After the system set its sights on the dragon throne, the princess started courting death every day.

Ding Yinan understood the underlying meaning in Fu Qingbai's words: he was being criticized for being thin, weak, and short.

Rather than being in the military where he couldn't control his own life, it was better to stay safe and sound outside. As long as he didn't go to dangerous places, he would definitely live longer than everyone else. Life might be tough, but at least he would have his own life in his own hands.

Ding Yinan glanced at Fu Qingbai out of the corner of his eye and thought to himself, "This Fu Qingbai may not be the most polite person, but he is genuinely thinking of an ordinary person born in a time of chaos. I wonder what his position is in the camp."

The short immortal also understood the implied meaning on Fu's face and roared, "Fu Qingbai!"

Fu Qingbai compromised: "However, considering that you have been alone and miserable outside for many years and have not been able to eat well, and considering that he—" Fu Qingbai glanced at the angry short immortal behind him, "if you are not afraid of death and insist on going in, I will allow you to enter the camp. As for whether you can live or not, that depends on how lucky you are.

The implication is that you can go in, but he doesn't care whether you live or die.

Ding Yinan thought maliciously, "He's really cold-hearted... no, there's still a hint of gentleness, but it's reserved for the short immortal standing behind him."

He could sense that the relationship between the two people in front of him was unusual, but he couldn't describe exactly how it was unusual.

Later, Ding Yinan learned that the short immortal was the current Princess Miankang, and the tall immortal was the famous Marquis Anwu of the border.

Xiang An disguised herself as a man that day because she secretly followed the grain transport caravan from the capital all the way to the border, and the emperor had no idea.

She and Fu Qingbai argued that day because the grain convoy had just arrived, and Fu Qingbai spotted Xiang An dressed up in the crowd at a glance.

The border is dangerous, and Fu Qingbai wants to send Xiang An back, but Xiang An doesn't want to go back. She wants to follow in the footsteps of Old Madam Fu and venture out to the border.

She is very willful and fierce, which fits the stereotypical image of Ding Yinan as a delicate princess.

Military life is really tough. After a long day of training, Ding Yinan finally found a corner and couldn't hold back his tears.

"Want to leave?" A gentle voice sounded from behind.

Ding Yinan recognized the voice as belonging to Xiang An. He hurriedly wiped away his tears, shook his head, and forced back a sob: "...No."

"Is someone bullying you?"

"No, I'm just angry at myself for being so stupid."

"Is it because you're stupid that others bully you?"

“No,” Ding Yinan took a deep breath. “General Fu is right. I’m not cut out for this camp. I’ve been training here for over half a month and haven’t made any progress. I spar with others every day and have even used my best moves, but I always lose after less than three rounds. Today, General Fu came to inspect the camp and said that I’m not even as good as fancy footwork.”

Xiang An laughed, bursting into laughter.

Upon hearing this, Ding Yinan, who had finally managed to stop her tears, burst into tears again as if a broken string had been cut.

"Don't cry," Xiang An said, putting an arm around Ding Yinan's shoulder, her hands and feet trembling with laughter. "This is a good thing. It's silly to cry when something good happens."

Ding Yinan was immediately exasperated: "A good thing? This is a good thing?"

"I ask you, are you related to your Fu Qingbai?"

"No."

"Let me ask you again, do the weapons on the battlefield have eyes?"

"No."

"If that's the case, what does it have to do with your skills being inferior to fancy but ineffective techniques and Fu Qingbai?"

"He..." Ding Yinan was speechless for a moment. After a long while, he hesitated and said, "Does he think I'm embarrassing him?" After all, he was the one who brought him in on the day he entered the camp.

"Disgraceful? Hahahaha, Ding Yinan, are you that special? That unique? Can you get promoted and make a fortune for me? Or can you climb the ladder to the top?"

"No, not at all!" Ding Yinan said irritably. "If the princess came here specifically to belittle and make fun of me, then the princess has succeeded now and can leave."

"Wait, wait, what's the rush? Listen to me," Xiang An said, her smile fading. "Fu Qingbai went to inspect the area during your training session. In a competition with hundreds of people, it's common for one side to lose to the other. There are always winners and losers. But why did Fu Qingbai single you out from among the losers of hundreds of competitions to scold you? Is he that free?"

"This..." Ding Yinan didn't know how to answer, and after a long silence, he asked in a low voice, "Why?"

“Besides the fact that he values ​​you, I really can’t think of any other reason.” Xiang An crossed his arms. “From what I know of Fu Qingbai, if there is no one or nothing that catches his eye, whether it is a stunning beauty or a rare treasure, he will not give it a second glance.”

Ding Yinan stammered, "Really? Really?" His ears quickly turned red.

He recalled Fu Qingbai's unwavering gaze as he rode up on horseback, and Fu Qingbai's focused attention as he watched the competition... It seemed, it appeared, it was indeed as Xiang An had said.

Xiang An nodded solemnly: "He only has eyes for those he values."

Ding Yinan gasped sharply, his eyes widened, and he froze on the spot like a wooden statue.

Xiang An thought to himself, "Is this kid so happy he's gone mad? I heard that in the previous dynasty, there was a poor scholar who failed the imperial examinations repeatedly, but suddenly gained the favor of the prime minister and died in his excitement."

Just as Xiang An was about to slap him to wake him up, a clear and cheerful voice suddenly rang out: "I never expected that I would be so well regarded in the princess's eyes."

Xiang An felt a chill run down her spine. She remembered Ding Yinan saying that Fu Qingbai had come to inspect the area today. She stiffened her neck and turned her head to look. On the steps, Fu Qingbai leaned against the railing, his dark eyes holding a hint of a smile.

Ding Yinan turned and ran off without looking back. He was so fast that Xiang An's hand, which was grabbing his clothes, missed its mark. He cursed him under his breath, then awkwardly scratched his nose with his empty hand. Feeling guilty, he unconsciously raised his voice: "Are you a ghost?! How come you walk without making a sound?"

Fu Qingbai straightened up. "I didn't leave. I've been here from the very beginning. Didn't the princess see me?"

"If I had seen it, I wouldn't have—" Xiang An swallowed the rest of her words, snorted coldly, turned her face away from him, and mumbled indistinctly, "I won't say a word. What kind of gentleman hides in the shadows and eavesdrops?"

Fu Qingbai stepped down the stairs, bowing slightly: "Princess, aren't you hot?"

She refused to wear the coarse cloth servant's robe that was found for her before she left. Wearing a full suit of armor in the sweltering heat was unbearable for many soldiers, but she ran around in the sun with sweat dripping down her temples.

"It's hot. But I can't change it."

Fu Qingbai took out a handkerchief from his pocket and gently wiped away her sweat. "Why?"

The reason isn't that the chest-wrapping is uncomfortable. The biggest drawback of wearing thick armor is that it makes people look small, short, and bulky, while nothing else is visible.

"No reason!" Xiang An snatched the handkerchief and wiped his face himself. "Why are you taking so long to wipe your face?"

Even after her handkerchief was snatched away, Fu Qingbai remained unperturbed, her expression unchanged. "Why did the princess speak to him like that?"