CHAPTER 83: CHAPTER 83: THE MEETING (1)

At Jiang Shaohua’s command, the Prince Mansion instantly became busy inside and out.

In one day, they had to prepare carriages and horses, ready all luggage. For a moment, everyone was in a frenzy, even Yin Zhu and Tu Bai were overwhelmed with work.

Sun Guangbai and his sister, upon hearing this news, did not rush to the Personal Guard Camp. They prepared to meet the Commandery Princess and accompany her on the journey.

Doctor Sun sternly admonished them: "You two just received your assignments, go stay at the military camp first. This time the Commandery Princess is inspecting the warehouses of the Fourteen Counties, not leading troops to battle. There’s no need for you two."

Sun Guangbai sensed something was off in the tone and probed, "Father, you’re going yourself?"

Doctor Sun nodded matter-of-factly, "When the Commandery Princess travels, a physician must be by her side. I’m the Prince Mansion’s Imperial Physician, so of course, I must accompany her."

"You two don’t dawdle, hurry to the military camp."

After boarding the carriage, the siblings couldn’t help but mutter a few words.

"It’s all your fault," Sun Zelan pouted, "if you hadn’t let it slip, father wouldn’t have known what we’ve been up to in the camp. Now look, father won’t let us go."

Sun Guangbai also sighed, "Father is obviously eager to delve into medical expertise himself." He quickly perked up and laughed, "It’s fine not to go this time. Anyway, we’re in the camp, whenever the Personal Guard Camp dispatches to quell bandits, we’ll still have a chance."

That’s the way it is.

Sun Zelan sighed.

After half a day’s journey, the siblings arrived at the military camp.

Qin Zhan, Meng Dashan, and Liu Hengchang personally received them. Ordinary military doctors wouldn’t receive such treatment. Sun Guangbai and Sun Zelan being Doctor Sun’s children, had received genuine medical training, and their skills surpassed ordinary military doctors by many times. Moreover, the siblings were favored by the Commandery Princess, so they were treated with extra courtesy and respect.

The siblings were settled in the same row of houses, with Lin Huiniang and twelve other women, four sharing a room.

Coincidentally, Kong Qingwan and the others also lived here.

Upon meeting, everyone felt as if a lifetime had passed, becoming exceptionally close. They were all women unaccepted by societal norms, abandoned by fathers, brothers, and husbands. Now gathered together, they felt like family.

"Qingwan sister, living in the camp, has anyone been disrespectful to you?" Lin Huiniang quietly asked.

The other women weren’t of high birth, only Kong Qingwan, with her beauty and grace, stood out as a proper young lady, making her particularly pitiable in her current situation.

Kong Qingwan’s face had lost much of its gloom. She softly replied, "There are a couple of extra glances, but no one says anything directly."

As for gossiping behind her back, how could there be any less?

The other women worked in the kitchen and had limited contact with people, which was slightly better. Only she had to teach the personal soldiers to read and write every evening, making it unavoidable.

Lin Huiniang held Kong Qingwan’s hand and whispered, "We’ve already endured the hardest times, now it’s just a matter of clenching our teeth."

Kong Qingwan gathered her spirits and nodded, "Don’t worry, I can handle it."

A tall, robust young man, built like a tower, approached.

Lin Huiniang glanced and knew who it was, softly laughing, "This Brother Tao, he also studies and learns to read every day?"

Kong Qingwan smiled helplessly, "With so many people in the Personal Guard Camp, each one learning to read is too much to teach. Commander Qin and the others have the captains read and write every evening, who then teach it to the others back in the barracks."

"Brother Tao is also a captain."

In the Personal Guard Camp, every five formed a squad, and ten squads made a team. A team captain managed fifty people. Thus, every day, over thirty captains came to study and learn to read.

Tao Da and Xiao Tian are both captains. Xiao Tian is a Divine Archer, and Tao Da, with his immense strength and extraordinary skills, is among the top captains.

The classes were held in a large room not far from the living quarters. Every day, Tao Da insisted on escorting her, despite Kong Qingwan’s repeated refusals.

Lin Huiniang glanced at Kong Qingwan and then at the bright-eyed Tao Da, inwardly sighing.

"Brother Tao, please don’t come fetch me anymore." Kong Qingwan said softly, "Rumors are fearsome, and it’s not good if gossip spreads."

Tao Da nodded as usual.

Kong Qingwan was helpless, waved to Lin Huiniang to say goodbye, and then left with Tao Da following behind.

Kong Qingwan had a slender figure, lovely face, and gentle temperament, while Tao Da was tall and dark, looking like a crude man.

They didn’t match at all.

Yet their departing figures oddly harmonized.

Lin Huiniang watched for a while, silently sighing.

...

A day later, Jiang Shaohua led the group and set off to Wan County.

Jiang Shaohua first took a carriage, and after leaving Nanyang County, switched to a fine horse, quickly marching for two days to Wan County. Li County was mountainous and forested, while Wan County was the opposite, rich in rivers and waters, with occasional ponds near the main road, offering lovely scenery along the way.

The Nanyang Army camped twenty miles outside Wan County’s town.

In principle, the Commandery Princess’s visit to the camp should have been greeted personally by Zuo Zhen. Meeting ten or even twenty miles out showed respect.

Yet, no one came to greet them even five miles outside the camp.

Song Yuan Meng Dashan sneered repeatedly, Chen Zhuo wore a grim expression, and Yang Zheng internally lit a candle for the Left General. Even the amiable Chief Clerk Wen was furiously indignant.

Finally, two miles outside the camp, a group appeared to welcome the Commandery Princess.

This group of about twenty were all military generals of the Nanyang Army. The leading figure, around forty, was tall, robust, with a dark complexion, a scar on his chin, and piercing eyes, saluting, "Subordinate Yu Chong greets the Commandery Princess."

The other military generals saluted together.

Jiang Shaohua’s gaze swept indifferently, "Troubling General Yu to welcome personally, I am grateful."

General Yu’s dark face flushed at the sarcasm. He gritted his teeth and said softly, "Please calm your anger, Commandery Princess. Learning of your arrival, I originally intended to welcome you ten miles out, but the Left General refused firmly, and I cannot defy the main general’s orders. I ask for your understanding, Commandery Princess."

Yu Chong had been in the Nanyang Army Camp for over a decade, personally promoted by Prince Nanyang. Originally, with the previous main general’s passing, Yu Chong had a chance to succeed the position. Unexpectedly, the court sent down a new Left General.

The original Nanyang Faction had been suppressed continuously in recent years, facing hard times. Yu Chong, once a rising star with a bright future, had become a vent for the new main general’s frustrations.

"Seems you’ve suffered a lot and fear Zuo Zhen," Jiang Shaohua coldly glanced, her words were harsh.

Yu Chong’s dark face turned red, for what the Commandery Princess said was true and irrefutable. After a while, he stammered, "The Commandery Princess’s frustrations, I understand. However, I must inform the Commandery Princess about the Left General’s temper. The Left General is quick to anger and often draws his sword, with dozens of personal soldiers, all from the Zuo Family’s retinue, each a master..."

Jiang Shaohua said indifferently, "Lead the way; I shall meet this Left General."