Climbing to the Top: A Reborn Queen's Journey-Chapter 342: New Beginnings (Part 3)

The next morning, everyone indeed enjoyed steaming hot pork chop noodles.

After eating and drinking their fill, Jiang Shaohua and Sun Zelan went together into the Wounded Soldier Camp tent. Sun Guangbai, who hadn’t slept all night, had red eyes and was yawning while trying to stand up to salute.

"No need to salute," Jiang Shaohua quickly smiled and instructed, "Go back and rest quickly."

Sun Guangbai nodded, excused himself, and left the tent, yawning again and rubbing his red eyes vigorously.

A tender girl’s voice rang in his ear, "Young master, do you still have the energy to go back to your tent?"

It was Shanxing’s voice.

Sun Guangbai joked casually, "I stayed up all night, I can’t even walk now."

Just as he finished speaking, Shanxing came closer and reached out to support his arm.

Sun Guangbai was startled, his drowsiness disappeared instantly, and he quickly took two steps back to put some distance between them, "What are you doing?"

Shanxing, with her clear black-and-white almond eyes, said, "I’m helping the young master back! Don’t worry, I have the strength to support you."

"No, no, no," Sun Guangbai shook his head repeatedly, refusing, "I was just joking earlier. I am a bit tired, but I still have the strength to walk. There’s no need for you to support me."

These dozen or so girls of different ages were nominally learning medicine from Sun Zelan. In reality, Sun Zelan couldn’t manage it all on her own, so Sun Guangbai, without the official title of a teacher, also took on a lot of disciple teachings.

Sun Guangbai was easygoing and humorous, with a great rapport with people. However, he was not casual when it came to interactions between men and women. On the contrary, he was particularly mindful of boundaries. With so many girls around, he never stayed alone with any of them.

Especially the girl in front of him, Shanxing, who had grown up day by day from a naïve child to a charming young lady. He thus maintained a particularly cautious distance to avoid any rumors or misunderstandings.

Sun Guangbai quickly walked away, while Shanxing stood in place, her delicate face showing a trace of disappointment.

Not far away, Lin Huiniang witnessed the scene and secretly admired Mr. Sun’s demeanor and grace. Then she smiled and walked over, "Mr. Sun has already left, why are you still standing here? Let’s go have breakfast, there’s a bunch of stuff to do later!"

To Shanxing, Lin Huiniang was like half a mother. Hearing this, she responded and quietly followed Lin Huiniang.

Lin Huiniang was very attentive and softly asked, "Shanxing, are you feeling down?"

Shanxing lowered her head and replied sullenly with an "hmm."

Lin Huiniang seemed to think of something, a look of pity flashing in her eyes, and suddenly stopped, holding Shanxing’s hand. Shanxing looked up, her eyes filled with confusion and bewilderment, "Huiniang, I don’t know what’s happening to me. I clearly dislike men the most and don’t want to talk to any of them. But seeing the young master makes me very happy."

Due to her miserable experience when she was young, Shanxing’s mental development was far behind that of girls her age.

At fifteen, girls were already at an age where they could fall in love and marry. Shanxing didn’t understand what admiration or romantic feelings between a man and a woman were. She didn’t even know why she wanted to be close to Sun Guangbai. She merely instinctively wanted to get closer, then felt lonely because Sun Guangbai distanced himself clearly.

Lin Huiniang felt both sympathy and helplessness. She reached out to pat Shanxing’s head and gently admonished her, "You mustn’t say things like that anymore."

"You’ve grown up, and there are some things you should understand. Men and women should maintain propriety. Mr. Sun is a righteous gentleman and doesn’t want to take advantage of you. Keeping a distance from you is for your own good."

Shanxing, who always listened to Lin Huiniang, obediently replied, "Oh."

Still worried, Lin Huiniang added another reminder, "Don’t talk to Mr. Sun alone anymore."

Shanxing replied with an "Oh" again. A hint of puzzlement flashed in her clear, black-and-white eyes, "If Mr. Sun talks to me on his own, should I ignore him?"

Lin Huiniang thought for a moment and said, "Mr. Sun won’t initiate a conversation with you."

Given Sun Guangbai’s family background and character, if he wanted to get married, it wouldn’t be difficult to find a well-bred lady. However, neither he nor his sister, Sun Zelan, seemed to have plans to marry, delaying again and again. It’s thanks to Doctor Sun’s patience that Sun Guangbai remained unmarried at twenty-three!

Such a man as Sun Guangbai, how could he possibly tease a young girl’s budding feelings?

Shanxing didn’t speak anymore, lowering her head, lost in thought.

Lin Huiniang sighed inwardly but maintained a calm exterior, leading Shanxing to breakfast nonchalantly.

...

"How is this wounded soldier now?"

In the Wounded Soldier Camp, Jiang Shaohua asked softly.

Sun Zelan carefully examined the injured soldier and then turned around with a smile, "It’s looking okay, the body is slightly warm but there’s no high fever. That’s a good sign, as long as there’s no high fever within three days, his life can be saved." 𝐟𝚛𝕖𝚎𝕨𝗲𝐛𝚗𝐨𝐯𝐞𝕝.𝐜𝗼𝗺

Jiang Shaohua relaxed her brows, letting out a breath, "It’s good if his life can be saved. Even if he can’t fight on the battlefield again, he can be assigned tasks at the field manor."

The personal guards in the Personal Guard Camp who died in battle received generous compensation, with their families supported by the Prince Mansion. Those who were injured were properly arranged, with lighter injuries returning to the camp and heavier injuries rendering them unable to fight being taken care of effectively.

It was precisely because of this that all the trusted aides remained loyal and fearless in the face of death.

Sun Zelan called over a disciple to stay by the bedside, then went to other Wounded Soldier Camp tents for rounds. Most of the injuries were external, requiring daily medication changes and medicines. These trivial tasks were now handled by Lin Huiniang and others, with Sun Zelan mainly responsible for diagnosing and treating the injuries.

Jiang Shaohua stayed in the Wounded Soldier Camp tent all day, checking on every injured soldier, comforting each one. The Commandery Princess’s personal visit uplifted the spirits of the wounded soldiers. The tent, which had been filled with gloom, turned peaceful and harmonious.

In the evening, Jiang Shaohua left the Wounded Soldier Camp, accompanied by Sun Zelan and Sun Guangbai seeing her off together.

Jiang Shaohua glanced at Sun Guangbai with a smile, "Doctor Sun has already mentioned to me twice to find a matchmaker for you. Do you have a girl you fancy?"

Sun Guangbai put on a bitter face, clasped his hands together, and bowed repeatedly to Jiang Shaohua, "Save me, Commandery Princess!"

Jiang Shaohua was amused.

Sun Zelan also laughed, "If it weren’t for the Commandery Princess shielding you, who knows how many times Father would have resorted to family discipline."

Indeed, these three years of leisurely days were all thanks to the Commandery Princess.

Sun Guangbai, like praying to Buddha, continued to bow to the Commandery Princess, "I really don’t want to get married. Living in the camp, treating wounded soldiers every day, this life I’ve gotten very accustomed to. I beg the Commandery Princess to continue to shield me."

Jiang Shaohua chuckled, "Alright, I’ll talk to Doctor Sun again."

"However, you also have to mentally prepare yourself. Doctor Sun has tacitly agreed to Zelan not marrying. As for you, you can delay it for a few years, but you can’t remain a bachelor forever."

Doctor Sun is already quite open-minded. If it were someone else, they wouldn’t care whether the son wanted to or not, directly arranging a marriage. How could the son dare not marry!

Sun Guangbai breathed a sigh of relief, grinning, "One day delayed is a day earned."