The entrance to the Imperial Medical Bureau was rarely this lively.

Qiu He led a group of people from the Imperial Pharmacy to block the entrance of the Imperial Medical Bureau, drawing palace servants passing by to crane their necks from afar to watch.

The Imperial Medical Bureau and the Imperial Pharmacy had enjoyed harmonious relations decades ago when the late emperor was still alive. But ten years ago, after Imperial Medical Officer Cui Min became famous throughout the capital with his “Cui’s Pharmaceutical Treatise” and subsequently became Director of the Imperial Medical Bureau, things changed.

Originally, Cui Min’s expertise in pharmacology was his own affair. The thick medical manual was impressive wherever it was placed, and the people at the Imperial Pharmacy weren’t without admiration for it. The problem arose after Cui Min became Director – the entire Imperial Medical Bureau began to consider itself superior, openly and covertly belittling the Imperial Pharmacy as a place for studying prescriptions that couldn’t even come up with a single formula. Director Qiu He of the Imperial Pharmacy, despite his advanced age, was deemed inferior to a young upstart.

When this behind-the-scenes gossip inadvertently reached Qiu He’s ears, the old man nearly had a fit of rage.

Thus the grudge was formed.

The Imperial Pharmacy and Imperial Medical Bureau maintained surface peace with subtle underlying tensions. Who would have thought that today Director Qiu He would bring a group of people to their door? To outsiders, it inevitably suggested they were here to cause trouble.

Medical officers who received the news came out to watch the excitement. Lin Danqing was among the crowd of onlookers and immediately spotted Lu Tong following behind Qiu He. She joyfully waved: “Sister Lu!”

Lu Tong nodded in acknowledgment. Cao Huai, seeing this from another direction, immediately looked displeased.

After waiting about half the time it takes to burn an incense stick, someone emerged from within the Imperial Medical Bureau.

It was a middle-aged man wearing brown medical officer robes and an official hat, refined and scholarly yet somewhat thin and frail. The man quickly stepped forward and bowed to Qiu He: “I was unaware of Director Qiu’s visit and failed to receive you properly. Please don’t take offense, Director.”

His tone was thoroughly respectful.

Lu Tong took one look at this person and lowered her eyes.

It seemed this was Cui Min, the one who had stolen Miao Liangfang’s medical prescriptions and squeezed him out of the Imperial Medical Bureau.

He was also the current Director of the Imperial Medical Bureau, the one who had assigned her to the South Pharmacy.

Qiu He clasped his hands behind his back and nodded, as if casually accepting Cui Min’s courtesy before speaking amiably: “Director Cui need not be overly polite. Today I come only to request one person.”

Although he had already learned of Qiu He’s purpose from others, when Cui Min actually heard these words, his heart still sank. He smiled and quickly glanced at the woman beside Qiu He before saying: “Director Qiu’s words – I don’t quite understand.”

Shi Changpu on the side secretly rolled his eyes.

How could he not understand? The Imperial Medical Bureau was full of Cui Min’s people. They had been warming up outside for quite a while, yet Cui Min was still playing innocent here. How hypocritical.

Qiu He smiled: “Director Cui may not know, but the Imperial Pharmacy sends Dream Pills to Consort Rou’s palace every year. This year’s Dream Pills were particularly favored by Consort Rou, who specially summoned someone to bestow rewards. Later, when the medical officers calculated, they discovered that the Red Aromatic Floss materials sent from the South Pharmacy were different from usual.”

Cui Min’s eyes flickered.

He was only learning of this matter now.

Cui Min’s expression became serious: “Red Aromatic Floss has always been poisonous, with toxicity gradually diminishing after harvesting. Director Qiu’s meaning is…”

Qiu He smiled and stepped aside several paces, fully exposing Lu Tong to everyone’s view: “Medical Officer Lu, you should explain this yourself.”

Lu Tong lowered her head: “Yes.”

After a moment of silence, Lu Tong spoke: “Reporting to the Director, I used black bean juice, perilla juice, indigo juice, blue juice, and centipede extract boiled in water to soak and clean the Red Aromatic Floss. The flower floss of Red Aromatic Floss has the most poisonous fragrance, while the roots and stems, though lacking fragrance, are where the medicinal properties are strongest. But with such soaking, the medicinal properties of the roots and stems can be preserved.

“In this way, preserving its medicinal properties while eliminating the floral fragrance ensures that it doesn’t affect the health of those preparing the medicine while allowing the Dream Pills to achieve their best efficacy.”

She explained the method of cleaning medicinal materials in detail without hiding anything. The veteran medical officers of the Imperial Medical Bureau were stunned, and the more quick-witted and studious ones hurried inside to find paper and brush to transcribe the method.

The cleaning and harvesting of Red Aromatic Floss in the medicine garden had always been a difficult problem, but this new processing method was being heard for the first time.

Cui Min was also hearing this for the first time, his gaze lingering on Lu Tong’s face.

Qiu He smiled: “Director Cui, the Imperial Medical Bureau has such a talent skilled in pharmacology, yet you sent her to the South Pharmacy to do manual labor. Isn’t this a waste of talent? What’s this – are you in your prime years yet suffering from poor eyesight like this old man?”

These words weren’t pleasant to hear. Cui Min’s composure nearly faltered, and only after a moment did he say: “I am ashamed and cannot compare to the Director’s keen eye for talent.”

Qiu He waved his hand: “Never mind. If you hadn’t assigned Medical Officer Lu to the South Pharmacy, how would I have discovered that your Imperial Medical Bureau still had such a talent? I won’t hide from you – I’ve come today to ask you for this person.”

He looked at Lu Tong with a smile, nodding with satisfaction, his tone kind yet pressingly insistent: “Director Cui, the Imperial Medical Bureau is a place of hidden dragons and crouching tigers, full of talent. Medical Officer Lu here can only do farm work in the medicine garden. In my view, our Imperial Pharmacy would be more suitable for Medical Officer Lu. If Medical Officer Lu came to us, I would certainly let her utilize her pharmaceutical strengths and would never bury her talents.”

“Director Cui, would you let her come to the Imperial Pharmacy?”

As soon as these words were spoken, the expressions of everyone from the Imperial Medical Bureau varied, and their gazes toward Lu Tong immediately changed.

Qiu He was the Director of the Imperial Pharmacy. Even when facing Cui Min, he still put on the airs of an elder, yet he had personally come to request a mere newly appointed medical officer, with his words clearly showing exceptional regard for Lu Tong.

For a moment, the medical officers looked at Lu Tong with both envy and jealousy.

However, these same words carried different implications when they reached Cui Min’s ears.

While others couldn’t detect the subtext of Qiu He’s words, Cui Min could hear the implied meaning. This was a pointed remark suggesting that he was jealous of his subordinate’s talent and had deliberately sent Lu Tong to the South Pharmacy to prevent her from ever advancing.

His fingertips clenched slightly within his sleeves. Cui Min’s face remained impassive as he looked toward Lu Tong and asked gently: “Does Medical Officer Lu wish to go to the Imperial Pharmacy?”

This threw the question back to Lu Tong.

Lu Tong bowed respectfully and answered humbly: “I am deeply grateful for the favor shown by both Directors. Whether I remain at the Imperial Pharmacy or the Imperial Medical Bureau would be my fortune. I only wish to study pharmacology and not disappoint the imperial grace. As for coming and going, I leave it entirely to the Directors’ discretion.”

She spoke sincerely with a gentle tone, though she could feel a scrutinizing gaze falling upon her like needle pricks, burning hot.

Lu Tong sneered inwardly.

Cui Min was a clever man who habitually cherished his reputation. If he allowed her to follow Qiu He back to the Imperial Pharmacy today, when palace people discussed this matter tomorrow, they would either say Cui Min lacked discernment, giving away a medical genius and proving inferior to Qiu He’s insight, or they would speculate that Cui Min was narrow-minded, deliberately neglecting talented subordinates and suppressing them at every turn.

Either way would be something Cui Min didn’t want to hear.

Not only could Cui Min not let her go, he would even have to promote and elevate her. It could be considered lifting a rock only to drop it on his own foot.

Wanting to trample her into the mud, yet having to personally pull her out?

This calculation was certainly good, but…

But she didn’t need to wait for someone to rescue her – she could get out herself.

Silence filled the surroundings as an unspoken confrontation flowed between the two.

Qiu He smiled and turned to Cui Min: “What does Director Cui think?”

Cui Min remained silent for a long time.

The woman before him wore coarse brown hemp clothing, appearing humble and submissive, yet unknowingly, the roles of petitioner and petitioned had already reversed. It was as if one could see through the woman’s obedient exterior to glimpse her mocking, upturned lips beneath.

That was silent ridicule.

After a long while, Cui Min raised his head, showing an apologetic smile, and said: “I’m afraid I must disappoint the Director.”

He looked toward Lu Tong, his tone appreciative: “Medical Officer Lu’s medical skills are exceptional. The Imperial Medical Bureau is precisely in need of such talent. Talent is precious – the Imperial Medical Bureau has no reason to give it away to others. Therefore, Medical Officer Lu,” he bowed his head and earnestly performed a formal bow to Lu Tong, “the previous matter was my negligence. I hope Medical Officer Lu will be magnanimous and not hold it against me.”

For the Director of the Imperial Medical Bureau to personally apologize to a newly appointed medical officer, especially one whose background was merely that of an ordinary commoner medical worker, was already giving tremendous face.

Meeting various complex gazes, Lu Tong remained composed, stepping aside to avoid Cui Min’s bow: “The Director honors me too much. I dare not accept this.”

She raised her eyes, looking directly into Cui Min’s eyes, and spoke with a smile: “I am willing to stay.”

…

The excitement at the South Pharmacy finally dispersed.

Rumors always spread quickly, and as they spread, they became stories of two Directors nearly coming to blows over a newly appointed medical officer.

Others wouldn’t think there was anything wrong with the Directors, but the beautiful medical officer favored by both Directors would become the target of all arrows in this affair.

At this moment, the protagonist of this affair, Lu Tong, was stepping through the main gate of the South Pharmacy.

In front of everyone from the Imperial Pharmacy and Imperial Medical Bureau, Cui Min couldn’t let her go and could only politely invite her back. Before returning, Lu Tong needed to go to the South Pharmacy first to collect her belongings.

The medical workers in the South Pharmacy had already learned the news and clustered at the door, observing their colleague who had just returned.

A medical worker who wasn’t usually close to her approached obsequiously to greet her: “Is Medical Officer Lu returning to the Imperial Medical Bureau?” Then added: “You probably don’t know yet, but something big happened at the pharmacy today!”

Lu Tong paused in her steps.

The medical worker pulled her toward the dormitory quarters, lowering his head mysteriously: “Medical Supervisor Zhu was taken away.”

Zhu Mao had been taken away.

While Qiu He was speaking with Lu Tong, Shi Changpu had people from the Imperial Pharmacy search Zhu Mao’s room and find the prescription for cleaning and processing Red Aromatic Floss, confirming his crime of privately hoarding medical prescriptions.

For a medical supervisor to privately hoard medical workers’ and officers’ prescriptions was a grave crime, with punishments ranging from one hundred lashes to imprisonment and exile.

Zhu Mao belonged to the Imperial Medical Bureau, but since Cui Min now needed to show his magnanimity and make amends, he had to support Lu Tong. To support Lu Tong, he needed to deal with someone as an example to others.

The evidence and charges were already prepared. Whether they were true or false was no longer important—

“Leaving?” A voice interrupted Lu Tong’s thoughts. Mei Erniang stood several steps away, looking at her coldly.

Lu Tong released her grip on the bundle she was packing.

Mei Erniang walked directly to Lu Tong.

Lu Tong still remembered when she first met Mei Erniang – she had stood at the door of that cold room with powder applied so thickly it was like wearing a false mask, her eyes dark and brooding.

Now the woman’s expression remained somber, but perhaps because she wore no makeup, her sallow complexion actually added a touch of reality to her appearance. She no longer looked like a pale mask but like an ordinary, somewhat haggard and aging woman.

At least she seemed alive.

Mei Erniang stared at her for a long while, then suddenly let out a cold laugh: “You really are capable.”

Lu Tong nodded: “Thank you for your help.”

That night when she was punished to kneel at the Shennong Shrine, she had He Xiu deliver a letter to Mei Erniang, along with a message.

The letter contained the prescription for cleaning and processing Red Aromatic Floss. And the message she sent…

Lu Tong had He Xiu ask Mei Erniang one question: Do you want revenge?

Do you want revenge?

Thinking of the question He Xiu had whispered in her ear, Mei Erniang’s rigid expression flickered.

How could she not want revenge?

Originally a promising female medical officer, she had been thrown into this neglected South Pharmacy for offending someone, becoming Zhu Mao’s plaything and suffering torment.

Zhu Mao used a tiny, barely visible hope to deceive her into willingly shrinking into the South Pharmacy as his toy, day after day, year after year. Mei Erniang wasn’t unaware that he was deceiving her, but she endured without exposing him, simply to give herself a reason to persist.

What would exposing him accomplish?

Zhu Mao would receive no punishment. Exposing him would only further prove her own absurdity and misery.

Despair unto death.

Until Lu Tong sent that letter and brought back that question.

So there were still ways.

So there could still be opportunities for counterattack.

Privately hoarding prescriptions was a serious offense, especially given the already delicate relationship between the Imperial Pharmacy and Imperial Medical Bureau. Even to prove their innocence, the Imperial Medical Bureau wouldn’t let this matter slide lightly – to avoid giving others ammunition against them.

Zhu Mao’s fate wouldn’t be pleasant.

Mei Erniang felt a long-lost sense of satisfaction. Just thinking of that condescending face showing panic and pleading filled her with extreme pleasure.

Zhu Mao probably never imagined he would stumble on this matter. He had never suspected Mei Erniang because he believed that in her eyes, Lu Tong was just a beautiful medical woman who would threaten her position. He was confident they would compete for his favor and fight over the tiny privileges in the South Pharmacy, never thinking these two would join forces.

Because he had been the “master” for too long, he assumed his “servants” would never dare resist.

He underestimated the “hatred” of common people.

“I won’t be grateful to you.” Mei Erniang looked at her coldly, her tone impatient. “At most, it’s mutual benefit.”

“I know.” Lu Tong smiled.

Her reasons for framing Zhu Mao were partly because he harbored ill intentions toward her, and partly as retaliation against Cui Min. As for Mei Erniang…

She had simply used Mei Erniang’s disgust toward Zhu Mao.

Mei Erniang snorted: “Hurry up and pack your bundle and get out. If you’re truly capable, don’t come back in. Some places – you might get out once, but not necessarily a second time.” After speaking, she ignored Lu Tong and turned away.

Lu Tong stood in place for a long while before lowering her head to slowly pack her luggage and bundle.

Before leaving, she looked back once more.

At the entrance to the South Pharmacy, tree branches provided dense shade, and the damp, old courtyard remained as decayed as before. Yet it was spring after all, with gradually warming weather. In the heavy, somber colors, a few small flowers had somehow bloomed sporadically, adding a touch of brightness to the gloom.

She turned around and left with her medical kit and luggage, never looking back.

…

When He Xiu returned to the dormitory, it was already night.

Due to Zhu Mao’s affair, she had been taken away by the Imperial Pharmacy for questioning, her emotions fluctuating all day. Learning that Zhu Mao would never appear in the South Pharmacy again, He Xiu still felt as if it were all a dream.

The bed next to the dormitory was completely empty, with the bedding gone as well. He Xiu was startled and asked the others in the room: “Has Medical Officer Lu not returned yet?”

Lu Tong had left with Qiu He during the day, and she hadn’t had a chance to speak with her.

“Don’t you know yet?” The medical worker who answered looked at her strangely. “Medical Officer Lu has already returned to the Imperial Medical Bureau.”

Returned to the Imperial Medical Bureau?

He Xiu was stunned, then overjoyed: “Really?”

Although when Qiu He went to find Lu Tong, He Xiu had vaguely anticipated this day would come, she hadn’t expected it to happen so quickly. The South Pharmacy had entrances but no exits. Lu Tong’s expertise in pharmacology meant she shouldn’t be buried in the South Pharmacy. Now that she had returned to the Imperial Medical Bureau, it was truly wonderful.

The medical worker who had answered her saw her reaction and laughed sarcastically: “Ah Xiu, you really are a fool. You ran around for Lu Tong before and after, and now she’s patted her bottom and returned to the Imperial Medical Bureau to be a medical officer, while you still have to stay here. You two were so close – why didn’t she take you with her?”

Zhu Mao was gone, but a new medical supervisor would come to replace him. The new supervisor might be better than Zhu Mao, or might be worse. Those still remaining in the South Pharmacy inevitably felt some bitter jealousy when looking at those who had left.

Moreover, Lu Tong hadn’t been popular in the South Pharmacy before.

He Xiu quietly protested: “Palace duty assignments – how could Medical Officer Lu decide such things…”

“But when she left, she didn’t even leave you a single word.” The person seemed determined to make her feel worse, mocking: “I told you before that she looked cold and aloof. You treated her as a friend, but she never thought much of you. It’s really one-sided affection…”

He Xiu wanted to say a few more words, but the person had already gotten into bed and covered themselves with blankets, no longer speaking with her.

He Xiu had no choice but to remain silent.

With one person suddenly missing from beside her, she felt empty. She sat on the edge of her bed, staring blankly at the empty bed next to hers.

To say she wasn’t envious would be false. Along with envy came a faint sense of loss.

Lu Tong hadn’t been here very long, and Lu Tong’s treatment of her wasn’t particularly warm, but somehow, when she was with Lu Tong, she always felt close and at ease. Perhaps it was because the young female medical officer’s composure made her less afraid of Red Aromatic Floss than before. From the first moment she saw Lu Tong, she felt that Lu Tong was different from them – her brilliance in medicine destined her for higher places.

But still…

She could have at least said goodbye when leaving, or left a few words…

He Xiu sat dejectedly on the bed edge for an unknown length of time before getting into bed. As she reached to pull up the bedding from under her feet, her fingertips touched something hard and flat.

Her heart stirred. He Xiu sat up and felt around in the neatly folded bedding, pulling out an envelope.

She quickly opened the letter.

The handwriting on the paper was scrawled, as if written hastily.

“Reed buds, reed flowers, artemisia, sesame oil, white hyacinth beans, gallnuts… boil and drink the juice to neutralize Red Aromatic Floss poison.”

He Xiu was stunned.

This was actually a medical prescription?

This was a prescription to neutralize Red Aromatic Floss poison!

He Xiu stared in shock with wide eyes.

Medical prescriptions were precious. If medical officers from the Imperial Medical Bureau or Imperial Pharmacy obtained a new prescription, it could ensure promotion and wealth. Director Cui Min of the Imperial Medical Bureau had risen to become Director precisely by relying on a new medical manual. Zhu Mao, merely as a medical supervisor privately hoarding medical officers’ prescriptions, faced severe punishment.

Yet Lu Tong’s prescription could neutralize Red Aromatic Floss poison. If taken to the Imperial Pharmacy or Imperial Medical Bureau, it might not guarantee promotion, but would at least earn Cui Min’s attention and praise.

Such a precious prescription, yet she had given it to her, hidden in the moldy bedding of the South Pharmacy dormitory.

Below the prescription was another line, scrawled black characters that instantly brought tears to He Xiu’s eyes.

“Thank you for your care. Medicine cake as thanks. Take care.”

In the Red Aromatic Garden, crude medicine cakes made from medicinal dregs could only minimally neutralize the poison…

Moreover, Lu Tong was completely unaffected by Red Aromatic Floss poison.

Yet she still sent this thank-you gift…

He Xiu tightly gripped the letter in her hands, tears falling drop by drop.

…

Deep into the night, the Director’s room at the Imperial Medical Bureau was brightly lit.

Cui Min sat behind his desk, looking up at the sky outside the window.

It was a cold, lonely spring night with thick clouds piled high. Strong winds shook the tree branches outside the window wildly – a heavy rain was about to arrive.

Papers on the desk were blown into disarray by the fierce wind. Someone spoke carefully: “Sir, Lu Tong will return to the Imperial Medical Bureau tomorrow.”

Cui Min made no response.

Lu Tong was about to return to the Imperial Medical Bureau.

Qiu He’s visit to the Imperial Medical Bureau had caused quite a stir. On the surface it seemed like a joke, but in reality it was backing Lu Tong. He couldn’t make the returning Lu Tong sit on the bench – that would confirm suspicions of his jealousy toward subordinates’ talents. But if he were to promote Lu Tong…

He remembered the smile Lu Tong had shown him at the Imperial Medical Bureau entrance that day.

Calm, unconcerned magnanimity – that was confidence born from having everything under control. Because of confidence, therefore magnanimity, exactly like another person from his memory.

Cui Min suddenly closed his eyes.

The person beside him saw his expression suddenly turn dark and, thinking he was troubled by Lu Tong’s situation, proactively stepped forward: “Sir, I have a plan.”

Cui Min remained motionless: “Speak.”

“Since Lu Tong boasts of her superior medical skills and even the Imperial Pharmacy Director admires her greatly,” he bent down and whispered in his ear: “In that case, why not make her…”

His voice gradually lowered.

The wind in the courtyard grew increasingly fierce, tree branches cast chaotic black shadows on the windows, making the paper windows rattle loudly.

After a long while, the seated figure raised his eyes, and the gloom on his face cleared somewhat.

He said: “Excellent. This will do nicely.”