That night, wind arose in the small courtyard.

The pharmacy’s main gate was already locked, and the lanterns in the courtyard had been lit.

Yin Zheng had asked Du Changqing for several old lanterns, wiped them clean with handkerchiefs, and hung them under the eaves at the four corners of the small courtyard. Once darkness fell, a layer of dim yellow light scattered across the blue stone ground.

The moonlight was like silver, illuminating the small courtyard until it was snow-bright. At the stone table in the center of the small courtyard, a single lamp burned.

Lu Tong sat at the stone table, unhurriedly grinding medicine.

The vessel holding the medicine was a silver jar with precious floral vine patterns carved on its surface—the decorative design was exquisite and intricate. The medicine pestle was also made of silver, striking against the jar and making crisp ringing sounds in the night.

Yin Zheng walked out from the house, holding several newly made silk flowers in her hands. She reached toward Lu Tong’s temples to compare them: “Miss, I’ve made several new silk flowers. Please try them on. That blue velvet flower from last time was stained with blood and can’t be washed clean, so it can’t be used anymore. I’ve changed the style of these two—they’re guaranteed to look good.”

Lu Tong’s gaze fell on the flowers in her hands, and she couldn’t help but pause.

She wasn’t skilled at dressing up and adorning herself. After all, she had lived on the mountain for many years and rarely saw people. Occasionally during festivals, Yunniang would suddenly get excited and go down the mountain to buy her some clothes. When those clothes truly no longer fit, she would wait for the next round of new clothes.

The last time Yunniang bought her new clothes was a year ago. Not long after that, Yunniang died.

She herself only had a few pieces of clothing, so jewelry was even more impossible. However, Yin Zheng was skillful with her hands and always chose matching-colored handkerchiefs to sew silk flowers, velvet flowers, and the like, so she could coordinate them with her dress and accessories.

Lu Tong’s hand movements grinding the medicine didn’t stop as she simply said: “Actually, I don’t need these things.”

“How can you not need them?” Yin Zheng continued comparing them while saying: “At your age, this is precisely the time for dressing up. If you wear everything plain and simple, wouldn’t you be wasting this face of yours? These silk flower materials only need a few coins worth of handkerchiefs to make well, yet they can add considerable color for Miss.”

“Miss must trust my craftsmanship.” Yin Zheng withdrew the silk flowers from Lu Tong’s temples and carefully adjusted the needlework. “Previously in the brothel, I dare not boast about other things, but I was proficient in dressing, adorning, and hairstyling. When Shopkeeper Du pays our monthly wages, Miss can go buy several feet of light gauze. In a few months it will be summer, and we need to make two light summer shirts.”

Lu Tong smiled gently.

As Yin Zheng spoke, she suddenly remembered something and looked at the young lady seriously grinding medicine in the moonlight: “I heard from Tailor Ge next door that Xinlin Hall reopened today. Shopkeeper Bai voluntarily apologized to those common people who bought medicine, compensated them with much more silver, and promised never to sell Spring Yang Life medicine again. Those common people received the silver and stopped making trouble, so this matter will probably gradually settle down.”

Lu Tong said: “Money can make even ghosts push millstones. Bai Shouyi chose to spend money to avoid disaster—he’s a clever man.”

Yin Zheng looked at Lu Tong’s expression, somewhat worried: “However, they suffered losses this time. Won’t they hold a grudge against us?”

Lu Tong didn’t lift her head, forcefully grinding the herbs in the jar: “So what if they hold a grudge? Since I want to make a name for myself, I inevitably have to offend my peers. Renxin Medical Hall isn’t outstanding. If I want to stand out from the crowd, I can only step on other medical halls’ reputations to climb up.”

“That’s true.” Yin Zheng sighed, then quickly smiled again: “No matter what, Xinlin Hall will have to stay quiet for quite a while now, and our medical hall has gained some reputation. At least no one else can make Miss’s prescriptions. Now Shopkeeper Du wishes he could enshrine Miss like a deity. This position as resident physician is yours to hold steadily.”

Lu Tong smiled: “Yes.”

Now she was already a proper resident physician, and Renxin Medical Hall was gradually gaining some confidence. Next, she should consider the Ke family’s affairs.

The Ke family…

Thinking of the Ke family, Lu Tong’s gaze darkened slightly.

Speaking of which, the current Ke family should have already received news about “Wang Yingying.”

…

In the Ke Manor in Shengjing, Old Madam Ke had just finished eating a box of sweet fruit candies.

Honey cakes, sugar cheese, and preserved fruits were packed in a palm-sized redwood small box with compartments inside, each having its own flavor.

Old Madam Ke was advanced in years and most loved sweet, soft foods. She ate much sugar daily. The physician had advised that she should avoid excessive sweetness and not be allowed to eat freely, and the eldest master of the Ke family constantly advised her about this, but unfortunately Old Madam Ke didn’t listen and remained addicted to sweets as if they were her life.

Old Madam Ke sat in a yellow rosewood chair with carved phoenix patterns, her eyes slightly closed. Nanny Li was behind her massaging her shoulders while chatting with her intermittently.

“Old Madam, this servant heard at noon from Biqing in the eldest master’s quarters that the eldest mistress quarreled with the eldest master again over money matters.”

Old Madam Ke frowned, opened her eyes, and her expression darkened as she scolded: “That Qin Shi too, relying on her official father, acts tyrannically in the household. She controls a man’s money so tightly. A few days ago when I gave Xing’er some extra silver, she not only confiscated it when she saw it, but also made pointed remarks in front of me, clearly putting on a show for me to see.”

Nanny Li smiled: “The eldest mistress comes from a distinguished background, so naturally her temperament is rather high.”

“What high temperament—she simply lacks propriety and doesn’t understand hierarchy.” Old Madam Ke became even more displeased. “Speaking of it, the previous one was better. Although she had no backing and had a fox-like, trouble-making appearance, she was easy to control and served people attentively. Unlike this one—what kind of daughter-in-law did we marry? Clearly we married a buddha statue!”

Nanny Li didn’t dare respond. Old Madam Ke sighed first: “The people I sent to Changwu County to inquire about news returned and said that the Lu family indeed has relatives in southern Jiangsu, and there is indeed a younger sister called Wang Yingying. Eight or nine years ago, she even lived at the Lu family home for a period.”

Nanny Li thought for a moment: “It must have been that Miss Wang who came to the manor last time.”

“You’re right, she probably came to seek help.” Old Madam Ke picked up her tea and took a sip to wash away the sweetness in her mouth. “Unfortunately, if Lu Shi were still here, she might have been willing to give her some silver. Now with Qin Shi in charge, she’s so tight-fisted she won’t spend a single coin. If she heard about the previous wife’s affairs, she’d probably make another scene. We can only let it be.”

Nanny Li smiled: “Old Madam has a bodhisattva’s heart.”

Old Madam Ke waved her hand: “It’s not that I have a bodhisattva’s heart, I just fear complications. Now that the weather is gradually warming, after June and July passes, there will be the Grand Tutor Manor’s birthday banquet, and our Ke family will have to send porcelain over. Xing’er is usually careless and lazy. Right now our Ke family depends on Grand Tutor Manor for our livelihood. We absolutely cannot be careless, otherwise if we learn from that Lu Shi and cause trouble…”

She suddenly stopped speaking here, not knowing what she thought of, as a trace of fear flashed in her eyes.

Nanny Li also didn’t dare make a sound, standing quietly behind her.

After quite a while, Old Madam Ke finally waved her hand and sighed: “Forget it. Go tell Wan Fu’s wife that I’ve been wanting to eat falling plum cakes these days. Have her go to the official lane flower market early to collect plum blossoms.”

Nanny Li quickly responded: “Yes.”