Jiang Shaohua spent half a day in the Wounded Soldier Camp tent and had lunch with Sun Guangbai and Sun Zelan around noon.
In the military camp, it was all big pot als. After Jiang Shaohua entered the camp, she ate and lived with the trusted aides, and no special als were prepared. Today’s al was no exception.
The als at the Personal Guard Camp were famously good, and the kitchen had been working especially hard these days, making lunch with three dishes and one soup. Two of them were at dishes, quite rich in oil.
Sun Zelan didn’t have a big appetite, so she put down her chopsticks after finishing a bowl. Sun Guangbai finished two bowls. Then, the siblings watched the Commandery Princess eat heartily and exchanged a quiet glance.
"Commandery Princess, when I had free ti, I made quite a lot of Hawthorn Balls," Sun Zelan said with a light laugh. "I’ll let Huiniang bring so for you to eat as snacks and amusent when idle."
This was to prevent the Commandery Princess from overeating and upsetting her stomach.
Jiang Shaohua appreciated the gesture and replied with a smile, "Bring them over now."
A mont later, Lin Huiniang ca with a small package. Inside the package were eight small, delicate white porcelain bottles. As soon as the corks were removed, a sweet and slightly sour aroma wafted out.
This was the unique scent of Hawthorn Balls.
Jiang Shaohua tasted one and praised with a smile, "Your skills in making Hawthorn Balls have already surpassed Doctor Sun."
Sun Zelan smiled, pressed her lips together: "I have many disciples around . With just one command, they go and pick the best hawthorns, wash them, dry them, grind them into powder, and then mix them with ten-plus dicinal ingredients to form the pills. If the Commandery Princess likes them, take them all."
Jiang Shaohua was not at all polite and had Yin Zhu put away the Hawthorn Balls, then she asked the siblings about their work situation.
Sun Guangbai replied, "To reply to the Commandery Princess, eating and living in the Personal Guard Camp is good, just that many suffer minor injuries during daily training. There were previously only two military doctors, really busy. Since my sister and I ca, there’s been no such worry."
Sun Zelan regretfully continued the conversation: "Nanyang County is very peaceful; the Personal Guard Camp hasn’t gone out to quash bandits. My brother and I want to study dicine but haven’t had the chance."
Sun Guangbai: "..."
Sun Guangbai chuckled awkwardly, making a great effort to hint at his sister with his eyes.
Sun Zelan was indifferent: "There’s no outsider here, why can’t I share so of my thoughts with the Commandery Princess."
"Exactly, this kind of thing suits to discuss," Jiang Shaohua replied with a smile, "It’s easy to solve this. In a few days, the Nanyang County jail will handle a batch of death row prisoners. Most of them will be sent to Bo Wang Mine. After the executions, I’ll have a couple of corpses sent to the camp."
The Sun siblings’ spirits were uplifted and they both bowed to express their gratitude.
When the serious matter was over, Jiang Shaohua casually teased Sun Guangbai: "You previously didn’t want to marry, saying a man should establish his career before starting a family. Doctor Sun wanted you to focus on taking the Imperial Hospital exam and didn’t urge you. Now that you’re having a proper job in the military camp and things have settled, isn’t it ti to consider starting a family?"
Sun Guangbai coughed and stood up, bowing: "A new bone fracture arrived today in the Wounded Soldier Camp tent; I should go change the dressing. Commandery Princess, chat with Zelan."
Then, he skillfully slipped away.
This maneuver was well-practiced, evidently often used to dodge Doctor Sun in the past.
Jiang Shaohua laughed and said, "Your brother still doesn’t want to marry?"
Sun Zelan understood her brother very well: "Life is short, there are so many things one wants to do, how can one worry about starting a family."
Then quickly added her own blessing: "My brother bears the responsibility of continuing the Sun family lineage, he has to marry eventually. I am different, as long as my father doesn’t force , I can stay unmarried."
Jiang Shaohua glanced at Sun Zelan with a smile: "You don’t want to get married, then don’t. I support you all the sa."
Sun Zelan’s eyes lit up: "Does the Commandery Princess truly stand by my side?"
Jiang Shaohua arched an eyebrow, smiling: "What are you worried about? Are you worried I might matchmake you with Qin Hu?"
Sun Zelan, not embarrassed nor bashful upon her thoughts being revealed, responded confidently: "Commander Qin is the leader of the Personal Guard Camp, Qin Hu is the Commander’s personal guard. In terms of closeness, I’m always a layer apart. It’s not unusual for to have this worry!"
If the Commandery Princess favored Qin Hu and advocated matchmaking, it would be a hassle.
Jiang Shaohua gave a slight smile and grasped Sun Zelan’s hand: "Firstly, in my heart, you siblings and Doctor Sun are the people I trust the most. In terms of closeness, you aren’t losing to anyone."
"Secondly, marriage is a matter of mutual willing intentions. Whether you don’t want to marry or have no interest in Qin Hu, since you aren’t willing, no one will dare force you."
"Now, isn’t this reassuring?"
Sun Zelan felt warmth in her heart and instinctively tightened her hold on the Commandery Princess’s hand: "With what the Commandery Princess said, I feel assured."
"Actually, I don’t dislike Qin Hu. When I stayed at the Prince Mansion before, we often interacted and I found him humorous and witty. Later events, the Commandery Princess is familiar with. I don’t know when he developed feelings, but once I sensed sothing amiss, I started giving him the cold shoulder."
"My dream is to beco a renowned physician, all my ti and energy should be spent on studying dicine. Who has the ti to marry, have children, raise children, and serve a husband and in-laws?"
Speaking of her grand ambitions, Sun Zelan’s eyes sparkled and her voice grew excited: "Over the past six months, my brother and I have re-drawn anatomical charts and made better catgut thread. Last month, a trusted aide had an intestinal abscess, it was extrely painful. In the past, the best treatnt would have been acupuncture and herbal dicine, with less than a twenty percent chance of healing."
"Seeing that he was close to dying, I boldly gave him anesthetic, then used a knife to open his abdon and removed the festering part. Then stitched him up with thread. Afterwards, kept giving him dicine."
"Thank heaven, he indeed pulled through."
"Half a month later, he could get out of bed and walk. After a month, he was walking normally. Probably in two more months, he’ll be as good as new."
Jiang Shaohua was invigorated by the story: "Where is this person, call him over for to see."
Sun Zelan obliged and instructed Lin Huiniang to bring him.
A mont later, a trusted aide in his twenties arrived. This aide, having survived near-death, felt imnsely grateful to Sun Zelan, his lifesaver. Upon entering, he knelt and kowtowed.
Sun Zelan quickly laughed and said: "Don’t kowtow. The Commandery Princess has questions for you."
Jiang Shaohua ticulously asked about the trusted aide’s physical condition.
The trusted aide thumped his chest: "I can eat, drink, and sleep soundly now, everything is great."
"Let see the wound," said Jiang Shaohua.
The trusted aide seed a bit uneasy. However, having crossed the line of life and death and being thoroughly examined by Sun Zelan before, now showing a bit of the wound wasn’t embarrassing.
The trusted aide secretly gritted his teeth and lifted his clothing.
Lin Huiniang ca over with scissors and snipped the gauze at the wound, revealing a long thin scar.
After a careful look, Jiang Shaohua smiled at Sun Zelan, "Your skill in stitching wounds needs a bit more practice."
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