She petted Fatty Tiger like a cat several times, pushing him away just before Feiyu could assassinate an innocent person. While petting him, she whispered softly in Fatty Tiger’s ear: “Don’t reveal my identity.”

Tian Wu abruptly stopped crying.

Only then did he realize this wasn’t Ye Shiba, his beloved dormmate—this was Her Highness the Crown Princess in disguise for training.

He jerked his big head up, face flushing red, trying to apologize in a small voice, but then realized apologizing would also expose her identity, so he could only step aside.

Someone coughed behind them—Rong Pu and the others had arrived.

Seeing Tie Ci, Rong Pu smiled in greeting: “Shiba, you’re here.”

Obviously Rong Pu would never forget Tie Ci’s identity, and having noticed before coming up the mountain that Tie Ci hadn’t yet revealed her identity to Feiyu, he had also briefed Qi Yuansi and Yang Yixiu.

So Yang Yixiu also maintained his normal attitude, just secretly winked at Tie Ci and bent his finger joints to make a kowtowing gesture.

Qi Yuansi was obviously much more rigid. He’d happened to be home visiting relatives when Tie Ci revealed her identity at the academy, and by the time he returned, Tie Ci had already left. He still felt the unreality of Tie Ci’s identity, and recalling their previous broken engagement, antagonism, and wager… he felt his emotions were chaotic and complex, difficult to express.

Regarding Tie Ci’s arrival, he felt somewhat uneasy and embarrassed, yet within that embarrassment was a faint anticipation, though he didn’t know what he was anticipating.

Before Tie Ci revealed her identity, he had already been completely convinced by Ye Shiba, and recalling their previous broken engagement, that feeling became even more burning.

At the moment, he lowered his head, eyes downcast as he bowed, then remained silent.

Seeing Feiyu in his current male disguise as Rong Wei, everyone was quite surprised and came to pay their respects. But except for Rong Pu, the others weren’t familiar with him, and Feiyu didn’t chat much with them either.

In front of Tie Ci, he could laugh, rage, be humble or proud, but with strangers he appeared politely distant, even coldly aloof.

Tie Ci asked Rong Pu how he’d come. Rong Pu smiled: “I merely came to escort Chi Xue, but unexpectedly gained the Commander’s favor and was asked to stay awhile to teach their military doctors.”

Tie Ci wasn’t surprised that someone supposedly here to teach military medicine ended up in military training—after all, Di Yiwei would fleece even passing geese. With Rong Pu’s excellent medical skills, how could she bear to let him go?

She said happily: “Chi Xue recovered? She came too?”

Rong Pu smiled and nodded: “Long since recovered. Once the poison was removed, she wanted to chase after you. Knowing you’d surely head to Yongping, I thought it better to come directly to Yongping and wait for you.”

Then Tie Ci heard Chi Xue’s joyful call. Turning back, she saw Chi Xue looking at her with a smile.

Behind Feiyu, Zhao San and Mu Si stood distantly with no presence whatsoever. Seeing Chi Xue approach, Zhao San suddenly couldn’t stand properly.

Mu Si said coldly: “If you want to go over, just go. What’s with all the fidgeting?”

“Can’t, can’t.” Zhao San looked distressed. “What if she…”

“What if what! What if she sees better young men in the military camp and forgets you in a heartbeat!” Mu Si grabbed him and pushed him forward. “Go, say hello!”

Before Zhao San could stammer together a proper sentence, Chi Xue had already turned her eyes over, smiling gracefully with poise and generosity.

Zhao San instantly flushed red from head to toe.

Mu Si found this suffocating to watch and turned away, only to meet Dan Shuang’s gaze.

They looked at each other for a moment, then both quickly turned away.

Over there, Di Yiwei tapped her pipe stem and nodded to a general who always stayed by her side.

That general came forward: “Servants cannot be used in the military. All servants must join the miscellaneous duties battalion. Women will join the medical battalion to assist in caring for the wounded.”

Tie Ci said: “We obey the Commander’s orders, but aside from basic miscellaneous duties, they shouldn’t have to bear any other labor burdens. After all, they’re not the Commander’s soldiers, and the Commander doesn’t pay them wages.”

You can exploit me, but exploiting my people? No way.

Tian Wu and the others looked at her admiringly.

Indeed the Crown Princess—even in disguise during training, she dared negotiate terms with the unreasonably exploitative Commander who fleeced everyone.

The pipe in the sedan waved, indicating agreement, then pointed at Feiyu.

The general said: “This one can also go to the miscellaneous duties battalion.”

Feiyu was noncommittal. Everyone followed Di Yiwei down the mountain, constantly encountering those recruits finishing training. Most didn’t quite know who was in the sedan, but every single one was cursing.

Listening from her sedan, Di Yiwei seemed in a good mood, her pipe clicking more cheerfully.

Reaching the drill ground below, a whistle sounded and everyone assembled. Tie Ci hesitated, then stood at the back of the formation.

Only then did Di Yiwei emerge from her sedan.

The soldiers who’d been cursing at the sedan looked at each other in dismay.

This was Tie Ci’s first clear view of the female commander’s full appearance. Her features were very delicate, seeming to have some foreign ancestry. Her hair and eye color were rather light, making her skin appear especially pale, even her lips bloodless. This delicacy became frailty, and her gaze wasn’t particularly sharp or spirited—instead lazy and bland, carrying the weathered aura cultivated through years on desert battlefields.

She had an androgynous appearance, probably from years of female-to-male disguise. Her masculine bearing and expressions were flawless, even her stance slightly spread-legged, her belt tied in a careless knot, completely rough around the edges.

But even so pale, rough, and casual, she remained outstanding in temperament. In a crowd, a glance would immediately fall on her alone—conspicuous without trying to be.

Di Yiwei seemed to find the sun too bright and kept frowning. There were no routine speeches, no rallying slogans, no warm comfort—she simply and brutally began reading names, reassigning these recruits to new squads.

Tie Ci keenly noticed this reassignment wasn’t based on the recruits’ training performance.

After finishing the reassignments without involving the dozens of academy students, Di Yiwei casually tossed another roster in their direction: “You should also elect a leader. Who’s it going to be?”

The roster flew out, and Rong Pu, standing at the front, gathered his sleeves.

A student tried to catch it but was glared at by Qi Yuansi, suddenly realizing and pulling back his hand.

The roster continued flying over the crowd. The crowd parted like the Red Sea, and finally Yang Yixiu raised his hand to catch it.

Having caught it, Yang Yixiu didn’t wait for others’ surprise before turning and presenting the roster with both hands to Tie Ci at the back, even adding sound effects: “One grand dish, please enjoy!”

Tie Ci smiled and reached out to take it.

No need to be pretentious about it.

Setting aside identity, whether by performance, prestige, or the academy head’s final intentions, she was undoubtedly the rightful leader of the training students.

Di Yiwei wasn’t surprised that the latecomer became the leader, only saying: “Do you understand the rules of my squad divisions? Divide according to my rules. Get it wrong, and their electing you won’t matter.”

Tie Ci took the roster and flipped through it: “No.”

Everyone: “…”

Incredible.

This big shot had to debate everywhere she went.

Di Yiwei took a puff to calm her shock, turning her head somewhat unaccustomed: “Hm?”