Lu Tong was temporarily unaware of this disturbance involving the Minister of the Imperial Treasury.

The weather grew increasingly cold, and the plum tree branches outside her courtyard window had begun to swell with buds. It seemed the plum blossoms would bloom before long.

After a snowfall, West Street was covered in frost and snow. A’Cheng swept the accumulated snow at the clinic’s entrance into a pile, making a snow lion.

The snow lion was roughly made, with crude limbs and a large head. Two black dates were stuck in as eyes, making it look fierce as it crouched at the clinic entrance.

Elder Hu’s eyesight wasn’t good, and when entering, he didn’t see clearly, falling flat on his face. Du Changqing hurriedly helped him into the clinic to sit down, worried the old man might have hurt himself badly.

Yin Zheng came out from the inner shop carrying a fruit tray, handed Elder Hu a frozen pear, and asked with a smile, “What brings Elder Hu here today?”

The pears were fresh. Yin Zheng had placed them in an ice bucket in the courtyard at night. By early morning, they would form a layer of ice, then be taken out for four or five hours before being frozen again. After several days of this process, once the pear skin turned black, they were ready to eat.

The frozen pears tasted cool and sweet, full of juice. A’Cheng could eat several at once.

Elder Hu took out his handkerchief, wiped the frozen pear’s surface, took a sip, shivered from the cold, and after a while said, “Nothing major, just came to check on you.”

The Benevolent Heart Clinic was now very different from before, with a good monthly income. As an old patron, he no longer needed to frequently visit to support his old friend’s child’s business. Though there was a slight sense of loss, there was more contentment.

Du Changqing could now support himself.

Elder Hu ate a few bites of pear, remembered something, and said to Du Changqing, “By the way, Youcai isn’t on West Street now, he’s living at that master’s residence outside the city. He asked me to sublet his room at the fish market. Since you’re close to the market, check on it when you’re free, make sure no one messes up Youcai’s room.”

After that Mid-Autumn Festival meeting, Wu Youcai didn’t appear on West Street again. Lu Tong, carrying a medicine pot, came out just in time to hear Elder Hu instructing Du Changqing, and asked, “How is he doing now?”

Elder Hu wiped the pear juice from his beard: “Very well. The family that hired him as a tutor is generous, pays him well and treats him kindly. I saw him last month, he looked much more spirited.”

Lu Tong nodded: “That’s good.”

It seemed Scholar Wu was doing well.

As they were talking, the sound of a carriage came from outside.

West Street was narrow, mostly filled with common people’s shops. Apart from those like Elder Hu who needed carriages due to mobility issues, carriages rarely came here.

This carriage stopped in front of the plum tree, and several elderly women got down and walked toward the clinic.

The leading woman wore a bright cotton-padded long jacket, had a married woman’s hairstyle, moved efficiently, and looked somewhat fierce. She stopped at the clinic entrance and called out “Doctor Lu.”

Lu Tong looked up: “Madam Wang?”

The visitor was Madam Wang from the Minister of Imperial Treasury’s household.

Previously, when visiting the Dong residence, Madam Dong always had Madam Wang escort Lu Tong back to West Street. Madam Wang was capable and shrewd, Lady Dong’s right-hand woman. Lu Tong had interacted with her several times, and Madam Wang had always been polite.

Today, however, something seemed different.

Madam Wang stood at the entrance, followed by several stout elderly women, appearing ready to make accusations. The scene was quite dramatic, and with the Minister’s carriage being too eye-catching, the nearby shopkeepers, who had been drowsy from just waking up, suddenly became alert, their gazes focusing intently on this direction.

Lu Tong walked up to Madam Wang and softly asked, “What brings Madam Wang here?”

The old woman sized up the person before her.

After the heavy snow, the long street was like jade. Lu Tong stood under the deep red eaves, wearing a plain dark blue jacket with a creamy white wool skirt, and a frost-white silk flower in her hair, without makeup, which made her black hair appear even more cloud-like and her features more stunning. In this icy snow-covered landscape, she was like a solitary blooming cold plum blossom, particularly enchanting.

Madam Wang secretly pondered that it was no wonder she had caught Pei Yunying’s eye before, and later bewitched her young master to lose his head. Speaking of beauty alone, among the noble ladies in the capital, Lu Tong was indeed outstanding.

But unfortunately, her ambitions were as high as heaven while her fate was as thin as paper. A mere clinic doctor, yet dreaming of becoming a phoenix perched on a high branch.

Hiding her contempt, Madam Wang looked at Lu Tong with an insincere smile and said, “This old servant comes today on Madam’s orders to deliver a message to Doctor Lu.”

“Please speak, Madam Wang.”

Madam Wang paused, deliberately raising her voice: “Regarding Doctor Lu’s earlier request to have our young master recommend you to the Medical Bureau for this year’s spring examination, I’m afraid that won’t be possible.”

Lu Tong was stunned.

Du Changqing was confused: “Spring examination? What spring examination?”

Nearby shopkeepers also craned their necks.

Madam Wang smiled, as if afraid the onlookers wouldn’t understand and explained methodically.

“Doctor Lu asked our young master for a favor to allow her to take the spring examination through the Medical Bureau. Our young master is pure-hearted and most kind, so he readily agreed.”

“When our madam learned of this, she said it wasn’t appropriate. The young master doesn’t understand these things, but the Medical Bureau has its candidates each year. If we from the Minister’s household interfere rashly, wouldn’t people say we’re abusing official power?”

“Doctor Lu,” Madam Wang sighed, her tone very troubled, “You know about this year’s imperial examination incident. At this time, who would dare to help someone privately? So madam had this old servant come to explain to Doctor Lu, to prevent you from having false hopes.”

She spoke sincerely and in great detail, and gradually the surrounding people began to understand.

Elder Hu looked at Lu Tong questioningly: “Doctor Lu, you want to take the Imperial Medical Bureau’s spring examination?”

Each year at the Medical Bureau’s spring examination, apart from the Medical Bureau’s students, there were few experienced doctors recommended by the medical community who could pass the spring examination to become medical officials.

Lu Tong stood at the clinic entrance, her gaze sweeping over the mess in front of the clinic.

These women had come with such intimidating force, trampling the already crude snow lion into chaos, leaving only two black dates buried in the snow, their original shape indiscernible.

Lu Tong looked up and spoke calmly: “I see, I understand.”

The reason she hadn’t initially asked Lady Dong for help, but instead approached Dong Lin, was because Lady Dong was shrewd. If she had inexplicably proposed wanting to take the spring examination, given Lady Dong’s caution, complications might have arisen.

But she hadn’t expected Dong Lin to be discovered by Lady Dong.

Lu Tong had anticipated Lady Dong’s displeasure upon learning of this matter. But she hadn’t expected Lady Dong to be so aggressive, actually sending Madam Wang to cause a scene in front of the clinic.

Even considering Pei Yunying’s sake, this shouldn’t have happened…

After all, Lady Dong had always believed she and Pei Yunying had a secret relationship.

Why she would now tear apart their facade so completely was unknown.

As Lu Tong was lost in thought, this cold demeanor appeared as a defiant provocation in Madam Wang’s eyes.

Madam Wang’s expression became somewhat unpleasant.

It should be known that yesterday, after arguing with Dong Lin, Lady Dong had nearly fainted from anger at this usually obedient son’s rebellious behavior, and had been bedridden since. Yet Lu Tong could remain so calm, wasn’t it because she was certain their young master would quarrel with his family for her sake?

Madam Wang’s lips curled, her tone somewhat mocking.

“Speaking of which, Doctor Lu having lofty aspirations is good, but sometimes people shouldn’t just look up at the sky, they should also look down at their feet. Those who pass the spring examination are all Medical Bureau students, why should Doctor Lu join in this futile effort?”

Before Lu Tong could speak, Du Changqing beside her frowned: “What do you mean?”

Madam Wang smiled coldly: “I mean, people should do what’s appropriate for their station, one must know their place.”

Du Changqing had already been holding back for a long time, and hearing this was like oil poured on fire. He immediately rushed forward shouting: “Who are you telling to know their place?” but was held back by Yin Zheng.

Madam Wang ignored the fuming Du Changqing and only looked at Lu Tong, smiling: “By the way, forgive this old woman for speaking out of turn, but Miss Lu should avoid privately speaking with our young master in the future. Miss Lu lost her parents early, so she’s lacking in some proprieties. Men and women should maintain proper distance, if word gets out, it wouldn’t be good for the miss’s reputation.”

At these words, Yin Zheng’s expression changed.

The implication was clearly that Lu Tong, without parental guidance, was shamelessly throwing herself at Dong Lin. With so many people in front of the clinic today, and society being particularly harsh on women, with Lu Tong working as a clinic doctor, this mud was thrown on her – how would the West Street neighbors and outsiders view Lu Tong in the future?

Madam Wang was deliberately ruining her reputation!

Lu Tong coldly looked at the person before her.

She didn’t care about reputation or status.

But to bring up her deceased parents…

She stepped forward, about to counter, when suddenly a voice came from the crowd: “Young Master Dong? Who’s that? Have I seen him?”

Widow Sun, clutching a handful of melon seeds, was happily cracking them in the crowd of onlookers.

Madam Song helpfully answered: “The son of the Minister of Imperial Treasury, I pointed him out to you when he came to the clinic before – not very tall, slightly chubby, quite good-tempered.”

Widow Sun thought for a moment, her eyes brightening: “Oh, that one!” Then she looked at Lu Tong questioningly, “But he’s not handsome, what would Doctor Lu want with him?”

The pretty widow in her bright water-green dress and gold ornaments spoke in a soft voice, and many people turned to look at her.

Seeing everyone looking her way, Widow Sun paused in cracking melon seeds and innocently said, “What’s wrong? What did I say wrong? Doctor Lu has seen all sorts of handsome men at the clinic. That Young Master Dong isn’t even as handsome as my Third Lang, not to mention that handsome young Lord Pei and even Manager Du isn’t bad.”

Du Changqing: “…”

“Doctor Lu is beautiful and skilled in medicine, how could she possibly be interested in that Young Master Dong? That must be a lie.”

Madam Wang angrily said: “You!”

Widow Sun casually smoothed her hair, pretending not to notice the murderous glare from the woman before her.

She always judged people by their looks, and that Young Master Dong was far inferior to young Lord Pei. If even she, a widow, wouldn’t consider him, how could the young Doctor Lu?

Moreover, though her husband died early, she wasn’t foolish and knew something about the intrigues of noble households. This old woman coming to the clinic entrance early in the morning to put on such a show was meant to ruin Lu Tong’s reputation.

As a neighbor, Lu Tong had previously helped transform her Third Lang from “delicate” to a “handsome butcher,” and later had such a handsome young friend as Pei Yunying. If only for the sake of her own eyes, shouldn’t she help Lu Tong?

Widow Sun sighed: “What’s so great about having a noble status? When a woman chooses a husband, of course, she should choose a handsome one first. Then later, when they have equally handsome children, it’s pleasing to the eye.”

“If they have an ugly child, oh my, that ruins the descendants for generations!”

“That’s right, that’s right,” Madam Song timely picked up the conversation, “A man being shot just won’t do…”

Listening to the group of women in front of her speaking in innuendos and making oblique references, Madam Wang’s face turned ashen.

She had only intended to embarrass Lu Tong in front of the clinic to vent her mistress’s anger, who knew these West Street people would be so impervious to reason?

What was their young master’s status, yet in these crazy women’s mouths, he had become the rejected party. She wanted to say more but worried that arguing with these gossipy women would damage the Minister’s household’s dignity if word got out.

If madam learned of these words today, she would likely become even more ill from anger.

Madam Wang glared fiercely at the group of speakers, suppressing her anger, and looked at Lu Tong.

“Miss Lu has good relationships, many people speak up for you, this old servant can’t win against that. I’ve delivered the message I came to deliver. Miss Lu, take care of yourself.” She couldn’t resist one last mockery, “As for the spring examination matter, Miss Lu should seek help elsewhere. With your methods, passing the spring examination is just a matter of time.”

“This old servant offers congratulations to miss in advance.”

With those words, she turned coldly, beckoning to the group of women behind her to get in the carriage: “Let’s go!”

Du Changqing cursed behind them: “These bastards…”

The carriage crushed through the accumulated snow as it left the clinic, leaving long wheel tracks in the snow.

The crowd of onlookers outside hadn’t completely dispersed.

Widow Sun and Madam Song squeezed forward, and Madam Song patted Lu Tong’s shoulder: “He’s just the Minister of Imperial Treasury, what right does he have to look down on people? Don’t be afraid, Doctor Lu. You’re a young lady with a thin skin, not good at speaking up, but this old woman can speak freely.”

“That’s right,” Widow Sun also comforted her: “I’ve seen many people like this, relying on some family wealth, they think everyone’s fighting over their son. Haven’t they seen how many handsome men we have on West Street? What’s so great about the Minister’s son? Being so suppressed by his mother, he’s useless, not even as valiant as Third Lang!”

Du Changqing irritably stood at the entrance, pushing people out: “Haven’t you all said enough? This is a clinic, not a teahouse. Go, go, go, don’t interfere with our business!”

Elder Hu watched the gradually dispersing crowd at the door and asked Lu Tong: “Doctor Lu wants to take the spring examination?”

Lu Tong nodded.

The old scholar thought for a moment: “I do know some people in the medical community…”

Lu Tong’s expression changed: “Elder Hu has a way?”

Elder Hu waved his hand, saying: “I dare not make promises, but if Doctor Lu wants to participate, this old man can try his best to help, however…” He glanced behind Lu Tong, and coughed lightly, “Let’s wait until Doctor Lu has thought it through. It’s getting late, my wife is waiting for me at home, I should go back.”

With that, he gave Lu Tong a cupped-hand salute and left the clinic almost like he was fleeing.

After Elder Hu left, Lu Tong stood at the entrance, turned around, and met Du Changqing’s questioning gaze.

Yin Zheng and A’Cheng stood in the corner, not daring to make a sound.

After a pause, Lu Tong walked past Du Changqing towards the inner shop. Du Changqing followed behind her persistently: “Tell me, when did you go behind my back to find Dong Lin?”

His gaze was so angry, his tone so resentful, like a husband who had suddenly been betrayed.

Seeing Lu Tong not answering, he raised his voice further, loudly demanding: “Why did you secretly find someone to participate in this year’s spring examination?”

“Because I want to enter the Hanlin Medical Academy,” Lu Tong said.

Du Changqing was stunned.

Lu Tong turned around and spoke calmly to him: “Wasn’t it you who said to think bigger, to earn money from those rich people? I thought about it, staying as a doctor on West Street, it’s hard to make a name for oneself. If I enter the Hanlin Medical Academy and become a medical official, I’ll be serving noble officials. If I can save one or two of them, perhaps I can achieve great success.”

These words carried a sense of coldness and ruthlessness.

“You’re trying to fool me.” Du Changqing sneered, “Entering the Hanlin Medical Academy to make a name for yourself? You think I’d believe that?”

He stared intently at Lu Tong, his usually lazy eyes showing a hint of sharpness.

“Tell me, why do you have to enter the Hanlin Medical Academy?”

Lu Tong remained silent.

Yin Zheng came over smiling to smooth things over, “Manager Du knows our miss came to the capital to find her fiancé.” She made up some words, “Our miss’s fiancé works in the palace. Only by entering the palace would she have a chance!”

Du Changqing ignored her, still staring fixedly at Lu Tong. Lu Tong calmly met his gaze, and after a while, she said: “I…”

“Forget it!” Du Changqing suddenly spoke up, cutting off her words, his expression full of irritation, “We’re just managers and clinic doctors, whether you’re looking for your fiancé or seeking success has nothing to do with me, I don’t want to hear it!”

He flung his sleeve and turned to leave, “Such an unlucky morning, I’m leaving!”

Seeing him leave the clinic, A’Cheng quickly glanced at Lu Tong and Yin Zheng, then followed after him, calling out: “Master, wait for me—”

Yin Zheng walked to Lu Tong’s side, watching the two figures disappear into the distance, worry flashing in her eyes, “Miss, Manager Du is angry.”

Lu Tong lowered her eyes halfway, saying nothing.

She had come to the capital at the beginning of spring, and as soon as she arrived, she met Du Changqing, then stayed as the resident doctor at Benevolent Heart Clinic on West Street. She had witnessed the clinic transform from a rundown small clinic to one that could now maintain all its expenses.

People always develop special feelings for those who share their hardships.

Moreover, Du Changqing had always had something of a fledgling bird complex towards her.

If she passed the spring examination, the Benevolent Heart Clinic would lose its resident doctor, leaving Du Changqing at a loss again. Even if they found a new resident doctor to replace her position, in Du Changqing’s eyes, her actions were tantamount to betrayal.

That’s why he was angry.

Yin Zheng asked: “Miss is determined to take the spring examination?”

After a long while, Lu Tong gave a soft “mm” in response.

The Grand Tutor’s mansion was difficult to approach, as impenetrable as an iron bucket, and the small clinic on West Street wasn’t enough to provide her with the ladder needed to get close to those powerful officials.

But the Hanlin Medical Academy was different.

Those medical officials treated various officials’ households – the Ministry of Revenue, Ministry of War, Privy Council… There would eventually be a chance for her to get close to them. As long as she could get close, she could find an opportunity to act.

This was the most direct method.

Lu Tong raised her hand, her fingertips slowly brushing across her chest, where it seemed a faint, lingering pain gradually spread from within.

She couldn’t keep waiting passively.

She didn’t have much time to waste.

…

Du Changqing didn’t return to the clinic all day.

The news brought by the Minister of Imperial Treasury seemed to have truly angered him this time, and he wouldn’t even let A’Cheng return to the clinic with a message.

After Lu Tong and Yin Zheng finished a busy day, after the clinic closed, it began to snow at night.

Snow accumulated thickly in the small courtyard, making crunching sounds under footsteps. The lanterns hanging under the eaves cast a faint red glow on the snow, and Yin Zheng placed the orange lanterns that A’Cheng had asked her to make on the window eaves.

The finished orange lanterns were arranged in a row, their orange peels round and smooth. With oil added inside and lit, they shone brightly one by one in the snowy night, like jade lotuses breathing flames, golden particles containing crystals, finally adding some vitality to the cold winter night.

Lu Tong stood by the window, looking into the distance.

In the courtyard, snow fell continuously, the north wind sharp, white flakes spinning down from the sky. One or two flakes drifted into the room, but before they could reach her fingertips, they turned into drops of dew and dissipated like smoke.

Lu Tong withdrew her palm.

Yin Zheng came in from outside, shaking off snow particles from her body, smiling: “The capital’s snow is really heavy. In our Southern Su, we rarely see snow all year round. I remember the last time it snowed in Southern Su was many years ago.”

Lu Tong smiled too.

Southern Su was indeed in the south, so it rarely snowed. However, Luomei Peak was different. The mountain was high, and in winter, it would be covered in white jade. After one night, opening the door in the morning would reveal a vast expanse of white.

“I wonder if Manager Du will come to the clinic tomorrow morning.” Yin Zheng sighed, “Hope he doesn’t stay angry for too long, it’s payday in a few days.”

Lu Tong’s smile faded.

When she first came to work at Benevolent Heart Clinic, she never planned to stay there long. It was just a bridge on her path to revenge – it could have been Benevolent Heart Clinic, or it could have been Apricot Grove Hall. As long as it could get her to her destination, which bridge didn’t matter.

But unexpectedly, she had stayed on West Street for too long without realizing it, so long that now when she suddenly left, Du Changqing would be angry, and A’Cheng would be regretful.

The connections between people are always mysterious, but sometimes, attachments are burdens.

And she didn’t need burdens.

Yin Zheng closed the window, and Lu Tong picked up the oil lamp from the table, preparing to go to bed. Just as she moved, suddenly there came a sound from outside.

Bang bang!

Someone was knocking on the clinic’s main door.

Yin Zheng was startled, and exchanged a glance with Lu Tong, her expression gradually becoming tense: “So late, who would suddenly come?”

Ever since Meng Xiyan had sent people to assassinate Lu Tong last time, Yin Zheng had always been apprehensive. After all, two women lived alone, and although soldiers were patrolling the streets, they were still vulnerable.

“Could it be Manager Du?” Yin Zheng speculated.

Du Changqing had run off in anger during the day, could it be that he had thought things through now, or perhaps couldn’t think things through, so he came to the clinic in the middle of the night to vent?

Lu Tong reached out, picked up a flower hairpin from the dressing table, and walked towards the door.

“I’ll go check.”

Yin Zheng instinctively grabbed her clothes hem, but Lu Tong shook her head: “It’s fine.”

The two carefully walked to the clinic door, and the knocking suddenly stopped. Yin Zheng raised her voice, asking towards the door: “Who is it?”

No one answered.

Lu Tong paused, one hand gripping the hairpin tightly, the other hand pulling the door open a crack.

In that instant, the cold wind carrying snow particles rushed in.

The north wind was dancing, snow covered the long street. A row of crimson lanterns under the vermillion leaves swayed in the wind and snow, their weak warm colors almost frozen.

There was no one outside, only the soft sound of the north wind breaking tree branches.

Yin Zheng looked outside, asking puzzled: “Hm, why is there no one?”

Lu Tong frowned, turning to close the door again.

There was no one outside, but the earlier knocking wasn’t an illusion…

Just as she was thinking this, suddenly she felt a pat on her shoulder. Yin Zheng beside her screamed, Lu Tong’s heart sank, and without thinking, she thrust the flower hairpin toward the person behind her!

“Hiss—” came a sound.

The next moment, her hand was gripped, and someone from behind held her arm, making her unable to move.

“Shh—”

A familiar voice sounded in her ear.

“Don’t move, it’s me.”