Tie Ci turned around and saw it was Rong Wei. Up ahead, Wei Xuan turned around with a face full of spring radiance, smiling brightly at Rong Wei from afar and bowing in greeting.

Looking around at the other students bowing, the red clouds on the female students’ faces could almost set the forest ablaze.

She paused silently, slowly cupped her hands, said “Master,” but didn’t answer his question.

Two men discussing this kind of issue – gay through and gay through.

Rong Wei didn’t seem to care about her answer either. He sneered and said, “There’s a quiz today, remember not to delay our getting rich,” then walked past her.

Tie Ci chuckled.

Money-obsessed.

She didn’t look at his retreating figure that seemed almost stuck with countless spider web-like gazes, deliberately falling to the back, watching that person walk away surrounded by female students, his ink-black long hair bouncing in the brilliant afternoon sunlight.

Suddenly she had a strange feeling. When she turned back, she saw that Senior Student Mu standing outside the field, looking at Rong Wei’s retreating figure from a distance.

He stood with his back to the light so she couldn’t see his expression clearly, but Tie Ci instantly recalled his ferocious face when he lost.

Senior Student Mu was already a student who had studied at the academy. These past few days he had just returned to share his training experiences with various halls. It was said he already had his own position and would go serve as staff for some county while preparing for next spring’s metropolitan examinations.

For someone who no longer had any relationship with the academy to show such a look toward a teacher who had only recently arrived at the academy was quite surprising.

It couldn’t be because he was jealous of his popularity with women.

Tie Ci was thinking of going over to look, but saw Senior Student Mu disappear at the edge of the martial field in the blink of an eye, apparently entering the forest.

Someone passed by nearby, discussing “today’s quiz.”

“After all these days, finally a master dares to give a quiz!”

“Right, making us anxious for so long, not knowing whether to hope or fear.”

“Being worried sick like this isn’t sustainable either. I say the sooner we take it, the better.”

“That’s the logic. But I guess it would be the archery instructor who breaks this deadlock. After all, for other subjects no one can figure out exactly how Ye Shiba is, whether he might burst out with another ‘excellent,’ but for archery class, the master has personally tested Ye Shiba’s abilities. He can’t do archery!”

“Heaven spirits, earth spirits, heavenly lord bless me to win. The newest Eight Treasures Glass Rouge from Lanfang Pavilion is waiting for me!”

“You’re a grown man, what rouge are you buying! Speak! Who have you hooked up with now!”

A burst of laughter.

Young people lived without restraint – even mountain-like coursework couldn’t suppress those wings constantly fluttering toward romantic clusters.

Tie Ci looked sympathetically at that “Eight Treasures Glass Rouge” person.

But someone walked beside her, sympathetically patting her shoulder: “Eighteen, don’t be afraid. If you really go broke, we’ll support you.”

That bear paw-like weight – Tie Ci turned around and sure enough saw Fatty Tiger’s chubby face.

Surprisingly, behind him were Li Zhi, that little round-face from her own Liang Hall, and several of her hired “delivery workers.”

Tie Ci blinked and smiled: “Really?”

“Really.”

“Support me? Will you provide every meal? All with three dishes and one soup? Will you also provide for my maids? What about seasonal clothing? Daily snacks? Writing materials? Pocket money for shopping? Can I freely buy Lanfang Pavilion’s new Eight Treasures Glass Rouge!”

Dan Shuang rolled her eyes.

His Highness was just like this – the more moved he felt, the less serious he became, as if all genuine feelings had to be wrapped in seven or eight layers before he felt safe showing them to people.

Tie Ci smiled as she waited for Fatty Tiger’s bear paw to slap down, but saw that guy’s bear paw turn back and slap hard on his own chest.

“No problem! All settled! Which rouge do you want? How many cartfuls? I’ll have people buy it for you right away!”

His voice was too loud. Half the martial field suddenly turned back, their faces written with “What did I just hear!”

Even Rong Wei seemed to turn around.

Tie Ci: “…”

Li Zhi laughingly said behind her: “You rarely return to Wu House, and when you do everyone’s asleep. When everyone gets up you’ve left again. You probably don’t know yet that Tian Wu comes from the Yongliang Tian Family.”

The Yongliang Tian Family…

The one that started from a small roadside stall selling braised meat and developed over decades into a huge commercial empire involved in tea, porcelain, cloth, wine estates, pawn shops… numerous fields, conducting business from domestic to international, whose merchant houses literally walked out the Valley Pass trade route to foreign countries with their feet – that Yongliang Tian Family?

Tie Ci stared at the grinning Tian Wu, unable to connect this Fatty Tiger who diligently fetched water and swept floors in the dormitory daily with that commercial empire even the court had to carefully negotiate with.

Fatty Tiger didn’t seem to take his family seriously either, sincerely saying: “The family has some spare change. Supporting you is still affordable.”

Tie Ci: …No, your family could support half of Great Qian.

Everyone on the field looked at her with strange eyes. Fatty Tiger walked over still excitedly telling people: “…Ye Eighteen wants me to support him! Hey! Supporting Ye Eighteen, such face!”

Tie Ci: …You got your face, what about mine!

…

Negative news always spread especially fast.

In a blink, Tie Ci felt all the students on the field were looking at her strangely.

But rumors also had their benefits. Because of this Eight Treasures Glass Rouge, everyone developed a misconception, thinking men who loved using rouge were effeminate and definitely wouldn’t be too skilled in martial arts. After today, they figured they could all collect money.

Tie Ci heard someone had thrown huge sums into the betting pool wagering on her victory, forcibly raising the odds. Now regardless of which side won or lost, one side was destined to lose their pants.

Some people wanted to open restaurants in the toilets.

Well, that was quite anticipated.

The whistle blew. Teacher Rong started class.

Archery was originally the simplest thing. Tie Ci prepared to finish the competition simply and brutally. Seeing Rong Wei had the same idea – he knew Ye Eighteen’s archery level in his heart, and was just waiting to harvest the leeks.

However, just as he was about to announce the archery rules, the Director suddenly arrived with people.

The middle-aged handsome man wore a casual hat, and after covering his touching hairline he became even more graceful like jade trees in the wind. But the words this brilliant handsome man spoke sounded not at all beautiful to Tie Ci’s ears.

He said: “I heard there’s a quiz for archery today. I came to observe too. But your examination method is a bit boring. How about this – I’ll think up something fun for you.”

Then he had people mark out a flat sandy area by the wall – the place usually used for polo. Posts were erected every zhang or so, and in that huge field, there were a full thirty targets.

Horses had already been led out from the stables – ten total, all selected fat and sturdy good horses.

The Director stood at the entrance, pointing at those targets: “Two hundred people, divided into twenty groups. Each group ten people, form teams yourselves, draw lots to determine order. Winners decided by number of arrows each group shoots into targets within one quarter-hour. Among these, those who fall from horses don’t count toward scores, those who crash into each other don’t count, those who knock over targets while riding don’t count, those who shoot teammates don’t count, any intentional collision or cheating doesn’t count… My method’s not bad, right?”

In that huge field, facing the Director’s delighted gaze waiting for praise, there was complete silence.

Your Lordship really lacks virtue.

Countless targets formed winding, folding paths. Ten horses entering the field simultaneously, people drawing bows and shooting arrows everywhere – being able to ride properly around one circuit without knocking down targets would already be good.

And they had to shoot arrows and hit targets?

And couldn’t bump into others?

And had to dodge others’ arrows?

The Director blinked, looking at everyone’s gradually fierce expressions, belatedly realizing he was being a bit unscrupulous, then added: “Those who find it too difficult can apply to withdraw. If you’re not excellent at both horsemanship and archery, definitely don’t attempt it lightly. Those who withdraw will take separate ordinary archery tests, but even if they pass, the highest they can achieve is ‘satisfactory.'”

Only then did everyone breathe easier.

The Director added: “But betting parties cannot withdraw.”

Everyone’s gazes swooshed toward Tie Ci, this time full of sympathy.

With this kid’s archery level, could he manage?

Fatty Tiger wailed from the back of the crowd: “Eighteen, how about we don’t compete? Let’s go home – big brother will support you at home.”

Tie Ci was expressionless: “No, I want to earn Eight Treasures Glass Rouge myself.”

Just breaking pots and smashing jars.

Immediately more than half the field withdrew, all knowing their own capabilities.

The Director then had people bring specially-made soft armor and face masks for everyone to change into. This soft armor had gaps connected by silk threads that could hook arrowheads to avoid excessive damage. The face masks were also woven with extremely resilient gold wire, breathable yet arrow-resistant.

Additionally, each person had a lightweight shield to block arrows.

Those remaining were all forming teams themselves. Basically all were sons of aristocratic families, the type who learned archery from childhood.

At this time you could see the factions within the academy. After Ma De was imprisoned, the Hairight faction was leaderless for several days. However today, they quickly selected ten people, led by a person with delicate, indifferent features who said nothing – it was actually that mysterious roommate Tong Rushi.

The Shengdu faction was even more talented, fighting for a while before selecting ten people. But the leader wasn’t the frail Rong Pu, but Qi Yuansi. The son of the Central Military Command’s Grand Marshal – archery for him was as ordinary as eating and drinking.

There was another team, all robust individuals – archery heroes from various regions who found kindred spirits and gathered together, extremely arrogant. They assembled for ages and still had only nine people, lacking one final member, yet looked determined to rather lack than compromise. After all, if one person was mediocre, that wouldn’t just fail to add points but would drag them down. But without enough people they couldn’t form a team, leaving them anxiously spinning in circles.

Until that Senior Student Mu walked out from the forest and joined them. Not knowing what he said, everyone accepted him.

Senior Student Mu went to apply to the Director, saying he was just participating and could be excluded from scoring. The Director agreed.

On Tie Ci’s side, she didn’t go form a team, and others didn’t want to team with her either. She just stood in the field, looking somewhat lonely.

Seeing Senior Student Mu join a team, Dan Shuang went to find the Director, saying since the senior student could, she could too, just not counted in scoring.

The Director had a “as long as you’re good-looking it’s fine” expression and magnanimously agreed with a wave.

Dan Shuang stood beside Tie Ci. Over there, Senior Student Mu watched, cold light flashing in his eyes, suddenly pointing at the two: “You two, your abilities are insufficient. Step down and let my two attendants up.”

Those two people showed angry expressions, but before they could speak, Senior Student Mu had already grabbed the railing with one hand.

The hard wood as thick as a wrist instantly turned to ash in his palm.

Those two people sheepishly walked away. Two men emerged from the forest – one middle-aged, one young, changing into the academy’s uniform servant attire. Their builds weren’t particularly tall or strong, but their limbs had knotted muscles, obviously having excellent arm and lower body skills.

On Tie Ci’s side, Dan Ye walked over, leaning against the railing beside Tie Ci and raising his chin at his aunt.

Huyin frowned: “What for, dragging me along.”

“When I was little, I shared half my mud dolls with you when making them with piss and mud. How could I abandon you in this kind of thing.”

Huyin should know Tie Ci’s identity. She never associated with Tie Ci, deeply wary of this Imperial Crown Princess. Now she positioned herself between the two like a wall, blocking. Shaking her head: “No.”

Tie Ci insisted on going around her, poking her head out to Dan Ye: “Don’t trouble your aunt. As for you, just don’t drag me down later.”

Dan Ye raised an eyebrow, about to retort, when he suddenly remembered something and smiled: “Otherwise what? You’ll shoot me?”

Tie Ci wondered what kind of soul-searching question this was.

Wei Xuan silently walked over, with Wei Xing following behind her with his head down.

After a while, Fatty Tiger brought Li Zhi and Cui Shi over: “We’re roommates – it’s our duty, right?”

Tie Ci glanced at Cui Shi’s sincerely smiling face, her eyes flickering, and nodded.

Eight people now, still missing two, but no one else came up.

It wasn’t that none were willing, but this archery requirement was too high. Without expertise in this area, coming up would just harm people. So although students from Bing and Ding Houses didn’t feel badly toward Tie Ci, they were willing but unable.

Social class often determined future development. So even though the academy proclaimed equality and justice, aristocratic children and those from wealthy backgrounds mostly occupied Jia and Yi Houses, while Bing and Ding Houses basically concentrated commoners and the poor.

Innate resources and advancement channels were different – not something human effort could remedy overnight.

Shen Mi mixed in the crowd, eager to try, but his archery was learned in childhood and had been neglected too long, leaving him somewhat hesitant.

Tie Ci gave him a look, and Shen Mi retreated into the crowd.

He didn’t get close to Tie Ci, hiding among students, using the smooth social skills he’d developed through years of being a rascal to make friends. He secretly managed Tie Ci’s delivery business, taking advantage of the delivery workers gradually becoming familiar with various houses and masters to continuously collect all kinds of intelligence within the academy, categorizing it to either report to her or keep for later use.

Tie Ci wanted him to stay at the academy long-term – from student to instructor if possible, until someday… perhaps having a chance to control the academy.

So he couldn’t get too close to herself, who was destined to be a passing guest destined to disrupt the academy.

Tie Ci was about to ask the Director if eight people would work. That little round-faced scholar, her classmate from Liang Hall, also walked over. Tie Ci was somewhat surprised.

She still hadn’t remembered this classmate’s name.

Still missing one.

“Director, nine people should…”

“Director, nine people probably won’t work. How about I make up the numbers? I’m the archery instructor – arrows I shoot automatically count as half, how about that?”

Rong Wei suddenly spoke, cutting off Tie Ci’s words.

Author’s Note:

There was an update accident at midnight – I mistakenly sent what was supposed to be stored in drafts for the day after tomorrow. Couldn’t reach the editor by phone, so I could only replace tomorrow’s update. The title can’t be modified, so I’ll leave it like this for now. Tomorrow at 9 AM there will only be one update, since the previous one was already sent tonight on the 27th.