Climbing to the Top: A Reborn Queen's Journey-Chapter 386: The Journey North (Part 3)

Sun Guangbai painstakingly copied medical prescriptions along the way. While others rested, he found no leisure and continued writing. So focused was he that he didn’t notice a graceful figure beside the carriage.

Occasionally looking up and seeing Shanxing’s familiar and delicate face, Sun Guangbai was startled: "Shanxing, why are you here?"

Shanxing whispered, "When the carriage stopped, I came over. You were concentrating on copying medical texts, so I didn’t say anything, lest I disturb you."

Sun Guangbai: "..."

It’s over!

Sun Guangbai felt a chill in his heart and quickly poked his head out to look around, searching for Doctor Sun. He saw his own father resting under a tree not far away, leisurely eating the dried meat sent by the personal soldiers, his gaze directed towards the carriage.

Sun Guangbai’s scalp tingled as he hurriedly whispered, "Don’t stand here foolishly; go stay with Lin Huiniang and the others."

Shanxing, always obedient, replied with a soft "oh" and whispered before leaving, "Master, you’ve worked hard copying medical texts, take a rest, don’t tire yourself."

She had stood beside the carriage for half a day, just to say these words.

Sun Guangbai was somewhat touched, but dared not show it, even deliberately putting on a stern face: "It’s a small matter; I know without you reminding me, quickly go back!"

Shanxing, simple-minded, left with a downcast, forlorn face.

Doctor Sun watched this unfold, a barely noticeable frown on his face.

After an hour, Doctor Sun returned to the carriage. The convoy resumed its journey.

Inside the carriage, Sun Guangbai sat upright, his back straight as an arrow, his posture for copying medical texts exemplary, leaving no room for criticism.

Doctor Sun glanced at his posturing son and suddenly asked, "Does Shanxing like you?"

Sun Guangbai’s right hand shook, fortunately holding a charcoal pencil, leaving only a shallow mark. Had it been a brush, the shake would have ruined more than half a page: "Father, please don’t speak recklessly. Shanxing is my sister’s disciple, and eight years younger than me. She respects me like a student to a teacher. I harbor no romantic feelings for her."

Doctor Sun replied blandly, "Good."

"Shanxing is a good girl. Having suffered greatly in a bandit’s camp before, it wasn’t her fault. Now she’s emerged and learned medical skills. In the future, working for the Commandery Princess, she’ll have a good prospect and can hold her head high."

"Since you have no intentions towards her, keep your distance. Don’t delay the girl."

Sun Guangbai finally breathed a sigh of relief: "Rest assured, Father, I’ve never had improper thoughts about Shanxing. She’s still young and hasn’t seen much of the world. When she meets more men in the future, she won’t think well of me anymore."

Doctor Sun bluntly scoffed at his son: "Shameless boasting, what’s so good about you? Tell your father, widen my horizons!"

"At your age, you are mediocre in medicine, even less than Zelan. You can’t even memorize a prescription without mistakes."

"Moreover, you’ve been unwilling to marry and have children, idly spending time in the military camp. I’m at this age, yet have not seen my grandchildren, you unfilial son..."

Sun Guangbai was humbled by his father’s scolding, sighed bitterly, and continued copying medical texts.

Doctor Sun scolded until his mouth was dry and finally stopped.

Sun Guangbai then quietly protested, "I’m not as bad as Father says! As a military doctor in the camp, the soldiers trust and respect me."

Doctor Sun sneered: "Then tell me, is the ’Divine Doctor Sun’ circulating in the military camp you?"

Sun Guangbai felt another stab to his chest.

"Your sister, five years younger, has much more talent and courage than you," Doctor Sun never held back criticizing his son: "In recent years, how many corpses has the Commandery Princess secretly sent to the military camp? You and your sister ’studied’ together, and now your sister can treat internal and external injuries, even daring to perform surgeries. You can only assist her."

Sun Guangbai defended himself aggrievedly: "I am not as good as my sister, but that doesn’t mean I’m bad. My sister is truly a genius in medicine. Speaking of skills in treating internal injuries, even Father is not as good as her!"

Doctor Sun: "..."

An exaggerated cry of pain sounded from outside the carriage.

The nearby trusted aides secretly delighted. The daily journey was monotonous and boring. Their greatest amusement was listening to Doctor Sun scold his son.

...

A few days later, the convoy left the Jingzhou area and continued north.

The land on both sides of the official road gradually grew desolate.

Sun Guangbai noticed this and couldn’t help but be alarmed, "Why are so many fertile fields left uncultivated?"

It was late autumn, and winter wheat was planted in Nanyang County, fields lushly green. But the places they now saw were empty.

Doctor Sun sighed, "Drought and locusts have killed many people, and many more have fled. The North is rife with bandits, utterly unstable. Few remain, and who knows how many, unable to farm peacefully."

"Moreover, plagues have broken out in Pingzhou. Though not yet reached here, certainly fear and panic spread."

In chaotic times, the people suffer the most.

Sun Guangbai felt heavy hearted and sighed deeply. 𝑓𝓇𝘦ℯ𝘸𝘦𝑏𝓃𝑜𝘷ℯ𝑙.𝑐𝑜𝓂

Another two days of travel.

"Doctor Sun, there are many corpses ahead." A personal soldier reported grimly, "Should we bury them?"

The horrific stench of rotting corpses had already spread with the wind, making people nauseous.

This wasn’t the first time they’d encountered such scenes. Previously, Doctor Sun would instruct the trusted aides to dig pits and bury the corpses.

But today, the roadside was covered with corpses, roughly counted to be at least hundreds, possibly from clashes between refugee groups or infighting, leaving many bodies unclaimed and decaying.

Doctor Sun’s expression also turned grim, angrily exclaiming, "What is the government doing, ignoring this? Exposed corpses rot and easily breed plague!"

Sun Guangbai covered his nose and mouth with his sleeve, speaking softly, "Father, so many corpses would take days to deal with. We are on the Commandery Princess’s mission to Pingzhou, we can’t delay anymore."

Doctor Sun weighed its importance, nodded slightly, dispatched two personal soldiers to send a message to the government office, and then the convoy continued north.

Another three days passed, and the convoy finally encountered a group of refugees.

The refugees numbered over three hundred, all with hunger-crazed eyes. Seeing the strong and well-armed trusted aides, they were not afraid, but with weak steps and waving wooden sticks, they rushed forward.

The trusted aides did not hold back, killing dozens in a row with a torrent of blood and flesh, finally breaking the group of refugees who scattered and fled.

The trusted aides did not pursue, packed up, collected the wounded, and continued northward.

Sun Guangbai sat in the carriage, sighing to his father, "So, the North has already descended into such chaos."