CHAPTER 162: CHAPTER 162: LOVESICKNESS (PART 1)

Tao Da was about to speak joyfully when Qin Zhan stopped him with a stern look: "Tao Da, don’t babble nonsense in front of the Commandery Princess, go to the wood tower to stand guard immediately."

Drawing from years of experience getting scolded, Tao Da silently assessed his commander’s sternness, then decisively said, "I’m not babbling nonsense. My mother has agreed for me to marry Miss Kong. I’m here to seek the Princess’s blessing."

Qin Zhan: "..."

Sparks flew from Qin Zhan’s eyes.

Chen Sheren stretched his neck to watch the spectacle. Ma Sheren, not knowing the situation, looked over curiously.

Jiang Shaohua saw Tao Da’s eyes lighting up and smiled slightly: "Tao Da, I ask you, how did you persuade your mother?"

Tao Da proudly puffed out his chest: "I told my mother that either I marry Miss Kong, or I’ll remain single forever. After half a year of crying and ranting, she finally gave in and agreed."

Counting the days, it indeed had been half a year since Kong Qingwan and other girls entered the Personal Guard Camp. This means from the day Tao Da returned, he declared his intent to marry Kong Qingwan to his mother.

Old Lady Tao, known among the guards’ families for her fierce temper, was helpless against her stubborn son. This shows how determined Tao Da was.

"Just your mother’s approval isn’t enough," Jiang Shaohua smiled. "To marry Miss Kong, she must be willing. You’re seeking the Princess’s blessing because Miss Kong rejected your proposal, right?"

Tao Da deflated like a punctured balloon and mumbled sheepishly.

Qin Zhan, having just calmed down, snorted: "This fool didn’t even hire a matchmaker and went straight to propose to Miss Kong himself. He got rejected three times!"

"Princess, you needn’t concern yourself with him. Let him continue hitting his head against the wall; once he’s battered and bruised, he’ll surely stop."

Speaking of this matter, Qin Zhan felt infuriated.

In these months, the personal soldiers of the Second Camp have been patrolling counties with the Commandery Princess. Soldiers of the First and Third Camps build the camp during the day, and study at night. I, the commander, am no exception, busy from dawn till dusk, wishing to split myself in two.

Of course, when it came time to study, I wished I could borrow a brain. With such matters at hand, Tao Da’s infatuation with Kong Qingwan became a joke among the Personal Guard Camp. Everyone teased him to unwind after a long day.

This fool Tao Da didn’t know everyone was laughing at him but thought they all wished him luck!

The more Qin Zhan thought about it, the more annoyed he became. He implored through gritted teeth: "Please, Princess, do not intervene in this matter."

In front of everyone, Jiang Shaohua did not insult Commander Qin’s dignity, nodding slightly. Then seriously said to Tao Da: "This matter, I cannot help you with. I have told you before, if you wish to marry, first your mother must agree, second, Miss Kong must be willing. Now that she isn’t, you mustn’t pester her."

"I will not force Miss Kong. Tao Da, did you understand?"

Tao Da, though a bit dull, was not truly foolish. Such direct words were easy to understand. He responded in a dejected voice, looking like a withered eggplant.

...

Jiang Shaohua continued inspecting the new military camp. By the time she finished touring the new campgrounds, it was dark, just in time to return to camp for dinner.

The food in the Personal Guard Camp has always been good. Tonight’s dinner was meat soup with mixed flour steamed buns and a dish of stir-fried cabbage.

While traveling, Jiang Shaohua wasn’t picky about food or lodging: "No need to add dishes, I’ll eat whatever everyone else is eating."

Just after finishing the meal, Chen Jinyu came in excitedly: "Princess, I would like to meet Miss Kong."

Jiang Shaohua blinked and smiled: "I knew you’d come. Let’s go, we’ll go quietly and see how Miss Kong teaches her class."

Jiang Shaohua changed into a black martial outfit and strolled out of the tent with Chen Jinyu, not even bringing Yin Zhu and Tu Bai. When Qin Hu and Meng Sanbao wanted to follow, Jiang Shaohua stopped them: "This is the Personal Guard Camp; what assassins could there possibly be here to fear?"

Considering the Princess’s skills, even three or five ordinary assassins wouldn’t be a match.

So Qin Hu and Meng Sanbao stayed behind.

Meng Sanbao leaned over to chat with Silver Vermilion, saying something that made her chuckle.

Qin Hu watched with jealousy and heartache, also thinking about how he hadn’t seen Miss Sun for almost half a year, so he quietly slipped out.

"Eh? Where did Qin Hu go?" Silver Vermilion asked casually with a smile.

Meng Sanbao didn’t even bother to turn his head: "Ha, he’s definitely sneaking off to find Miss Sun. Just wait, he’ll be back with his tail between his legs in an hour."

Fortunately, Qin Hu didn’t hear this, or he would have quarreled with his good brother on the spot.

Sun Zelan and her brother are military doctors living in the southeast corner of the camp along with other military doctors. Qin Hu didn’t need to ask; he quickly found Sun Zelan’s residence.

Doctor Sun was sternly questioning his son and daughter, when he heard someone report that Guard Qin requested to see Miss Sun, Doctor Sun raised an eyebrow and glanced at Sun Zelan.

Sun Zelan’s gaze was clear and upright: "Guard Qin must have come by the Princess’s order. I’ll go take a look."

Doctor Sun stroked his beard and nodded.

Sun Zelan got up to leave, and Sun Guangbai unthinkingly got up to follow, but Doctor Sun glared him down: "He’s not here for you, why are you going out? Sit down."

Sun Guangbai was full of grievances: "I’m just worried that if they are alone, it might not sound good to others."

Doctor Sun said calmly: "Zelan chose this path herself, to enter the military camp as a military doctor, seeing soldiers every day. Why care about such empty reputations?"

That’s true.

Sun Guangbai scratched his head and sat back down.

Outside the tent, the once imposing Guard Qin became suddenly mild-mannered, even a little bashful: "It’s been half a year since we last met, how has Miss Sun been lately?"

Sun Zelan smiled: "Very well. Treating injured soldiers daily and teaching students, busy and fulfilling. Guard Qin, you didn’t come just to ask that, did you!"

Qin Hu, looking at the radiant Miss Sun, gathered his courage and said: "I have nothing else, just came to see Miss Sun."

Sun Zelan replied with an "oh": "Now that you’ve seen, Guard Qin please return!" She turned back crisply, without a hint of reluctance.

Qin Hu: "..."

Qin Hu came with a heart full of passion but returned with a chest full of shattered pieces.

Meng Sanbao showed no sympathy, peeking out and laughing: "Silver Vermilion, I was right, wasn’t I? Miss Sun indeed paid him no mind."

Qin Hu was furious, pointing a finger at Meng Sanbao: "Say one more word and see what happens."

See what happens indeed!

Meng Sanbao puffed his chest: "What? Just because Miss Sun ignored you, you want to take it out on your good brother?"

Qin Hu, gnashing his teeth in anger, clenched his fists and rushed over.

Silver Vermilion, accustomed to seeing them bicker, paid no attention, turning to Tu Bai: "Let’s prepare a midnight snack for the Princess."