Chapter 489: Chapter 176 Wind and Moon_2
I dare not aspire too high.
He spoke so calmly that it made the other party pause for a moment. Soon after, Empress Dowager Li lifted her eyes and carefully sized up the young man before her.
Handsome and spirited, his sharp edge was hidden beneath his amiable exterior, yet as keen and bright as the silver knife at his waist.
Indeed, he stood out from the crowd.
No wonder the haughty Qi Family took a fancy to him at first glance and were willing to arrange a marriage with their pampered Treasure Bead.
Empress Dowager Li sighed, "In reality, not forming marriage ties with the Qi Family isn’t entirely without benefits."
"However, you did go a bit too far."
"Your servant recognizes his fault."
The Empress pressed her brow, "Now, everywhere is buzzing with rumors that you, burning with rage for a beauty, argued with Qi Yutai over a female medical officer... Do you truly have an affair with that female medical officer?"
Pei Yunmeng said, "I dare not deceive Your Highness the Empress Dowager, I spoke for Doctor Lu because she has done me a past kindness. On the day my elder sister was in labor, it was Doctor Lu who discovered poison in her abdomen and saved the lives of both my sister and the baby."
"I have no private relationship with Doctor Lu, and my remarks were simply because Qi Yutai was going too far. I beseech the Empress Dowager to see the truth."
This matter was not a secret, everyone inside the Palace knew about it.
The Empress Dowager carefully observed his expression and, seeing that his eyes held sincerity and no sign of deception, she finally relaxed slightly.
"Enough."
She said, "I have already discussed your matter with His Majesty. A little dispute, His Majesty will not be too harsh on you."
"As for the Qi Family..."
Pei Yunmeng: "Your servant understands."
The Empress Dowager nodded, "That’s good, you may leave now, His Majesty is waiting for you."
Pei Yunmeng bowed to express his gratitude and then took his leave with the proper ceremony.
Only when his figure was no longer visible along the long corridor did the Empress Dowager stop twirling her Buddha Beads.
"It seems he has no wish to marry into the Qi Family."
The lady-in-waiting beside her murmured softly, "Lord Pei has disappointed Her Highness."
The Empress Dowager shook her head.
"He has his own plans. If Lord Zhao Ning cannot decide his own marriage, it is not necessarily within my power to decide it either. It’s expected, so it’s not really a disappointment."
"Moreover, his impulsiveness this time actually aligns more with His Majesty’s wishes."
The lady-in-waiting pondered, "Lord Pei is not a rash person; perhaps it was intentional."
"I would rather he did it on purpose," said the Empress Dowager.
The lady-in-waiting dared not speak as a dragonfly skimmed over the lotus leaves, stirring a slight ripple.
After a moment of silence, the Empress Dowager suddenly thought of something and asked her lady-in-waiting, "But have you ever seen that female medical officer?"
The lady-in-waiting was startled.
"What does she look like?"
The Empress Dowager was curious, "Is she more beautiful than Miss Qi of the Qi Family?"
...
Lu Tong was unaware that she had become the center of discussion throughout the Palace overnight.
After the summer hunting had concluded, she went directly back to West Street.
Chang Jin had approved her leave, allowing her to recuperate from her injuries on West Street for a few days. Apart from healing, it was also to avoid the swirling rumors. Qi Yutai had suffered a loss in the dark, and it was best not to show up at this time.
The neighbors of West Street, unaware of the details, thought she had been wounded by a wild beast while accompanying the hunt, came one after another with local products to visit. Dai Sanlang led the way by slaughtering a fat pig, leaving the two largest leg bones for Du Changqing to cook into soup for Lu Tong, saying it embodied the principle of "like curing like."
Duan Xiaoyan had also paid a visit, bringing a lot of game, all of which were trophies from the summer hunt.
When Pei Yunmeng visited the medical officer, he was stopped by Du Changqing in the courtyard.
"Oh, Lord Pei."
The young shopkeeper stood with hands on hips, a sullen look on his face, offering a forced and unconvincing smile to the young man before him.
"What kind of wind brought you here as well?"
Pei Yunmeng smiled, "I came to see Doctor Lu."
The courtyard was empty, and it was evening. The dim sunset glow shone through, with clothes and handkerchiefs strung on hemp rope, twisted half-dry and dripping onto the ground in little puddles. When the wind blew, it felt as though one’s face also caught a dampness.
"Doctor Lu is still recuperating." Du Changqing sighed, "Lord Pei, please leave your gifts, and we can meet another day."
"Doctor Lu isn’t in the medical hall?"
"She is, she just lay down. Her injury is severe; she can’t even get out of bed, and she gets short of breath after just a few words. I truly am sorry."
While feigning his apology, Du Changqing reached to take the valuable medicinal herbs from Pei Yunmeng’s hand, "No worries, Lord Pei, I will certainly convey your kind thoughts... Oh my, such a large amount of medicinal herbs must have cost a fair amount of silver. While it’s fine to visit the sick, giving gifts is too formal."
Then he changed his tone, "But the herbs are actually quite good. Like last time when Young Master Duan came over, he brought a lot of game, all bloody, not good to pile in the yard. Ah Cheng and I don’t dare to handle it, and with Yin Zheng and Doctor Lu being two delicate women... This is a medical hall, not a butcher’s shop; really, I’m at a loss what to do!"
Just as he finished speaking, he saw Lu Tong step out from the small kitchen, her white apron covered in blood. She also had splatters of blood on her face, carrying a knife in one hand and half of a deer in the other, expressionless as if a real butcher.