Fifteen days after Minor Heat, Greater Heat arrived in Shengjing.

This was the hottest time of year in the Liang Dynasty. Thunderstorms made the ground’s humid heat even heavier, and the weather was so stifling that even laying on bamboo mats felt sticky.

With the heavy summer humidity, fewer people visited the medical shop during the day.

Du Changqing put red dates on a tray on the counter table and called Acheng over to eat. Yinzheng stacked the empty sweet soup bamboo tubes together, filling them with water and adding the jasmine flowers that Summer Rongrong had bought, filling the entire shop with fragrance.

Master Hu came to the medical shop early in the morning, asking Acheng to brew him tea.

During this season, there was no willow fluff flying about, so Master Hu’s nasal congestion hadn’t flared up. Moreover, since “Xianxian” was selling well now and Du Changqing could make ends meet, Master Hu didn’t need to specially come to look after the business. Lu Tong hadn’t seen him for about half a month.

It was rare to see him visit the shop today.

Du Changqing grabbed a handful of red dates from the tea tray for Master Hu and, leaning against the counter, asked him: “Uncle, what wind blew you here?”

Master Hu waved his hand: “I won’t eat those. My tooth has been aching for almost a month. I’ve come to ask Doctor Lu to take a look.”

Lu Tong washed her hands and had Master Hu open his mouth for a careful examination before saying: “It’s tooth decay.”

“What can be done about it?” Master Hu pressed: “These past few days I can’t eat or sleep, it’s truly tormenting. Doctor Lu, do you have a solution?”

“I’ll have Acheng prepare some Platycodon and Job’s tears root for Master Hu to decoct in water.” Lu Tong sat at the table and picked up her brush to write a prescription. “Asarum, Sophora root, and cocklebur, decoct together for rinsing. If you have apricots, chewing one or two after meals would also help.”

She looked up and handed the written prescription to Acheng: “Use it for a few days, then apply raspberry to target the decay. It’s not difficult to treat.”

Hearing this, Master Hu finally relaxed. While waiting for Acheng to prepare the medicine, he praised Lu Tong: “I’ve always said there isn’t another doctor like Doctor Lu in all of West Street—good character, excellent skills, so young yet such accomplished medical arts, a hundred times better than any man. Changqing, don’t just spend your days fooling around, you’re young and need to improve yourself.”

Du Changqing rolled his eyes: “Uncle, I watch the medical shop every day, how else should I improve? Hang me from a beam and stab my thigh to stay awake?”

Master Hu berated him in frustration: “What’s wrong with that level of dedication? When your father was alive, he often told me you were clever, but unfortunately didn’t like studying. If you’d just put your playful energy into studying, how nice it would be to take the imperial examinations!”

“Forget it, those official positions aren’t something I can get just by wanting them. Haven’t you seen Scholar Wu from the Fresh Fish Shop? He’s been taking the exams for so many years without passing.” Du Changqing tossed a red date into his mouth. “Everyone has their fate—when they’ll become an official, how high they can rise, it’s all written in destiny.”

“It’s written in my destiny that I am what I am.” Du Changqing chewed on the date. “I should be content.”

These words angered Master Hu so much that his beard stood up: “Truly shameless, even taking pride in it!”

Lu Tong put away her paper and brush, asking: “Scholar Wu? The one from the Fresh Fish Shop at the temple entrance?”

Master Hu was surprised: “That’s right, how does Doctor Lu know him too?”

“He previously requested a house call for me to treat his mother.”

Master Hu sighed: “I see. He’s always been filial despite his talents, wanting to pass the examinations to make his mother happy, but unfortunately… ah!”

Lu Tong walked to the inner shop, took the teapot from Acheng’s hands—it contained mint water for clearing heat and relieving summer heat—and poured a cup for Master Hu, asking: “Scholar Wu has taken the exams many times without success… is his writing very poor? If it’s poor, why is he so persistent?”

At these words, Master Hu immediately jumped up: “Who said that? Scholar Wu’s writing is first-rate!”

Everyone in the room stared at him.

Master Hu took the teacup from Lu Tong and took a big gulp before speaking indignantly: “I watched that Scholar Wu grow up! His writing was already beautiful when he was thirteen or fourteen. He has good talent and memory. Not just me, but other young friends who’ve seen his writing also sincerely admire it. We all said someone like him would surely win the top scholar position and bring glory to his family, but who knew… ah!”

He mumbled: “How is it he can’t pass?”

Du Changqing, coldly observing from the side and enjoying the drama, said: “That’s why I say everyone has their fate. Scholar Wu is destined to remain a commoner. Taking the exam year after year is just pointless struggling.”

“What do you know?” Master Hu seemed very regretful about Scholar Wu’s situation and grew angry at these words: “For someone like him who is well-versed in literature and history, with writing like his, it would be strange if he didn’t pass! Perhaps his official star hasn’t arrived these past few years, but this year might be different. He should go to the temple and offer some incense to the God of Literature.”

Du Changqing sneered: “Offer incense to the God of Literature… he’d be better off sending some silver notes to the chief examiner.”

At these words, everyone fell silent.

Lu Tong looked at Du Changqing. Master Hu was stunned for a moment before coming to his senses, pointing a shaking finger at Du Changqing: “What did you say?”

“Oh, I’m not the one saying this, I heard it from others.” Du Changqing leaned in and lowered his voice. “I had a friend before whose cousin couldn’t read a single word, even more useless than me, yet somehow passed the autumn provincial examinations. Later when he was drunk, he let slip that he had bribed the grading official.”

Du Changqing continued: “That fish seller Wu is so poor he can’t even afford medical treatment and has no money to give gifts to people in the Ministry of Rites. Of course, his spot was taken by others. If he can’t even understand this, what’s all this talk about being well-versed in literature and history? He’s just a bookworm!”

“Stop this nonsense!” Master Hu cut him off sharply. “Such slanderous talk will bring trouble to both of us if others hear it. Changqing, you must be careful with your words, or if you cause trouble, even I won’t be able to save you!”

Despite his words, Master Hu’s expression was uncertain. After all, before Old Master Du passed away, Du Changqing did have a group of worthless friends who spent their days gallivanting about, so this information might not be entirely false.

Du Changqing shrugged and lowered his head, randomly picking through the red dates in the tea tray: “Uncle, of course, I know not to say this to others, but I don’t think Scholar Wu has much chance of passing this year either. Every year there are new tribute students, pushing his ranking further back each time. There’s no hope in this, it’s all wasted effort. He’d be better off giving up early.”

“You!”

Lu Tong asked: “If there’s corruption in the examinations, why not report it to the emperor? Cheating is a serious crime.”

Master Hu seemed to want to speak but held back, while Du Changqing spoke without restraint, laughing: “How can you report something without evidence? Write a complaint during the day, and the complainant might be arrested that night. Those whose scores are replaced are all common scholars—who can afford to make enemies with officials? Failing the exam just means no official career, but making enemies with officials could cost you your life.”

He clicked his tongue several times, shaking his head and sighing: “What can we do without power or influence? In this world, those in charge make all the rules.”

Master Hu’s face was dark, seemingly angered by Du Changqing’s words yet helpless, holding back for a long while before spitting out: “People see the present, Heaven sees the distant future. The future is still uncertain, I believe the scholar will surely pass and achieve greatness!”

Du Changqing stretched lazily: “Uncle, who are you trying to fool with those words?” He thought for a moment. “Though I heard His Majesty has gotten wind of the examination fraud in recent years. Maybe there will be strict investigations this year, giving Scholar Wu a chance to succeed.”

These words were perfunctory comfort, and Master Hu’s expression didn’t improve. After a moment of silence, he changed the subject: “Let’s not discuss this. Changqing, has Xinglin Hall been giving you trouble lately?”

Du Changqing: “No, it’s been so long, and that Bai has run out of tricks. Half the patients at Xinglin Hall are gone now, he’s too worried about that to spare any attention for me.”

Since “Xianxian” went on sale, Xinglin Hall’s customer flow has decreased significantly. Previously, Bai Shouyi had pushed all blame for the Spring Water Life incident onto Zhou Ji and driven him away. Without the old doctor in residence, fewer people came to Xinglin Hall for treatment each day.

Acheng handed the wrapped medicines to Master Hu, who took them and nodded: “That’s good. If he dares to cause you trouble, I’ll stand up for you.”

Du Changqing responded with a grin and helped Master Hu into his carriage. Only after Master Hu left did he saunter back to the shop.

Lu Tong was reading a newly purchased medical book.

Du Changqing muttered under his breath: “Who needs him to stand up for me? If that guy dares to cause trouble…”

Yinzheng asked curiously: “What then?”

Du Changqing fawningly offered a red date to Lu Tong: “I’ll let Doctor Lu stand up for me.”

Yinzheng: “…”

Du Changqing picked up his tea and walked toward the bamboo chair, mumbling: “Wonder what that old tortoise is doing now?”

……

Bai Shouyi sat in his room brooding.

In recent months, he had lost a lot of weight, and his formerly plump, Maitreya-like face had become gaunt, losing its previous kindness and looking more harsh.

Wenyou stood beside him, carefully offering him a cup of tea.

After the “Spring Water Life” incident, Xinglin Hall’s reputation and income had both suffered. Bai Shouyi, unwilling to swallow this loss, went to Lou Si, the medicine verification official at the Familiar Medicine Bureau, planning to use the bureau’s authority to claim “Spring Water Life” for the Official Medicine Bureau. Without this business, Renxin Medical Shop would naturally have no way to make money.

Who knew that Renxin Medical Shop’s resident doctor Lu Tong was truly capable—after losing Spring Water Life to the Official Medicine Bureau, she created another formula called “Xianxian.”

“Xianxian” became even more famous than “Spring Water Life.” Seeing silver flowing steadily into Renxin Medical Shop, Bai Shouyi couldn’t sleep well at night.

He wanted to cause more trouble for Lu Tong, but the medicine verification official Lou Si told him some shocking news—Lu Tong had connections with the current Imperial Household Treasury Minister Director Dong’s family!

That was the Imperial Household Treasury Minister!

Bai Shouyi’s face darkened.

Lou Si’s words echoed in his ears.

“Right after I collected Renxin Medical Shop’s official medicine contract, Director Dong’s people came to support Renxin Medical Shop. They not only forced me to return the contract to Du Changqing but also thoroughly intimidated me.”

“…Later I found out that Renxin Medical Shop’s resident doctor had treated Director Dong’s young master once, establishing this connection with the Dong family. That’s why Madam Dong treats her differently.”

Lu Tong had connections with the Imperial Household Treasury Minister…

That was someone he couldn’t afford to offend.

That Du Changqing must have had some incredible luck—when he was almost ruined, who would have thought a woman would fall from the sky and bring that broken medical shop back to life? It made one envious.

After much consideration, Bai Shouyi had planned to try another approach, simply recruiting this capable female doctor under his command. However, the surnamed Lu woman didn’t know what was good for her. Wenyou had privately approached Lu Tong several times but was always sent away by her maid.

Seeing Renxin Medical Shop thriving these days, with even officials from Shengjing coming to buy medicine, Bai Shouyi grew increasingly frustrated and couldn’t help cursing: “When taking silver, they say ‘money comes, business done, fire comes, pig’s head cooked,’ but when trouble comes, they make excuses and won’t return the silver. That surnamed Lou is a dog who won’t let go of a meat bone!”

Wenyou stood to the side, not daring to breathe loudly. Now that Xinglin Hall had lost its income, Bai Shouyi was irritable, and the servants didn’t dare provoke his temper.

Just then, the door curtain was lifted, and Madam Tong walked in from outside.

She came over, saying: “My lord, have you heard? Du Changqing’s cousin’s sister has come to Shengjing and is staying at Renxin Medical Shop.”

“Cousin sister?” Bai Shouyi was startled.

Madam Tong sat down, picked up the teacup from the table, blew on it, and handed it to Bai Shouyi.

“Just a poor relative coming to mooch, only a fool like Du Changqing would treat her like a real sister. In my opinion, my lord, you’ve been unable to eat or sleep well because of the Du family’s matters, and Lu Tong is so ungrateful. Why not talk with Du Changqing’s cousin’s sister?”

“What good would talking to her do?”

Madam Tong smiled: “Oh, there’s plenty that could be done. Du’s cousin’s sister is staying at Renxin Medical Shop and won’t leave, I don’t think she’s just after small favors. And with Lu Tong and Du Changqing’s ambiguous relationship…”

“Young Master Du has always been a playboy, bound to have trouble in the backcourt. If Du’s cousin’s sister could drive Lu Tong away…” She smiled. “Without Lu Tong, wouldn’t Renxin Medical Shop become nothing to fear?”

Bai Shouyi didn’t speak.

After a while, he narrowed his eyes and spoke slowly.

“You make sense. We should indeed talk with her.”

Happy New Year, friends!!!