After the Minor Heat period passed in Shengjing, the weather became even hotter.

In front of the silk shoe shop on West Street, they had set up an awning with brocade cloth. Every evening, vendors would gather in twos and threes under the awning to cool off.

Today was unusually overcast, with no sun in the morning sky. Du Changqing took Xia Rongrong and her servant to stroll around the city, incidentally buying some local products for Xia Rongrong’s parents. Only A’Cheng and Yin Zheng remained in the medical hall to help Lu Tong organize medicinal materials.

Lu Tong sat in the medical hall, stacking newly made “Xianxian” in the corner of the long cabinet. A few days ago, she had borrowed another hundred taels of silver from Du Changqing, so she could only make more medicinal tea to supplement their income.

Yin Zheng was sweeping the floor, and A’Cheng had gone to the West Street syrup shop to buy sweet syrup for Lu Tong.

Du Changqing found Lu Tong’s taste incomprehensible, but this newly opened syrup shop was perfectly sweet for Lu Tong. Two cups cost three copper coins total. Since the others in the medical hall found it too sweet, Lu Tong bought it daily and drank two bamboo tubes by herself.

After about half an incense stick’s time, Lu Tong had just finished arranging all the medicinal tea when A’Cheng returned.

A’Cheng came back looking hesitant, holding bamboo tubes of syrup, appearing somewhat restless.

Lu Tong glanced at him: “Why aren’t you coming in?”

Before A’Cheng could speak, a voice suddenly emerged from behind: “Dr. Lu!”

Lu Tong paused in placing the medicinal tea, and Yin Zheng, who was sweeping, straightened up to look toward the door.

Duan Xiaoyan walked in from outside with a cheerful smile, familiarly greeting everyone: “Miss Yin Zheng.”

Lu Tong looked toward him. Behind Duan Xiaoyan stood a handsome young man with a sword, who smiled as their eyes met.

Lu Tong’s heart sank.

This person was truly persistent as a ghost.

She paused, then spoke calmly: “Why has Minister Pei come?”

Pei Yunying walked in: “To buy medicine.”

“Buy medicine?”

Duan Xiaoyan turned around: “Recently, the summer heat has been intense. The brothers in our camp inevitably suffer from heat stroke when moving about outside. The Minister wants to buy some heat-clearing medicinal tea to brew and distribute among the brothers.” He smiled at Lu Tong: “Since we’re all acquaintances, we specially came to patronize Dr. Lu’s business.”

Lu Tong nodded: “Thank you.” She then said to both of them: “Please wait a moment.”

She sat at the table and took paper and brush to write a prescription. Pei Yunying stood before the medicine cabinet, his gaze sweeping over her flowing calligraphy, raising his eyebrows slightly.

Lu Tong didn’t notice. After finishing, she handed the prescription to A’Cheng, who went to prepare the medicine. Yin Zheng glanced at the two men and smiled: “Please sit for a while, this servant will go brew…”

Before she could say “tea,” two bamboo tubes of sweet syrup were already placed on the small table.

Pei Yunying looked up as Lu Tong smiled and withdrew her hand: “Freshly bought syrup. The Minister and Young Master Duan can try some.”

This meant she had no intention of brewing tea for them.

Drinking a cup of sweet syrup would only take a moment, while brewing and drinking tea would take quite a while. Though Lu Tong didn’t say it explicitly, she had expressed her intention to see them off quite thoroughly.

Pei Yunying’s gaze swept across Lu Tong’s face. After a while, he shook his head and good-naturedly picked up the bamboo tube of syrup for a sip.

The next moment, the young man’s smile stiffened.

Duan Xiaoyan beside him had already exclaimed: “Ptui ptui ptui, this is way too sweet! Dr. Lu, what did you buy?!”

“Ginger honey water.” Lu Tong said: “Is it very sweet? I think it’s just right. All the medicinal materials in the medical hall are bitter. The ginger honey water in Young Master Duan’s hands is sweeter than medicine.”

Her expression was calm, her tone without the slightest hint of playfulness, making it impossible to tell if she was deliberately teasing them.

Pei Yunying put down the bamboo tube and sighed: “That makes sense.”

Lu Tong looked at him.

This person showed no signs of anger on his face, maintaining a consistently polite and gentle attitude. She couldn’t tell if it was good breeding or cunning.

A’Cheng was still preparing the medicine. Duan Xiaoyan held his fist to his lips and coughed lightly, making conversation: “Dr. Lu, when I saw you at the Fan residence entrance last time, I wanted to chat more, but I was busy with official duties… How have you been these days? No one has caused you trouble, have they?”

Lu Tong also sat at the table: “No one has. Thank you for your concern, Young Master Duan.”

Duan Xiaoyan coughed twice more: “Speaking of which, I lost my purse last time at the Fan residence…” As he said this, he looked at Lu Tong probingly.

Lu Tong quietly watched him.

Duan Xiaoyan stammered: “Did you… did you see my purse?”

The shop fell silent for a moment.

Gray clouds obscured the sky, and the branches and leaves of the plum tree by the door rustled in the wind.

After a long while, Lu Tong spoke calmly: “Is Young Master Duan suspecting me of stealing your purse?”

A’Cheng crouched by the medicine cabinet, the sound of preparing medicinal materials rustling softly. Yin Zheng stood by the table at the door, lowering her head to seriously wipe the table.

Duan Xiaoyan was stunned for a moment, then laughed awkwardly: “How could that be? I was just mentioning it casually.”

Lu Tong nodded: “Young Master Duan, I did not see your purse.”

Duan Xiaoyan hurriedly said: “I also thought you didn’t see it. I must have dropped it somewhere else.” After speaking, his hand under the table gently tugged at Pei Yunying’s sleeve.

Pei Yunying sat to one side, his gaze sweeping over the stack of ‘Xianxian’ on the pharmacy table, suddenly changing the subject: “Dr. Lu’s medicinal tea is selling well. I heard even Chief Judge Fan’s family personally requested it.”

“I was merely fortunate enough to catch Madam Fan’s eye.”

“How could it be mere fortune?” He smiled: “Madam Fan cares about her figure, and Dr. Lu happened to make slimming medicinal tea—it was like sending charcoal in snowy weather. If I didn’t know Dr. Lu was from out of town, I would have thought Dr. Lu prepared it specifically for Madam Fan.”

Yin Zheng’s hand wiping the table tensed, gripping the cloth tightly.

Lu Tong looked at him: “The Minister flatters me. Creating a medicinal tea is not as simple as others might think. Moreover, I am but a commoner with no connection to officials—how could I influence Madam’s decisions?”

He nodded: “That’s true.”

He then looked toward Yin Zheng by the table cabinet. Yin Zheng kept her head down, seriously collecting the scattered white papers on the table.

Pei Yunying watched for a while, then reached for the bamboo tube of sweet syrup on the table and took a sip, immediately frowning as if finding the syrup too sweet.

He called to Lu Tong: “Dr. Lu.”

Lu Tong responded.

“I remember from our previous meetings, that girl beside you was usually quick-tongued and talkative. Why has she been so silent during these recent encounters?” He placed the bamboo tube back on the table and spoke unhurriedly: “Could it be she’s afraid of saying something wrong and is deliberately avoiding me?”

Lu Tong’s heart jumped.

She looked up at Pei Yunying.

The shop wasn’t lit during the day, and the sky had completely darkened. He sat in the summer gloom wearing vermillion brocade robes with a gleaming sword at his waist, appearing exceptionally elegant and handsome.

Only the smile in his eyes was very faint.

After a pause, Lu Tong answered calmly: “The Minister jests. We are of humble status. Meeting someone of the Minister’s noble birth and distinguished family, we become tongue-tied and awkward, unfit for refined company. Please don’t take offense, Minister.”

Her repeated use of “Minister” carried sarcasm. Duan Xiaoyan also sensed the subtle atmosphere and became restless, pretentiously asking A’Cheng: “Um… is the medicinal tea ready?”

“Ready, ready!” A’Cheng called out while placing two large packages of medicinal tea on the table cabinet, wiping his sweat: “There’s quite a bit of medicinal tea—sorry to delay you gentlemen.”

“No problem, no problem.” Duan Xiaoyan also wiped his sweat, stood up and fanned himself, saying: “Why is it so hot today!”

He walked to the table cabinet, paid the silver, picked up the two large packages of medicinal materials, and urged Pei Yunying: “Minister, it’s getting late. We should head back—we shouldn’t delay Dr. Lu from seeing patients.”

Lu Tong stood up: “Minister, take care.” She showed no intention of asking them to stay.

Pei Yunying quietly watched her. After a while, he lowered his head and smiled, then stood up. After taking two steps, he suddenly remembered something, turned back to pick up the unfinished ginger honey water from the table, and shook it at Lu Tong: “Thank you for the ginger honey water, Dr. Lu.”

“Until we meet again.”

The two left Renxin Medical Hall. Yin Zheng moved to the doorway and waited until she could no longer see their figures before patting her chest and breathing a sigh of relief.

A’Cheng muttered quietly: “Minister Pei has such a good temper, but why does he always seem so unsettling…” He mused to himself: “It must be because his sword has such heavy killing aura…”

On the other side, Duan Xiaoyan and Pei Yunying, having left the medical hall, went ahead to get their horses.

Duan Xiaoyan complained quietly: “Brother, I told you today would be a wasted trip. Dr. Lu couldn’t possibly have found my purse. Making it this awkward—how can we face her again in the future?”

Pei Yunying stopped walking: “Who said it was impossible?”

Duan Xiaoyan was startled: “She was lying?”

“Can’t tell. But only believe three parts of what she says, and in crucial moments, don’t believe even those three parts.”

Duan Xiaoyan was speechless: “Brother, I always feel you’re prejudiced against Dr. Lu. I’ve inquired before—Dr. Lu has a very good reputation on West Street. Everyone says she’s a beautiful and kind-hearted living Buddha. Only you guard against her like guarding against a thief. She’s just a weak woman—is it really necessary?”

“Weak woman?” Pei Yunying scoffed: “Did you see clearly what she was wearing today?”

“What was she wearing?” Duan Xiaoyan was confused: “A dress, quite pretty. Dr. Lu is beautiful—she looks good in anything.”

Pei Yunying glanced at him.

Duan Xiaoyan was puzzled: “Did I say something wrong?”

“The first time I saw her, at Baoxiang Tower, she wore coarse cloth clothes. The second time, at Wan’en Temple, it became a white silk dress. Today her clothing material had changed to cloud-fine gauze.”

“Brother, you actually remember so clearly.” Duan Xiaoyan was nonchalant: “That’s perfectly normal. Dr. Lu is from out of town, came to Shengjing, and learned to dress like Shengjing women. Everyone loves beauty—even Zhizi has several floral dresses.”

Pei Yunying handed him the bamboo tube brought from the medical hall and turned to untie the horse rope: “Coarse cloth costs three hundred wen per bolt, silk costs five hundred wen per bolt, and cloud-fine gauze costs at least one string of cash per bolt. In less than half a year, Dr. Lu’s clothing expenses have increased considerably.”

Duan Xiaoyan held the bamboo tube, bewildered: “What could this represent?”

Pei Yunying untied the horse rope and mounted: “This represents that if Lu Tong had entered the Palace Guards Division at the same time as you, she would now be your superior.”

He spurred his horse with a “Hyah!” and galloped away. Duan Xiaoyan stood there stunned for a long while. When he came to his senses, he said indignantly: “Brother, you’re insulting me!”

…

Renxin Medical Hall.

Du Changqing didn’t return with Xia Rongrong and her servant until evening.

Today’s outing had been quite fruitful—the local products Du Changqing brought back filled half the small courtyard. Seeming extremely tired, Du Changqing didn’t chat much with Lu Tong and told A’Cheng to go home.

Yin Zheng closed the medical hall’s shop door. Lu Tong lit a lamp. Xia Rongrong had Xiangcao come over and hand Yin Zheng a small paper package.

Yin Zheng was puzzled: “What is this…”

Xiangcao smiled: “My young lady and cousin young master bought white jade cream square cakes while out today. Knowing Dr. Lu loves sweets, they specially brought some for Dr. Lu.”

Yin Zheng thanked her repeatedly, then took the paper package back to Lu Tong’s room. Lu Tong had just entered carrying her medical box.

“Square cakes from Miss Xia next door,” Yin Zheng said.

Lu Tong: “Put them on the table.”

Yin Zheng placed the square cakes on the table, then closed the doors and windows, trimmed the lamp wick with scissors, and the room brightened.

Lu Tong put away her medical box, then bent down to pull out a small chest from under the bed. Next, she opened the table drawer and took out a pale gold purse.

The purse was made of silk satin with two mandarin ducks playing in water embroidered on it. Water plants wound around them lifelike—exquisitely crafted. Along the edge of this purse was hidden a line of small characters—a person’s name: Duan Xiaoyan.

This was Duan Xiaoyan’s purse.

Yin Zheng carried the oil lamp over, placed it on the table, and looking at the purse, quietly asked Lu Tong: “Miss, when Young Master Duan came to the medical hall today, why didn’t you return his purse?”

That day at the Fan residence entrance, Duan Xiaoyan had left in a hurry. When Lu Tong and Yin Zheng were about to leave, they noticed a purse had fallen on the ground.

The purse’s opening was loose, with Duan Xiaoyan’s name embroidered on it. He had probably failed to secure it properly after paying for tea at the tea stall, and it fell out while walking.

Lu Tong had picked up the purse and kept it. Today when Duan Xiaoyan came, Yin Zheng thought Lu Tong would return the purse, but unexpectedly, Lu Tong said nothing.

In the quiet night, Lu Tong’s fingertips rubbed over the raised embroidery of the name on the purse as she suddenly spoke: “Why was Duan Xiaoyan at the Fan residence entrance?”

Yin Zheng was startled and instinctively answered: “…Wasn’t he passing by on official business?”

“If he was passing by on official business, why was he wearing civilian clothes? There were only three or four people at the tea stall. After seeing us, Duan Xiaoyan left, and those people followed—indicating they were together.”

“When Duan Xiaoyan asked why I was there, I only told him I was treating someone. But today Pei Yunying directly stated I was treating Zhao with acupuncture, showing he knows my every move.”

“And when you called Duan Xiaoyan’s name that day, he was slow to respond and only turned around at the end, as if he didn’t want to be discovered by us. Why was that?”

Yin Zheng listened with growing alarm: “Miss, you mean…”

“He was monitoring me.”

Lu Tong said calmly: “We’re being watched.”

Outside the window, plum branches cast shadows through the gauze curtains onto the flower window, framing a painting in the window scene.

Yin Zheng’s lips turned pale: “But why would they watch Miss?”

Lu Tong lowered her eyes: “Back at Wan’en Temple, Pei Yunying already suspected me. All this probing is for Ke Chengxing’s death, but since the case is closed and he can’t find evidence, he can only work from my end.”

Hearing this, Yin Zheng became even more nervous: “They’re officials—we can’t fight them. What does Miss plan to do now?”

Lu Tong picked up the purse from the table, carefully observing the two mandarin ducks playing in water, and smiled slightly.

“It’s fine. Let him watch.”

She opened the chest, put the purse inside, then bent down to place the chest back under the bed.

Everything without a trace.

“For us, this might actually be a good thing,” she said.