At the entrance of the Fan mansion, Qi Chuan stood one step away from Lu Tong and spoke in surprise.

“Why is Doctor Lu here?”

The female physician from Renxin Medical Hall had previously visited several times to treat Zhao Feiyan, and Fan Zhenglian had even taken a fancy to her beauty because of this, wanting to acquire her for his own use after some time. Who knew that before his bestial desires could be fulfilled, the Fan family met with disaster.

Qi Chuan hadn’t seen this female doctor for quite some time.

Lu Tong paused before saying: “I was buying things at the nearby market and passed by this place. Thinking of the medicinal tea Madam Fan had asked me to prepare, I came to take a look.”

Qi Chuan’s gaze swept over the large and small packages Yin Zheng held in her arms. “I see.”

“I’ve also heard something about the Fan mansion’s troubles,” Lu Tong’s tone carried some melancholy as she looked up at him. “Is Clerk Qi doing well?”

Qi Chuan was startled.

As if afraid he didn’t understand, the woman before him rephrased: “When Master Fan met with trouble, I heard that all his relatives and dependents were implicated… Clerk Qi hasn’t been affected, has he?”

Hearing this, Qi Chuan’s eyes darkened.

This was probably the most ironic thing of all.

As Fan Zhenglian’s favored subordinate, while Fan Zhenglian’s relatives and trusted associates were imprisoned one after another, he, the confidant who had followed Fan Zhenglian for many years, remained unharmed. The reason was simple: all these years, he had handled official duties for Fan Zhenglian and traveled everywhere on his behalf, but when it came to Fan Zhenglian’s career secrets, he hadn’t been involved at all.

Even in the annual collusion between Fan Zhenglian and the Ministry of Rites, he had only run errands, delivered documents, and passed messages—he hadn’t participated in anything else.

Fan Zhenglian had never trusted him.

Perhaps fearing that if he participated too much, he might one day become uncontrollable and unable to serve as the sharpest blade in his hand, Fan Zhenglian had always been wary and guarded against him in many secret matters, not letting him know even the slightest detail.

He could serve as the county captain in Yuan’an County to share Fan Zhenglian’s burdens, and he could serve as a clerk with an empty title but no real power at the Court of Judicial Review in the capital, but in Fan Zhenglian’s heart, he would forever remain that lowly servant who copied homework and served him faithfully in the clan school.

Everyone up and down the Court of Judicial Review had been investigated by the Ministry of Justice, and he too had been questioned, but in the end nothing was found. The officials handling the case treated him as an insignificant minor figure—after all, since coming to the capital, what he did most each day was buy rouge for Fan Zhenglian’s family, repair rooftops, and reserve tables at restaurants… trivial matters like these.

Just like a real laborer.

The sound of children’s laughter pulled his thoughts back.

Not far away, two gray-clothed children were playing at the entrance of the Fan mansion. The stone lions at the entrance had been smashed to pieces, and the children had picked up roof tiles filled with rainwater, placed folded paper boats inside with two ants as “crew members,” floating on their “sea” and playing happily.

Qi Chuan withdrew his gaze and said: “I’m fine.”

Lu Tong nodded as if relieved for him.

“That’s good.”

She paused, then looked up at Qi Chuan again: “But will Clerk Qi be promoted?”

Qi Chuan was surprised: “What?”

The woman looked at him with undisguised curiosity on her face.

“I heard from Miss Cui’er that Clerk Qi hasn’t been promoted for many years. Now that Master Fan has met with trouble, wouldn’t Clerk Qi naturally be able to take his place?”

At these words, Qi Chuan was stunned.

Previously, he had heard Zhao Feiyan’s personal maid Cui’er teasingly say that the Doctor Lu who came to the hall for treatment might have feelings for him. Qi Chuan hadn’t taken it to heart. He already had a wife and child and struggled daily with making a living—he had no mind for romantic affairs. It was only because Fan Zhenglian harbored improper thoughts toward this female doctor that he always felt some sighs and sympathy for Lu Tong’s humble origins.

Now hearing Lu Tong show such concern for his affairs, Qi Chuan suddenly felt that what Cui’er had said might not be false.

But…

Qi Chuan shook his head: “I am of humble birth, just a small clerk. I’m content with my current situation and dare not hope for more.”

Lu Tong looked at him: “Why not dare?”

Qi Chuan was startled.

“Those above are not necessarily worthy, and those below are not necessarily foolish. During these days when I visited to treat Madam Fan, I’ve seen that Clerk Qi is diligent and decisive in handling matters—you’re no worse than anyone else.”

She spoke gently, her expression carrying some naive innocence untouched by worldly tribulations, so pure it was almost laughable.

“According to what Clerk Qi says, if everyone is content with their current situation, wouldn’t the master’s descendants be masters generation after generation, and the servant’s descendants be servants generation after generation? What would be the point of living?”

Such treasonous words made Qi Chuan instinctively want to stop her, but somehow, when the words reached his lips, he couldn’t speak them.

The master’s descendants would be masters generation after generation, and the servant’s descendants would be servants generation after generation…

Wasn’t that so? He had spent many days running around for Jiu’er’s schooling, seeking people and giving gifts, but Fan Zhenglian always brushed him off. And when he tried hard to please Zhao Feiyan, she would turn around and give his carefully prepared local products to servants as rewards, mockingly calling them “pickled goods from the poor.”

Jiu’er couldn’t get into official schools and could only attend those inferior private schools. Even if he had a chance to take the examinations in the future, what would the capital’s officialdom look like years from now? Would it be like now, with Ministry of Rites examiners colluding with others and examination fraud rampant? Would Jiu’er become like he was back then, would he become another Wu Youcai who could never get ahead? No one could say for certain.

In this world, being a servant meant being destined for bullying. Whoever had power became the master.

Lu Tong’s words came to his ears again.

“However, now that Master Fan has met with trouble, though Clerk Qi hasn’t been implicated yet, your close connection with the Fan family means others might still blame you.”

Her tone was concerned: “Clerk Qi, you must prove that you haven’t colluded with them.”

Qi Chuan stood at the entrance of the Fan mansion, his eyes showing changing emotions.

When Fan Zhenglian took the examinations years ago, the matter of Qi Chuan taking the test in his place hadn’t been discovered yet. But as the case investigation deepened, old matters might well be dug up.

Once it was discovered that he had taken Fan Zhenglian’s place in the examinations years ago, he too would be thrown into Zhao Prison, and Jiu’er would become the son of a criminal, pointed at by others.

Unless… he found another patron.

Since Fan Zhenglian returned to the capital, his rapid promotions in recent years had offended many in court.

These days, there were plenty who wanted to kick him when he was down and take his place.

He had always remembered the Fan family’s kindness from his youth and had never thought of betrayal, but if it concerned Jiu’er…

He could be Fan Zhenglian’s blade, and naturally he could be someone else’s blade as well.

“Clerk Qi?”

Qi Chuan came back to his senses and looked at the female doctor before him, his gaze shifting.

“Thank you for your concern, Doctor Lu.”

Lu Tong smiled slightly, her smile seeming to contain a subtle shyness.

She said: “I just hope Clerk Qi will think more for himself.”

Yin Zheng’s mischievous gaze swept between the two of them, and she said with a grin: “Miss, it’s getting late. We still need to visit other shops.”

Lu Tong lowered her head and bid farewell to Qi Chuan: “Clerk Qi, I have other matters to attend to. I’ll take my leave first.”

Qi Chuan nodded.

Lu Tong turned around, and her skirt accidentally bumped into the two children playing at the Fan mansion entrance. The tile filled with water in front of the children was jostled, splashing water everywhere. The small paper boat was overturned by the waves, half its hull soaked with water, softly sinking into the water.

Lu Tong steadied the boy who had nearly fallen and glanced at the tile the boy held tightly in his arms.

The water in the tile rippled, and the paper boat couldn’t withstand the water, gradually sinking in. The two ants crawled about frantically.

She straightened up and looked at the ants in the tile, softly reminding:

“The ship is sinking. Won’t you escape quickly?”

Qi Chuan shuddered and instinctively turned to look at her, but she seemed oblivious, taking the packages from Yin Zheng’s hands and continuing toward the crowd in the marketplace.

…

Even after walking into the marketplace for a long time, when Yin Zheng looked back, she could still see the man’s figure standing at the Fan mansion entrance, like a blurred stone statue.

She turned her face and asked the person beside her in a low voice: “Miss, will he really accuse Fan Zhenglian?”

Lu Tong smiled.

“Perhaps.”

Qi Chuan had been the Fan family’s loyal servant for many years. Fan Zhenglian appeared lenient with him on the surface but actually firmly held down the ladder for his advancement, ensuring his career would stop there for life.

If it were only this, it might be acceptable, but Qi Chuan also had a son.

Just as her cousin Liu Kun would risk everything and betray relatives for his son’s future, Qi Chuan would also use Fan Zhenglian as a bargaining chip for his descendants’ glory.

Qi Chuan had followed Fan Zhenglian since childhood. Although on the surface Fan Zhenglian hadn’t involved him in some secret matters, someone as clever as Qi Chuan might well have some leverage over Fan Zhenglian.

If Qi Chuan could add fuel to the fire in Fan Zhenglian’s case, that would naturally be best. If he couldn’t…

She had other ways to ensure Fan Zhenglian could never recover.

Seeing Lu Tong’s confident expression, Yin Zheng didn’t ask further and just smiled: “Shall we return to the medical hall now?”

Lu Tong was about to answer when her expression suddenly changed and she abruptly turned around.

Yin Zheng was startled and followed her gaze. Within sight, the streets and alleys were bustling, with endless streams of visitors before teahouses and wine shops. In the distance, at a small alley entrance, someone selling calligraphy and paintings was energetically hawking with a banner.

“What’s wrong, Miss?”

Lu Tong frowned slightly, a subtle unease rising in her heart.

She paused for a while and said: “It’s still early. Let’s browse a bit more before returning.”

Though Yin Zheng was puzzled, this puzzlement didn’t last long. With the Mid-Autumn Festival approaching, the marketplace was lively everywhere. Since coming to the capital, they mostly stayed at the medical hall, rarely going out. It was rare to visit the marketplace, so naturally they were excited to play.

“Alright.” Yin Zheng pulled Lu Tong to stop before a crowd watching street performers, smiling: “Anyway, Shopkeeper Du gave us the day off today, and Miss has been working hard these days. Consider it a day of relaxation.”

The capital’s marketplace was prosperous, with entertainments far richer than Changwu County or Jiangnan. The streets were full of various acts and performances. Though they couldn’t compare to the luxury of the restaurants in the southern city, the atmosphere of common life was more appealing.

For the entire day, Yin Zheng followed Lu Tong’s steps without rest. First they watched variety shows, then observed craftsmen walking tightropes, then sat to watch shadow plays, then ate fish dumplings and fried fish rice from a southern food shop, along with drinking sugar and mung bean soup, and finally visited a jewelry shop, though they bought nothing.

By the time they returned home, the sky had completely darkened.

Yin Zheng had played all day and was bright-eyed with happiness, carrying large and small packages while chatting and laughing with Lu Tong.

“Miss, the capital is indeed better than Jiangnan. Jiangnan doesn’t have so many entertainments. No wonder people fight to come to the imperial city. Except for things being more expensive, everything here is good.”

After waiting a moment without hearing Lu Tong respond, Yin Zheng looked sideways to see Lu Tong’s expression showed no relaxation, but rather slight frowning, her gaze seeming somewhat restless.

She reminded: “Miss?”

Lu Tong came back to her senses: “What?”

“Is Miss troubled by something?”

Lu Tong shook her head: “Just a bit tired.”

Yin Zheng nodded: “We walked around outside all day today. After washing up when we get back, rest early. Shopkeeper Du said tomorrow is the fifteenth, and the shop will celebrate together. We’ll probably need to get up early.”

While talking, they had arrived near the shop. The lantern at the medical hall’s entrance swayed gently in the night wind, casting autumn’s cool air.

Du Changqing had already returned with A’Cheng. Since Du Changqing had given Lu Tong the day off, he simply had no heart to open the shop. After sweeping clean the courtyard that the constables had messed up yesterday, he closed up and left.

Yin Zheng lit candles and walked around the courtyard, laughing: “Shopkeeper Du did good work. He swept the courtyard cleaner than I would have.”

Lu Tong glanced around the courtyard. The soil under the plum tree that had been disturbed last night was now completely re-covered and leveled. The broken flower pots in front of the steps had all been removed. After Du Changqing swept, he had sprinkled clean water. The water hadn’t completely dried yet, and the blue stone slabs gleamed faintly wet under the candlelight, making the autumn night seem even more quiet and cold.

The outermost room had its door wide open, pitch black inside—Xia Rongrong and her servant had left.

At this time formerly, Xiangcao would have gone to the courtyard to feed the rabbits, and occasionally when they met, she would greet them.

Yin Zheng looked at the empty room and sighed.

“When they were here, I felt having an extra person was inconvenient. Now that they’re gone, the courtyard feels strangely empty.” As soon as the words left her mouth, she suddenly realized something and quickly added, “But it’s better that they’re gone. When we move around the courtyard making medicine daily, having two extra people is also inconvenient.”

Lu Tong didn’t speak.

She had indeed deliberately driven Xia Rongrong away.

Because of Du Changqing’s situation, Xia Rongrong always had her maid Xiangcao watch Lu Tong openly and secretly. If Lu Tong were just an ordinary practicing physician, this would be harmless.

Unfortunately, what Lu Tong planned to do couldn’t be known by others.

Later, when she inadvertently glimpsed the expensive jade bracelet on Xia Rongrong’s wrist, she had her suspicions. Yin Zheng secretly followed them and discovered the two had secret conversations with Wen You, a clerk from Xinglintang.

Bai Shouyi had long been at odds with Renxin Medical Hall. Since he hit it off with Xia Rongrong, Lu Tong simply went with the flow.

Du Changqing was soft-hearted, but he especially detested the people at Xinglintang. Once Xia Rongrong got involved with Bai Shouyi, no matter how much Du Changqing valued old friendships, he would reach his limit after this incident.

Sure enough, Du Changqing had “invited” Xia Rongrong to leave.

Lu Tong lowered her eyes.

She had done it deliberately.

Deliberately “burying the corpse” at night for Xia Rongrong to see, deliberately allowing Xia Rongrong to pass wrong information to Bai Shouyi.

Deliberately picking up Duan Xiaoyan’s belonging without returning it, then deliberately leaving the purse on Liu Kun’s corpse.

Murder, framing, slander, acting…

Every single thing was deliberately done by her.

“Yin Zheng.” She suddenly called Yin Zheng’s name.

“What is it, Miss?”

Lu Tong turned around, walked to Yin Zheng’s side, and whispered a few words in her ear.

Yin Zheng was suddenly shocked, looking at her in surprise.

Lu Tong nodded slightly. Yin Zheng bit her lip, glanced at the small kitchen, and ultimately said nothing before turning and leaving.

After Yin Zheng left, Lu Tong stood in place for a moment, then carried the lamp into the small kitchen.

There was no one in the small kitchen. Medicinal materials dried on bamboo trays were piled on tables and the floor. Upon entering, the strong medicinal smell hit one’s nose.

After Xia Rongrong left, the empty room in front could be used to store medicinal materials again. In a few days, the kitchen would be more spacious.

Lu Tong placed the candle on the counter, bent down and dragged out a large bamboo basket from under the counter. The basket was filled with dry grass. She reached in and pulled out a black porcelain jar.

The porcelain jar was as large as a big flower pot, entirely black without any patterns. She opened the jar’s lid, bent slightly, and reached toward the jar, as if observing carefully.

There was no one in the courtyard. Yin Zheng had gone out at some point. Only weak lamplight leaked through the small kitchen window, casting a dim yellow glow. From the kitchen doorway, one could see the woman with her back to the door, doing something carefully. Only from her silhouette could one see that black porcelain jar, looking like a chaotic dream in the night.

She stayed in the kitchen for a while, about the time of one incense stick, before straightening up, taking the lid from the side and covering the jar tightly. Then, as before, she placed the jar in the bamboo basket, carefully covering it with dry grass until not a trace could be seen, before pushing the basket back under the counter.

After doing all this, Lu Tong picked up the candle from the side, left the small kitchen, and returned to her room.

The room door closed.

The last light in the small courtyard disappeared, leaving only the moon covered by thin clouds casting gray light, gradually illuminating the withered plum branches outside the window.

In this deathly silence, suddenly a black shadow swept down from the wall like a cloud, floating into the pitch-black kitchen.

The small kitchen door wasn’t closed, and a bit of moonlight slipped in, illuminating everything around somewhat unclearly.

The intruder carefully entered the kitchen, stood at the counter where Lu Tong had just been, and silently bent down, slowly pulling out the bamboo basket full of dry grass.

He pushed aside the contents forcefully several times and soon felt a cold corner, so he reached into the darkness and lifted out a black porcelain jar.

The jar looked heavy but was actually quite light when lifted—who knew what was inside. The intruder sat on the ground and hesitated before forcefully prying open the jar’s mouth.

The opening was stuffed with cloth. With force, the lid was suddenly pulled off.

“Hiss—”

A black shadow shot out from the jar like lightning, viciously biting the intruder’s arm.

The scream that reached his lips was suddenly swallowed. Caught off guard by the attack, the black shadow threw his hand violently, and the thing clinging to his arm was flung hard toward the distance, landing heavily at the doorway and moving slowly.

The faint moonlight from outside illuminated the rope-like curved and soft object at the door.

A snake.

It was actually a still-writhing, barely breathing black snake.

The intruder was stunned for a moment when he suddenly heard footsteps outside the door. His expression suddenly tightened, and he instinctively looked up ahead.

The old wooden kitchen door was pushed, swaying precariously like loose teeth in the quiet night, its sound also carrying decay.

“Creak—”

“Creak—”

Swaying gently, it was finally pushed completely open.

A bright light illuminated the kitchen.

The woman stood at the door holding a lamp. Night wind blew from the courtyard, making the dim flame in her hand flicker precariously, her skirt hem floating like clouds, and her clear eyes rippling with shallow waves.

“Young Master Duan.”

She looked down at the round-faced youth slumped on the ground, smiled slightly, her tone calm to the point of being chilling.

“Are you looking for me?”