Climbing to the Top: A Reborn Queen's Journey-Chapter 543: Rivalry for Love (Part 1)

The crowd of trusted aides was so engrossed in the spectacle that they didn’t notice the Commandery Princess and her group arriving at the training ground.

"Cao Da, put in more effort and take down that one-armed horse slave!"

"Exactly! Let Mani see the might of our Personal Guard Camp warriors!"

The trusted aides raised their arms and cheered, full of enthusiasm.

Jiang Shaohua’s eyebrows twitched when he heard the words "one-armed horse slave." Liu Hengchang was about to angrily reprimand them when he saw the Commandery Princess shaking her head at him. He had no choice but to keep silent.

Jiang Shaohua’s gaze fell on the two people wrestling in the arena. The one called Cao Da was in his thirties, in his prime, and was a personal soldier brought out from the Liu Family by Liu Hengchang, skilled in martial arts.

The one-armed horse slave was Mani, who was in charge of the Rouran horse slaves.

Mani had lost an arm and had been accompanying the Personal Guard Camp in training within the military camp, often getting injured. Even so, in the exchange of moves between Cao Da and Mani, Cao Da didn’t gain the upper hand.

Cao Da was highly skilled, yet Mani was more wild and fierce, like a wild wolf, ready to seize an opportunity to bite off a piece of flesh from his opponent.

The two seemed to harbor deep-seated grudges against each other, fighting fiercely. You punch me once, I’ll punch you back, you kick me once, I must kick you back.

At this rate, both would end up in a mutual defeat!

Liu Hengchang, known for his strict military discipline, felt embarrassed for this private brawl occurring in front of the Commandery Princess, and angrily shouted, "Stop this at once!"

Cao Da recognized his commander’s voice and immediately stopped.

Mani’s eyes flashed with ferocity, and he took the opportunity to launch a fierce attack. Before his fist could land on Cao Da, a stone flew from somewhere, hitting his left arm.

Mani cried out in pain.

The trusted aides turned their heads and then cupped their hands and shouted in unison, "Greetings to the Commandery Princess!"

Having thrown the stone, Jiang Shaohua remained composed, as if he hadn’t heard Mani’s cry: "You may all step back now!"

The trusted aides quickly responded and retreated, leaving the vast training ground empty in no time. Cao Da, sensing trouble, immediately knelt down to plead guilty: "I was reckless and had an argument and fought with Mani, violating the rules of the Personal Guard Camp. Please, Commandery Princess, punish me severely!"

Jiang Shaohua glanced at Cao Da: "What caused your argument?"

Liu Hengchang also glanced over coldly.

Cao Da felt guilty, not daring to look up at the Commandery Princess or his commander. He lowered his head and replied, "I kept losing to Mani during training, and I was not convinced..."

Mani, untamed by nature, glared viciously and muttered a few words.

Jiang Shaohua had learned some Rouran language and could barely understand. His eyes narrowed: "Cao Da, what really happened?"

Liu Hengchang said coldly, "Report honestly, dare to hide even a single word, and you will be expelled from the military camp."

Cao Da turned pale and didn’t dare lie again. But the real reason was too embarrassing to say. The eight-foot-tall man blushed deeply.

Jiang Shaohua’s gaze swept over to Mani: "You explain!"

Mani had been in the military camp for over half a year and could speak a fair amount of Da Liang language, though his accent was strange, like each word was jumping out one by one: "I am with Huiniang, Cao Da is not happy, deliberately picking fights."

The crowd: "..."

Liu Hengchang twitched his lips and quickly looked at the Commandery Princess.

The Huiniang mentioned by Mani was naturally Lin Huiniang, who worked in the Wounded Soldier Camp.

Back then, the Commandery Princess led troops to Li County to suppress mountain bandits, saving over thirty poor women including Lin Huiniang. Most of these women had survived, thanks to the Commandery Princess’s care and protection. Some had become cooks, while others learned medicine from Sun Zelan and worked as attendants in the military camp.

Fangniang married the cook Bao Er and had a son last year. Shanxing married Sun Guangbai, and they were a loving couple. A few others married soldiers in the military camp.

Lin Huiniang was 28 this year, not too old, with a gentle appearance, skilled in decocting medicines and bandaging, and treating simple external injuries. She was especially gentle and kind to the wounded soldiers, which made several trusted aides secretly admire her. Cao Da was one of her admirers.

Cao Da’s wife had died a few years ago, leaving him with two sons. He wasn’t lacking children, so he wanted to find a gentle and agreeable woman in the military camp. As time went by, he had his eyes set on Lin Huiniang.

Unfortunately, Lin Huiniang had no intention of remarrying and consistently kept a cold attitude towards Cao Da.

Had things remained this way, it would’ve been fine. Yet in the past half year, Mani often fell ill and went to the Wounded Soldier Camp, gradually becoming familiar with Lin Huiniang.

Cao Da watched, jealous and furious, often provoking behind the scenes. Mani was no easy target either, and would retaliate during training. As a result, the two fought today, and were caught red-handed by the Commandery Princess.

Liu Hengchang, hearing all this, was so angry that the veins on his forehead bulged.

Jiang Shaohua quickly calmed down and said indifferently, "Private fighting over personal matters is not allowed in the military camp. Both of you violated the camp rules. Commander Liu, how should they be dealt with?"

Liu Hengchang gritted his teeth: "Thirty lashes each. Bring the military clubs, I’ll discipline them personally!"

...

Cao Da and Mani, with their buttocks nearly beaten to pulp, were carried into the Wounded Soldier Camp tent.

Sun Guangbai and Sun Zelan greeted the Commandery Princess first, while Lin Huiniang and others, having heard the news, joyfully presented their respects and inquired about the Commandery Princess’s well-being.

Especially Lin Huiniang, whose face was full of joy: "It’s been a long time since I last saw the Commandery Princess, I’ve missed you dearly."

Jiang Shaohua glanced at Lin Huiniang and casually said, "Cao Da and Mani privately fought today, violating the camp’s regulations, and Commander Liu personally punished them with lashes."

Lin Huiniang nodded understandingly: "If they don’t follow the rules, they should be severely punished. I think thirty lashes are too light."

Huh?

Something seemed off.

Jiang Shaohua’s eyes flashed, and without beating around the bush, he said directly: "Did you know they fought because of you?"

Lin Huiniang, somewhat annoyed, guessed, then complained to the Commandery Princess: "After Cao Da lost his wife, he repeatedly pestered me, and I rejected him every time. I have no intention of getting married. Cao Da saw that I was unwilling, and couldn’t do anything."

"As for Mani, when he came to the Wounded Soldier Camp, he stayed for over a month. I’m on duty there, so I couldn’t ignore him, changing his dressings daily, and sometimes even feeding him."

"Later, he led dozens of Rouran cavalry to accompany the Personal Guard Camp in training daily, often getting injured. He would come to the Wounded Soldier Camp every other day, and I’d treat his injuries and change his bandages. It’s part of my duties. But he’s single-minded, thinking I like him."

"Anyone who shows me kindness, he would secretly retaliate during training. Thus, he clashed with Cao Da."

Lin Huiniang was somewhat overwhelmed, sighing deeply: "It’s good that the Commandery Princess is here. Now that they’ve been taught a lesson, they won’t bother me anymore."

It turned out both Cao Da and Mani were in unrequited love.

Lin Huiniang really had no intention of marrying.