It was the height of summer, with the sun blazing fiercely.

While there weren’t many pedestrians on West Street in the afternoon, there was quite a bustle under the plum tree at the entrance of Renxin Clinic.

A pile of old miscellaneous items gathered at the doorway as Du Changqing held a rough blueprint, fanning himself while discussing with Yin Zheng where to place the new medicine cabinet.

The cobbler next door had moved away from West Street, leaving their shop empty.

Since Xinglin Hall had closed its doors, Renxin Clinic was the only medicine shop left on West Street. Miao Liangfang’s medical skills were far superior to Zhou Ji who had worked at Xinglin Hall. He was also considerate of the common people’s hardships, choosing cheaper medicines, curing illnesses effectively, and keeping consultation fees low. The number of patients visiting Renxin Clinic increased month by month. Sometimes when people lined up at the entrance, the original small clinic felt cramped.

With the cobbler moving away, Du Changqing rented the adjacent shop and connected them, instantly making Renxin Clinic much more spacious.

Acheng was carrying several tubes of ginger honey water from afar when he saw a carriage stop at Renxin Clinic’s entrance. As the carriage curtain was lifted, Acheng looked carefully and called out: “Doctor Lu!”

Several people in the clinic turned their heads simultaneously.

Lu Tong jumped down from the carriage.

Before she could even steady herself, a bright figure flashed before her eyes as Yin Zheng hugged her, jumping and laughing: “Miss, how did you suddenly come back without saying anything beforehand!”

“Little Lu is back?” Miao Liangfang’s hand stopped fanning as he hurriedly walked out from the inner shop, leaning on his cane.

Lu Tong got out of the carriage, and the carriage driver also helped unload her things.

Du Changqing was stunned for a moment before reacting, asking in surprise: “…It’s not even time for the ten-day break, did the Medical Officials Academy give you leave?”

Lu Tong vaguely nodded.

So that was it. The proprietor folded the blueprint in his hands and tucked it into his chest, walking into the inner shop while grumbling: “Quite good at giving surprises… Come in and have some water first, look how hot it is!”

Lu Tong followed them in, and everyone else followed, except Miao Liangfang whose gaze fell on the luggage being unloaded from the carriage outside, a hint of doubt flashing across his expression.

After entering, Acheng handed Lu Tong one of the sweet drinks he had just bought. Lu Tong sat down at the table in the inner shop, where it was much cooler than outside, the strong medicinal fragrance making one’s mind peaceful.

Miao Liangfang leaned against the medicine cabinet, fanning her while asking: “Little Lu has more luggage this time than last time. Did the Medical Officials Academy give you public leave?”

Yin Zheng’s eyes lit up: “Miss, are you going to stay at the clinic for several days this time?”

Lu Tong took a sip of the sweet drink, the cold sugary water dispelling the summer dryness. She lowered her head: “I will stay at the clinic for three months.”

Everyone was stunned.

Miao Liangfang’s fanning hand stopped, tentatively speaking: “But this leave…”

“It’s not left, I’ve been suspended.”

The room suddenly fell silent.

After a while, Du Changqing dug into his ear, asking Acheng in confusion: “Did I hear wrong? What did Doctor Lu just say?”

“I’ve been suspended,” Lu Tong emphasized again.

This time it was heard clearly, and Yin Zheng put down her bamboo tube, asking blankly: “…Why?”

Lu Tong was silent for a moment, her tone still calm, “I privately checked the Medical Officials Academy’s prescription lists for the Imperial Pharmacy, violating regulations, so I was punished with three months’ suspension.”

Du Changqing turned to look at Miao Liangfang: “There’s such a rule?”

Miao Liangfang stroked his beard in thought: “Vaguely… maybe… seems… there is indeed such a rule.”

“That’s not the point,” Du Changqing gave Lu Tong an exasperated look: “Why did you look at that thing when everything was fine, were you just too idle?”

“Just curious.”

“What’s there to be curious about…” He was about to nag more when Acheng interrupted: “Doctor Lu, will you return to the Medical Officials Academy after three months? They didn’t punish you with anything else, did they? I heard in the imperial city they beat people with boards when they make mistakes, did they beat you?”

Lu Tong smiled faintly: “No, just suspension.”

Everyone breathed a sigh of relief.

Yin Zheng thought for a moment: “Well, the suspension is just suspension, it’s only three months’ salary, Manager Du can make up for it later. Even if you hadn’t come back, we were going to send word to the Medical Officials Academy in a few days, wanting you to come back for a visit.”

“Why?”

“In five days, it will be Renxin Clinic’s fiftieth anniversary. Manager Du has rented the neighboring shop and connected them, and has been busy arranging these days, just waiting for that day’s opening. Miss, you’ve come back at the perfect time. The clinic’s progress to today owes much to you, how could we celebrate without our meritorious contributor?”

Du Changqing listened coldly, snorting twice: “What’s this? It sounds like Doctor Lu is more the owner than I am?”

Yin Zheng put her hands on her hips: “Without Miss, Manager Du’s clinic would at most only be able to hold a forty-ninth-year celebration.”

“Hey!”

“Alright, stop arguing,” Miao Liangfang raised his hand to stop their quarrel. “Since Little Lu has come back, settle in peacefully. I sometimes find it too busy managing the clinic alone, it’s good to have help. The back room still needs to be tidied up, and since you’re staying longer this time, see what Little Lu needs and we’ll get it in these few days.”

Hearing this, Yin Zheng clapped her hands: “That’s right, I’ll go prepare Miss’s room first. Miss,” she lifted the felt curtain, instructing Lu Tong, “you just got back, rest in the shop first, wait until I’ve made the bed before coming in.”

Lu Tong agreed.

Du Changqing asked a few more questions, but seeing Lu Tong’s low spirits, didn’t pursue further, taking Acheng to clean up next door — the cobbler’s shop had just been emptied and still needed medicine cabinets and tables arranged.

Lu Tong sat at the table, slowly drinking the sweet beverage. There were no patients for consultation in the inner shop at the moment. Miao Liangfang took a few steps toward the chair by the medicine cabinet, then suddenly turned back and walked to sit opposite Lu Tong.

“Little Lu,” he looked at her, lowering his voice, “tell me honestly, is your suspension related to me?”

Lu Tong paused.

Miao Liangfang stared at her nervously.

Something felt wrong to him.

Lu Tong had always been cautious, and careful in her actions, not an impulsive person. Why would she suddenly look at the Imperial Pharmacy’s prescription lists without reason? There must be something behind this.

Du Changqing and Yin Zheng didn’t ask because they knew even if they did, Lu Tong wouldn’t explain in detail; she rarely talked about herself.

But how could a small clinic on West Street easily learn about what happened in the imperial city?

The Medical Officials Academy Director was Cui Min, and the one who could suspend Lu Tong for three months was also Cui Min…

He could only think of this.

The bamboo tube of sweet drink with crushed ice felt cold in her palm. Lu Tong said: “It has nothing to do with Master Miao.”

“Little Lu, don’t deceive me.”

“It’s true.”

She smiled, “I just accidentally made a small mistake and was suspended for three months because of it. Master Miao knows too, if I had committed an unforgivable offense, being a commoner, it wouldn’t be as simple as just suspension.”

Miao Liangfang was speechless.

This was indeed true.

“The Medical Officials Academy is very busy now and short-handed. Master Miao needn’t worry, I’m just staying for a while. Perhaps before three months are up, someone from the Medical Officials Academy will come to invite me back.”

“Nonsense,” Miao Liangfang was amused by her words, his earlier worry mostly dispersing, “those people have their noses in the air, how could they lower themselves to actively invite you back?”

Lu Tong said nothing, lowering her head to take a sip of the sweet drink before her.

She had caused such a scene at the Medical Officials Academy, whether anyone believed it or not, she had struck at Cui Min’s most hidden secret.

In normal times, Cui Min would not have let her off so lightly.

But it was precisely now.

Qi Yutai had just recovered from madness, and Cui Min himself wasn’t sure if Qi Yutai would relapse. If Qi Yutai were to relapse, would the previous prescription still work?

If it wouldn’t work, who else could he find to clean up this mess?

Ji Xun came from a noble background with extraordinary talent; Cui Min felt both inferior and superior before him, and would never bow to Ji Xun, so he could only use a commoner like herself.

It was with fellow commoners that he felt a strong sense of superiority and control.

As an unexpected backup plan, Cui Min wouldn’t easily dispose of her. Even after three months, he wouldn’t dare expel her from the Medical Officials Academy.

A mediocre person without true skill or learning, who had used schemes to reach his current high position, no matter how calm and indifferent he appeared, was insecure and without support deep in his heart.

High-flying birds die for sweet food; deep-spring fish die for fragrant bait.

Yet he still craved empty fame…

She put down the bamboo tube in her hand: “Did the sweet drink shop in front change owners?”

“Yes.” Miao Liangfang was startled, “How did you know?”

Lu Tong looked down at the clear drink in the bamboo tube, smiling.

“It’s sweeter than before.”

…

Bamboo shadows swayed, the sun setting at dusk.

When Ji Xun returned to the Medical Officials Academy, it was already evening.

At this time, the medical officials had all gone to dinner, leaving the small grove empty.

Ji Xun entered the medicine room and picked up an iron box from the bookshelf.

Though called an iron box, it was more like an iron chest, not too large, with its lid open, containing five or six somewhat damaged books inside.

He raised his hand, carefully placing several medical texts from the table into the box along with the others, closed the lid, and put on a small lock. Behind him, his medicine boy Zhu Ling sat on a small stool, propping his chin and shaking his head repeatedly as he watched.

His young master was upright in character and kind-hearted, anyone would call him a good person, but why was his approach to interpersonal relationships so unusual?

Take that new medical official, Lu, for instance. A few days ago, Zhu Ling had accidentally learned that this Medical Official Lu was the poor young woman his master had inadvertently saved while passing through Southern Su years ago, which had quite surprised him.

To think there was such a connection!

Not only had Medical Official Lu recognized his master, but she had also returned the personal jade pendant he had left behind years ago. Zhu Ling found it very exciting.

A life-saving grace, an old acquaintance of many years, a talented man and beautiful woman, equally matched… and now working together at the Medical Officials Academy. If nothing came of this, it would seem to waste heaven’s arrangement of such a perfect coincidence.

Zhu Ling quietly waited for good things to happen.

Who knew Ji Xun’s actions would be so beyond Zhu Ling’s expectations?

Perhaps due to guilt from previously misunderstanding Lu Tong, or perhaps because the past events in Southern Su made Ji Xun feel closer to Lu Tong, in any case, Zhu Ling could feel that his master treated this Medical Official Lu very specially and considerately, at least besides medical texts and pharmacology, this Medical Official Lu could affect his master’s emotions.

Ji Xun began searching for medical texts to send to Lu Tong.

Every few days, he would have Lu Tong come to his medicine room to discuss pharmacology.

Zhu Ling was devastated.

Was this not an early official evaluation?

Even if these two could have developed some romantic moments, under such circumstances it would surely vanish instantly.

How was this any different from studying at the Imperial Medical Bureau?

Did his master think Medical Official Lu enjoyed this?

He sighed, hearing Ji Xun’s voice beside his ear: “Why hasn’t Medical Official Lu come yet?”

Today was when Lu Tong was supposed to come to get new medical texts. Ji Xun had specially found several books that even the Imperial Medical Bureau didn’t have, with his notes written on them.

But the time had passed, and Lu Tong still hadn’t appeared.

Ji Xun said: “Go to the medicine hall and ask.”

Zhu Ling acknowledged.

About half a cup of tea’s time later, Zhu Ling ran back out of breath, calling out as soon as he reached the medicine room door: “Young Master, something’s happened!”

“What is it?”

“I just went looking for Medical Official Lu, searched everywhere but couldn’t find her. The medical officials in the front hall told me that Medical Official Lu slandered the Director and privately viewed prescription lists, was suspended for three months and left the Medical Officials Academy this afternoon!”

Ji Xun suddenly stood up.

“What?”

…

“What? Medical Official Lu was suspended?”

In the Commander’s mansion, someone raised their head in surprise.

Duan Xiaoyan’s eyes grew round: “That can’t be true, can it?”

Lu Tong had always been meticulous, even the King of Hell couldn’t outmaneuver her, yet she just quietly accepted suspension from the Medical Officials Academy. It sounded unreal no matter how you looked at it.

Just then, Zhi Zi in the courtyard barked a few times, sounding cheerful.

Pei Yunying lifted the door curtain and walked in.

“Brother—”

Duan Xiaoyan quickly stood up.

Pei Yunying had been very busy these days.

The locust plague in Southern Su, the rebel soldiers causing trouble in Qishui adjacent to Southern Su, the open and hidden struggles between the Third Prince and Crown Prince… all court matters piled up together. Sometimes Pei Yunying would enter the palace and not return until late at night. Duan Xiaoyan hadn’t seen him for several days.

Pei Yunying put down his silver sword, glanced at Qing Feng standing in the room, and turned to sit at the table.

“Why are you standing there stupidly?”

“Master, something’s happened.”

Pei Yunying looked at him.

Qing Feng lowered his head: “Medical Official Lu left the Medical Officials Academy today and returned to West Street.”

He paused, his gaze suddenly turning sharp: “What happened?”

Qing Feng then related everything that had happened at the Medical Officials Academy during the day.

After hearing it all, before Pei Yunying could speak, Duan Xiaoyan burst out first: “So that’s it, this Cui Min has a guilty conscience!”

Pei Yunying glanced at him, and Duan Xiaoyan quickly lowered his voice: “Qi Yutai was originally mad, and the surname Cui isn’t necessarily that capable. It’s possible he stole Medical Official Lu’s prescription to curry favor with the Grand Preceptor’s mansion.”

“I don’t think Medical Official Lu was slandering, she was speaking the truth. It’s just that being lowly, no one believed her.”

Pei Yunying’s eyes were deep and dark as he suddenly stood up, picking up the silver sword from the table as if to leave.

“Brother, are you going to stand up for Medical Official Lu?”

Duan Xiaoyan was full of excitement, rubbing his hands together at the side: “Take me with you! Medical Official Lu made me so many digestive pills, I’m someone who knows how to repay kindness.”

Pei Yunying ignored him and was about to move when he seemed to think of something and stopped in his tracks.

After a while, he put down the silver sword and sat back down in the chair.

“Huh?” Duan Xiaoyan was confused, “Why aren’t we going anymore?”

Pei Yunying remained silent, then after a long moment said: “You shouldn’t go either.”

Lu Tong always had plans in everything she did, this move might have other intentions.

Before understanding her plans, it was better not to act rashly, lest they spoil things by trying to help.

His fingertips brushed over the silver sword’s scabbard, its patterns cold and sharp, reflecting the young man’s slightly lowered eyes.

Better to wait until seeing her first before deciding.