The wedding wine had been delivered, the matchmaker confirmed, and the betrothal gifts given. In the blink of an eye, the Beginning of Autumn arrived. The auspicious day calculated by He Xiazi was the first day of the eighth month.

By this time, the weather was no longer as scorching as in previous days and had begun to gradually cool. The Imperial Medical Bureau was slowly getting on track, and Lu Tong was not as busy as before. The Emperor specifically granted Pei Yunying five days of leave to return home and marry.

Early in the morning, Renxin Medical Clinic was bustling with activity.

From the day before, lanterns covered with “happiness” characters had been hung on trees along both sides of West Street. Firecrackers had been going off since dawn, scattering bright red fragments all over the ground. A’Cheng carried a bamboo basket tied with red ribbons, going door to door distributing candy. Neighbors who received candy happily replied with auspicious phrases like “golden boy and jade girl” and “a hundred years of harmony.”

From the small windows in the courtyard came occasional voices of instruction.

“A bit lower, this hair ornament would be more suitable if placed higher.” Inside the room, Lu Tong sat upright before the dressing mirror.

Yin Zheng stood behind her, combing her hair, while Lin Danqing leaned to one side, carefully and seriously giving guidance.

Lu Tong had no parents or relatives, being alone in the capital. Madam Song from the neighboring shop had once suggested that Lu Tong hire a professional hairdresser to style her bridal hair, but Lu Tong insisted on having Yin Zheng do it for her.

Having traveled together all this way, although Yin Zheng shared no blood relation with her, she was closer than family. Lu Tong hoped to have a loved one accompany her on her wedding day.

“Don’t worry,” Yin Zheng’s skillful hands flew as she inserted pearl hairpins and gold ornaments one by one, adorning the black hair with glittering colors. “I used to be quite good at styling hair. Knowing I would be doing your makeup, I went to Silver Moon Workshop a month in advance to learn from the best hairdresser. I dare not say I’m better than the professionals, but I’m definitely putting my heart into it. Besides, Miss, you’re naturally beautiful – you look good no matter how you’re styled.”

“It certainly looks beautiful,” Lin Danqing sat sideways, sighing in admiration. “Our Sister Lu doesn’t even use rouge normally. This is the first time I’ve seen you in elaborate red attire – tsk tsk tsk, who are you trying to dazzle to death?”

Her words were exaggerated, and Lu Tong remained silent.

“Actually, I never imagined at the beginning that you would end up with Commander Zhuang,” Lin Danqing said with some emotion. “You two – one from the Palace Guard whose eyes always look down on people from above, and one from the Medical Bureau who wouldn’t spare a thought for anything but medicine – yet you’ve finally become a pair. This shows that marriage truly has no logic.”

“However,” she casually picked up a longan from the happiness basket nearby, peeled it and popped it in her mouth, speaking teasingly, “what did I say back then? I saw early on that something was off between you two. These eyes of mine are sharp. No wonder our ancestors said we Lin family people are descended from the Moon God of Marriage – I can tell at a glance who’s tied to whom by those messy red threads.”

Hearing this, Yin Zheng couldn’t help but laugh: “Didn’t Physician Lin once say your ancestors descended from the divine physician Hua Tuo?”

Lin Danqing paused: “Well, the Moon God can treat illnesses while matchmaking at the same time – multitasking, you know.”

Listening to their chatter in the room, Lu Tong found it amusing, and it greatly relieved her wedding nervousness.

Talking and laughing like this, A’Cheng came to urge them several times from the front. Yin Zheng inserted the last hibiscus flower hairpin into Lu Tong’s hair and let out a long sigh of relief: “Done!”

Lu Tong stood up.

The woman in the mirror wore a wide-sleeved gold-threaded crimson gauze pleated dress, with an outer robe featuring peony patterns and wide sleeves. The skirt was exquisite and light, moving like drifting red clouds. Her black hair was swept up and adorned with a small pearl and jade coronet. Though elaborate, the wedding dress was not cumbersome – light and charming, it suited her perfectly.

Lin Danqing circled around her twice: “Commander Pei really spent lavishly this time. This wedding dress makes even me envious.”

Yin Zheng teased: “Physician Lin needn’t be envious – perhaps you’ll get to wear one soon. My Miss is marrying today – when might we drink at Physician Lin’s wedding banquet?”

Lin Danqing shuddered and pretended to point a reproving finger: “You young girl, why do you speak just like my aunt? Our ancestral teaching says one shouldn’t abandon an entire garden for a single flower. I haven’t had enough fun yet. Besides, talking about romance oneself – how can that be as interesting as watching others talk about romance?”

She turned around and took out a small box from her bosom, handing it to Lu Tong: “Here, a wedding gift for you.”

Lu Tong opened it to look and was nearly blinded by what was inside – it was a heavy, large gold lantern inscribed with the character for “happiness.”

Lu Tong looked puzzled: “This is…”

“You’re marrying into the Pei family all alone. Though Pei Yunying seems to treat you well, it’s always wise to keep something of your own. What can that small salary from the Medical Bureau do? It’s not even enough to buy snacks. After returning from Jiangnan, I saved all the rewards from treating the epidemic and exchanged them for silver, commissioning Treasure Fragrance House to make this gold lantern for you.”

“It’s a bit vulgar, but gold is sometimes more useful than those fancy jewelry pieces.”

Lu Tong looked at the large gold lantern. The craftsmanship wasn’t exquisite, and others might even call it “ugly,” but it was solid enough – clearly made with substantial weight in mind.

She suppressed a smile, closed the box and had Yin Zheng help store it, saying sincerely: “Thank you.”

“You’re welcome,” Lin Danqing moved closer to Lu Tong. “But Pei Yunying sent so many betrothal gifts, and I heard your clinic’s proprietor also added to your dowry. What did he give?”

“Dowry…”

Speaking of this, Lu Tong’s expression flickered, and thinking of something, she laughed with a “puff” sound.

Meanwhile, under the plum tree at the medical clinic, neighbors watching the excitement crowded the entrance. Tailor Ge munched sunflower seeds while asking: “Shopkeeper Du, your Physician Lu is getting married. What gift did you, as her employer, give? Not just a basket of wedding candy, surely?”

“Go, go, go,” Du Changqing was furious. “Am I that petty? Not just Physician Lu – even if this plum tree at our clinic entrance were getting married, I’d have to hang several gold lanterns on it!”

“Oh?” Widow Sun was curious. “So how many gold lanterns did you hang for Physician Lu?”

“Shallow thinking,” Du Changqing snorted. “Giving someone fish is not as good as teaching them to fish. What I gave is naturally the best.”

He spoke with particular pride.

Lu Ya came from nothing and worked as a physician at the clinic for a year. Except for the two hundred taels of silver he gave her after the spring examination, she earned nothing else – working for free for a whole year. This infuriated Du Changqing, who wanted to crack open Lu Tong’s head to see what she’d been doing all year.

Lu Tong was alone and poor, while Pei Yunying came from a wealthy family and served at the imperial court. After much thought, Du Changqing was unwilling to swallow this slight. But if he properly contributed to the dowry, even combining all of Renxin Medical Clinic’s monthly salaries wouldn’t match the other party’s wealth. After long consideration, he came up with a brilliant plan.

Du Changqing decided to make Lu Tong a co-owner of the medicine shop.

Lu Tong wouldn’t need to contribute any money normally – she just needed to submit prescriptions on time and sit in the clinic conscientiously. In the future, half of every profit earned by Renxin Medical Clinic would belong to Lu Tong.

Of course, he would never admit it was because he hoped Lu Tong’s prescriptions could help the clinic prosper.

Du Changqing felt himself a genius for devising this brilliant strategy.

“This way, Physician Lu transforms from a clinic physician to the clinic’s co-owner – how prestigious that sounds! Moreover, no matter how much silver money is given as dowry, what if some scoundrel pockets it privately? Better to follow my plan with monthly profit sharing. If someday there’s a divorce and she’s thrown out penniless, she’ll still have a place to settle and won’t have to beg on the streets. Even if Pei Yunying wants to quarrel with Physician Lu, he’ll have to think twice – after all, she has her maternal family’s support.”

A’Cheng said speechlessly: “Boss, Physician Lu hasn’t even married yet, and you’re already cursing her with divorce. That’s not good, is it?”

“What’s wrong with saying this?” Du Changqing was dismissive, teaching earnestly: “When parents love their children, they plan far ahead for them. You don’t understand.”

As they spoke, another red-clothed boy came from outside to urge the bride.

When a bride marries, she must be urged multiple times before departing. The boy said: “Please, Shopkeeper Du, hurry them along. The groom is already on his way.”

Du Changqing reluctantly urged them several more times with a displeased face. When he urged for the third time, there was finally movement in the courtyard.

“Coming, coming!” Yin Zheng’s laughter came from inside.

The neighbors gathered outside the clinic all craned their necks to look inside, and saw Lin Danqing and Yin Zheng supporting Lu Tong as she slowly emerged.

The woman hadn’t yet put on the gold-threaded veil. She wore a crimson gold-threaded dress with embroidered red cloud shoulders and paired fish gold pendants, like distant mountain hibiscus with painted eyebrows. Her natural beauty was excellent, though her temperament was somewhat cool. When a woman accustomed to plain clothes wore red makeup, she was especially captivating – like a plain flower suddenly blooming in splendor, brilliant beyond belief.

There was a moment of silence at the clinic entrance.

Then children’s delighted laughter rang out: “The bride is coming! The bride is coming!”

Du Changqing quickly shushed everyone to quiet down, while A’Cheng brought a small bowl of sesame glutinous rice balls to Miao Liangfang.

Miao Liangfang sat on a chair at the inner shop entrance, his walking stick beside him. Holding the porcelain bowl, he looked at Lu Tong and smiled: “Little Lu, eat this bowl of glutinous rice balls for a round and complete life.”

Lu Tong was moved for a moment upon hearing this.

Before a bride’s departure, her mother should personally feed her a bowl of glutinous rice balls before boarding the sedan chair. When she was in Changwu County, she had seen neighboring families’ daughters married this way.

Now, with parents and siblings all gone, she thought this ritual would be omitted. She never expected the person feeding her the glutinous rice balls would be Miao Liangfang.

Lu Tong gathered her skirts and sat beside Miao Liangfang, letting him feed her a snow-white glutinous ball.

The sweet fragrance of sesame melted on her lips. Miao Liangfang looked at her and smiled: “Little Lu, though we’re not blood relatives, before the spring examination, I was at least half your teacher. As they say, ‘a teacher for a day is a father for life.’ Now that you’re getting married, this old man will shamelessly act as your elder.”

Lu Tong smiled softly: “Thank you, teacher.”

She had two masters.

One taught her to see the world’s cruelty and human malice; the other taught her medical ethics and compassion, putting patients first. The former taught her to pursue; the latter taught her to let go.

The sound of carriages approached from far to near on West Street. A’Cheng shouted: “The groom’s carriage is almost at the alley entrance. Don’t dawdle – quickly help Physician Lu board the sedan chair!”

Du Changqing waved everyone aside. Today he also wore a brand-new yellow robe, particularly bright among the crowd. He walked to Lu Tong in a few steps and squatted down: “Get on!”

Brides were traditionally carried to the flower sedan by family brothers. Among all the people at Renxin Medical Clinic, this responsibility could only fall to Du Changqing.

Yin Zheng helped Lu Tong onto Du Changqing’s back. Du Changqing usually looked boneless, always slouching in the shop, but unexpectedly his back was broad and strong. He carried Lu Tong easily, walking toward the flower sedan while chattering: “Did you put away the silver notes I gave you yesterday properly? Did you bring all your jewelry? When you get to the Zhuang family, be a bit more arrogant – don’t let them look down on you right away. Yin Zheng will accompany you…”

He spoke of trivial matters, just like a real older brother worrying about his sister who was about to leave the household. Listening to him, Lu Tong’s eyes gradually moistened.

If Lu Qian were still alive, today Lu Qian should be carrying her to the wedding sedan. Lu Rou would comb her hair, and her parents would feed her the first spoonful of glutinous rice balls before she left home.

Her family was gone, but she had gained a new family. Though they were different people, perhaps the warmth and bonds, love and care were the same.

Du Changqing walked and talked all the way, incidentally cursing Pei Yunying. When they reached the flower sedan, he set Lu Tong down, and Yin Zheng helped escort Lu Tong into the sedan chair.

“Raise the sedan!” A’Cheng’s cheers rang out from outside.

Miao Liangfang distributed the prepared colored silk and wedding money to the guests witnessing the ceremony.

“Oh my,” Master Hu was squeezed outside the crowd, had several whiskers pulled out, but managed to snatch two strings of wedding money from people’s hands, casually stuffing one string to Wu Youcai beside him: “Youcai, at your age you’re still unmarried – absorbing some of Physician Lu’s wedding luck is perfect!”

Beside Master Hu, Wu Youcai wore a scholar’s blue robe, holding the wedding money with a bashful smile.

When Wu Youcai received the wedding invitation from Renxin Medical Clinic, he asked for two days off from the household where he taught, specifically returning to the city to attend the ceremony. He now worked as a tutor outside the city, quite content with himself. He looked more cheerful than before, not always heavy with worries as in the past. It was said the family he taught treated him very well and had even gently inquired last year whether he wanted to take the imperial examination again, which Wu Youcai politely declined.

Sometimes, when a person’s gaze falls on distant places, they feel the world is vast and open, not confined to one location.

“Oops,” someone bumped into him. Wu Youcai turned around and saw a woman in cloth dress pushed backward by the crowded throng. Seeing this, she quickly bowed to him apologetically: “Sorry, sorry, I didn’t mean to.”

“No harm done.”

He Xiu bent down to pick up the colored silk that had fallen to the ground.

She had come specifically to witness Lu Tong’s wedding.

After Medical Bureau Director Cui Min’s incident, no one had yet been appointed as the new director, with Chang Jin temporarily handling duties. The new emperor was purifying the court, and both the Medical Bureau and Imperial Pharmacy conducted top-to-bottom self-examinations. The medical workers previously assigned to the Southern Medicine Room finally got a chance to clear their names. Those who had been oppressed and bullied, unable to see daylight, could start fresh. Because the original regulations for assigning medical workers to the Southern Medicine Room were unreasonable, henceforth, new medical officials regardless of background would take turns serving in the Southern Medicine Room.

Concubine Mei also resigned from the Medical Bureau and left the imperial city.

He Xiu remained in the Southern Medicine Room, but no longer did tasks like collecting red cotton floss. Shi Changpu from the Imperial Pharmacy thought she was good at processing and identifying medicinal materials, so he asked the Imperial Pharmacy Director to request a favor from Chang Jin, transferring He Xiu from the Southern Medicine Room to the Imperial Pharmacy.

Imperial Pharmacy duties were much more relaxed than the Southern Medicine Room, and He Xiu followed Shi Changpu, who was expert at avoiding work and being perfunctory. Her days suddenly became leisurely. After Lu Tong sent her a wedding invitation, she asked Shi Changpu for leave and came to West Street.

The red cotton floss poison in her body had been completely resolved, the rashes on her face had fully cleared, and she returned home monthly during rest days to reunite with her siblings. Her happiness was written on her face.

He Xiu walked forward a few steps. Lu Tong also saw her. He Xiu secretly waved at Lu Tong, and Lu Tong smiled. He Xiu smiled too.

He Xiu felt that Lu Tong was much more relaxed now than when she was in the Southern Medicine Room. Back then in the Southern Medicine Room, when they collected red cotton floss together, no matter what happened, Lu Tong always maintained a calm expression. Though this calmness made people feel secure, it was like an invisible wall clearly separating Lu Tong from others.

Now that wall was gone. When the woman smiled, she had a childlike quality, just like a woman of her wonderful age should be – simple, rejoicing only in immediate matters.

Just then, someone outside suddenly shouted: “Here he comes, here he comes! The groom is coming!”

The neighbors crowded on the roadside moved aside upon hearing this, and saw carriages gradually approaching from the far end of West Street. The leading figure rode a tall, handsome horse with bright saddle and bridle, wearing a red silk round-collar robe, gold belt, and black leather boots. Handsome and elegant, proud and pleased, he rode forward on his horse.

West Street had seen people marry before, but wearing red silk robes so eye-catchingly was truly a first.

“Oh my,” Widow Sun in front saw this face and immediately gasped, excitedly slapping the arm of the person beside her: “What a ‘handsome face topping the capital’!”

Dai Sanlang silently endured the pain of Widow Sun’s arm-slapping and moved his elbow aside.

Lu Tong also heard the sounds outside.

She wanted very much to lift the curtain and see what scene was unfolding outside. Yin Zheng’s voice came from outside the sedan curtain: “Miss, you absolutely mustn’t come out. The sedan is about to be lifted – hold back.”

Lu Tong had to suppress her impulse.

She heard Pei Yunying and Du Changqing and others bidding farewell outside, and the flower sedan was lifted with gentle swaying. She felt the horse hoofbeats stop beside her, as if sensing the other party watching her from outside, and her heart settled slightly.

More sounds of scattering wedding money rang out from outside, and the sedan bearers gave a long shout—

•  Note: This represents a significant gesture in Chinese culture, as sharing ownership of a business demonstrates deep trust and commitment.