When Lu Tong entered the room, the atmosphere was somewhat strange.

Pei Yunying and Ji Xun stood on opposite sides of the bamboo table, not knowing what they had said earlier, but there seemed to be a subtle standoff in their expressions.

Hearing movement, both looked toward her.

Lu Tong entered the room, and Ji Xun bowed to her: “Imperial Physician Lu, I have something to discuss with you.”

Lu Tong nodded: “Very well.”

Ji Xun looked toward Pei Yunying again: “Could I ask Commander Pei to step out temporarily?”

Pei Yunying looked at Lu Tong.

Lu Tong then said: “Commander Pei, please step outside for now.”

Pei Yunying frowned, staring at her fixedly for a moment. As if amused by anger, he left without a word, closing the door behind him, appearing somewhat displeased.

Lu Tong was still watching his retreating figure when she heard Ji Xun behind her say: “Imperial Physician Lu, please sit down to talk.”

“All right.”

The two sat down before the bamboo table.

The room was quiet, with fresh air from the window dispersing some of the summer heat. Lu Tong looked toward Ji Xun.

She didn’t know exactly what Ji Xun wanted to discuss with her, but could roughly guess his intentions.

Indeed, she had just picked up her tea cup and lifted the teapot to pour tea when she heard Ji Xun speak: “Is there more to your suspension than meets the eye?”

Lu Tong’s tea-pouring motion paused, but she quickly continued: “Imperial Physician Ji should have already heard.”

“Casually looking through prescriptions does indeed violate regulations, but the real reason for your suspension should be the matter of accusing Academy Director Cui of plagiarizing prescriptions.”

“Accusing?”

Lu Tong pushed the tea cup toward Ji Xun: “Wasn’t it slander?”

Ji Xun accepted the tea cup, paused for a moment, then said: “I’ve seen your prescriptions.”

“What?”

“After the Imperial Medical Bureau spring examination, I reviewed all the test papers of students on the honor roll. Your ten prescriptions all had shortcomings, but they also had ingenious aspects. With improvements, they could very well become life-saving remedies.”

Ji Xun continued: “After I returned to the Imperial Medical Academy, I learned of your suspension. Zhuling asked the attending physician about adding medicinal ingredients as you later suggested. I reviewed the prescription—it is indeed effective for treating epilepsy.”

Lu Tong blinked, an incredible thought surfacing in her mind.

“Could it be that Imperial Physician Ji believes I was wronged? That you believe what I said about the Academy Director plagiarizing my prescription?”

Lu Tong was quite surprised.

Ji Xun was an upright gentleman, clear about public and private matters, but also rigid and proper. He wouldn’t show favoritism due to personal relationships or misunderstand anyone. But her clumsy “accusation” was full of holes—given Ji Xun’s usual careful verification, he shouldn’t have said such things.

The woman’s eyes sparkled brightly, looking at him with genuine confusion, which made Ji Xun somewhat uncomfortable for a moment.

Steadying himself, he said: “One cannot speak carelessly about matters without evidence. Based on your few words alone, it’s indeed impossible to judge. Most importantly, whether Young Master Qi actually has epilepsy is still unknown. Only the Academy Director can see Young Master Qi’s medical records.”

Lu Tong nodded: “Outside rumors say Young Master Qi was merely frightened.”

Whether Qi Yutai was frightened or mad, no one at the Imperial Medical Academy except Cui Min knew, which was also the most important reason for Lu Tong’s suspension.

“I didn’t understand before, but now I know that common-born imperial physicians face difficulties in the imperial city a hundred times greater than I imagined.” Ji Xun looked at her: “I came today just to tell you this: Young Master Qi’s matter may not immediately clear your name, but I will speak with the Academy Director to ensure you return to the Imperial Medical Academy after three months.”

Lu Tong was startled.

For the justice-seeking Ji Xun, these words were somewhat out of character.

“During our journey to Jiangnan that year, I once said that if you came to the Imperial Medical Bureau in the capital, I would look after you. But you didn’t go to the Imperial Medical Bureau, and I had many misunderstandings about you. Now that you’ve entered the Imperial Medical Academy, if you face injustice and grievances, I naturally cannot stand by and watch.”

Ji Xun sighed and lowered his head, taking several delicate porcelain bottles from his cloth pouch.

Lu Tong’s gaze fell on the porcelain bottles.

“These are…”

“Immortal Jade Skin Balm.” He said: “Since you’ve returned to West Street, obtaining medicines isn’t very convenient. I’ve made several new ones for you. Don’t be sparing—your injuries should be more carefully tended to prevent future scarring.”

Lu Tong’s fingers stiffened.

Five or six porcelain bottles lined up before her—this precious medicine that was hard to find even among palace nobles was now piled before her like common cabbage, appearing somewhat ridiculous.

Too bad it was completely useless to her…

Swallowing the complex feelings in her heart, Lu Tong looked at Ji Xun and sincerely said “thank you.”

“Imperial Physician Ji,” she said, “regarding the accusation against the Academy Director, perhaps I was too suspicious, making unfounded claims without proper investigation. This was indeed my fault, and the Academy Director’s punishment of suspension was appropriate.”

“This matter ends here. Imperial Physician Ji was originally uninvolved in this affair, so there’s no need to trouble yourself for my sake in the future. After three months, whatever arrangements the Academy Director makes, Lu Tong will accept gracefully.”

She looked at the jade skin balms.

After some consideration, Lu Tong raised her head and smiled slightly: “As for these medicinal balms, since they represent Imperial Physician Ji’s kind intentions, it would be ungracious of me to refuse.”

Ji Xun had been frowning while listening to her speak, but upon hearing the last sentence, his tightly knitted brows relaxed somewhat.

“That’s for the best,” he nodded. “After your injury at Huangmao Ridge, you should have rested for more days anyway. During these three months, take good care of your injuries on West Street.”

Lu Tong nodded.

Ji Xun stood up.

“It’s getting late, and I need to enter the palace this evening, so I can’t stay long. I take my leave.”

He bowed to Lu Tong before departing. Upon exiting, he saw the young man sitting in the shade under the tree. Seeing him emerge, the man smiled faintly and nodded slightly in greeting.

Strangely, though this Commander spoke mildly and smiled brightly, somehow Ji Xun seemed to always detect a hint of coldness beneath his cordial expression.

As if he didn’t think well of him.

He paused, also bowed to Pei Yunying, and left directly.

…

In the room, Lu Tong sat before the bamboo table.

The tea on the table was still warm. She looked at the row of delicate porcelain bottles on the bamboo table, lost in thought for a while.

Leaving the Imperial Medical Academy had gone very smoothly. Under such favorable circumstances, who would have thought Ji Xun would intervene midway.

Ji Xun was upright and clear-minded. If he truly investigated Cui Min over her suspension, it might easily lead to more trouble.

Lu Tong rubbed her temples, suddenly feeling somewhat of a headache.

Had she overacted?

Even Ji Xun had developed sympathy for her.

As she was thinking, Pei Yunying’s voice came from behind her.

“He’s quite generous, giving you so many secret medicines.”

Lu Tong turned around.

Pei Yunying walked to the bamboo table and sat down. His gaze swept over the tea cup Ji Xun had used on the table. He snorted lightly and pushed that cup aside, taking a new tea cup for himself.

Lu Tong watched his actions, feeling this behavior seemed familiar—when the big yellow dog at the West Street tailor shop marked its territory, it would also circle around the grass and urinate in a ring.

He noticed Lu Tong’s gaze and asked: “Why are you looking at me?”

Lu Tong shook her head: “Does the Commander have something to tell me?”

The medical hall’s celebration feast had ended, yet he still lingered here mysteriously, not knowing what he wanted to say.

The person before her lifted the pot to pour tea: “I’ve been busy for several days. When I returned to the Commander’s residence, I immediately heard news of your departure from the Imperial Medical Academy.”

“I was still worried you wouldn’t adapt, but unexpectedly you’ve adapted very well. Your days are no different from when you were at the Imperial Medical Academy—even colleagues have followed you to West Street.”

After speaking, he glanced again at the jade skin balm on the table.

Lu Tong remained silent.

In the brief moment since entering the room, he had already mentioned Ji Xun twice.

She simply pushed the medicine bottles toward Pei Yunying: “If the Commander wants them, they’re yours. Take them all.”

He paused, glanced at Lu Tong, saw her serious expression that didn’t seem like joking, then said leisurely: “They’re gifts from him to you—how could I take what someone loves? Besides, they’re good for your injuries. Keep them for yourself.”

His tone was somewhat gentler than before.

This person was simply capricious and inexplicable.

Lu Tong complained inwardly.

Pei Yunying looked at her: “So, why did you leave the Imperial Medical Academy?”

“Leave?” Lu Tong corrected: “Commander, I was suspended.”

He smirked: “Do I look like a fool?”

Lu Tong: “…”

Using such a flawed pretext to accuse Cui Min of plagiarism, being sent back to West Street was a natural result—even this outcome showed Cui Min’s restraint.

He could have ensured Lu Tong never returned to the Imperial Medical Academy.

“Why did you insist on making such a scene?” he asked.

Since nothing could be hidden from this person, Lu Tong simply spoke: “I owed Master Miao a favor. Originally, I should have acted as soon as I entered the Imperial Medical Academy. Delaying so long, it was time to repay it.”

Hearing this, Pei Yunying was stunned.

He had later heard some things about Miao Liangfang’s situation.

He thought for a moment: “Just for that? I thought you had other plans.”

Lu Tong remained silent.

“You couldn’t have…”

The young man’s sword-like eyebrows furrowed slightly: “Tampered with the prescription?”

According to news brought back by Qing Feng, Lu Tong had accused Cui Min before all the imperial physicians, saying Cui Min had seen the spring examination prescriptions first, then asked about Lu Tong’s prescription flaws afterward.

But at that time, Lu Tong shouldn’t have known about Qi Yutai’s family history of epilepsy. Why would she have written such a prescription during the spring examination?

Lu Tong smiled without answering.

Pei Yunying was incredulous: “Did you know early on that Qi Yutai had madness, so you planned ahead?”

Lu Tong shook her head.

Rarely seeing such a puzzled expression on the person before her, Lu Tong sipped her tea and spoke slowly.

“During the spring examination, I didn’t know Qi Yutai had a history of epilepsy. I only knew that Cui Min was a petty person who would steal others’ prescriptions.”

“Though I wrote ten new prescriptions under each examination category to tempt his greed, I deliberately left flaws in them.”

Her expression was calm, but her tone somewhat mocking.

“Cui Min is a petty person without real talent or learning. Even if he obtained the prescriptions, though they would be beneficial, he might not be able to fix the flaws. When that time came, he would have no choice but to seek help from the prescription’s author. This way, I would never become useless to Cui Min—always leaving myself a lifeline.”

Lu Tong set down her tea cup.

“I’m not as capable as the Commander thinks, able to predict future events. That Cui Min would use this prescription to treat Qi Yutai was also beyond my expectations. Heaven delivered the opportunity to me, and I simply adapted accordingly.”

“Before acting, I left myself an escape route. After all, obtaining a prescription is not easy.”

The room was quiet.

Pei Yunying stared at her for a long while, then suddenly lowered his head and couldn’t help laughing.

“To defeat something, one must first support it; to take something, one must first give to it.”

The young man looked at Lu Tong with a smile, his tone genuinely appreciative: “Thinking about it now, when I first offended you, you must have shown me mercy, right?”

With Lu Tong’s methods, if she truly wanted to deal with someone, it would be very difficult to escape.

“The Commander flatters me.”

“What’s wrong with that prescription? Will he go mad?”

“Perhaps.”

Pei Yunying nodded.

“So that was your plan,” he leaned back slightly, as if speaking casually. “Originally I was thinking whether there was anything I could help with. Now it seems there’s no place for me to be useful at all.”

He sighed: “Dr. Lu is truly too capable.”

This person was quite good at saying pleasant things—perhaps it was because he’d been drinking.

“Commander Pei has already helped me greatly. Always troubling the Commander would be improper.” She was polite.

“You’re my creditor,” he said.

Lu Tong took a deep breath.

She’d never seen anyone so eager to repay debts.

She said: “Others say ‘the receiver grows weary while the giver never tires’—how is it reversed when it comes to the Commander?”

“Dr. Lu doesn’t appreciate it?”

“I just don’t want the Commander to work so hard.”

“So considerate of me.”

He nodded, leaning forward slightly, propping his chin on his hand as he looked at Lu Tong, his bright eyes filled with laughter.

“In that case,” he said slowly, “when you used me to provoke Young Master Dong at the Commander’s residence entrance, why didn’t you worry about my hard work?”

At these words, Lu Tong was suddenly stunned.

She had indeed used Pei Yunying for a performance at the Commander’s residence entrance to make Dong Lin give up.

But at the time, Pei Yunying had appeared very calm and never mentioned it afterward, so she thought he hadn’t actually seen anything and assumed she had just accidentally fallen.

She never expected he had seen everything!

Lu Tong looked at him incredulously: “You knew?”

And he had still pretended nothing happened!

Pei Yunying raised an eyebrow, his gaze meaningful: “We almost kissed—after such impropriety toward me, should I not have known?”

“You’ve completely ruined my pure reputation.”

Lu Tong was instantly furious.

At this moment, she somewhat understood why Ji Xun found Pei Yunying disagreeable.

This person enjoyed watching others make fools of themselves.

She suppressed her anger and spoke: “You’re right. The Commander’s reputation is pure and noble. However, since you guard your virtue so carefully, why didn’t you push me away then?”

He could have directly pushed her away.

Still propping his head, as if greatly enjoying her angry appearance, he said unhurriedly: “Do you want to hear the truth or a lie?”

Lu Tong frowned: “What’s the lie?”

“The lie is that the Minister of the Court of Imperial Sacrifices had been spreading gossip about me before, and I also found the Dong family disagreeable. Their young master’s heartbreak made me happy.”

How boring.

Lu Tong asked: “Then what’s the truth?”

“The truth is…”

His eyes held laughter as he stared steadily at Lu Tong, his deep eyes like a pool of clear, cold lake water that gradually rippled when stirred by the breeze from the window.

Lu Tong’s heart stirred.

It seemed like light wine fragrance and the orchid musk scent from his body came together, the fragrance making one momentarily dizzy.

Pei Yunying continued to gaze quietly at her. The late summer afternoon was very quiet, with cicadas by the window bringing a hint of restlessness to the green forest shade.

Even her chest and face gradually grew warm.

“Guess,” he said.

…

On a summer afternoon, cicadas buzzed noisily.

In the Grand Tutor’s residence, in Qi Yutai’s room, the person on the bed turned over and sat up somewhat irritably.

Qi Yutai’s expression was anxious.

It had been nearly half a month since he recovered from illness and returned to the Bureau of Ceremonies.

During this half month, he went to the Bureau of Ceremonies every morning and returned home at dusk. From outsiders’ perspectives, everything had returned to normal.

But Qi Yutai knew the torment within.

Though his father had controlled him before, when going to the Bureau of Ceremonies, he could still find one or two opportunities to breathe. Now it was different.

Since he recovered and began going out, Qi Qing had assigned personal servants and guards to watch him. They accompanied him to the Bureau of Ceremonies as well, ostensibly saying he still needed medicinal decoctions to nourish his body, but Qi Yutai knew clearly that his father was obviously monitoring him.

Afraid he would fall ill again, afraid he would have another mad episode in public and disgrace the Qi family, so he had people follow him constantly. If anything happened, they would immediately take him back to the residence to preserve the Qi family’s reputation.

Reputation.

Qi Yutai laughed coldly in self-mockery.

He wasn’t deaf to the gossip outside. His father had always cherished his reputation, and now that he had been watched like a laughingstock monkey in Rouge Alley, his father’s anger and disappointment were imaginable.

Thinking of these things made Qi Yutai’s head throb, as if something was about to explode inside. The more this happened, the more he missed the Fengle Tower that had been destroyed by fire.

He wanted to take scattered powder again.

But now his father watched him even more strictly. Not only could he not take powder, he didn’t even have opportunities to go out alone, so he could only give up.

Forget it—after the day after tomorrow, when he got a chance, he’d have Hua Ying find a way to help him go out and relieve his boredom, he thought.

Thinking of Qi Huaying inevitably led him to think of that female imperial physician who was the root cause of his sister’s heartbreak.

Just then, a servant brought newly brewed medicine, and Qi Yutai asked: “How is that Lu Tong doing lately?”

If not for encountering that fire at Fengle Tower, he would have already begun dealing with that lowly medical woman. A cheap woman from poor streets and alleys who didn’t know her place, daring to make the Qi family’s precious pearl sad—even with Pei Yunying’s protection, he would find a way to make her lose a layer of skin.

Who knew an accident would occur, delaying his plans and letting that woman hop around for a few more days.

The servant beside him replied: “Young Master, Lu Tong has already left the Imperial Medical Academy.”

Qi Yutai’s hand holding the medicine bowl paused as he looked up.

“What?”

The servant bowed his head and recounted everything that had happened at the Imperial Medical Academy recently.

After finishing, Qi Yutai murmured: “She actually left.”

He hadn’t even begun to act, and Lu Tong was already gone?

This might be Cui Min’s doing, but Pei Yunying, as Lu Tong’s backer, hadn’t intervened?

No, he should have intervened. Otherwise, if Lu Tong dared to slander Cui Min, by now she should have been completely expelled from the Imperial Medical Academy or beaten with rods, not merely suspended for three months.

Cui Min was still somewhat wary.

Qi Yutai’s expression was disdainful, but soon he became happy again.

This was actually good.

When Lu Tong was at the Imperial Medical Academy, Pei Yunying was watching in the imperial city, and there was also that Ji Xun—some things were inconvenient to attempt.

Now that she had fallen to West Street, West Street was full of commoners, a place where dragons and snakes mixed. Wanting to act against her would be easy, more convenient than at the Imperial Medical Academy.

Thinking of this, Qi Yutai felt relieved. Even the medicinal soup that usually tasted unbearably bitter now seemed somewhat more palatable.

“Good.” He raised his pale face from illness, his somewhat dark eyes flashing with an inexplicable light at this moment that was rather chilling.

“This is actually good news.”

As he spoke, he reached for the medicine bowl on the tray.

The dark brown medicinal soup was viscous, served in a white porcelain bowl, making it look even more like a pool of rotten, stinking mud. As soon as it was brought close, the bitter smell immediately filled his nostrils.

Good medicine tastes bitter, but this medicine was more bitter than poison.

Qi Yutai secretly cursed Cui Min, tilted his head back, closed his eyes, and drained the bowl of medicinal soup.