Fifteen days after Minor Heat, the capital welcomed Major Heat.

This was the hottest time of the year in the Liang Dynasty. The thunderstorms made the humid air on the ground even heavier, and the weather was so stifling that even laying bamboo mats felt uncomfortably sticky.

When the summer humidity grew heavy, far fewer people came to the medical clinic during the day.

Du Changqing had filled a mixed plate with red dates and placed it on the table in front of the counter, calling A’Cheng over to eat. Yin Zheng gathered the bamboo tubes that had held the syrup water, and when refilling them with water, she added jasmine flowers that Xia Rongrong had bought, filling the entire shop with fragrance.

Master Hu had come to the medical clinic early in the morning, asking A’Cheng to brew tea for him.

During this season there were no poplar catkins flying about, so Master Hu’s nasal congestion hadn’t flared up. Moreover, now that “Xianxian” was selling well and Du Changqing could support himself, Master Hu no longer deliberately came to support the business, and Lu Tong hadn’t seen him for about half a month.

Today it was rare to see him come to the medical clinic again.

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

Master Hu waved his hand: “I won’t eat them. This old man has had a toothache for nearly a month now. Please have Doctor Lu take a look.”

Lu Tong washed her hands clean and had Master Hu open his mouth for a careful examination before saying: “Tooth decay.”

“What can be done about that?” Master Hu pressed: “This old man has been unable to eat or sleep for several days now, truly suffering. Does Doctor Lu have any remedy?”

“I’ll have A’Cheng prepare some platycodon and coix root. Master Hu should decoct them in water and take the medicine.” Lu Tong sat down at the table and picked up her brush to write a prescription. “Asarum, sophora root, and burdock fruit – rinse with these as well. If you have apricots, chewing one or two raw after meals will also work.”

She raised her head and handed the written prescription to A’Cheng: “Use this for several days. Apply raspberry to extract the worms – it’s not difficult to treat.”

Hearing this, Master Hu finally felt relieved. While waiting for A’Cheng to prepare the medicine, he praised Lu Tong: “This old man always said that in all of West Street, you couldn’t find a second Doctor Lu like this one – such fine character and excellent medical skills. So young, yet with such accomplished medical expertise, surpassing even men by a hundredfold. Changqing, don’t spend all your time on romantic pursuits and idle pleasures at such a young age – you need to improve yourself.”

Du Changqing rolled his eyes: “Uncle, I watch over the medical clinic every day. How else should I improve myself – hang my head from a beam and stab my thigh with an awl?”

Master Hu lectured him with the frustration of iron not becoming steel: “What’s wrong with hanging your head from a beam and stabbing your thigh? When your father was alive, he often told me you were clever, but unfortunately didn’t love to study. If you had put even half the effort you spend on playing into studying, how wonderful it would be to pass the imperial examinations and earn an official position!”

“Come on, those official positions aren’t something I can just pass if I want to. Haven’t you seen Scholar Wu from the fresh fish market – he’s been taking the exams for so many years without success.” Du Changqing tossed a red date into his mouth. “Everyone has their own fate. When someone becomes an official and how high they can rise is all written in their destiny.”

“My destiny says this is how I am.” Du Changqing chewed the red date. “I should be content.”

These words made Master Hu so angry his beard stood on end: “Truly shameless – taking pride in what should bring shame!”

Lu Tong put away her paper and brush and asked: “Scholar Wu? The one who lives at the fresh fish market by the temple entrance?”

Master Hu asked curiously: “That’s right. How does Doctor Lu know him too?”

“He previously asked me to make a house call to treat his mother’s illness.”

Master Hu sighed: “I see. Youcai has always been very filial, wanting to pass the examinations to make his mother happy, but unfortunately… alas!”

Lu Tong got up and walked to the inner shop, taking the teapot from A’Cheng’s hands. The teapot contained mint water to clear heat and relieve summer heat. Lu Tong poured a cup and handed it to Master Hu, asking: “Scholar Wu has taken the exams for many years without ever making the list… are his essays very poor? If they’re so poor, why does he remain so persistent?”

As soon as these words were spoken, Master Hu immediately jumped up: “Who said that? Scholar Wu’s essays are absolutely first-rate!”

Everyone in the room stared at him.

Master Hu took Lu Tong’s teacup and gulped it down angrily before speaking indignantly: “That Scholar Wu is someone this old man watched grow up. At thirteen or fourteen, his essays were already quite beautiful. He has good natural talent and an excellent memory. Not only this old man, but other friends who have seen his essays are completely convinced. We all said someone like him need not worry about earning the top scholar position to bring glory to his family name, but who knew… alas!”

He murmured: “How is it that he just can’t pass?”

Du Changqing, who had been coldly observing from the side, enjoyed stirring up trouble: “So that’s exactly what I mean – everyone has their own fate. That Scholar Wu is destined to remain a commoner. Failing year after year yet continuing to take the exams – what’s the point of such futile struggle?”

“What do you understand?” Master Hu seemed deeply regretful about Scholar Wu and flew into a rage upon hearing this: “Someone so well-versed in literature and history, with such fine essays – it would be strange if he didn’t pass! Perhaps his official star hasn’t arrived these past few years. This year might well be different. I should have him go to the temple and offer two sticks of incense to the Literary Star.”

Du Changqing scoffed: “Offering two sticks of incense to the Literary Star… you might as well have him send two stacks of silver notes to the chief examiner – that would be more useful.”

As soon as these words were spoken, the surroundings fell silent.

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

“Ah, I didn’t say this – I heard it from someone else.” Du Changqing leaned closer and lowered his voice. “I once had a friend whose cousin couldn’t read a single character and was even more useless than me, but later actually passed the autumn examinations. Later, when he was drunk, he let slip that he had bribed the examination officials.”

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

“Stop this nonsense!” Master Hu cut off his words immediately. “Such slanderous statements – if others heard them, both you and I would be in trouble. Changqing, you must be careful with your words, or if you cause trouble, even this old man won’t be able to save you!”

Though he said this, Master Hu’s face showed some uncertainty. After all, before Old Master Du passed away, Du Changqing had indeed had a group of frivolous friends who spent their time horse-riding and pleasure-seeking. This information might not be false.

Du Changqing shrugged and lowered his head to randomly pick through the red dates in the tea tray: “Uncle, I naturally know such words cannot be spoken outside. However, I think Scholar Wu’s chances of passing this year are also slim. Every year new people enter the examinations, and his ranking gets pushed further back each time. It’s a hopeless endeavor – doing it is pointless. Better to give up early.”

“You!”

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

Master Hu wanted to speak but hesitated. Du Changqing, however, was unrestrained and laughed: “How can you report something without evidence? The petition might be written during the day, but the person who wrote it could be arrested that very night. Those whose results are replaced are all commoner scholars – who can afford to be enemies with the government? Not passing just means losing the path to officialdom, but being enemies with officials could cost one’s life.”

He clicked his tongue several times and shook his head, sighing: “Who told us to have no power or influence? In this world, whoever is the master calls the shots.”

Master Hu’s face was grim. He seemed stirred to anger by Du Changqing’s words but was helpless. After enduring in silence for a long while, he finally spat out: “People see the present, Heaven sees the long term. How things will be in the future is still uncertain. This old man believes Scholar Wu will definitely pass high and is destined for prominence!”

Du Changqing stretched lazily: “Uncle, who are you fooling with those words?” He thought for a moment. “Though I heard His Majesty has gotten wind of the cheating in recent years. Perhaps this year there will be strict investigation and prosecution, which might actually give Scholar Wu a chance to get ahead.”

These words carried perfunctory comfort. Master Hu’s expression didn’t improve because of them. After a moment of silence, he changed the subject: “Let’s not mention this matter. Changqing, has the Apricot Grove Hall given you any trouble recently?”

Du Changqing: “No, it’s been so long now. That surnamed Bai has exhausted his tricks. The number of people coming to Apricot Grove Hall for treatment has been cut in half. He’s too worried about his own troubles to spare any attention for me.”

Since “Xianxian” began selling, Apricot Grove Hall’s customer flow had decreased significantly. Bai Shouyi had previously pushed all the blame for the Spring Water incident onto Zhou Ji and driven Zhou Ji away. Without the old doctor manning the clinic, fewer and fewer people came to Apricot Grove Hall for treatment each day.

A’Cheng handed the wrapped medicine to Master Hu. Master Hu took the medicine and nodded: “That’s good. If he dares to trouble you, this old man will stand up for you.”

Du Changqing smiled and agreed, then saw Master Hu to his carriage. After Master Hu left, he leisurely returned to the shop.

Lu Tong was reading a newly bought medical book.

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

Yin Zheng asked curiously: “What then?”

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

Yin Zheng: “…”

Du Changqing picked up his tea and walked toward the bamboo chair, muttering quietly: “I wonder what that old turtle is doing now?”

…

Bai Shouyi sat in his room, stewing in frustration.

In recent months, he had lost considerable weight. Even his formerly plump, Maitreya-like face had become gaunt, losing its previous kindliness and taking on a mean appearance.

Wen You stood beside him, carefully handing him a cup of tea.

After the “Spring Water” incident, both Apricot Grove Hall’s reputation and income had suffered. Bai Shouyi was unwilling to swallow this loss, so he contacted Lou Si, the medicine verification official at the Imperial Medical Bureau, hoping to have “Spring Water” taken over by the Imperial Medicine Bureau in the name of the Imperial Medical Bureau. Without this Spring Water business, Renxin Medical Clinic would naturally lose its source of income.

Who knew that the resident doctor at Renxin Medical Clinic, Lu Tong, actually had real skill and created another formula called “Xianxian” after the official takeover.

“Xianxian” was even more famous than “Spring Water.” Watching the steady stream of silver flowing into Renxin Medical Clinic, Bai Shouyi couldn’t sleep peacefully at night.

He had intended to cause more trouble for Lu Tong, but medicine verification official Lou Si told him shocking news – Lu Tong actually had connections with the current Court of Imperial Sacrifices Minister Dong family!

That was the Court of Imperial Sacrifices Minister!

Bai Shouyi’s face was grim.

Lou Si’s words echoed in his ears again.

“Last time, right after I confiscated the official contract for finished medicines from Renxin Medical Clinic, people from the Dong family came to back up Renxin Medical Clinic. Not only did they force me to return the official contract to Du Changqing, they gave me quite a scare.”

“…Later I inquired and learned that the resident doctor at Renxin Medical Clinic had treated the Dong family’s young master once and thus climbed this connection with the Dong family. That’s why Madam Dong looks upon her with special favor.”

Lu Tong had established connections with the Court of Imperial Sacrifices Minister… That was beyond what he could provoke.

That Du Changqing didn’t know what good fortune he’d had. He had been nearly rotting in the mud, but who knew a woman would fall from heaven and bring that broken medical clinic back from the dead. It made people intensely envious.

Bai Shouyi pondered for a long time. He had originally planned to find another way and simply recruit that quite capable female doctor under his own banner. Unfortunately, that woman surnamed Lu didn’t recognize good intentions. Wen You had privately sought out Lu Tong several times, only to be sent away by the maid beside Lu Tong.

Seeing Renxin Medical Clinic thriving day by day, with even official families from the capital going there to buy medicine, Bai Shouyi grew more resentful the more he thought about it. He couldn’t help cursing: “When taking money for bribes, he said ‘money talks, fire melts pig heads,’ but when trouble came, he made all sorts of excuses and wouldn’t return the money. That dog surnamed Lou eats meat but won’t spit out the bones!”

Wen You stood to the side, not daring to breathe heavily. Now that Apricot Grove Hall had no income, Bai Shouyi was irritable and frustrated. These servants dared not touch his bad luck.

Just as he was thinking this, the door curtain was lifted and his wife, Tong Shi, walked in from outside.

She approached while saying: “Husband, have you heard? Du Changqing’s cousin has come to the capital and is now staying at Renxin Medical Clinic.”

“Cousin?” Bai Shouyi was startled.

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

“Just some poor relative who came seeking support. Only someone like Du Changqing, that fool, would treat her like a real sister. If you ask me, husband, you worry day and night about the Du family’s affairs, unable to eat or sleep well, and that Lu Tong is so ungrateful. Why not have a talk with Du Changqing’s cousin?”

“What could talking to her accomplish?”

Tong Shi smiled: “There’s quite a lot that could be accomplished. Du Changqing’s cousin is staying at Renxin Medical Clinic and refuses to leave. I think it’s not just for those small favors. Lu Tong and Du Changqing have an unclear relationship…”

“Young Master Du has always been romantic – trouble in the rear courtyard is inevitable. If Du Changqing’s cousin could drive Lu Tong away…” She smiled. “Without Lu Tong, that Renxin Medical Clinic would no longer be a threat.”

Bai Shouyi said nothing.

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

“What you say makes sense. We should indeed have a talk with her.”

Happy New Year, friends!!!