CHAPTER 164: CHAPTER 164: TAKING RESPONSIBILITY (PART 1)

If Kong Qingwan intends to marry Tao Da, this would be an excellent opportunity.

With the endorsement of the Nanyang County Princess, she can stand tall and marry, and no one in the military camp would dare to gossip anymore. At least on the surface, no one would dare to speak ill.

Kong Qingwan was silent for a moment, then suddenly knelt down: "Commandery Princess, I am determined to do my job well and do not want to marry."

"Brother Tao... Tao Guard is a good man. He doesn’t mind that I stayed in a bandit camp for two years and argued with his mother for half a year because of me. Now his mother has relented. I know all this. I am grateful for his affection. However, I do not want to marry him."

"He deserves a better girl."

Jiang Shaohua gazed at Kong Qingwan, whose expression was resolute: "In his eyes, you are the best girl in the world."

There was a glimmer of moisture in Kong Qingwan’s eyes as she spoke softly but firmly: "But I still don’t want to marry. From the moment I came down the mountain, I vowed to be loyal to the Commandery Princess, to serve her, and to live for myself. I don’t want to marry."

Tao Da indeed has deep feelings for her. But who can guarantee how long this affection will last? Now Tao Da is passionate, disregarding everything. When the day comes that he’s concerned and critical, how could she maintain her footing?

Moreover, marrying means leaving the military camp and living with the Tao Family and the harsh and uncompromising Old Lady Tao. Tao Da spends his days in the military camp, and according to the camp’s regulations, he only returns home two days a month. For the remaining twenty-eight days, she’d have to stay with the mother-in-law.

Thinking of Old Lady Tao’s penetratingly critical gaze made Kong Qingwan’s spine tingle.

She hasn’t done anything wrong. Why should she be rejected so thoroughly?

She didn’t want to live such a life.

Jiang Shaohua understood the clarity and decisiveness in Kong Qingwan’s eyes, remained silent for a moment, then nodded: "Very well, it’s your choice; I will stand by you."

Kong Qingwan solemnly kowtowed in gratitude: "Thank you, Commandery Princess, for your support."

...

"This Miss Kong, she’s not quite what I imagined," Chen Jinyu muttered along the way: "Tao Da truly is not a match for her."

A man’s infatuation at first sight often stems from attraction to physical beauty. There’s nothing much to say about it. Tao Da’s fervor is genuine now, but how long it can last is uncertain.

Jiang Shaohua walked slowly, speaking indifferently: "She also has some feelings for Tao Da. However, these feelings are not enough for her to give up everything now, nor are they profound enough for her to be willing to serve a tough and daunting mother-in-law."

"For women, independence, dignity, and self-love come first before loving others. There’s nothing wrong with thinking this way."

"Tomorrow, I’ll call Tao Da over and let him know Miss Kong’s decision."

Chen Jinyu, greatly shocked tonight, nodded, having no mood for casual conversation.

When Jiang Shaohua returned to the tent, she sensed something was wrong: "Qin Hu, Meng Sanbao, come here."

The two young trusted aides came over with their heads lowered as if guilty of theft.

Jiang Shaohua scanned them with her eyes, her tone cooled a few degrees: "Look up."

The two glanced at each other quickly, and guiltily raised their heads.

Seeing their appearance, Jiang Shaohua was amused despite being angry: "I just took a stroll, and you two start fighting?"

The two had tidied their clothes, trying to restore their appearance. But Qin Hu’s forehead had a noticeable bruise, and Meng Sanbao had marks by his mouth from being hit.

"We were wrong, please punish us, Commandery Princess!" Qin Hu and Meng Sanbao apologized dejectedly.

Yin Zhu pursed her lips, angrily complaining: "Commandery Princess, the two of them first quarreled, then ended up fighting. At first, Tu Bai and I didn’t take it seriously, but later we couldn’t stop or restrain them."

This fight had escalated into real anger.

Jiang Shaohua’s eyebrows furrowed, coldly inquiring: "What’s going on? Why did you two start quarreling?"

Qin Hu’s scalp tingled, fearing Meng Sanbao might let slip, quickly replied: "It’s nothing, just a few unpleasant words exchanged."

The quick-witted Yin Zhu wasn’t letting Qin Hu off easily, softly sneered: "Didn’t you meet with Miss Sun and get teased by Meng Sanbao? What’s so embarrassing to admit?"

Qin Hu: "..."

Qin Hu wished he could lower his head to his chest.

Meng Sanbao, a true brother to Qin Hu, despite the fighting, was loyal when it mattered: "Tonight’s incident is all my fault; my mouth was reckless and started this. If the Commandery Princess wants to punish, punish me first."

Qin Hu, moved to the point of tears, immediately admitted fault: "Commandery Princess, it was all my fault, punish me!"

"No need to fight over it," Jiang Shaohua was angry yet firm; "Both will be punished together!"

Qin Hu and Meng Sanbao: "..."

"Now go to Commander Song and each of you receive twenty lashes. If you dare do this again, you won’t stay by my side any longer."

Qin Hu and Meng Sanbao had been by the Commandery Princess’s side for over a year, and she had always treated them well. Especially in the past six months, she had been very tolerant. It’s the first time she had gotten this angry.

Both felt unsettled, reluctantly accepted the orders, and went to Song Yuan’s tent.

Song Yuan, understanding the situation, coldly administered the military punishment himself.

Qin Hu and Meng Sanbao received their twenty solid blows each, sweat pouring from the pain, and were carried back to the tent.

They lay face down on their beds, faces opposite but turning away, refusing to speak to each other.

The tent door was suddenly flung open, familiar angry shouts burst like thunder: "You wretches! You’ve embarrassed me thoroughly. I’ll beat you to death!"

Qin Hu’s scalp was about to explode.

Immediately after, another familiar voice chimed in: "These brats! Old Qin, you hold on, let me go first."

"Commandery Princess, Commander Qin and Commander Meng went to the tent and punished them again."

Tu Bai promptly came to report.

Jiang Shaohua’s anger subsided significantly, acknowledged with a nod, and continued with her late-night meal.

No rules lead to chaos. Qin Hu and Meng Sanbao had grown somewhat arrogant lately, even daring to fight on duty. A good lashing would bring them to their senses.

It’s rightful for fathers to discipline their sons. As a Commandery Princess, she would not intervene in Qin Zhan Meng Dashan’s disciplining of their sons.

After her late-night meal, Jiang Shaohua instructed Yin Zhu: "Go and deliver two bottles of medicine. Convey my order that they rest in the tent for three days before returning to duty."

...

The next day, Jiang Shaohua summoned Tao Da.

Tao Da couldn’t wait to arrive, his face full of hope. Little did he expect to be doused with a bone-chilling splash of cold water: "Tao Da, last night I asked Miss Kong, and she said she doesn’t want to marry."

"From now on, you mustn’t bother Miss Kong anymore."

Tao Da, as towering as a black tower, now looked as helpless as an abandoned child, staring blankly.

Jiang Shaohua waited a moment, then slowly continued: "Miss Kong doesn’t despise you, she just doesn’t want to marry; she wants to be a teacher in the military camp, instructing the trusted aides in reading and writing."