The lonely spring courtyard, cold moon becoming frost.

Wind lifted the young man’s crimson robe hem as he stood among the sparse tree shadows, his eyes and brows illuminated by a trace of moonlight filtering through the branch gaps.

Lu Tong frowned slightly. Why was Pei Yunying here?

Pei Yunying walked in front of Lu Tong and said: “Physician Lu.”

He suddenly paused again, staring at her with a smile: “No, now I should call you Medical Official Lu.”

The words “Medical Official” fell upon her ears in her current disheveled state at the Southern Medicine House, sounding like an unintentional mockery.

Lu Tong looked left and right, seeing no one around, suddenly reached out to grab Pei Yunying’s sleeve, quickly walking toward the other end.

Pei Yunying was slightly startled, his gaze falling on her hand gripping his sleeve. He said nothing, allowing Lu Tong to lead him into a nearby old medicine room.

The medicine room wasn’t large, filled with some old, rarely used medicinal materials. As soon as the door was pushed open, fine dust was stirred up. Lu Tong pushed Pei Yunying into the room, turned back to close the door, and when she turned around, she saw him leaning against the window, surveying the room’s furnishings. Seeing her close the door, he spoke with feigned surprise: “What does Physician Lu mean by this?”

Lu Tong turned and walked toward him: “Why would Commander Pei come to the Southern Medicine House?”

“Passing by.”

“Passing by?”

He looked down at Lu Tong with a somewhat strange tone: “Medical Official Lu doesn’t think I came specifically to see you?”

Lu Tong choked and said: “I’m not that narcissistic.”

Of course she wouldn’t think Pei Yunying came to see her, but appearing at the Southern Medicine House late at night inevitably made one think. This person acted mysteriously, and Lu Tong hadn’t forgotten the incident when Shen Fengying brought people to search for palace assassins late at night. Having just arrived, she naturally didn’t want to cause more trouble.

Pei Yunying smiled, leaning back against the window as he looked at her: “So, why did you drag me here?”

Lu Tong gathered her thoughts and looked up: “I thought Commander Pei wouldn’t want others to know you’re acquainted with me, so I deliberately avoided others to avoid causing trouble for you, sir.”

Her words were sarcastic, but they made Pei Yunying pause slightly. After thinking for a while, he spoke uncertainly: “Your words sound like you’re blaming me for not greeting you that day?”

On the day Lu Tong entered the Medical Academy, while following the new medical officials to register, she had encountered a group of Palace Guards and passed by Pei Yunying. At that time, he was high and mighty, too stingy to spare even a glance for others, walking coldly past her.

“How could that be?” Lu Tong showed a false smile. “The palace has many rules, and Commander Pei and I have different statuses. This common person still has that much self-awareness.”

Lu Qian had once said she had quite a talent for being sarcastic. It seemed this talent hadn’t been buried.

Pei Yunying stared at her for a while, as if carefully discerning her mood when saying these words. Lu Tong met his gaze frankly.

After a while, he sighed and didn’t continue dwelling on this issue, only saying: “So you dragged me to this dark room?”

“Correct.”

Pei Yunying clicked his tongue and nodded: “Makes sense.” Then he changed the subject: “But in the dark with no lights, a lone man and woman—those who don’t know might think you and I are having a secret affair here.”

His dimples flickered in the weak firelight with a kind of malicious teasing, but his tone was leisurely, half-seriously reminding: “If someone saw this, nothing would become something.”

Lu Tong was speechless.

He was clearly a talented and handsome Palace Commander, proud and aloof. But whenever such moments arose, his improper manner always made one confused, as if the person who had been coldly violent and blood-splattered in the Prince’s mansion was someone else entirely.

Always good at acting.

Thinking this, Lu Tong’s gaze fell on a bamboo food basket beside him.

The food basket looked familiar. Lu Tong remembered when she went to treat Pei Yunshu, Pei Yunshu often had people send Pei Yunying some pastries using baskets of this style. The bamboo basket handle had a pair of red magpies with upturned tails, lively and auspicious.

Now Lu Tong believed Pei Yunying was indeed passing by the Southern Medicine House. No one would carry a food basket when planning something serious.

Seeming to notice Lu Tong’s gaze, Pei Yunying followed her look and casually asked: “Have you eaten?”

“No.”

He smiled: “Want to try some?” gesturing for Lu Tong to take from the food basket beside him.

Lu Tong initially wanted to refuse, but her stomach gave a slight tremor. Earlier she had returned empty-handed from the kitchen, having only eaten one medicinal cake that A’Xiu gave her during the day. She was destined to go hungry tonight.

It wasn’t that she couldn’t handle being hungry.

But…

Being able to eat one’s fill would naturally be best.

Lu Tong walked over and lifted the food basket’s lid.

Pei Yunying raised his eyebrows slightly.

Inside the bamboo food basket were pastries—cloisonné enamel dishes with yellow base and red flowers held several delicate lotus pastries, each only about half a palm’s size, with nothing else besides.

Lu Tong felt somewhat disappointed and maliciously thought that Pei Yunying, a tall, strapping man, eating such small delicate pastries was rather incongruous.

Pei Yunying, unaware of her mental criticism, saw her not moving and asked: “Don’t like them?”

“No.” Lu Tong picked up a lotus pastry and put it in her mouth.

Pei Yunying was startled, seeming not to expect her to be so straightforward. He paused before smiling and asking: “Aren’t you afraid I poisoned them?”

“Not afraid,” Lu Tong said. “I’m immune to all poisons.”

She was indeed quite hungry. Originally her appetite wasn’t particularly good, but previously at Renxin Medical Hall, when sitting in consultation, Yin Zheng and Du Changqing always brought her fresh fruits. After such a long time, she had almost forgotten what hunger felt like.

Pei Yunshu probably considered Pei Yunying’s taste preferences—the pastries weren’t very sweet, making them taste rather bland to Lu Tong.

She ate very calmly, as if merely to fill her stomach, not caring about the food’s taste, without the slightest emotion. Pei Yunying watched for a while, as if unable to bear watching, and said: “Be careful not to choke. Do you want some water?”

“No need.”

The people at the Southern Medicine House clearing out the kitchen leftovers was nothing more than deliberate harassment. If she disturbed others now, it would instead cause trouble—better to make do here.

Thinking this, her mind suddenly conjured up memories of roasting sweet potatoes with Lu Rou and Lu Qian in the late-night kitchen, behind their parents’ backs.

How similar to now.

Her movements unconsciously slowed until Pei Yunying’s voice reached her ears: “Your hairpin…”

Lu Tong was startled and instinctively reached up to touch the silver hibiscus flower hairpin in her hair.

That silver hibiscus flower hairpin—her sister’s hairpin—was worn in her hair. From the day she entered the palace, she had pinned it in her hair, constantly reminding herself what she must do and why she came.

Pei Yunying leaned against the window, seemingly casually asking: “The hairpin belonged to your sister?”

Lu Tong said: “Yes.”

He nodded: “No wonder you spent so much to redeem it then.”

At that time at Luxurious Yuan Pawn Shop on Qinghe Street, she had ostentatiously collected many old jewelry pieces, but actually it was all for this hibiscus hairpin.

Pei Yunying’s gaze fell on her hair: “It suits you well.”

Suits?

The pastry in her mouth suddenly became difficult to swallow. Lu Tong lowered her hand and was silent for a moment before speaking: “Does Commander Pei know that hibiscus is a lowly flower?”

Pei Yunying was startled.

Her hair bun was already somewhat disheveled, her robes weren’t exactly clean after a day’s work, but this somewhat bedraggled appearance didn’t diminish that beautiful face at all. Even that silver flower hairpin was inserted slightly askew, making her look even more like a flower battered by wind and rain—fragrant and sickly, with faded beauty.

Yet her voice was quite cold.

“This flower blooms at dawn and falls at dusk, representing only a moment’s glory. It only grows on wild borders and riverbanks. The courtyards and gardens of wealthy families look down upon this kind of flower.”

People often said hibiscus was the lowliest of flowers. Perhaps in the eyes of those noble guests and wealthy families, her sister, herself, or the Lu family were all like this lowly flower—existing only for a day, whether living or dying, not noticed by anyone, unknown and unsung.

Pei Yunying looked at her, seeming to want to say something, but ultimately didn’t speak.

Lu Tong lowered her head and continued eating the unfinished pastry, as if she hadn’t taken her previous words to heart.

Until she finished the entire plate of pastries, she put the empty plate back in the basket, covered it with the lid, and said to Pei Yunying: “Thank you for the pastries, Commander Pei.”

He leaned against the window looking at her with a smile: “I didn’t come to bring you food.”

Lu Tong thought for a moment, took out the pouch Yin Zheng had given her from her bosom, poured out a handful of broken silver, considered for a moment, then picked out the smallest piece and handed it to Pei Yunying.

Pei Yunying looked at that piece of broken silver for a while, his gaze moving from the silver to her face, and sighed: “Medical Official Lu is a bit too stingy.”

“Having just entered the palace, there are many places that need money. When I receive my salary, I’ll make up the difference for Commander Pei.” Lu Tong answered seriously.

Hearing this, his smile faded somewhat: “Do you think you can return to the Medical Academy?”

“Of course.”

Pei Yunying was silent. Moonlight filtered through the window onto his face, those pitch-black eyes quietly watching her like misty clouds, unclear and indescribable.

Like cold indifference to this common occurrence, like pity for her already predetermined fate.

After a while, he asked: “Don’t you have any plans for the future?”

The future?

Lu Tong was startled, then almost laughed.

Perhaps this Commander Pei was feeling compassionate toward her again at this moment, so he kindly reminded her not to be ignorant of her place in seeking revenge. But from the beginning when she entered the palace, she never thought of turning back.

Lu Tong looked up, meeting Pei Yunying’s eyes directly: “No.”

“Commander Pei,” she said, “a lowly flower that blooms at dawn and falls at dusk simply has no future.”

…

Since that night when she encountered Pei Yunying at the Southern Medicine House gate, Lu Tong hadn’t seen him again.

The Imperial City was naturally not as vast and boundless as outside the Imperial City, but for two people of different statuses, it wasn’t impossible to never meet again in a lifetime.

After picking Red Fragrant Catkins for several days, these medicinal herbs needed to be separately cleaned, organized, and sent to the Imperial Medicine Academy. The heavy burden naturally fell on Lu Tong and He Xiu again.

He Xiu led Lu Tong to the storage courtyard for organizing medicinal materials. Large piles of Red Fragrant Catkins were stacked in a corner of the courtyard, covered with coarse cloth to prevent the flower catkins from flying about. Even so, the air was still filled with the unique fragrance of Red Fragrant Catkins.

A’Xiu handed Lu Tong a stool and sat down in front of a silver basin herself. The silver basin was piled with quite a few Red Fragrant Catkins that needed to be picked out one by one, removing broken branches and keeping only the flower catkins and complete stems and leaves.

This wasn’t an easy task—just the toxic fragrance alone was enough to make one dizzy. In the past few days picking flower catkins in the Red Fragrant Garden, the red spots on He Xiu’s face had already increased considerably.

Lu Tong glanced at He Xiu, who was rubbing her eyes. Even wearing a face covering, the fragrance of Red Fragrant Catkins still made her feel dizzy when she got close.

Lu Tong took the silver basin from in front of her over to herself: “Let me do it.”

He Xiu was startled and quickly snatched the silver basin back: “How can this be? You’ve already helped me so much!”

These past few days of picking Red Fragrant Catkins, Lu Tong had done most of the work alone. She wasn’t affected by the fragrance and didn’t develop red spots on her face, so she picked very quickly. He Xiu was also very grateful in her heart.

“I’m also receiving a salary, so I can’t do nothing at all.” He Xiu smiled awkwardly. “Speaking of which, salary day is coming in a few days. With the salary, I’ll make two new sets of clothes for my younger siblings this spring. Children grow fast—last year’s clothes are probably too small.”

Lu Tong bent her head to pick flower branches: “You have younger siblings? How old are they?”

“One is seven, one is nine.” Speaking of her siblings, He Xiu’s smile became much more genuine. “My family’s circumstances are ordinary. When I was able to enter the Medical Academy, my parents also ran around quite a bit. Although the Southern Medicine House isn’t as good as other places, the monthly salary is still paid on time. It’s just that medical officials in the Southern Medicine House can’t leave the Imperial City—I haven’t seen my family for three years…” Her voice dropped again.

Lu Tong said nothing.

After a pause, He Xiu quickly smiled again: “But Physician Lu works really fast. Before, when I cleaned these flower branches, one basin would take me most of the day. You cleaned them in less than half an incense stick’s time. I think when we send them to the Imperial Medicine Academy, this year’s Dream Pills should be sufficient.”

Lu Tong’s heart stirred: “Dream Pills?”

“They’re pills made by the Imperial Medicine Academy, specially for treating difficulty falling asleep.” He Xiu said: “Consort Rou in Danyang Palace has trouble sleeping every spring—she wakes easily and has difficulty falling asleep. The physicians at the Medical Academy prescribed many remedies with no improvement. It was the Imperial Medicine Academy that obtained a formula using Red Fragrant Catkins as medicine to make Dream Pills. Only after Consort Rou took them did she improve somewhat.”

“Later every March, the Imperial Medicine Academy would take fresh Red Fragrant Catkins from the Southern Medicine House to make medicine. But Red Fragrant Catkins are poisonous, so making medicine isn’t easy either. Like the ones we picked in recent days—in the end only a few bottles of pills would be made.”

“This year, because of Physician Lu, we picked much more Red Fragrant Catkins than in previous years. The Imperial Medicine Academy should be satisfied this time and won’t complain about insufficient medicinal materials.”

After He Xiu finished speaking, seeing Lu Tong’s expression was strange, she couldn’t help asking: “What’s wrong?”

Lu Tong pondered: “Are these Red Fragrant Catkins in the palace only used to make Dream Pills?”

He Xiu nodded: “Yes, Red Fragrant Catkins are poisonous after all. Very few medicines can use them. When making this medicine, the Imperial Medicine Academy people spent a whole year just on the formula.”

Lu Tong lowered her head, looking at the flower branch in her hand.

The bright red flower branch had been picked, with some floating flower catkins scattered on the ground like a layer of blood-colored soft down. An intoxicating fragrance emanated from the flower branches, drifting into one’s nose.

He Xiu was startled and snatched the Red Fragrant Catkins from Lu Tong’s hand, saying in panic: “Although Physician Lu isn’t affected by the flower fragrance, don’t get too close—it’s still a poisonous thing after all.”

Lu Tong let her snatch away the flower branch and didn’t speak for a moment, only turning her head to look toward the courtyard, where large patches of crimson flower branches were piled in the corner, appearing gorgeous and captivating just from looking.

She watched for a while, then spoke: “A’Xiu.”

“What is it, Physician Lu?”

“Leave it to me.”

Lu Tong lowered her head and picked up a flower branch.

“I’ll organize these flowers.”

…

After March passed, spring rain gradually began to fall.

The peach tree at the entrance of the Imperial Medicine Academy was destroyed by rain overnight, with flower branches scattered everywhere.

A few steps directly across from the peach tree, Medical Supervisor Shi Changpu stood on the steps, directing medical workers to pile the Red Fragrant Catkins sent from the Medical Academy into the storehouse.

Two young medical workers didn’t hold firmly, and a small bundle of Red Fragrant Catkins rolled off the cart. Shi Changpu was startled and quickly covered his mouth and nose with his sleeves, scolding: “Be careful, this stuff is poisonous!”

The medical workers quickly wrapped the scattered Red Fragrant Catkins on the ground with coarse cloth and hurried into the storehouse.

Shi Changpu looked back, then waved his hand vigorously in the air around his face several times until he could no longer smell the floral fragrance, then finally lowered his hands and breathed a sigh of relief.

Red Fragrant Catkins were medicinal materials sent from the Southern Medicine House.

The Imperial Medicine Academy was affiliated with the Inner Palace Internal Affairs Bureau, responsible for verifying secret formulas and secretly preparing medicines for the Emperor and palace use. Some of the materials used for processing medicinal materials came from the Southern Medicine House’s medicinal gardens.

Red Fragrant Catkins was one such ingredient.

Though this flower had a beautiful name, its toxicity was considerable—just smelling it could contaminate one with poison. However, the Dream Pills needed by Consort Rou to treat insomnia required Red Fragrant Catkins as the main ingredient. So no matter how much they feared it, every March after the New Year, the Imperial Medicine Academy still had to dutifully accept this batch of Red Fragrant Catkins from the Southern Medicine House and risk preparing the pills.

This really wasn’t a good assignment.

When Red Fragrant Catkins grew in the garden, their medicinal properties were strongest, then gradually weakened after being picked. Each bottle of Dream Pills consumed many Red Fragrant Catkins, and Consort Rou was proud and domineering, always dissatisfied with the Dream Pills they made. In the end, those who suffered and were scolded were still the people from the Imperial Medicine Academy.

Shi Changpu sighed. Turning around, the two medical workers who had been transporting Red Fragrant Catkins had already come out of the storehouse.

“Medical Supervisor, you needn’t worry,” the young medical worker saw his furrowed brow and, thinking he was concerned about insufficient medicinal materials, actively flattered: “This year’s Red Fragrant Catkins are more than last year’s—they filled the small storehouse. The materials for Dream Pills are sufficient.”

“Oh?” Shi Changpu was surprised. “So many?”

Because Red Fragrant Catkins were so toxic and difficult to pick, those who picked them mostly suffered greatly from the flower poison. The Southern Medicine House only had those few people, and no one was willing to risk their lives picking poisonous flowers. So although the Red Fragrant Catkins sent each time weren’t many, Shi Changpu turned a blind eye.

After all, Consort Rou just couldn’t sleep well for a few nights, while the medical workers picking Red Fragrant Catkins lost their healthy bodies!

They were all servants—why make things difficult for each other.

This was what Shi Changpu thought, but he hadn’t expected this year’s Red Fragrant Catkins delivery to suddenly increase.

Another medical worker scratched his head: “I heard the Medical Academy got new people, and someone went to the Southern Medicine House. Probably added flower-picking personnel, so the medicinal materials increased quite a bit.”

“New person?”

Shi Changpu was stunned for a moment, then felt somewhat melancholy. A newly appointed Medical Official could go anywhere, but had to go to the Southern Medicine House and be sent to pick Red Fragrant Catkins… didn’t know who they had offended, but they’d be trapped there for life with no way out.

Being a servant was just this unfortunate—life and death were entirely controlled by those above, beyond one’s own control.

He put his hands behind his back and slowly walked toward the storehouse, sighing: “Go make the medicine. Hopefully this year’s Dream Pills will satisfy Her Ladyship.”