CHAPTER 53: CHAPTER 53: GREAT ASPIRATION

The bond between the siblings was deep, and they always spoke their minds freely.

Sun Guangbai didn’t beat around the bush and straightforwardly expressed his displeasure.

Sun Zelan rolled her eyes at her brother, "Luckily, it’s just you and me here. If others heard, they’d think I’ve secretly been involved with Qin Hu already."

Sun Guangbai: "..."

Sun Guangbai’s mouth twitched, looking speechless, "Sister, as a young lady, when you mention men who admire you, could you be a bit more reserved and subtle?"

"It’s fine to put on an act in front of others, but this is in front of my big brother!" Sun Zelan, having stayed up all night, was tired and exhausted. She stretched and yawned, "It’s good to speak frankly today. What Guard Qin thinks is his business; I don’t want to marry."

Hearing this, Sun Guangbai felt much relieved, "You’re still young, you can wait a couple more years before getting married. Besides, from what I see, our father hopes you’ll marry back to the Capital City."

The Capital City has the Imperial Hospital, with the most famous medical clinics in Da Liang. Renowned doctors are abundant, and many apricot families are also in the Capital City.

Sun Zelan had studied medicine since childhood and possesses outstanding medical skills. Marrying into a family that practices medicine for generations, she would be able to enter inner courtyards as a female physician in the future.

This was the future Doctor Sun had planned for his daughter, and it was the best and most suitable path.

Sun Zelan paused in her actions, feeling disheartened, "I don’t want to marry and have children. I want to practice medicine and heal the sick. If I can’t be an Imperial Physician, I at least want to be a renowned physician."

Sun Guangbai chuckled, "I couldn’t tell that you have such grand ambitions."

Sun Zelan glared at her brother, "I knew you would mock me. Just because I’m a woman, am I supposed to follow the traditional route of marrying and having children, only treating women when I have free time? Am I not allowed to have my own aspirations?"

"I don’t only want to focus on female examination; I want to be a general practitioner."

Seeing that his sister was truly upset, Sun Guangbai raised his hands in surrender repeatedly, "Miss Sun, please calm down, it was my oversight to underappreciate you and misspeak inadvertently just now. Miss Sun, please be magnanimous and not take it to heart."

He even gave himself a light smack.

Amused by her brother, Sun Zelan’s frown relaxed, and her tone lightened, "Don’t mention Qin Hu in front of me in the future. It’s not that I don’t want to marry, but if in the future I really can’t withstand our parents’ urging, I would want to marry someone with a gentle and kind nature."

"Qin Hu has a mind as narrow as a needle’s eye. When I treat the wounded, he can’t stand it, always meddling and speaking out of turn, quite annoying."

There was nothing fake in Sun Zelan’s tone, full of disdain.

Sun Guangbai took a careful look at his sister, clicking his tongue, "It seems I really overthought. I even thought you might have some affection for that foolish boy, Qin Hu."

"Speaking of which, Qin Hu’s background isn’t bad, he’s tall and strong, quite handsome, skilled in martial arts, and serves as the personal soldier of the Commandery Princess. His future prospects aren’t something to worry about..."

Sun Zelan, having not opened the door to love, replied, "Whether he’s good or not has nothing to do with me. Don’t mention him in the future."

Sun Guangbai hummed a response, yawned, and prepared to go back to the military tent to sleep. His sister’s voice reached him, "I’m still young, but you’re already twenty this year, you’re the one who should be thinking of starting a family."

Sun Guangbai coughed, "A man should establish his career first, then a family. No rush at all! I’ve been busy all night and I’m exhausted, I’m heading back to sleep."

He slipped away faster than a rabbit, disappearing in the blink of an eye.

Sun Zelan couldn’t help but laugh, yet she was somewhat worried about her brother’s marriage.

Sun Guangbai had been engaged as a young boy, and was supposed to marry at eighteen, but unexpectedly, the girl broke off the engagement to marry into a prestigious family.

This matter indeed dealt a considerable blow to Sun Guangbai. For the past two years, he dodged any talks of marriage. Even their father was at a loss, and she, as the younger sister, felt pained but was powerless.

The knot in his heart needs to be untied by himself.

Sun Zelan changed into clean clothes, then lay down and soon fell into a pleasant dream.

In her dream, she became Da Liang’s first female Imperial Physician, with incredible medical skills that commanded universal respect. Even her own father and brother looked at her with eyes of admiration and reverence.

Sun Zelan grinned in her dreamy slumber.

...

Jiang Shaohua lay down to sleep at the fourth period of night, and after two hours, got up. When she appeared in front of everyone, she was full of energy.

Similarly, Song Yuan, Qin Zhan, Liu Hengchang, and the others, who had only slept for two hours, were also full of spirit.

"Commandery Princess, although the camp is simply constructed, it’s enough to handle the current situation." Liu Hengchang said with piercing eyes, "The supply camp has already arrived, I believe we can proceed into the mountains."

Qin Zhan, excitedly rubbing his hands, said, "Over the past two days, we’ve almost fully grasped the situation of Black Pine Village. Out of the 300 plus bandits, we’ve already taken out about forty, leaving no more than 300 in the village. There are people stationed at the tunnel exits, and several teams are guarding outside the bandit’s camp. If we enter the mountains and wipe out the bandits today, we should be able to kill all of them by nightfall."

"Commandery Princess, let’s make our move!" Song Yuan’s words were brief, but his eyes showed the fervor of battle.

Jiang Shaohua raised her eyebrows with a smile, "Alright! Send my command, start the drums and mobilize the troops, march into the mountains to eliminate the bandits."

Thud thud thud!

Thud thud thud!

Thud thud thud!

After three rounds of military drums, the elite soldiers gathered. Qin Zhan led the way, with Liu Hengchang, bringing siege equipment and military craftsmen, closely following.

As a Commandery Princess, personally leading troops to Li County to eliminate bandits, this valor would inspire her personal soldiers. When it came to attacking the bandit’s camp, Jiang Shaohua did not need to enter the mountains; overseeing the camp at the foot of the mountain was sufficient.

The camp left two hundred personal soldiers, including Song Yuan, to protect the safety of the Commandery Princess.

Jiang Shaohua didn’t stay idle either; she led her personal soldiers to survey the camp and went to visit the wounded soldiers.

There were two military doctors in the military camp, whose skills couldn’t compare to the brother and sister Sun Guangbai and Sun Zelan. Thus, for the past two days, the wounded had been primarily attended by the Sun siblings. Now, while the siblings were resting, the two military doctors took care of the wounded in the infirmary tent.

The soldiers lay in their beds, and upon seeing the Commandery Princess, were visibly excited. Jiang Shaohua smiled and said, "Take good care of your injuries, and return to the military camp once you’re healed."

Qin Hu quickly scanned the area but did not see Miss Sun, feeling somewhat disappointed.

Jiang Shaohua suddenly turned and glanced over.

Qin Hu felt a bit guilty under the gaze of the Commandery Princess and immediately shifted his eyes, standing straight.

Jiang Shaohua found it humorous yet also regretted for Qin Hu.

Young men in the throes of first love are often passionate yet impulsive, their feelings plain to see. In her experienced eyes, it was clearly the case of Prince Xiang having interest while the goddess remained unaware.

A girl in love would not exhibit the cold and aloof demeanor of Sun Zelan...

Long-lost memories suddenly flooded in.

Images of her younger self, with blushing cheeks and sparkling eyes, flashed through her mind. Her heart seemed to be pricked, not much sweet, but more of the bittersweetness of unreachable past.

She would not go to the Capital City, not enter the palace again, nor would she meet that young man, rekindle, or fall in love with him.

All choices come with a price.

This was the path she chose.

She wouldn’t regret it, nor would she look back. She would march forward steadfastly!