Chapter 247: Chapter 247: Awakening
The Nanyang Army’s campaign against the bandits went smoothly, but it’s inevitable to suffer casualties in battle. Over a dozen soldiers died in action, and more than fifty were wounded.
The fallen soldiers received a generous amount of pension silver, and the wounded were settled in the Wounded Soldier Camp. Several military doctors were tirelessly treating the wounded soldiers.
Qin Hu went to the Wounded Soldier Camp and was pleasantly surprised to see a long-missed familiar figure: "Miss Sun, why are you here?"
Sun Zelan, who was tending to the wounded, didn’t look up: "There are many wounded in the Nanyang Army, and the Commandery Princess ordered my brother and me to come treat them. Why is Guard Qin here?"
Qin Hu could barely contain his excitement as he, a tall and sturdy young man, walked with a light step: "I went with the Nanyang Army to suppress the bandits and came back with them to the camp. I’m here to visit the wounded so I can report back to the Commandery Princess. I didn’t expect to meet Miss Sun here."
Sun Guangbai, who was beside him, couldn’t help but glance at Qin Hu: "I’m here too, didn’t Guard Qin notice?"
Qin Hu quickly smiled: "Of course I did. With you here, even the most severely injured soldiers can be saved."
In the past two years, the siblings had been serving as military doctors in the Personal Guard Camp. Every once in a while, the Commandery Princess would send several executed prisoners’ bodies for them to "study." Doctor Sun often visited the military camp to study with them.
Now, when it comes to treating external injuries, Sun Zelan has surpassed her brother, and her courage and meticulousness even make Doctor Sun exclaim about the talent of the young.
Qin Hu’s words were not entirely flattering. In the Personal Guard Camp, everyone respected Sun Zelan. This respect surpassed age and gender, being a pure and sincere admiration for a highly skilled healer.
Sun Zelan, now seventeen, was in the prime of a young girl’s life. She didn’t care for adornment or makeup, dressing simply and casually every day. Her beautiful long hair was braided and draped over her chest.
In terms of looks, she was not the most beautiful, and there were always a few girls who surpassed her. But in Qin Hu’s eyes, no one in the world compared to Miss Sun.
The soldier lying on the bed had injured his heart and lungs, coughing heavily from time to time and spitting up blood. Sun Zelan focused entirely on the wounded, having no time to pay attention to Qin Hu.
Qin Hu knew her temperament and didn’t dare to offer needless attentions, so he quickly stood by quietly.
Sun Zelan’s hands, fair and delicate, were also exceptionally nimble as she cut open the wounded soldier’s clothing with scissors to assess the injury. The soldier spat blood, teetering on the brink of death, and Sun Zelan, with a grave expression, deftly and swiftly cleaned the wound before stitching it up with the finest catgut thread.
The wounded soldier sweated from the pain, crying out miserably. While stitching the wound, Sun Zelan gently comforted him: "I gave you some medicinal soup earlier; it will take effect soon. You’ll fall asleep shortly and won’t feel the pain as much. When you wake up, your wound will be treated. Take your time recovering, and soon you’ll be a strong, upright man once more."
The wounded soldier, in his thirties, cried with tears and snot mingling, speaking intermittently: "Miss Sun, can I really survive?"
Sun Zelan softly replied: "Rest assured, with me here, King Yan can’t take you away."
Her right hand busily stitching the wound while her left hand occasionally wiped the soldier’s tears.
At such critical moments of life and death, who cared about the differences between men and women?
Sun Zelan’s hands were vying with King Yan for a living soul. How could he have been so petty and jealous before?
It was a moment of realization.
Standing there, watching Miss Sun busying herself, Qin Hu thought of his previous selfish, narrow-minded, and contemptible self, wishing he could slap himself twice.
Sun Zelan, busy for a long while, finally finished treating the wound and let out a long sigh of relief.
A handkerchief was offered in front of her: "Miss Sun, wipe your sweat."
Sun Zelan took the handkerchief and wiped her sweat, then casually wiped her hands. The bloodstains on her hands dyed the white handkerchief red.
"Let me have it, I’ll wash it," Qin Hu said softly.
His tone was normal, lacking the usual ingratiating pretentiousness.
Sun Zelan glanced at Qin Hu: "Blood-stained handkerchiefs are hard to clean, just throw it away!"
Without saying anything, Qin Hu took the handkerchief, left the military tent, found a basin of water, and scrubbed it hard for a long time. Sure enough, the handkerchief still had faint marks like little plum blossoms.
He carefully hung the handkerchief to dry, then returned to the wounded soldiers’ tent.
Sun Zelan hadn’t rested and was treating another wounded soldier.
Qin Hu didn’t dare disturb her, so he stayed quietly on the side, occasionally offering a glass of water or a handkerchief.
For the past two years, Sun Zelan worked in the military camp. Whenever he went to the camp to deliver messages, he’d always find an excuse to see her. Each time he went with joy, only to be chased away shortly after, leaving frustrated and full of complaints.
But today, with no tasks at hand, and her busy helping the injured, leaving no time to chase him away, he could quietly watch and accompany her here.
...
Over fifty wounded soldiers, with the siblings and two other military doctors working tirelessly for two days and nights without rest.
Sun Zelan’s proficiency in treating external injuries and her exquisite medical skills amazed the two military doctors, who couldn’t help but privately praise her: "Miss Sun is truly remarkable at treating injuries."
"We’ve heard that Miss Sun’s medical skills even surpass Sun Junyi’s, and it’s indeed so."
"With such an outstanding girl, it’s no wonder Guard Qin keeps such a close watch."
"Shh, don’t talk too much. If Miss Sun hears this, she’ll definitely be mortified and angry."
In reality, Sun Zelan wasn’t angry.
Everyone in the Nanyang Prince Mansion knew about Qin Hu’s affections for her, so adding a few more onlookers didn’t matter.
"My brother and I were ordered to stay in the Nanyang Army Camp for at least half a month," Sun Zelan, having rested half a day, came out of the military tent and, unsurprisingly, again "unexpectedly" ran into Qin Hu: "You’re not staying for half a month too, are you?"
Qin Hu cleared his throat: "I’m going back tomorrow."
He should have returned to the Prince Mansion two days ago, but thick-skinnedly stayed on.
Sun Zelan knew and straightforwardly said: "You have tasks to do; it’s best to return to the Prince Mansion early. I have no plans to marry in this life, so don’t waste your time."
Qin Hu: "..."
After a moment of silence, Qin Hu quietly said: "Miss Sun, I’m a petty scoundrel; I’m not worthy of you."
Eh? Did the sun rise from the west today? Qin Hu actually listened to her rejection.
Previously, she had rejected him openly and subtly many times. Qin Hu never listened, always doing as he pleased.
Sun Zelan was a bit surprised, giving Qin Hu a once-over: "Have you really figured it out?"
Qin Hu nodded: "I figured it out. With your talent, you’re sure to become a renowned doctor. A person’s time and energy are limited; you don’t want to marry because you don’t have time to be a wife, let alone spare time to bear and raise children."
Sun Zelan’s brow relaxed, and she smiled: "That’s right, you finally understand."