Lily Evans grinned as she circled Qingzhou on the map, then opened her geography and surveying book to continue reading.
"Datong, its location is similar to Shanxi, so there should be coal mines... Circle it!" Lily Evans drew another circle on the map, leaving Lola completely puzzled.
"Haizhou, located on the plateau, lots of saltwater lakes..." Lily muttered. Saltwater lakes are perfect for producing salt—circle, circle, circle!
"Ningcheng, the only external port—it's going to be crucial for future maritime trade. And then there's Guangzhou, which must be circled too!"
Lola sat beside her, cupping her face and watching Lily enthusiastically circle places on the map—most of them were dirt-poor regions. She had no idea why Lily was so intent on circling them.
Lily kept drawing circles on the map until she'd marked off a huge chunk of territory, occupying a corner of the Kingdom of Jin. She finally put down her pen and rubbed her sore shoulder. "That's enough for today. We'll discuss it further when Alexander gets back."
"Discuss what?" Lola looked at Lily with a confused expression. Lily just smiled and didn't answer, instead saying, "Vice Dean Lola, you'd better start thinking—tomorrow, when we go to the academy as ourselves, how will we handle all those students?"
"Uh..." That question really made Lola's head spin—enough to keep her up all night thinking about it.
That night, Alexander Hayes came home late. Lily was already asleep, half-awake as she rolled over and only asked if Alexander had caught Louis Lee yet.
Alexander replied, "Almost," and then pulled Lily into his arms as they both drifted off to sleep.
The next morning, Lily Evans still wore her scholar's robe, but this time she didn't disguise herself as a man. Instead, she confidently appeared as a woman, her hair simply and neatly pinned up.
Lola dressed the same way.
Two women in men's scholar robes, with a subtle air of heroism between their brows—Alexander Hayes could only watch, his forehead throbbing.
"If you go teach looking like that, I swear you'll steal everyone's soul!" Alexander pulled Lily firmly into his arms.
Lily flashed a sly grin. "Back then, you only agreed to let me disguise as a man to teach because you were worried my real identity would attract a swarm of admirers, right?"
Alexander gritted his teeth. "You little enchantress, you know perfectly well you'd attract a crowd!"
Lily burst out laughing. "Times have changed! If I'd revealed myself as a woman when I first entered the academy, everyone would've focused on my gender and ignored my abilities. But now, Professor Jade Evans's talent and skill have already won everyone's respect. Even if they know I'm a woman, no one would dare look down on me."
Alexander knew Lily was right. The famous Professor Jade Evans was respected for her brilliance and scholarship—at her level, gender hardly mattered. Even if Lily revealed herself as a woman, no one would dare harbor any improper thoughts.
Besides, Lily had Prince Alexander Hayes backing her. He'd just executed Mr. Hugh for disrespecting Lily—the blood was still fresh at the palace gates. Anyone who dared cross Lily would be risking their neck!
Lily and Lola boarded the carriage, excited for their first official appearance at the academy as themselves.
After Lily left, Alexander headed to the study and spotted the map she'd marked up. He couldn't help but chuckle: "Hmm, I haven't had a chance to mark it yet, but my wife beat me to it. Huh? Most of her circles are around barren, impoverished areas—that won't do! The rich lands of Jiangnan can't be left for others. Better circle those, too..."