Silence fell all around. Yinzheng was startled by Estate Manager Hu’s sudden outburst and unconsciously looked toward Lu Tong at the medicine cabinet.

Lu Tong’s movements in organizing the medicinal tea paused briefly, her expression remaining calm.

The middle-aged man was furious, his goatee bristling with anger. Pointing at Du Changqing, he berated him: “Du Changqing, Benevolent Heart Medical Hall is the legacy your father left you. Even if the medical hall isn’t well-managed and the income is meager, it was still built through your father’s hard work and sweat. How can you desecrate it like this?”

Du Changqing looked bewildered: “How am I desecrating it?”

“You found a young woman to be the resident physician – do you want your father to be unable to rest in peace?”

“Why can’t I find a young woman to be the physician?” Du Changqing asked, confused. “Having a beautiful resident physician in the medical hall – my father would be proud if anything. Even if he can’t rest in peace, it would be from joy.”

“You!” Estate Manager Hu was furious and directly turned his attack toward Lu Tong. “A young lady not learning proper ways, using the pretense of being a resident physician to deceive people – you should leave quickly. Don’t think that because Changqing is young and naive, you can trick him.” Then to Du Changqing, he said: “I was entrusted by your father – I absolutely cannot watch you sink deeper into this mire!”

After this confused tirade, everyone in the room was dumbfounded.

Lu Tong immediately understood.

So, Estate Manager Hu had taken her for an ill-intentioned deceiver.

After a moment of silence, Du Changqing coughed lightly and awkwardly spoke: “Uncle, Doctor Lu isn’t any kind of deceiver. She is a resident physician.”

“Have you ever seen such a young resident physician?” Estate Manager Hu said with deep concern. “Changqing ah, having her sit in your medical hall, how will others view you? They’ll only say that your medical hall isn’t even sincere in its deception, making everything chaotic and disreputable. What kind of appearance is this? Let me tell you…”

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

Estate Manager Hu was startled.

Lu Tong straightened up and spoke calmly to Estate Manager Hu: “Elder sir has mouth ulcers that are swollen and inflamed, burning with pain. You should avoid anxiety and heat-induced depression. Even if you’re angry, it wouldn’t hurt to first drink a cup of warm tea to transform turbidity, detoxify, clear the heart, and release fire.”

Estate Manager Hu reflexively replied, “Thank you.” He picked up the tea and took a sip, then suddenly realized and stared at Lu Tong, “How did you know I had mouth ulcers?”

Lu Tong smiled slightly but said nothing.

Du Changqing hurriedly pushed aside Acheng and said with an ingratiating expression: “Uncle, I already told you, Doctor Lu really can treat illnesses. She’s not any kind of deceiver. That medicinal tea for treating nasal congestion was personally made by Doctor Lu. Isn’t that right, Acheng?”

Acheng nodded repeatedly.

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

Lu Tong nodded.

“That’s impossible,” Estate Manager Hu pondered. “Even that genius medical official at the Imperial Medical Institute only began practicing medicine properly after coming of age. How old are you, girl? Surely you just learned a couple of tricks to fool people? Moreover, women in medicine only handle midwifery and women’s ailments. To be a resident physician like an old doctor…” He glanced at Du Changqing, “Changqing ah, Zhou Ji, the previous physician at Benevolent Heart Medical Hall, only began his residency after turning thirty!”

Anyone would find it hard to trust a young girl over a doctor with many years of experience.

Hearing this, Lu Tong remained unperturbed and simply said: “Whether the elder sir believes me or not isn’t important, as I will soon be leaving the capital anyway.”

At these words, both Du Changqing and Yinzheng were shocked.

Estate Manager Hu was even more startled: “What?”

Lu Tong spoke unhurriedly: “I studied under a famous physician. After my master’s death, I came to the capital alone, intending to practice medicine and help people, carrying on my master’s wishes. I didn’t expect people would judge me so much by appearance and not trust me as a resident physician. Since I cannot gain people’s trust, nor can I revive the medical hall, naturally I have no chance to stay here long.”

She walked to the medicine cabinet and took out several packages of medicinal tea, placing them before Estate Manager Hu.

“I know the Estate Manager came today to get medicinal tea, so I specially made extra packages. Here are ten packages of medicinal tea, which should last two months if used sparingly,” Lu Tong said. “In the coming days when the spring willows flourish, the elder sir should remember to go out less.”

Her tone was calm and her manner humble, showing not the slightest anger. This somehow made Estate Manager Hu feel a touch of guilt. Looking at this young lady’s thin and delicate frame, like a light leaf in the cold wind, Estate Manager Hu suddenly felt a surge of heroic sentiment and forgot his original intention, saying: “Nonsense! Who says you’re not trustworthy?”

Yinzheng secretly rolled her eyes.

Estate Manager Hu sighed: “You, a young lady, coming to the capital alone – this shows courage. Carrying on your master’s wishes – this shows righteousness. Willing to practice medicine and heal the sick – this shows virtue. Someone with feeling and righteousness, virtue and courage – how can they not be trustworthy? Just this heart alone is outstanding in this world!”

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

Estate Manager Hu looked at Lu Tong again, his tone hesitant: “Doctor Lu, if you leave, then the medicinal tea…”

“Naturally, I won’t make it anymore,” Lu Tong said. “And I won’t sell the formula either.”

“How can that be!” Estate Manager Hu jumped up, now truly anxious, and said: “That medicinal tea has helped my nasal congestion so much, these past few days I’ve even dared to go to the river embankment. In the past, when the poplar fluff flew there, my sinuses would flow like a river. Doctor Lu, you must continue selling the medicinal tea, and you absolutely cannot leave the capital!”

Lu Tong remained silent.

Du Changqing seized the moment to interject, heaving a long sigh: “It’s all because my medical hall has no reputation, and Doctor Lu happens to be so beautiful that no one believes our medicinal tea is effective. If only we had someone of considerable prestige with many good friends willing to bring us customers. But alas, I only have ne’er-do-well friends, and my reputation is in complete shambles…”

Estate Manager Hu suddenly froze.

Du Changqing continued his gentle persuasion: “Come to think of it, the Peach Blossom Festival is in a few days…”

Estate Manager Hu jumped up, grabbed the medicinal tea from the table, and hurried toward the door, only saying: “I understand now, don’t worry, Doctor Lu. Within ten days, your nasal congestion tea will be famous throughout the capital!”

As he hurriedly left, Du Changqing crossed his arms, watching his retreating figure, and shook his head: “That old pedant, such an impatient temperament, no wonder he gets mouth ulcers.”

Lu Tong returned to sit at the medicine cabinet. Acheng, somewhat confused, looked at the tower-like stack of medicine jars on the wooden table and asked: “Doctor Lu since we still have so many jars of nasal congestion tea, why did you deceive Estate Manager Hu by saying only ten packages remained?”

Du Changqing kicked him in the backside, cursing: “Fool if we hadn’t said that, would that old pedant have become anxious?”

He snorted: “Don’t think he’s helping out of kindness – he’s only acting because he’s afraid there won’t be any medicinal tea to drink in the future. But Doctor Lu,” he looked at Lu Tong, winking at her, “you’re not bad either, with just a few words, advancing by retreating, you got that old fellow all fired up.”

“Miss,” Yinzheng said with some concern, “will Estate Manager Hu bring customers to buy medicinal tea?”

Lu Tong smiled slightly: “He will.”

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

Refined scholars like Estate Manager Hu would surely go sightseeing and drink in the pavilions. When drunk among his distinguished friends, Estate Manager Hu would mention the nasal congestion tea, inevitably arousing curiosity.

Sometimes the words of scholars work better than any beautiful signboard.

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