With two more young ladies arriving at Renxin Medical Hall, the place became lively all at once.

Previously, when Lu Tong hadn’t come, there were only A’Cheng and Du Changqing in the shop. Now with four beautiful young ladies suddenly added, even the plum tree at the entrance looked much more pleasing to the eye.

Under the blazing sun, summer cicadas chirped noisily in the tree by the door, making everyone dizzy. Du Changqing came in from outside and placed several bowls of syrup water on the shop table: “Time for tea!”

Yin Zheng, who was helping Lu Tong organize the medicine cabinet, glanced over and asked: “What is this?”

Du Changqing put his hands on his hips and spoke grandly: “A new syrup shop opened at the mouth of West Street—three copper coins, buy one bowl get one free. The boss is treating everyone—drinks are on me, no charge.”

“Thank you, Cousin.” Xia Rongrong, who was embroidering handkerchiefs with Xiangcao, thanked him softly.

Xia Rongrong didn’t know medicinal herbs and couldn’t take over Yin Zheng and A’Cheng’s work, so during the day she sat properly in the shop with Xiangcao doing needlework, quite quietly.

Du Changqing had them distribute the syrup water. His purchases were varied: pear syrup, ginger honey water, almond crisp drink, jasmine soup, iced snow cold yuanzi…

Lu Tong received a bowl of ginger honey water. The syrup had been pre-chilled in an ice bucket and served in an emerald green bamboo tube, making the liquid appear clear and amber-like.

She lowered her head to take a sip—sweet, icy, and cool. When she looked up, she saw everyone’s faces showing endurance.

Du Changqing asked: “How is it?” Without waiting for an answer, he took a sip himself.

The next moment, he couldn’t help choking: “Cough cough cough! What is this horrible stuff?”

Horrible?

Xia Rongrong over there frowned: “It is rather too sweet.”

Even A’Cheng, who loved sweets most, wrinkled his nose: “Boss, this isn’t water with sugar added—this is sugar that forgot to add water.”

Though Yin Zheng and Xiangcao said nothing, they pushed their bowls of syrup far away, clearly unwilling to drink another sip.

Du Changqing said in exasperation: “Good grief, the syrup seller told me ‘if it’s not sweet enough, no charge’—and he meant it literally. Does this person have brain problems? Making it this sweet, is he trying to kill someone with sweetness?”

He turned and saw Lu Tong continuing to drink her bowl of syrup without expression, and said irritably: “Stop drinking that. I don’t usually see you being so frugal for my sake—who’s responsible if you drink yourself to death?”

Lu Tong remained silent.

Du Changqing thought for a moment, then looked at her suspiciously: “You don’t find it sickeningly sweet?”

“It’s fine.”

Du Changqing stared at her incredulously: “Don’t tell me this suits your taste?”

Lu Tong: “If the shop doesn’t close down, I’ll continue patronizing their business.”

She added: “One bowl daily.”

Everyone fell silent.

Du Changqing was speechless. After a long while, he nodded: “Impressive. I’m in awe. It seems whether that syrup shop can continue operating on West Street depends entirely on Dr. Lu’s patronage.”

Lu Tong expressed her support for the syrup shop by finishing her drink.

After drinking, Lu Tong placed the empty bamboo tube aside. Yin Zheng went into the courtyard and came out with Lu Tong’s medical box.

The others in the medical hall were used to this. Du Changqing waved at them: “Go early, return early.”

Yin Zheng said resignedly: “I know.”

Today was the day to treat Madam Fan.

Lu Tong had arranged with Madam Fan to visit every seven days for acupuncture treatment. Today was the third time.

After leaving, when Lu Tong and Yin Zheng arrived at the Fan residence, Madam Fan (Zhao) had just awakened from her afternoon nap.

Seeing Lu Tong, Zhao beckoned her over, indicating she should come in for acupuncture.

Lu Tong, as usual, took out golden needles from her medical box and performed acupuncture on Zhao.

The maid Cui’er fanned from behind. Zhao closed her eyes slightly and asked Lu Tong lazily: “Dr. Lu, how many more days will this acupuncture treatment continue?”

Lu Tong inserted a golden needle and said: “Madam has already lost some weight and is at a crucial stage. If we stop the needles now, the effects will be completely lost after some time. For better consolidation, it’s best to continue for another two months.”

“Another two months?”

“Afterwards, acupuncture sessions will be spaced ten days apart—six sessions total over two months. What does Madam think?”

Zhao sighed: “Very well.”

Lu Tong said no more and focused on performing acupuncture for Zhao.

Zhao lifted her eyelids to glance at the busy Lu Tong, then lowered them again, a satisfied smile appearing at the corner of her mouth.

She was very satisfied with Lu Tong.

More precisely, Zhao was very satisfied with Lu Tong’s acupuncture skills. These past days, whether due to “Xianxian” or Lu Tong’s regular visits for acupuncture, Zhao’s waist had indeed slimmed down considerably, and her daily clothes had become somewhat loose.

This filled Zhao with ecstatic joy.

She had initially been half-skeptical of Lu Tong’s claims, but now witnessing the results firsthand, she finally felt at ease.

After losing weight, Zhao had servants make several moonlight gauze dresses at Shengjing’s Light Clothes Pavilion. With her slimmer figure and lighter makeup, the thin gauze dresses gave her an elegant, fairy-like quality—a refined elegance completely different from her previous charm. This kept Fan Zhenglian fresh and interested for quite some time, and their marital affection surpassed that of the past. Before long, she might truly become that absolute beauty who could dance in someone’s palm, worthy of the name “Flying Swallow.”

As for Lu Tong, Zhao noticed that she always visited in the afternoon and left before evening, precisely avoiding Fan Zhenglian’s off-duty hours. Moreover, Lu Tong was taciturn, never asking unnecessary questions when she entered the residence, appearing proper and well-behaved.

This greatly satisfied Zhao. Sensible people were always reassuring. Otherwise, with such a young medical woman in the residence, she would truly fear Fan Zhenglian might develop lustful thoughts someday.

This medical woman showed no signs of improper intentions for now, so Zhao was no longer as harsh toward her as before.

After about an hour and a half, Lu Tong finished the acupuncture treatment for Zhao. Zhao had the maid Cui’er take her to the adjacent room for tea.

Cui’er brought tea and consultation fees. Zhao wasn’t generous—the consultation fee was quite small. As for the medicinal tea gift, she acted as if it never happened, and Lu Tong didn’t mention it either.

While Lu Tong drank tea, Yin Zheng handed a small jar to Cui’er, smiling: “Miss Cui’er, this is hair oil Dr. Lu made herself. It contains medicinal ingredients—with prolonged use, hair becomes increasingly lustrous.”

Cui’er declined: “How can I take Dr. Lu’s things…”

“It’s not worth much,” Yin Zheng smiled. “We originally wanted to give Madam several jars, but Dr. Lu thought Madam usually uses expensive cosmetics and might look down on ours. Please don’t disdain it, Miss Cui’er.”

Cui’er tucked the jar into her sleeve, her smile becoming more genuine: “Then I thank Dr. Lu.”

Lu Tong shook her head and lowered it to sip the hot tea in her hands.

Cui’er was Zhao’s personal maid. A small favor wouldn’t buy Cui’er’s loyalty, but it could bring Yin Zheng and Cui’er much closer.

When relationships were close, tongues loosened.

After finishing her tea, Lu Tong rose to take her leave. Cui’er escorted them out. When passing the flower hall, they encountered a man coming toward them.

He said “Sorry” in a low voice. Lu Tong looked up to see a tall, middle-aged man with thick eyebrows and large eyes, wearing a faded sandalwood-colored cloth robe. Though he appeared dignified and imposing, his expression was very humble.

Lu Tong had seen this person before, though she didn’t know his relationship to the Fan family. Several times when Lu Tong finished her treatments and left, she’d encountered this man at the gate. Most times, he had Fan family servants deliver gifts and such.

This was the first time she’d seen him enter the inner courtyard.

Lu Tong glanced at him. Another of Zhao’s maids was directing this man to place items he carried in the courtyard—apparently some pheasants, geese, ducks, and other local products.

The man walked around Lu Tong, wiped his sweat, and called through the courtyard gate to Zhao, who was cooling herself in the flower hall: “Madam…”

“I know.” Zhao sounded quite impatient.

The man appeared somewhat awkward, said a few words to Zhao’s maid, then hurried away.

Lu Tong watched his retreating figure and asked Cui’er while walking forward: “He is…”

Cui’er smiled: “That’s Minister Qi from the Criminal Court, one of our master’s capable subordinates.”

Capable subordinate?

Lu Tong recalled the man’s faded old robe and how Zhao’s maid had ordered him around imperiously. She asked casually: “Master Fan values him highly?”

“Of course he values him.” Perhaps because of Lu Tong’s hair oil gift, Cui’er was willing to chat more: “When our master returned from Yuan’an County, he specifically brought Minister Qi back to Shengjing with him.” At this point, Cui’er seemed curious: “Why does Dr. Lu ask about Minister Qi?”

Yin Zheng nudged Cui’er and whispered with a laugh: “That minister has good looks and impressive bearing…”

Cui’er understood and covered her mouth: “What a pity—Minister Qi already has a wife and children. But…” She glanced at Lu Tong but didn’t continue.

Lu Tong understood her look. In the Fan residence’s eyes, a low-born medical woman would be fortunate even to become a minor official’s concubine.

After leaving the Fan residence gate and Cui’er’s departure, Lu Tong stood at the entrance, turning back to look at the Fan residence’s gate plaque.

Yin Zheng asked: “What’s wrong, Miss?”

“I’m thinking…”

Lu Tong’s voice was soft: “About that man we just saw.”

“Minister Qi?” Yin Zheng was puzzled.

Lu Tong said: “He’s problematic.”

Cui’er said Minister Qi was someone Fan Zhenglian valued, which is why he brought him from Yuan’an County to Shengjing. But judging from Minister Qi’s clothing and status in the Fan residence, he clearly lived in straitened circumstances.

This was strange. How could Fan Zhenglian’s capable subordinate be in such dire straits?

Moreover, Cui’er said he came from Yuan’an County…

This meant Minister Qi had been by Fan Zhenglian’s side since the beginning of his career and must know many of Fan Zhenglian’s secrets.

“Yin Zheng, ask Uncle Cao to investigate that Minister Qi.”

She needed to know this Minister Qi’s background to prescribe the right medicine.

“Miss,” Yin Zheng looked troubled, “the silver we earn, aside from food and expenses, all goes to Happy Tower. Uncle Cao’s information is expensive. Our dividends aren’t enough, and to investigate more, we’d need to borrow money from Shopkeeper Du.”

“Then borrow.” Lu Tong withdrew her gaze and walked straight ahead.

Yin Zheng sighed helplessly and hurried to catch up. After taking two steps, she suddenly said “Eh?”

Lu Tong stopped: “What?”

Yin Zheng pointed across the street: “Isn’t that Young Master Duan from beside Minister Pei?”

Lu Tong was startled and looked where Yin Zheng pointed. Indeed, across the street at a tea stall’s shaded area, someone sat with his back to them drinking tea. Since she couldn’t see his face, she couldn’t determine if it was Duan Xiaoyan.

She frowned: “Are you sure you haven’t mistaken him?”

Yin Zheng was confident: “Can’t be wrong. I’ve seen many people before—I’m good at recognizing faces.” With that, she actively waved across the street and called: “Young Master Duan!”

After a moment, the person sitting at the tea stall slowly turned around. Seeing Lu Tong and the others, he also looked startled, then showed pleased surprise and came forward: “Dr. Lu, Miss Yin Zheng.”

It was indeed Duan Xiaoyan.

Lu Tong’s gaze swept around Duan Xiaoyan’s vicinity but didn’t see Pei Yunying, so she asked: “Why is Young Master Duan here?”

“Busy with official duties. I was passing through and stopped for tea. Didn’t expect to meet Dr. Lu.” He smiled warmly and asked Lu Tong: “And Dr. Lu?”

“I’m here treating a patient.”

Duan Xiaoyan said “Oh” and looked into the distance, then said embarrassedly to Lu Tong: “Dr. Lu, I still have official duties to attend to, so I must take my leave first. When I have a day off, I’ll have my superior visit your medical hall again. That medicinal tea from last time was really effective.”

Lu Tong nodded: “Young Master Duan, take care.”

Duan Xiaoyan quickly left. Lu Tong watched his retreating figure and said nothing for a long while.

Yin Zheng reminded: “Aren’t we leaving, Miss?”

Lu Tong withdrew her gaze: “Let’s go.”

…

When Duan Xiaoyan returned to the Palace Guard Commander’s residence, his colleague Guard Mulian was returning from the training ground. He said Xiao Zhufeng had bought plums for the camp and told him to go get some to eat.

Duan Xiaoyan waved dismissively and asked Mulian: “Is the Minister inside?”

“No.” Mulian bit into a green plum, so sour he couldn’t open his eyes for a long while. “Looking for the Minister about something?”

Duan Xiaoyan shook his head: “Nothing.”

Mulian went inside. Zhizi ran out from a corner, nuzzling her head against his chest repeatedly. Duan Xiaoyan squatted down, absent-mindedly rubbing the dog’s head while muttering: “This is really strange. From such a distance, without even seeing my face, how did she recognize me?”

Someone behind him asked: “How did who recognize you?”

Duan Xiaoyan jumped and turned to see Pei Yunying entering from outside.

On this summer day, he still wore the Palace Guards Division’s vermillion brocade robes, his collar buttoned properly, showing no sign of heat—instead appearing refreshingly dignified.

“Brother, you’re back?” Duan Xiaoyan stood up and followed him into the camp.

Upon entering, both paused simultaneously.

About ten bamboo baskets were piled at the Palace Guard residence camp entrance, filled to the brim with green plums. A group of guards were eating with grimacing faces, and the air was permeated with a sour smell.

Pei Yunying frowned: “What is this?”

Mulian quickly said: “Deputy Xiao sent these. He said it’s hot and specially bought them for the brothers to quench their thirst. The Deputy also specially selected a basket of the best ones and placed them in your room, Minister.”

Seeing Pei Yunying’s silence, Huang Song nearby also said: “The plums Deputy bought are quite good, just a bit sour.”

Pei Yunying pressed his forehead: “…I see.” After walking two steps, he turned back and said with suppressed irritation: “Move them to the courtyard, don’t pile them at the entrance.”

“Yes.”

Pei Yunying entered his room. Turning around, he saw Duan Xiaoyan still there and asked: “Something wrong?”

Duan Xiaoyan closed the door behind him. After Pei Yunying sat at the table, he approached: “Brother, Dr. Lu from Renxin Medical Hall visited the Fan residence again today.”

“Mm.”

“…I greeted her.”

Pei Yunying’s tea-pouring motion paused.

He looked up: “Exposed?”

“Injustice!” Duan Xiaoyan protested: “It’s so hot, I just went to the tea stall across the street for a bowl of tea. Who knew Dr. Lu would come out at such a coincidental time? I was sitting with my back to her, across a whole street—even you might not recognize me, yet somehow she did?”

Pei Yunying glanced at him and lowered his head to drink tea: “What did she say?”

“Nothing much. I said I was passing through on official business, she didn’t suspect anything, and I left.”

Pei Yunying nodded.

Seeing no particular reaction from him, Duan Xiaoyan grew bolder: “Brother, I’ve been watching the Fan family for half a month. Besides giving acupuncture to Madam Fan, Dr. Lu hasn’t done anything else. Her medicinal tea sells well, Madam Fan likes it, and it doesn’t interfere with our Palace Guards Division. Aren’t you being overly nervous about her?”

Pei Yunying closed his tea lid: “You trust her that much?”

“I wouldn’t say trust.” Duan Xiaoyan’s tone was sincere: “Mainly, daily surveillance costs money—carriage fees, tea money, meals out… my monthly salary isn’t enough. Brother, lend me some…” As he spoke, he reached toward his waist, then suddenly paused.

“What’s wrong?”

Duan Xiaoyan looked at him: “My purse is missing.”

“Stolen?”

“No, there was no money in it.”

Pei Yunying said nothing: “Then why the long face?”

“That purse was a gift from you!” Duan Xiaoyan exclaimed: “When I first joined the Palace Guards Division, you gave me that purse—it even had my name on it.”

Pei Yunying reminded him: “Think about where you lost it. Did you search the camp?”

“Can’t remember. When I paid for tea this afternoon while watching the Fan family, I still had it. Ah!” His eyes lit up: “Could it have fallen when I was talking to Dr. Lu? I went over hastily and left quickly—maybe I dropped it near the Fan residence entrance.”

Hearing this, Pei Yunying’s previously relaxed posture straightened somewhat as he asked: “You’re saying Lu Tong picked it up?”

“Just possibly.” Duan Xiaoyan scratched his head: “It’s not convenient to ask her about it.”

“Why not ask?” Pei Yunying countered.

Duan Xiaoyan was surprised: “The purse didn’t have a single copper coin. What would Dr. Lu want with it? Besides, if I actually asked her, Dr. Lu would think I suspected her of stealing, and if others heard, they’d question Dr. Lu’s character—that wouldn’t be good.”

Pei Yunying: “How thoughtful of you to consider her reputation.”

Before Duan Xiaoyan could respond, he continued: “In a few days, I’ll accompany you to Renxin Medical Hall.”

Duan Xiaoyan looked at him incredulously: “You really want to ask Dr. Lu about it? Why?”

“Because the purse has your name on it.”

“My name?”

“If someone else picked it up, so be it. But if Lu Tong found it, I’m afraid you’ll be sold and still help count the money.”

Duan Xiaoyan was confused: “What could one purse sell me for?”

“Quite a lot,” Pei Yunying smiled: “For instance…”

“Blackmail.”

“Blackmail?” Duan Xiaoyan was astonished: “What could she blackmail me with using a purse? I’m not a woman—she can’t use it as a love token to force me to marry her?” As he spoke, he paused, thought for a while, then murmured: “Actually, that’s not impossible. She recognized me today from just a silhouette, showing I’ve made a deep impression on Dr. Lu… But I haven’t reached adulthood yet, so I can’t make decisions about marriage…”

He continued muttering to himself when suddenly his head was struck by a thick bundle of documents. Pei Yunying stood up and passed by him, saying: “Good. If that day really comes, as your half-elder, I’ll certainly present you with a generous gift.”

“Congratulations to both of you—a perfect match made in heaven.”