Chapter 199: Engagement
Lu Dongqing clearly preferred to be a military doctor.
After entering Pei Family Village, he took the initiative to seek out Doctor Bao.
The Pei Family Army trained troops all day, and accidental injuries were commonplace. Doctor Bao led several apprentices and was busy without touching the ground every day. Suddenly, such a skilled helper in the medical field arrived, and Doctor Bao was overjoyed.
Pei Qinghe came to inspect the wounded soldiers’ camp and casually asked, “How is Lu Dongqing’s medical skill?”
Doctor Bao praised him endlessly: “He is adept at diagnosing pulses and prescribing formulas, and he has plenty of experience treating wounds. He truly lives up to being a son of the Lu Family.”
The Lu Family was the most renowned medical family in the Northern Lands, and Lu Family Medicine was famous throughout the land. All the nephews and younger generation of the Lu Family studied medicine, and Lu Dongqing was one of the most outstanding among the sons of his generation, moreover young and handsome with outstanding looks.
The Lu Family put Lu Dongqing forward with considerable confidence, fully able to compete with Shi Yan.
Pei Qinghe’s gaze swept over Lu Dongqing, who was treating wounded soldiers. Whether intentionally or not, after Pei Qinghe arrived, Lu Dongqing had been facing away busily, never turning around or looking up, let alone taking the initiative to speak.
This saved quite a bit of trouble.
Pei Qinghe smiled, withdrew her gaze, and casually teased Doctor Bao: “In the time since Cousin Sister Yun returned, have you seen her alone?”
Doctor Bao, who had grown steadily more composed day by day, blushed immediately at the mention of his beloved’s name: “Not yet.”
Pei Qinghe gave a reminder: “Beiping Commandery has come to surrender. I plan to have Cousin Sister Yun lead troops there.”
Beiping Commandery was not like Changping County, where one could return anytime. Once Pei Yun went, meeting would no longer be easy.
Doctor Bao understood the implication in Pei Qinghe’s words and felt a heaviness in his heart. Then he heard Pei Qinghe say leisurely, “Cousin Sister Yun is to lead one thousand men there, and after arriving in Beiping Commandery, she will continue to recruit and train soldiers. So many people will surely need a military doctor.”
Doctor Bao’s dim gaze suddenly lit up: “I am willing to go with her to Beiping Commandery.”
Pei Qinghe smiled faintly: “First, Cousin Sister Yun must agree. Second, someone must take your place. There is still some time, so whether you can go depends on you.”
Doctor Bao grinned and nodded repeatedly.
After dark, Doctor Bao mustered his thick-skinned courage to see Pei Yun.
Pei Yun was somewhat surprised: “Why have you come?”
Doctor Bao had built up half a day’s courage, but upon facing Pei Yun, most of it dissipated. He kept encouraging himself inwardly, and when he opened his mouth, he stammered: “General Pei is sending you to Beiping Commandery, and I, I want to go with you.”
Pei Yun looked at the young man whose face was flushed red and said softly, “The situation in Beiping Commandery is still unclear. Do you really want to go?”
She did not refuse.
Doctor Bao was both joyful and excited, his voice trembling slightly: “I do, of course I do. As long as you agree, I am willing to go with you to the ends of the earth.”
This was probably the boldest thing he had said since they met.
Pei Yun watched his ecstatic, almost dancing with joy expression and could not help but smile lightly, pursing her lips: “Bao Hao, do you really want to be my son-in-law?”
Doctor Bao’s face turned crimson, and the words he had bottled up poured out: “I do, every day.”
“My greatest regret is that back then, I did not dare to stand up like Zhao Hai and publicly declare my intention.”
“I know you were engaged and cannot forget your former fiancé. I am willing to wait forever, until the day you wish to marry a man into the family.”
Pei Yun felt a touch of wistfulness at the sudden mention of her ex-fiancé: “I have not thought of that heartless bastard for a long time.”
When she first arrived in Pei Family Village, she had cried bitterly in private a few times. Later, every day was busy with killing mountain bandits, guarding the village, claiming territory, and struggling to survive—where was there time to sigh over a scoundrel?
Even that face she once thought she would never forget had long faded. Recalling it now, it was indistinct.
Instead, the face of Bao Hao before her, blazing bright and clear, grew ever sharper.
Bao Hao could not restrain his excited delight, gathered his courage to step closer, his right hand trembling repeatedly, still hesitating.
Pei Yun naturally stepped forward and took his hand: “I have no time to marry now, so let us get engaged first. With a formal status, you will not have to worry and fret every day.”
Bao Hao was so moved that tears nearly welled up, choking out an agreement.
Pei Yun smiled lightly and reached out to wipe the corner of his eye: “Let us go find Cousin Sister Qinghe; we must tell her about the engagement.”
Pei Yun led Bao Hao to Pei Qinghe and openly declared their engagement.
Bao Hao was so overwhelmed that his hands and feet would not obey him, nor would his tears.
The scene was too amusing.
Pei Qinghe could not help laughing: “You waited more than four years and finally saw the clouds part to reveal the moon. You should be happy—why are you crying?”
Bao Hao said amid his tears, “I do not want to cry, but I cannot help it.”
He was even hiccuping from crying.
Pei Yan, who had come to join the fun upon hearing the good news, laughed heartily. Bao Hao flushed red with shame. Pei Yun smiled and glared at Pei Yan: “Bao Hao is your future brother-in-law; do not bully him all the time from now on.”
Pei Yan grinned broadly: “He has not even entered the Pei Family gate, and Cousin Sister Yun is already protecting him like this.”
Pei Yun said calmly: “Rise early tomorrow; we will train together.”
Pei Yan immediately turned to complain: “Cousin Sister Qinghe, Cousin Sister Yun is relying on her superior skills to bully me.”
“Then show some spirit and beat Cousin Sister Yun down,” Pei Qinghe said idly.
Pei Yan’s deflated expression made everyone laugh heartily.
……
Two days later, Pei Qinghe publicly announced the good news of Pei Yun and Bao Hao’s engagement.
That day, when going to the Guangning Army to propose marriage for Pei Yan, they sent two thousand shi of military rations as the betrothal gift. For Pei Yun, Bao Hao was already part of the Pei Family Army and had no elders or relatives, saving much trouble. They set up a few tables, gathered the Pei Clan direct descendants and the important leaders of the Pei Family Army, and that served as the engagement banquet.
Pei Qinghe specially instructed the kitchen to add a meat meal, letting everyone share in the joy.
Pei Qinghe said to Pei Yun, “The engagement was a bit simple; I will make up for it with a proper wedding later.”
Pei Yun smiled: “If you feel bad about it, then allocate more weapons, money and grain, and warhorses for me.”
Pei Qinghe turned to look at Shi Yan, who habitually took out his red gold abacus and flicked the beads rapidly: “Military rations for one thousand men are already being prepared. The storeroom has sufficient grain at present; we can prepare thirty percent more.”
Pei Qinghe nodded slightly: “Good, prepare according to that amount.”
Pei Yun beamed with delight. Thirty percent more military rations meant they could quickly recruit new soldiers upon arriving in Beiping Commandery. This was far more practical than any gold and silver or jade ware.
Bao Hao gazed drunkenly at his smiling fiancée and, carelessly, drank a few cups too many. He soon passed out facedown.
Zhao Hai supported Bao Hao back, and Shi Yan astutely came over to help.
Bao Hao chuckled foolishly nonstop.
