Tong Rushi’s gaze stopped halfway, and the corner of his mouth twitched.

After a long moment, Tong Rushi’s cold voice rang out in the silence: “…I saw nothing.”

Tie Ci was very surprised.

Given that murderous, spark-flying confrontation earlier, Tong Rushi didn’t look like someone who would be willing to cover for her.

She quietly breathed a sigh of relief.

Though she wasn’t without ways to resolve the situation, fewer complications were always better.

The supervisor seemed to trust Tong Rushi greatly and didn’t ask him anything more, turning directly to Tie Ci.

Tie Ci calmly said: “Supervisor, speaking of which, I’m also a suspect and shouldn’t really say anything. But theft is often an addiction. Where there’s one, there’s a second; where there’s a second, there’s a third. Your jade pendant was stolen, and our dormmates just mentioned that things often go missing from this room. If that’s the case, why not have everyone bring out all their belongings for a thorough search? We can see who the habitual thief is, and everything will be clear.”

Jin Wanliang’s face changed dramatically. He wanted to speak but didn’t dare, continuously scraping the ground with his heel.

The supervisor made an “mm” sound and said: “Reasonable. Theft involves national law and cannot be allowed in such a sacred place as the academy.” He ordered everyone to spread out their searched belongings on the beds for identification.

Jin Wanliang watched with sweat pouring down his head. Li Zhi’s things naturally had no problems. Tian Wu had the fewest possessions, and after a glance, everyone shook their heads. Though Cui Shi’s things were fine, he had hidden many women’s intimate items. Cui Shi’s face turned bright red, the supervisor frowned at him, but temporarily let it pass.

Tie Ci had just arrived and didn’t have many things. She had been careful not to bring anything particularly eye-catching, but everything was still quite refined—so refined that even if Cui Shi wanted to make false accusations, he didn’t dare, since Tie Ci’s belongings and all his own possessions weren’t even in the same class.

Tong Rushi wouldn’t let others go through his things, lifting his bed curtain himself. Everyone saw his private space for the first time—his bedding was exceptionally neat but nothing else was special.

Tong Rushi laid out the contents of his clothing chest one by one—all ordinary items. Cui Shi’s face was grim, his eyes flickering, wanting to say something, but Tong Rushi turned over an inkstone in his hand, revealing the character “Tong” carved on the bottom.

Not just the inkstone—even his blanket was embroidered with his surname.

Tie Ci was amazed.

Finally, they reached Jin Wanliang’s belongings.

The bed was covered with a dazzling array of items.

Cui Shi suddenly cried out: “Isn’t that Ye Shiba’s pearl!”

Among the pile of things, a luminous pearl blazed brilliantly and was quite conspicuous. When Tie Ci’s bundle had burst open earlier, everyone had first noticed those precious items, so not only did Cui Shi recognize it, but Li Zhi also nodded in amazement.

Tie Ci had been waiting for this moment.

When she was caught, in that split second, seeing the supervisor’s uniform, she had instantly formulated a plan.

Instead of retreating, she advanced, pickpocketing the supervisor’s jade pendant in the crowd to bring it back and plant it on Jin Wanliang.

First, to retrieve the pearl. She hadn’t made a fuss then because she was waiting for this moment!

Second, to expose the habitual thief. How could she allow a thief to sleep peacefully beside her bed? The pearl could be retrieved, but that would surely result in making a big matter small. Better to give Jin Wanliang something bigger to deal with.

Third, to punish someone who dared covet Chi Xue and Dan Shuang. Fourth, she wanted to use this opportunity to interact with the supervisor.

She said in amazement: “My pearl—how did it end up with Brother Jin!”

“Not just the pearl!” Cui Shi said angrily. “My fine ivory folding fan that went missing last month is also here! It even has my inscription on it!”

Li Zhi said: “My jade brush…”

Even Tian Wu started shouting: “My snuff bottle that I searched for so long—that was my father’s relic!”

Jin Wanliang’s face turned ashen as he collapsed to the ground.

The supervisor angrily ordered: “Take him away! First confine him in the ancestral hall for reflection, then the judicial department will examine everything before determining punishment!”

Jin Wanliang was dragged away crying about his innocence. Everyone’s shoulders sagged, breathing sighs of relief while feeling complicated emotions. When they looked at Tie Ci again, their expressions had changed somewhat.

As soon as this person arrived, one dormmate had been eliminated.

The students saw the teachers to the door. The supervisor gave Tie Ci a meaningful look, and Tie Ci’s heart jumped as she honestly followed.

The supervisor walked to a cluster of flowers where no one was around, then said to her: “You’re a student recommended by Teacher He, and I heard you’re related to the lady?”

Tie Ci replied: “This student is the lady’s distant nephew.”

“I ate quite a few dishes cooked by the lady back then. As her nephew, I should naturally look after you.” The supervisor’s voice was low. “You’re living there now, which is beneath you. I had business outside today and didn’t know they arranged that dormitory for you. How about I…”

“Thank you for your kind intentions, Supervisor. But the first-rank students are already dissatisfied with me. Forcing my way in would be unseemly. Better to let this student stay at the academy a while longer until I make them accept me. Then I can live wherever I want.”

The supervisor chuckled: “You’re quite bold… really a bit like the lady…” His voice gradually faded, his expression tinged with nostalgia.

Tie Ci seized the opportunity: “I never had a chance to meet my aunt, but I heard she died young, which is truly lamentable. But if my aunt was such a heroic woman, how could she resort to such cowardly and evasive measures? For years, your nephew truly cannot understand.”

“What do you want to do if you can’t understand? What do you want to know?”

Tie Ci hadn’t expected him to ask this way. Momentarily stunned, she was then delighted and about to press further when the supervisor seemed to suddenly come to his senses: “You’re overthinking this. That matter was settled long ago. Don’t get stuck in dead ends and disturb the deceased. Study well—if you can achieve some success, that would be worthy of your aunt.”

He was about to leave when Tie Ci called out urgently: “Supervisor, I was just speaking casually, but now that you’ve asked like this, I’m truly puzzled. Putting everything else aside, you’ve aroused my curiosity—you should take responsibility for answering it, right? Otherwise, if I go around the academy asking random questions and disturb something inappropriate, that would be your fault!”

The supervisor stopped, laughed once, and said: “No, you’re not like the lady. She was never as cunning as you—framing others, making false accusations, threatening people—using every trick in the book. But you can’t scare me. Listen to what I say: in life, it’s rare to be confused. You’re still a child. Some things you cannot bear, and some things are better not known.”

He turned to leave. Tie Ci called out: “When will you think I can bear it!”

The supervisor’s voice came from far away: “When you make everyone accept you as you boasted, then we’ll talk!”

Tie Ci watched his figure disappear eagerly and returned to the dormitory with light steps.

No matter what, tonight had been quite fruitful.

She yawned, preparing to catch up on sleep, but as soon as she entered the small hall, she was startled awake by Hai Dongqing pacing back and forth.

Hai Dongqing’s reaction was even more exaggerated than hers—his two slender long legs suddenly jumped backward, clearly frightened.

One person and one bird faced off in the hall when something bumped Tie Ci from behind, and a lazy voice said: “Move aside.”

Tie Ci turned around to see a mountain-high pile of bedding. Only at the edge of the bedding could she see a lapis lazuli earring with dzi beads swaying back and forth.

Dan Ye held bedding taller than himself with one hand, poking his head out from behind it with a meat bone still in his mouth. Suddenly he pursed his lips.

Tie Ci was shocked and quickly tilted her head aside. Dan Ye made a “pff” sound, shooting the bone from his mouth. Hai Dongqing leaped up, catching the bone with his sharp long beak, then walked aside to eat it.

So he was giving his buddy a snack.

False alarm.

Dan Ye’s mouth curved in a smile, his canine tooth flashing: “What’s that expression? Did you think I was going to kiss you?”

“That’s my expression of celebrating for you,” Tie Ci said seriously. “After all, if you had really done that, your soul should be drifting away by now.”

Dan Ye stared at her mouth and snorted: “Southerners are all like this—hard mouths, soft legs.” He carried his bedding inside.

“Hey, what are you bringing bedding here for?” Tie Ci saw something was wrong and chased after him.

Dan Ye didn’t look back, entering the room and dumping his bedding on the last bed.

“One person left, naturally another must be added.” He pointed to his own nose, his canine tooth flashing: “Me, coming to sleep with you.”

Tie Ci: “…”

She didn’t have time to ask how he had recognized her so quickly, but her mind was already in chaos.

Suddenly someone behind her said: “Move aside.”

Tie Ci turned around to see the colorfully robed woman also carrying a bundle, stepping inside with one stride.

The male students in only their undergarments fled in all directions in shock.

The colorfully robed woman acted as if those improperly dressed men didn’t exist, striding in and dumping her things on Dan Ye’s bed again. Daily necessities scattered across the bed. She frowned: “Why, suddenly, change, dormitories?”

“Because, can, stay, farther, from you,” Dan Ye replied. “So you, can focus, on learning, Qian language, well.”

The colorfully robed woman’s eyebrows shot up as she began rolling up her sleeves, apparently planning to fight right there.

But Tie Ci didn’t want the dormitory to suffer—she’d have to clean it up afterward. She stepped forward to block them. The colorfully robed woman then looked at her carefully: “It’s you!”

Western Rong people all seemed to have particularly good eyesight.

“Why don’t you two go outside to fight? And take your bedding with you.” Tie Ci glanced at the white silk on their sleeves. “Dignified first-rank students living here would compromise your status, wouldn’t it?”

“If you’re not afraid of losing face, what should I fear!” Dan Ye interrupted.

The colorfully robed woman looked Tie Ci up and down, then at Dan Ye, suddenly saying: “I think, you are, someone who can, train him. Then he, is yours, now.”

With that, she turned and left.

Tie Ci was dumbfounded.

What was this about!

“Hey you, don’t go! What do you mean? Who wants to train him? Train your own husky yourself!” She reached out desperately as she chased, but the colorfully robed woman ran incredibly fast, disappearing into the flower shadows in the blink of an eye.

Tie Ci wanted to continue chasing when the extra guards posted tonight poked their heads out and shouted sternly: “No leaving dormitory doors after nightfall!”

Tie Ci had to stop. She had done too many outrageous things tonight and didn’t want to earn a disciplinary action so quickly.

She returned to the dormitory where Dan Ye had already carelessly shoved the things on his bed aside and lay down with his legs crossed. Hai Dongqing crouched at his bedside, staring intently at Tie Ci with blazing eyes.

Tie Ci returned to her own bed to sleep. From the corner of her eye, she could feel both of them staring at her intently. She sighed inwardly, seriously considering how feasible it would be to smother these two with a blanket.

Perhaps her consideration was too focused—Hai Dongqing, who had been staring at her, suddenly shivered and turned away his golden glittering eyes. Dan Ye had already dozed off while staring, snoring softly, and Hai Dongqing tucked his head next to Dan Ye’s neck to sleep too.

Only then did Tie Ci feel somewhat at ease. Thinking that since she was here she might as well make the best of it, Dan Ye knew her identity but it seemed he wouldn’t tell. Living together in the future could provide cover for her, so she had to accept it.

When the sky was still dim and the wake-up bell hadn’t rung, there was already movement in the room. Tian Wu got up yawning and went out, muttering that the latrine was full again—some inconsiderate person was occupying a stall. He dragged over a wooden bucket, dropped his pants, and let loose with a splashing sound.

Tie Ci was awakened by this sound and lay there staring blankly into space.

Men’s urine really stinks.

Dan Ye shuffled over in slippers and whispered in her ear: “Crown Princess, you know what? My stream is even stronger than his!”

Tie Ci lazily replied: “Say one more word and I’ll conscript you into the imperial harem.”

“As Empress?”

“No, as a eunuch. So you’ll forever have ‘clothes dampened by apricot rain, gentle spring drizzle moistening all things silently.'”

Dan Ye didn’t understand but knew it wasn’t anything good. He chuckled and walked past Tian Wu, then stomped his foot.

The wooden bucket scattered with a crack.

Fat Tiger’s pants got wet, and he was so confused his urine retracted.

Tie Ci frowned as she got up, cursing silently that barbarians were just filthy, causing trouble without considering consequences.

Everyone in the dormitory scattered while Fat Tiger whimpered and fetched water to clean the floor.

Tie Ci went outside where Li Zhi was fetching water to wash his face. He asked: “Where are you going, Brother Ye?”

“To eat breakfast.”

“It’s too early now—it’s not our turn yet!”

Li Zhi called from behind, but Tie Ci had already gone far.

She left the dormitory where Chi Xue and Dan Shuang were already waiting for her at the moon gate between the men’s and women’s quarters. Chi Xue was even holding a sign reading: “Meal delivery service, can take orders, guaranteed hot and timely, two coins per person.”

This was what the two had prepared according to Tie Ci’s instructions. Tie Ci shouldered the sign and led them to guard at the dining hall entrance.

When mealtime arrived, first-rank students came unhurriedly in small groups while second-rank students gathered in large batches. Both groups saw Tie Ci standing guard with her sign and found it quite strange, pointing and laughing endlessly. Tie Ci remained perfectly composed.

Someone stopped in front of Tie Ci—the colorful robes were quite conspicuous. Tie Ci already knew she was Huyin, a Western Rong female hezhuo who supposedly greatly admired Central Plains culture. She must really admire it to come study here.

Huyin frowned at her: “You, need money?”

“Not short of money,” Tie Ci replied. “Want some? For acquaintances, discount—one coin will do.”

“I am, first-rank,” Huyin said. “They, will think, you shameful.”

Tie Ci knew she meant the first-rank students and smiled: “What about you? What do you think?”

“You, Qian people, make, your own rules, fight among, yourselves, bunch of, weaklings, pecking, each other. Me, heh heh.”

Tie Ci: “…”

Heh heh indeed.

She watched the colorful robes flutter all the way into the dining hall, thinking that even barbarians could see this internal strife and disdained it. The Great Qian people’s tendency toward petty cliques, bullying, and internal fighting was truly hopeless.

After a while, large crowds surged forward—peak meal rush had arrived.

Most people rushed in, but gradually some came out with food bowls and began inquiring about Tie Ci’s booth. A third-rank female student was first to pay Tie Ci two coins. Dan Shuang wielded her bowl and charged straight in, forcibly clearing a path through the completely packed food service counter. Chi Xue stood beside her shouting: “Already squeezed in! Anyone else needing meal delivery, hurry up!”

Immediately seven or eight bowls were handed over. Chi Xue listened to what food they wanted and noted it all down, relaying it to Dan Shuang in an orderly fashion. In the blink of an eye, seven or eight bowls of food were ready. Chi Xue magically produced a folding board, arranged seven or eight bowls of rice and porridge, and Dan Shuang carried them all with one hand, calmly squeezing back out.

This series of operations stunned everyone, who even forgot to get their own food.

The dining hall had a second floor where two people leaned on the railing watching the scene below.

One wore black, the other blue-green. The blue-green robed person had white silk binding his waist, a slightly slender frame, clear and refined features, with a touch of sickness that didn’t diminish his appearance. He was like warm yellow lamplight reflecting on jade magnolia flowers beaten by rain—trembling and luminous with unique charm.

The black-robed person was even taller and more graceful, with extremely fluid body lines. Compared to the blue-robed person’s slight fragility, his posture appeared more flexible and powerful, beautiful and elegant. When his robes billowed in the swirling winds between the railings, he had a carefree, bright quality as if he might dance on clouds and fly away at any moment.

His features were also more refined by two degrees, like a divine sculpture—a once-in-a-lifetime masterpiece that couldn’t be improved by adding or subtracting even one point.

Watching the two maids cooperating seamlessly below, he chuckled softly. Turning to see his companion’s expression, he smiled: “You know them too?”

Rong Pu was rather surprised: “You know them?”

“Met a few times, though I don’t have a deep impression of those two. I do remember their master.” Murong Yi’s smile deepened.

Rong Pu’s eyes flashed as he turned to look at him, probing: “You’ve never been to the capital—how could you know such a noble young master from there?”

“Don’t all those capital noble sons travel around for experience? This one was in Ziyang and ran into me,” Murong Yi said. “Speaking of which, you should be more familiar with him, right? Someone of his caliber—why have I never heard of his reputation before?”

“You’re far away in Liaodong, busy daily with dealing with your brothers and father—how would you have time to pay attention to an ordinary official’s son in the capital?” Rong Pu said slowly. “Even with me, after that encounter on the ancient Western Pass road years ago, haven’t we not seen each other for many years? Speaking of which, why did you suddenly come to the academy this time, and you came to…”

“The recommendation letter went awry—I thought I was supposed to be a student… but no matter,” Murong Yi said. “I came naturally to admire Central Plains culture, hoping to become a great scholar and serve Liaodong. Look, don’t Western Rong, Yannan, even Dayan all come running here?”

Rong Pu smiled, thinking weren’t they all coming for He Master’s status as final disciple? But he wouldn’t expose this, changing the subject: “I heard Liaodong received an imperial marriage edict…”

“Right, you’re in the capital—you must have seen my fiancée, right?” Murong Yi raised his eyebrows with a smile. “How is she? Beautiful? Well-behaved? Worth a taste?”

“Brother Murong, watch your words,” Rong Pu glanced at him. “If you truly cared this much, why do you wander east and west instead of going to the capital?”

“I’m just homesick and timid, aren’t I?” Murong Yi said. “Thinking of the Crown Princess’s magnificent imperial presence makes me so afraid.”

Rong Pu was too lazy to continue this conversation. Looking down, he saw the two maids had completed their task while Tie Ci excitedly collected and counted money below. A simple booth was crowded with people. He frowned, thinking the Crown Princess had always been compassionate—earning money was false, helping these inferior students was true. But these people had fallen to inferior status, naturally making them useless. With the Crown Princess’s status, she really shouldn’t waste time and energy on them.

Actually, if Tie Ci were an ordinary official’s daughter, he would only approve. But as a Crown Princess facing a difficult future, such behavior showed too soft a heart, which wasn’t good.

His fingers tapped lightly on the railing edge as he thought faintly—though he didn’t approve, wasn’t he still attracted to her bright, cheerful smile?

Turning his head, he saw Murong Yi also smiling as he watched Tie Ci, his eyes flowing with inexplicable light.

Somehow, Rong Pu felt that his slightly cunning expression was actually somewhat similar to Tie Ci’s at certain moments. This realization made him frown, then he remembered these two were the legitimate future husband and wife according to propriety.

He was silent for a while, then said: “Though we haven’t met for years, observing your words and actions, you’re no ordinary person. I imagine you wouldn’t be content to be a Crown Prince Consort who cannot enter government service?”

Murong Yi stared intently at Tie Ci while saying: “Why wouldn’t I want that? Second only to one person, above ten thousand others—quite glorious indeed.”

Rong Pu was silent again, then said faintly: “Then why do I hear that Brother Murong initially submitted an extremely ugly portrait?”

“I’m so ugly, yet she still chose me, didn’t she?” Murong Yi said indifferently. “That’s called a thousand-li marriage tied by a single thread.”

“Then why did I hear from intelligence reports a few days ago that someone infiltrated that county office where the Crown Princess was training and attempted assassination?”

Murong Yi hadn’t answered yet when Rong Pu continued: “Brother Murong, though we met only briefly that year, we got along well. We’ve corresponded quite a bit over the years, and now that we’re finally meeting again, are you going to feed me nothing but lies?”

Murong Yi’s gaze fixed on Tie Ci paused, then he turned to look at Rong Pu for a long moment before suddenly smiling: “Brother Rong, I’ve always spoken carelessly, and you seem long accustomed to it. Why are you suddenly so concerned when we talk about the Crown Princess today?”

Rong Pu’s heart tightened slightly, somewhat surprised by Murong Yi’s perceptiveness.

Then he said frankly: “Indeed. That’s because I want to know your true thoughts before deciding my next course of action.”

Murong Yi stared at him, his eyebrows slowly rising: “You mean… you have feelings for the Crown Princess?”

Talking with intelligent people was efficient. Rong Pu smiled: “You could say that.”

But Murong Yi had already turned away, a mocking smile at the corner of his mouth: “I thought your Rong family had considerable ambitions and wouldn’t be content with you being a puppet’s appendage.”

His description of Tie Ci made Rong Pu’s eyes show slight amusement, then he said: “Brother Murong is perceptive. Indeed, grandfather has high expectations for me and is unwilling. But I’ve had health problems since childhood—how can I support a family legacy of a hundred years? The family has countless talents, so it needn’t all rest on my shoulders alone. Compared to glory, I’d rather find someone who understands me to accompany me through life.”

“The Crown Princess… is someone who understands you?”

Rong Pu skillfully changed the subject: “I only want to know—does Brother Murong feel the same way about the Crown Princess?”

“Since you want to hear the truth, I’ll let you hear it,” Murong Yi said. “You know how I grew up, know that I could grow this big—I won’t be content to keep struggling in the mud forever. Now my foundation and dreams are in Liaodong. Whoever tries to obstruct my dreams, I’ll kick them aside… no matter who.”

Rong Pu imperceptibly breathed a sigh of relief: “You needn’t be so murderous about it. After all, the Crown Princess has no interest in you either.”

“Oh?”

“When the Crown Princess was selecting husbands from portraits, there were many setbacks. In the end, the Crown Princess threw a dart that accidentally stuck Murong Yi’s portrait,” Rong Pu said. “It wasn’t intentionally obstructing your ambitions and dreams—just a slip of the hand.”

Murong Yi laughed carelessly.

Even if it was the Crown Princess, as long as she opposed him, she was just another cat or dog to be killed at will.

“Brother, rest assured. Since you’re unwilling and the Crown Princess has no interest either, I can mediate and help Brother Murong cancel the engagement.”

Murong Yi’s gaze drifted back to Tie Ci, saying indifferently: “That works too.”

Rong Pu was in quite a good mood.

There wasn’t much personal motivation—he had simply felt when he first heard Tie Ci was engaged to Murong Yi that it wasn’t quite suitable.

He had once encountered Murong Yi on the ancient Western Pass road—a stunning glimpse that left him with deep impressions of the youth’s beauty and the ruthlessness beneath his carefree, smiling facade. Later when the capital made their list of handsome young men, he willingly took second place because thinking of Murong Yi, he felt that in terms of beauty, he was indeed inferior.

Such a person would certainly have grand ambitions and aspirations spanning thousands of miles—he could never be content as a puppet’s appendage.

Taking another step back, even if Tie Ci successfully ascended the throne, with Murong Yi’s temperament, he might not be willing to be a male empress.

He should be the kind of heroic figure who controlled vast territories and wielded great power alone.

If these two met, it would likely end in tragedy.

He had thought about this for a long time and specially went to recommend himself to Tie Ci, only to be rebuffed.

He had an ineffable secret concern for Tie Ci, stemming from a childhood experience, though Tie Ci herself seemed not to remember it. Now Rong Pu felt he had solved a major problem. Next would be asking grandfather to find a way to dissolve that engagement. In his good mood, his speech became more casual as he smiled and said offhandedly: “Brother Murong refuses so decisively—could it be you already have some admirable lady in Liaodong who could assist you?”

For Murong Yi, the best wife choice would naturally be a daughter of Liaodong’s important ministers.

“When men establish careers, why do they need women’s assistance?” Murong Yi scoffed, then stared at Tie Ci and said carelessly: “Besides, who said anything about admiring ladies? What if I like men?”

Rong Pu: “…???!!!”