqi Army’s side retained three people, claiming victory.

“Old Brother Yan, your side lost — what’s the penalty today?” Huo Yan fixed his eyes on Adjutant Yan and broke into a hearty laugh.

The students below also laughed along, and of course, none of it was mean-spirited.

“Penalty! Penalty! Penalty!”

Adjutant Yan had lost, but so what. Bouts and contests happened every few days as a matter of course — victory and defeat were all part of a soldier’s life.

“Fine. We lost, and we accept the penalty. Adjutant Huo, go ahead — what do you want us to do?”

“The blade-bending posture — how about that?”

“No, Adjutant, how about a meal instead?”

“Yes, yes, a meal! Let the Fourth Imperial Guard Squad treat everyone!”

When it came to eating, nothing was more appealing than watching someone hold an awkward punishment stance. Besides, what was the point of watching others suffer? Everyone here was comrades, not enemies.

Far better to gather together and eat and drink merrily — that was the proper way of things.

“Very well, the brothers of the Fourth Imperial Guard Squad will treat everyone, and each of you will contribute three taels of silver. Tonight we feast.” Adjutant Yan called out in a clear voice.

Looking toward the students of the Longqi Army, he continued, “What do you all want to eat? Go ahead and say it.”

Everyone grew animated at once, already pondering what they might eat that evening.

Huo Yan and his brothers were the type to get along with anyone, and they truly fell into discussion together.

That kind of easy camaraderie between officers and students — it made for a genuinely warm atmosphere.

When it was strict, it was utterly strict. When the time came to relax, the relaxation was complete and wholehearted.

Huo Yan came to stand before Feng Jiu’er, and everyone’s eyes naturally turned toward Jiu’er as well. He said, “Jiu’er, you distinguished yourself today. What do you want to eat — you decide!”

Feng Jiu’er thought for a moment, then said, “How about we barbecue?”