When Lu Tong woke from her afternoon rest, the inn’s assistant came knocking, saying a young master was looking for her downstairs.

Yin Zheng was overjoyed but suppressed her excitement, going downstairs slowly. Upon seeing Du Changqing, she lifted her chin demurely: “My mistress is doing her toilette, please wait a moment, young master.”

Du Changqing smiled warmly: “No hurry.”

Heaven knew how he had searched every similarly-named inn in the vicinity to find Lu Tong. When the innkeeper finally confirmed that two young ladies were indeed staying there, Du Changqing almost wept with joy.

He silently repeated to himself several times that one should be respectful to those who feed you, finally calming down.

After about half an incense stick’s time, Lu Tong came downstairs.

Today she wore a deep blue dress embroidered with algae patterns, her black hair loosely bound at the back in fine braids, with only a matching blue velvet flower pinned at her temple. With bright eyes, white teeth, snow-white skin, and black hair, she immediately inspired a sense of tranquility in observers.

Du Changqing stared briefly, then collected himself and stepped forward: “Miss.”

Lu Tong looked at him.

Du Changqing glanced around and smiled at Lu Tong: “It’s noisy here. If you don’t mind, there’s a tea stall next door—shall we sit there and talk over tea?”

Lu Tong nodded: “Alright.”

The people of Shenjing loved tea, and tea houses were everywhere. Near Laiyi Inn, an entire street was lined with tea stalls. Du Changqing looked around carefully and chose the smallest one, inviting Lu Tong to sit.

The tea stall was tiny, with only two tables inside, both already occupied. Du Changqing and Lu Tong sat at a small table outside, and soon the owner brought two bowls of clear tea and a plate of red-skinned melon seeds.

Du Changqing pushed a bowl of tea toward Lu Tong, his tone markedly warmer than at their first meeting. He asked: “I am Du Changqing. May I ask your surname, miss?”

“Lu Tong.”

“Ah, Miss Lu.” Du Changqing nodded ceremoniously, then rubbed his hands together, “Miss Lu, I imagine you’ve guessed why I’m here…”

“My apologies, Master Du,” Lu Tong said coolly. “The inn’s fire use is inconvenient—I’m no longer processing cattail pollen ash.”

Du Changqing choked.

Behind him, Yin Zheng burst into giggles.

Du Changqing’s face showed some embarrassment. After a moment, he coughed lightly: “Miss Lu, I haven’t come today about the cattail pollen ash. Your medicinal tea…” He leaned forward, lowering his voice, “Could you sell me some more?”

Lu Tong lifted the porcelain bowl to wet her lips, asking softly: “How much is Master Du willing to pay?”

Du Changqing stared at her: “One tael of silver. Miss Lu, how about selling me your medicinal tea for one tael per package?”

A package of medicinal tea would last at most six or seven days—one tael per package was quite high.

Lu Tong smiled.

Du Changqing asked: “What makes Miss Lu smile?”

Lu Tong shook her head, her voice still unhurried: “It seems Master Du isn’t very interested in doing business with me. I notice there’s a Xinglin Hall not far from Benevolent Heart Medical Hall—they’re a large establishment, perhaps they’d offer more.”

She returned Du Changqing’s earlier words exactly, causing his expression to change dramatically.

After a pause, Du Changqing gritted his teeth: “Then would Miss Lu name her price?”

Lu Tong: “Three taels of silver per package.”

“So expensive!” Du Changqing jumped up, shouting: “Why don’t you just rob me?”

Lu Tong raised her eyes, looking into the distance.

The Falling Moon River flowed through the city, with both banks full of misty willows. It was spring, and willow catkins filled the air as orioles sang and swallows danced.

She returned her gaze to the agitated Du Changqing: “Master Du, the willow catkins in Shenjing will continue flying for quite some time, won’t they?”

Du Changqing frowned: “So what?”

“If your medical hall can provide medicinal tea, you won’t lack for customers for at least the next two or three months.”

Du Changqing froze.

Lu Tong smiled slightly.

When she first arrived in Shenjing, she had noticed. The city’s river banks were lined with willows, and in spring their catkins filled the air, inevitably causing nasal congestion and rhinitis in many people. Since people loved drinking tea, making it into medicinal tea made it more acceptable.

“As long as the willow catkins fly, the medicinal tea will sell. My tea effectively relieves nasal congestion, though it can’t cure it completely. Next year, previous customers will return. Making a fortune every March, Master Du’s Benevolent Heart Medical Hall won’t remain in such precarious circumstances.”

Du Changqing’s prepared words stuck in his throat, as if Lu Tong had touched his most secret pain.

Lu Tong wasn’t in a hurry. To maintain the medical hall’s livelihood, Du Changqing needed to find an irreplaceable business opportunity in the shortest time possible. The nasal congestion tea was his only lifeline.

Faced with a lifeline, people always compromise their principles.

After a long silence, Du Changqing finally spoke, looking at Lu Tong slowly: “Miss Lu has thought this through well, but what if other medical halls learn to make the tea? What advantage would Benevolent Heart Medical Hall have then?”

Lu Tong smiled at his words: “Setting aside whether others could learn to make my medicinal tea, Master Du, why not consider—if I can make tea for nasal congestion, mightn’t I be able to make other medicinal teas?”

Du Changqing stared.

He looked at Lu Tong suspiciously: “Could it be you made that tea yourself? Impossible—perhaps you have a doctor in your family? Or did you chance upon the recipe somewhere?”

As he continued guessing, Lu Tong merely smiled without speaking.

Seeing Lu Tong showed no signs of relenting, Du Changqing became somewhat dejected. He lifted his tea bowl for a drink, thought for a moment, then spoke hesitantly: “To be honest, Miss Lu, what you say is very tempting. But the price you’re asking is too high. Could you… lower it a bit?”

Yin Zheng’s face showed contempt.

Lu Tong looked at the tea bowl before her, silent for a moment, then turned to Du Changqing: “Master Du, I can make medicinal tea for you, and you can keep all the money—I won’t take a single coin.”

Du Changqing looked at her with uncertainty.

“However, I have several conditions.”

Du Changqing relaxed, saying readily: “Why didn’t you say so earlier, Miss Lu? What are your conditions?”

“First, I’ll make medicinal tea for Benevolent Heart Medical Hall, with materials provided by Master Du, and I decide how much to make each day.”

Du Changqing’s brow furrowed: “That doesn’t seem right.”

“I won’t let Master Du suffer any loss.”

“But…”

Yin Zheng interrupted: “My mistress isn’t taking any silver from Master Du—she’s essentially giving you silver. It’s profit without investment; Master Du can’t lose no matter how you calculate it. Why be so nitpicky?”

Du Changqing struggled for words, finally managing: “Then what’s the second condition?”

“Yin Zheng and I are new to Shenjing with nowhere to stay. I trouble Master Du to find us lodging, including room and board.”

Du Changqing’s eyes widened as he looked them over like strange creatures: “You’re from out of town? Two young ladies coming to the capital alone? Don’t you know anyone in Shenjing?”

Lu Tong didn’t answer his questions, taking a sip of tea instead. When she raised her head again, she smiled: “I’ve heard that in Shenjing’s medical halls, even the most ordinary resident physician receives two taels of silver monthly.”

Du Changqing nodded, confused: “Yes, what of it?”

“I want to be Benevolent Heart Medical Hall’s resident physician. That’s the third condition,” she said.