The night was drowsy and dim.

When Lu Tong returned to the Imperial Physician Compound, all the lights in the dormitories had already been extinguished.

Qing Feng’s carriage delivered her to the entrance of the Imperial Physician Compound, only departing after watching Lu Tong enter through the gates. Chang Jin seemed to have already returned to the dormitory to sleep – there wasn’t a soul in the courtyard.

After winding around the corridor, Lu Tong had just reached her room door when she saw Lin Danqing coming in from outside, holding a lantern in one hand and an empty washbasin in the other. Upon seeing Lu Tong, she cleared her throat and said matter-of-factly: “I just came back from washing clothes.” She pushed the door open first and walked inside.

Lu Tong looked at her retreating figure, understanding in her heart.

Lin Danqing always saved up her clothes to take home during monthly rest days, having the servants in her family mansion help with the washing. Living in the same room for so long, this was the first time Lu Tong had seen her washing clothes at night – this excuse was really poorly thought out.

Moreover, the basin was completely dry without a single drop of water.

The lamp in the room was lit, and Lu Tong followed inside, closing the door behind her.

Perhaps because of last night’s drunken rambling, Lin Danqing’s behavior wasn’t as natural as usual, and upon closer inspection, there was even some embarrassment.

She herself noticed this suffocating awkwardness. Walking to the table and sitting down, she grabbed a handful of pine nuts from the table drawer and offered them to Lu Tong, asking: “Want some?”

Lu Tong shook her head, placed her medical kit on the table, and got up to make her bed.

Lin Danqing had no choice but to eat them herself. After eating a few, she suddenly spoke: “Did you leave with Commander Pei today?”

Lu Tong’s bed-making movements paused.

She turned around: “You saw?”

“I wasn’t eavesdropping!” Lin Danqing hurriedly explained, “I came out of the pharmacy and saw you talking with Physician Ji at a glance. You know how much I fear Physician Ji – I wanted to wait until he left before coming over, but who knew Commander Pei would suddenly appear and take you away.”

“I swear, I didn’t hear a single word of what you said. I do have that much sense.”

Lu Tong was silent for a moment, then turned back to continue making her bed, only saying: “Vice Commissioner Xiao from the Palace Guard suddenly had a headache, so I was sent to examine him.”

Lin Danqing cracked open a pine nut: “For Vice Commissioner Xiao’s headache, they could just send someone with an invitation. Why would Commander Pei need to make the trip personally? I don’t think that’s the real reason.”

Lu Tong smoothed out the last wrinkle on her bedding, turned around to sit on the edge of the bed, and looked toward Lin Danqing: “What do you mean?”

“Just what you think I mean,” Lin Danqing continued cracking pine nuts, throwing the shells onto the coarse cloth underneath while tossing the nuts into a small dish usually used for vinegar. She sighed: “Sister Lu, I’m actually very good at reading people’s expressions. In the past, when I accompanied my family to banquets at other people’s mansions, I could tell at a glance that the eldest young master of that household had an unusual relationship with his stepmother. Others were completely oblivious, but half a year later, the scandal was indeed exposed.”

“I feel these eyes of mine were born to spot what’s wrong.”

Lu Tong looked at her: “So what did you spot that was wrong?”

Lin Danqing seemed to have become interested, sitting cross-legged on her chair while continuing to crack pine nuts: “Your relationship with Commander Pei is unusual.”

“How can you tell?”

“When Director Cui had you examine Jin Xianrong before, he spoke up for you. I originally thought it was to repay the debt for you saving his sister’s granddaughter, but it still felt strange.”

“Strange how?”

She sighed in an old-fashioned way: “Those of us working in the palace fear two things: owing favors and having unclear entanglements with people. Sister Lu, you offended Director Cui as soon as you entered the Imperial Physician Compound, and you might offend others in the future. If he wanted to repay you, he could have used much more straightforward methods instead of showing others that you have private dealings.”

“He’s a smart person. Knowing this approach wasn’t advantageous yet still doing it – that’s very thought-provoking.”

Lu Tong was silent for a moment: “You don’t think he has ulterior motives toward me, do you?”

“I’m not saying that.” Lin Danqing smiled cheerfully: “But at least you must be special to him. Are you two very close friends?”

Close friends?

Lin Danqing’s question stumped Lu Tong.

Were she and Pei Yunying very close friends?

It didn’t seem like they had particularly good friendship – they had once faced each other with weapons drawn, and even now neither had completely dropped their guard against the other.

But they seemed closer than ordinary people. Pei Yunying knew her background and enemies, and she knew about the scars and secrets behind Pei Yunying. She could be completely unguarded with him, interacting more openly than with others.

Lin Danqing’s voice reached her ears: “However, Sister Lu, as a friend, I still must advise you. Though Commander Pei has an extraordinary background and is one of the most outstanding-looking men in the capital, he’s a hot potato. When you interact with him normally, remember to leave some room for maneuvering, otherwise you’ll offend others and end up suffering yourself.”

These words carried considerable implications. Lu Tong asked: “Who are these ‘others’?”

Lin Danqing’s hand stopped cracking pine nuts.

She turned around to look at Lu Tong and said seriously: “Grand Tutor Manor.”

Lu Tong’s heart stirred.

She turned to look at her: “What does this have to do with Grand Tutor Manor?”

“Of course it’s related!” Lin Danqing lowered her voice: “This is top secret palace news – don’t ask me where I heard it – the Empress Dowager intends to arrange a marriage for young Lord Pei, and the one she has her eye on is precisely Miss Qi from the Qi family!”

Pei Yunying and Qi Huaying?

Lu Tong’s eyes moved slightly.

In the past, when she didn’t know Pei Yunying’s background and they were testing each other, she had indeed maliciously speculated that Pei Yunying would become Qi Qing’s prized son-in-law. However, after getting along with him, she hadn’t sensed that Pei Yunying had any special feelings toward the Qi family.

Otherwise, knowing clearly that she intended to deal with the Qi family, shouldn’t he have already “brought her to justice” for his future father-in-law’s family?

Why would he let things slide and watch coldly from the sidelines?

This didn’t look like the behavior of someone planning to become family.

Lin Danqing lowered her head to crack pine nuts again: “From what I can see, whether the flowing water is heartless or not I don’t know, but the falling flowers definitely have intentions. If the Qi family truly didn’t want this marriage alliance, given Grand Tutor Manor’s domineering and cautious style, this top secret news would never have reached my ears. There’s no smoke without fire, so that’s why I’m warning you.”

“They say beautiful women bring disaster, but handsome men are the same. In any case, you should be more careful normally and not let people misunderstand and cause trouble.”

Lu Tong fell silent.

Lin Danqing remembered something else and added: “What I just told you – you mustn’t tell anyone.”

Lu Tong agreed and lowered her head to think quietly.

If what Lin Danqing said was true, at least the Qi family currently intended to form a marriage alliance with the Pei family.

She suddenly remembered that encounter with Qi Yutai at Yuxian Tower. That time she had hidden in Pei Yunying’s embrace and only heard Qi Yutai’s words implying he wanted to befriend Pei Yunying, though Pei Yunying had refused at the time…

She had only seen that Grand Tutor’s daughter once, catching a glimpse at Baoxiang Tower. Though the other party’s face was covered with a thin veil and couldn’t be clearly seen, just from her figure and bearing, she was exceptional, graceful and charming. She had also heard that Miss Qi was well-versed in poetry and literature, being a famous talented woman in the capital. Even without the title of Grand Tutor’s daughter, she was enough to make countless men compete for her favor.

Pei Yunying was also a man.

On one side was a father-in-law as wealthy as a country with powerful backing, on the other a wife soft as jade and flowers, dignified and beautiful – any ordinary man would know how to choose. If Pei Yunying chose to become Qi Qing’s prized son-in-law, it would be perfectly natural.

It was just that if this happened, he would be standing on the opposite side from her.

Her contemplative appearance as she lowered her brows fell into Lin Danqing’s eyes, inexplicably confirming Lin Danqing’s suspicions and arousing some pity for her. She pushed the small dish containing the shelled pine nuts forward and stood up: “I’ve shelled these pine nuts for you. Remember to eat them tomorrow morning – being so thin, how can you not nourish yourself more?”

She got up to return to her own bed when Lu Tong called from behind: “Danqing.”

“Ah?”

After hesitating, Lu Tong spoke: “Do you know which household among the capital’s noble families most prefers using gold vessels and plates?”

“Gold vessels?” Lin Danqing was startled: “Why are you asking about this?”

Lu Tong didn’t speak.

During her trip to Commander Pei’s manor, though the herbs in the new prescription Pei Yunying showed her had changed, the content was still the same as the prescription she had seen last time: if contained in gold vessels, life-saving medicine would instantly become bone-piercing poison.

She always felt something was wrong.

Seeing her silence, Lin Danqing didn’t continue pressing, only smiling: “Gold vessels and bowls are precious but too ostentatious. While wealthy merchants love using such things, the noble households in the capital prefer jade dishes and jade cups to display their honor. If I had to say… the palace does use gold vessels.”

Lu Tong suddenly looked up: “The palace?”

“Yes.” Lin Danqing nodded.

She said: “Sister Lu, didn’t you know? All the vessels used by the imperial family in the palace are made of gold and silver.”

…

Late at night when all was quiet, the lights blazed brightly in Commander Pei’s manor.

Xiao Zhufeng came in from outside, glanced at the young man sitting at the table handling official documents, and said: “She’s gone?”

“Gone.”

He said coldly: “You really went to great lengths.”

For Lu Tong’s visit to the commander’s manor, Pei Yunying had used his sudden headache as an excuse. To perform convincingly, he had to stay in his room pretending to be weak instead of going to the training ground for archery practice.

Lu Tong had even genuinely taken his pulse, saying his blood qi was rising, and prescribed him two medicines.

He hadn’t been sick once in years, yet pretending to be weak once had the guards in the commander’s manor all showing concern, each asking after his health.

Pei Yunying didn’t look up as he turned a page of documents: “You’re the vice commissioner – high status. Using you makes it seem more important.”

Xiao Zhufeng didn’t want to acknowledge his companion’s false flattery. Sitting down at the opposite table, he asked: “She’s seen the prescription?”

“Yes, same as before.”

Xiao Zhufeng was silent for a moment, then said: “It seems His Highness already knows.”

Pei Yunying curved his lips: “It’s something we all understand – just one more piece of evidence for peace of mind.”

Xiao Zhufeng didn’t respond.

The room was completely quiet except for the soft rustling of turning pages. After a while, Xiao Zhufeng spoke: “Is there no problem with Lu Tong knowing about the prescription?”

The young man’s hand holding the brush paused.

He looked up: “I only showed her the prescription without revealing anything else.”

“But she’s very smart.” Xiao Zhufeng reminded: “Piecing things together, she might not be unable to guess.”

“You’re overthinking. She’s busy with revenge and doesn’t have that much free time.”

Xiao Zhufeng: “What about you? You keep helping her – you’re not really falling for her, are you?”

The room fell quiet.

After a moment, Pei Yunying laughed mockingly: “Am I Duan Xiaoyan?”

“If you really were Duan Xiaoyan, you could like whoever you want.”

Xiao Zhufeng kept a stern expression, still speaking in his businesslike tone: “His Highness has already decided to act. At this critical moment, there can be no mistakes. Oh,” he suddenly remembered something and asked: “Did you refuse the Qi family’s invitation again?”

Pei Yunying carelessly hummed in agreement.

Xiao Zhufeng showed an expression of “as expected.”

“Qi Qing wants you as his family’s prized son-in-law, but you refuse to appreciate the honor and decline every time. He really does value you highly.” His words carried sarcasm, though his face remained serious.

Pei Yunying tugged at the corner of his mouth: “He doesn’t value me – he values the Pei family.”

“Same thing.”

The night was unusually quiet. He turned to look out the window.

The summer night in the capital was cool, moonlight like silver, with the faint fragrance of evening primrose carried by the night breeze into the courtyard.

He watched for a while, then withdrew his gaze.

“Xiao Er.”

“Mm.”

“Soon it will be the suburban hunt.”

Xiao Zhufeng’s eyes moved slightly. After a long moment, he murmured: “Time really flies.”

“Yes.”

The young man gazed at the dancing flame in the bronze lamp on the table. The flame reflected warmth in his dark eyes, yet made his expression appear even more indifferent.

“Time really flies.”

…

The suburban hunt was also considered a grand event among the capital’s nobility.

Grand Tutor Qi Qing disliked noise and commotion, preferring only tranquility. Being advanced in years, he didn’t participate in such occasions. However, his son Qi Yutai, being a young man, had to accompany the group.

While other officials’ sons busily practiced riding and archery, hoping to make a grand display at the hunting grounds, Grand Tutor’s legitimate son Qi Yutai was excessively idle.

He wasn’t skilled at racing horses, and his archery was only mediocre. Qi Qing moreover forbade him from engaging in such warrior-like killing activities. Year after year at the hunts, he only carried his shooting equipment and ran around casually for show. When others asked, he would say that influenced by his father’s Buddhism, he couldn’t bear to see killing.

The Ministry of Revenue had approved his leave, and he stayed at the manor daily. Perhaps because he had been confined for too long, he was particularly irritable these past few days – the more annoyed he became, the more idle he was, and the more idle, the more annoyed. In these days of having nothing to do, he happened to find himself a proper task: investigating who the woman was that had made his sister shed tears.

Two days ago, Qi Huaying was riding in a carriage past the alley near the Imperial Physician Compound gates when she saw a woman behaving intimately with Palace Guard Commander Pei Yunying. Pei Yunying was someone Grand Tutor Manor had their eye on – wasn’t this behavior tantamount to a slap in the face?

Qi Huaying’s personal maidservant also said she had seen the woman intimate with Pei Yunying wearing the robes of a female physician from the Imperial Physician Compound. Qi Yutai immediately sent people to investigate.

The person sent to gather information returned quickly – in just one day he had learned everything. The female physician who went out on calls that night was only one person: Imperial Physician Lu Tong from the Hanlin Medical Academy.

The first thing Qi Yutai did upon learning this news was rush to tell Qi Huaying.

Qi Huaying was reclining on a soft couch, casually holding a poetry collection to browse. Seeing Qi Yutai enter from outside, she glanced at him listlessly and lowered her head again, continuing to stare at the poetry pages in a daze.

Ever since returning from that carriage ride, Qi Huaying had been in this dispirited, melancholy state, unable to summon interest in anything.

“Sister, I found out!”

Upon entering the room, Qi Yutai quickly stepped forward and sat beside Qi Huaying: “The woman who traveled together with Pei Yunying that day is a newly appointed physician from the Hanlin Medical Academy named Lu Tong.”

Qi Huaying was startled: “Lu Tong?”

She had never heard this name before.

“She’s a commoner physician who used to hold consultations on the street. I even saw her once before when she went to treat Jin Xianrong at the Ministry of Rites.”

There was hidden excitement in Qi Yutai’s expression.

When the person sent to investigate returned and reported that the female physician who traveled with Pei Yunying was called Lu Tong, Qi Yutai was also greatly surprised.

He remembered Lu Tong. Jin Xianrong’s private parts weren’t functioning properly – word had spread among all the officials. The Imperial Physician Compound had tried several physicians without success, yet under this female physician’s treatment, things gradually improved. Last time when he had nightmares at the Ministry of Rites, he had seen Lu Tong, and she had even taken his pulse.

To be fair, that female physician was quite attractive, with a cool beauty completely different from the capital’s young ladies. Qi Yutai had almost been tempted at the time, but since she was a working person and his father had been managing him strictly lately, he had ultimately abandoned the thought.

Now learning that this female physician was actually the culprit who had made his sister heartbroken and tearful, he was naturally furious.

“Sister,” Qi Yutai looked at Qi Huaying’s seemingly thinner face with heartache: “What is she? Just a lowly commoner – she’s not even qualified to be your servant, yet she dares make you sad.”

“Brother will get revenge for you. Tomorrow I’ll make her taste some bitterness and let her know what price must be paid for offending the precious pearl of our Grand Tutor Manor!”

Qi Huaying was alarmed: “Brother, you mustn’t!”

“Sister, I’m getting revenge for you.” Qi Yutai looked puzzled.

Qi Huaying knew well that though this brother of hers appeared courteous and respectful, he was actually impulsive from childhood. Usually with father and the steward’s constraints, he could avoid showing it in public, but privately when no one was around, he couldn’t help doing foolish things – it was increasingly troublesome.

She said: “Brother, you’re also a man. Since Commander Pei is infatuated with that female physician and they’re in the thick of their romance, if you make a move, wouldn’t that create enmity?”

Qi Yutai scoffed: “Create enmity over a lowly person?”

Seeing Qi Huaying’s disapproving gaze, Qi Yutai smiled coldly: “I’ll have people handle it very cleanly – no one will ever know it was the Qi family who did it.”

Qi Huaying only shook her head: “Father said the Palace Guard’s methods are not to be underestimated… Moreover, even if he doesn’t know it was you, if that female physician really has an accident, she’ll instead become an everlasting pain in his heart that he can never forget.”

“Most importantly…”

Qi Huaying lowered her eyes: “I’ve already decided to give up on him.”

“Sister?”

“Since his heart belongs to someone else, why should I invite humiliation? Moreover, with my status, competing for affection with a commoner – wouldn’t that lower my standing? Brother needn’t persuade me or do anything more. Father said many people are watching Grand Tutor Manor lately, and father’s birthday is approaching. At this critical time, don’t create more trouble to worry father.”

Though she still looked melancholy, her tone was very firm. When Qi Yutai heard her mention their father, he got a headache. This sister was smarter than him and better-looking, and her treatment of people was dignified and appropriate. The only bad thing was that when lecturing him, she was exactly like their father, making people feel intimidated.

He coughed lightly, not daring to continue this topic. Just as he was about to get up and leave, his gaze swept across the table drawer and he suddenly remembered something. His eyes narrowed, and he sat back down, looking at Qi Huaying softly: “Sister, about what I mentioned before regarding borrowing some silver from you…”

Qi Huaying sighed and called for a maidservant to take out a thick stack of banknotes from the table drawer and hand them to him: “Don’t let father know.”

“Understood, understood.” Qi Yutai took the banknotes and felt them – his heart immediately leaped with joy. Smiling, he stood up: “Sister treats me the best after all.”

“That bastard Pei Yunying doesn’t know what’s good for him and doesn’t deserve my sister,” he said. “Just wait – in a few days at the summer hunt, I’ll have someone catch you a snow-white little fox at the hunting grounds for you to keep as a pet for amusement. Don’t be unhappy.”

Qi Huaying shook her head, only looking at his retreating figure and admonishing: “Brother, after taking the silver, don’t take that medicinal powder again.”

“Of course, of course.”

Qi Yutai agreed readily with a full mouth of promises, smiling as he walked out the door.