Chapter 113: Medicinal Herbs

Night had already fallen. Pear Blossom had to rise early the next morning to gather herbs. After assigning the next day’s training tasks to Daniu, she and Dong Yun headed up the mountain under the cover of darkness.

Fubao was left behind to sleep with Mrs. Xiong, so Pear Blossom wouldn’t have to bring her back down the mountain in the morning. Keeping Fubao in the cave would only lead to trouble since the child couldn’t stay still for long.

The mountain paths were rugged, and the night was hazy.

To avoid disturbing the villagers, Pear Blossom didn’t light a torch. As soon as she stepped out of the house, she hoisted Dong Yun onto her back and made her way swiftly up the mountain under the moonlight.

Hearing the rushing wind in her ears, Dong Yun spoke with concern, “You’ve worked hard all day, and now you’re carrying me up the mountain. It makes me feel guilty.”

Pear Blossom didn’t even sound out of breath as she replied, “No need to feel bad. If there’s one thing I have, it’s strength. Besides, with your pace, we wouldn’t reach the cave before midnight.”

Dong Yun suggested, “If it’s too much, we can sleep at the base tonight.”

But Pear Blossom’s pace didn’t falter. “There are too many people at the base; you wouldn’t sleep peacefully. Back at the cave, you can sleep as long as you like in the morning.”

Dong Yun pinched her playfully. “Am I really that lazy and fond of sleeping?”

“No,” Pear Blossom admitted, “but I want you to sleep comfortably.”

Dong Yun hugged Pear Blossom’s neck, resting her cheek against her ear, feeling warm and fuzzy inside.

“Am I heavy?” she asked.

Pear Blossom shook her head. In truth, Dong Yun wasn’t exactly petite—she was well-rounded in all the right places, yet slender where it mattered. However, her small face and sharp chin made her appear delicate despite her height, which naturally made her slightly heavier than most women.

But none of this mattered to Pear Blossom, whose body was brimming with strength. She liked how soft and plush Dong Yun felt. And when Dong Yun turned serious, exuding an authoritative aura, it only added to Pear Blossom’s admiration.

It was only a figure like hers that could carry such a commanding presence.

“Not too heavy, not too light. Just perfect for me,” Pear Blossom replied.

Dong Yun chuckled at her response.

If anyone else had answered, the reply might have been different. But Pear Blossom’s answer, while not necessarily the best, was the one that fit Dong Yun the most.

There were countless good men and women in the world, but happiness didn’t come from finding someone “good” or “capable.” True happiness came from finding someone who was a perfect match.

Dong Yun had always been someone with strong desires. She couldn’t imagine what life would have been like if she had ended up with Xia Xunyan. That person was so detached and ascetic—could they ever have been compatible in intimacy? Would she have ever experienced the kind of joy she had now?

Moreover, back when she was of noble status, her temper was unpredictable, and her controlling nature was strong. Few people could endure her for long. What good would it do to endure her temporarily if they couldn’t last a lifetime?

And yet, this foolish girl before her was more than happy to let herself be controlled and managed—earnest and without pretense.

As Dong Yun chuckled, her warm, slightly damp breath brushed against Pear Blossom’s ear, tickling her.

“Do you like me, sister?” she asked suddenly.

Dong Yun didn’t hesitate for long. She hummed in affirmation, “I do.”

She tightened her arms around Pear Blossom’s neck.

Pear Blossom bit her lip, smiling, her steps growing lighter and faster.

Once they returned to the cave, Pear Blossom went to wash up. Although she had bathed earlier at the base, carrying someone up the mountain and her naturally warm body had caused her to sweat. She couldn’t sleep comfortably without rinsing off.

After she finished, Dong Yun also washed up and went straight to bed afterward.

During the day, so much had happened that neither of them had the mood for anything else. With Fubao not around, the two simply lay in bed, talking as they embraced each other.

Pear Blossom recounted everything she hadn’t had the chance to share earlier in meticulous detail to Dong Yun—about the ambush squad, the young men from Fuping she met that day, and the pitiable little Cao’er.

After hearing her out, Dong Yun thought for a moment and said, “The ambush squad, as it stands now, was originally formed under the pretense of serving the village, created to defend against bandits. But the person truly funding and paying these men is you. If the ownership and command aren’t clarified, it could lead to problems once the team expands.”

Pear Blossom replied, “Sister, are you suggesting I turn them into my private troops?”

Dong Yun nodded. “Nowadays, which noble family doesn’t raise their own private forces? Even some county and provincial offices, due to the imperial court’s inability to station troops locally, are forced to recruit soldiers on their own to fight bandits. Although officially forbidden, the authorities turn a blind eye.”

Hearing this, Pear Blossom felt enlightened.

If these men became her private forces, she could assign them tasks directly without needing to consult anyone in the village.

Currently, the ambush squad only had about thirty members, so it wasn’t a problem yet. But once the numbers grew, unclear ownership could allow anyone in the village to interfere. For example, Elder Liu might claim that these men were assembled using land contributions from every household and demand the right to command them.

That would spell trouble.

As for other villages wanting to join, they’d need to agree to become her private troops before she’d let them in.

In the future, leading these men to assist her sister would make things much smoother.

“You’re so insightful, Sister,” Pear Blossom said as she snuggled up to Dong Yun.

Dong Yun let her get close but asked with a teasing tone, “So, were those young men from Fuping handsome?”

Pear Blossom paused, thinking hard. She realized she couldn’t quite recall their individual faces and admitted honestly, “When they were together, it was obvious who they were. But if they were separated, I can’t really remember what each of them looks like…”

Dong Yun pressed her tongue against the roof of her mouth to suppress a laugh.

This girl’s face blindness seemed quite serious.

“What about that Li Datou from the other day? Do you remember him?”

“I do,” Pear Blossom said with certainty. “He was so ugly! His head was as big as a barrel, and his eyes looked like brass bells. There probably isn’t anyone in the world as ugly as him, so he’s easy to recognize.”

“I still remember how his eyes bulged when I knocked him off his horse.” She added this with a grin.

Dong Yun covered Pear Blossom’s mouth, stopping her from describing the grotesque image any further.

“What about that Cao’er girl? Is she pretty?”

“She should be. How many young girls are truly ugly? But she’s quite pitiful. Sister, you were kind enough to care for me back then. If you saw her, you’d feel sorry for her too.”

Dong Yun sighed softly and ruffled Pear Blossom’s hair. “I can’t show myself publicly right now, so take care of that Cao’er girl on my behalf.”

“Alright. She’s an orphan now, all alone. From now on, I’ll treat her like my own sister, just like Xinghua.”

Dong Yun felt completely reassured and lay back, asking one last question before they fell asleep.

“Do you think I’m beautiful?”

Hearing this, Pear Blossom turned over and hugged her waist, answering without hesitation, “Beautiful. Absolutely beautiful.”

Only then did Dong Yun murmur softly, finally drifting into a peaceful sleep.

---

Before dawn the next day, Pear Blossom got up, kissed Dong Yun, and carried her shoulder pole, sacks, and a small hoe as she headed into the mountains under the heavy morning dew.

Deep in the forest, about dozens of miles from the village, the roars of wild beasts echoed. This was an uncharted and treacherous area where few dared to venture for herbs, but it was a treasure trove.

With the system’s herbal identification feature activated, Pear Blossom filled two large sacks by midday.

Most of the herbs were for the hemostatic medicine Doctor Zhang had specifically requested. Some were for her grandfather, who had instructed her a few days ago, while the rest were rare herbs identified by the system.

With her martial arts skills, even herbs growing on steep cliffs couldn’t escape her grasp.

By the time noon arrived, the sun was high in the sky, and her stomach growled with hunger.

After wiping her sweat, she didn’t linger. She carried the two heavy sacks, avoiding wild beasts, and started back to the village.

She couldn’t help but feel a bit regretful when the system informed her of the abundance of game in the mountains, including a large group of wild boars nearby. If it weren’t for the urgency of delivering herbs to save lives, she’d definitely have hunted a boar to bring home.

Her physical stats had already reached 68, with strength, stamina, and endurance far surpassing ordinary people. Even with over 200 pounds of herbs, she could move with ease.

Carrying Dong Yun, who was under 100 pounds last night, had been no trouble at all.

When she returned to the village, her mother, Mrs. Xiong, was stunned at the sight of the large load she carried.

She knew her daughter was strong, but to carry such a heavy load over such a long mountain path without showing any fatigue was something even her husband couldn’t manage.

No wonder the princess liked her.

Pear Blossom set down the sacks, wiped the sweat from her brow, picked up Fubao, who had run to her, and said to her mother, “Mom, could you please sort this out? There’s a small cloth bag inside the left sack with the herbs Grandpa asked me to collect. Dry them, and I’ll deliver them to him later.”

“There’s also a larger black bag with rare medicinal herbs I found. Save it for future use.”

“The rest are for treating wounds and stopping bleeding. The ones with soil still on the roots, help me clean them up. I’ll take them to Doctor Zhang later—he urgently needs them for the severely injured people from He Village yesterday.”

Mrs. Xiong understood the urgency and immediately began sorting through the herbs for wound treatment and blood clotting, saying, “Got it, dear. You go have your meal first—it’s still warm on the stove.”

Pear Blossom, famished, headed straight to the kitchen.

Fubao, who had just been set down, followed close behind, circling around her and darting in and out.

By the time she finished eating, Mrs. Xiong had organized the herbs, filling two large baskets. She asked, “These are all raw herbs—are they ready to use?”

Pear Blossom replied, “Doctor Zhang will know. My job is just to deliver them.”

She then led the ox cart out, loaded the two baskets of herbs onto it, and brought out three bags of rice from the storeroom, placing them beside the baskets.

Seeing this, Mrs. Xiong opened her mouth as if to speak but held back in the end.

The people in He Village were so desperate they had turned to cannibalism. At least their own household still had enough to eat. Besides, there were grains hidden in the mountains. When lives were at stake, she couldn’t bring herself to object.

Pear Blossom gave a shout, and the ox trotted off toward the village entrance.

Passing by the training grounds, she intentionally glanced over and saw Daniu leading the ambush team members in training. Their shouts echoed loudly, and only then did she feel reassured.

The team members also spotted her. Seeing the two large baskets of fresh herbs on the cart, still glistening with dew, they realized she had just come down from the mountains.

They couldn’t help but marvel. Gathering two full baskets of herbs in one morning was impressive enough, but on a closer look, the baskets contained Panax notoginseng, Puhuang, acacia flowers, white orchid, elm, and more. Who else could gather such a variety in a single morning?

Moreover, these herbs could fetch a considerable price if sold elsewhere, yet she was willing to give them all to He Village. Truly, her generosity and compassion were admirable.

No one in Daliushu Village could claim to be as selfless.

After witnessing Pear Blossom’s courage the day before—charging at the forefront with her saber and cutting down more than ten foes—no one dared to challenge her authority, even though she was only seventeen years old.

The team members respectfully greeted her as their leader before returning to their training.

Pear Blossom nodded in acknowledgment and continued driving the cart toward the village entrance.

…

Doctor Zhang was the only doctor in the nearby town. As a man of compassion, he spared no effort in treating the injured, even staying awake for an entire day and night.

Eight members of the Daliushu Village rescue team had also been tirelessly assisting. After a brief rest of two to three hours last night, they returned early in the morning to help.

Despite their efforts, some injuries were beyond saving. Two more people passed away during the night.

With herbs in critically short supply, Doctor Zhang had long exhausted the medicine stored at the town’s clinic. Even the best doctor couldn’t work without resources.

When Pear Blossom arrived, she saw him sitting there with heavy dark circles under his eyes, sighing deeply.

“Doctor Zhang—”

At the sound of her voice, he instantly perked up, his exhaustion vanishing. He looked up sharply.

Seeing it was indeed her, his eyes lit up. His gaze darted toward the cart behind her, and when he saw the two large baskets filled with herbs, his face lit up with joy as though he had seen a savior. He stood up quickly.

“Leader Pear Blossom—”

Pear Blossom glanced at the injured lying in the shed. The light mood she’d had on the way over became heavy once again.

Doctor Zhang stepped closer to the cart, his eyes shining as he examined the baskets of herbs.

Everything he had requested appeared to be there, and the roots of the herbs were plump and fresh, of excellent quality.

“Excellent, excellent! You’re truly skilled. You managed to gather so many high-quality herbs in just one morning. I might not collect this much in a year.”

Pear Blossom dismissed his praise modestly. “I had help. The villagers came together to assist me. Here, take a look—these are all fresh herbs. Are they suitable?”

“Of course! Fresh herbs can sometimes be more effective than dried ones. Drying is mainly for easier storage.”

He touched the dewy herbs with excitement in his eyes. “Leader Pear Blossom, even I can’t identify all of these as quickly as you. How did your people manage to gather so many in just half a day?”

Pear Blossom smiled and lied smoothly. “You might not know this, but my grandfather was chronically ill and practically became a doctor himself. My uncles learned a lot about herbal medicine, and since I often went hunting, they taught me to recognize many herbs. The ones you asked for are common and easy to identify. The ones my grandfather needed were the real challenge.”

“I see,” Doctor Zhang nodded, understanding.

With these herbs, many more lives could be saved.

Pear Blossom easily lifted the two baskets off the cart and then pulled out a small cloth bag from the top of one. She opened it and extended it toward Doctor Zhang.

His eyes widened in shock. “This… how did you find these?” he asked, astonished.

Pear Blossom smiled but didn’t answer directly.

“He Village’s recovery won’t be quick—it’ll take more than just a few days. I’m counting on you to keep visiting to care for them. I know you’ve already brought over all the herbs from your own home. While I do have money, I thought you might prefer this instead.”

Doctor Zhang’s eyes lit up, and he was almost trembling with excitement. “Naturally! Leader Pear Blossom, you understand me well.”

With just one glance, he had recognized the aged lingzhi and ginseng in the small bag. They were treasures worth hundreds of taels of silver, even in ordinary times. Now, during a time of chaos and herb shortages, they were priceless.

Money isn’t the main issue. If a disaster or illness strikes the family, having this can save lives.

Pear Blossom smiled as she handed the cloth pouch to him and said, “Then I’ll trouble you, Doctor Zhang.”

Doctor Zhang, as if he had received a treasure, quickly replied, “Don’t worry, don’t worry. I’ll take care of the patient’s matters properly.”

Afterward, he scratched his head awkwardly and added, “Look at you. You have no relation to the people of He Village, yet you’re helping save lives, arranging everything, and even providing money and food. Meanwhile, here I am, still thinking about these—”

Pear Blossom laughed. “Doctor Zhang, don’t overthink it. Just over a year ago, I was nearly sold off. It was Princess Mingyue who saved me. Although the princess is no longer with us, her immense kindness is something I dare not forget. Now that I see people suffering as I once did, how could I not help? Consider it as passing on the princess’s benevolence.”

Hearing this for the first time, Doctor Zhang was deeply moved. “So it’s the good deeds of the princess that have brought us these blessings. I’ll make sure to tell everyone about this—how the medicines used for them come from the kindness of the princess. If we pass on this goodwill, many more people will benefit in the future.”

Pear Blossom was happy to hear this and leaned in slightly to whisper, “Actually, you’ve met the princess before.”

Doctor Zhang was stunned. “I have?”

“Last year, I carried her to your clinic. At that time, she had a little episode. Don’t you remember?”

“That was her!” Doctor Zhang exclaimed in shock. “I can’t believe I was so close to the princess. If only I’d known, I wouldn’t have dared charge you a single coin!”

Pear Blossom waved her hand dismissively. “Doctor Zhang, there you go again. Treating the sick is your duty. You provided the medicine and your services—it’s only right to accept payment.”

As she spoke, Pear Blossom noticed a young girl standing near Mrs. Miao, glancing repeatedly in their direction. Straightening up, she waved and called out, “Cao’er!”

Then, turning back to Doctor Zhang, she said, “You go ahead with your work. I won’t keep you from saving lives.”

Doctor Zhang nodded repeatedly and called for someone to help move the medicinal supplies.

Meanwhile, Cao’er’s eyes lit up at being called. She quickly put down her work and ran over in small, eager steps. When she reached Pear Blossom, she seemed to realize she’d been too enthusiastic and shyly lowered her head.

In a small voice, she addressed her as “Commander Pear Blossom.”

The sun was scorching. Pear Blossom pulled Cao’er under the shade of a tree. Seeing her current state and recalling last night’s conversation with Dong Yun, Pear Blossom felt pity for her. She reached into her pocket, took out two hard-boiled eggs, and handed them to the girl.

“Did you sleep well last night?”

Cao’er didn’t take the eggs and replied hesitantly, “I… I slept… okay…”

How could she have slept well? Her family was gone, and her dreams were filled with the images of her parents and brothers in their final moments, along with painful memories of past abuse. She had woken up in the middle of the night and spent the rest of it staring at the ceiling until dawn.

Seeing the dark circles under her eyes, Pear Blossom sighed softly. “Why won’t you take the eggs?”

“I… I had a pancake Mrs. Miao brought me this morning… and I also had a bowl of porridge from the village…”

“Silly girl, that’s not enough,” Pear Blossom said as she grabbed Cao’er’s hand and placed the eggs in it. “Find a quiet place and eat them in secret later.”

Cao’er bit her lip, clutching the eggs tightly in her hand.

“If you didn’t sleep well, tell Mrs. Miao and take a nap at home. Rest up so you’ll have energy to help this afternoon.”

Cao’er nodded and whispered, “Okay. Thank you, Commander Pear Blossom.”

Meanwhile, the villagers, having overheard Pear Blossom and Doctor Zhang’s earlier conversation, began spreading the word. Soon, many were kneeling, expressing their gratitude for Princess Mingyue’s benevolence.

Some even cursed, saying, “If the emperor hadn’t hunted down the true daughter of destiny, the world wouldn’t be in chaos, bandits wouldn’t run rampant, and the people wouldn’t suffer like this!”

Pear Blossom watched silently, her expression calm.

Cao’er couldn’t help but ask quietly, “Commander Pear Blossom, what did the princess look like?”

Pear Blossom smiled. “What do you think she looked like, Cao’er?”

Cao’er thought seriously. Someone who saved Commander Pear Blossom and was so kind and selfless must be a wonderful person. She said, “She must have smiling eyes and big earlobes, like the Buddha in the temple.”

Pear Blossom chuckled. This girl had clearly imagined the princess as a statue of a deity.

“She’s only a few years older than us. But… she was very beautiful.”

Cao’er’s eyes filled with longing. “I heard the bandits of Baihu Villa took her east. Will she ever come back?”

Pear Blossom’s eyes sparkled. “The princess is blessed by the heavens. She’ll return when the time is right. All we need to do is live well, and we’ll see her again.”

Just then, the sound of hooves approached.

Everyone turned to see a burly young man riding a black horse galloping toward the village.

Someone recognized him as a member of the surprise team who had helped the day before and realized he must be here for Pear Blossom.

Daniu spotted his sister from afar and rushed toward her. Only when he was closer did he notice a small girl standing beside her—the same girl who had gotten him scolded yesterday. Fearing more trouble, he tried to rein in his horse, but the speed was too fast. The horse reared up, and he was thrown to the ground.

With a loud thud, Daniu hit the ground and rolled several times, stopping just at Pear Blossom’s feet.

Covered in dust and looking utterly disheveled, he cut a sorry figure.

When he lifted his head, the little girl was indeed startled by the commotion. Her face filled with terror as she shrank back behind her older sister.

Pear Blossom patted Cao’er’s hand reassuringly and said, “It’s alright.” She stepped forward and, seeing that he wasn’t hurt, grabbed his ear and scolded, “I just told you yesterday not to act recklessly. And today, you’re galloping around on a horse again! Aren’t you afraid of trampling someone? Do you even look at where you’re going?”

Daniu grimaced and said, “Sister, I was wrong. I’ll be more careful next time—I swear! Miss Murong came by and sent me to let you know she’s brought weapons.”

Hearing that Murong Jin had arrived, Pear Blossom finally let go of his ear.

“Go apologize to Cao’er. You’ve startled her twice now.”

Daniu scrambled to his feet, his face still dusty, and approached Cao’er. Bowing his head, he said, “Sister Cao’er, I’m sorry. I apologize for yesterday, and for what just happened too. Please forgive me.”

He didn’t care whether someone was older or younger than him—if they were smaller than him, they were automatically considered a “younger sister.”

Cao’er looked at the towering Daniu, who was at least a head and a half taller than her. Fear bubbled up inside her, and she uneasily took two steps back. She shook her head and whispered, “…It’s okay… I’m just too timid…”

Pear Blossom noticed her unease. Taking Cao’er’s hand, she placed a small tree branch into it and gently swatted Daniu’s arm with it.

“Don’t be afraid. No matter how big and burly a bull might be, one whip is enough to tame it. Next time he bothers you, just punish him like this.”

Daniu, unbothered by the light smack, grinned and said cheerfully, “Go ahead and hit me. Whether my sister’s here or not, I won’t fight back. Just don’t be mad after you’re done, alright?”

That goofy expression of his was the spitting image of Dageng’s.

Sure enough, seeing his silly grin, Cao’er’s anxiety lessened a bit. However, she still pulled her hand back and said, “…I’m not mad. You two should get back to what you’re doing.”

Pear Blossom rolled her eyes at Daniu and said, “Head back and tell Senior Sister I’ll be there shortly.”

Daniu mumbled an acknowledgment, then carefully led his big black horse away. He glanced back after walking a few steps, saw that both of them were still watching him, and didn’t dare mount the horse.

Instead, he led it slowly toward the village entrance, dragging his feet.

Pear Blossom watched his retreating figure and noticed Qin Zheng limping toward them. She turned to Cao’er and said, “False alarm. All right, go back and rest now. I need to get to work.”

Cao’er, for some reason, felt much better. She nodded firmly, bid Pear Blossom farewell, and left.

Pear Blossom then pulled the ox cart toward Qin Zheng. The man’s eyes were glued to the bags of rice on the cart, unable to look away.

It wasn’t entirely his fault for losing composure. The villagers had already gnawed most of the tree roots near the foot of the mountain. If not for a shred of rationality, they might have resorted to digging up and eating the seedlings in the fields.

The few bags of grain that Wei Gouzi’s family had taken out yesterday were used to make some porridge, but they were gone in no time.

Seeing his expression, Pear Blossom said, “I have some ideas about the grain problem, but it’ll take a day or two. For now, take these few bags to tide things over.”

Hearing this, Qin Zheng’s face lit up with gratitude. He quickly said, “You’re kind, team leader. On behalf of the villagers, thank you.”

The villagers of He Village, watching from afar as she delivered medicine and grain, couldn’t help but wipe away tears. They shouted their thanks to her from a distance, their voices filled with genuine emotion.