Lu Tong had intended to find another inn for the night, but Du Changqing moved quickly, immediately finding them a place to stay.

Yin Zheng looked up at the characters reading “Renxin Medical Hall” and expressed shock: “Isn’t this the medical hall?”

Du Changqing beside them cleared his throat: “Come in with me.”

The two followed Du Changqing inside.

The shop was narrow and dim, and as evening approached, the interior was hard to make out. Du Changqing carried an oil paper lantern, lifted the inner curtain, and walked straight inside.

Lu Tong and Yin Zheng followed, and upon entering, they were slightly taken aback.

Behind Renxin Medical Hall was a small courtyard.

The courtyard seemed long uninhabited, with a layer of dust covering the ground and firewood piled in the corner, filling half the yard.

Yin Zheng asked suspiciously: “Shopkeeper Du, surely this isn’t the place you meant for us to stay?”

Du Changqing rubbed his nose: “When there was still a resident physician at the medical hall before, that old fellow lived here.”

Seeing Yin Zheng frown, Du Changqing hurriedly added: “Don’t judge the courtyard by its current state – it’ll be quite nice once cleaned up. Doctor Lu,” he watched her expression carefully, “it’s not that I’m not trying to help, but land in the capital is extremely valuable, and it’s not easy to find a suitable house at a reasonable price right away. Besides, you’ve seen the state of Renxin Medical Hall – I can barely make ends meet myself. How about this,” he clapped his hands, “once our medicinal tea starts selling well, I’ll personally find you a large two-courtyard residence to live in, how’s that?”

Lu Tong didn’t speak, but took the lantern from Du Changqing’s hand and carefully examined the entire courtyard.

The courtyard connected to the front of Renxin Medical Hall – while the medical hall was narrow, this courtyard was quite spacious. One side of the courtyard bordered a high wall, with roof tiles faintly visible above, while the other side connected to a stone corridor, alongside which were three empty rooms in a row.

Du Changqing pointed at the three empty rooms: “Doctor Lu, these three rooms are all very spacious, you and Miss Yin can choose whichever you like. Look, there’s also a kitchen and changing room in front…”

Something stirred in Lu Tong’s heart.

Walking along the stone corridor, there was indeed a kitchen. The kitchen was large, with an earthen stove and cookware, and some dried firewood stuffed underneath. Further in it became darker, where there was a changing and washing area.

Lu Tong stared at the courtyard before her.

The layout of this courtyard was remarkably similar to that of the Lu family residence in Changwu County.

Du Changqing was still enthusiastically promoting: “Doctor Lu, look at this stone table in the courtyard, perfect for preparing medicines at night. And this plum tree by the window, when winter comes and it blooms, the fragrance is delightful, young ladies love it…”

“Wait,” Yin Zheng interrupted him, “Shopkeeper Du, didn’t you say we’d stay here temporarily? Why are you talking about winter already?”

Du Changqing stumbled: “I just got carried away, Doctor Lu, you see…”

“This place will do,” Lu Tong turned to him with a slight smile, “Thank you, Shopkeeper Du.”

Seemingly surprised by Lu Tong’s easy agreement, Du Changqing was stunned for a moment, then, as if afraid she might change her mind, he brought in their luggage from outside, saying warmly: “In that case, Doctor Lu can settle in here comfortably, stay as long as you like.”

He somehow found two clean sets of bedding and gave them to Yin Zheng, explained some matters, and then left reassured.

After he left, Yin Zheng disapprovingly said: “Miss, how can we live in a shop? We should find a proper residential house to stay in.”

Lu Tong walked into the room closest to the kitchen, opened the window, and directly opposite stood the plum tree, still bare of flowers, standing lonely.

Looking at the plum tree, she said: “Renxin Medical Hall is on West Street, with restaurants ahead. Shengjing has no curfew, and West Street has city guards patrolling every night. We can’t afford to hire guards, so living here is safer than elsewhere.”

“Besides, this is closest to the Ke family.”

Yin Zheng thought for a moment, still somewhat dissatisfied: “Still, that Du fellow is taking advantage. We’re living in his shop, saving him the cost of finding us lodging. Isn’t he afraid we’ll run off with his medicines?”

Lu Tong laughed.

Du Changqing had only given them the courtyard key, not the medicine cabinet key. Unless she broke open each cabinet or found a strongman to carry them away. But with city guards patrolling West Street at all times, and surrounded by Du Changqing’s acquaintances, they’d likely be caught and sent to the magistrate’s office before leaving the street.

That Shopkeeper Du, though appearing casual, was quite shrewd.

She went outside and picked up the bamboo broom in the courtyard: “Let’s clean this place up first.”

Yin Zheng rolled up her sleeves and nodded in agreement.

The spacious courtyard made cleaning particularly laborious. And because it had been uninhabited for so long, even a simple cleaning took them quite a while.

By the time they moved the last bundle of firewood to the kitchen, it was very late at night.

Yin Zheng looked at the transformed courtyard and couldn’t help but feel energized: “Miss, this courtyard is beautiful!”

Lu Tong was also somewhat dazed.

The courtyard’s bluestone, cleared of dust and sprinkled with clean water, looked fresh and clean. The bowls and pots on the kitchen’s earthen stove were sorted and arranged, with bundles of firewood neatly stacked in the corner.

All three rooms had been cleaned, and being uninhabited, their contents were quite simple. In Lu Tong’s room, beyond the spotted bamboo curtain stood an old painted screen, hiding the round table and wardrobe. Past the screen was a yellow wooden bed with an autumn-scented mattress. By the window was a writing desk, facing the plum tree outside, elegant and classical, quite beautiful.

Yin Zheng said happily: “Tomorrow I’ll write something to hang on the wall, covering that old mark. And when the weather gets warmer, we can plant some cream-colored peonies in the courtyard – that would be truly beautiful.” She turned to look at Lu Tong, seeing her expression was calm, and asked: “Don’t you think it’s beautiful, Miss?”

Lu Tong smiled slightly, placing the lantern on the writing desk by the window, and said softly: “Yes, beautiful.”

The courtyard was indeed beautiful, and now cleaned, it looked even more like the Lu family home she remembered.

Thinking of the Lu family, the smile on Lu Tong’s face faded somewhat.

Today at Baoxiang Tower, by chance, she had seen that young lady from the Grand Tutor’s mansion.

The Ke family had prospered thanks to the Grand Tutor’s patronage. Lu Rong’s death might also be connected to the Grand Tutor’s household.

And today, when she was captured and bleeding, no one cared. While the Grand Tutor’s daughter remained unharmed and was fussed over.

That young lady hadn’t even properly looked at her.

Between her and the Grand Tutor’s household was the difference between heaven and earth, clouds and mud.

In the lamplight, Lu Tong’s dark eyes gleamed like bottomless springs.

Becoming the medical hall’s physician was just the first step of everything.

How could she get close to the Ke family?

And… the Grand Tutor’s household.

…

That night, at the Palace Commander’s mansion.

When Pei Yunying returned from outside, it was already very late.

As soon as he entered the hall, Duan Xiaoyan came out to meet him. The round-faced youth in blue clothes had lost his usual liveliness, unusually appearing somewhat deflated.

Pei Yunying glanced at him: “What’s wrong?”

“Brother Yunying.” When alone in private, Duan Xiaoyan never called him “sir,” and now hearing the question, he sighed deeply, “Today that young lady from the Grand Tutor’s mansion specifically requested you to escort her back. You dumped this task on me, how could she possibly be pleasant to me? She nearly ate me alive the whole way.”

Pei Yunying casually unfastened his sword and placed it on the table, continuing to walk inside, saying: “Didn’t you always complain about slow promotion? Isn’t this a good opportunity to prove yourself?”

“What kind of opportunity is this?” Duan Xiaoyan followed behind him, somewhat resentful, “She was attracted to your good looks, not mine. Besides, the Palace Guard doesn’t answer to the Grand Tutor’s household, we don’t need to curry favor with them.”

Pei Yunying ignored him and asked while walking: “How’s Lu Dashan?”

“He’s been sent to the Criminal Court. But Brother Yunying,” Duan Xiaoyan asked in a low voice, “Lei Yuan is the Right Minister’s nephew, and the Military Horse Bureau case probably involves the Right Minister too. Are we not afraid of offending the Right Minister like this…”

Pei Yunying responded noncommittally: “What, are you afraid of him?”

Duan Xiaoyan was speechless: “You might not be afraid, but I’m different.” After speaking, he suddenly remembered something and took out an object from his robes, “Oh right, I almost forgot this.”

Pei Yunying paused.

It was the scar-removing medicine he had given to that female doctor earlier in the day.

“The rouge shop’s owner ran out to give it to me, saying we left something behind. When I saw it, wasn’t this the scar-removing medicine the Empress Dowager awarded you last time? How did it end up in the rouge shop?”

Pei Yunying thoughtfully stared at the medicine bottle for a moment, then suddenly shook his head and smiled, casually tossing the bottle to Duan Xiaoyan as he walked ahead.

Duan Xiaoyan caught it frantically: “Brother Yunying?”

He waved his hand: “It’s yours now.”