After several days of blazing sun, it finally rained.

The day after the rain, the weather was much cooler.

Head Physician Cui Min of the Imperial Medical Academy had been very busy lately, making other physicians’ duties heavier, with everyone so busy their feet barely touched the ground. Only Lu Tong was different.

Without the duties from the Bureau of Ceremonies, when not on duty, Lu Tong was more leisurely than before.

In the pharmaceutical preparation room in the small grove, with doors and windows wide open, Lu Tong sat at the table, comparing the paper scroll spread before her while carefully sorting medicinal materials into a bamboo medicine basket.

“Coptis, licorice, jack-in-the-pulpit, cinnabar, bupleurum…”

A figure passed by the window, stopping at the pharmaceutical preparation room entrance. After a moment, a voice said: “Physician Lu.”

Lu Tong turned around to see Ji Xun standing in the doorway.

“Physician Ji?”

Today he wasn’t followed by that medicine attendant called Zhuling. He entered the room and bent down to place several books in his hands on Lu Tong’s table.

Lu Tong was puzzled: “These are…”

“From the Imperial Medical Bureau, I’ve organized some useful contemporary prescriptions and golden mirrors. Since you’re not on duty recently, you can read them during your leisure time.”

Lu Tong was startled.

Last time in Ji Xun’s medicine room, Ji Xun had mentioned he would find Imperial Medical Bureau medical texts and pharmaceutical principles for her. She had thought it was just casual talk and hadn’t taken it to heart, never expecting he would actually bring them.

Lu Tong said: “Thank you, Physician Ji.”

Ji Xun shook his head, his gaze falling on the medicine basket on the table.

He sat down at the table.

“Are you making new medicine?”

“Just trying to improve a prescription.”

Ji Xun looked through the medicine basket: “Poria, spirit poria, myrrh, dragon’s blood, magnolia bark…” He frowned slightly, “This is a prescription for treating heart palpitations and mental confusion?”

Lu Tong nodded.

“Madness is mainly caused by internal emotional injury. Your prescription mostly consists of substances for soothing the liver, dispersing depression, clearing fire, and nourishing yin. I’m afraid it won’t be very effective.”

Lu Tong nodded: “Correct.” After thinking, she spoke: “In Physician Ji’s opinion, what about adding a dose of ground beetle?”

“Ground beetle?”

Ji Xun frowned and thought seriously for a long while before shaking his head: “Inappropriate.”

“Ground beetle is highly toxic. In the past, it was only burned to ash and scattered on silkworms to treat silkworm white stiffness disease. With your prescription, adding ground beetle might temporarily soothe emotions and calm madness in the short term, but with long-term accumulation, residual toxins would accumulate in the body, paralyzing mental faculties. On the surface it appears cured, but actually the illness becomes worse, making future relapses difficult to treat.”

Hearing this, Lu Tong’s eyes shifted: “I see…”

Ji Xun looked at her with some disapproval: “Physician Lu, I know you have many ideas about formulating prescriptions, but physicians treat illness and save lives. One cannot seek momentary satisfaction while forgetting the origin – ultimately, it’s all about the word ‘cure.'”

“Previously when you treated Minister Jin, though I wrongly blamed you, I still disapprove of your rash use of red silk cotton. For Minister Jin’s condition, using red silk cotton ultimately does more harm than good.”

Lu Tong looked at him.

The young man in white robes, with a serious expression, looked like he was earnestly teaching, truly resembling a young physician in the Imperial Medical Bureau instructing students – patient yet stern.

After a pause, she spoke: “Nothing is without its use. Aconite and citron are among medicine’s most fierce toxins, yet good physicians use them to save lives. Physician Ji needn’t regard highly toxic substances as floods and wild beasts.”

“Moreover, a good physician should be urgent about patients’ urgency and worry about people’s worries. The reason I used red silk cotton for Minister Jin was because for Minister Jin, kidney disease was his only heart disease.”

“Illnesses change in ten thousand ways, so medicines must also change in ten thousand ways.”

Her tone was calm, with steel hidden in silk.

Ji Xun frowned slightly.

Last time during the red silk cotton misunderstanding, he had already discovered this. Lu Tong appeared gentle but was actually very opinionated, especially stubbornly so regarding medical matters. Common medical workers learned medical principles entirely through oral transmission from masters. Her spring examination papers showed aggressive medication in new prescriptions, perhaps deeply influenced by the master who taught her.

Years of medical practice habits were naturally difficult to change immediately.

However…

Lu Tong’s attitude clearly showed she was already resisting change.

She was very insistent on her own views.

Ji Xun was about to speak and debate with her further when he lowered his head and his gaze struck the white jade at his waist, causing him to pause.

He looked at Lu Tong again.

Lu Tong was lowering her head to handle medicinal herbs, her movements skilled. In the blazing summer heat, instead of enjoying the cool air in the dormitory, she had come early to the pharmaceutical preparation room to research new prescriptions. Without genuine passion for medicine, this would be truly difficult to achieve.

The words at his lips were swallowed back.

Forget it. When they first met in southern Jiangsu, he had known Lu Tong’s family circumstances were dire – she wouldn’t see a doctor even when ill. She wasn’t an Imperial Medical Bureau student and had no physician instructors. To reach this point relying entirely on marketplace experience and medical prescriptions was already remarkable. As for those overly aggressive ideas and medical prescriptions… they could be slowly corrected in the future.

Thinking this, he gently shook his head, his gaze falling on the silver medicine jar on the table.

The medicine jar was exquisite, with delicate treasure flower patterns carved on the body and a small silver medicine hammer inside.

Ordinary doctors used medicine jars – wooden ones mostly, silver ones extremely rarely. Lu Tong’s silver medicine jar was very special.

He reached out to pick up the silver jar: “How does Physician Lu happen to use a silver medicine jar?”

Lu Tong turned around, her face changing, and snatched the medicine jar from his hand: “Don’t touch it!”

She moved too quickly, and Ji Xun was also caught off guard. After being stunned for a while, he came to his senses and looked at her in surprise.

“I…”

Lu Tong steadied herself and explained unnaturally: “I don’t like others touching my things.”

Ji Xun paused, nodded, and said nothing.

Neither spoke for a moment, and the atmosphere became inexplicably awkward.

Just then, a voice suddenly called “Physician Lu” from outside.

Lu Tong turned to see a bright green figure suddenly fly by the window, and a young man’s face appeared from behind the door, smiling as he greeted her: “It’s been a long time!”

It was actually Duan Xiaoyan.

Behind Duan Xiaoyan followed another person. Pei Yunying wore a silver-white cloud brocade robe with dark patterns, a leather pouch at his waist. Such refreshing colors made him less sharp-edged, handsome yet gentle. If one ignored the slight smile at his lips, he and Ji Xun looked almost like brothers from the same family – equally gentlemanly and graceful, with captivating bearing.

He walked behind the young man and was slightly startled to see Ji Xun present.

Ji Xun nodded to the two of them.

Duan Xiaoyan also saw Ji Xun and was stunned: “Does Physician Lu have a guest?”

Ji Xun’s brow furrowed slightly.

This way of speaking made it seem like the two of them were the familiar ones at the Imperial Medical Academy, while Ji Xun was an occasional visitor calling at the door.

However, Lu Tong breathed a slight sigh of relief.

The awkward atmosphere from earlier was finally broken.

She stood up and looked at these two sudden arrivals: “Young Master Duan, Commander Pei, is there something you need?”

Before Pei Yunying could speak, Duan Xiaoyan spoke up cheerfully: “Yes, yes! Physician Lu, I think I have indigestion again these past few days. I heard our lord was coming to the Imperial Medical Academy to ask you about Young Miss Baozhu’s prescription, so I came along. The digestive pills Physician Lu gave me last time worked very well – I’ve come to ask for two more bottles—”

He had encountered Pei Yunying at the Palace Commander’s Mansion gate this morning. Hearing that Pei Yunying was coming to the Imperial Medical Academy and since he wasn’t on duty today, he had come along.

Lu Tong nodded upon hearing this: “Young Master Duan frequently has indigestion. Using only digestive pills probably isn’t appropriate. I should still take your pulse and prepare a new prescription for nourishing the spleen and stomach for gradual recuperation.”

“Great!”

During their question and answer exchange, the other two people in the room remained silent. The pharmaceutical preparation room was already cramped, and with two more people, it felt inexplicably crowded.

When Pei Yunying entered the room, his smile faded. He leaned against the window, seemingly casual, his gaze sweeping over Ji Xun.

Ji Xun stood up: “Since Physician Lu has a patient to see, it’s inconvenient for me to stay longer. Remember to finish reading the golden mirror prescriptions I brought. I’ll come ask you about them in a few days.”

After speaking, he nodded to the people in the room and was about to leave.

Pei Yunying stood without moving. As Ji Xun walked past him, suddenly a loud shout came from behind—

“Wait!”

Before anyone could react, they saw Duan Xiaoyan take a few quick steps to Ji Xun’s front and grab the beautiful jade tied to his waist with a silk cord, speaking excitedly.

“Isn’t this Physician Lu’s jade? How did it end up on you!”

Ji Xun was stunned.

Lu Tong was also dazed.

Pei Yunying slowly frowned, his gaze fixed on the jade pendant at Ji Xun’s waist.

Ji Xun was wearing a snow-white long robe today. He originally preferred such clean colors, and the white jade at his waist almost merged with his clothing – it was difficult to notice without careful observation.

But Duan Xiaoyan gripped that jade pendant tightly, his eyes almost pressed against one side of the jade.

“Yes, this is definitely Physician Lu’s jade!”

Duan Xiaoyan was very certain.

This jade, this piece of white jade, Duan Xiaoyan remembered very clearly. After Gardenia had damaged it at Yellow Grass Ridge, Pei Yunying had hired Master Lu to repair it, spending quite a large sum of silver.

Such a large sum of silver, though not his own, had pained him for a long time. Precisely because of this, when returning the jade to Lu Tong, Duan Xiaoyan had carefully examined the cracks on this jade, trying to find even a trace of a crack to get some money back from the other party.

Of course, to no avail.

But this jade – originally worth a modest amount but truly valuable after repair – he could recognize even if it turned to ash. Those crudely crafted scholar-playing-qin patterns, the imperfect shape, and the superfluous extra qin string…

This was definitely the white jade he had returned to Lu Tong!

His movements were too forceful, nearly tearing the tassel tying the jade pendant. Ji Xun frowned slightly and pulled the white jade back from his hands.

“Young Master Duan,” Ji Xun said, “this has always been my jade.”

“Always?”

At these words, not only Duan Xiaoyan, but Pei Yunying’s gaze also turned to Ji Xun.

“But this is clearly Physician Lu’s jade pendant…”

Ji Xun looked at Lu Tong, happening to meet Lu Tong’s gaze, and couldn’t help tightening his grip on the jade pendant.

He was very fond of this white jade. After getting it back, he had immediately worn it again without thinking much about it. But he had forgotten about this aspect.

A man’s personal item falling into someone else’s hands – Lu Tong, being a woman, would inevitably face criticism. Thinking of this, he spoke in a deep voice: “I don’t know where Young Master Duan gets this idea. This jade has always been mine, never leaving my side since childhood. Perhaps you’re mistaken.” After speaking, he secretly gave Lu Tong a meaningful look.

This eye contact fell into another person’s view, and Pei Yunying’s gaze shifted slightly.

“Aren’t they the same piece?” Duan Xiaoyan scratched his head in confusion. “But I’m looking at what seems to be the same piece…”

Ji Xun retied the jade pendant properly. Not wanting to entangle further with these people, he merely nodded slightly and pushed the door to leave.

The room returned to quiet again.

Somehow, when Ji Xun had been present, the atmosphere in the room had been inexplicably awkward. Now that Ji Xun had left, the awkward atmosphere not only didn’t decrease but grew stronger, making one not want to stay in this room.

Only the people in front still needed to be dealt with.

Lu Tong said: “Young Master Duan, please sit down. I’ll take your pulse first.”

“…Oh.” Duan Xiaoyan sat down in confusion and extended an arm.

Pei Yunying stood in the room. He was unusually silent today, just standing by the window. It was an overcast day with swaying tree shadows, making his expression in the shadows difficult to see clearly.

But the oppressive feeling was hard to ignore.

Lu Tong’s fingertips had just touched Duan Xiaoyan’s wrist when she heard this person suddenly speak coldly.

“The jade on him is your jade, isn’t it.”

After a moment of silence, she said: “Yes.”

Even Duan Xiaoyan had recognized this jade. Given Pei Yunying’s perceptiveness, there was no point in trying to deceive him. Better to admit it frankly.

“Ah?” Duan Xiaoyan asked in surprise, “Then why is that jade on him? Did you give the jade to him?”

At these words, Pei Yunying’s expression grew slightly cold.

Lu Tong paused in her movements. Looking up, she saw Pei Yunying quietly watching her.

He was different from usual today – unusually quiet and taciturn. Who knew what he was thinking? His pair of dark eyes were gloomy, looking exactly like someone who was owed money.

Lu Tong sighed inwardly.

Ji Xun’s jade had reportedly been broken, but when Duan Xiaoyan delivered it that day, she had seen it clearly – flawless as white jade, with hardly a visible crack.

Such craftsmanship must have cost considerable silver. If Pei Yunying thought that the jade pendant he had spent heavily to repair had been given by her to someone else as a borrowed favor, his displeasure was natural.

So she said: “Physician Ji and I knew each other in southern Jiangsu before. We had some connection then.”

At these words, Duan Xiaoyan clapped his hands in sudden realization: “I know!”

“So Physician Ji is Physician Lu’s fiancé!”

At these words, both people in the room were shocked.

Lu Tong: “Fiancé?”

Pei Yunying frowned, his gaze suddenly sharp.

She denied: “No…”

Duan Xiaoyan spoke excitedly: “Didn’t Shopkeeper Du from Renxin Medical Hall say that Physician Lu had a fiancé working in the palace? That you came to the capital to find him?”

“Oh! I understand now,” as if glimpsing the truth, the young man’s tone became even more excited. “You two met years ago in southern Jiangsu. You saved him, and he left you a jade pendant as a token. Now you’ve recognized each other, and your relationship is clear! So this is the real fiancé!”

The pharmaceutical preparation room was cramped, and the overcast day was already oppressive. The two people in the room were momentarily speechless, with only Duan Xiaoyan alone cheerfully continuing.

Lu Tong was about to explain when she heard Pei Yunying speak coolly from the side: “Did you also leave a token for him?”

“Also?” Duan Xiaoyan caught the key word, looking puzzled. “Did Physician Lu leave tokens for others too? Who?”

Pei Yunying stared at her fixedly, his tone neither cold nor warm: “Just how many people did Physician Lu pick up in southern Jiangsu? Did you leave tokens for every single one?”

Lu Tong: “…”

Why did she hear a hint of reproach in these words?

Duan Xiaoyan chimed in: “Leaving tokens isn’t wrong. Otherwise, across the vast world, who would remember old friendships and kindnesses? I previously thought Shopkeeper Du was just making things up, but it turns out it was true. Physician Lu, are you and Physician Ji going to marry later? Since I was the one who returned this jade, can Gardenia and I be invited for wedding wine…”

Lu Tong couldn’t bear it anymore: “I told you it’s not like that.”

Her sudden outburst silenced both people in the room.

Tree clusters swayed outside the door.

Pei Yunying looked away, his face cold and silent.

Lu Tong suppressed her anger: “You two didn’t come here today just to chat about this matter, did you?”

The Palace Commander’s Mansion was on duty constantly – when had they become so idle?

Pei Yunying remained expressionless, his tone gloomy: “Sister made some pastries and asked me to bring them to you.”

Lu Tong’s gaze swept over the food basket on the windowsill. After a moment of silence, she said: “Thank you.”

He looked at Lu Tong again, paused, then suddenly spoke: “Next month on the seventh is sister’s birthday. Sister asked me to tell you – she’s inviting you to the mansion.”

It had been some time since she’d gone to take Pei Yunshu and Baozhu’s pulse. Lu Tong said: “I understand.”

The room fell silent again.

Duan Xiaoyan vaguely sensed the atmosphere was somewhat off but couldn’t say exactly what was wrong, so he sat in place looking thoughtful.

Lu Tong took paper and brush from her medical kit and quickly wrote down a prescription. Just as she finished, a physician came from outside saying: “Physician Lu, a new batch of medical records has arrived at the medical records storage. The Medical Administrator wants you to organize them for filing.”

Lu Tong responded, handed the just-written prescription to Duan Xiaoyan: “Take some time to recuperate. Young Master Duan, take this prescription to the front hall later – other physicians will prepare the medicine for you. I’m busy right now, so I won’t see you out.”

After speaking, she packed up her medical kit and medicine basket, picked up the bamboo food basket from the windowsill, and left directly.

Duan Xiaoyan sat in place, holding the prescription in his hands.

The prescription was freshly written with ink not yet dry. He blew on it, his thoughts elsewhere, only watching Lu Tong’s retreating figure and murmuring: “So that’s how it is…”

“Brother,” he suddenly thought of something, “we spent quite a bit of silver repairing that jade, but it turns out it was for Physician Ji. Since Ji Xun is Physician Lu’s fiancé, shouldn’t we ask him to reimburse us?”

Pei Yunying spoke coldly: “She didn’t seem to acknowledge Ji Xun as her fiancé.”

“True, but anyone with eyes can see it. Think about it – Physician Lu kept that jade pendant in her medical kit, never leaving it behind. If Ji Xun weren’t her fiancé, why would she cherish and preserve his jade so carefully?”

He stroked his chin in evaluation: “Physician Lu really has good taste. Though Young Master Ji is a bit aloof, his family background and appearance are quite good, and they’re in the same profession. Just looking at appearances, they’re truly a heaven-made pair of golden boy and jade girl…”

As he spoke, he looked up to meet the young man’s calm gaze.

Pei Yunying pulled at his lips, his tone very light: “Did you take silver from Ji Xun?”

“…No.”

“Praising him like this, those who don’t know might think you’re from the Ji family.”

Duan Xiaoyan was alarmed.

Though he didn’t know where Pei Yunying’s sudden displeasure came from, years of interaction had taught Duan Xiaoyan one principle: the angrier Pei Yunying became, the calmer his voice grew.

He seemed truly angry.

The young man coughed lightly: “I was just speaking truthfully…”

“You’re on palace duty this afternoon.”

Duan Xiaoyan was shocked: “Brother, today isn’t my duty day!”

He had finally gotten a free day off duty and wanted to stroll around Qinghe Street in the afternoon.

“But I see you’re very idle.” Pei Yunying spoke calmly: “Idle enough to drink others’ wedding wine.”

“No, brother, I was just…”

“Go immediately.”

After a long standoff, Duan Xiaoyan finally lowered his head dejectedly: “…Fine.”

Some 30-second literature:

Broken Little Pei: Physician Lu, in those 30 seconds when you mentioned fiancé, were you thinking of that once-in-a-decade heavy snow in southern Jiangsu, or the white jade he left for you?