The palace lamps burned brightly throughout the night.

Death during a ceremony was an inauspicious omen. The Emperor and Empress Dowager were furious. Although no one knew how Qi Yutai had crawled into the “plague god’s” belly, people from the Music Bureau, Ministry of Rites, and Imperial Astronomy Bureau were all questioned throughout the night.

The most difficult to handle was the Qi family.

The Grand Tutor had lost his son—he was both victim and perpetrator.

Led by Third Prince and Duke Chen, a group directly stated that Qi Yutai taking powder during the ceremony and ultimately dying by his own father’s hand was heaven’s punishment, and the entire Qi family should bear heavy crimes. The Crown Prince’s faction insisted that Qi Yutai’s death had other hidden circumstances and was actually the work of villains.

Arguments raged in the palace while the bloodstains by Changle Pool had been cleaned spotless.

The first thing Pei Yunying did after leaving the palace was go to the Imperial Medical Academy.

Lin Danqing looked surprised at Pei Yunying’s sudden arrival: “Sister Lu? She returned to West Street this afternoon.”

“She said she had some medical texts left at the clinic and went back to fetch them, planning to return first thing tomorrow morning.”

Pei Yunying frowned.

Lin Danqing looked at him: “What’s wrong, Marshal Pei? Do you have urgent business with Sister Lu?”

Pei Yunying asked: “Was there anything unusual about Lu Tong today?”

Lin Danqing thought for a moment: “No, she was the same as usual. After last night’s incident, fortunately she wasn’t affected much. Before leaving this afternoon, she even swept the floor.”

Pei Yunying’s expression was cold and stern as he stood there without speaking for a moment.

For some reason, he felt something was wrong.

Before coming to the Medical Academy from the palace, Xiao Zhufeng had mocked him: “In such a hurry to congratulate her?”

Qi Yutai was dead, killed by Qi Qing’s hand—cause and effect, great revenge achieved. It was a joyous occasion. Anyone in the know would think Lu Tong should be extremely happy at this moment.

But Pei Yunying’s instincts told him something was amiss.

While in the palace, he kept thinking of that scene by Changle Pool last night when he saw Lu Tong.

She stood under the fireworks with a smile at the corners of her mouth.

A calm, relieved smile that suddenly filled one with panic.

She was leaving, about to depart.

Lin Danqing’s voice reached his ears: “Marshal Pei?”

Pei Yunying came back to his senses and said to her: “If Lu Tong returns, remember to inform the Marshal’s Manor immediately.”

Lin Danqing didn’t understand but still nodded.

Pei Yunying quickly turned around, mounted his horse, and galloped toward West Street.

…

Before the vermillion gates of a great household, lanterns swayed.

Lu Tong stopped in front of Grand Tutor Manor.

The autumn cold was sharp. Unlike before, it wasn’t lively in front of Grand Tutor Manor—frost spread coldly across the ground. Faint weeping came from deep within the residence, intermittent and creating an eerie desolation in the cold, silent night.

Lu Tong looked up at the tightly closed vermillion gate, the corners of her mouth lifting slightly.

Qi Yutai was dead.

At the Nuo ceremony, under everyone’s watchful eyes, amid fireworks filling the sky, at the feet of the Son of Heaven—he died spectacularly, like a bird caged and trapped with nowhere to hide, nowhere to flee, finally reduced to pulp under his father’s sword.

How wonderful.

He should have died long ago.

All her painstaking efforts these past days hadn’t been in vain.

She had schemed her way into the Imperial Medical Academy, approached Jin Xianrong, lured Cui Min into her trap, step by step finally reaching Qi Yutai’s side.

“Pond Spring Grass Dream” had triggered Qi Yutai’s drug addiction, making the “rhinoceros horn incense” burned in Grand Tutor Manor completely ineffective for him. Since the Fengle Tower fire, Qi Yutai’s addiction had been like floodwaters breaking through a dam—irreversible.

Then, the prescription she gave Cui Min caused Qi Yutai’s relapses. When she reached his side, the daily powder she gave him to replace Cold Food Powder…

That wasn’t actually substitute powder at all—it was Cold Food Powder itself.

She had simply used poison to suppress the Cold Food Powder’s effects, making Qi Yutai feel this powder didn’t have the same obvious effects on his body as before.

After the Fengle Tower fire, Cold Food Powder could no longer be found in Shengjing.

But Lu Tong could make it.

Some poisons didn’t require scorpions, centipedes, or poisonous spiders.

After continuously taking Cold Food Powder for a period, Qi Yutai’s addiction became increasingly uncontrollable. Using the excuse of body searches at Grand Tutor Manor before the ceremony, she cut off his powder for several days, nearly driving Qi Yutai to collapse.

At that moment, during the Nuo ceremony, Lu Tong placed that packet of Cold Food Powder—without the suppressing poison—into Qi Yutai’s hands.

Qi Yutai couldn’t control himself.

He couldn’t resist such temptation.

The usual powder only required one incense stick’s time to regain clarity, but the Cold Food Powder she gave Qi Yutai would take a full hour for its effects to gradually dissipate.

Moreover, last night’s Nuo ceremony had started an hour early.

From beginning to end, she never intended for Qi Yutai to go mad.

How could a madman face judgment? He would lose all memory—as long as those around him indulged and accommodated him, perhaps even his terror would gradually fade.

Qi Yutai had to die.

And he had to die conscious.

“Raising without teaching is a father’s fault”—even three-year-old children understood this principle.

To protect his son, Qi Qing had buried all of Qi Yutai’s heinous crimes one by one. She wanted to paint this touching father-son relationship with blood, making Qi Qing personally kill the son he protected, making Qi Yutai die by the hand of the father who shielded him.

Father and son destroying each other.

The smile on Lu Tong’s face faded.

Qi Yutai had died under mysterious circumstances. Qi Qing would certainly investigate thoroughly. Perhaps he couldn’t grasp concrete evidence, but he would definitely suspect her.

He didn’t need to find proof or verify truth from falsehood—suspicion alone could put her to death.

Lu Tong raised her hand and carefully touched the two black gold paper butterflies pinned in her hair. She hadn’t worn such pretty decorations in a long time and felt somewhat unaccustomed.

Then she withdrew her hand, continued carrying her lamp to the vermillion gate, and gently knocked on the beast-faced door knocker.

Outside the gate was silence. After a while, the great door slowly opened. The gatekeeper saw Lu Tong and was momentarily stunned.

“This subordinate is Medical Official Lu Tong from the Imperial Medical Academy,” Lu Tong said. “I have urgent business and request to see Master Qi.”

The gatekeeper looked her over suspiciously. Seeing she was alone, he opened the vermillion gate wider and let her in.

As Lu Tong followed the gatekeeper inside and was about to cross the threshold, she suddenly felt pain in her wrist. A hand reached from the side, firmly grasping her wrist and pulling her backward until she stumbled.

Lu Tong turned back: “Pei Yunying?”

The gatekeeper was also surprised for a moment.

Pei Yunying’s face was grim. Without a word, his gaze coldly swept over the gatekeeper before he suddenly uttered: “Go.”

As Lu Tong was about to struggle, his strength was surprisingly great. She was practically dragged along, stumbling and barely able to keep up with his pace.

“Let go of me,” she said in a low voice.

Pei Yunying expressionlessly pushed her into a carriage. Lu Tong could actually hear a grinding tone in his voice.

“Be quiet.”

…

The night grew deeper.

Thick darkness stretched endlessly.

Only Qing Feng and a few others remained guarding the entrance of the Marshal’s Manor. With a “bang,” amid chaotic footsteps, the door was kicked open as someone dragged another person inside.

Lu Tong was thrown into the room. Without a word, she coldly walked toward the door but was blocked by Pei Yunying.

A flash of murderous intent crossed his eyes, then suddenly became calm, as if suppressing his anger.

“Where are you going?”

“What business is it of yours?”

After Lu Tong spoke, she reached out trying to push past him, but he stood like an immovable boulder at the door. No matter how hard she tried, the obstacle ahead remained unmoved.

“What does the Marshal mean by this?” she finally said coldly.

Pei Yunying looked down, staring into her eyes.

“What were you planning to do at Grand Tutor Manor?”

Lu Tong remained silent.

He said: “Speak!”

“Qi Yutai is dead. I went to retrieve medical records.” Lu Tong looked up. “What’s wrong with that?”

“Retrieve medical records?”

Pei Yunying nodded, then suddenly grabbed her wrist.

That wrist was slender and pale, with long, soft fingers tender as scallion tips, decorated with pale pink nail polish like slightly blooming small flowers.

He grasped Lu Tong’s hand and pressed her: “What is this?”

Lu Tong said nothing.

He sneered, grabbing her hand and bringing it toward his own hand.

Lu Tong was startled and quickly retreated. In her panic, she pushed him away and shouted: “Don’t touch me!”

Pei Yunying was pushed back two steps. His deep black eyes seemed to see through everything as he quietly watched her.

Lu Tong clenched her fists.

She never wore nail polish—she had to pound medicine, sort herbs, and perform acupuncture, needing clean hands convenient for work.

But she had carefully applied pale nail polish to these hands to hide the deadly poison under her nails. She hadn’t expected Pei Yunying to notice immediately.

Actually, it wasn’t just her nails—her hairpins, sleeves, and pouches were all filled with various poisons.

“You wanted to die together with Qi Qing,” Pei Yunying said.

He looked at the person before him.

Lu Tong had changed into a brand new dress of fresh jade color, like a charming spring flower just bloomed. The two yellow butterflies trembling in her hair added several touches of innocent charm to this flower. Gone was her usual aloof coldness—like a girl dressed up to return home, with flowing dress and lovely features.

But that calm grayness was desolate.

Like someone walking step by step toward a quagmire, no longer seeing other scenery.

The room was silent for a long time.

Candlelight flowed soundlessly in the night, taking on a cold tinge when it passed over people.

Lu Tong stood in the shadow of the candlelight. After a long while, she raised her head.

“The Marshal isn’t one of Third Prince’s people, is he?” she said.

Pei Yunying’s eyes moved.

“At Huangmao Ridge hunting ground, the Crown Prince and Third Prince were both attacked. His Majesty suppressed and punished the Crown Prince, allowing Third Prince to gain the advantage.”

“The Privy Council and Palace Front Division are mortal enemies, yet you’re extremely familiar with Privy Council affairs. You and Yan Xu aren’t opponents at all—you’re secret allies. Separating military power is just to put the Emperor’s mind at ease.”

Pei Yunying didn’t speak.

“Not denying it? I guessed correctly?”

She smiled and stepped forward: “The Privy Council is clearly the Crown Prince’s supporter, yet it secretly communicates with the Palace Front Division. You two neither serve Third Prince, nor Crown Prince, nor His Majesty.”

“Who do you serve?”

She pressed close to him, looking up at the person before her, speaking softly.

“Is Prince Ning the one you want to elevate to power?”

Pei Yunying looked down at her indifferently.

“To elevate Prince Ning seems to still lack a reason.” Lu Tong’s voice became increasingly gentle: “I have a perfect solution. Do you want to hear it?”

The two yellow butterflies in her hair seemed to flicker tiny lights in the lamplight—light and fragile, as if they would shatter at a touch. Though her words were gentle and soft, her eyes flashed with momentary madness.

“Marshal, why don’t you make a deal with me?” She smiled. “If I can successfully kill Qi Qing tonight, I’ll tell the world I’m Yuan Yao’s person. That Third Prince made me do this.”

“Or, I kill Qi Qing, then you capture me. I can become your achievement. You personally kill me and claim credit from Yuan Yao to gain his trust even more.”

“As part of the deal, you protect Renxin Medical Clinic for me.”

Light and shadow swayed in the deathly silence all around.

Pei Yunying stood before her, his gaze calm and indifferent.

“This is your plan?”

“You kill Qi Qing, removing their last hidden danger. If things are exposed in the future, everyone at Renxin Medical Clinic can escape unharmed with no future worries.”

Lu Tong only looked at him. For the first time, her voice softened toward him.

“Isn’t that good? It benefits both you and me.”

She looked up, her fingertips tracing the golden eagle embroidery on the young man’s chest. He had just come from the palace and hadn’t changed from his official robes. The brilliant, gorgeous golden embroidered patterns felt somewhat cold to the touch, like secret, subtle wounds unknowingly carved into the heart.

“If successful, when he ascends to the throne, the Marshal’s merit in supporting the dragon will surely bring great rewards.” She spoke with a seemingly bewitching tone. “Whatever you want to do, with power you can choose everything. Don’t you want to climb higher?”

He said: “I care more about you.”

Lu Tong paused.

The young man looked down at her, speaking calmly: “Lu Tong, I like you more.”

As if unable to bear the deeper meaning in his eyes, burned by that bright brilliance, Lu Tong withdrew her hand and said coldly: “I already know all your secrets. Won’t you kill me?”

Only the dead keep secrets.

Pei Yunying looked at her: “Stop always thinking about death.”

Lu Tong’s heart trembled.

“If your family were still alive, they would only hope for you to live well.”

Lu Tong interrupted him: “But I don’t want to live!”

Pei Yunying paused.

“Marshal, I’m different from you.”

She spoke word by word, each sentence bringing more sourness from deeper in her heart.

“You have a sister, you have Bao Shu, your father is still alive. Whether love or hate, you still have bonds with this world.”

“But I don’t.”

She looked up at him. “Revenge is over. I’ve done what I needed to do. That’s all.”

There were many things she couldn’t make Pei Yunying understand.

She should be a dead person—she should have been dead long ago. Revenge was the one breath that kept her forcibly in this world, supporting her until now.

Now, that breath had dissipated.

She had no more support and only wanted to fall.

Pei Yunying hoped she would live.

But even she herself didn’t know how to continue living.

Better to use this broken, decaying remnant of life to serve some final purpose.

“What about me?”

In the quiet room, Pei Yunying’s voice suddenly rang out.

The young man looked at her, his black eyes without a trace of warmth, speaking indifferently: “You arrange everything, plan thoroughly, carefully protect everyone at Renxin Medical Clinic. Knowing my feelings for you, you want me to watch helplessly as you go to your death.”

“Have you never considered me?”

Lu Tong’s face went pale.

Never considered him?

Why treat him this way?

She understood Pei Yunying’s feelings for her and relied precisely on those feelings, certain that beneath his rebellious coldness he would always have inappropriate compassion. So she felt safe entrusting all of Renxin Medical Clinic’s future to him.

The letter she had Yin Zheng deliver to Pei Yunying contained all the aftermath arrangements for Renxin Medical Clinic. She had carefully considered all potential dangers and preciously entrusted all her unfinished concerns to him.

She hadn’t expected that before the letter reached him, Pei Yunying would find her first and take her away.

He always saw through her intentions immediately.

Gentle lamplight, flowing radiance.

The woman stubbornly refused to bow her head, her eyes both calm and frantic, like a wind that didn’t know where it would blow.

The young man silently watched her for a long time, then sighed as if finally admitting defeat, pulling her to sit at the table in the room.

He poured a cup of hot tea and pressed it into Lu Tong’s hands, his voice gentle: “With great revenge achieved, your parents and siblings’ spirits in heaven only want to see you safe and happy.”

“Doctor Lu.” The young man paused before continuing: “You must learn to cherish yourself. If you can’t do it, let others do it for you.”

Lu Tong felt momentarily dazed.

He sat before her with obviously passionate features, yet often cold and heartless. Just as she gradually accepted he was a heartless person, he let her glimpse a touch of tenderness beneath that heartlessness.

The warmth of the hot tea gradually transferred to her palm through the cup. Lu Tong’s grip on the teacup tightened, then suddenly swept it away.

The warm tea spilled across the floor, white porcelain shattered into pieces with a crisp sound, and the delicately painted spring scene on the cup was instantly destroyed.

Pei Yunying paused, his gaze sweeping over the broken cup on the floor. He didn’t get angry but only glanced at her and smiled tolerantly.

“The people Qing Feng inquired about said Third Miss Lu from Changwu County had a terrible temper as a child. I thought they were lying. Turns out it was true.”

Lu Tong said indifferently: “Why did you stop me?”

“I don’t want you to die.”

“I only want to kill him.”

“I’ll do it for you.”

He said calmly: “I’ll kill Qi Qing for you.”

He spoke lightly, as if just mentioning it casually, but Lu Tong knew he wasn’t joking.

Familiar dull pain struck her chest. She looked up at Pei Yunying, her expression unmoved.

“I don’t trust anyone.”

“But you can trust me.”

“Lu Tong,” he said word by word, “you can trust me.”

Deeper night surged from outside the window but suddenly stopped before the lamplight in the room. That faint light, seemingly about to extinguish at any moment, stubbornly emitted warm colors, clearly separating everything around it.

She was wrapped in this safe sphere of light.

He spoke: “Even if you hate me, even if you don’t care about my feelings, don’t you care about the other people at Renxin Medical Clinic?”

“Yin Zheng, Du Changqing, Miao Liangfang, A’Cheng, Lin Danqing, Ji Xun…”

With each name he spoke, Lu Tong’s heart trembled.

“Can you really bear to abandon all this? Don’t you have even a trace of attachment to these people and things?”

Lu Tong remained silent.

Many scenes floated before her eyes—good and bad, like a slowly unrolling scroll. Some were blurred, others still clear.

She lowered her eyes and heard her own indifferent voice.

“I want to go back.”

Not moved by him in the slightest.

His response was an even colder voice.

“No.”

Lu Tong looked up at Pei Yunying.

He stood up, walked to the door and stopped, slightly turning his head, his tone calm: “Until you give up this idea, I’ll keep watch over you. If you don’t want to see me, I’ll have someone else come.”

The young man stood up, pushed the door and walked out. Outside, Qing Feng and Chi Jian stepped forward. Pei Yunying instructed: “Guard her well. Don’t let her leave. If anything goes wrong, I’ll hold you two responsible.”

The two didn’t dare be careless: “Yes.”

He picked up the sword from the table, turned and headed out. Chi Jian asked: “So late—where is my lord going?”

Pei Yunying didn’t look back.

“Grand Tutor Manor.”