A few more days passed, and the weather grew increasingly hot.

The nanmu wood spirit screen in front of the Ministry of Rites gates, carved with giant elephants symbolizing “peaceful prosperity,” also appeared wilted under the fierce sun of recent days, losing its usual majesty.

Jin Xianrong couldn’t stand the heat most of all. He had ordered people to buy ice and place it in the corners of his room early on. In the stuffy summer afternoon, there wasn’t a trace of heat in the room. Fragrant incense wafted from the burner on the table as Jin Xianrong sat in a reclining chair by the window, leisurely fanning himself and occasionally popping an ice-soaked purple grape into his mouth – more comfortable than an immortal.

He was half-closing his eyes to rest when someone came to the Ministry of Rites, but he didn’t know until a servant approached to remind him: “My lord, someone has come.” Only then did Jin Xianrong open his eyes, and upon sitting up, he saw a young man in snow-white flowing robes standing at the Ministry’s entrance.

This young man was tall and thin, his snow-white robes billowing in the breeze, making his refined face appear even more aloof and proud. Jin Xianrong stared enviously at the other’s face for a while before coming to his senses and asking the person beside him: “This is…”

This was an unfamiliar face, yet judging by the quality of his clothing and the jade ornaments he wore, he didn’t seem to be from an ordinary family.

The servant bowed: “My lord, this is Physician Ji Xun from the Hanlin Medical Academy.” Seeing Jin Xianrong still frowning, he lowered his voice to remind again: “The young master from Scholar Ji’s household.”

At these words, Jin Xianrong’s two broken eyebrows shot up.

Oh, so this was that Ji Xun!

Among the physicians at the Medical Academy, he only remembered Director Cui Min and Lu Tong clearly, forgetting the rest. After all, he was in good health and hadn’t seen many physicians in the years before this, so he wasn’t sensitive to the name Ji Xun.

But when it came to Scholar Ji, that was very clear.

The Ji family was full of scholars, each brimming with learning. The late Lord Ji had been a Hanlin Scholar and later had the honor of teaching the former Crown Prince.

After the former Crown Prince died, Lord Ji also passed away from illness not long after. When the current Emperor ascended the throne, he still treated the Ji family well – the Ji family’s position in court was quite high.

It was just that the Ji family, being literary officials and pure stream scholars, had never participated in court factional struggles. After the former Crown Prince’s death, they focused wholeheartedly on compiling classics, paying no attention to external affairs. The Ji family’s only legitimate son, Ji Xun, didn’t even want to be a civil official and simply went to become an imperial physician. Many official families in the capital secretly mocked this – no matter how superb Ji Xun’s medical skills were, no matter that he could practically stand as an equal to the Director at the Hanlin Medical Academy, when spoken of, how could being an imperial physician sound as prestigious as being a high official?

Moreover, there was the risk of losing one’s head.

Jin Xianrong thought the same way.

His offspring could never be so unambitious in the future – if they went to study medicine, he would definitely break their legs.

Thinking this in his heart, he put on a smile on his face. Jin Xianrong stood up and welcomed the other into the room, ordering servants to quickly serve tea while respectfully saying: “So it’s Physician Ji. I wonder what brings Physician Ji here so suddenly?”

A starved camel is still bigger than a horse – even though Ji Xun was now just an imperial physician, the Ji family behind him still commanded Jin Xianrong’s respect.

He was just puzzled – what was Ji Xun doing here out of the blue?

Ji Xun glanced at the luxurious furnishings inside the Ministry of Rites, his gaze sweeping over the jade couches, fragrant tables, painting desks and golden platforms for a moment before withdrawing his gaze: “I heard that Minister Jin was unwell some days ago.”

“Yes, yes, yes, I didn’t expect Physician Ji to know about this matter too.”

Ji Xun looked at him: “How has Minister Jin been feeling recently?”

Feeling?

Jin Xianrong was startled.

He really hadn’t expected Ji Xun to suddenly ask this.

He and Ji Xun had no previous dealings and no friendship – why this sudden concern? Moreover, everyone in the capital knew this Young Master Ji didn’t like socializing with people. To put it nicely, he was aloof; to put it bluntly, he was antisocial and didn’t fit in. For an antisocial person to suddenly show concern for him made Jin Xianrong’s heart skip a beat.

He carefully chose his words: “It was somewhat troublesome at first, but later when Physician Lu was assigned to examine me, I felt much better. These days I can gradually manage intimate relations once or twice occasionally, even better than before my illness. Speaking of which, Physician Lu’s medical skills are truly excellent – much better than the physician assigned to me previously…”

As he was speaking, he was suddenly interrupted by the person beside him: “You trust Physician Lu very much?”

“Physician Lu is indeed quite good – young, and beautiful too…”

He thought about it – in officialdom, people looked after each other. Lu Tong had given him that second life, and in the future he wanted to ask Lu Tong for more of that spring dream incense, so he praised Lu Tong some more.

A servant came out with tea and gently placed a cup before Ji Xun. Ji Xun looked down at it – the tea was clear and bright, its fragrance diluting the overly sweet scent in the room, yet making his expression grow even colder.

He interrupted Jin Xianrong’s praise: “I know about Minister Jin’s condition, but there are some issues I don’t quite understand, so I had someone retrieve the dregs from the medicine Physician Lu prescribed for Minister Jin. I hope Minister Jin won’t mind.”

Jin Xianrong looked at him, not quite understanding what he meant.

“In the medicine dregs, I discovered traces of red fangxu. Minister Jin, among the herbs Physician Lu prescribed for you, she used a small amount of red fangxu.”

Jin Xianrong was utterly confused.

This herb name was too unfamiliar to him, and he didn’t understand medical principles at all, so he could only smile blankly.

As if knowing his confusion, Ji Xun paused before continuing: “Red fangxu is poisonous. Using it in prescriptions is inappropriate and harmful to the body with long-term use. Years later, when the Minister grows older, the aftereffects will gradually appear, causing you to forget things and suffer headaches – this is the calamity of poisoning.”

“Using this poison as a medicinal catalyst for the Minister’s condition does more harm than good.”

The room fell quiet.

After Ji Xun finished speaking, seeing the person across from him still staring blankly at him without the expected shock and anger, he felt somewhat surprised and frowned: “Minister Jin, do you understand what I just said?”

Jin Xianrong quickly nodded, then shook his head.

“Physician Ji,” he chose his words carefully, “this red fangxu or green fangxu you just mentioned – I don’t study medicine and don’t really understand. But…”

He swallowed: “That the prescription is poisonous and harmful with long-term use – I know about this.”

Ji Xun’s head shot up: “What?”

Jin Xianrong was stunned for a moment, then carefully replied: “Physician Lu told me about this long ago.”

…

The sun gradually set.

As the last bit of evening glow faded, the heat in the courtyard hadn’t subsided, and cicada calls from among the branches made the summer evening seem even more tranquil.

Under the corridor outside the pharmacy, a shadow paced back and forth on the ground.

The little medicine apprentice beside him couldn’t help but remind: “Young master, why not come back later?”

Ji Xun shook his head.

During the day, he had made a trip to the Ministry of Rites.

Ever since he had confronted Lu Tong about the red fangxu matter at the Medical Academy gates a few days ago, Ji Xun had been considering whether to report this matter to the Director. But after thinking it over for a night, he decided to first go to the Ministry of Rites to find Jin Xianrong.

What Lu Tong had said that day at the gate – using only remnant branches and leaves of red fangxu – indeed couldn’t be considered a violation of the Imperial Medical Academy’s regulations, because remnant branches and leaves ultimately belonged to “waste materials” that medical workers could handle on their own.

But if there were problems with the prescription Lu Tong gave Jin Xianrong, that would violate the Medical Academy’s rules – light punishment would be suspension, heavy punishment would be criminal charges.

Ji Xun had planned to go to the Ministry of Rites to examine Jin Xianrong’s symptoms and determine based on those symptoms exactly how much red fangxu Lu Tong had used.

However, what he never expected was that Left Vice Minister of the Ministry of Revenue Jin Xianrong actually told him that he knew about the red fangxu matter.

That minister with broken eyebrows sat before him, holding tea and laughing cheerfully.

“Physician Lu told me about the pros and cons long ago – using it for a long time will cause some brain problems after decades. No matter, I can bear these aftereffects. Cough, my little brother down there is much more important than my brain. I’ll deal with future matters in the future. Besides, my brain is naturally clever and abundant – even with more damage, I’m still better than ordinary people.”

Ji Xun’s brow furrowed slightly.

Jin Xianrong was completely clear about the pros and cons, and agreed to Lu Tong’s treatment method under this premise – Lu Tong’s actions were thus in accordance with regulations. All his accusations against Lu Tong were invalid.

He had made prejudiced assumptions and been aggressive.

The evening breeze passed through the courtyard. The little apprentice beside him looked up at him, seeing the young man staring at the pharmacy door, and couldn’t help but sigh inwardly.

His young master was born elegant as jade trees and orchids, learned and literary, yet his temperament was as rigid and upright as stone.

Upon learning he had misunderstood the young lady, he immediately wanted to come apologize in person. However, Lu Tong, being a Hanlin Medical Official, was busier than even the Director each day. After lunch, she dove headfirst into the pharmacy and still hadn’t come out.

He was so hungry his stomach was growling.

Yet his stubborn young master would never give up until he saw the person – with such a serious expression, how could anyone tell he was here to apologize? Those who didn’t know might think he came to settle scores.

Just as he was thinking this, the door in front of them creaked open, and Lu Tong emerged carrying her medical kit.

The little medicine apprentice quickly tugged at Ji Xun’s robe corner.

Lu Tong had just stepped out when she saw the two people standing at the door, and couldn’t help but pause.

Cool wind stirred the trees, cicada calls intermittent. Ji Xun stood at the door, blocking her path.

“Physician Lu.”

She only paused briefly before nodding to Ji Xun: “Physician Ji.”

Her tone was calm and indifferent, as if the questioning at the Medical Academy gates a few days ago had been pure illusion.

Ji Xun pressed his lips together and lowered his voice: “Today I went to the Ministry of Rites and saw Jin Xianrong.”

“Mm.”

“Minister Jin said you had already told him about using red fangxu in the prescription and explained the toxicity and medicinal properties of red fangxu.”

“Yes.”

He looked at Lu Tong: “If that’s the case, when we were at the Medical Academy gates the other day, why didn’t you explain?”

Explain?

He spoke so seriously, so righteously, as if she would have been believed if only she had explained – this struck Lu Tong as absurdly laughable.

After a long silence, she finally spoke.

“Actually, there’s no need to explain. Any ordinary physician wouldn’t add red fangxu to Minister Jin’s prescription. Physician Ji’s assessment that I was eager for quick success wasn’t wrong.”

She raised her head, her tone somewhat cold.

“It’s just that Minister Jin was even more eager for quick success than I was.”

Jin Xianrong’s condition, using red fangxu as a medicinal catalyst, was more potent and fierce in effect than using those mild medicines from the Medical Academy. She had clearly explained the pros and cons from the beginning, confident that this gentleman whose brain was located in his belt would be unstoppable once he tasted a bit of sweetness.

Asking someone who indulged in pleasure to think about troubles that would appear decades later was perhaps asking too much – after all, back in the day, Jin Xianrong’s father had died in bed.

Some things simply didn’t need to be hidden.

Ji Xun shook his head disapprovingly: “What about those rumors?”

Madam Dong had once stopped his carriage on his way home to speak with him, her words implying he had ranked Lu Tong first on the red list and had a close relationship with Lu Tong. Director Cui Min had also intentionally or unintentionally probed, with hints in his conversation suggesting Lu Tong herself had said such things.

He understood that commoners had it difficult, and their desire to find backing in the Medical Academy for support was understandable, so he hadn’t deliberately exposed it, but he ultimately disliked such opportunistic behavior.

However, after the red fangxu incident, Ji Xun gradually became less certain.

He asked Lu Tong: “Those rumors – did Physician Lu really spread them herself?”

“Pfft.”

The woman before him seemed to find his words extremely amusing and actually laughed out loud, though that smile looked quite cold.

“The rumors say Physician Ji and I have a close relationship, that you personally ranked me first on the spring examination red list. Yet as soon as I entered the Medical Academy, I was assigned to the South Pharmacy, then later assigned to treat Minister Jin.”

She looked at Ji Xun with mockery in her eyes.

“They say power can be used to bully others, but it seems Physician Ji’s power isn’t very useful.”

These words were sharply piercing to the ear, making Ji Xun frown. This was the first time he had been so rudely mocked by someone, and he felt somewhat at a loss.

The woman before him had a serene expression and calm tone. He wasn’t good at interacting with people and had always seen them simply, yet he felt the person before him was very complex.

The wind and dew grew heavier, and the grass and leaves in the courtyard rustled in the evening breeze.

After a long while, Ji Xun shook his head slightly and said quietly: “I’m sorry.”

No matter what kind of person Lu Tong was, casually speculating about others and slandering them was always wrong. He had arbitrarily condemned Lu Tong without investigation – this was not the behavior of a gentleman.

Lu Tong’s heart shook.

After a moment of silence, she shook her head, as if self-mocking: “I’ve long forgotten about what happened before.”

“Physician Ji,” she stepped back and looked at him politely, “I don’t care about others’ opinions, nor will I take this matter to heart. So you don’t need to apologize to me.”

“In this world, some practice medicine to save the dying and heal the wounded, to benefit all under heaven, but some practice medicine only for food and clothing, wanting to earn some silver to climb up.”

“I am that kind of person.”

Having said this, she nodded slightly to him and left carrying her medical kit.

The lamp shadows under the eaves returned to two.

Ji Xun stood for a while, then picked up his lantern again, about to leave.

The little medicine apprentice beside him couldn’t help but say: “That’s it?”

“Otherwise what?”

“Young master, shouldn’t you buy something for Physician Lu as an apology gift?”

Ji Xun was puzzled: “Didn’t she say she doesn’t care about others’ opinions and has long forgotten about what happened before?”

The little apprentice looked at him for a full half minute, finally unable to help but cover his forehead.

“You don’t really believe what young ladies say, do you!”

…

After leaving the pharmacy, Lu Tong returned to the dormitory.

Lamplight lit up the room as she sat at the table, taking out several medical texts from the drawer, still feeling unsettled about what had just happened.

Lin Danqing came in from outside, placed the candied ginger she had bought on the table, and called Lu Tong over to eat.

After the embarrassment of getting drunk a few days ago passed, Lin Danqing had returned to her former appearance, even more so – previously she had maintained a bright and generous facade to preserve face, but now after lights out, she cursed the Director and colleagues without any concealment.

Like someone who had given up completely.

Lu Tong didn’t want to eat, so she ate by herself while saying: “I just saw Physician Ji at the pharmacy door talking to you. Why does he keep looking for you to talk lately?”

Ji Xun rarely came to the Medical Academy, and when he did come, he would never actively speak to people – he was incredibly aloof. Lin Danqing had encountered him talking with Lu Tong twice in a row and couldn’t help suspecting: “Could he also have ulterior motives toward you?”

“‘Also’?”

Lin Danqing laughed: “I’m just joking.” Then she sighed: “Speaking of the best-looking faces in the capital, there’s Commander Pei from the Palace Guard and Physician Ji from our Medical Academy – both are flawless. Unfortunately, one has personality problems, can’t say three words in three days, very stuffy. The other is entangled with Grand Tutor Manor.”

Lu Tong’s eyes moved slightly as she asked: “Will the Pei family really form a marriage alliance with Grand Tutor Manor?”

“You want to hear the truth?”

Lu Tong nodded.

Lin Danqing shook her head: “From what I can see with these wise eyes of mine, though the Grand Tutor’s daughter is of noble birth, it doesn’t look like it will succeed. Don’t look at how Pei Yunying seems gentle with people on the surface – when talking to people he doesn’t even bend his waist a bit, he’s extremely proud inside. The Qi family young lady usually needs people to coddle her – where would he have that patience?”

“I think it’s unlikely.”

Lu Tong thought to herself, that would be good.

Both publicly and privately, she didn’t want Pei Yunying to become Qi Qing’s son-in-law. Otherwise, before settling old debts, she’d have to add new enmity.

Lin Danqing didn’t know her inner complaints, only stretched lazily: “The Grand Tutor’s daughter also has her unfortunate aspects – she can only choose one man in her lifetime, so naturally she has to choose carefully. It’s not as good as us secondary daughters and commoners.”

“Not as good?”

Lu Tong was puzzled: “Secondary daughters and commoners can choose many men?”

She had only heard of men having three wives and four concubines – having stayed at Falling Plum Peak for many years, could it be that women in the Liang Dynasty could now also have three husbands and four male favorites?

Lin Danqing laughed dryly: “Without so many people watching, just handle things yourself. My family’s wise ancestor once said, never give up an entire garden for one flower – with weak water three thousand li, I’ll drink three thousand ladles, how could one ladle be enough?”

Lu Tong was speechless.

She coughed lightly, seeing the thick stack of medical texts on Lu Tong’s table, and said curiously: “The Medical Academy official assessment isn’t for another half year – why are you starting to study so hard so early? Living in the pharmacy every day, you’re too diligent.”

Lu Tong lowered her eyes and reached out to open a medical text, moving the oil lamp closer.

“I want to make some new medicine,” she said.

…

The summer night was stuffy and hot.

When Qi Yutai returned to the manor, the courtyard lamps had just been lit.

Though Qi Qing no longer confined him to the house, to prevent him from causing trouble, he had to return home before the evening watch each day.

Today he had also secretly left the manor – just shaking off those servants his father had assigned to watch him was extremely troublesome.

Qi Yutai walked down the jade steps with his outer robe open. In the darkness, his eyes burned bright, his usually yellowish face flushed with an abnormal red, his inner garment partly open – completely different from his listless appearance of recent days.

A cool breeze passed, and Qi Yutai squinted his eyes in comfort, feeling as if he were walking on clouds, floating like an immortal in bliss.

A few hours ago, he had secretly left the manor and taken hanshi san.

After days of restraint finally getting relief, Qi Yutai had satisfied his addiction. Feeling extremely content, the residual effects had dispersed, but his mind became even more excited after the pleasure, inexplicably wanting to do something.

He had just walked into the courtyard when he saw someone leading a hunting dog past. The hunting dog was large and agile like a small bull, intimidating at first sight, currently looking up and catching bloody raw meat thrown from a bowl by a servant.

Qi Yutai stopped.

The servant also saw the young master and quickly bowed: “Young master.”

Qi Yutai was in a good mood, smiling as he looked at the hunting dog: “Qinhu has grown stronger again.”

The hunting dog seemed to know Qi Yutai was talking about it and suddenly turned its head, revealing gleaming white teeth. Blood from chewing raw meat mixed with saliva dripped continuously on the ground – fierce as a wild wolf.

Qi Yutai was also startled.

But soon, this fear was replaced by satisfaction.

“Not bad,” he said with satisfaction.

Qinhu was Qi Yutai’s beloved dog, large and fierce, fed raw meat year-round so its wild nature remained. Every year during hunts, Qi Yutai brought Qinhu to the hunting grounds.

He wasn’t skilled at riding and archery, and each time relied on Qinhu to catch a few prey animals to avoid being privately mocked by those nobles.

He also valued this dog greatly, specifically hiring someone to raise it. At first, not knowing the hunting dog’s fierce nature, the previous servant who raised Qinhu was bitten to death, so they replaced him with this foreign beast trainer who claimed he could train wolves into dogs. Indeed, in just a few years, he trained Qinhu into a good dog that obeyed Qi Yutai’s commands.

The dog trainer observed his expression: “These days I’ve been taking Qinhu to the western suburb manor to hunt daily, preparing for the hunt. Today it bit off a farmer child’s ear again…”

Qi Yutai most enjoyed hearing about Qinhu hurting people, as if the more vicious the evil dog, the more it demonstrated its master’s intimidation. Hearing this, he indeed smiled: “Excellent, you’ve done well in training the dog. Reward!”

He didn’t mention the farmer child whose ear was bitten off at all.

They would give silver anyway – silver those lowly people couldn’t earn in decades. Speaking of it, those lowly people had profited.

The dog trainer continued: “It’s just that when we returned to the manor, the young miss learned of this matter and was somewhat displeased.”

Qi Yutai was unconcerned: “My sister is just too soft-hearted.”

If not soft-hearted, how could she be trampled over by a lowly female physician, secretly heartbroken while not letting him take action – it pained him as her brother to watch.

Thinking of the female physician, Qi Yutai suddenly had an idea, his gaze falling on the hunting dog before him.

In the darkness, the hunting dog grunted and lowered its head to eat raw beef from the silver basin, its sharp teeth chewing that mass of bloody flesh with “crunch crunch” sounds that made people’s hearts tighten in the night.

He stared at that mass of mangled meat for a long time, as if seeing other scenes through what was before his eyes, his expression gradually becoming strange.

After a long while, Qi Yutai spoke.

“Tell me, if I wanted Qinhu to bite whoever I want it to bite, could that be done?”

The dog trainer was startled, then said: “Of course, young master.”

After pausing, the servant looked up and tentatively asked: “Who does the young master want Qinhu to bite?”

Qi Yutai didn’t answer.

The night wind was like a damp, stuffy net, making the bloody smell on the ground even more sinister.

After a while, Qi Yutai turned around.

“Come.”

He said to the dog trainer: “I have something to tell you.”