The wind blew, making the shadows under the tree sway a few times, yet the person remained as if nailed to the ground, completely motionless.

Lu Tong stepped back a little distance and nodded: “Lord Pei.”

Pei Yunying glanced at Ji Xun with a smile before saying: “Vice Commissioner Xiao suddenly developed a headache this evening. Would Imperial Physician Lu accompany me to take a look?”

Whether his reason was true or false, it was better than remaining deadlocked here with Ji Xun. Ji Xun’s questioning was too clear without the slightest concealment – her already worthless self-esteem would also be shredded by this righteous blade.

Lu Tong nodded: “Very well. I’ll go get my medical kit.” Having said this, she turned to leave together with Pei Yunying.

“Wait.”

Ji Xun’s voice came from behind.

Lu Tong’s steps halted.

That person’s voice remained cold and indifferent, without a trace of emotion, impartial as always.

“Imperial Physician Lu’s medical skills are inadequate. Lord Commander might as well find another physician.”

Lu Tong’s movements stiffened slightly.

This was tactful persuasion, as well as open suspicion.

He no longer looked at her with the eyes one would use to regard a physician – he truly believed she was “corrupt in heart, how can she practice medicine,” which was why he reminded Pei Yunying this way, urging him to find a truly qualified physician to go instead.

Pei Yunying also heard the warning in these words.

After pausing briefly, he smiled and turned around to look at the man before him.

“No need to change.”

“I think she’s quite good. The Palace Guard doesn’t have so many rules, and the guards are quite fond of Imperial Physician Lu.”

Ji Xun couldn’t help but be startled.

The young man before him stood under the bright lamplight, the warm lamp color reflecting in his pitch-black pupils, and the smile playing at his lips seemed to carry a hint of coldness.

He had little interaction with this Palace Guard Commander, having barely exchanged a few words privately. Most of the time, he heard news about him from others’ mouths. Although Pei Yunying appeared to be an amiable and courteous noble young master in the eyes of uninformed outsiders, imperial physicians inevitably heard more truthful evaluations of him from others.

He was nothing like the bright and gentle person he appeared to be on the surface – it was all pretense.

However, at this moment, Ji Xun glimpsed a trace of displeasure in the other’s eyes, without even bothering to conceal it.

As if he were backing up the person beside him.

After Pei Yunying said this, he paid him no more attention, turning to gesture to Lu Tong: “Let’s go, Imperial Physician Lu.”

Lu Tong came to her senses, took her medical kit and followed his steps.

She truly didn’t want to continue staying here.

The shadows of the two gradually receded along with that pear blossom lantern, and the courtyard suddenly darkened again. Footsteps could be heard approaching from the distance, and a physician’s voice rang out: “Physician Ji.”

The physicians who had gone to take inventory at the medicine storehouse had returned.

Ji Xun nodded at them, then gazed into that darkness for a long while before withdrawing his gaze and following them away.

…

Without the shelter of the trees in the Imperial Physician Compound, the night wind rampaged through the streets and alleys, making it much colder.

Lu Tong followed Pei Yunying toward the carriage at the alley entrance.

They had clearly already passed through the gates of the Imperial Physician Compound, that vermillion gate separating the night into two incompatible worlds, yet Lu Tong had the illusion that there was still a sharp gaze pursuing her from behind. Unable to face it, she could only flee in haste.

This unusual silence was noticed by the person beside her.

Pei Yunying glanced at her and spoke casually: “Why didn’t you talk back just now?”

Lu Tong paused.

“Usually when you see me, you’re confrontational at every turn, but with this Ji Xun you’re quite well-behaved. Seeing Imperial Physician Lu standing there taking a scolding just now, I thought I was seeing the wrong person.”

These words were spoken teasingly, momentarily dispelling the embarrassment Lu Tong had felt when facing Ji Xun. She looked up angrily at the person before her: “You were eavesdropping on my conversation?”

“Eavesdropping?” Pei Yunying found it amusing: “How could I be so bored?”

“The Imperial Physician Compound gates weren’t closed, you two were standing there in plain sight, and that Physician Ji’s voice wasn’t exactly quiet.”

Lu Tong fell silent.

This wasn’t false.

In fact, if Pei Yunying hadn’t arrived in time, waiting just a bit longer until the physicians collecting herbs from the storehouse returned, everyone would have witnessed this scene of Ji Xun questioning her.

“Why didn’t you refute just now?” he asked.

Lu Tong steadied herself and said: “Refute what? He spoke the truth. I am indeed corrupt in heart – don’t you know that best?”

Pei Yunying’s steps slowed slightly as he finally sensed something was amiss, lowering his gaze to look at her.

She walked beside him carrying her medical kit, her expression neither cold nor warm as usual, yet Pei Yunying felt that today’s her was more dejected than before, just like that moment when he entered the Imperial Physician Compound and saw her locked in confrontation with Ji Xun.

He knew Lu Tong was cunning and composed, never willing to suffer losses in verbal exchanges. Ji Xun’s line of questioning could have been casually mocked and refuted if she had wanted to, yet she had only stood quietly under the tree. The wind lantern was dim, the murky night making it impossible to see her expression clearly, but he inexplicably felt that in that moment, she seemed to want to flee from there.

As if she felt deeply ashamed.

He had always been lazy about meddling in others’ affairs, always maintaining a safe sense of distance, yet in that instant, he had felt a trace of sympathy for her. He couldn’t bear to see her like a child suddenly thrown into an embarrassing situation, showing a helplessness completely different from her usual composure.

So he had stepped out and interrupted the two of them.

She continued walking forward, the night wind lifting the hem of her skirt. Pei Yunying glanced at her and suddenly said: “That young master from the Ji family is noble and refined in character, virtuous and upright, ignorant of human wickedness. You needn’t take his words to heart.”

“Jin Xianrong has been lustful and immoral for years – even if you really used poisonous herbs on him, it wouldn’t matter. Consider it ridding society of a pest.”

His tone was casual, like unintentional small talk.

Lu Tong remained silent.

She naturally understood.

Ji Xun came from an extraordinary family background, his household filled with upright scholars. From childhood, propriety, righteousness, integrity and shame were deeply rooted in his heart. Those around him respected and admired him, and he had encountered too few evil people. Thus, when meeting someone as calculating and malicious as her, his disgust was particularly intense.

Ice and charcoal cannot share the same vessel – this has been true since ancient times.

Seeing her silence, Pei Yunying smiled again: “Why do you look so dejected? Though Ji Xun is fairly handsome, Imperial Physician Lu doesn’t seem like the type to live and die for a man. Why go to such lengths?”

Her steps stopped, and Lu Tong turned impatiently: “What exactly does the Commander want with me so late at night?”

Pei Yunying claimed Xiao Zhufeng suddenly had a headache, but if Xiao Zhufeng truly had some mishap, how could he still appear so leisurely?

He even had the mood to engage in idle chat with her.

Pei Yunying chuckled: “There’s a new prescription for Imperial Physician Lu to examine, but one must keep up appearances – there had to be a reason.”

A new prescription?

Lu Tong thought of the prescription Pei Yunying had shown her last time, feeling somewhat puzzled.

What exactly was that prescription? He seemed to value it greatly.

Just as she was thinking, Pei Yunying’s voice came again: “However, did you really use that poisonous herb on Jin Xianrong?”

Lu Tong became alert, turning to look at him.

“I heard that poisonous herb was very precious. I thought you would use it on Qi Yutai.”

He spoke lightly, his tone unreadable, but his gaze was sharp as he looked at her, as if he had already seen through her thoughts.

Lu Tong’s heart jumped.

Pei Yunying was not Ji Xun after all. He knew her true identity, knew what kind of people she had to deal with, so naturally he could see through her ultimate purpose at a glance.

Lu Tong averted her eyes: “Perhaps that will indeed be the case in the future.”

He nodded, as if casually reminding: “Take it easy, Imperial Physician Lu. Don’t make enemies too quickly, or ten heads wouldn’t be enough to lose.”

Lu Tong retorted: “The Commander should worry about himself first. Next time you go to assassinate someone, try not to get wounded and have to flee everywhere again.”

Pei Yunying: “…”

The carriage waited quietly at the alley entrance. He didn’t argue with her further, only saying: “Get in the carriage.”

Lu Tong supported herself on the carriage entrance and bent to board, but just as she was about to enter, her steps suddenly halted and she turned to look into the distance.

In the distance across the street, under the bright lantern light, carriages and horses flowed continuously while voices never ceased.

Pei Yunying followed her gaze: “What is it?”

Lu Tong stared fixedly at the opposite side for a while.

She seemed to have just seen Grand Tutor Manor’s carriage pass by.

But that moment was too brief, and with the crowded foot traffic, before she could see clearly, when she looked up again, there was only the flowing crowd.

She shook her head and bent to enter the carriage.

“It’s nothing.”

…

The carriage stopped in front of the manor gates.

Servants crowded around as the person in the carriage gracefully descended and walked into the luxurious mansion.

The young woman in the center removed her veil hat, revealing herself in a peony-patterned pale smoke-colored trailing gown. She had peach cheeks and apricot face, tender as jade with radiant skin, her black hair swept diagonally into a chignon, exposing the pearl-dotted floral ornament on her forehead. Large peony blossoms bloomed brilliantly on her gown, making her appear even more elegant and wealthy, like a flower in the prime of its beauty – utterly charming and enchanting.

This was Qi Qing’s legitimate youngest daughter, Qi Huaying.

Grand Tutor Qi Qing had two wives in total. His first wife died of illness without leaving behind any children. The second was considerably younger than Qi Qing, but after bearing him a son and daughter, she too passed away early.

Pitying these two children who lost their mother in infancy, Qi Qing never remarried, instead raising this pair of children with care.

His eldest legitimate son Qi Yutai had always been respectful and proper in public. Though he had never accomplished anything particularly outstanding, he could be considered well-behaved and dutiful, never causing any major trouble.

This legitimate youngest daughter was even more the apple of everyone’s eye, not only beautiful and captivating, but also talented and refined. From childhood, her clothing and accessories were of the utmost luxury – even princesses could hardly compare. It was remembered that one year, when the young Miss Qi went out for the lantern festival, she obtained a newly-made slingshot to play with, and the pellets she used for shooting were actually made of silver. At that time, the Qi family carriage traveled all the way with countless poor people following behind to collect the silver pellets she shot and dropped – what magnificent extravagance.

Pursued by everyone and being her father’s treasured pearl and beloved of his heart, people in the capital commonly said they didn’t know what virtues from past lives had earned someone the fortune of being born as Miss Qi.

Such a blessed life should never know the taste of sorrow, yet today this peony bore dew and frost. Upon entering the room, she said not a word and collapsed into a chair, staring blankly at the screen in the room.

The surrounding maidservants stood in silence, none daring to speak. Just then, a voice suddenly called from outside the door: “Sister—”

Immediately after, the pearl curtain adorned with fine gemstones was lifted, and a man in brocade robes entered from outside.

The newcomer was Qi Yutai.

The maidservants hurriedly paid their respects. Qi Yutai, unaware of the strange atmosphere in the room, quickly walked to Qi Huaying’s side and sat down at the table with a thud, saying with a smile: “Sister, do you have any spare money on hand? Lend me a thousand taels – I’ll return it to you in a few days.”

Qi Yutai had come to borrow money.

Grand Tutor Qi’s birthday was approaching, coinciding with the summer hunt. The Ministry of Revenue had little to do normally, so his position was dispensable. Jin Xianrong had approved his leave, allowing him to stay at the manor to properly prepare for the summer hunt and his father’s birthday festivities.

However, the birthday banquet had stewards to arrange and required no intervention from him. Staying in the manor, he only felt the household rules were strict and oppressive. Each day was like being a caged bird – even with sandalwood incense burning, he still felt restless and irritated.

He desperately wanted to find an opportunity to relax.

His father had explicitly forbidden him from taking hanshi san, and after learning about the Ke family affair, had become even more strict. Every expenditure of silver from the public accounts had to be recorded by the steward. Hanshi san was already a prohibited drug, and now its price was extremely high. With his meager salary, he simply couldn’t afford it. Unable to think of any other solution, he could only seek out Qi Huaying.

Their father was strict with him but extremely indulgent toward his sister. Qi Huaying spent money like water – each month her cosmetics, rouge, gowns and snacks alone cost nearly a thousand taels, yet Qi Qing never restricted her enjoyment. The siblings had been close since childhood, and whenever he asked Qi Huaying for help, she would agree without question.

Today should be the same.

Qi Yutai said: “Father has been managing me very strictly lately. I spent my salary a few days ago. Good sister, once I receive my salary I’ll pay you back!”

Qi Huaying had always been generous with money, yet today she delayed in answering. Just as Qi Yutai was feeling puzzled, he suddenly heard a sob. Looking up, he saw Qi Huaying had turned her head away, tears streaming down both cheeks.

He was startled and quickly stood up: “What’s wrong, sister?”

Qi Huaying only wept quietly, refusing to speak. Qi Yutai’s face darkened: “Who bullied you?”

A personal maidservant named Qiangwei spoke quietly: “Today the manor’s carriage passed by an alley near the Imperial Physician Compound…”

“So what?”

Qiangwei glanced at Qi Huaying, saw that she continued weeping silently, swallowed hard, and said carefully: “The young miss was in the carriage and saw Lord Commander Pei talking with another woman…”

Qi Yutai was stunned.

Qi Huaying turned her head away, thinking of what she had witnessed today, her already tearful eyes becoming even more red and swollen.

She hadn’t expected to encounter Pei Yunying there.

Ever since Pei Yunying’s heroic rescue at the Baoxiang Tower, she had set her heart on that spirited and handsome Palace Guard Commander.

After her father learned of her feelings, he didn’t obstruct them, even specifically having the old steward send invitations to Commander Pei’s manor several times, inviting him to visit and chat.

Pei Yunying had refused every single time.

Using busy official duties as an excuse once was understandable, but using it repeatedly – even a fool would know he was doing it deliberately.

Qi Huaying felt disappointed, frustrated, wronged, confused, and a trace of anger and unwillingness at being rejected.

People are perhaps always like this – the more they can’t obtain, the more they want it. Since Pei Yunying paid her no attention, she wanted all the more to tame him, to make this elegant and outstanding commander become one of her devoted admirers.

She was a noble lady from a prominent family – she couldn’t brazenly meet with him like those shameless common women who showed their faces in public. Since he refused to attend banquets, she could only wait for other opportunities.

Day after day she waited, until she herself felt disheartened and weary. Yet fate is always unreasonable – today, when her carriage passed the street opposite the Imperial Physician Compound alley, she happened upon this very person.

Qi Huaying stared blankly at the screen.

The screen depicted a summer night street scene, instantly reminding her of what she had witnessed not long ago.

The summer night’s bright moon spread across vast skies, lilies in full bloom were planted along both sides of the official alley, their fragrance carried by the cool night breeze. Qi Huaying immediately spotted the object of her longing thoughts.

The young man stood there, handsome as jade, with extraordinary bearing – everyone around him seemed dimmed by comparison.

Her heart leaped with joy and she quickly ordered the carriage to stop. But before her smile could reach her eyes, she saw the young man turn to speak with someone beside him.

He was tall with an upright bearing. From Qi Huaying’s vantage point, she couldn’t see who he was speaking with, only glimpsing light blue robes and slender brocade sleeves that seemed somehow familiar.

Apparently a young woman.

Qi Huaying stared across the street in a daze.

He turned his head, smiling as he looked at the other person. Though they were so far apart, Qi Huaying seemed able to see through the crowd to those deep, dark, clear eyes.

It was a serious attitude, without any defensiveness, as he listened to the person beside him speak.

Qi Huaying was momentarily stunned.

She had never seen Pei Yunying like this.

From that brief glimpse at Baoxiang Tower, though Pei Yunying had seemed gentle and approachable, he was dangerous and cold when dealing with Lu Dashan, indifferent and aloof when walking before the emperor, yet seemingly without distance when occasionally speaking with palace attendants – unlike certain princely sons in the capital who always maintained aloofness.

This kind of danger was like a whirlpool, attracting everyone to draw near, and she was no exception.

Yet only today did she glimpse another side beneath this young man’s distant exterior.

Warmer, softer.

But directed toward another stranger.

The woman beside him seemed to sense something and was about to look this way, startling Qi Huaying into quickly ordering the coachman to spur the horses forward, avoiding the other’s gaze.

The carriage swayed as it traveled through the capital’s streets and alleys. Her heart was as unsteady as this carriage, wanting to lift the carriage curtain to let the night wind dispel her inner turmoil. Yet when she saw the brilliant flower lanterns across the street, she suddenly paused, and in a flash of insight, recalled an incident.

She remembered why today’s woman had seemed familiar.

On New Year’s Lantern Festival day, she had seemed to glimpse Pei Yunying and a woman’s figure near Jingde Gate, but when she looked again the figures had vanished, making her suspect she had seen wrong.

Until today, seeing that person.

That woman’s figure was particularly slender and frail, pitifully weak – clearly eight parts similar to that shadow from the Lantern Festival.

Qi Huaying immediately understood: the one standing beside Pei Yunying on Lantern Festival and the woman talking and laughing with Pei Yunying today were the same person!

So she had been by Pei Yunying’s side all along!

Qi Huaying suddenly realized.

No wonder.

No wonder when father repeatedly invited him, he always declined citing busy official duties. She had thought it was because she hadn’t yet tamed this cold and dangerous beast, but the reality was far worse than she had imagined – unknowingly, someone had already tamed him before her.

Tears rolled down her cheeks, falling on the carpet where their crystal clarity became muddied.

After hearing the whole story from Qiangwei, Qi Yutai flew into a rage: “That Pei Yunying! To make my sister so heartbroken – I’ll go settle accounts with him!”

Qi Huaying grabbed hold of him.

“What are you doing, brother? Isn’t my humiliation enough?”

She had always been proud. As Grand Tutor’s daughter, actively pursuing a man was already improper, and for this infatuation to mean nothing to the other party made her feel even more ashamed and indignant.

Qi Yutai quickly turned around and steadied her: “That Pei Yunying is young and doesn’t understand. Men occasionally having casual affairs is normal – sister needn’t worry. However—”

He changed tone: “Someone dares to touch the man my sister has her eye on? Who is that woman? Have you investigated clearly?”

Qi Huaying didn’t answer, so Qiangwei had to speak up: “Today I saw she was wearing Imperial Physician Compound robes…”

“So most likely she’s a female physician from the Imperial Physician Compound.”