Climbing to the Top: A Reborn Queen's Journey-Chapter 383 - 83: Request to Join the Expedition (Part 2)

Chapter 383: Chapter 83: Request to Join the Expedition (Part 2)

In truth, all four people present knew in their hearts. These reasons weren’t important. What mattered most was that not all three Sun family members could go to Pingzhou. At least one must remain in Nanyang County to prevent any unforeseen mishap.

"Elder Brother stays in the military camp, I will go to Pingzhou." Sun Zelan took a deep breath, her voice firm: "Elder Brother is not yet married and has no children, the Sun family’s lineage depends on him. I am a woman and do not have such worries; I will go with Father to Pingzhou."

Sun Guangbai responded without thinking, "What you said is wrong, a woman can also continue the family lineage. If I have any mishap going to Pingzhou, you can invite a husband into the family, and the child will bear the Sun surname."

Sun Zelan: "..."

"It’s settled then!" Doctor Sun interjected without allowing argument, "Guangbai will accompany me, while Zelan stays behind."

Jiang Shaohua nodded, "Alright, we will follow Doctor Sun’s decision."

Sun Zelan’s eyes reddened, tears shimmering in her eyes.

Sun Guangbai secretly breathed a sigh of relief, took out a handkerchief from his sleeve and handed it over, but Sun Zelan turned her head away, ignoring it.

Jiang Shaohua stepped forward, took out her own handkerchief, and placed it in Sun Zelan’s hand. Sun Zelan sniffled, wiping her face haplessly with the handkerchief.

"Since you have returned, spend a few days with Doctor Sun in the mansion," Jiang Shaohua said softly. "Doctor Sun needs to prepare medicinal materials to be taken along, and also bring trusted aides and food supplies. It will take at least five or six days to set out."

Sun Zelan replied with a heavy nasal tone.

At this point, there wasn’t much more that needed to be said. In the face of righteousness and life or death, everyone has their own choice and steadfastness.

Doctor Sun withdrew with his two children, while Jiang Shaohua sat alone for a long time, her eyes flashing with complex and intense emotions. She murmured, "Grandfather, I hope I made the right decision."

...

Doctor Sun lost his wife in middle age, and single-handedly raised his two children, personally teaching them medical skills. Although they occasionally kicked up a fuss, he shared a deeply close bond with his children.

After returning to the courtyard, Sun Zelan couldn’t hold back any longer, covering her face with her sleeve and bursting into tears.

Seeing his sister so upset, Sun Guangbai also felt uncomfortable and said in a low voice, "Sister, I am the eldest son of the family, I am a man. In the face of such big matters, it should be me." 𝓯𝙧𝙚𝒆𝙬𝙚𝒃𝙣𝙤𝒗𝓮𝓵.𝙘𝙤𝙢

"I also want to go," Sun Zelan sobbed. "Can’t all three of us, father and children, go together? Curing the plague would be a great achievement, to have our names left in history. If something happens, our family could head together to the Yellow Springs..."

"Don’t speak such ominous words!" Doctor Sun interrupted his daughter: "The Commandery Princess is already having a hard time; if these words reach her ears, how would she feel? You are grown-up now, speak and act with stability. Don’t be mischievous like a child."

Sun Zelan still clutched the Commandery Princess’s handkerchief, biting her lips hard, leaving a deep mark on her lower lip.

Doctor Sun sighed, softened his voice, and reached out to stroke his daughter’s hair: "It’s decided, stop thinking about it. Let’s enjoy our time together in the coming days. After we part, who knows how long it will be before we reunite. Don’t sulk with your father."

Sun Zelan choked up and agreed.

Doctor Sun then looked at Sun Guangbai: "Guangbai, over the years, I have been strict with you, often scolding or hitting you. Remember not to hold grudges. On this trip to Pingzhou, the two of us must work together to develop a prescription as soon as possible."

Sun Guangbai felt a bit sour in his nose but couldn’t help retorting: "Father should speak to me as usual! I am not used to this kind, gentle tone."

Doctor Sun smiled in exasperation, gave him a glare: "Go to the study, and copy every plague prescription recorded in the medical books. If you don’t do it well, don’t sleep tonight."

Sun Guangbai felt his scalp tingle, dared not speak further, and immediately went to the study.

Sun Zelan wiped away her tears and went to the study with her brother to busy herself.

The Sun Family is a top-notch apricot family in Da Liang, with deep roots and a rich collection of medical books. In this generation, Doctor Sun had settled in Nanyang County with Prince Nanyang, and had brought the medical books with him. Those he couldn’t bring, he copied a set of. Commonly circulated medical books were also collected.

Plagues have existed since ancient times, but proven effective prescriptions for prevention and treatment are rare. The siblings worked through the night and went through a third of the medical collection, only finding two potentially useful prescriptions.

In the following days, the siblings stayed in the study looking for and transcribing prescriptions.

Meanwhile, Doctor Sun was busy drafting medicine lists, inspecting drugstores for supplies. Commonly used medicinal materials were all packed to take as much as possible. Rare and precious medicinal materials were also brought, including two wild ginsengs over a century old. The carts for transporting medicinal materials numbered more than ten.

Chief Historian Chen’s memorials and letters had been sent to the Capital City.

Chief Historian Feng led the Household Department, busy for days to gather all the needed supplies like food and forage. Tang Youyin was so busy his eyes turned red, walked with shaky steps, and yawned whenever he opened his mouth.

Before setting out, an unexpected incident occurred.

Lin Huiniang, Shanxing, and others returned to the Prince Mansion, intending to accompany Doctor Sun and his son to Pingzhou.

"Commandery Princess, Doctor Sun and Sun Junyi are going to Pingzhou to treat the plague. They need people with them," Lin Huiniang knelt in front of the Commandery Princess, earnest in her expression, "I have studied with Miss Sun for more than three years, know all the medicinal materials, can prepare medicine, and will certainly be of use."

Shanxing’s eyes were clear and wide: "Commandery Princess, I can treat external injuries and also prepare medicine."

Several other women also volunteered.

Sun Zelan’s eyes warmed. Half of the women rescued from the bandit den followed her to study medicine. Over three years, they learned more or less some skills, adequate to work as attendants. There were six people here, half of those who learned with her.

It didn’t take much to understand; they had discussed and decided to do so, leaving half behind in the military camp, and these would follow Doctor Sun to Pingzhou.

The plague-stricken land meant a risk of nine out of ten lives ending. They were risking their lives to repay the Commandery Princess.

Jiang Shaohua’s eyes also felt hot.

Since her rebirth, she had been exhausted, trying her best to change the fate of her previous life. Life is like a journey; in this segment, she had saved some people along the way. Now they wanted to repay their lives in gratitude.

Should she refuse, or accept?

Seeing Commandery Princess remain silent, Lin Huiniang immediately spoke: "We have made up our mind, please relent, Commandery Princess."

"Commandery Princess, let us go! I’m not afraid even of death, let alone the plague." Shanxing’s eyes were earnest and serious.

Sun Zelan steadied her mind and even spoke for them: "They have studied with me for years, can treat simple external injuries and prepare medicine. Just let them go! They will surely be of use."

Jiang Shaohua’s gaze swept over the familiar faces: "Very well, I permit you to accompany us."