Feng Jiu’er’s name was nowhere on the posted results.

Two figures flashed immediately through her mind — the look Iron Horse Princess Zhan Luori had given the chief examiner as she departed, and the cold, cutting words Crown Prince Zhan Yuheng had spoken as he left the mountain forest.

Apart from those two, there should not be any other hidden hand at work.

Though Zhan Yuheng was angry, he did not seem the type to stoop to something this petty.

And though Zhan Luori had been embarrassed by her, she carried herself with a righteousness that made secret scheming seem beneath her.

Could there truly be a third hidden hand?

What she did not know, of course, was that atop the演武 Building — the tallest structure in the Longwu Academy — that hidden hand sat in the shade, as though separated from her by a thousand mountains and rivers. Yet those sharp, hawk-like dark eyes could pinpoint her exact location with perfect precision.

“Your Highness, the Imperial Guards Academy’s enrollment list has been posted ahead of schedule.”

Yu Jingfeng wore an ingratiating smile. “Also — our Longqi Army’s recruitment notice has already been sent out.”

Zhan Qingcheng said nothing. His tall, slender figure reclined in the jade chair as he casually picked up a military treatise and began leafing through it with unhurried attention.

His entire manner was one of languid indifference, as though nothing happening below concerned him in the slightest.

Presently, Yu Jingfeng said: “Your Highness, the recruitment notice has been posted. Miss Jiu’er is reading it now.”

Only then did Zhan Qingcheng’s beautiful, star-bright eyes lift slightly — then drop again, settling on the slender figure far below.

Watching her standing before the notice, reading it with focused attention, the corner of his lips curved upward. A flicker of confidence passed through him.

He returned to his book and paid her no further mind.

The girl had not been selected for the Imperial Guards Academy; naturally, she would seek another path. Now that the Longqi Army was recruiting new members, how could she possibly not come rushing over to enlist?

She had always loved the Longwu Army, after all. It was he who had refused to let her join.

The Longqi Army was the vanguard force of the Longwu Army. The number of recruits accepted each year was limited, and moreover, they never recruited from newly enrolled students.

This year was an exception. Given such an extraordinary opportunity, how could she not seize it?

It would not be long before the girl came dashing over, throwing her arms around him and begging to join the Longqi Army.

He did not want her to enter the military — but if she ended up running off to that other army and spending her days beside her former flame, then it was better to let her return to his side.

Imagining the sight of that girl clinging to him and acting coquettish, the man who had long grown accustomed to wearing an expression as cool and still as water found an added measure of pleasant warmth at the corner of his lips.

That girl… she always managed to bring him a measure of delight.

“Your Highness! Miss Jiu’er did not sign up. She… she left.” Yu Jingfeng’s eyes nearly fell out of his head.

She… she she she had truly… walked away. She had only glanced at the recruitment notice, shown not the slightest interest, and gone off wandering elsewhere!

The smile on Zhan Qingcheng’s lips froze solid. His gaze swept downward with an icy chill.

Below, Feng Jiu’er had indeed already left the crowd gathered around the recruitment notice and walked over to the supplementary enrollment inquiry station of the Imperial Guards Academy, where she appeared to be asking the guard something.

That girl intended to enter the Imperial Guards Academy’s supplementary selection!

She had passed up the Longqi Army’s recruitment and was still determined to stay at the Imperial Guards Academy!

“Your… Your Highness, Miss Jiu’er may perhaps… perhaps no longer be so fond of the Longwu Army.”

Yu Jingfeng lacked the courage to say it, yet it did genuinely appear to be the truth.

The Ninth Prince’s expression remained as composed as ever — only the military treatise in his hand was very nearly crushed in his grip.

To change affections so quickly — just how long could this girl’s enthusiasm for anything last?

“Your Highness,” Yu Jingfeng watched his face, which remained outwardly serene yet grew darker by the moment, and felt a chill run down his spine. “So now… what do we do?”