She Came to Heal, Stayed to Conquer

Xiao Zhengfei went on a lengthy ramble, leaving Ma Cheng utterly bewildered.

Zhao Zun glanced at him, smiled, and shook his head in amusement.

Wasn’t this guy seeing an emergency vehicle for the first time today too? Yet he boasts as if he were quite knowledgeable.

And at the front of the emergency vehicle at that moment.

Han Lei planned to use the space beneath the driver’s seat as the unloading area. While it appeared to others that she was dragging food from under the seat, she was actually retrieving it from the system.

Fifty-pound bags of rice and flour were packed. Han Lei only bought a hundred bags each. Due to the limited space within the emergency vehicle, she didn’t want to stir up unnecessary suspicion.

Ten thousand pounds of food for fifty thousand soldiers should last roughly three to five days if rationed carefully.

”My gosh, is this white rice? Fine white rice indeed!”

”And refined flour!”

”...”

Peering through the transparent packaging, the soldiers tasked with moving the food saw the white rice and flour inside and instantly erupted with excitement.

Someone wept with joy uncontrollably, while others shouted and knelt on the ground, continuously bowing to the food before them.

How many days had it been since they’d last seen food? Even coarse bread mixed with husk was a luxury. This kind of refined grain was something only the nobility in the palace could eat!

Han Lei secretly let out a sigh of relief. It seemed hunger far overshadowed these people’s curiosity about the transparent packaging. She had worried she’d have to explain herself.

The following day, Han Lei awoke to find it already noon.

Zhao Zun had ordered a tent to be set up beside the central military tent for Han Lei.

Time travel, rescuing people, driving, unloading food—all this had worn Han Lei out. After entering the tent, she fell asleep instantly.

Just after waking up, she heard Wan Congfei’s voice outside.

”Miss Han. Are you up?”

”Yes!”

Upon Han Lei’s reply, Xiao Zhengfei lifted the curtain and walked in.

”Miss Han, the Prince is in a meeting and sent me to ask if you have any needs. The camp is rather bare, and I hope you can forgive us.”

Han Lei glanced around, noticing only a wooden bed, a table, and a chair in the tent. It was indeed sparse.

”Mr. Xiao, could you help me find a wooden tub for bathing? That’s all I need.”

”Sure! I’ll have them heat some water right away.”

After saying this, Xiao Zhengfei left. Once the hot water was ready, he assigned five or six soldiers to stand outside Han Lei’s tent, preventing anyone from approaching.

Han Lei bought toiletries and skincare products from the system, took a delightful bath, and tidied herself up afterward.

After enjoying some porridge and bread, Han Lei exited the tent and ran into Zhao Zun, who had just finished his meeting.

Seeing Han Lei post-wash, a hint of astonishment flashed across Zhao Zun’s eyes.

Still dressed in yesterday’s camouflage attire, her delicate features, now free from paint, looked beautiful, lively, and refreshingly stunning.

The gentle breeze carried the faint fragrance of her shampoo, causing Zhao Zun to absentmindedly rub the armrest of his wheelchair and take a quiet sniff.

”Oh? Prince, what a coincidence!” greeted a refreshed Han Lei with a smile.

Zhao Zun gave a tender smile. ”Haha, Miss Han, did you sleep well last night?”

”Yesterday was utterly exhausting, so I slept quite well.”

Han Lei glanced at Ping Chuan, who was pushing Zhao Zun’s wheelchair, and asked, ”Mr Ping, you’re injured; why not rest properly? Should I push the Prince instead? I don’t have much to do right now, and I was thinking of exploring a bit.”

After her offer, Ping Chuan hurriedly refused.

”That won’t do; it’s better if I do it. I haven’t had the chance to thank Miss Han for saving my life yesterday!”

”Oh, don’t mention it; it was just a minor effort,” Han Lei replied nonchalantly, waving her hand.

Being a modern person, Han Lei didn’t favor the excessively polite customs of ancient times. Yet her easy-going demeanor brought a slight curve to Zhao Zun’s lips.

”Miss Han is right. You’re also injured and should rest; let Miss Han push me instead!”

Saying this, Zhao Zun glanced at Han Lei, further indicating, ”Anyway, Miss Han is already this Prince’s military doctor. Shouldn’t you also...”

Zhao Zun deliberately drew out his words, his gaze filled with implication.

Han Lei suddenly realized, tapping her forehead. ”Oh dear! I claimed to have nothing to do, yet I forgot we just had a battle yesterday—there must be plenty of wounded soldiers! Prince, I’ll go check on them now.”

She certainly did not want the Prince thinking she was there for free rides.

”I’m heading to the Wounded Soldier Camp as well, Miss Han, so why not accompany me there?”

Zhao Zun gestured for Ping Chuan to move aside, and Ping Chuan reluctantly handed the wheelchair over to Han Lei.

Pointing in the direction of the Wounded Soldier Camp, Zhao Zun then set off, pushed by Han Lei. Ping Chuan watched their retreating figures, shrugged, and turned away.

Though he was usually quiet, Ping Chuan was not foolish; the Prince evidently didn’t want him tagging along.

Han Lei and Zhao Zun chatted idly on their way, soon reaching the Wounded Soldier Camp.

The so-called camp was merely a few huge tents connected together, concentrating all the wounded soldiers in one place.

The conditions there were dire and overcrowded, the air constantly permeated with foul smells.

At the tent’s entrance, injured soldiers were frequently carried out on stretchers and neatly lined up on the adjacent vacant lot.

Understanding that those carried out were beyond medical aid and simply awaiting death, Han Lei knew the scene was grim.

The sight of hundreds of soldiers awaiting death, some indistinguishable between living and deceased, was overwhelming.

Faced with such calamity, Han Lei couldn’t help but close her eyes momentarily.

Being a soldier herself, she understood the harshness of war; however, understanding and witnessing are vastly different.

Perhaps sensing Han Lei’s discomfort, Zhao Zun’s voice rose at just the right time.

”Let’s go inside!”

Without a word, Han Lei silently pushed Zhao Zun into the tent.

Inside the tent, injured soldiers lay around in disorder. Some had already received treatment, others awaited care, while a few veteran military doctors busied themselves throughout.

Han Lei hadn’t anticipated so many wounded soldiers from just one battle; and this was merely within one large tent.

With such a number of injured, relying on only a handful of veteran doctors would take forever.

”So many wounded. Prince, you’ll need to assign more people to assist me,” Han Lei whispered, bending toward Zhao Zun’s ear.

Zhao Zun nodded. ”Alright, I’ll have Ma Cheng arrange that for you promptly.”

For reasons unknown, Zhao Zun neglected to refer to himself as the Prince this time.

”Mr. Zhao.”

”Mr. Zhao.”

Meanwhile, several soldiers carrying stretchers passed by Zhao Zun, greeting him. Zhao Zun nodded in response.

Suddenly, a voice rose in an exclamation.

”Marshal! The Marshal’s here; he’s come to visit us!”