CHAPTER 77: CHAPTER 77: FATHER AND SON

"The two of you siblings are getting bolder by the day."

In the Prince Mansion’s annex, Doctor Sun blew his beard and glared, "How dare you sneak off with the Commandery Princess to suppress bandits while I was not at the mansion."

Sun Guangbai shrank his head and took the scolding without a word.

Sun Zelan was somewhat displeased, quietly retorting, "The Commandery Princess specifically invited us to accompany her. How could my brother and I refuse? We study medicine to apply what we’ve learned, isn’t it to treat and heal people?"

Doctor Sun shot a sideways glance, "It’s fine if you go, you’re not aiming for the Imperial Hospital, just having a bit of a break. But how can your brother run around so carelessly? The exams are just over two months away, accounting for travel time. How much time is there left to review the medical books? If he doesn’t pass this year, he has to wait another year!"

"He’s already twenty. At his age, I was proficient in both major and minor diagnostics. But he spends his days idly wandering around, refuses to marry, and doesn’t want to study hard for the Imperial Hospital exams!"

The more he spoke, the more pained he felt!

Doctor Sun picked up a wooden stick he had prepared long ago and swung it down.

Sun Guangbai took a hit on the back, yelped in pain, and ran off holding his head.

Doctor Sun was about to chase after him, but Sun Zelan hurried forward, tightly grabbing Doctor Sun’s arm, "Dad, you can hit him once to vent your anger, but don’t hit him anymore. If brother gets injured, won’t he have to stay in bed to recover? That would waste a few more days."

Doctor Sun paused his actions.

Sun Zelan secretly sighed in relief, took the wooden stick from her father’s hand, and placed it inside the house. Then she quickly came out to continue soothing her father, who was slightly appeased, "My brother and I were busy tending to the wounded soldiers, we worked quite hard. The Commandery Princess also rewarded us handsomely."

Doctor Sun snorted, with a slightly softened tone, "Receiving the ruler’s rewards, you should be loyal and relieve the ruler’s worries. This is as it should be. Do not become arrogant over such trifles."

Sun Zelan nodded repeatedly.

Sun Guangbai, who was sneaking around, let out a long breath and gave his sister a grateful glance. His sneaky mannerisms once again annoyed Doctor Sun, "Why are you running? Get over here!"

Sun Guangbai put down his hands and quickly scurried back.

Doctor Sun gave him another round of loud scolding. As long as there was no physical punishment, that was alright. Sun Guangbai appeared engrossed, but in reality, it was in one ear and out the other.

Thankfully, his sister came to the rescue again, "Dad, there’s something I haven’t had a chance to say yet! This time, the Commandery Princess rescued quite a few women from the mountains, including twelve she gave to me. They are a bit older and can’t become physicians. I plan to teach them some pharmacology, familiarize them with herbs, and basic bandaging and care."

"After a year or two of learning, they could work with military doctors in the camps. It’s a proper means of making a living."

Doctor Sun looked at his daughter approvingly, "What you’re doing is very right."

Sun Guangbai felt a bit unfair. Whatever he did, he was scolded, yet his sister was praised for everything she did. His father’s preferential treatment was just too obvious.

However, he felt agitated but didn’t dare say a word.

Even so, his father still caught sight of his grievance, snorted, "You’re a grown man, and you dare compare yourself with a girl? If you’re so capable, why not fly to the sky."

Sun Guangbai, with his face filled with dust and dirt, couldn’t help but retort, "The same thing, and sister gets praised, while I get scolded. Dad, you’re too biased."

Sun Zelan pouted, "Then let me and brother switch. I’ll take the Imperial Hospital exam, and brother stays at the Prince Mansion to teach these poor women."

Sun Guangbai was annoyed, blurting out, "Don’t say they’re so pitiful. In those two nights at the military camp, you examined more corpses than I did."

Sun Zelan: "..."

Doctor Sun: !!!

Doctor Sun’s eyes almost popped out, "What corpses! Tell me clearly!"

Sun Zelan, furious and gritting her teeth, gave her brother, whose mouth was as loose as a waistband, a fierce glare.

What happened to keeping it a secret!

Sun Guangbai regretted it the moment the words left his mouth, but he couldn’t withstand his father’s dissecting-like gaze, hesitantly and reluctantly explaining, "Here’s the thing. The bandits were wiped out, and the corpses were hung outside the camp. My sister and I were bored at night, so we asked the Commandery Princess, who gave us a few corpses to study a bit..."

Doctor Sun’s expression changed unpredictably, his breathing heavy, as he turned to fetch the wooden stick.

Sun Zelan hurriedly grabbed her father’s sleeve, "Dad, I know this isn’t quite appropriate. But my brother and I have been studying medicine since childhood and learned everything from books or from you. It’s a rare opportunity to see it with our own eyes... This greatly benefits our future medical practice."

"Let go!"

"I won’t let go!" Sun Zelan frantically winked at her brother. Sun Guangbai once more darted out of the courtyard holding his head. Then, he almost ran into someone.

"Commandery Princess!"

Sun Guangbai, seeing the person clearly, immediately stopped, pulled back his hands, and bowed.

With a lantern in hand, the gentle light reflected on Jiang Shaohua’s calm and beautiful face.

"What’s this? Doctor Sun is enforcing the family rules again?" Jiang Shaohua joked with a smile.

Sun Guangbai nodded with a bitter face.

Jiang Shaohua delightfully smiled and stepped into the courtyard.

The furious Doctor Sun immediately reverted to his usual gentle and scholarly demeanor, seamlessly retrieving his sleeve from Sun Zelan’s hand and saluting, "Greetings, Commandery Princess."

Jiang Shaohua smiled, "I heard that Doctor Sun has been treating Xiao Tian’s mother and has been traveling back and forth, it’s been hard work. I heard Doctor Sun returned to the mansion only tonight, so I specially came to visit."

Doctor Sun smiled, "It is my duty, I dare not claim it’s hard work. But the Guangbai and Zelan siblings’ willfulness has surely troubled the Commandery Princess."

"They both performed great deeds this time, and their eagerness to study medicine is commendable. I must support it."

Jiang Shaohua seamlessly continued, "Rest assured, Doctor Sun, very few people know about this incident, it won’t get out."

Doctor Sun only relaxed upon receiving this promise.

It wouldn’t matter what Sun Guangbai did. But Sun Zelan, being a girl, studying corpses... how would it be possible to arrange a marriage if word got out?

Jiang Shaohua gave a knowing smile and invited Doctor Sun to the study for a chat.

Once the door closed, Sun Guangbai let out a long sigh, wiping his forehead with his sleeve, "Sister, pour your brother a cup of tea."

Sun Zelan pouted at him, then turned and headed back to her boudoir. Sun Guangbai immediately chased after her, flatteringly apologizing and saying nice things.

Only then did Sun Zelan calm down, whispering, "The Commandery Princess must have a reason for coming so late to talk to Dad. Brother, what do you think she will say?"

Sun Guangbai thought of a possibility, his eyes brightened.

In the study, after Jiang Shaohua finished speaking, Doctor Sun remained silent.

"I know what I’m asking might be difficult for you, Doctor Sun." Jiang Shaohua was earnest, "You have high expectations for your children. Being a military doctor is far different from being an Imperial Physician."

"It’s just that you must be aware of whether Sun Guangbai’s temperament is suited for palace service."

Doctor Sun: "..."