Xuan Zhi sat in his study, staring at the ledger in front of him. His fingers tapped against the wooden desk as his brows furrowed.

  Ten gold ingots.

  That was how much they had spent in just one month.

  He exhaled slowly. This is not the way forward.

  At this rate, their savings wouldn’t st. He had too many things to spend money on—maintaining the manor, feeding everyone, medical expenses for the sick boy, and eventually, his pns to help the heroine of the novel.

  He closed the ledger with a dull thud.

  There was no way he was going to touch his sisters' money.

  Xuan Yan and Xuan Mei had brought their own wealth, and though they weren’t aware of it yet, that would serve as their dowries in the future.

  I have to find a better way to manage money.

  But for now, he had other priorities.

  Two weeks had passed, and the young boy they had rescued was still in a coma.

  Xuan Mei, despite only being allowed five hours a day by the boy’s bedside, had already grown attached.

  She would sit beside him, talking to him as if he could hear, telling him about her day, about the flowers she was growing in the garden, about how Xuan Yan was still sneaking out dressed as a man…

  Xuan Zhi sighed as he checked the boy’s condition.

  His breathing had stabilized, but he still hadn’t woken up.

  Taking a deep breath, Xuan Zhi began grinding the herbs he had bought into a fine powder. The medicine had to be strong but not overwhelming.

  This weak body of his… He would need to start training again to regain his past strength.

  Meanwhile, Xuan Yan…

  "—Brother! Don’t be angry!"

  "Don’t be angry?! You were running around the city dressed as a man again!"

  Xuan Yan, grinning shamelessly, flopped onto a chair, her short "disguise" hair messy from the wind.

  Xuan Zhi pinched the bridge of his nose. "Do you have any idea what would happen if someone found out your identity?"

  Xuan Yan crossed her arms. "I know how to protect myself!"

  "Oh? And how will you protect yourself against an entire group of bandits? Against a kidnapper? Against a political enemy?"

  Xuan Yan blinked. "Uhhh…"

  Xuan Zhi threw a pillow at her head.

  She barely dodged. "Oi!"

  "Stop running around like a fool," he scolded. "This isn’t a game. Do you think people will treat you kindly because you’re dressed as a man? There are worse dangers than just getting caught, Xuan Yan!"

  His sister huffed. "I can handle it!"

  "You can’t even handle a pillow," Xuan Zhi muttered.

  "That's—!"

  Xuan Mei sighed loudly from the side.

  "Can you two stop bickering for five minutes?"

  Xuan Zhi and Xuan Yan gred at each other like two children.

  Then they turned away with matching scoffs.

  Xuan Mei shook her head. "Hopeless."

  But Xuan Mei knew that brother Xuan Zhi was simply worried about Xuan Yan and nothing else, and even if she dress up as a man, her beauty is enough for females to attack her...

  --

  After seeing how reckless his sister was, Xuan Zhi made a firm decision.

  Their security was too weak.

  His two guards were strong, but that wasn’t enough.

  The manor was too rge, and he needed people who could watch over Xuan Yan and Xuan Mei—especially since one kept sneaking out and the other was too kind-hearted for her own good.

  Xuan Zhi decided to visit the sve market again.

  This time, he took Fan Yi with him.

  The sve market was as bustling as ever.

  People shouted bids, traders advertised their "merchandise," and the sound of chains clinking filled the air.

  Xuan Zhi walked through the rows of sves, scanning their conditions.

  Some were thin and malnourished, others were injured—but he wasn’t here for weaklings.

  He needed people who could be trained.

  "Young Master," Fan Yi murmured beside him, "are you sure about this?"

  Xuan Zhi hummed. "The manor needs protection."

  After walking through multiple sections, he made his choice.

  20 strong men.

  They weren’t warriors yet, but they were healthy and had potential. He would train them himself.

  5 female guards.

  Women were rarely trained as fighters, but they were essential.

  His sisters needed guards who could follow them into pces where men weren’t allowed—like private gatherings, bathhouses, or noblewomen's quarters.

  The price? 35 silver ingots.

  Fan Yi visibly paled as Xuan Zhi handed over the money.

  "My lord, we are already spending too much—"

  "I know."

  Fan Yi’s eye twitched. "Then why—?"

  "Because it’s necessary," Xuan Zhi replied ftly. "Unless you think our two guards can defend an entire manor?"

  Fan Yi shut his mouth.

  Back at the manor, the new guards and servants were given proper clothing and food.

  Xuan Zhi gathered them all in the courtyard.

  His arms were crossed as he studied the new recruits.

  "You will be trained," he stated firmly. "You will learn how to defend, attack, strategize, and protect. Those who fail will be dismissed."

  The men nodded seriously.

  The women stood tall, determination in their eyes.

  Good.

  Xuan Zhi rolled his shoulders. His body was still weaker than it used to be.

  But he would start training himself, too.

  After all, a spy never lets himself grow rusty.

  And Xuan Zhi had no intention of being weak in this world.

  --

  Xuan Yan sat on the edge of her bed, staring at the small bag of money her brother had given her.

  "Only twenty gold coins?" she grumbled.

  Sure, for a normal person, that was a fortune, but for a princess who had been raised in luxury, it was practically an insult.

  She let out a sigh, rolling her eyes. Brother is too stingy. He has money, but he’s acting like a beggar now.

  Grabbing one gold coin, she handed it to her servant.

  "Go exchange this for 100 silver coins. I want to spend freely today."

  The servant hesitated. "Your Highness, shouldn’t we save some—"

  Xuan Yan waved a hand. "No ‘shouldn’t we’! I need to enjoy myself. Now go!"

  With her newly exchanged silver coins, she dressed as a man once again and slipped out of the manor with her servants.

  Today, she was going to enjoy herself properly.

  The streets were as lively as ever.

  Hawkers shouted their wares, children ran through the alleys, and the scent of fresh pastries filled the air.

  Xuan Yan hummed in delight, clutching a small bag of silver coins as she walked through the bustling market.

  First, she bought a few books.

  She didn’t care what they were about; she just grabbed anything that looked interesting.

  Then, she stopped by a snack stall.

  "Give me ten of these sweet buns," she said, pcing a few silver coins on the table.

  The old vendor smiled. "Buying for your sweetheart, young master?"

  Xuan Yan scoffed. "No, for my younger sister."

  The vendor nodded knowingly. "Ah, then she must be a lovely girl."

  Xuan Yan thought about Xuan Mei, who had practically buried herself in the house.

  "If she stays indoors any longer, she’s going to grow mushrooms on her head," she muttered to herself.

  She stuffed the snacks into her bag and turned around—

  Only to sm into something solid.

  Her head spun as she stumbled backward, but before she could fall onto the dirt road, an arm wrapped around her waist, steadying her.

  A rough hand pressed against her lower back.

  She blinked.

  A tall man in armor stood before her, a deep frown on his face.

  The grip around her waist tightened slightly before he released her.

  She instinctively stepped back, scowling.

  Yan Rui.

  The deputy general she had seen at the restaurant.

  He crossed his arms, gazing at her with an unimpressed expression.

  "As a man," he said ftly, "you are too weak."

  Xuan Yan twitched.

  She was already annoyed from her brother’s stinginess, and now this bulky man was calling her weak?

  She knew she had to maintain her disguise, but—

  I am a princess, you brute!

  Her lips curled into a mocking smile.

  "And you," she said, shoving his hand away, "are too bulky and ugly."

  Yan Rui’s eye twitched.

  "Ugly?" he repeated.

  "Yes," Xuan Yan sniffed. "You take up too much space, and your frown makes you look like an angry bull."

  Yan Rui stared at her for a long moment.

  Then, he nodded seriously.

  "There’s a genius doctor in the city," he said, voice calm.

  Xuan Yan frowned. "Hah?"

  "He specializes in brain diseases."

  "...?"

  "You should see him," Yan Rui continued, completely sincere. "There’s something wrong with your head."

  Xuan Yan gritted her teeth.

  Her fingers itched to strangle him, but instead, she flipped her hair over her shoulder and stormed off with exaggerated grace.

  She didn’t even look back.

  Yan Rui watched the strange "young master" disappear into the crowd.

  He rubbed his chin.

  "That guy is definitely not right in the head," he muttered.

  Another soldier beside him chuckled. "Deputy Yan, why do you even bother?"

  Yan Rui frowned. "Because he reminds me of someone."

  The soldier raised an eyebrow. "Who?"

  Yan Rui didn’t answer.

  Instead, he just shook his head and walked off, his expression unreadable.