In the pavilion of Wuhuai Garden, all unrelated idlers had been driven away, with the Dong family servants surrounding and closely watching the movements of those in the pavilion.

Gradually, Young Master Dong’s face regained some color, his eyelids opened, and he moaned with effort, calling out: “Mother…”

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

Lu Tong stood up and spoke to the Dong family servants: “Don’t move the golden needles on his body. Wait another incense stick’s time. Don’t let him move much to avoid wheezing and chest tightness.”

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

Lu Tong saw Madam Dong and Young Master Dong speaking in low voices, so she turned and walked a few steps outside the pavilion. There were too many people here, making it very noisy.

Just a few steps outside the pavilion, she saw someone standing ahead.

Late spring wind blew the willow threads, creating patches of verdant green. The young man turned around, sunlight falling on him, making the dark embroidery on his black brocade robes shimmer with fine silver light. He was extraordinarily beautiful with elegant bearing, handsome as crowned jade. Standing in the flower shade with spring breeze passing by, one could only feel the mountain light and water clarity, the romance of the mortal world.

Indeed, he possessed a bewitching appearance.

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

Lu Tong nodded: “Thank you, Master Pei, for resolving the situation earlier.”

“Just a small effort,” he smiled, his tone unconcerned. “Doctor Lu need not take it to heart.”

Yin Zheng walked to Lu Tong’s side. Before she could speak, she heard the Heir of Duke Zhaoning ask: “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 Hall of Releasing Captive Animals last night was also staying in Wuhuai Garden?”

Lu Tong looked up.

His face bore a smile, his expression and posture relaxed and leisurely, but his eyes held no mirth. Like the black long blade at his waist, they were cold and sharp, unsheathed to see blood and seal throats.

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

Pei Yunying nodded, his eyes somewhat ambiguous: “Doctor Lu came to Wan’en Temple bringing only a maid. Two women traveling alone is dangerous—why didn’t you bring more guards?”

Lu Tong answered him with six words: “Tight on funds, inconvenient.”

Pei Yunying smiled as he looked at her: “Speaking of which, Doctor Lu came up the mountain to burn incense, light lamps and pray for blessings, yet Doctor Lu doesn’t look at all like someone who believes in Buddha.”

“Master Pei doesn’t look like someone who believes in Buddha either.” Lu Tong retorted: “Why did you come to the Blue Lotus Dharma Assembly?”

Yin Zheng, no matter how slow, realized the atmosphere was wrong and quickly moved closer to Lu Tong’s side to prevent this handsome commander from suddenly turning hostile.

Upon hearing Lu Tong’s words, Pei Yunying didn’t get angry, only looked at Lu Tong 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 completely.

So that was it.

When she was performing acupuncture on Young Master Dong earlier, Pei Yunying must have seen the wound marks on her wrist. But could he suspect her based on just a wound mark?

This person was terrifyingly perceptive.

Lu Tong said lightly: “Practicing medicine and preparing drugs, it’s inevitable to be injured by medicinal materials.”

He stared into Lu Tong’s eyes: “What medicinal materials?”

“Black locust.” Lu Tong answered quickly.

Pei Yunying looked at her steadily, his expression half-smiling, as if seeing through her lie.

Lu Tong remained unmoved, looking at him with equally cold detachment.

Just as they were at an impasse, Young Master Dong said something over there, and the Dong family servants called out: “Doctor Lu, Doctor Lu!”

The subtle silence was broken by this calling.

Lu Tong nodded lightly to Pei Yunying, no longer entangling with him, and turned toward the pavilion. Yin Zheng hurried to follow.

Pei Yunying quietly watched her retreating figure, his gaze gradually growing cold and sharp.

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

“Didn’t you say she was an acquaintance?” Xiao Zhufeng also glanced toward the pavilion. “She looks like she doesn’t want to deal with you at all.”

Pei Yunying didn’t answer his question, suddenly turning his head to ask Xiao Zhufeng: “Have you heard of black locust?”

“What’s black locust?” Duan Xiaoyan was puzzled. “Can you eat it?”

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

…

Over there, Lu Tong walked into the pavilion where Young Master Dong, surrounded by everyone, had completely awakened.

An incense stick’s time had passed. Lu Tong crouched down and removed the golden needles from his body.

Young Master Dong wasn’t domineering like Madam Dong. He was somewhat shy and apparently hadn’t expected his rescuer to be a beautiful young lady. Seeing Lu Tong’s face, he didn’t even dare raise his head, only quietly thanking Lu Tong.

Madam Dong swept away her previous cold attitude toward Lu Tong. Initially, when she saw Lu Tong expose her son’s chronic illness, thinking of her son’s reputation, she only wanted to bind Lu Tong. But later, when Dong Lin was in critical condition, 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 Heir of Duke Zhaoning. For both emotional and practical reasons, Madam Dong didn’t dare to slight her.

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

Lu Tong interrupted her flattery, glanced at Dong Lin, and spoke softly: “Your son has chronic lung disease with wheezing and shortness of breath. When triggered by inducing factors, it will inevitably recur. He should be carefully treated.”

Upon hearing this, Madam Dong’s expression stiffened. Seeing she couldn’t hide it anymore, she sighed deeply and said to Lu Tong in a low voice: “This is Lin’er’s chronic condition. From childhood to adulthood, he’s taken much medicine and seen many doctors. We even asked palace physicians through connections, but it was still useless. Last year he didn’t have an attack for a whole year, and we all thought he was cured, but who knew…” As she spoke, her face truly showed some worry and sorrow.

Lu Tong paused: “This isn’t difficult either.”

Madam Dong was stunned and hurried to ask: “What do you mean?”

“The lungs are the organ for storing phlegm. When the qi mechanism of the upper burner cannot rise and fall properly, it causes body fluids to congeal and phlegm turbidity to accumulate over time. When new pathogenic factors trigger latent pathogens, it becomes asthma. First treat the manifestation by dispersing wind and clearing heat, then treat the root by expanding the chest and transforming phlegm, descending qi and calming asthma, followed by strengthening the spleen and benefiting the kidneys.”

Madam Dong didn’t understand the medical principles she spoke of and only asked: “Doctor Lu means my son’s illness can be cured?”

“I dare not say completely cured, but seven or eight parts out of ten can be eliminated.”

Upon hearing this, Madam Dong was immediately overjoyed, looking at Lu Tong: “Really? Doctor Lu mustn’t deceive me!”

Lu Tong responded with a slight smile.

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

Dong Lin’s illness had been troubling him for over ten years. Famous doctors had examined him, and he had taken much medicine. Last year, a palace physician prescribed medicine that Dong Lin took for several months, improving greatly with no recurrence for a long time. Everyone thought he was cured, but unexpectedly it flared up today at Wan’en Temple, and so dangerously.

This Doctor Lu looked young, but in that urgent situation just now, she truly saved Dong Lin, remaining calm and composed throughout. She might have some real ability.

Madam Dong therefore softened her tone: “Doctor Lu, helping us like this makes you a benefactor to the Dong family. After we go down the mountain, the Dong family will certainly offer generous gifts in gratitude.”

Half of these words were for Lu Tong’s life-saving grace, and half were probably to curry favor with the Heir of Duke Zhaoning.

Lu Tong understood clearly but didn’t expose it, only smiling: “Generous gifts aren’t necessary, but I do have one matter to request.”

Madam Dong hurried to say: “Whatever Doctor Lu needs, please speak freely.”

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

Upon hearing this, Madam Dong smiled: “So it’s this matter—what difficulty is there? No need to look for one. Our mansion has many carriages. Just choose one to ride.”

Lu Tong considered briefly, then agreed, smiling: “Very well. When we reach the medical hall, I can prepare a few doses of medicine for your mansion to take back for your son to brew and take, which will help his recovery.”

Madam Dong was even more delighted and repeatedly thanked Lu Tong. The matter was thus settled.

Dong Lin had completely recovered and seemed to be in no serious trouble. Madam Dong hurriedly departed by carriage down the mountain to avoid any other accidents on the mountain. Before leaving, she also ordered people to prepare a carriage for Lu Tong and her maid to escort them down the mountain back to the medical hall.

Before boarding the carriage, Lu Tong specifically looked around but didn’t see Pei Yunying’s shadow—he had probably already left.

She withdrew her gaze and boarded the carriage with Yin Zheng.

The carriage was the Dong mansion’s vermillion-wheeled canopied carriage, both spacious and grand, with soft cushions and thin blankets inside. Yin Zheng quietly said to Lu Tong: “Miss, I’ve already had someone tell that carriage driver to go down the mountain.”

Lu Tong nodded.

The carriage they hired to go up the mountain naturally wouldn’t go down the mountain so quickly. She deliberately said this only to borrow the Dong family’s carriage and let people on West Street see clearly that even the Minister of the Court of Imperial Entertainments had to go to Renxin Medical Hall to see a doctor—Lu Tong’s medical skills were truly excellent.

People in the world habitually step on the low and praise the high. Using borrowed prestige might not be a bad survival strategy.

So when she saw Dong Lin having an asthma attack, she actively stepped forward to help, not out of a doctor’s benevolent heart, but because she saw that Dong Lin’s clothing and jade hairpin were of the rich quality not used by ordinary people.

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

She was too inconspicuous, and her status was truly humble. She could still approach the Ke family, but to scheme against court officials from the Criminal Justice Court and the Grand Tutor Manor, her current status wasn’t enough.

She needed greater fame and more connections to approach her targets.

To… take revenge.

The carriage curtain was lifted, and an old woman’s face appeared. She smiled at Lu Tong: “Doctor Lu, this old servant is from the Dong mansion. Madam asked this old servant to accompany Doctor Lu and Miss Yin Zheng together. When we reach the medical hall later, I’ll conveniently take back the prescription Doctor Lu prescribes.”

Lu Tong nodded to her, and the old woman climbed into the carriage to sit. Yin Zheng also stopped talking.

The downhill road was easier than the uphill road, making the journey much faster. The old woman initially chatted with Lu Tong and Yin Zheng, but seeing neither was very enthusiastic, she kept quiet and dozed with half-closed eyes.

Departing at midday, they reached the foot of the mountain by dusk. The carriage didn’t stop, traveling rapidly toward West Street.

When they reached West Street with Renxin Medical Hall in sight, Yin Zheng got off the carriage first, smiling as she said to Lu Tong: “Master Du is quite diligent today—it’s almost time to light the lamps and he hasn’t closed the door. He couldn’t be specifically waiting for us…” Her words stopped abruptly.

Seeing this, Lu Tong also got off the carriage. Upon seeing the situation before her, she couldn’t help but be slightly stunned.

The entrance to Renxin Medical Hall was in complete chaos. One door panel had been torn down and hung broken and tattered to the side. The signboard had also been pulled askew, hanging precariously at the entrance.

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

Lu Tong and Yin Zheng walked into the shop and saw that the small tower-like pile of “Spring Water Life” stacked on the yellow wooden table at the front had completely disappeared.

The calligraphy Yin Zheng had written hanging on the wall—”Sitting alone in leisure as a solitary guest arrives, brewing tea myself with a bottle of spring water. A few cold plum trees welcome early spring, watching falling flowers in fine rain and gentle wind”—had been torn down, leaving only bare wall.

The medicine cabinets had been roughly pulled open with medicinal materials scattered on the ground. The shop was in complete chaos, as if it had just been robbed.

Yin Zheng carefully called out: “Master Du?”

A “clang” came from the inner shop, like something falling over.

Lu Tong stepped over the medicinal materials on the floor and walked inside.

The bamboo woven reclining chair where Du Changqing usually lounged to drink tea had been laid flat. A’Cheng lay on it with a somewhat swollen face and a broken corner of his mouth seeping congealed blood, as if he had been beaten.

Half a lamp of oil flickered with dim light on the table. Du Changqing sat beside A’Cheng with his head down, not saying a word.

Lu Tong paused and asked: “What happened?”

The shop was deeply quiet. After a while, Du Changqing’s hoarse voice came, carrying forcibly suppressed exhaustion: “People from the Imperial Medical Bureau came.”

“Imperial Medical Bureau?”

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