CHAPTER 62: CHAPTER 62: AMBITIONS

Sun Guangbai and Sun Zelan, the brother and sister, approached the Commandery Princess with trepidation, prepared to be reproached.

The dead are of utmost importance, and it is taboo to disturb a corpse.

Never did they expect the Commandery Princess not only refrained from scolding them but also readily agreed, looking admiring and encouraging.

Sun Guangbai felt a warmth of gratitude well up inside him, "The scholar dies for his confidant," and he respectfully thanked her: "Thank you, Commandery Princess."

Sun Zelan’s beautiful eyes revealed excitement and joy: "The Commandery Princess trusts us siblings so much. We are deeply grateful and will surely serve you with all our hearts."

Jiang Shaohua raised an eyebrow and smiled, "I was just about to say, with Doctor Sun in the Prince Mansion, it is enough. However, the military camp truly lacks military doctors. In the future, if there are operations to suppress bandits, would you be willing to accompany and serve as military doctors?"

Sun Zelan agreed without a second thought.

Sun Guangbai sighed with a bitter expression, "It’s not that I am unwilling. In three months, there’s the Imperial Hospital exam, and my father has ordered me to pass it this year. He’s gone to treat Xiao Tian’s mother, and I sneaked out while he’s away. Once I return, I will get a scolding."

"I really want to be a military doctor. But my father would never allow it."

For the Sun Family, with generations of medical practice, having the descendants enter the Imperial Hospital is the ultimate pursuit. To be a military doctor, treating the wounds of common soldiers, is considered a degenerate act without class.

Jiang Shaohua looked directly at Sun Guangbai, her gaze bright and captivating: "What matters is not what Doctor Sun thinks but what your ambition is. If you aim to enter the Imperial Hospital, I will not hinder your career."

"If you wish to join the army as a military doctor, I will personally speak to Doctor Sun."

As soon as she finished speaking, Sun Guangbai’s eyes lit up, "Of course, I want to be a military doctor."

"To be frank with the Commandery Princess, my skills in major and minor prescriptions are average. I prefer fracture treatment and external injury care. I have taken the Imperial Hospital exam for several years without success. My father has high expectations of me. I dared not defy his wishes, forcing myself to study medical books."

"If the Commandery Princess can persuade my father, I will join the military camp as a military doctor."

Jiang Shaohua smiled slightly, "Alright, I’ll handle this matter."

Sun Guangbai was overjoyed and thanked her again with clasped hands.

Jiang Shaohua again looked at the bright-eyed Sun Zelan, "Zelan, what is your ambition?"

Sun Zelan straightened her back, "Please don’t laugh, Commandery Princess. I don’t want to marry, to be confined to the inner quarters, or just to be a female examination doctor. I want to become a renowned doctor so that one day, even the Imperial Hospital will have to carefully consider asking me to join."

She spoke with vigor and ended with a youthful discontent.

Why can’t women become Imperial Physicians?

Her talent in medicine was outstanding, even slightly surpassing her brother. But her father only urged her brother to take the Imperial Hospital exam, never mentioning her, fueling her resentment.

Jiang Shaohua listened seriously and then said to Sun Zelan, "Your ambition is admirable. I support you."

Sun Zelan’s heart surged with passion, and she couldn’t help but step forward, "Does the Commandery Princess truly believe I can do it?"

Jiang Shaohua grasped Sun Zelan’s hands solemnly, "You most certainly can!"

Sun Zelan smiled with tightly pursed lips, her voice crisp as a silver bell, "The Commandery Princess trusts me, which makes me truly happy. In the future, you may command me as you wish."

Jiang Shaohua smiled slightly, "There is indeed something I need to entrust to you."

"Those women who followed us down the mountain all lead difficult lives. The Prince Mansion can offer them a meal, but I believe that life requires dignity and purpose."

"The timid among them can work in the kitchen, while the bolder ones follow you. Cleaning wounds, applying medicine, bandaging, brewing, and administering medicine are not too difficult. After a year or so of learning, they will be useful."

Most doctors have attendants by their side, and what Jiang Shaohua suggested was similar to what attendants did.

Since Sun Guangbai was a man, it wasn’t appropriate for him to lead a group of women, but Sun Zelan had no such concerns. The ancestral medical skills of the Sun Family couldn’t be imparted, but teaching simple cleaning and bandaging wasn’t a big deal.

Sun Zelan readily agreed.

Jiang Shaohua took the opportunity to leave the military tent under the cover of night, leading Sun Guangbai and Sun Zelan to outside the Wooden Village.

Over three hundred corpses hung there, some freshly deceased, the smell of blood not yet dried, quite "fresh."

A patrol of four personal soldiers was nearby.

Jiang Shaohua glanced over, calling the four soldiers over and instructing them to each find a new corpse.

The personal soldiers were loyal and never questioned any of the Commandery Princess’s commands. At her order, they immediately carried a corpse each into the empty military tent at the corner.

This tent wasn’t far from the wounded soldiers’ tent, just a few steps away.

Jiang Shaohua followed them into the tent.

Sun Guangbai was somewhat nervous and coughed, "It’s so late, Commandery Princess should return to the tent to rest! My sister and I will likely stay up all night."

Sun Zelan was more direct: "Dissecting corpses is bound to be very bloody. The Commandery Princess is still young, it might be too much to bear."

But Jiang Shaohua replied, "I’ll watch for a while before I leave."

The siblings exchanged glances and could only agree.

They were prepared, each taking out sharp tools like blades and scissors from the medical box, and wore an apron and covered their faces with cotton cloth. Sitting on small stools, they began to "study" the bodies.

Jiang Shaohua watched for a while, and her stomach started to churn.

The siblings were engrossed, whispering to each other occasionally, oblivious to everything else.

Before she was about to vomit, Jiang Shaohua stepped out of the tent.

The cool night breeze blew over, and Jiang Shaohua took a deep breath, exhaling the foul air.

Killing isn’t difficult; just a stab would suffice. However, the meticulous "research" by the Sun siblings was unprecedented. After a while, her scalp felt numb.

Two familiar tall figures sneaked over.

Jiang Shaohua glanced at them, "Qin Hu, Meng Sanbao, you’re both injured and should be resting. Why are you here?"

Qin Hu, whose injury was minor, had almost fully recovered after two days. Meng Sanbao’s injury was more severe and truly shouldn’t be moving around.

Qin Hu cleared his throat and replied, "Reporting to Commandery Princess, Doctor Sun and Miss Sun are working in the tent, and Sanbao and I had nothing to do, so we came to take a look."

Jiang Shaohua tugged at the corner of her mouth and didn’t stop them, "Alright, you two take a look inside and come out afterwards."

Qin Hu perked up, thanked the Commandery Princess, and then went into the tent with Meng Sanbao.

Jiang Shaohua stood, hands clasped behind her back, eyes on the sky, counting silently in her mind.

One, two, three...

By the time she reached twenty, Meng Sanbao came out first, his body stiff and his face pale.

Immediately after, Qin Hu also came out, looking no better than Meng Sanbao, and then Meng Sanbao retched loudly.