After Huo Yan left, Zhan Luori also rose to her feet, appearing as though she intended to step out.

Feng Jiu’er said: “Seventh Princess, are you not going to training? You have not changed yet. Come along together?”

Zhan Luori paused for a brief moment, then suddenly her long legs took a stride, quickening her pace, and before Feng Jiu’er had even removed her first outer robe, Zhan Luori’s figure had already flickered and slipped out the door.

Watching the door close firmly behind her, both young women in the room were left with the lingering image of Zhan Luori’s hasty exit still imprinted in their minds.

No matter how you looked at it, it resembled a frantic flight to safety. All she had done was invite her to change clothes together — they were both young women, so was there truly any need to be this bashful?

“If one didn’t know any better, one would think she was a young gentleman.” Qiao Mu, already fully changed, sat in the chair and swung her long legs idly.

Though of course — what kind of household was the imperial family? A man disguising himself as a woman was utterly impossible — did they not value their life? That would be a crime of deceiving the sovereign. If discovered, Consort Jing would absolutely be beheaded. What small consort would have the audacity?

So the notion of Zhan Luori being a young gentleman was fine to entertain as a passing fancy — good for casual after-dinner conversation at most. To actually think seriously about it would suggest one’s head had gone quite wrong.

“But this Seventh Princess is genuinely very striking in appearance. Her features are, in truth, exquisitely perfect — not a whit inferior even when compared to the Ninth Prince. It is only that, being a young woman, that imposing, large-framed figure of hers means that no matter how beautiful she may be, it is perhaps…”

The rest of the words went unspoken. The other party was a princess of a nation, after all — how could they speak of her behind her back like this?

Sigh. What a shame!

“But with those looks, if she were truly a man, she would absolutely be a breathtakingly, devastatingly handsome one!” Qiao Mu still found it a pity.

Clearly the makings of an unrivaled, peerless great beauty of a man — and yet fate had given her a woman’s form. What a waste.

“It is just that she is a little too tall. Everything else is fine.” Feng Jiu’er, mid-change, tossed out a few flat, offhand words with complete nonchalance. “Nearly six feet — most men could not match that. Who would dare marry her?”

“How can you say such things about someone behind their back?” Qiao Mu rolled her eyes at her. “The idea of a princess being afraid she cannot find a husband — is that not a joke?”

“Was it not you who started this gossip?” Feng Jiu’er huffed dismissively. “Let us go.”

As it happened, the moment they stepped out the door, they found Zhan Luori standing right outside, waiting for them.

They had thought she would have gone on ahead long ago — and yet here she was. Qiao Mu and Feng Jiu’er exchanged a glance, and both their expressions turned distinctly peculiar at the same time.

They had been talking about someone right to her face, and yet the Seventh Princess appeared without the faintest trace of anger. Truly… they had gotten off remarkably luckily.

“Well, Seventh Princess — were you not going to training?”

Zhan Luori turned her head to look at her, expression blank: “I look too unsightly. Afraid of frightening the students. Better not to go.”

“Uh…” Feng Jiu’er’s face went a little red, and Qiao Mu quickly bowed her head.

Right, well — never speak ill of people by day, never speak of ghosts by night. Speak ill, and there will be retribution…

……

The atmosphere at today’s training session was a touch strange — especially within the Dragon Fourth Army’s ranks. Those who were usually prone to chatter now stood with lips pressed together in silence, not daring to say a word more than necessary.

What they had experienced in the back hills two days ago still had no resolution, even now. The killer might be hidden among them, yet there was simply no way to know who it was.

Fortunately, the injured students had all received treatment and recovered; the wounds had not been too severe.

This was the first time Feng Jiu’er had appeared before everyone since being confined to quarters, and seeing Jiu’er emerge safe and unharmed, the students finally breathed a genuine sigh of relief.

“Jiu’er, how was it? Captain Huo did not punish you, did he?” Taking advantage of Huo Yan’s absence, everyone crowded around, faces full of concern.

“The thunderbolt grenade that day was closest to you — are you all right?” someone else asked.

Feng Jiu’er shook her head with a faint smile: “Thanks to Mu Mu saving me at the crucial moment. Just a few minor scrapes.”

Mu Mu stood not far away, with Xiao Yingtao beside him. This time, quite unlike her usual warmth, Xiao Yingtao did not take the initiative to come over and greet Feng Jiu’er when she saw her.

Jiu’er walked over, but Xiao Yingtao took a step back, conveying an inexplicable sense of wanting to keep her distance.

“What is the matter? Have I offended you?” Feng Jiu’er stopped and did not press further.

Xiao Yingtao shook her head, her complexion a little off: “I am still under suspicion. It is not appropriate for me to be too close to you.”

Feng Jiu’er glanced at her, said nothing more, and turned to walk toward Mu Mu not far away. “And you? Do you also intend to keep your distance from me?”

Mu Mu simply extended his hand, gesturing for her to come over.

Even so, when Jiu’er was still several paces away from him, she stopped of her own accord. “What is the current state of Xing Zizhou and Shan Yidao?”

“They’ve come.” Mu Mu’s gaze passed over her shoulder and looked into the distance.

Xing Zizhou and Shan Yidao had indeed arrived. The two of them were just as before — Xing Zizhou as talkative as ever, Shan Yidao as earnestly simple-minded as always.

The two of them had both sustained injuries on their backs and had been confined by Huo Yan to the Martial Arts Building. It was not until two days before that night that they had been released.

Although their release indicated they were no longer suspected, the assassin had still not been caught, and even without official suspicion, the glances others gave them were somewhat different.

Not only were the glances different — it seemed people were not quite comfortable drawing too close to them either.

Xing Zizhou winked at Feng Jiu’er. “Today’s training — we may well end up in the same squad. Do you still dare to walk alongside us?”

“Why would I not dare? You may not necessarily be able to beat me.” Feng Jiu’er smiled lightly.

Xing Zizhou suddenly grew interested: “That will have to be put to the test.”

Shan Yidao’s face finally showed a hint of life: “I heard that before this, during the Dragon Fourth Army and the Imperial Fourth Army students’ combat exercises, you defeated an enormous number of opponents single-handedly and only lost to the Seventh Princess.”

“Truly, three days apart and one must look with fresh eyes — Jiu’er, you have become formidable. No wonder you no longer deign to notice the likes of me.” Xing Zizhou grinned.

At last, the feeling of being a team returned, and even a trace of warmth spread across Xiao Yingtao’s face.

The bond of their group was still intact — how wonderful. She had genuinely been afraid that after all this, walls would have grown between everyone and they could never return to how things had been.

“Jiu’er, do you know what today’s training involves?” Xiao Yingtao asked.

“I heard we are going to the back hills to gather medicinal herbs.”

“Gathering herbs again?”

“Yes, gathering herbs — but the herbs needed today are in the deeper parts of the mountain. It is somewhat dangerous there and very easy to get lost.”

Feng Jiu’er looked back at Qiao Mu, who said: “I have not been assigned to a group yet, so I should be staying here with Captain Huo to take care of some other matters.”

“All right, then wait here for us to return. We will bring back some game for you — extra food for dinner tonight.”

Feng Jiu’er cast her a glance, and Qiao Mu nodded, the light in her eyes flickering faintly.

At that moment, Huo Yan arrived and assembled everyone, announcing the details of today’s training. Sure enough, it was just as Jiu’er had said — though this session differed from previous ones. The distance to be covered today was far too great, and it seemed likely they would have to camp overnight deep within the forest.