On the fifteenth day, the sun rose early.

However, having passed the Cold Dew season and approaching the Start of Winter, even the sunlight carried a faint chill that couldn’t warm one’s clothes.

Lu Tong arrived at the Commandery Prince’s mansion very early, before the baby-washing ceremony had officially begun. Yinzheng hadn’t come with her; Lu Tong had asked her to stay and help at the medical shop. When Fangzi, Pei Yunzhu’s maid, saw Lu Tong, she smiled and pulled her into the courtyard: “Doctor Lu, you’ve come at just the right time. The little miss has just woken up, please come and see her.”

Ever since Lu Tong had successfully helped with Pei Yunzhu’s difficult delivery, the people in Pei Yunzhu’s household had become especially respectful toward her. Lu Tong followed Fangzi into the courtyard, and as soon as she stepped into the room, she heard the baby’s clear crying.

Pei Yunzhu was lifting the baby from the cradle, and seeing Lu Tong approach, she handed the infant to her, smiling, “Doctor Lu, please hold Baozhu too.”

Lu Tong took the swaddled infant and looked down. When first born, this little girl had been like a sickly kitten with a thin cry, but after a month, she had become much more rounded and full, having some weight in her arms, no longer as weak as when she was a newborn.

Pei Yunzhu had named the little girl Baozhu, meaning “precious pearl,” implying she was as precious as a pearl in one’s palm, a treasure of the heart. Given how difficult it had been to have this little girl, and how dangerous her birth had been, the name was quite fitting.

Qiongying asked softly, “Doctor Lu, about the little miss’s poison…”

Lu Tong examined Baozhu’s condition, then placed her back in the cradle, saying, “She’s much better than before.”

Everyone in the room let out a long sigh of relief.

During these days, many doctors from the Imperial Medical Academy had visited, all saying Baozhu was healthy. Yet the more they said this, the more uneasy Pei Yunzhu became. She no longer trusted the palace doctors but rather had complete faith in Lu Tong’s words. Now, hearing directly from Lu Tong that there was no major problem, she finally felt somewhat relieved.

On the table were some golden fruits and rhinoceros jade for the baby-washing ceremony. Lu Tong took out a congratulatory envelope from her sleeve and handed it to Pei Yunzhu, saying, “Princess, this is my humble gift.”

Pei Yunzhu was taken aback.

Perhaps because of her pregnancy and recent childbirth, her thoughts weren’t as clear as usual, and those around her had forgotten to remind her that those coming to attend the “baby-washing ceremony” were all wealthy or noble, with congratulatory gifts often including rhinoceros jade, pearls, and precious treasures. Given that Lu Tong was just a resident doctor at a medical shop, expecting her to give gifts with her monthly salary was rather unreasonable.

As she hesitated, she heard Lu Tong say: “The gift is modest, just a string of colored money. I hope the Princess won’t mind.”

Colored money referred to copper coins wrapped in gold and silver thread. Pei Yunzhu relaxed and graciously accepted it, smiling, “On Baozhu’s behalf, I thank Doctor Lu for your kind intentions.”

Lu Tong smiled slightly.

Since the auspicious time hadn’t arrived yet, the baby-washing ceremony would have to wait a while longer, and the noble guests hadn’t appeared yet. Pei Yunzhu invited Lu Tong to sit and asked Fangzi to make tea.

Lu Tong sat at the small table and saw that Pei Yunzhu looked vibrant. For today’s ceremony, she had specially changed into a rose-purple plain-faced floral padded jacket, her hair lightly pinned up, making her complexion appear rosy and her expression gentle, looking much more spirited than when they first met.

It seemed this month had gone well.

While playing with Baozhu in her swaddling clothes, Pei Yunzhu said to Lu Tong: “With all the mansion’s affairs earlier, and my worry about Baozhu’s illness, I haven’t had the chance to properly thank Doctor Lu. I had wanted to send A’ying to deliver some gifts, but he left the city days ago and hasn’t returned, so it was delayed.”

Lu Tong lowered her head, accepting the hot tea Fangzi brought, “A doctor must treat illness and save people. The Princess need not thank me.”

Pei Yunzhu looked at her with a smile: “You’re A’ying’s friend, isn’t it too formal to call me Princess? You can call me sister.”

Lu Tong’s hand tightened on the teacup. After a moment, she said: “Sister Yunzhu.”

Pei Yunzhu didn’t mind but looked at her curiously: “Speaking of which, I didn’t know before that Doctor Lu was A’ying’s friend. I heard from A’ying that Doctor Lu came to the capital from elsewhere half a year ago… Where are you from?”

Lu Tong answered: “I’m from Sunan.”

“Sunan?” Pei Yunzhu repeated thoughtfully, “A’ying went to Sunan a few years ago,” she looked at Lu Tong, as if discovering a secret, and suddenly said with realization: “Did you meet in Sunan?”

Lu Tong was slightly startled and shook her head, “No.”

“Then how did you…”

“I had just arrived in the capital when I encountered some trouble, and Master Pei helped me once.”

She spoke casually, but Pei Yunzhu smiled upon hearing this, “What a fateful encounter.”

Lu Tong didn’t quite understand what Pei Yunzhu meant by “fateful,” when she heard Pei Yunzhu continue asking: “I see Doctor Lu is so young yet your medical skills already surpass those of the Imperial Medical Academy doctors… How old are you?”

“I’ll be seventeen after New Year.”

Pei Yunzhu’s eyes brightened, and she murmured, “Four years younger than A’ying…” She looked at Lu Tong again and asked with a smile, “May I ask if Doctor Lu is betrothed?”

Lu Tong: “…”

She was rarely at a loss for words. This Commandery Princess seemed nothing like the dignified and elegant person she first met, but rather enthusiastically familiar in a way that was somewhat hard to handle.

After a pause, Lu Tong said: “I am.”

Pei Yunzhu’s smile froze.

“I already have a fiancé,” she said.

Pei Yunzhu’s smile immediately became awkward, and after a moment, as if trying to ease the atmosphere, she spoke, “Of course, with Doctor Lu’s grace and talent, there must have been many suitors.”

She wanted to ask more, but Lu Tong interrupted: “If I may ask, has the Princess found who poisoned the little miss?”

Pei Yunzhu paused.

Lu Tong looked at her seriously.

The “child’s sorrow” in the mocha had poisoned both Pei Yunzhu and her daughter for a long time, forcing Lu Tong to find a way to induce labor temporarily. She had heard Pei Yunzhu say then that the mocha was given to her by the Commandery Prince.

Even if Mu Sheng disliked his princess consort, he would have no reason to harm his flesh and blood. Yet these days, there seemed to be no major incidents reported from the prince’s mansion.

Pei Yunzhu’s expression became somewhat uncomfortable, and she just shook her head with a bitter smile: “No.”

The prince’s mansion wasn’t that large; if they wanted to find the poisoner, it shouldn’t be impossible. For Pei Yunzhu to say this, she must have her difficulties.

Lu Tong thought for a moment, then asked: “What about the secondary consort? That day when I helped with your delivery, I offended her…”

She was being tactful. At that time, Meng Xiyan had called the mansion guards, intending to take Lu Tong’s life. If Pei Yunying hadn’t arrived in time, who knows what would have happened? Today, Lu Tong hadn’t seen Meng Xiyan’s shadow nearby, and whether it was her imagination or not, the servants in the prince’s mansion seemed much more respectful to Pei Yunzhu.

Pei Yunzhu’s smile faded as she said, “Oh, her? She’s under house arrest. You don’t need to worry.”

Lu Tong’s heart stirred.

That day, Pei Yunying had taken Meng Xiyan away, yet now she was still safe and sound in the mansion, merely under house arrest. It seemed the Commandery Prince had still protected Meng Xiyan.

This secondary consort was indeed favored.

Pei Yunzhu came back to herself, shaking her head, “Let’s not talk about that anymore. I see it’s almost the auspicious time. Doctor Lu, please help me prepare.”

……

The “baby-washing ceremony” was always lively.

In the capital, after a woman gave birth and the child reached one month old, they would invite relatives and friends to attend the newborn’s “baby-washing ceremony.” Wealthy families would often boil water with spices, then pour it into a basin along with fruits, colored money, scallions, garlic, gold, silver, and rhinoceros jade, calling it “surrounding the basin.” The basin would be encircled with several zhangs of colored silk, called “encircling the basin.” They would stir the water with hairpins, called “stirring the basin.” Observers would throw money into the water, called “adding to the basin.”

After the baby’s bath and the cutting of the birth hair, the hair would be placed in a small gold or silver box, and then tied with colored silk threads into a cord. Finally, they would carry the baby to thank all the relatives and guests, then bring them to the wet nurse’s room, called “moving the nest.”

The Commandery Princess had gone into sudden labor before her due date, but fortunately, both mother and daughter were safe. As the legitimate daughter of the Commandery Prince, this “baby-washing ceremony” had invited many noble families from the capital, after all, they had to give face not only to the prince’s mansion but also to the Zhaoning Duke.

The guests’ laughter carried through the courtyard, making the usually quiet compound seem somewhat crowded, the sounds of merriment traveling across the wall to another section under the eaves.

In the vase on the table, the golden osmanthus had completely withered, leaving only clusters of shriveled branches and leaves stiffly arranged in the vase, desperately maintaining a hint of freshness.

Meng Xiyan sat on the couch, without makeup, her usually beautiful face showing signs of weariness.

She glanced at the water clock on the table and asked softly, “Has the baby-washing ceremony begun?”

The maid beside her carefully answered, “Yes.”

Meng Xiyan coldly pulled down the corners of her mouth.

On the fifteenth of the eighth month, Pei Yunying had the guards take her away. After suffering for several days, the Commandery Prince brought her back.

No one knew what the Commandery Prince had said to Pei Yunying, but in the end, Pei Yunying had let her go. It seemed that no matter how arrogant he was, without evidence, even the Zhaoning Duke’s heir couldn’t arbitrarily take away the prince’s mansion’s secondary consort.

However, though she was brought back, the Commandery Prince no longer doted on her as before.

Meng Xiyan knew clearly that the Commandery Prince had grown suspicious of her because she had attempted to harm the mansion’s heir.

The mocha doll had been Meng Xiyan’s gift to Mu Sheng. She had only said she happened to acquire it, finding the clay doll cute and auspicious. Fearing Pei Yunzhu would reject a gift directly from her, she had asked Mu Sheng to present it in his name to Pei Yunzhu’s quarters. After Pei Yunzhu gave birth to the baby girl and Mu Sheng learned the mocha was poisoned, though he took her back, his gaze toward her had changed.

Meng Xiyan had knelt before the Commandery Prince, crying like a fragile flower in the rain, “My lord, even with ten times the courage, I would never dare harm the Princess. As for this ‘child’s sorrow,’ I’ve never heard of it. The clay doll was simply bought by a maid from a clay figurine shop in the southern city. I only kept it to pray for the Princess to give birth to a son.”

The maid who had bought the clay doll had “committed suicide out of guilt” on the day the incident was discovered. The Commandery Prince couldn’t find out anything more, and remembering their past affection, he didn’t pursue the matter further, only placing her under house arrest.

As for Pei Yunzhu’s poisoning, the matter hadn’t been made public, and even the Zhaoning Duke’s mansion didn’t know about it. It concerned the prince’s mansion’s face—by protecting Meng Xiyan, Mu Sheng was protecting himself.

Meng Xiyan had worried that the Commander of the Palace Guards wouldn’t let the matter rest, but surprisingly, after all these days, Pei Yunying hadn’t made any moves, and gradually she began to relax. After all, the prince’s mansion enjoyed imperial favor, and Pei Yunying still had to consider the Commandery Prince’s position.

Today, Pei Yunzhu was holding a “baby-washing ceremony” for her daughter, inviting many noble ladies, while she was confined and couldn’t attend. Those noble ladies were known for their loose tongues; who knew how they would gossip about her behind her back? Moreover, since entering the prince’s mansion, she had never missed a single grand feast. Being deliberately excluded now felt like a slap in the face.

Thinking of the baby-washing ceremony, Meng Xiyan’s face turned ashen.

She asked the maid beside her: “Which noble guests came today?”

The maid kept her head down and answered softly: “There’s Madam Dong from the Court of Imperial Entertainment, the Grand Academic’s mansion, the Three Departments’ various commissioners’ mansions…” After listing many people, the maid remembered something and added, “That Doctor Lu who came to help with the Princess’s delivery also came.”

“Lu Tong?”

Meng Xiyan’s expression changed.

That day in the Seeking Fragrance Garden, she hadn’t taken this female doctor seriously, only intending to use her as a scapegoat. Who knew she would end up being thwarted by this woman?

If Lu Tong hadn’t discovered the “child’s sorrow” in the mocha if Lu Tong hadn’t helped with Pei Yunzhu’s delivery if Lu Tong hadn’t joined forces with Pei Yunying in front of everyone…

How would she have ended up like this?

Now she was confined to her quarters, having lost all face and grown distant from the Commandery Prince—all thanks to this woman.

Meng Xiyan laughed coldly: “A mere resident doctor, being treated as an honored guest of the prince’s mansion. Does she think she’s climbed to a higher branch?”

The maid dared not speak.

Outside, the baby-washing ceremony’s celebration continued, the laughter penetrating the walls unbearably sharp to her ears.

Meng Xiyan walked to the table, where the withered osmanthus stood in the vase, showing a kind of struggling deathly air.

She ran her hand over the withered flower branches.

This Lu person had climbed up by saving Pei Yunzhu and her daughter, while she was confined to her room because of Lu. She had been just one step away, only to fail at the last moment—how could she accept this? This bitter resentment stuck in Meng Xiyan’s heart, impossible to swallow.

She couldn’t do anything to Pei Yunying, couldn’t touch Pei Yunzhu, and certainly couldn’t move against the Commandery Prince.

But Lu Tong was just a commoner doctor, without power or influence, of lowly status—surely she could be dealt with?

If you want to wade in these waters of great households, you’d better know if you have the fate for it.

With a slight crisp sound, the osmanthus branch snapped in two under her hand. Meng Xiyan withdrew her hand, her lips curling into a smile as she turned to sit back down.

“Go, call them here.”

She raised her eyebrows, the two red coral drops by her ears as red as blood: “I have important instructions.”

……

The day gradually grew late.

The “baby-washing ceremony” had ended by noon, and after the banquet, Lu Tong had stayed at the prince’s mansion to check the pulses of both Baozhu and Pei Yunzhu again. She wrote a new prescription and taught Fangzi how to brew the new medicine. It was already evening by then.

Pei Yunzhu had the mansion’s carriage take her to the medical shop’s door before leaving. Some neighbors on West Street recognized the prince’s mansion’s carriage, and their gazes toward Lu Tong immediately changed.

First, it was the Court of Imperial Entertainment, now it was the prince’s mansion—the important people attracted to Benevolent Heart Medical Shop were becoming more and more impressive. It seemed this female doctor’s medical skills were truly remarkable.

Du Changqing leaned on the counter, stretching his neck to watch until the prince’s mansion’s carriage had left West Street before drawing back. He glanced at Lu Tong and said lazily: “Not bad, already riding in carriages.”

Acheng came out carrying a lantern, his face showing proud delight, “Of course! Doctor Lu is the Princess’s lifesaving benefactor!”

“Lifesaving benefactor,” Du Changqing snorted with a laugh, flicking the young apprentice’s forehead, “You think being a lifesaving benefactor is so easy? You always see thieves eating meat, but when do you ever see them getting beaten? Who knows what trouble might come later.”

Acheng covered his forehead, hurt: “What trouble could there be?”

“Oh, there could be plenty… never mind, you wouldn’t understand even if I told you.” Du Changqing took the lantern in his hand—it was late, and the medical shop needed to close. He walked to the door, then remembered something and turned back to caution Lu Tong: “Wang—”

“Someone died on Wangchun Mountain and the killer hasn’t been found yet, we two weak women have no means of self-defense and should be careful not to be targeted.”

Before Du Changqing could finish, Yinzheng picked up his words, smiling: “We know, Manager Du. We’ll be careful and won’t wander around.”

Du Changqing pointed at them, finally saying: “…Good that you know.” Then he left with Acheng.

Yinzheng and Lu Tong secured the medical shop’s door bolt and entered the small courtyard.

When Lu Tong returned from the prince’s mansion, she had brought a basket of gifts distributed to guests at the “baby-washing ceremony,” containing dates, osmanthus, and colored silk symbolizing good fortune. Yinzheng picked out the preserved fruits and separately sorted the colored silk, washing it clean with water, planning to select some suitable colors to make silk flowers for Lu Tong.

“Did you see any important people at the prince’s mansion today, miss?” Yinzheng asked Lu Tong while crouching by the stone platform washing the silk.

Lu Tong pushed a stool behind her, shaking her head: “No.”

She understood Yinzheng’s meaning, but among today’s guests at the prince’s mansion, there had been no one from the Grand Tutor’s mansion.

She had originally attended the “baby-washing ceremony” thinking that with the prince’s mansion inviting so many noble guests, perhaps some of the Qi family would be among them. If she could get closer to them that way, it would be good.

But now it seemed the prince’s mansion and the Grand Tutor’s mansion didn’t have much connection—this path appeared to be a dead end.

Seeing Lu Tong silent, Yinzheng wrung out a wet cloth, smiling comfortingly: “Don’t worry, miss. Now because of ‘Spring Water Life’ and ‘Slender,’ our medical shop is gradually gaining status in the medical community. Today the prince’s mansion’s carriage sent you home, and with the previous Court of Imperial Entertainment incident, your reputation will only grow. When that time comes, whether officials or wealthy households, important people will have to bring invitations asking you to make house calls. There’s no rush.”

Lu Tong nodded: “Mm.”

The colored silk was quickly washed, and Yinzheng hung the strips one by one on the thick rope in the courtyard, carefully smoothing out the wrinkles.

“Knock knock knock—”

An urgent knocking came from outside, particularly clear in the night.

Yinzheng said in surprise: “So late, who’s knocking?”

“Might be a patient seeking treatment,” Lu Tong said. As Benevolent Heart Medical Shop’s reputation grew, the other medical shop on West Street, Apricot Grove Hall, had less business and closed early each day. Patients seeking treatment could only knock on Benevolent Heart’s door.

Lu Tong said: “I’ll go see.”

Not far ahead on West Street was a restaurant, with military guards patrolling each night. Lu Tong walked to the door, the knocking quieted, and she held up a lantern and pulled open the wooden door.

There was no one at the door.

The pale red lantern light under the eaves swayed in the wind, and the night’s cool breeze came rushing down the long street, slipping into one’s sleeves and instantly raising small goosebumps. West Street was empty, so quiet you could hear a pin drop.

Yinzheng came up from behind, wiping her hands while asking: “Miss, who is it?”

Lu Tong turned back, about to speak, when unexpectedly a flash of bright blade came stabbing from her side.

Yinzheng’s eyes widened as she let out a terrified scream.

Lu Tong stood at the medical shop’s door with nothing around to block her way. It seemed too late to dodge, and she was about to take this blade—

Quick as lightning, with a “bang,” another sword shadow shot diagonally across, blocking the blade tip aimed at Lu Tong’s heart.

Someone descended from above, flying to land before her.