Bai Chuxiao glanced at the not-so-happy crowd below and announced loudly, "This instructor hereby declares that all five hundred people have passed this assessment."
The crowd below all looked up, their faces flashing with surprise. Cui Hao also looked at Bai Chuxiao with some astonishment, even though he had already figured out the princess's plan.
"What I need is a united and cooperative team, and you have achieved that in this assessment. You are all qualified to pass."
"Thank you, Instructor!" the hundred people below shouted in unison.
"He Li!"
"Zhou Kong!"
"Fang Tuo!"
"Lin Huai!"
The people mentioned immediately stepped forward, cupped their hands, and said, "Yes, sir!"
Bai Chuxiao smiled slightly at the group, "From now on, the teams will be reassigned, and the four of you will be team leaders."
These are some of the best performers from the past, so they're definitely qualified to be team leaders. The team will gradually expand, and she values the first group highly, believing they won't disappoint her in the future.
The four men, their faces beaming with excitement, quickly bowed and said, "Thank you, Instructor. We will certainly live up to your expectations."
Bai Chuxiao nodded with a smile, then announced loudly, "Xia Fan!"
"Here," Xia Fan stepped forward, his body ramrod straight.
"Would you be willing to follow me from now on?" Bai Chuxiao asked calmly.
Unlike his somewhat youthful face when they first met, Xia Fan's face now exudes determination. Moreover, during their absence from the capital, he led the team exceptionally well, and the team's current mutual respect and camaraderie is largely thanks to Xia Fan.
Xia Fan smiled and said loudly, "Your subordinate is willing!"
Bai Chuxiao looked at Cui Hao beside her and said in a deep voice, "Cui Hao, you're in charge of making the arrangements from now on. Training will continue, and as for the follow-up... we'll decide after we get back to Yongzhou."
There are too many people and too many eyes in the capital now, which is inconvenient. It would be bad if someone with ulterior motives found out. Some training methods are only suitable for the southern climate. We should wait until we return to our fiefdom to discuss plans such as expanding manpower. For now, these five hundred men are barely enough to launch a surprise attack...
"Yes," Cui Hao's eyes brightened slightly.
Dressed in a white, fitted outfit, Bai Chuxiao first returned to her villa outside the city. After a quick wash and change, she rode back to the capital with Xia Fan. The past ten days of traveling and sleeping outdoors had taken their toll, and she looked quite haggard. If she went straight back to the capital, who knew what people would think?
"Greetings, Princess!" The guards at the entrance of the Prince of Yan's residence bowed respectfully upon seeing their future princess consort.
Bai Chuxiao nodded with a smile and led Xia Fan directly inside.
Upon hearing the news, Chu Tianze, who was in his study, immediately put down his official duties.
"Greetings, Your Highness," Xia Fan, dressed in black casual clothes, quickly bowed and cupped his hands.
Chu Tianze didn't even glance at him, but stared intently at the woman in front of him who was still incredibly beautiful even without makeup, and said with a hint of helplessness, "You still know how to come back!"
Bai Chuxiao raised an eyebrow slightly, "Ten days as agreed."
He then introduced, "This is Xia Fan. Since I'm inconvenient at the Bai family, he'll be staying with you for the time being."
Chu Tianze then glanced at Xia Fan and said calmly, "What Xiaoxiao chooses will naturally be good."
Seeing his somewhat uninterested and perfunctory praise, Bai Chuxiao blinked, "Give it a try?"
Chu Tianze raised an eyebrow and snapped his fingers.
Mo Yan and Mo Wen, dressed in black, immediately landed in front of him.
Bai Chuxiao smiled slightly, "Xia Fan, why don't you compete with Mo Yan and Mo Wen?"
"Yes," Xia Fan replied, his face also showing eagerness. After several months of training, he was confident.
Mo Yan raised his eyes and slowly asked, "Does the princess mean he should fight both of us by himself?"
They were personally trained by the Prince for so long, while Xia Fan was just a junior officer in the Flying Cloud Cavalry. Although the Princess was powerful, he didn't believe that an ordinary person could surpass them in just two or three months.
Xia Fan said in a deep voice, "Please enlighten me, both of you!"
Although Mo Wen was not talkative, he shared the same idea as Mo Yan: to challenge both of them at the same time, he was determined to teach this arrogant brat a lesson.
Without further ado, the three young men in black began sparring on the training ground. A few months ago, Xia Fan wouldn't have lasted long against either of them, let alone just one. Now, however, he was fighting evenly, and while he couldn't defeat both of them, Mo Yan and Mo Wen couldn't subdue him either.
A hint of surprise flashed in Chu Tianze's calm eyes as he looked at the bright-eyed, white-toothed woman beside him. "Indeed, she's excellent. Xiaoxiao has trained her very well."
Bai Chuxiao smiled gently, "They're learning more than just martial arts and fighting."
Then he spoke softly, "You have quite a few internal energy cultivation techniques. Choose a suitable one for Xia Fan. He's a promising talent; given time, he'll definitely be able to shoulder great responsibilities."
Chu Tianze nodded, retracting his earlier contempt. Xia Fan was indeed a promising talent, and keeping him by his side wouldn't be a problem.
After hundreds of moves between the three on the stage, none of them could gain the upper hand. Chu Tianze said in a deep voice, "Stop."
Mo Yan and Mo Wen, heads bowed and somewhat ashamed, retreated behind Chu Tianze. It was truly embarrassing that the two of them couldn't even defeat a single junior officer.
Chu Tianze glanced at the two of them and said indifferently, "Useless."
Mo Yan and Mo Wen bowed deeply to their future princess and said, "Princess, could you teach us?"
Xia Fan, who was previously unknown, has grown so much in just two months. They feel that their talent is no less than Xia Fan's. If they train with the princess, wouldn't they be able to spar with the prince?
Bai Chuxiao did not answer. After all, this was Chu Tianze's confidante, and everything depended on Chu Tianze's decision.
Seeing the inquiring glances from several parties, Chu Tianze said calmly, "If Xiaoxiao is willing, she can give them some pointers."
The prince's words meant he agreed to let them study under the princess. Mo Yan and Mo Wen looked excited and expectant. "Princess?"
Bai Chuxiao smiled and said, "If you two are willing, then go find Cui Hao."
"Thank you, Princess!"
Chu Tianze then said in a deep voice, "Xia Fan, you will stay by my side for the time being."
Xia Fan's face lit up with joy, "Thank you, Your Highness!"
Afterwards, Chu Tianze personally escorted Bai Chuxiao back to the Left Prime Minister's residence. Since she had disappeared for ten days under the pretense of visiting the Prince of Yan's villa, the act had to be convincing to avoid arousing suspicion.
Just as they reached the entrance of Liuli Courtyard, a young man in blue fine clothes came up to them and said, "Stop!"
Bai Chuxiao stopped and looked at the young man in front of her who bore a resemblance to Xie Shi.
"Where have you been all this time?" Bai Haoyun asked coldly.
His mother had already told him about what had happened these past few days. When he heard that his eldest sister had returned today, he rushed over immediately. He was the only direct grandson of the Bai family, and the entire Bai family would belong to him in the future. He felt it was necessary to make his eldest sister face reality. So what if she became the Princess Consort of Yan in the future? She would still have to rely on her maternal family and on him, Bai Haoyun.
"Do I need to report to you where I go?" Bai Chuxiao couldn't help but roll her eyes. What a sick boy. She really shouldn't overestimate the Xie family's genes and upbringing!
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