All uninvolved onlookers had been driven away from the pavilion in Wuhuai Garden. The Dong family servants stood around, closely watching those inside.

Gradually, Young Master Dong’s complexion regained some color, and his eyes opened. He groaned with effort and called out, “Mother…”

“Lin’er!” Madam Dong hurried over, grasping his hand while crying, “You nearly scared your mother to death!”

Lu Tong stood up and spoke to the Dong family servants: “Don’t move the gold needles in his body. Wait another incense stick’s time and they can be removed. Don’t let him move too much to avoid shortness of breath and chest tightness.”

The Dong family servants no longer dared to treat her with disrespect as before and hurriedly agreed respectfully.

Seeing Madam Dong and Young Master Dong speaking in low voices, Lu Tong turned and walked a few steps outside the pavilion – there were too many people here, and it was too noisy.

She had only taken a few steps outside when she saw someone standing ahead.

The late spring wind stirred the willow strands, a patch of slowly swaying green. The young man turned around, sunlight falling on him, bringing out hints of silvery light from the dark embroidery on his brocade clothes. He was exceptionally beautiful, with elegant bearing and jade-like features. Standing in the flower shade with a spring breeze passing by, he made one feel as if witnessing a moment of pure mountain light and clear water, a scene of worldly refinement.

He truly possessed an enchanting appearance.

Seeing Lu Tong emerge from the pavilion, he glanced inside and raised an eyebrow, saying: “Doctor Lu has excellent medical skills.”

Lu Tong nodded: “Thank you for your help earlier, Commander Pei.”

“It was nothing,” he smiled, his tone casual, “Doctor Lu need not take it to heart.”

Yin Zheng walked to Lu Tong’s side but before she could speak, the Young Master of Marquis Zhaoning asked: “Did Doctor Lu stay in Wuhuai Garden last night?”

Lu Tong: “Yes.”

Pei Yunying thought for a moment, then said: “Does Doctor Lu know that the person who died in the Fangsheng Hall last night was also staying in Wuhuai Garden?”

Lu Tong looked up.

His face bore a smile, his manner relaxed and casual, but his eyes held no warmth – like the black sword at his waist, cold and sharp, ready to draw blood when unsheathed.

Lu Tong looked at him, her gaze calm: “Is that so? I hadn’t heard.”

Pei Yunying nodded, his gaze carrying an indecipherable meaning: “Doctor Lu came to Wanen Temple with only a maid. Two women traveling alone is dangerous – why not bring more guards?”

Lu Tong answered him with six words: “Short on money, not convenient.”

Pei Yunying looked at her with a smile: “Speaking of which, Doctor Lu came up the mountain to burn incense and pray for blessings, but Doctor Lu doesn’t look like someone who believes in Buddha at all.”

“Commander Pei doesn’t look like a believer either,” Lu Tong retorted. “Why are you at the Blue Lotus Dharma Assembly?”

Yin Zheng beside her, even being slow-witted, now sensed the strange atmosphere and quickly moved closer to Lu Tong’s side, fearing this handsome commander might suddenly turn hostile.

Hearing Lu Tong’s words, Pei Yunying didn’t get angry, only looked at her thoughtfully. After a while, he said: “Where did the wound on Doctor Lu’s hand come from?”

Lu Tong’s heart stirred, and in an instant, she understood.

So that was it.

It seemed when she was applying acupuncture to Young Master Dong earlier, Pei Yunying had noticed the wound on her wrist. But could he suspect her just based on one wound?

This person was terrifyingly perceptive.

Lu Tong said calmly: “When practicing medicine and preparing medicines, it’s inevitable to be injured by medicinal materials.”

He stared at Lu Tong’s eyes: “What medicinal material?”

“Robinia,” Lu Tong answered quickly.

Pei Yunying stared at her steadily, his expression between a smile and not, as if seeing through her lie.

Lu Tong remained unmoved, her gaze towards him equally cold.

As they were at an impasse, Young Master Dong said something from the pavilion, and the Dong family servants called out: “Doctor Lu, Doctor Lu!”

The subtle tension was broken by these calls.

Lu Tong gave Pei Yunying a slight nod, no longer engaging with him and turned to walk towards the pavilion. Yin Zheng hurriedly followed.

Pei Yunying quietly watched her back, his gaze gradually turning sharp.

Duan Xiaoyan and Xiao Zhufeng walked over from the side, and Duan Xiaoyan asked: “Brother Yunying, what were you just talking about?”

“Weren’t you saying you knew each other?” Xiao Zhufeng also glanced towards the pavilion, “She doesn’t seem to want to talk to you at all.”

Pei Yunying didn’t answer him, but suddenly turned to ask Xiao Zhufeng: “Have you heard of Robinia?”

“What’s Robinia?” Duan Xiaoyan asked puzzled, “Is it edible?”

Pei Yunying withdrew his gaze, smiled slightly, and said indifferently: “Nothing.”

…

Meanwhile, Lu Tong walked into the pavilion where Young Master Dong, surrounded by everyone, had fully regained consciousness.

An incense stick’s time had passed, and Lu Tong crouched down to remove the gold needles from his body.

Young Master Dong wasn’t as imperious as Madam Dong, appearing rather shy. He seemed surprised that his savior was a beautiful young lady, and couldn’t even raise his head when he saw Lu Tong’s face, only thanking her in a small voice.

Madam Dong’s previous cold attitude towards Lu Tong had completely disappeared. Initially, when Lu Tong revealed her son’s chronic illness, she wanted to have Lu Tong bound up out of concern for her son’s reputation. But later, when Dong Lin’s condition became critical, if not for Lu Tong’s intervention, the consequences would have been unthinkable.

Moreover, Lu Tong appeared to have a close relationship with Pei Yunying, the Young Master of Marquis Zhaoning. For both personal and logical reasons, Madam Dong didn’t dare to treat her lightly.

She gratefully said to Lu Tong: “Thank you, Doctor Lu, for your miraculous treatment saving my son’s life today. My earlier rudeness was entirely my fault…”

Lu Tong interrupted her flattery, looked at Dong Lin, and spoke softly: “Your son has a chronic lung condition causing shortness of breath. It may recur if triggered. He should be properly treated.”

Hearing this, Madam Dong’s expression stiffened slightly. Seeing that she couldn’t hide it anymore, she sighed deeply and said quietly to Lu Tong: “This has been Lin’er’s chronic condition. He’s taken many medicines since childhood and has seen many doctors. We even arranged for palace physicians to see him, but nothing helped. He hadn’t had an attack for a whole year last year, and we thought he was cured, but who knew…” As she spoke, genuine worry and sorrow appeared on her face.

Lu Tong paused: “It’s not difficult.”

Madam Dong was startled and hurriedly asked: “What do you mean?”

“The lungs store phlegm. When the qi mechanism in the upper burner isn’t flowing smoothly, it causes fluid to congress and phlegm to accumulate. When new triggers activate latent pathogens, it causes wheezing. We should first treat the symptoms by dispersing wind and clearing heat, then treat the root cause by expanding the chest and transforming phlegm, lowering qi and calming breathing, and finally strengthen the spleen and benefit the kidneys.”

Madam Dong didn’t understand the medical theory but only asked: “Does Doctor Lu mean my son’s condition can be treated?”

“I dare not promise a complete cure, but seven or eight-tenths can be eliminated.”

At these words, Madam Dong was immediately overjoyed and looked at Lu Tong: “Really? Doctor Lu must not deceive me!”

Lu Tong responded with a smile.

Madam Dong looked Lu Tong up and down, pondering to herself.

Dong Lin’s illness had persisted for over ten years. Famous doctors had seen him, and he had taken many medicines. Last year, a palace physician prescribed a formula that he took for several months, and Dong Lin improved greatly with no more attacks. Everyone thought he was cured, but unexpectedly he had an attack today at Wanen Temple, and such a dangerous one at that.

Though Doctor Lu looked young, she had just genuinely saved Dong Lin from danger, remaining calm and composed throughout. She must have some real skill.

Madam Dong thus softened her tone: “Doctor Lu, you have helped us so much, you are truly a benefactor of the Dong family. When we get down the mountain, the Dong family will certainly reward you generously.”

These words were half for Lu Tong’s life-saving grace, and half, presumably, to curry favor with the Young Master of Marquis Zhaoning.

Lu Tong understood perfectly but didn’t point it out, only smiled and said: “No need for generous rewards, but this commoner does have one request.”

Madam Dong hurriedly said: “Whatever Doctor Lu needs, please just ask.”

“My maid and I came up the mountain for the Blue Lotus Dharma Assembly to pray for blessings. Now with the incident at the assembly and meeting Young Master Dong, we’ve been delayed quite a bit. The cart driver we hired has already left after the agreed time. If it’s convenient for Madam, please help us find a carriage to go down the mountain.”

Hearing this, Madam Dong smiled: “Oh, is that all? That’s no difficulty at all. No need to look – we have many carriages, you can choose one to ride in.”

Lu Tong thought briefly before agreeing, smiling: “That would be good. When we reach the medical hall, I can prepare some medicine for your household, which can help with Young Master’s recovery when brewed.”

Madam Dong was even more delighted and repeatedly thanked Lu Tong. Thus the matter was settled.

Dong Lin had fully recovered and seemed to have no major issues. Madam Dong hurriedly took a carriage down the mountain, lest something else happen up there. Before leaving, she had people prepare a carriage for Lu Tong and her maid, to escort them down the mountain back to the medical hall.

Before getting in the carriage, Lu Tong specifically looked around but didn’t see any trace of Pei Yunying, assuming he had already left.

She withdrew her gaze and got into the carriage with Yin Zheng.

It was one of the Dong manor’s ornate carriages with vermillion wheels and a decorated canopy, spacious and imposing, with cushions and thin blankets inside. Yin Zheng whispered to Lu Tong: “Miss, they’ve already told that cart driver to go down the mountain.”

Lu Tong nodded.

The hired carriage from their journey up certainly wouldn’t have gone down so quickly. She had deliberately said this to borrow the Dong family’s carriage, letting the people of West Street see that even the Minister of the Court of State Ceremonial would go to Renxin Medical Hall for treatment – proving that she, Lu Tong’s, medical skills were truly excellent.

People in this world were accustomed to stepping on the lowly and fawning over the powerful. Borrowing another’s influence wasn’t necessarily a bad survival strategy.

That’s why when she saw Dong Lin having an asthma attack, she had taken the initiative to help – not out of a healer’s compassion, but because she had noticed his clothes and jade hairpin were unusually luxurious.

Whether from wealthy families or official backgrounds, as long as their status wasn’t low, they could help her achieve her goals.

She was too inconspicuous, her status truly humble. While she could approach the Ke family, her current status wasn’t enough to scheme against officials of the Court of Judicial Review and the Grand Preceptor’s mansion.

She needed greater fame, and more connections, to get closer to her target.

To… take revenge.

The carriage curtain was lifted, and a matron’s face appeared. She smiled at Lu Tong: “Doctor Lu, this old servant is from the Dong household. Madam asked me to accompany Doctor Lu and Miss Yin Zheng, and to collect Doctor Lu’s prescription when we reach the medical hall.”

Lu Tong nodded to her, and the matron climbed into the carriage and settled in. Yin Zheng also stopped talking.

The road down the mountain was easier than going up, making the journey much faster. The matron initially made small talk with Lu Tong and Yin Zheng, but seeing they weren’t very responsive, she fell silent and dozed with half-closed eyes.

They had set out at noon, and by dusk, they reached the foot of the mountain. The carriage didn’t stop but continued straight to West Street.

When they reached West Street with Renxin Medical Hall in sight, Yin Zheng got out of the carriage first, smiling as she said to Lu Tong: “Manager Du is quite diligent today, almost lantern-lighting time and still hasn’t closed up, could he be specifically waiting for us…” Her words suddenly stopped.

Lu Tong, seeing this, followed her out of the carriage, and upon seeing the situation before her, couldn’t help but be slightly startled.

The entrance of Renxin Medical Hall was in complete disarray. One of the main doors had been torn down and was lying broken on one side. The signboard had also been pulled askew and hung precariously at the entrance.

Three to five passersby stood across the street, pointing and discussing the shop.

Lu Tong and Yin Zheng walked into the shop and saw that the tower-like display of “Spring Water Life” that had been stacked on the yellow wooden table near the entrance was completely gone.

The calligraphy that Yin Zheng had written on the wall – “A lonely guest sits quietly alone, brewing tea with a flask of spring water. A few plum trees welcome early spring, as fine rain and gentle wind watch petals fall” – had been torn down, leaving only bare wall.

The medicine cabinets had been violently pulled open, and herbs were scattered all over the floor. The shop was in complete disarray as if it had just been ransacked.

Yin Zheng carefully called out: “Manager Du?”

A “clang” came from the inner shop, as if something had fallen.

Lu Tong stepped over the scattered medicines and walked to the back.

The bamboo reclining chair where Du Changqing usually sat drinking tea had been laid flat. Acheng was lying on it, his face somewhat swollen and his lip split, oozing some bruised blood, as if he had been beaten.

A half-cup oil lamp on the table cast dim light. Du Changqing sat beside Acheng, head lowered and silent.

Lu Tong was quiet for a moment, then asked: “What happened?”

Deep silence filled the shop. After a while, Du Changqing’s hoarse voice came, carrying forcibly suppressed exhaustion: “People from the Bureau of Prepared Medicines came.”

“The Bureau of Prepared Medicines?”

He raised his head, revealing a face with bruised eyes and nose, and said hatefully: “They won’t let us sell ‘Spring Water Life.'”