CHAPTER 81: CHAPTER 81: FRUSTRATION

The trusted aides were all shocked, simultaneously looking at Qin Hu, whose face was flushed with embarrassment.

Qin Hu, how did you previously mock Commander Song? Why are you now shamelessly trying to please the Commandery Princess just like Commander Song?

Qin Hu couldn’t explain himself even if he had a hundred mouths, he lowered his head to pick up the long knife, feeling stifled as he stood to the side.

Jiang Shaohua smilingly pointed to another trusted aide.

All the trusted aides in the Prince Mansion were skilled. This one, after cupping his hands in salute, drew his accustomed long sword and charged fiercely.

He was not like Qin Hu, shamelessly restraining himself just to flatter the Commandery Princess.

After one cup of tea’s time, this trusted aide squatted down with a bitter face to pick up the long sword that had been knocked away.

Another person was added to those being scorned by the trusted aides.

Fortunately, he was not the only one embarrassed. The trusted aide retreated to Qin Hu’s side and whispered, "The Commandery Princess’s spear technique is truly fierce, we are no match for her."

Qin Hu rolled his eyes in annoyance. Of course, the Commandery Princess was skilled; did they really think he was holding back?

Next, one trusted aide after another stepped forward to spar with the Commandery Princess. One defeat could be an accident, two could be holding back, but when five or six consecutively lost, the trusted aides were deeply shaken.

Song Yuan watched the embarrassed and shocked expressions of each one, and suddenly felt much better: "That’s enough for today. Tomorrow morning, we’ll switch to a new group to spar with the Commandery Princess."

Then, with a stern face, he scolded, "With skills like yours, if you encounter danger, will you be the ones protecting the Commandery Princess, or will she have to protect you? Starting today, everyone will practice an extra hour. In a month’s time, there will be a skills assessment, and those who fail will be sent back to the trusted aides’ camp!"

The trusted aides obediently bowed their heads and agreed.

Jiang Shaohua dismissed it with a smile and changed her clothes to go to the study for a meeting.

The trusted aides stood guard outside the study, covertly whispering while on patrol.

"Qin Hu, the Commandery Princess is truly this powerful."

"And you have the gall to say," Qin Hu glared at them: "Just practice well from now on! Otherwise, what face do we have to remain as trusted aides in the Prince Mansion?"

After half a day on duty and then changing shifts, Qin Hu returned to his room sullenly.

In the same room, Meng Sanbao was still reclining on the bed, recovering from injury. Hearing the door open, Meng Sanbao turned over with some effort, glanced Qin Hu up and down, and clicked his tongue.

Qin Hu, filled with frustration, immediately glared over: "Clicking your tongue, do you also think I deliberately held back? I didn’t hold back at all, I simply couldn’t beat the Commandery Princess."

"When you’re healed, you try sparring in the training ground and you’ll see."

As a personal soldier, being unable to defeat the Commandery Princess was truly embarrassing and frustrating.

Meng Sanbao chuckled: "Alright, don’t vent your frustrations. You know exactly why you’re in a bad mood; no point in lashing out at others all the time!"

Before Qin Hu could retort, Meng Sanbao took a pouch out from under his pillow, opened it with satisfaction, and fished out a small bottle of medicinal herbs: "Look at this, it’s healing herbs personally made by Doctor Sun, very effective. This was previously gifted to Silver Vermilion by the Commandery Princess, and she couldn’t bear to use it, so she sent it to me."

Qin Hu: "..."

More infuriating than unrequited love is seeing a brother flourish in romance.

Qin Hu gritted his teeth in rage, storming over to the bed and snatched the medicine bottle.

Meng Sanbao objected: "Joking aside, return it quickly. If you need medicine, just go ask Miss Sun for a bottle."

Qin Hu found reason in this and tossed the bottle back. Meng Sanbao deftly caught it, yelling: "I was just talking nonsense, are you really going?"

The response was a loud slam of the door.

A stick of incense later, the door was flung open again.

Meng Sanbao struggled to sit upright, looking puzzled at his still sullen friend: "What’s wrong? Miss Sun didn’t give you the medicine? But wait, don’t you already have a bottle in your hand? Why the long face!"

Qin Hu plopped onto his bed, responding weakly: "Miss Sun was busy teaching her disciples, and it was Doctor Sun who came out and handed me this bottle of medicine."

Meng Sanbao was speechless. After a moment, he sighed: "Brother Hu, maybe you should give up your feelings for Miss Sun. She clearly is indifferent to you. Forced affection is not sweet."

"Moreover, you don’t even have the ability to force this affection."

Words of truth are always so piercing, so hurtful.

Qin Hu widened his eyes, wanting to curse. But before he could speak, his eyes reddened.

Seeing Qin Hu like this, Meng Sanbao also felt uncomfortable. Normally, they bickered often, but watching his friend so despondent made him feel bad too.

Meng Sanbao tossed a handkerchief over, and Qin Hu grabbed it, blowing his nose fiercely.

Meng Sanbao immediately felt distressed: "This handkerchief was a gift from Silver Vermilion, and I usually don’t even bear to use it. Look how you’ve sullied it."

Qin Hu felt another pang in his heart and lay back down on the bed, showing Meng Sanbao a cold, heartless back.

...

Sun Zelan didn’t give this little episode any mind.

She was busy with her twelve female disciples, teaching them to recognize medicinal herbs.

Sun Guangbai, no longer needing to burn the midnight oil studying for the Imperial Hospital, smiled broadly for most of the day. During a break, he laughed quietly, "I’ve packed my medicine box and clothes, I’ll report to the military camp tomorrow. Will you come with me tomorrow or go later?"

Sun Zelan thought for a moment and said: "When on duty, I should act like it. I’ll also go to the military camp tomorrow. Lin Huiniang and the others will go with me."

Sun Guangbai rubbed his hands: "Dear sister, you are too busy teaching so many disciples. Why not let me help relieve your burden?"

Sun Zelan rolled her eyes with a smile: "If you’re too busy, I can help you. Don’t get any ideas about them. They’re all pitiful people."

Sun Guangbai felt wronged: "I felt sorry for you being so busy, and thought I could help teach in your free time. What were you thinking?"

The brother and sister shared a few laughs, then packed their belongings to depart for the military camp the next morning.

Jiang Shaohua was also busy. For several consecutive days, she visited the workshops every day, and had even gone to the large workshop outside the Prince Mansion twice.

In this half month, the workshops had rushed out over eighty new plows, all of which have been delivered to the spring plowing fields, barely catching up with the spring planting in Nanyang County.

The next batch of newly crafted plows were to be sent to the county governments as samples.

Jiang Shaohua specifically instructed the first batch to be sent to Li County’s county government.

Drawing blueprints was, of course, Cui Du’s task. Busy in the fields during the day, even his handsome face was darkened by the sun. In the evenings, he drew blueprints, busier than ever, without even having time to return to the Prince Mansion.

As spring planting concluded, Chief Clerk Wen received an assignment from the Commandery Princess.

"What? The Commandery Princess wants to inspect the warehouses of the Fourteen Counties?" Chief Clerk Wen, an aged man, was shocked to his core, his dim old eyes widening with surprise.

"Correct," Jiang Shaohua smiled faintly, calmly asking: "Chief Clerk Wen, would you like to accompany me on the inspection?"