After the Dragon Boat Festival, the weather grew increasingly hot. The sun in the capital blazed down upon the earth, and the street stalls selling ice cream became busy again. Unable to bear the heat, wealthy families took their entire households to mountain villas to escape the summer heat. The shaded areas in the mountains, cool and refreshing, became favorite spots for the noble youth.

The “Summer Hunt” arrived during the second ten-day period after the Dragon Boat Festival. The night before the hunt, Chang Jin received the list of medical officers for this mountain expedition from Cui Min’s hands.

The hunting event in the capital’s outskirts was an annual grand occasion for the capital’s noble youth. When the previous emperor and crown prince were alive, they participated in the hunt, considering it part of the “military ceremonies.”

Besides the guards, there were also medical officers and craftsmen from the Imperial Medical Office and Imperial Pharmacy accompanying them. Coming from wealthy and noble families, hunting in the mountains inevitably led to scrapes and bruises. Having medical officers along to help apply medicine and bandages demonstrated the imperial family’s care and tolerance.

The list of medical officers going to the mountains had been drafted from the start, ten in total. Besides several senior medical officers from the Medical Office, a few new medical officers were added, all young people from decent family backgrounds. After all, accompanying the hunt was an honorable opportunity for medical officers, and such favors naturally went to more deserving individuals.

Chang Jin looked at the list in his hand and turned to the person at the table with surprise: “Director, how did Medical Officer Lu suddenly get added here?”

Chang Jin remembered clearly that Lu Tong’s name wasn’t on the previous attendance list.

“Medical Officer Wang suddenly caught a cold, and Medical Officer Lu is filling in,” Cui Min replied flatly, lowering his eyes to flip through the medical records before him.

“I see.” Chang Jin nodded. No wonder the list had only just reached his hands – it must have been due to the last-minute personnel change. Lu Tong’s medical skills were good, and recently her reputation in the Medical Office had grown after successfully treating Jin Xianrong. Having this opportunity to appear before the nobles would also benefit her future evaluation for becoming an inner court medical officer.

It seemed the Director was gradually beginning to value Lu Tong.

Thinking of this, he gratefully bowed to Cui Min: “Then this official will go announce this to the medical officers.”

Cui Min: “Go ahead.”

Chang Jin left the room. Another person entered from outside, watched Chang Jin’s figure disappear into the distance, and then closed the door silently. Looking at Cui Min, they spoke in a low voice: “Sir, the Qi family suddenly specifically requested Medical Officer Lu to accompany the hunt. Are they planning to make a move against Medical Officer Lu during the hunt?”

A few days ago, Young Master Qi Yutai of the Grand Tutor’s mansion had someone pass a message to Cui Min, saying that this year’s hunt must include Lu Tong.

How could the Medical Office dare not listen to the Young Master of the Grand Tutor’s orders? Especially since Lu Tong was just a commoner without any background or status.

It was somewhat unexpected that Qi Yutai would arrange things so indirectly rather than taking direct action against Lu Tong. After all, with his status, dealing with Lu Tong would be effortless.

Cui Min put down his brush: “I don’t know.”

Lu Tong’s life or death meant nothing to him. Just an ant, after all.

His confidant spoke again: “I saw in the roster that you won’t be accompanying the hunt this year, Director? Even Director Qiu from the Imperial Pharmacy is going.”

“I’m not going.” Cui Min said, “Knowing there will be trouble, I should naturally avoid suspicion. As for Qiu He… that old man is just too obsessed with advancing himself, wanting to claim every achievement for the Imperial Pharmacy. He doesn’t realize that in this world, doing more means making more mistakes, especially when dealing with those in high positions with great power.”

This principle, he had learned from another person ten years ago.

“Let Chang Jin go in my place.” He closed his eyes. “He’s been showing excessive concern for Lu Tong lately.”

When Chang Jin delivered the list to the dormitory, Lin Danqing was sitting at the table wiping her face. Hearing this good news, she didn’t even bother to evenly apply her pearl jade face powder, turning her head to look at Lu Tong who was sitting at the table reading.

“Sister Lu, did you hear? You’ll be accompanying me to the hunt tomorrow!”

Lu Tong appeared stunned.

Chang Jin usually maintained a stern face but was finally infected by Lin Danqing’s excitement and couldn’t help showing a slight smile. “It’s because Medical Officer Wang suddenly caught a cold that Lu Tong is filling in. This is a rare opportunity. *cough* Better buy some peaches and pears later to properly thank Medical Officer Wang!”

Having delivered this news, he went to inform the other medical officers in other dormitories.

The lamplight flickered slightly in the room as Lin Danqing continued excitedly: “This is wonderful! I was just thinking it would be boring going to the hunting grounds alone, having you as company is perfect!”

But Lu Tong didn’t share her good mood. One spot in the entourage was extremely hard to get. It wasn’t surprising that Lin Danqing was on the list since her father had served in the Medical Office for many years, but for her name to be included…

Lu Tong frowned slightly.

Something wasn’t right.

Why would a commoner like her be included in such a noble event? After all, all rosters had to pass through Cui Min’s hands.

Cui Min could barely wait to suppress her, so why would he allow her to stand out?

When things are unusually strange, there must be trouble brewing.

She lowered her brows without speaking. Seeing this, Lin Danqing comforted her: “Why so serious? With the weather being so hot lately, just think of it as going to the mountains to escape the heat. The hunters are all princes and noble young masters, and the mountain forests have been cleared in advance – fierce beasts like lions and tigers have already been removed, at most there’ll just be wolves and leopards. We’ll wait in the pavilions at the edge of the forest following them, there won’t be any danger.”

It sounded fine, but Lu Tong still felt uneasy.

Lin Danqing patted her shoulder: “Don’t be nervous, Sister Lu. The hunt is ultimately just an opportunity to go out and have fun while on official duty. Think about it – we still get our salary without having to be on duty, isn’t that better than staying in the Medical Office watching people’s faces?”

“Just put your mind at ease, stay with me when the time comes. Let’s go take a look.”

When it came to holidays and time off, Lin Danqing was always very enthusiastic.

Having said this, she quickly evened out her powder, then rummaged through her boxes and cabinets, pulling out all sorts of snacks and throwing them into the bundle spread out on the bed. It looked less like she was going to go on a hunt and more like she was going on a picnic. She called out to Lu Tong: “Sister Lu, you should pack your things too. There are lots of insects in the mountains, remember to bring insect repellent.”

Lu Tong stood up and returned to her inner room, opening the wooden cabinet where many bottles and jars were stored on the upper shelf. She looked through them, selecting the insect repellent and five or six other jars to put in her medical box.

As her gaze swept across the innermost part of the wooden cabinet, she suddenly stopped.

There, four palm-sized porcelain jars sat quietly, hidden in the cabinet’s shadows, silently watching her.

Lu Tong looked at them quietly for a long time.

Going out to the mountains meant she couldn’t pack porcelain jars in her medical box, to avoid breaking them during the bumpy journey.

Since entering the Medical Office, this was the first time she would be separated from her family like this.

She wiped those four porcelain jars with cloth a few times, pushed them further back, then took out that cold-gleaming, delicate wooden hibiscus hairpin from its case, finally closing and carefully locking the wooden cabinet door.

“Father, Mother, Sister, Second Brother—” she murmured, “I’ll be back soon.”

The summer nights grew hotter day by day.

Ice blocks were placed throughout the mansion, making it properly cool without the outside heat, just right for comfort.

A figure hurried through the Grand Tutor’s mansion’s full courtyard of fragrant flowers, walking swiftly along the corridor before pushing open a door.

In the room, Qi Yutai was lounging on a couch, with two beautiful maids gently fanning him.

“Young Master,” the person entered the room and presented what they were holding to Qi Yutai, “Cao Huai from the Medical Office has delivered the items.”

Qi Yutai frowned as he glanced at what was in the person’s hands, then smiled with satisfaction.

“Very good. Go, let Tiger get familiar with these.”

“Yes.” The servant acknowledged, then seemed to think of something and showed some concern, “However, if the Young Miss and Master find out…”

Qi Yutai gave him a cold glare, and the servant immediately fell silent.

“If you don’t say anything, how would they know right now?”

The servant didn’t dare speak.

Qi Yutai sneered: “My sister is soft-hearted, father is old-fashioned, but how can I allow a lowborn woman to climb above our Qi family?”

He sighed: “My sister lent me money to fulfill my wishes, but I don’t have enough money to repay her. Taking revenge for her like this can count as a return gift.”

After speaking, he glanced at the servant: “If you dare tell my father, you know what consequences await.”

The servant trembled and hurriedly said: “Yes, Young Master.”

The white moon was hazy and in another courtyard just one wall away from the Grand Tutor’s mansion, candles burned in the night.

An old man stood by the window, wearing black robes with white hair, thick eyebrows, and bright teeth, quietly watching the distant clouds.

Behind him, the door made a slight sound, but the old man didn’t turn around, only calmly asking: “Are the Young Master’s things packed?”

The old steward stepped forward a few paces and respectfully answered: “Everything has been packed. The mansion’s best guards will accompany him, the horses, saddles, and breast collars have all been checked, and the Young Master’s hunting dogs…”

Hesitating for a moment, the steward continued: “For this hunt, the Young Master specifically requested that a female doctor from the Medical Office attend. Master, do you not plan to intervene?”

Qi Yutai thought his actions were hidden from Qi Qing, but nothing in the Grand Tutor’s mansion could escape Qi Qing’s eyes. Sometimes he didn’t speak up, only because he chose not to.

Like a lenient father indulging a mischievous young son, he calmly watched his not-so-clever pranks.

“I won’t intervene,” Qi Qing said. “She’s just a medical woman.”

He turned around, the moonlight blocked behind him. The lantern on the table illuminated his face, casting a greenish-white glow on that wrinkled, aged face, making it appear like an old corpse.

The prayer beads in his hand had been rubbed smooth and shiny from constant handling.

He turned them several times, lowered his eyes, and spoke with a sigh.

“It can count as revenge for Ying’er.”

…

The first day of the sixth month was the capital’s “Summer Hunt.”

The Imperial Astronomers had observed the celestial phenomena in advance, predicting good weather for that day. Before dawn, while it was still dark, Lu Tong boarded the carriage heading to the hunting grounds along with Chang Jin and the other medical officers.

The hunting grounds were at Huangmao Ridge.

The mountain was lush with verdant forests and beautiful trees. When the former Crown Prince was alive, he often spent summers here to escape the heat, staying until the end of the eighth month before beginning the autumn hunt.

Now the autumn hunt had changed to the summer hunt, which was more convenient for escaping the heat.

By the time they reached the foot of the mountain, many people had already arrived. Lu Tong even saw Director Qiu He from the Imperial Pharmacy, an eighty-year-old man trembling as he stood under the long pavilion, looking quite pitiful after the tiring journey.

Those who arrived early were mostly medical officers and craftsmen from the Medical Office and Imperial Pharmacy, along with some servants and guards. The hunting party would come later, allowing the servants to prepare everything thoroughly.

When the previous emperor was alive, he particularly valued the annual autumn hunt, requiring sacrifices to heaven before departure and being accompanied by nearly ten thousand imperial guards for troop inspection. However, in recent years his health had declined, and he no longer participated in the hunts. Without His Majesty present, the entourage was much smaller, though it still opened Lu Tong’s eyes on her first visit to the hunting grounds.

Near the military camp at the foot of the mountain, merchants had already gathered, setting up long pavilions and tents among the trees. From a distance, it looked like a bustling market had sprung up in the forest, with more vendors still arriving.

Seeing Lu Tong looking carefully, Lin Danqing voluntarily explained: “That’s the Hunt Market.”

Lu Tong: “Hunt Market?”

“Some of the noble guests coming for the hunt bring their families along. During the day they hunt in the mountains, and at night they stay in the camps. When evening comes, they come out to browse, and these tent stalls sell hot food and sweet drinks – it’s no less lively than the night market at Jingde Gate, quite interesting really.”

She nudged Lu Tong’s arm: “See? I told you it would be worth your while to come here, didn’t I?”

Just then, the medical officers in front suddenly became noisy, someone shouting: “The hunting party is here!”

The hunting party had arrived.

Lu Tong looked toward the sound.

A magnificent procession of thousands appeared ahead. At the front was an elegant cyan carriage, its compartment carved with tortoise patterns, accompanied by hundreds of ceremonial officials.

The cyan carriage stopped at the entrance to the hunting grounds. Everyone around hurriedly knelt in greeting. Lu Tong also knelt with the other Medical Office officers, hearing Lin Danqing whisper in her ear: “That’s His Highness the Crown Prince.”

The Crown Prince.

Lu Tong raised her eyes to look ahead.

A young man descended from the carriage. He was fairly handsome, though somewhat frail, which made him appear to lack presence. He raised his hand, gesturing for everyone to rise. Lu Tong stood with the other medical officers, looking toward the carriage. Behind the Crown Prince were more fine horses, their riders also wearing elaborate saddles and bridles, clearly not ordinary people.

“Those are the Second Prince, Third Prince, and Fourth Prince,” Lin Danqing explained softly.

The current Emperor Liang Ming had four sons and one daughter in total. The princess was still young. Among the four princes, Crown Prince Yuan Zhen was born to the Empress, Third Prince Yuan Yao was born to Noble Consort Chen, and the Second and Fourth Princes’ mothers were merely Consorts who had passed away many years ago.

Although the Crown Prince was born to the Empress, the Empress’s family had gradually declined in recent years, while Noble Consort Chen’s backing, Duke Chen’s power, had been rising. The position of heir apparent was unstable, with the Crown Prince’s faction and the Third Prince’s faction openly and secretly contending at court, creating turbulent undercurrents.

Miao Liangfang had once told Lu Tong about these princes, but this was her first time seeing them in person. Lu Tong watched carefully, secretly memorizing each prince’s face.

The Second and Fourth Princes seemed uninterested, appearing docile and compliant, but Third Prince Yuan Yao had an arrogant expression, showing subtle confrontation in his conversations with the Crown Prince.

Behind these men was another man, about thirty years old, wearing a sapphire blue wide-sleeved robe embroidered with bamboo patterns. His features were quite handsome, and he smiled amiably at everyone he spoke to, appearing very friendly.

This man wasn’t riding a horse but sat in a soft sedan chair, casually lifting the curtain to appear before everyone.

Lu Tong asked: “Is this also a prince?”

Lin Danqing followed her gaze: “This is Prince Ning.” She added in a whisper, “Prince Ning is His Majesty’s only surviving sibling now.”

“Prince Ning?”

Lu Tong was somewhat surprised.

Prince Ning Yuan Lang was Emperor Liang Ming’s brother. After the previous emperor passed away, several princes also died one after another. Besides Emperor Liang Ming, only this Prince Ning had survived. Lu Tong had heard of him but hadn’t expected him to look so young, not much older than the princes.

“Prince Ning is a good person,” Lin Danqing said. “Everyone in the capital says he’s a nice fellow. People used to see him haggling with vegetable sellers in the official district. He just has too many concubines, which has inevitably taken a toll on his health over time.”

Her old habit of diagnosing people was acting up again, leaving Lu Tong speechless.

After the royal family members came the young masters from various noble and marquis families.

These noble guests, being from wealthy backgrounds, dressed in extremely elaborate and luxurious attire. Each rode a magnificent horse with golden saddles and silver bridles. As for their riding clothes, they had sought the best materials and tailors, desperate for the whole world to see their gallant appearance.

But clothes make the man as saddles make the horse – even ordinary looks could display a certain wealthy nobility when adorned with such precious things.

Particularly eye-catching were the Dragon Guard cavalry following behind the noble sons. The cavalrymen sat atop fine horses, wearing jet-black imperial guard uniforms, each tall and distinguished, making quite an impression as they passed.

Lin Danqing watched entranced, unable to help express her admiration.

“They’re something, much more handsome than those bean sprouts at the Medical Office. What a shame it’s so cold in the mountains and they’re wearing such thick clothes. Why button up so tightly? They should take them off, and do everyone’s eyes a favor.”

Her words made the female medical officers around her cover their mouths and giggle.

Lin Danqing raised her eyebrows: “Am I wrong?”

A thin male medical officer nearby heard this and was quite displeased, saying with a stern face: “Medical Officer Lin, as a woman, you should be more careful with your words and actions.”

Lin Danqing was unfazed: “Now this shows how little you understand. One of my ancestors once said, ‘A doctor should have a parent’s heart,’ and there’s also the saying ‘Our bodies, hair, and skin are received from our parents.’ That being the case, they’re all my children – what’s wrong with a mother looking at her sons a bit more?”

She smiled: “It would be a waste not to look.”

This was taking quite a liberty, leaving everyone speechless.

Lu Tong thought that sometimes when Lin Danqing spoke, she seemed like the non-blood-related sister of Widow Sun from West Street.

Just as she was thinking this, the crowd ahead suddenly became noisy.

The female medical officers who had been giggling at Lin Danqing earlier let out soft cheers. Lu Tong looked up and couldn’t help being startled.

After the long procession of Dragon Guards, there was a sudden sound of hoofbeats.

Someone rode past on horseback, stirring up a breeze that rustled the forest branches as the morning sun grew brighter.

The young man wore the same black imperial guard riding clothes as the other Dragon Guards, the outfit completely outlining the beautiful figure of the rider, like an agile leopard. Today, Pei Yunying wasn’t wearing his official hat, only a black gold-embroidered headband across his forehead, which made him appear less elegant but more spirited.

The guard was proud and graceful, his golden whip brushing the willows, those pitch-black bright eyes bathed in the forest sunlight showing a jewel-like gorgeous color. The young man’s indifferent manner as he urged his horse forward, his heroic and vigorous appearance, made hearts beat faster.

Everyone appreciates beauty, and the female medical officers ahead let out the same admiring sounds as Lin Danqing had earlier.

Lin Danqing pursed her lips: “Well, here comes the most handsome one.”

Lu Tong collected herself.

Pei Yunying truly had a beautiful appearance.

She wasn’t usually one to judge people by their looks, but many times she found herself unconsciously amazed by this person – not just because of his appearance, but because of that unrestrained, carefree vitality wrapped in either his warm or cold exterior.

It was enviable.

Beside her, Lin Danqing sighed: “With such looks, why need such skill; with such skill, why need such looks… truly a rare beauty.”

Lu Tong found this somewhat amusing and was about to speak, but her gaze suddenly stopped when it fell on someone behind the Dragon Guards.

Why did he come?