This time around, Bai Ruyi was allowed into the barracks without much issue.
It happened to be a busy period as hundreds upon hundreds of recruits, aged eleven to fifteen, had just finished their morning drills. Talking in tired voices among themselves, they were now streaming out of the practice grounds and heading to the large single-story mess hall right across to have their lunch.
A two-story building with an inner courtyard was where the Colonel and the other senior instructors were housed. From the front gate, it was nearly at the farthest end of the barracks, and one had to pass in between the mess hall and the practice grounds to reach it.
The prince that was dressed only slightly better than the palace servants didn’t draw much attention from the hungry young lads. But while t
