The light was dim in the inner shop, with fine dust floating and dancing in the air.

Acheng’s voice came slowly from the chair.

“…The Bureau of Prepared Medicines is a government office. All prepared medicines sold by medical shops and halls in the capital must be inspected by them.”

“When we were selling medicinal tea before, Renxin Medical Hall had the Bureau’s official seal of approval and was permitted to prepare and sell medicines. But today…”

Today people from the Bureau had come, and without discussion, they searched the medical hall and found the “Spring Water Life” medicinal tea. They claimed the tea’s formula was incorrect and the medicine was fake. They confiscated Renxin Medical Hall’s official seal and license for selling prepared medicines, forbidding them from selling any prepared medicines in the future.

Yin Zheng asked: “Then the injuries on Manager’s and Acheng’s faces…”

“Those bastards struck first!” Du Changqing gritted his teeth.

Initially, when the Bureau’s people were confiscating the tea, Acheng couldn’t bear to let it go and tried to grab it back. He hadn’t expected those people to be so vicious, willing to use deadly force even against a child. How could Du Changqing watch Acheng suffer? He only regretted being a useless young master without strength – joining the fight merely meant one more person getting beaten.

Lu Tong looked at Du Changqing: “Why did the Bureau suddenly turn against the medical hall?”

Du Changqing slammed his fist on the table, shouting angrily: “What else could it be? It must be that old tortoise stirring up trouble!”

“The people at the Bureau used to be close with my father. When new medicines were made, they never questioned much. Today they received information in advance and deliberately came to wreck the shop.”

“Bai Shouyi is despicable and shameless. Failed at copying Spring Water Life, and I thought he had settled down for a while, but didn’t expect he was waiting for this chance. That old tortoise!”

As Du Changqing spoke, his expression grew more hateful: “And those people at the Bureau, when my father was alive, they were always flattering and fawning, wagging their tails more eagerly than anyone. Now seeing people down on their luck, they all rush to kick us while we’re down. Pah, a bunch of opportunists! If my father were still here, he’d make sure they all lost face…”

Though his words were fierce, his tone became choked. Du Changqing turned his face away, roughly wiping it with his hand.

Yin Zheng was startled, watching his expression and trying to comfort him: “Manager Du needn’t be so angry. You’re a grown man – how can you cry over such matters? When my young mistress first came to the capital, she had almost no money left and nowhere to stay, much worse off than you, but she never shed a single tear. Manager Du, you must pull yourself together!”

These words only made things worse. Du Changqing became even more sorrowful, his nasal tone growing heavier: “What would a maid like you understand? In the past, this young master was surrounded by followers and flatterers wherever he went. Now these people barge in and wreck our shop, and we don’t even have anywhere to seek justice. Wouldn’t you feel wronged in my place?”

Yin Zheng couldn’t argue with him and exchanged a glance with Acheng on the reclining chair before turning to Lu Tong: “Miss…”

Lu Tong said: “I wouldn’t feel wronged.”

Du Changqing’s sobbing paused. He wiped his nose and turned to look at her.

Lu Tong sat down at the table: “In the past, they flattered you because you were Old Master Du’s most beloved son. With Old Master Du gone, you’re just a useless pile of mud with no skills, naturally not worth their effort to flatter.”

Du Changqing glared at her angrily: “Lu Tong!”

“Before, you lived high above others, knowing only fine clothes and food, ignorant of the world’s hardships. Now you’ve fallen from the clouds, with no one to rely on, destitute, and can only be bullied by others.”

“Bai Shouyi can bully you because he has money and property, a profitable Xinglin Hall, and still maintains his connections carefully. The Bureau people do him favors, so they can set traps for you and deal with you.”

Her words were measured, her tone even almost pleasant: “This is how the world works. You’re no longer the beloved Young Master Du. If you want others to respect you, not dare to bully you, you must climb up yourself, climb to a higher position than them, make them curry favor with you, flatter you, even fear you.”

“Easy for you to say,” Du Changqing said irritably. “Don’t you know? I’m useless, a pile of mud, no good at letters or martial arts. How can I climb up?”

“Why not?” Lu Tong asked him. “Just because you’ve lost the skin of Young Master Du, you can’t accomplish anything? Don’t you still have a medical hall?”

Du Changqing looked at her.

Lu Tong smiled slightly: “You could convince Elder Hu to buy medicine here and keep the medical hall running for years, surely you can convince others too.”

Du Changqing frowned: “But now the Bureau won’t let us prepare and sell medicines.” He suddenly paused, looking at Lu Tong: “You have a way, don’t you?”

Lu Tong didn’t speak.

Du Changqing suddenly became excited, grabbing Lu Tong’s wrist: “Doctor Lu, you must help me!”

Lu Tong lowered her gaze to his hand. Du Changqing coughed lightly, sheepishly withdrew his hand, and looked at her again: “Doctor Lu, you have a way to help me, don’t you?”

Lu Tong said: “I have a way.” Before Du Changqing could smile, she continued: “But why should I help you?”

Du Changqing was stunned, reflexively answering: “Friends should show loyalty to each other!”

Lu Tong was silent.

The small oil lamp was like a frozen ball of light, freezing the atmosphere as well. Yin Zheng and Acheng cautiously kept quiet, while Du Changqing looked at the person at the table, confusion flashing in his gaze.

Lu Tong was the strangest person Du Changqing had ever known.

Du Changqing had been a useless young master for many years, associating only with similar good-for-nothing friends who knew nothing but eating, drinking, and playing, ignorant of life’s hardships.

Lu Tong was different.

This young lady’s temperament was completely different from her delicate, frail appearance, always cold and calm. To say she was cold-hearted – yet she aimed to inherit her master’s will, willing to forgo payment for medicinal tea to be the resident doctor. To say she was kind-hearted – look at how she dealt with Xinglin Hall, using minimal force to great effect, moving step by step so carefully that even someone as cunning as Bai Shouyi couldn’t gain any advantage from her.

He looked at Lu Tong, choosing his words carefully: “We’ve known each other for several months, shared many good times and bad… aren’t we… friends?”

The final “friends” came out lacking conviction even to himself.

Lu Tong just smiled without speaking.

He still didn’t give up: “If our shop can’t sell prepared medicines, we certainly won’t last long. When the shop closes, you as the resident doctor will end up on the streets too. Even if you find another position, where will you find an employer as considerate and perceptive as this young master… Tell me, what do you want?”

Lu Tong said: “I need money.”

Du Changqing jumped up and shouted: “Didn’t we just give you a hundred taels a few days ago?”

Lu Tong: “Used it all.”

Du Changqing immediately turned to look at Yin Zheng, who casually looked away, avoiding his gaze.

“Let’s be frank, Manager Du. You don’t want to remain a useless young master accomplishing nothing and being trampled by others, and I need money to establish myself in the capital. Now that we’re both in trouble, we should cooperate. I’ll continue as the resident doctor at the medical hall, and we’ll split the profits from the prepared medicines I make and sell fifty-fifty.”

Du Changqing: “Fifty-fifty?”

To be honest, this demand wasn’t excessive, since Lu Tong made the prepared medicines, but for the currently struggling Young Master Du, it was still somewhat hard to accept.

Acheng quietly tugged at Du Changqing’s clothes, speaking softly through his swollen lip: “Master, a fifty-fifty split is already very generous of Doctor Lu.”

“I know,” Du Changqing replied irritably, then looked back at Lu Tong, speaking hesitantly, “You make this proposition easily, but if I agree, how will you get us through this crisis? You’re a stranger in the capital – how can you make those bastards at the Bureau change their minds? Don’t just talk big.”

Lu Tong stood up and said: “Simple.”

Du Changqing looked at her skeptically.

Lu Tong had already walked to the front of the shop.

Outside Renxin Medical Hall, the Dong family’s ornate carriage was still waiting. From the shops on both sides of West Street, everyone was looking this way. After all, since Old Master Du’s death, except for Elder Hu, it had been a long time since such a distinguished carriage had come seeking medical treatment.

The matron from the Dong family was still waiting outside. Seeing Lu Tong emerge, she hurriedly came forward, smiling: “Doctor Lu.”

Lu Tong gave her an apologetic smile: “Young Master Dong’s chronic condition isn’t fully healed. I had hoped to prepare some medicines for nurturing his health. Madam sent you to collect the medicine, but I’m afraid you’ve made a wasted trip.”

The matron was startled and asked: “What do you mean?”

Lu Tong stepped aside slightly to let the matron see the mess inside the shop. She sighed, looking troubled: “Recently our medical hall developed a new medicine for nasal congestion with excellent results. Somehow this caught the attention of the Bureau of Prepared Medicines. The owner and staff were injured, and we can’t continue selling prepared medicines for now.” She apologized to the matron, “Please explain this to Madam when you return.”

Hearing Lu Tong’s helpless tone and seeing Du Changqing emerge with his bruised face, the matron made some private guesses but smiled and replied: “Doctor Lu, please don’t say that – this isn’t your fault. Don’t worry too much, I’ll explain everything clearly to Madam. It’s not a big matter.”

After exchanging a few more words with Lu Tong, she left with the Dong family carriage. Du Changqing watched the carriage’s shadow, asking puzzled: “Whose people are these? They speak quite grandly.”

“The Minister of the Court of State Ceremonial’s Dong family.”

Hearing this, Du Changqing’s eyes widened: “The Dong family? Do you mean the one with the young son who has lung disease? How did you make connections with them?”

Du Changqing had indeed been one of the capital’s privileged young masters – he knew all the secrets and private affairs of every noble house.

Lu Tong looked toward the end of West Street: “If I remember correctly, the Bureau of Prepared Medicines is under the Court of State Ceremonial’s jurisdiction.”

Du Changqing’s mind stirred: “You mean to…”

“Using power to bully others – who can’t do that?”

Lu Tong said softly, “If we’re going to rely on power, let’s rely on the biggest.”

…

The Bureau of Prepared Medicines was located below the South Tower outside the capital’s outer court. It was the official medicinal bureau for civilians in the Liang Dynasty. All prepared medicines sold by medical halls and shops in the capital had to be verified by the Bureau.

Lou Si, the Official of Medicine Verification, was in a good mood, lounging in his chair humming a tune.

He wasn’t one of the Bureau’s medical officials who developed official formulas, nor was he one of the inspectors who couldn’t afford to look the other way. The position of Medicine Verification Official was truly a cushy post. All prepared medicines from the major pharmacies had to pass through his hands, and their ability to sell depended entirely on his whim.

This power might be insignificant in the Imperial Medical Bureau or the Imperial Medical Academy, but here in the Bureau of Prepared Medicines, it was the best position for collecting bribes.

As he sat calculating which restaurant to enjoy after work, a junior medicine clerk unexpectedly entered from outside, saying to him: “Sir, Medical Official Ji Xun from the Imperial Medical Academy has arrived.”

Lou Si was startled and sat up straight: “Ji Xun? What’s he doing here?”

He had barely stood up and adjusted his clothes when a hand lifted the long curtain, and a young man with refined features walked in.

The medicinal fragrance in the Bureau drifted like mountain valley mist. The young man wore a plain cyan lake silk robe, his long hair tied in a topknot with a cyan jade hairpin. Tall and slender like a solitary crane, he naturally carried an air of otherworldly refinement.

As he approached, Lou Si hurriedly went to greet him with a smile: “Medical Official Ji, what brings you here?”

This crane-like young man called Ji Xun was currently the youngest Imperial Physician in the Imperial Medical Academy. Ji Xun was quite unusual – his father, Lord Ji, was a Scholar of the Hall of Literary Brilliance, his grandfather was an Imperial Scholar, and his elder brother was a Direct Scholar of the Hall of Literature Proclamation. In a family full of civil officials, he alone had been passionate about medicine since childhood. In his youth, he refused to take the imperial examinations and instead secretly took the Imperial Medical Bureau’s spring examination, becoming the youngest Imperial Physician in the Imperial Medical Academy.

Ji Xun was exceptionally intelligent with a cool and steady temperament. Initially, Scholar Ji had opposed his youngest son becoming a medical official in the palace. However, Ji Xun’s medical skills were extraordinary. During his time at the Imperial Medical Academy, he developed many new prescriptions that were adopted by the Imperial Medicine Bureau. Both the Emperor and Empress praised him endlessly. Even without relying on the Ji family’s prestige, Ji Xun was now a favorite in the palace, a genius medical official praised by all.

How could Lou Si, a mere Medicine Verification Official, dare to offend such a favored figure? Knowing Ji Xun’s lofty character, Lou Si anxiously asked: “Medical Official Ji, today you’ve come to…”

Ji Xun instructed his young attendant to step forward, and the attendant presented a red paper book.

He said: “The Imperial Medicine Bureau has selected a batch of official formulas to be sent down to the Bureau of Prepared Medicines, which can be prepared and sold here.”

Lou Si accepted it with reverent surprise, saying with a smile: “For such a small matter, you could have just sent word and this official would have gone to collect it. Why trouble Medical Official Ji to come personally?”

“It’s no trouble,” Ji Xun said coolly.

He seemed about to leave after delivering the formula book. Just as Lou Si wanted to offer a few more flattering words, the junior clerk ran in again with an odd expression, saying: “Sir, someone outside seeks an audience.”

“Who is it?” Lou Si glared at him. “Don’t you see Medical Official Ji is here?”

“They say they’re from Renxin Medical Hall.” Seeing Lou Si frown, seemingly unable to recall, the clerk added, “The one on West Street where we confiscated the medicinal tea formula today.”

“Confiscated a prepared medicine formula?” Lou Si remembered. “Oh, that place!”

Ji Xun’s steps halted as he looked at Lou Si: “Why was the formula confiscated?”

Lou Si explained with a fawning smile: “Medical Official Ji doesn’t know, but Renxin Medical Hall was originally a proper medical establishment. Who knew after the old owner died, he left the hall to his good-for-nothing son? That fellow is a wastrel who spends his days gallivanting about, knowing only eating, drinking, and pleasure – what could he know about medicine? Recently they recklessly developed a medicinal tea and sold it in the capital. As the Bureau’s Medicine Verification Official, how could I let them play with people’s lives like this? Of course, I had to stop it.”

Ji Xun asked: “Was there a problem with the prepared medicine?”

Lou Si choked for a moment before continuing: “Of course! When this official sent their medicinal tea back for verification, the medicinal properties were chaotic, the ingredients inconsistent – completely unsuitable for patients to drink.”

Ji Xun nodded slightly.

Lou Si secretly sighed in relief and declared righteously to the clerk: “Since this official has verified the medicinal tea is defective, I’ve handled it according to regulations. Tell them to go home and not bother pleading!”

“But… but…” the clerk seemed troubled.

“But what?”

“But that young lady is accompanied by people from Minister Dong’s household.”

The Dong family?

Lou Si was struck speechless.

The Bureau of Prepared Medicines was under the Minister of the Court of State Ceremonial’s authority – when did Renxin Medical Hall develop connections with the Dong family? Lou Si secretly glanced at the silent Ji Xun, his mind in turmoil.

Ji Xun was an Imperial Physician of the Imperial Medical Academy, a favorite before the Emperor, known for his lofty character – he wasn’t known to be easily influenced. In comparison, the Bureau frequently had to deal with the Minister of the Court of State Ceremonial. They would see each other often in the future – the Dong family couldn’t be offended.

But with Ji Xun here…

Lou Si looked at Ji Xun and pretended to scold the clerk: “Medical Official Ji is here right now, whatever it is can wait until…”

He had meant to hint that Ji Xun should leave, but unexpectedly, the man heard this and gave him a look, saying coolly: “It’s no matter. I’ll stay behind the screen, and Official Lou can converse with them freely.” With that, he walked behind the screen in the back of the Bureau, concealing himself.

Lou Si was stunned for a moment, then inwardly gritted his teeth – this was meant to monitor him.

But fearing that a delay would anger the Dong family people, and thinking that even with the Dong family’s backing, a resident doctor from Renxin Medical Hall wouldn’t dare to be too arrogant, he told the clerk: “In that case, let them in.”

The clerk hurried out and soon led several people in.

Lou Si recognized the two men – one was Old Master Du’s precious son, the notorious good-for-nothing Du Changqing. The other was Sheng Quan, the tall guard from Madam Dong’s household.

But standing between them was an unfamiliar young lady.

This lady had striking features and wore a white cloth dress. Like the medicinal fragrance in the Bureau, she had an air of refined austerity, standing there like a celestial maiden in a painting. Lou Si had vaguely heard that Renxin Medical Hall’s resident doctor was a woman, and he wondered if this was her. But she looked remarkably young and unexpectedly beautiful.

Before he could speak, the young woman spoke first: “I am the resident doctor of Renxin Medical Hall, and the formula for ‘Spring Water Life’ was created by me. May I ask Official Lou why you suddenly prohibited Renxin Medical Hall from selling the medicinal tea?”

Lou Si collected himself. He had intended to be lenient for the Dong family’s sake but suddenly remembered Ji Xun behind the screen. Naturally, he couldn’t take all the responsibility himself, so he coughed and said seriously: “Obviously because Renxin Medical Hall’s medicinal tea doesn’t conform to medical principles.”

“Lies!” Du Changqing couldn’t help cursing. “When I submitted the formula before, you approved it. How can you suddenly say it’s not acceptable? You took someone else’s bribes to deliberately make things difficult for us!”

Lou Si sneered: “Young Master Du, you can’t say that. Examining medical formulas takes time. This official is only speaking the truth.”

Hearing this, Lu Tong nodded and spoke calmly: “Since Official Lou keeps saying Spring Water Life doesn’t conform to medical principles, may I ask which principles it violates? Which ingredients are problematic? Is it that the medicinal properties conflict, or is the dosage too strong? Or are the ingredients slightly toxic? Which medical classic and which principle? This humble commoner is ignorant,” she said slowly, “please enlighten me.”