The Ji family military camp was a little city.
It housed 10,000 soldiers and 30,000 total residents including the families of the soldiers, retired veterans who served as trainers, craftsmen who supported military operations and servants who cooked, served, and did hard labor.
Gu Sheng took them on a walk, leading the way to a nearby hill that somewhat overlooked the camp, talking in short to-the-point sentences.
"The camp is arranged in circles. See the innermost circle? That's the central command area. Don't go anywhere near unless the young master is with you."
He slanted a look at Lu Yan and Luizhu both of whom nodded immediately.
"The treatment hall you just saw is in the inner ring. You'll spend most of your time there."
He pointed at the next circle, "The middle ring-within which this hill is located- is where the soldiers live. Avoid it."
"Behind us-" he turned around, and Lu Yan and Luizhu turned with him, "-is the outer ring containing training areas and fields."
He pointed far into the distance, "Beyond those, is the perimeter with the defensive walls."
Without another word, he lead them back.
He pointed out another large hall, "You'll be eating lunch in the kitchen in the inner ring. Remember the way from here to the young master's residence."
They walked down two streets from the eating hall before they reached the residence. Gu Sheng left them at the door, and walked away without saying another word.
Inside, young master Ji was standing at one of the tables, with aides and physicians surrounding him, discussing matters around the camp.
He glanced at them entering, but didn't say anything.
Lu Yan moved to the table allotted to her, and continued practicing the basic calligraphy strokes.
After a while, her wrists were shaking, so she took a break. Somewhere, a bell was struck several times.
Lu Yan and Luizhu looked at each other.
An aide appeared, and said, "Young master Ji said you should go have your meal. Once you return, he'll assign you new tasks."
He put a token on the table. A piece of black metal carved with the character Ji in bright crimson, "This will serve as your identification. Be sure not to lose it."
Lu Yan thanked him and examined the token. It was heavier than it looked.
She put it carefully in the pouch at her waist, and left the hall with Luizhu.
They walked to the eating hall.
Lu Yan and Luizhu finally had a chance to talk.
Lu Yan ran a hand over her exposed neck which was usually covered by her hair, and whispered, "It feels so strange to have my hair tied up. I keep touching my neck."
Luizhu was worried, "What if someone realizes we're not boys?"
"Master will take care of it. And how will they realize?"
She stopped, and looked Luizhu over with a critical eye, then declared, "You look like a boy. If I didn't know you well, I wouldn't be able to tell."
Luizhu, too examined, Lu Yan, and had to admit that she looked exactly like a cute little boy, "No one would recognize you either."
Lu Yan took her hand, and suddenly ran ahead, "I've never been to a place as lively as here. There are so many things happening! Let's eat quickly, and look around before we need to return."
Luizhu was pulled along, and forced to run with Lu Yan.
Out from under the master's or Gu Sheng's watchful eyes for the first time in weeks, Lu Yan was very animated and determined to make the best of every free moment.
Breathless, they arrived at the eating hall.
Lu Yan was smiling in delight. Luizhu just held the stitch in her side, and gasped for breath.
They followed everyone else in taking a bowl and lining up as the chefs laded food in.
Then sitting together at the edge of the table, they dug in. After one bite, Lu Yan pronounced, "This food tastes worse than I expected."
"You've been spoiled by Gu Sheng's cooking these past weeks," Luizhu said without looking up from her bowl. "This is much better than anything we usually eat."
Lu Yan paused as she thought for a moment, looking thoughtfully at her full bowl, "You're right. Let's finish everything."
She dug in without another word, taking big bites and chewing quickly.
A silence fell between the two girls.
While eating, they couldn't help but listen to the conversation occurring between the other people sitting at the table.
"Young Master Ji finally returned this morning."
"I heard he offended the emperor's consort, and had to lay low while his grandfather smoothed things over."
"No, no, I heard he was out searching for a disciple."
"Yes, why would the young master need to hide? How would the consort dare to do anything to him with the Ji family's position in court?"
Lu Yan glanced at the group. Some of them had yellow medical bands on their biceps, but most were dressed as soldiers.
"Yes, and they say old master Ji favors this grandson the most."
"Yes! They say the Ji family controls half the court. And young master Ji will be the next head of the family."
"Yes, my nephew works in the Ji household. He told me that old master Ji is planning to overlook the father's generation because no one is promising enough."
"What nonsense! The young master has two uncles with high positions in the court, and a third uncle who holds the position of Commander of the Ji family army. It's not his turn to lead the family!"
"All I know is the health of the Ji family army has been much better since old master Ji sent him here."
"That's nothing! He's also one of the chief strategists of the Ji family army. He might be very strict and disagreeable, but in the last border wars against the barbarians, his strategies saved thousands of lives."
"Well said! The young master has a harsh reputation, but he's the reason why the Ji family army has risen to become the best in the empire."
"I've heard that the Ji family army couldn't hold a candle to the Xiao family army."
"You must be new here! You don't know anything! What good is the Xiao family army? Where is the Xiao family army now?"
"Yes, the Xiao family army was always too arrogant. They colluded with the barbarians, and then were betrayed."
"Pho! You must have dung between your ears. The Xiao family was one of the founding clans. Why would they betray the kingdom?"
"Exactly! Did they lack anything? Wealth, power. descendants. They had everything!"
"Is that so? If you know everything, why don't you explain why they all wiped out then?"
The voices were getting louder.
"Hey! Don't start fighting in the eating hall. Or the cook will throw us all out."
Someone else raised their voice, "I heard the young master Ji finally took an apprentice."
The commotion decreased at once. Everyone turned to the speaker, exclaiming, "Really?!"
"I heard many powerful families begged him to take their descendants as disciples, but he always refused."
"Yeah, I heard it from my brother who broke his arm last time. The young master brought back a young boy."
"I heard it too! He's very small but extremely gifted."
"He must be! Otherwise how could the young master have taken him in?"
"I wonder which clan got lucky? Do you know which family is he from?"
The whole group was suddenly silent, "I don't think the master said. Or it would have spread everywhere by now."
The group continued gossiping about other commanders in the army. Soon enough, they finished their meal, and left the table.
Lu Yan ate silently and with a lowered head.
By the time the two girls left the table, the lunch hour had almost finished.
There was no time to look around, and with a full stomach and thoughtful head, Lu Yan didn't feel like running back.
They walked back to the master's residence.
Inside, he was already waiting for them.