CHAPTER 52: CHAPTER 52: BAIT (PART 2)

"What’s your name?"

The young government official didn’t dare to meet the Commandery Princess’s eyes, and answered softly, "My surname is Tang, given name Feng. I’m twenty-five this year, and I’ve been working at the county government for three years."

No matter how young, she is still the Nanyang County Princess. It’s hard to understand what County Magistrate Cai was thinking, neglecting and slighting the Princess.

Now it’s well, the Princess herself is leading people to suppress the bandits. It seems that after the bandit suppression, the unfortunate one will be County Magistrate Cai.

Jiang Shaohua gently said, "You bravely fought the bandits yesterday and achieved merit. When you recover from your injuries, I will reward you with a future."

Tang Yamen Runners was overjoyed, wanting to rise to thank Xie En, but with a slight movement, the pain made him sweat profusely.

Jiang Shaohua instructed Sun Guangbai to take good care of Tang Yamen Runners before leaving.

Once the Princess left, the injured soldiers all breathed a sigh of relief.

"The Commandery Princess is still a young girl, yet she is kind to us. It’s strange, I just can’t dare to look her in the eye."

"Hey, last night, the Commandery Princess displayed her might, killing as if slicing vegetables, one slash for each victim. I was close by at the time, and my scalp went numb."

"It was also my first time seeing the Commandery Princess in action, truly like a god of death..."

The injured personal soldiers, having nothing to do while lying down, chatted one after another about the Commandery Princess.

Tang Yamen Runners perked up his ears, listening intently, feeling even less pain from his wounds.

Naturally, Jiang Shaohua couldn’t hear these idle remarks, and even if she did, she wouldn’t care.

After Qin Hu left the Wounded Soldier Camp tent, he was as listless as a dried eggplant.

Meng Sanbao, taking advantage of the Commandery Princess inspecting the military camp, quietly pulled Qin Hu aside a few steps, "Brother Hu, you like Miss Sun, so why intervene when she treats and heals others?"

Having grown up together and trained together, and having entered the Prince Mansion together, they were as close as brothers. Qin Hu’s budding affection for the young lady was something Meng Sanbao would definitely notice.

Qin Hu was frustrated, wanting to thump his own head, "I just got a bit jealous, didn’t want her seeing other men’s bodies."

Meng Sanbao rolled his eyes, "Miss Sun is a doctor, treats people regardless of gender. If you’re this petty, better give it up!"

Qin Hu immediately glared back, "If I were to advise you not to pursue Silver Vermilion, what would you think."

Meng Sanbao grinned smugly, "Silver Vermilion works as an assistant, I never stop her."

Qin Hu was even more aggravated, spitting out, "Bah!"

Isn’t this different?

Silver Vermilion serves the Commandery Princess, attending to her daily needs. Miss Sun is a female doctor, theoretically here to treat women. Yet now, Miss Sun is in the military camp, which is full of men...

Who would be happy about the woman they like touching other men’s bodies?

Meng Sanbao laughed for a moment, seeing Qin Hu still frowning, he collected his smile and whispered, "You admire Miss Sun unrequitedly. Miss Sun hails from a renowned medical family, learned medicine since she was young, and will most likely stay by the Princess’s side in the future. Frankly speaking, you’re not a match for Miss Sun. If you’re already feeling inadequate, best let it go."

The words were harsh, yet they were the truth.

Right now, Qin Hu wasn’t even a green onion, what right did he have to meddle here and there?

Qin Hu turned his head away, ignoring Meng Sanbao.

Meng Sanbao glanced at him, but didn’t have the heart to say anything more painful, giving his shoulder a pat before walking away.

Qin Hu let out a long breath, wiped his face hard, steadied himself, then followed.

...

That day, the camp was built, along with a wooden tower about ten meters high.

Qin Zhan led people into the mountains and brought back a heap of game. Steward Cai, very respectful, took the initiative to send people back to the county government and bring several carts of grain.

The personal soldiers ate and drank their fill, gathered strength, and waited for the bandits of Black Pine Village to come to their death.

Before the third hour, the bandits came. It began with a barrage of fire arrows, quickly setting tents ablaze.

Personal soldiers standing on the wooden tower sounded bamboo whistles in warning. Immediately, several dozen thick torches were lit, illuminating the front of the camp brightly. A hundred archers stood ready, releasing their arrows at Qin Zhan’s command.

The bandits who came for the "night raid" had more than a dozen shot down in this wave. Terrified, some bandits began to retreat.

The one-eyed bandit swung his knife, hacking one of them down, shouting fiercely, "Whoever dares to run, I’ll cut him down first. Charge forward!"

Standing in the shadows, Jiang Shaohua gazed intently, and said softly to Song Yuan, "That one-eyed bandit is the leader, we must kill him first."

Song Yuan nodded, "The Commandery Princess is correct." He scanned for a higher spot, then drew his bow and fired.

Whoosh!

The sharp arrow took off!

In the next moment, the sharp arrow appeared in the one-eyed bandit’s good eye, spraying blood, and he suddenly fell dead.

"Uncle, excellent archery!" Jiang Shaohua praised with a smile.

Song Yuan humbly replied, "Not at all, Commandery Princess, my archery is far inferior to yours."

Jiang Shaohua had killed for the first time yesterday, vomited miserably, only Silver Vermilion and Tu Bai knew of this. In front of Song Yuan, Jiang Shaohua didn’t mention a word.

However, Song Yuan, perceptive as dust, vaguely guessed some of it. Tonight he took action voluntarily, not wanting the Commandery Princess to be bloodied again.

Jiang Shaohua understood well, smiled, and also picked up a bow and arrows, standing at a height alongside Song Yuan.

Drawing the bow, shooting arrows!

Whoosh whoosh whoosh!

Three consecutive arrows took down three enemies.

This time, Jiang Shaohua’s heart was calm, cold to the point of being ruthless.

Killing, indeed, was something one could quickly get used to.

...

An hour later. Outside the camp were more than twenty bloodied corpses. The blood stains on the ground had not yet dried, and the stench spread with the wind.

There were a few more people in the Wounded Soldier Camp tent. Fortunately, most were lightly injured.

Sun Guangbai and Sun Zelan, the brother and sister, washed their faces with cold water and began to work.

Qin Hu, who brought the wounded soldiers in, dawdled and was reluctant to leave.

Sun Zelan didn’t look up, focused on cutting the pants of a wounded soldier to reveal the wound on his thigh.

It almost hit the vital area.

Sun Zelan glanced at it, then reassured the wounded soldier, "Don’t worry, once healed, you can still marry and have children just the same."

The injured soldier cried out in pain, and those who had the strength to laugh did so.

Qin Hu: "..."

Sun Zelan occasionally turned her head, surprised to see Qin Hu still standing there, "Why haven’t you left yet?"

Qin Hu awkwardly smiled, "With so many injured soldiers, I’m afraid Miss Sun won’t manage, so I thought I’d lend a hand."

His tone and demeanor were much softer than during the day.

Sun Zelan had no time for small talk, "You’re not versed in medical arts, don’t add to the chaos here." Turning her head back quickly, she continued treating the wounded.

A fifteen-year-old girl, already at the age for engagement and marriage, yet squatting in front of a man with a bare thigh, showed not a hint of bashfulness.

Qin Hu didn’t know what he was thinking, but still refused to move.

Sun Guangbai, taking a brief pause amidst the busyness, glanced over, "Does Guard Qin have something to attend to?"

Qin Hu had no choice but to leave.

The brother and sister worked until the early hours before taking a break, wearily returning to the camp.

"Big brother, why aren’t you going back to your place, and following me instead?" Sun Zelan asked, puzzled.

Sun Guangbai snorted, "I’m afraid that fool Qin Hu will come looking for you again."