The people at Renxin Medical Hall knew nothing of these schemes at Xinglin Hall.

Spring Water Tea’s reputation grew even greater. Whether scholars and refined guests or common folk, anyone who had used this medicinal tea couldn’t in good conscience say anything bad about it.

Many people came to buy the tea, but only Lu Tong made it, which was quite taxing. Sometimes people would wait at the door before Renxin Medical Hall even opened in the morning.

One early morning, a young servant arrived on West Street, muttering to himself: “Master wants to buy Spring Wind Tea? No, Spring Flower Tea? What exactly was that ‘Spring something Tea’ called?”

Nasal congestion tea has become very popular lately, especially among scholars. His master frequently suffered from rhinitis and, hearing of this tea, specifically ordered him to buy some. Unfortunately, the servant had a poor memory – he could remember the beginning and end but not the middle character.

When he reached West Street, the shops were bustling with customers coming and going. The servant almost got dizzy from the activity. Looking up, he saw a large medical hall not far ahead, quite imposing and spacious, with three characters reading “Xinglin Hall” above it.

The servant wanted to ask for directions, so he approached the middle-aged man at the medicine counter: “Excuse me, is there a medical hall on West Street that sells nasal congestion tea?”

The middle-aged man turned to face him, smiling as he asked: “Are you referring to Spring Sun Tea?”

“Spring Sun Tea?” The servant was confused – was that what it was called? It seemed close enough, so he asked: “Does it treat nasal congestion?”

“Indeed it does!” The man warmly placed a container of tea in his hands, speaking kindly, “It relieves nasal congestion and rhinitis, quite effectively. Three taels of silver per container. Why don’t you take one home and try it, young man?”

“Three taels of silver per container?” The servant asked in surprise, “Wasn’t it four taels per container? When did you change the price?”

The man smiled without responding.

“Never mind.” The servant pulled out several pieces of silver from his chest and handed them over, “I’ll take five containers then.” He secretly rejoiced – the medical hall lowering its price was good news. He could keep the extra silver for himself later. Heaven knows, earth knows, he knows, the medical hall knows – his master would never find out.

The servant bought the tea and left happily. Bai Shouyi watched his retreating figure while playing with the silk belt at his waist, smiling as he muttered to himself: “The sun is above, water below, I am above you, naturally having the upper hand. Spring Sun Tea…”

He sighed: “What a good name indeed.”

…

While Xinglin Hall gradually grew busier, the front of Renxin Medical Hall on West Street Lane wasn’t as lively as before.

Except for Master Hu occasionally coming to buy some tea to support the business, there were few new customers. Seeing the Spring Water Tea containers gradually piling up into a small tower on the table out front, Du Changqing grew restless.

He sprawled halfway across the table, watching Lu Tong as she sorted tea into containers, and asked: “Doctor Lu, could there be something wrong with how you’re making the tea? The batch we sold earlier was effective, but these newer batches might not be as good as before. Otherwise, how could we keep losing customers?” He tentatively continued, “I don’t mean to doubt your skills, but is it possible that your medicine-making technique isn’t quite refined enough yet?”

His doubtful tone immediately angered Yin Zheng, who retorted: “Master, what a strange thing to say. If my lady’s medicinal tea truly wasn’t effective, why would Master Hu keep buying it? Even if it were just to support the medical hall’s business, he’s coming too frequently.”

Du Changqing was speechless. This was true – Master Hu would buy some medicines every couple of months out of respect for his father, but he wouldn’t be so particularly interested in the tea as he was now. These past few times seeing Master Hu, he hadn’t been covering his nose with a handkerchief, suggesting his nasal congestion had indeed improved.

If there was nothing wrong with the tea’s effectiveness, why were fewer and fewer people coming to buy it?

As he pondered this deeply, Ah Cheng came running in from outside, panting: “Master, Master, something terrible has happened!”

Du Changqing asked impatiently: “What now?”

Ah Cheng glanced at Lu Tong, who was seriously sorting medicines, then carefully spoke: “I just went around West Street and heard that Xinglin Hall recently released a new kind of tea, only three taels of silver, that can relieve nasal congestion and rhinitis…” Under his master’s increasingly dark expression, the young apprentice stammered out a few words: “It’s called ‘Spring Sun Tea.'”

Yin Zheng was stunned.

A nasal congestion tea called Spring Sun Tea – wasn’t this copying them? And reducing the price by one tael of silver, obviously targeting Renxin Medical Hall deliberately.

Du Changqing immediately burst into curses: “Shameless! I was wondering why our business had become so slow lately, so it was all intercepted by Xinglin Hall. Bai Shouyi is as shameless as ever, using such underhanded tactics!”

Xinglin Hall was large and spacious, with a strong reputation. Any newcomer to West Street would naturally go to Xinglin Hall first when asking around. With customers all being taken by Xinglin Hall, even fewer people would come to Renxin Medical Hall on their own.

Du Changqing was about to storm out the door, seemingly to demand an explanation from Xinglin Hall, when Lu Tong said: “Master Du.”

Du Changqing glared at her fiercely.

“You’re not going to stop me, are you?” Du Changqing pointed outside, his hand shaking with anger, “This is Renxin Medical Hall’s new medicinal tea, and Bai Shouyi not only copies it but gives it such a name – who is he trying to provoke? We worked so hard to build our reputation, all to make a wedding dress for Xinglin Hall. How can I accept this? Since the tea business has been stolen and the medical hall still can’t stay open, I might as well go shame him at Xinglin Hall’s door – at least I won’t lose out completely!”

“And then what?” Lu Tong looked at him calmly, “People buying tea will hear your shaming and still buy the cheaper tea. Xinglin Hall’s income won’t decrease, so what will Master Du gain?”

Du Changqing froze.

Yin Zheng and Ah Cheng looked uneasy.

Lu Tong put down the tea she was holding, took out a cloth to carefully wipe the medicine powder from her hands, and spoke softly: “New medicine is different from being a resident doctor. As long as you find the recipe and use the same materials and processing methods, you can make something with the same effects. Not just Xinglin Hall – in a few days, other medical halls will also sell similar teas. Besides ‘Spring Sun Tea,’ there will be ‘Spring Wind Tea’ and ‘Spring Flower Tea.’ Does Master Du plan to go shame every one of them?”

Du Changqing was speechless for a long while, then said irritably: “Then what do you suggest? We can’t just swallow this insult. Or,” he stared at Lu Tong hesitantly, “should we follow their lead and lower our price to three taels of silver per container?”

“Xinglin Hall has quite a reputation in the capital’s medical community, far exceeding Renxin Medical Hall. For the same three taels of silver, people will naturally try Xinglin Hall first. Selling at a lower price is not a long-term solution.”

Du Changqing became even more dejected, saying bitterly: “Heaven wants to destroy me! Perhaps the heavens truly want me, Du Changqing, to be useless all my life, never making any progress?”

Lu Tong looked at him: “Master Du, I told you before, others won’t necessarily be able to make my medicinal tea.”

Du Changqing was startled.

Back at the Laiyi Inn’s tea stall, Du Changqing had indeed foreseen today’s situation. At that time, he had asked Lu Tong what advantage Renxin Medical Hall would have if other medical halls learned to make the tea.

At that time, Lu Tong had replied, “Never mind whether others can learn to make my tea or not, Master Du, why don’t you consider – if I can make nasal congestion tea, couldn’t I make other teas as well?” Her words had been confident, showing no anxiety.

Now that things had come to this point, Lu Tong’s face still showed no trace of worry.

He thought and thought, and after a while, hesitantly spoke: “Doctor Lu, could it be that your tea contains some hidden element that’s hard to replicate?”

Lu Tong picked up a container of tea in front of her, her fingertips brushing over the willow catkin pattern on the container as she spoke softly: “To make the same tea, one needs to identify the recipe used. I added one ingredient to the tea that others find hard to distinguish. I think even Xinglin Hall’s doctors won’t be able to identify it.”

Du Changqing’s heart stirred, and he asked joyfully: “Really?”

Lu Tong put down the tea container and looked back at Du Changqing: “Master Du, if I were you, rather than being angry here, I’d do something else.”

“Something else?” Du Changqing was confused, “What?”

Lu Tong smiled: “After the Peach Blossom Festival, thanks to Master Hu’s introduction, Spring Water Tea was in such high demand. At that time, word spread in the marketplace that Spring Water Tea was remarkably effective, providing immediate relief for nasal congestion. In this world, few miracle medicines work instantly – for a new medicine, such exaggerated claims of effectiveness are more harmful than beneficial. Fortunately, Spring Water Tea’s effects were genuine, which is why it established its reputation.”

Du Changqing nodded, cursing: “Indeed, who knows which scoundrel went around overselling it!”

Lu Tong looked at him.

Meeting her gaze, Du Changqing froze for a moment, then his expression gradually changed: “You mean…”

Lu Tong said calmly: “Xinglin Hall wants to replicate Spring Water Tea but can’t identify the recipe, so its effectiveness will be greatly reduced. They can maintain it for a short while, but over time, when people who buy the tea discover it doesn’t live up to its name, their credibility will surely collapse. Master Du,” she looked at Du Changqing, “to use their methods against them, since Xinglin Hall has started this, why not add fuel to their fire?”

“If I were you, I would immediately have people spread rumors in the marketplace that Xinglin Hall’s Spring Sun Tea has miraculous effects, curing ailments instantly, far surpassing Renxin Medical Hall’s Spring Water Tea.”

After she finished speaking unhurriedly, there was complete silence around them.

Ah Cheng and Yin Zheng were dumbfounded.

Du Changqing stared at Lu Tong’s bright, dark eyes, and for some reason, suddenly shivered.

A moment later, he swallowed and said quietly: “Al-alright… we’ll do as you say.”

Du Changqing: Sister! You are my only sister!