Climbing to the Top: A Reborn Queen's Journey-Chapter 349: Turning Toward Goodness

Jiang Shaohua quietly went to the Family Camp, without making a fuss. She only had Chen Jinyu secretly inform Kong Qingwan.

Kong Qingwan gathered her courage to file a complaint once, never expecting the Commandery Princess to personally stand up for her. Her eyes, dark as night, suddenly reddened.

"Please ask Chen Sheren to thank the Commandery Princess for me," Kong Qingwan said chokingly. "The Commandery Princess’s great kindness and virtue, I, Kong Qingwan, couldn’t repay in this life even if I became a servant."

The Commandery Princess not only saved her but also allowed her to live with dignity. The latter was even more important than the former.

Chen Jinyu smiled and comforted Kong Qingwan, "With the Commandery Princess backing you, Tao’s mother won’t dare to trouble you anymore. During your off-duty time, you can leave the military camp whenever you wish."

Kong Qingwan used a handkerchief to wipe her tears and nodded.

Chen Jinyu happily returned, and upon arriving outside the Commandery Princess’s main tent, he suddenly saw three women kneeling there.

Chen Jinyu was startled and quickly glanced over, asking Ma Yaosong, "Why are they here?"

The three women varied in height and age, and their looks were considered decent. They also came from a bandit nest, but they were different from Lin Huiniang, Shan Xingfangniang, and the others.

These three women had all been female bandits, and the leader was named Cui Zhi.

In fact, ten female bandits had been brought into the military camp that day. Over the past three years, three died from exhaustion, two from illness, and two couldn’t endure and committed suicide. Only these three remain now.

Ma Yaosong replied softly, "The three of them came and didn’t say anything; they just knelt outside the Commandery Princess’s main tent. Commander Song has already gone in to report."

It depends on whether the Commandery Princess wants to see them or not.

Chen Jinyu nodded slightly and walked past Ma Yaosong into the Commandery Princess’s main tent.

Ma Yaosong watched Chen Sheren freely coming and going, feeling quite envious.

The Commandery Princess was indeed good to him too. However, Chen Sheren has a natural advantage; as long as they travel, he shares meals and accommodations with the Commandery Princess. That was something he indeed couldn’t match.

As Chen Jinyu entered the tent, the first thing he heard was: "Let the three of them come in."

A moment later, Cui Zhi and the others entered the tent.

Three years of heavy labor had left a deep mark on the faces of the former female bandits. Cui Zhi, who was only in her twenties, looked like a woman in her thirties.

After entering, the three knelt down and kowtowed.

Jiang Shaohua cast her gaze over them, waited for them to finish kowtowing, and then said, "I said back then, after entering the military camp, you would do three years of heavy labor. If you could endure it, I would forgive your crimes."

"Since you’ve managed to do it, I will keep my promise."

"Starting today, the three of you are free."

Tears welled up in the eyes of the three women: "Thank you, Commandery Princess!"

Out of ten female bandits, only these three survived. The bitterness and hardships in between need not be detailed. Fortunately, they survived.

"What do you wish to do next?" Jiang Shaohua asked.

Cui Zhi, who was the most thoughtful, cautiously replied, "To report to the Commandery Princess, we have grown accustomed to the military camp and wish to remain here."

"We can’t learn from Miss Sun’s skills, and the kitchen isn’t short of people right now. We are thinking of making a living by doing laundry in the military camp."

"For each dirty piece of clothing, we would charge a copper coin, earning some hard money."

With so many personal guards in the Personal Guard Camp, they are occupied with training during the day and studying at night, leaving them with no time or energy for laundry.

If there was a laundry room, charging a copper coin per piece, doing laundry a few times a month, the trusted aides could afford it.

Moreover, in the military camp, they wouldn’t have to worry about food and lodging, so they could survive regardless of earnings.

This Cui Zhi indeed had a bit of cleverness.

Jiang Shaohua, willing to give them a way to live, had no concerns about providing food and lodging: "Sure, I permit this. Go find Commander Liu and explain this matter to him clearly."

The three women were overjoyed and kowtowed repeatedly in thanks.

Jiang Shaohua stood up and walked to them: "I allow you to make a living in the military camp, but you must abide by the camp’s rules. The laundry room is a proper business. Doing it well could become your foundation. You must not engage in any dirty or disturbing activities in the camp."

The last sentence was particularly stern.

The three women understood, blushing with embarrassment, and swore solemnly.

Chen Jinyu looked at the Commandery Princess with mixed emotions, thinking, you know too much, Commandery Princess.

In the Personal Guard Camp, trusted aides like Song Yuan, Qin Huma, Meng Sanbao, and others felt a bit uncomfortable, looking away each in their own direction.

The Personal Guard Camp was full of young, vigorous men; those married were okay, as they got a holiday each month to reunite with their wives. But there were always some bachelors who, after receiving their salary, stirred uneasily and secretly visited brothels at the end of the month for pleasure...

To speak bluntly, if Cun Zhi and the other two were willing to engage in such "business," they could earn much more than from washing clothes. 𝕗𝚛𝚎𝚎𝐰𝗲𝗯𝗻𝚘𝚟𝚎𝗹.𝕔𝐨𝕞

However, the Commandery Princess has made it clear that such activities would not be allowed in the Personal Guard Camp.

...

After leaving the Commandery Princess’s tent, the three women walked a long way before exhaling deeply together.

"Cui Zhi, can we really live a clean and decent life from now on?" one woman with a mole at the corner of her eye asked longingly, "Have we truly redeemed ourselves?"

Another round-faced woman quickly chimed in, "The Commandery Princess said we could stay in the military camp to make a living, so what are you worried about?"

Cui Zhi smiled, the fine lines on her forehead smoothing out, "You two can rest easy! The Commandery Princess has already forgiven us, and now we can live with dignity and uprightness."

She glanced at the round-faced woman, "You should have heard what the Commandery Princess said at the end. Don’t think about those dirty businesses, work diligently, and be a good person."

The round-faced woman chuckled awkwardly, "I was merely joking before; I never actually intended to do such business.

She used to be a "big sister" in the brothel before being kidnapped into the mountains to become a female bandit. During these three years of heavy labor, she often almost couldn’t endure it but persisted with the secret help of someone she liked within the camp.

The woman with the mole teased softly, "Now that you’ve completely reformed, forget about it moving forward."

"And what about that person you like? Is he willing to marry you?" Cui Zhi asked with a smile.

The round-faced woman pouted, "He’s a bachelor in his forties, with a face full of pockmarks, so ugly that no one wants to look at him twice. If it weren’t for his strong build, I wouldn’t bother with him."

"He said he doesn’t mind my past with the bandit camp and wants to marry me. I haven’t agreed yet."

Cui Zhi rolled her eyes, "Don’t be so picky. Given our situation, a good, decent man wouldn’t be willing to marry us. It’s rare to find someone who doesn’t mind your past, so you should marry him!"

"Once this opportunity passes, it won’t come again."

The round-faced woman fell silent.

Cui Zhi added, "I’m not planning on getting married. Once the laundry room is up and running, I’ll focus on saving silver for my retirement."