Climbing to the Top: A Reborn Queen's Journey-Chapter 382: Volunteering (Part 1)

Looking at Doctor Sun’s resolute and determined face, Jiang Shaohua felt increasingly heavy-hearted.

Compared to droughts and locusts, an epidemic is the most severe and terrifying disaster. To prevent the spread of the epidemic and save more lives, an effective prescription must be researched as soon as possible. To achieve this, a highly skilled doctor is needed.

In Nanyang County, the only one qualified is Doctor Sun.

She summoned Doctor Sun for this matter. Yet at this moment, facing the proactive Doctor Sun volunteering to step forward, guilt and self-reproach surged in her heart.

The danger of this endeavor needs no elaboration. Whether Doctor Sun will return safely? If something unfortunate happens, how would she face Sun Zelan and her siblings?

"Commandery Princess need not worry excessively." Doctor Sun understood the Commandery Princess’s concerns and guilt, and spoke again: "I have devoted myself to studying medicine for many years and have quite the expertise in decoctions. I volunteered to go to Pingzhou because I am confident that I can develop a prescription to prevent and treat the epidemic. I am the only one qualified for this task."

"Should the court get entangled in this matter later, I, as a Senior Fifth Grade Imperial Doctor of the Imperial Hospital, am already qualified to go to the epidemic area for containment and treatment. Please make a quick decision, Commandery Princess!"

Jiang Shaohua was not indecisive and quickly made up her mind: "Alright, this time I will trouble Doctor Sun."

"Commander Song, go to the Personal Guard Camp and select two hundred trusted aides to accompany and protect Doctor Sun. The outbreak of the epidemic in Pingzhou is extremely dangerous. The trusted aides going this time should be those with brothers or already have offspring. Tell them that as long as Doctor Sun is protected safely, the Commandery Princess will heavily reward them. If there are any mishaps on this journey, the pension silver will be doubled. The Prince Mansion will take care of their family members."

"Chief Historian Chen, write a memorial to the court. The memorial should be straightforward, stating that the Commandery Princess is dispatching Doctor Sun to Pingzhou for epidemic prevention and treatment. Additionally, draft several letters, as there might be rumors circulated in the court, and someone must stand up to quell them for us."

"Chief Historian Feng, immediately allocate food, military provisions, and wages. Furthermore, convey the edict of the Commandery Princess, requisitioning all medical materials from pharmacies in Nanyang County. Doctor Sun will make a list, and as many as can be taken, should be taken. Pay silver according to market prices; all consumed silver will be borne by the Prince Mansion."

Commander Song, Chief Historian Chen, and Chief Historian Feng all respectfully accepted the orders.

Doctor Sun also let out a sigh of relief.

He knew well that the Commandery Princess was neither boastful nor impulsive, but had already thought through and arranged for this matter.

Jiang Shaohua waved her hand, indicating the officials to retreat, leaving Doctor Sun behind.

Once everyone had left, Jiang Shaohua sighed softly: "Doctor Sun, this time I wronged you."

If she were willing to stay secluded, hardening her heart to ignore the sufferings of the northern people, she could have turned a deaf ear to the epidemic in Pingzhou. Doctor Sun would not have to risk going.

"The Commandery Princess cares for the world and cherishes the people; how can I not disregard myself."

Doctor Sun smiled slightly, appearing very composed: "The Commandery Princess need not feel sorry for me. I eat the monarch’s salary and share the monarch’s worries, as is proper. I have been in the Nanyang Prince Mansion for over twenty years, living in comfort and ease. Now, I can finally contribute and do something for the Commandery Princess; I feel at ease."

After pausing for a moment, he added: "I won’t say pointless words. This trip to Pingzhou is indeed dangerous. If I return safely, whatever rewards the Commandery Princess has, I will accept calmly. If something happens to me, the Commandery Princess need not be too sad or upset."

"My biggest concern is Guangbai and Zelan. Both siblings are military doctors in the Personal Guard Camp, and I am not worried about their future; I’m worried that neither of them is willing to get married. As for Zelan, a young woman practicing medicine is not easy; once she marries and has children, it’s hard to concentrate fully on medical studies. If she does not wish to marry, let it be. But Guangbai should find a wife."

"I entrust this matter to the Commandery Princess."

Doctor Sun was usually stern with Sun Guangbai, often scolding and beating. Only now did he show fatherly love toward his son.

Jiang Shaohua felt her nose tingle and exhaled deeply: "Alright, I will take care of these matters."

Suddenly, hurried footsteps sounded outside the door.

Chen Jinyu quickly came in to report: "Commandery Princess, Mr. Sun and Miss Sun have returned from the Personal Guard Camp."

To think that Sun Guangbai and Sun Zelan came back together?!

Jiang Shaohua was a bit surprised and looked at Doctor Sun. Doctor Sun clearly knew his children’s temperaments and could not help but rub his forehead.

"Let them in," Jiang Shaohua instructed.

Moments later, the siblings Sun Guangbai and Sun Zelan entered.

The siblings had hastily returned to the Prince Mansion on horseback, travel-worn but in good spirits. After saluting the Commandery Princess, they also saluted their father.

"Why are the two of you not on duty at the Personal Guard Camp, suddenly rushing back?" Doctor Sun uncharacteristically lowered his face, scolding them displeasedly.

Sun Guangbai feared his father’s stern face the most, but given the emergency, he couldn’t care about that now. He spoke directly: "The epidemic outbreak in Pingzhou, the Commandery Princess hastily returned to the Prince Mansion, surely to dispatch someone to eliminate the epidemic. I returned to recommend myself for Pingzhou, requesting the Commandery Princess’s permission."

Sun Zelan immediately interjected: "Commandery Princess, I want to go as well."

"You cannot go!" Doctor Sun and Sun Guangbai both instinctively objected simultaneously.

Sun Zelan’s delicate face was full of determination and stubbornness: "Why can’t I go? I am also a doctor, and my medical skills are not inferior to anyone else. In treating external and internal injuries, even my father cannot match me now. I certainly have the qualifications to go."

Doctor Sun frowned, rarely raising his voice at his daughter: "How can an epidemic be the same as external and internal injuries? I’ve spent my life reading medical books and decades studying prescriptions, able to create dozens of prescriptions for epidemic prevention. How many years have you studied?"

"Father is right," Sun Guangbai sided with Doctor Sun: "Father must go for the epidemic prevention. I will accompany him and assist. You’re a young woman; it’s not easy to travel far, so don’t go. Besides, the Personal Guard Camp constantly has injured soldiers, and they need you, the Divine Doctor Sun, to remain in the military camp."

Sun Zelan raised her eyebrows to retort, but the Commandery Princess interrupted: "You truly are not suitable to go to Pingzhou."

Sun Zelan felt extremely wronged, her eyes red with displeasure: "Does the Commandery Princess also think women inferior to men?"

"Of course not," Jiang Shaohua looked at Sun Zelan: "Everyone has their strengths. You’re skilled in treating external injuries; the Personal Guard Camp indeed cannot do without you."

"Preventing and controlling epidemics may sound simple, but it might take a long time — perhaps several months, a year or two, or even several years without return. If you leave just like that, who will treat the injured in the Personal Guard Camp?"

"Are the people in Pingzhou important, but those in the Personal Guard Camp not?"

Sun Zelan could not argue back.