"Qiao Minghua."

She said.

He was recognized? Xiao Qu and the others were somewhat surprised.

But Qiao Minghua showed no surprise; his expression remained unchanged.

Since this woman was mingling among the wounded soldiers, and the soldiers cursed him, Qiao Minghua, every day, he counted himself a well-known figure.

"That's a very good name you have."

Qi Yue continued, taking a slow step forward, looking at Qiao Minghua.

The surrounding onlookers froze; what kind of talk was this? Why mention names? Could this woman also be good at fortune-telling? "It sounds ordinary, but it rings out clearly when spoken."

Qi Yue said, offering Qiao Minghua a slight smile, raising a hand. "Active and bright, giving people strength and hope."

Qiao Minghua's expression finally shifted. He let out a soft snort, and a flicker of mockery flashed in his eyes, which were usually like a stagnant pool.

"However, from the two times I've seen you, the words you've spoken and the actions you've taken make me think it’s a shame you carry such a name."

Qi Yue stated.

Only then did the surrounding people realize the implication, though some of the officers and soldiers still didn't quite grasp it.

"What does that mean?" they whispered.

"Idiot, the woman is cursing Dr. Qiao."

A quick-witted person replied.

This was considered cursing? Everyone exchanged glances, then looked at Qi Yue again, a hint of admiration surfacing.

Truly a divine physician; they didn't even know they were being cursed when she spoke... "These wounded soldiers are already despondent due to their injuries and disabilities, and you, as a doctor, are supposed to give them hope and strength. But what do you do? You ignore them when they seek your help, even speaking of death and life. It's like someone hanging off a cliff reaches out to you, and instead of helping, you push them further. Qiao Minghua, I've met many doctors like myself, but I've never met a doctor like you."

Qi Yue looked at Qiao Minghua, her smile gone now, and spoke word by deliberate word. "What is a doctor? At least I dare to say I save lives and help the world. You don't even dare to utter those words, or perhaps you scorn saying them. If so, it's best you stop calling yourself a doctor; it's too much of a disgrace."

Good, the onlookers now heard clearly and frankly.

They couldn't help but look pleased, and someone even started applauding and shouting praises.

"One more segment!"

Someone shouted loudly.

Entertainment in this border town was too scarce. The only amusement was watching battles, though that was a dangerous activity one was fortunate to witness only once, and it was unknown if one would be fortunate enough to see it a second time.

Hu San clicked his tongue and shook his head from the side.

"Someone actually dares to argue with Master; they must be looking to die," he murmured to Ah Ru.

Meanwhile, Qiao Minghua let out a scoffing laugh.

"Hope..." He smiled, and then his laughter grew louder.

It drowned out the clamor around, gradually silencing everyone until only his laughter remained. "Hope... a doctor must give everyone hope and strength..." He burst into laughter.

It seemed to be the funniest joke he had ever heard.

"So you really take yourself seriously."

He abruptly stopped laughing and looked at Qi Yue, his expression reverting to indifference. "You are exactly that kind of person. A doctor who gives everyone hope and strength purely through words. Fine, then truly consider yourself a god. Here, your incense offerings will be quite abundant."

He finished speaking and actually turned to leave.

He planned to leave after stinging her with words? Qi Yue took a few steps.

"Hey, who said I only rely on my words? Haven't you seen that I cured what you couldn't?" she asked, frowning. "Are you blind, or do you refuse to see? Do you look down on me, or do you look down on yourself? The facts are right here; are you blind?"

"So, you think you're better than us now?" Qiao Minghua didn't turn around, merely pausing his steps and turning his head to ask. "Curing a few half-dead wounded soldiers makes you feel omnipotent?"

Qi Yue looked at him.

"Yes, at least in this aspect, I am better than you."

She replied.

Qiao Minghua chuckled.

"Therefore, I've seen many doctors like you," he repeated, shaking his head.

Qi Yue frowned, about to say something, when Qiao Minghua spoke again.

"Have you seen wounded soldiers?" he asked.

Qi Yue frowned.

Wasn't that a nonsensical question? "Not only have I seen them, but I've also cured them," Hu San shouted.

Qiao Minghua ignored him and kept his gaze fixed on Qi Yue.

"I mean, have you seen real wounded soldiers?" he asked.

Real ones? What did 'real' mean? Were those wounded soldiers fake? Qi Yue and the others looked confused.

"Fresh, warm, newly-minted... soldiers carried straight from the battlefield," Qiao Minghua said, revealing a slight smile.

Qi Yue suddenly understood—the battlefield, the actual theater of war.

She shook her head.

Whether in modern times or now in ancient times, she had always existed in an environment of peace. War and the battlefield felt too distant.

"Then do you dare to go and witness it? And then let me see how capable a doctor like you—a god-like doctor, the kind praised by patients in safe, sturdy rooms, the kind benevolent enough to save lives on bustling, peaceful streets—truly is?" Qiao Minghua challenged.

The slow-witted onlookers became confused again.

"What did he say?"

"What does he mean?" Of course, Qi Yue understood, as did those around her, and even the officers and soldiers exchanged glances.

'Fine,' they thought, 'these educated types certainly have sharper minds than the boorish guard who just tried to forcibly drive her away. Look at Military Doctor Qiao; one sentence is enough to silence that ungrateful woman.'

Agree? That was courting death. Refuse? Then she'd have to pack up and scurry away sheepishly. It had nothing to do with them either way.

'Brilliant, truly brilliant!' Xiao Qu could no longer bear it. How could this be? The dignified heir to the Marquis of Dingxi, the General of Martial Prowess's wife... ahem—former wife—but still, she was a noblewoman! And it was clear her ex-husband was eagerly hoping to reconcile! To be driven out by these soldiers and provoked by some unknown military doctor—if the Young Lord found out, he wouldn't just skin them alive!

"You all..." he began to shout, but Qi Yue spoke first.

"Certainly, I dare, and I'm very eager to go. Thank you for the consideration, Dr. Qiao," she said, cupping her hands to Qiao Minghua with a smile.

She agreed? Everyone present froze.

Hey, that was a battlefield, not a garden stroll! What was this woman saying?

"Good. When we have a mission, we will come to call you," Qiao Minghua said faintly, then turned and walked away.

Qi Yue said no more, glanced at the people around, and turned to go inside.

As she entered, Xiao Qu and the startled Hu San and the others quickly followed.

Instantly, only the crowd of onlookers and the soldiers remained outside the door.

"Should we, should we still chase them away?" one soldier stammered.

"Chase my foot," the leader retorted, glaring at him.

"Do we still need to chase them?" He looked at the gate where the clinic's plaque hung, shaking his head.

Perhaps she would pack up and leave tonight... "Let's go, let's go," he waved his hand.

The soldiers dispersed in a rush, and the onlookers gradually faded away. Calm returned to the area in front of Qi Yue's residence, but inside, an uproar erupted.

"Master, you're joking, right?" Hu San asked.

Qi Yue was writing at a desk; in the vase before her were plum blossoms sent by Jiang Hai, which had opened and emitted a sweet fragrance.

"Master, you were just bluffing that fellow, weren't you?" Hu San walked around asking.

"These people have gone too far! When the Young Lord returns, we won't let them off!" Xiao Qu also chimed in.

Ah Hao had gone to cook.

Ah Ru stood to the side, watching Qi Yue with a complex expression.

Meanwhile, Hu San and Xiao Qu kept talking incessantly, indignation burning in their voices.

Qi Yue ignored them, only writing on the paper, pausing and thinking between strokes, eventually filling two sheets.

"This..." She finally lifted her head and shook the papers, speaking.

Ah Ru walked over and reached out to take them.

"Are we preparing according to this?" she asked.

Qi Yue smiled at her.

"Yes," she said.

Only then did Hu San and Xiao Qu notice something was amiss.

"Preparing for what?" they asked.

"Preparing to go to the battlefield," Qi Yue announced.

Truly not a joke? "Master!" they cried out simultaneously. "That's not a game!"

"I never said I was playing," Qi Yue laughed. She stood up. "These wounded soldiers all have chronic trauma; their conditions are basically set. Except for those with severe infections, there's little I can do for them. So, if I can help, it's by going to the source. I want to see the origin of these wounded soldiers, and see what I can do there."

"Master, that's the battlefield. Even if it's in the rear, it's still very dangerous," Xiao Qu urged.

"Right, Master, we came here to see the Young Lord, not to practice medicine," Hu San also insisted urgently.

"What is a 'Great Physician'?" Qi Yue suddenly asked.

Hu San looked at her and called out 'Master' with a pained expression.

"What you said... Since I am a doctor, naturally, wherever I go, I practice medicine. Am I supposed to ignore a dying person on the roadside just because I'm off work heading home? A physician's skill is different from other abilities; this skill is responsibility, destiny, and mission."

Qi Yue said with a serious expression.

"That's what Master Liu said," Hu San mumbled sheepishly.

"So, I must listen to my teacher," Qi Yue teased him by nudging her nose and humming twice. "Besides, trying to command me? Impossible."

"That's what you said, Master," Hu San hummed back.

It was over; this wasn't a joke. Xiao Qu sighed. Now, all they could do was pray that there wouldn't be any fighting for a while, or at least not until the Young Lord returned.

But clearly, his prayers were not heard by heaven, because the very next day after this incident, the military medical corps received a summons order.

"Dr. Qiao, are we really going to summon that Madam Qi?" a military doctor asked hesitantly.

Qiao Minghua had already packed his baggage. Hearing the question, he remained expressionless.

"Whether she comes is her business; whether I call her is mine," he said faintly, then stepped out first.

The military doctors exchanged helpless glances. One waved his hand dismissively.

"Go on, go on. Maybe she's already run off," he said.

Indeed, by the time they were ready to depart at noon, the woman had not appeared.

"I told you so," everyone laughed. "This isn't child's play. If you have to choose between saving face and saving your life, even a fool knows which one to pick."

The carriages were ready, and with the pushing and shoving of the soldiers, the vehicles loaded with people and supplies began to move. Not long after leaving the city gate, they heard shouts from behind. Everyone turned back and froze.

Two carriages and five horses were catching up. Qi Yue lifted the carriage curtain and looked at the dumbfounded crowd.

"It was so sudden, I didn't even have time to prepare my things. Do you have enough medicine and bandages?" she asked.

She was really going? Everyone looked at her in disbelief.

Qiao Minghua looked over from the lead carriage.

"There's nothing much to prepare," he said faintly, then ceased speaking, turned his head, snapped the reins, and the carriage moved forward with a trot.

Seeing his attitude, the others didn't know what to say to the woman either, so they simply remained silent, and the convoy proceeded in quiet.

Qiao Minghua looked ahead, his expression indifferent as the carriage swayed. He seemed entirely unaware that several people had joined his convoy.

Nothing much to prepare, because preparation was useless for anything.

Did such a thing as hope even exist?

******* Apparently, I still owe a few bits and pieces... sigh... I rounded up and they found out.... RT