CHAPTER 165: CHAPTER 165: TAKING CHARGE (PART 2)

"Commandery Princess," Tao Da blinked his eyes, which were like bronze bells, and said in a muffled voice, "What is wrong with me? I can change."

Jiang Shaohua, always patient with Tao Da, replied, "It’s not that something’s wrong with you; it’s that Miss Kong doesn’t want to get married. She doesn’t want to marry you or anyone else. She just wants to be a teacher and work in the military camp, just like how you work as a trusted aide in the camp."

"If getting married meant sending you back home and staying indoors all day, would you still want to take a wife?"

This metaphor was simple and clear.

Tao Da immediately understood and said, "If I marry Miss Kong, I won’t keep her at home. I’m happy she is a teacher."

"Miss Kong wants to make decisions for herself," Jiang Shaohua said warmly. "Think about it. If every time you came to the military camp, you needed your mother’s approval, and she’s in a bad mood and forbids you from coming, would you be happy living like that?"

Tao Da felt a bit wronged, "My mother never stops me from coming to the camp."

Jiang Shaohua patiently said, "I’m just giving an example for you to consider. It’s not about your mother being unreasonable. Tao Da, I know you can understand. Don’t speak, think slowly."

Tao Da stood there stunned, silent for a long while, and his eyes gradually reddened. He looked as if he had been abandoned, pitifully so.

Nearby, Yin Zhutu Bai looked on sympathetically.

Jiang Shaohua sighed silently in her heart.

"Tao Da, have you thought it through?" Jiang Shaohua asked.

Tao Da sniffed hard, nodded heavily, and his eyes reddened even more.

Jiang Shaohua softened her voice, "Miss Kong spent two years in a bandit den and suffered greatly. Her father and brother abandoned her, leaving her with even more bitterness in her heart. Now she doesn’t want to rely on anyone else, preferring to support herself and live independently."

"Tao Da, if you truly like her, respect her choice. And in the future, don’t mention her name in front of others to avoid causing her unwanted attention."

Tao Da sniffed again, nodded, "I understand."

"Commandery Princess, I’ll be leaving now."

Jiang Shaohua nodded.

Tao Da turned and left. It wasn’t until he was far away that he wiped his eyes with the back of his hand.

Tu Bai poked his head out to watch and then whispered, "That big fellow really is pitiful."

Jiang Shaohua said lightly, "Regarding marriage, it needs to be consensual, not forced. If Miss Kong doesn’t want to, there’s nothing to be done."

After a pause, she added, "I’m heading to see the military doctors’ tent now. Yin Zhutu Bai, follow me."

...

Jiang Shaohua leisurely arrived at the tent where Sun Guangbai and Sun Zelan, the sibling duo, were stationed.

The Personal Guard Camp engaged in daily laborious activities, suffering minor injuries was common. Thus, the military doctors here were perpetually busy.

Sun Guangbai was setting a soldier’s bone, who although crying out in pain, kept looking eagerly at Miss Sun standing nearby.

Sun Zelan had not been in the Personal Guard Camp for half a year, yet she had already become a fairy in the eyes of the unmarried soldiers.

Miss Sun was fair, refined, and gentle-looking. She spoke softly, could treat injuries and illnesses, and her smile was especially charming.

Moreover, there was a group of female disciples with Miss Sun. When it came to cleaning, bandaging, and applying medicine, the ladies were meticulous and gentle, much better than the two rough male attendants.

Sun Guangbai quickly finished setting the bone, called out, "Lin Huiniang, come over."

Lin Huiniang responded, taking over the remaining tasks. It was then that the Commandery Princess stepped into the Wounded Soldier Camp tent.

The crowd was about to stand up to salute when the Commandery Princess cheerfully instructed, "No need for formalities. Keep busy with your tasks, I’m just wandering around with nothing to do."

The wounded soldiers continued to lie there, and the military doctors continued their work.

Jiang Shaohua went over to Lin Huiniang first, watched with interest for a while, and waited for Lin Huiniang to finish before smilingly asking, "You’ve been by Miss Sun’s side for half a year now, how’s your learning progressing?"

Lin Huiniang looked radiant and lively, starkly different from the haggardness of half a year ago, "Replying to the Commandery Princess, I now recognize over a hundred kinds of medicinal herbs, can clean wounds, apply medicine, bandage, and brew medicine."

Sun Zelan had quietly finished her tasks and joined in with a smile, "Among these female disciples, she’s the most diligent and attentive. If she continues studying like this, in two years, she can become a qualified attendant. To learn about treating external injuries and diagnosing illnesses, that will take at least four years."

Jiang Shaohua nodded in satisfaction, "That’s very good."

Sweeping her eyes over the group, her gaze fell on a young girl, "Shanxing, come here."

Shanxing, in a pink outfit, responded crisply and came over smiling broadly.

Shanxing used to be thin and short, but over the past six months she’d grown significantly taller, and her face had gotten much rounder. Her smile was all-encompassing, with her hair tied into two small buns, with red ribbons on them, making her look youthful and cute.

Yin Zhu couldn’t help but laugh, "A few months not seen, Shanxing has grown taller and more vibrant."

Jiang Shaohua acknowledged with a smile.

In fact, Shanxing was eleven years old this year, even older than Jiang Shaohua by a year!

Nevertheless, Jiang Shaohua treated Shanxing with the perspective and demeanor of an adult, and no one found this inappropriate.

"Shanxing, do you enjoy learning medicine?" Jiang Shaohua asked softly.

Shanxing nodded, "I do."

Speaking was also much more fluent than before.

Jiang Shaohua’s eyes glimmered with a smile, "What have you learned? Tell this Commandery Princess about it."

Shanxing thought earnestly for a moment, "I recognize more than two hundred kinds of medicinal herbs, and I’ve memorized over fifty prescriptions. I’ve also been learning to read and write with Sister Kong, and I’ve finished ’The Three Character Classic’ and ’The Hundred Family Surnames’."

To have learned so much in six months showed true diligence and talent.

Jiang Shaohua reached out to stroke Shanxing’s hair, "Learn medicine well with Miss Sun. When you’re proficient in a few years, stay in the camp as a military doctor. I’ll provide you with a salary then."

Shanxing nodded happily.

The other girls also plucked up their courage to step forward, proactively reporting, "Commandery Princess, I’m not very quick-witted, learning slower than Sister Huiniang. I’ll spend an extra hour practicing every day."

"Commandery Princess, I’m not learning quickly either. But now I’ve built up my courage, and I don’t faint at the sight of blood anymore."

"Commandery Princess, I can brew medicine, cook and wash bandages the quickest..."

Jiang Shaohua listened patiently, occasionally praising them, "Learning slower doesn’t matter, with enough dedication, you’ll manage."

The girls were all excited and joyful, surrounding the Commandery Princess, looking at her with expectant eyes.

Yin Zhu and Tu Bai quietly stepped back a few paces.

"Look at them now compared to six months ago, it’s like night and day."

"With the Commandery Princess here, they’ll all lead good lives."

"Tu Bai, suddenly my nose feels a bit sore."

"Mine too, not sure why, but I feel like crying a little."

As the flap of the tent was lifted, a beam of bright light streamed in, the Commandery Princess happened to stand in the glow, her face seemingly illuminated.