For the past two days, Feng Jiu’er had genuinely stayed within Mingyue Courtyard without taking a single step outside.

During this time, Xiao Yingtao had returned, and Mu Mu had reportedly gone back to Juefeng Courtyard as well, yet the assassin who had thrown the thunderbolt grenade still had not been found.

Most importantly, after the Ninth Prince had entered the palace that same night, he had remained within the Ninth Prince’s manor ever since, and no one knew what he was doing.

Over these two days, there had been no word of the Ninth Prince coming by. He seemed very busy, and he had entrusted all academy matters to Huo Yan’s full authority.

And so, by now, Huo Yan had developed a truly terrible headache.

If the Ninth Prince were here and the Ninth Prince were personally handling this matter — not only the assassin but also the lurking killer — Huo Yan was certain everything would come to light very quickly.

And yet, His Highness had simply walked away without a care, dumping this entire mess in his lap!

Huo Yan was well aware of his own limitations. Training students was one thing, and he could manage that well enough. But being responsible for investigating a case… Good heavens, it was more unbearable than taking a thorough beating.

“Jiu’er, before the Prince left, he said that you have his command token in your hands, so whatever you do within the academy is permitted.” This was the second time Huo Yan had come looking for Feng Jiu’er today.

Feng Jiu’er, who had been drinking tea, raised an eyebrow. “And so?”

“And so, I believe the Prince is hinting that this matter can be handled by you.”

“……” So it turned out that Huo Yan did have one particular virtue — namely, his ability to pass responsibility onto others was stronger than anyone else’s.

Huo Yan naturally knew that his current reasoning was perhaps a touch shameless, but when it came to solving cases, he truly was not skilled.

“Jiu’er, you know this yourself — the Ninth Prince relies on you so heavily that he even gave you his command token, does he not? In truth, he has long wished to hand the affairs of the Dragon Martial Academy over to you.”

“Look, right now, so many things have happened in the Dragon Martial Academy, and yet the Prince chose to leave at precisely this moment…”

“Why don’t you just say that a great crisis in court affairs arose and could only be resolved with the Ninth Imperial Uncle’s return?” Feng Jiu’er nearly rolled her eyes at him on the spot.

This reasoning was truly delivered with such high-sounding dignity.

“Heh heh, well, court affairs — such grand matters are not for small figures like us to comment on, are they? Heh heh heh…”

Huo Yan laughed dryly for quite a while, then coughed twice, cleared his throat, and continued: “Right, well, Director Fang Zheng has also been very busy lately. As for our entire Martial Academy, there is still the Chief Director above us.”

“You see, although our Dragon Martial Academy wields no small authority, with all these incidents having occurred, we must still give the Chief Director an explanation, otherwise the other academies will surely think our academy is a complete shambles, would they not?”

“So Captain Huo is this eager to drag me into the water…”

“Jiu’er, how can you say it so… so…”

“So plainly, is that it?” Feng Jiu’er gave a soft snort. In truth, she had no wish to make things difficult for this military man; it was simply that her mood was still rather complicated.

The Ninth Imperial Uncle had personally examined everyone’s wounds, and he had also dispatched people to investigate the events of that night. And yet, he had now washed his hands of it and simply left.

By leaving the matter with Huo Yan — who knew she held the Ninth Prince’s command token — was he not indirectly dumping the matter onto her? What on earth was the Ninth Imperial Uncle thinking?

“Well then…” Huo Yan coughed lightly again, and found himself feeling a flash of resentment toward Feng Jiu’er.

This girl — why did she never know how to leave a person a shred of dignity?

Qiao Mu sat to one side cracking melon seeds, listening to the exchange between the two, and could not help but stifle a quiet laugh.

Jiu’er truly gave no face to anyone — but then again, giving face was never something Feng Jiu’er did, and had Huo Yan not learned this enough by now?

To have hopes for Feng Jiu’er’s “character” was simply the most foolish thing in all the world.

Huo Yan knew he was being looked down upon. He was plainly a captain, and yet the students had all lost respect for him too — what a sorry state of affairs.

He said helplessly: “Jiu’er, I think this is the Prince’s way of testing you. Director Fang Zheng has lately been showing signs of wanting to retire, and our Dragon Martial Academy is right in need of the next Director.”

Feng Jiu’er said nothing. The news that Fang Zheng intended to retire had already reached everyone’s ears.

And yet, beneath him there were still two vice directors, and beyond those two vice directors, there were also ten captains.

For the position of Director to fall to her — when would that ever come about? Besides, she had long grown accustomed to bearing no official post, free and unburdened. Even if the position of Director were truly handed to her, she would feel nothing but pressure, and no particular delight.

However, judging by the Ninth Imperial Uncle’s various recent actions, it did indeed seem that he was deliberately tempering her.

As for what his purpose in doing so truly was, Jiu’er felt that the position of Director was most likely not what the Ninth Imperial Uncle had in mind for her.

What on earth was the Ninth Imperial Uncle thinking?

“Jiu’er, regardless of what the Prince is thinking, these two matters must still be resolved first — would you not agree?”

The thunderbolt grenade incident in particular had occurred within the Dragon Fourth Army itself. If it went unresolved, the Dragon Fourth Army’s entire reputation would be finished.

Huo Yan was genuinely anxious, and yet Feng Jiu’er wore a perfectly unhurried, utterly indifferent expression. It was enough to drive him to his wits’ end.

“Jiu’er, just take pity on me — regardless of anything else, let us resolve the Dragon Fourth Army’s current problem first, all right?”

Feng Jiu’er, however, fell silent for a brief moment before suddenly saying: “I have heard that every year, the Dragon Martial Army, the Dragon City Army, and the Imperial Guards hold an autumn hunting competition, and the outstanding performers are even selected to participate in a Ten-Nation Tournament?”

Huo Yan was momentarily taken aback — he had not expected her to suddenly bring this up. He thought it over, then nodded: “It is generally held after the Mid-Autumn Festival, on a date that varies from year to year. The National Master must open the altar and select an auspicious day.”

A thought struck him, and his eyes suddenly lit up: “Jiu’er, does this mean you want to participate?”

“Do not read too much into it — I simply want to broaden my horizons.” Feng Jiu’er set down her cup and rose to her feet, giving Huo Yan a smile. “It is getting late, Captain. Is there no training assembly today?”

“Of course there is, but…” But this girl had not yet agreed to help him, had she?

“Then go and assemble the troops quickly. Qiao Mu and I also need to go change our clothes. Captain, after you.” Feng Jiu’er clasped her hands in a polite gesture.

“But…”

“Captain, surely you are not thinking of staying to watch Qiao Mu and me change our clothes?” Feng Jiu’er fixed him with a sidelong look, her expression conveying precisely the sentiment of I never knew you were that sort of captain.

Huo Yan’s face turned red, and he immediately stood up and made for the door.

Girls needed to change their clothes — how could he stand there watching? He had walked several steps when he suddenly turned back sharply, bent toward Zhan Luori, who had been sitting quietly in the corner all along without saying a word, and gave a respectful bow. “Seventh Princess, this subordinate takes his leave first.”

It was simply that the Seventh Princess had remained so utterly silent — she had not even made a sound — that one inadvertently overlooked her, forgetting that she had been residing here for the past few days.

Had Huo Yan not mentioned it, even Feng Jiu’er and Qiao Mu would have forgotten that there was another person in the room. Her presence was so uncannily still that once she contained it, her aura seemed to vanish entirely.