The surroundings were deathly quiet. Yin Zheng was startled by Master Hu’s sudden outburst and instinctively looked toward Lu Tong, who stood before the medicine cabinet.

Lu Tong paused momentarily in her movements of organizing the medicinal tea, her expression remaining calm.

The half-old man flew into a rage, his goatee bristling with anger as he pointed at Du Changqing and scolded furiously: “Du Changqing! The Renxin Medical Hall is a relic left to you by your late father. Even if the medical hall’s business is poor and profits meager, it was still built through your father’s hard work and dedication. How can you squander it like this?”

Du Changqing looked bewildered: “How have I squandered it?”

“You’ve brought a young woman to serve as the resident physician. Do you want your father to be unable to rest in peace even in the underworld?”

“Why can’t I have a young woman as a physician?” Du Changqing asked in confusion. “Having a beautiful resident physician in the medical hall would make my father proud, not less so. Even if he couldn’t rest in peace in the underworld, it would be from joy.”

“You!” Master Hu was exasperated and simply turned his anger toward Lu Tong. “Young ladies who don’t learn proper behavior, putting up the pretense of being a resident physician to deceive people. You should leave immediately. Don’t think that just because Changqing is young and inexperienced, he’ll fall for your tricks.” He then said to Du Changqing: “This old man received your late father’s entrustment and absolutely cannot stand by and watch you sink into the mire!”

After this confused and contradictory tirade, everyone in the room was dumbstruck.

Lu Tong immediately understood.

It turned out that Master Hu had taken her for a malicious swindler.

After a moment of silence, Du Changqing cleared his throat lightly and spoke awkwardly: “Uncle, Dr. Lu isn’t some swindler. She really is a resident physician.”

“Have you ever seen such a young resident physician?” Master Hu said with heartfelt anguish. “Changqing, having her sit in the medical hall—what will others think of you? They’ll only say that your medical hall’s attempts at deception lack even sincerity, creating a smoky, chaotic mess. What kind of appearance is that! Let me tell you…”

A cup of tea was placed on the table in front of Master Hu.

Master Hu was stunned.

Lu Tong straightened up and looked at Master Hu, saying calmly: “Sir, you have mouth sores with swelling, burning pain like fire. You should avoid irritability and heated emotions. Even if you’re angry, you might as well first drink a cup of warm tea to dissolve turbidity, detoxify, clear the heart, and drain the fire.”

Master Hu instinctively replied: “Thank you.” He picked up the tea and took a sip, then suddenly realized what had happened and stared at Lu Tong. “How did you know this old man has mouth sores?”

Lu Tong smiled slightly but said nothing.

Du Changqing hurriedly pushed A’Cheng aside and said ingratiatingly: “Uncle, your nephew has already told you that this Dr. Lu really can treat illnesses—she’s not some swindler. That medicinal tea for treating your nasal congestion was made by Dr. Lu’s own hands. Isn’t that right, A’Cheng?”

A’Cheng nodded repeatedly.

Now Master Hu was truly surprised. He looked Lu Tong up and down, his gaze still carrying a trace of doubt: “You’re really a physician?”

Lu Tong nodded.

“That’s impossible,” Master Hu pondered. “Even that genius medical official at the Hanlin Medical Academy only began practicing medicine properly after reaching adulthood. You’re just a girl—how old can you be? Don’t tell me you learned a few tricks casually and came out to deceive people? Moreover, when women practice medicine, they only do things like midwifery and gynecology. To sit as a resident physician like an old doctor…” He glanced at Du Changqing. “Changqing, that Zhou Ji who used to be at Renxin Medical Hall also only began serving as resident physician after passing thirty!”

Anyone would feel that a girl of ten-plus years was less trustworthy than a physician with years of experience.

Hearing this, Lu Tong paid no mind and only said: “Whether you believe me or not doesn’t matter, sir. I’ll be leaving the capital soon.”

At these words, both Du Changqing and Yin Zheng were shocked.

Master Hu was even more astonished: “What?”

Lu Tong spoke unhurriedly: “I studied under a famous physician. After my master passed away, I came to the capital alone to practice medicine and save lives, carrying on my master’s legacy. I never expected that people would judge by appearances and not trust me to serve as a resident physician. Since I cannot gain people’s trust or revive the medical hall, naturally I have no face to remain here long.”

She walked to the medicine cabinet, took several packets of medicinal tea from the medicine drawers, and placed them in front of Master Hu.

“I know you came today to collect medicinal tea, so I specially prepared extra packets. Here are ten packets total, which should last two months if used sparingly.” Lu Tong said: “When spring willows flourish in the future, remember to go out less, sir.”

She spoke with a calm tone and humble bearing, showing not the slightest bit of anger. This somehow stirred a trace of guilt in Master Hu’s heart. Seeing this young girl’s frail and delicate frame, like a light falling leaf in the cold wind, Master Hu suddenly felt heroic sentiment surge within him. For a moment, he forgot his original intention and only said: “Nonsense! Who says you’re not trustworthy?”

Yin Zheng secretly rolled her eyes.

Master Hu sighed: “You, a young girl, came to the capital alone—this shows courage. Carrying on your master’s legacy—this shows righteousness. Willing to practice medicine and heal the sick, eliminating illness—this shows virtue. Someone with feeling, righteousness, virtue, and courage—how could they not be trustworthy? Just this spirit alone is brilliant in this world!”

This time, even Du Changqing couldn’t help rolling his eyes.

Master Hu looked at Lu Tong again, his tone somewhat hesitant: “Dr. Lu, if you really leave, then the medicinal tea…”

“Naturally, I won’t make the medicinal tea anymore.” Lu Tong said: “I also won’t sell the prescription.”

“How can that be!” Master Hu jumped up. This time he was truly anxious and said: “Since drinking that medicinal tea, my nasal congestion has improved greatly. These past two days I’ve even dared to go to the river embankment. In the past, when the willow catkins flew at that embankment, this old man’s sinuses would flow like rivers. Dr. Lu, the medicinal tea must continue to be sold, and you absolutely cannot leave the capital!”

Lu Tong remained silent.

Du Changqing appropriately interjected with a long sigh: “It’s all because my medical hall has no reputation, and Dr. Lu is truly beautiful in appearance, so not a single person is willing to believe our medicinal tea is effective. If only there were someone with considerable prestige and many good friends willing to bring us customers. Unfortunately, I only have fair-weather friends, and my reputation is utterly ruined…”

Master Hu suddenly froze.

Du Changqing continued his gentle persuasion: “Speaking of which, the Peach Blossom Festival is in a few days…”

Master Hu jumped up, grabbed the medicinal tea from the table, and headed straight out, only saying: “This old man understands. Rest assured, Dr. Lu—within ten days, within ten days, your nasal congestion medicinal tea will surely be famous throughout the capital!”

He left hurriedly. Du Changqing crossed his arms, watching his departing figure, and shook his head: “That old pedant has such an impatient nature—no wonder he develops mouth sores.”

Lu Tong returned to sit before the medicine cabinet. A’Cheng looked somewhat puzzled at the small tower of medicine jars on the wooden table and asked: “Dr. Lu, aren’t there still so many jars of nasal congestion medicinal tea? Why did you just lie to Master Hu, saying there were only ten packets left?”

Du Changqing kicked toward his bottom and scolded: “Fool! If we hadn’t said that, would that old pedant have been anxious?”

He snorted: “Don’t think he’s being so kind in helping us. He’s only taking action because he’s afraid there won’t be medicinal tea to drink in the future. But Dr. Lu,” he looked toward Lu Tong and winked at her, “you’re not bad either. With just a few words, using retreat as advance, you got that old fellow all fired up.”

“Miss,” Yin Zheng said with some worry, “will that Master Hu really bring customers to buy medicinal tea?”

Lu Tong smiled slightly: “He will.”

In two days would be the capital’s Peach Blossom Festival.

An elegant scholar like Master Hu would inevitably go sightseeing and drinking wine in pavilions. When drunk among his literary friends, if Master Hu mentioned the nasal congestion medicinal tea, it would surely arouse curiosity.

Sometimes the words of scholars were more effective than any beautiful signboard.

“Just wait,” she said softly. “We’ll know in two days.”