Lu Tong had originally intended to find another inn for the night, but unexpectedly Du Changqing moved quickly and immediately found lodging for the two of them.

Yin Zheng looked up at the four characters “Renxin Medical Hall” above her head, her face showing shock: “Isn’t this a medical hall?”

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

Lu Tong and Yin Zheng followed Du Changqing inside.

The shop was narrow and dim inside. As evening was approaching, it was difficult to see clearly within. Du Changqing carried an oil paper lantern, lifted the curtain of the inner room, and walked straight inside.

Lu Tong and Yin Zheng followed. When they entered, they couldn’t help but be slightly stunned.

Behind Renxin Medical Hall was actually a small courtyard.

The small courtyard seemed to have been uninhabited for a long time. The ground was covered with a layer of dust, and dry firewood was piled in the corners, filling up half the courtyard.

Yin Zheng asked suspiciously: “Shopkeeper Du, the lodging you mentioned wouldn’t be here, would it?”

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

Seeing Yin Zheng frown, Du Changqing hastily added: “Don’t look at how shabby this courtyard appears—it’s quite nice once cleaned up. Doctor Lu,” he glanced at Lu Tong’s expression, “it’s not that I don’t want to help, but land in the capital is worth its weight in gold. Finding a reasonably priced residence on short notice isn’t easy. Besides, you’ve seen the situation at Renxin Medical Hall—I’m so poor I can barely keep food on the table. How about this,” he clapped his hands, “once our medicinal tea sells well, I’ll personally find you a proper two-courtyard residence. How about that?”

Lu Tong said nothing, taking the lantern from Du Changqing’s hands and carefully examining the entire courtyard.

This courtyard connected to Renxin Medical Hall in front. While the medical hall was narrow, this courtyard was quite spacious. One side of the courtyard bordered a high wall, where roof tiles could vaguely be seen. Another side connected to a stone corridor, beside which stood three empty rooms in a row.

Du Changqing pointed to those three empty rooms: “Doctor Lu, these three rooms are all quite spacious. You and Miss Yin Zheng can choose whichever you like. Look, there’s even a kitchen and changing room in front…”

Lu Tong’s heart stirred.

Following the stone corridor forward, there was indeed a kitchen. The back kitchen was quite large, with an earthen stove and pots and basins, with some dry firewood stuffed underneath. Further inside it was darker—a changing area for personal needs…

Lu Tong stared blankly at the courtyard before her.

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

Du Changqing was still earnestly persuading: “Doctor Lu, look at this stone table in the courtyard—it’s perfect for you to grind medicine at night. This plum tree by the window will be so fragrant when it blooms in winter—young ladies love it very much…”

“Wait,” Yin Zheng interrupted him, “Shopkeeper Du said we’d stay here temporarily, so why are you talking about winter already?”

Du Changqing choked: “I just got carried away. Doctor Lu, what do you think…”

“This place will do.” Lu Tong turned around and smiled slightly at him. “Thank you, Shopkeeper Du.”

As if not expecting Lu Tong to be so agreeable, Du Changqing was stunned for a moment, then as if afraid Lu Tong might change her mind, he brought in their luggage from outside and said enthusiastically: “In that case, Doctor Lu can settle down here peacefully and stay as long as you like.”

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

After he left, Yin Zheng disapproved: “Miss, how can we live in a shop? We should at least find a proper residence.”

Lu Tong walked into the room closest to the kitchen and opened the window. Directly facing the window, the plum tree had not yet bloomed and stood there forlornly.

Looking at that plum tree, she spoke: “Renxin Medical Hall is located on West Street. Further ahead are wine shops. The capital has no curfew, and West Street has city guards patrolling every night. Since you and I can’t afford to hire guards, living here is safer than living elsewhere.”

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

Yin Zheng thought about it and finally felt somewhat indignant: “In any case, that Du fellow got the better deal. With us living in the shop, he also saves on advancing rent money for us. Isn’t he afraid we’ll steal his medicinal materials and run?”

Lu Tong laughed.

Du Changqing had only left the courtyard key but hadn’t given her the medicine cabinet keys. Unless she smashed the medicine cabinets one by one or found a strongman to carry them away. But West Street had city guards patrolling at all times, and all around were Du Changqing’s acquaintances. She’d probably be caught and sent to the magistrate before even leaving this street.

That Shopkeeper Du appeared to have no proper form, but he was a shrewd man.

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

Yin Zheng rolled up her sleeves and nodded in agreement.

The small courtyard was spacious, making cleaning particularly laborious. Since it had been uninhabited for a long time, even with just simple tidying, the two were busy for quite a while.

By the time they moved the last bundle of dry firewood to the kitchen, the night was already very deep.

Looking at the courtyard that appeared brand new, Yin Zheng couldn’t help but feel invigorated: “Miss, this courtyard is truly beautiful!”

Lu Tong was also somewhat dazed.

The blue stones of the courtyard had been swept clean of dust and sprinkled with clear water, appearing clean and refreshing. The bowls and basins on the kitchen’s earthen stove were sorted and stacked, with bundles of firewood neatly arranged in the corners.

All three rooms had been cleaned. Since no one had been living there, the furnishings inside were quite simple. In the room Lu Tong inhabited, lifting the bamboo curtain revealed an old painted screen that blocked the round table and wardrobe in the outer area. Going around the screen was a yellow wood bed covered with an autumn-colored mattress. By the window was a writing desk facing the plum tree outside—elegant, simple, and very beautiful.

Yin Zheng said happily: “Tomorrow I’ll write some characters to hang on the wall to cover those old stains. When the weather gets warmer, I’ll plant more pale yellow peonies in the courtyard—that would be truly beautiful.” She turned to look at Lu Tong, seeing her expression was calm, and asked: “Doesn’t Miss think it’s beautiful?”

Lu Tong smiled and placed the lantern in her hand on the writing desk by the window, saying: “Beautiful.”

The courtyard was indeed beautiful. The cleaned small courtyard looked even closer to the old appearance of the Lu family home in her memory.

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

Today at Treasure Fragrance Tower, by chance, she had seen that young lady from the Grand Tutor’s manor.

The Ke family prospered under the Grand Tutor’s patronage. Lu Rou’s death might also be connected to the Grand Tutor’s manor.

From what she saw today, when she was captured and bleeding, no one paid attention. The Grand Tutor’s daughter was safe and sound, yet received constant care and attention.

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

The Grand Tutor’s manor and she were like heaven and earth, clouds and mud.

Under the lamplight, Lu Tong’s dark eyes were deep and bright, like a spring whose bottom could not be seen.

Becoming a medical hall physician was merely the first step in everything’s beginning.

How could she approach the Ke family?

And also… the Grand Tutor’s manor.

…

That night, at the Imperial Guard Headquarters.

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

As soon as he entered the hall, Duan Xiaoyan came up to greet him from inside. The round-faced, round-eyed youth in blue clothes had lost his usual liveliness and uncharacteristically appeared somewhat dejected.

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

“Brother Yunying.” When there were no others around privately, Duan Xiaoyan never called him “sir.” Upon hearing the question, he sighed deeply: “Today, that young lady from the Grand Tutor’s manor specifically requested that you escort her back to the manor. You threw this task to me—how could she give me a good face? She nearly devoured me the entire way.”

Pei Yunying casually removed his sword and placed it on the table, continuing to walk inside while saying: “Don’t you usually complain about slow promotion? Isn’t giving you a chance to perform good?”

“What kind of performance opportunity is this?” Duan Xiaoyan followed behind him, somewhat resentful. “She has her eye on your good looks, not mine. Besides, the Grand Tutor’s manor has no authority over the Imperial Guard—we don’t need to curry favor with them.”

Pei Yunying ignored him and asked while walking: “How is Lü Dashan?”

“Already sent to the Criminal Justice Department. But Brother Yunying,” Duan Xiaoyan asked in a low voice, “that Lei Yuan from the Metropolitan Police Bureau is the Right Prime Minister’s cousin-nephew. The Imperial Horse Monitor case probably can’t escape connection to the Right Prime Minister either. For us to offend the Right Prime Minister like this…”

Pei Yunying remained noncommittal: “What, are you afraid of him?”

Duan Xiaoyan was speechless: “You’re not afraid, but I’m different.” After saying this, he suddenly remembered something and took out an object from his jacket: “Right, I almost forgot about this.”

Pei Yunying’s steps paused.

It was the scar-removal medicine he had given to that female doctor during the day.

“The female shopkeeper from the rouge shop chased after me to give this to me, saying we had left something behind. When I looked, isn’t this the scar-removal medicine the Empress Dowager rewarded you with last time? How did it end up at the rouge shop?”

Pei Yunying stared thoughtfully at the medicine bottle for a moment, then suddenly shook his head and laughed, casually tossing the medicine bottle to Duan Xiaoyan before walking forward.

Duan Xiaoyan caught it frantically: “Brother Yunying?”

He waved his hand: “It’s yours now.”