Chapter 493: Chapter 177 Yan Xu_3
Lu Tong lowered her head and looked at the thin sheet of paper in her hands.
The paper was thin, and the new Chief Physician had not scheduled many travelling diagnoses for her, the only one being a visit to the Board of Rites Office to diagnose Jin Xianrong, which she had requested herself.
"Lord Jin’s illness is almost healed."
Lu Tong said with a faint smile, "I’m just tying up loose ends, and then I won’t visit anymore."
...
When Lu Tong arrived at the Board of Rites Office, Jin Xianrong was sitting on a reclining chair, cursing people at random.
When the servant announced Doctor Lu’s arrival, Jin Xianrong hesitated for a moment, unsure, and did not greet her with his usual warmth.
As she entered the room, Lu Tong placed her medical box on the table as usual, and said to Jin Xianrong, "Lord Jin."
Jin Xianrong looked up.
The female Medical Officer’s robe was elegantly simple, her features beautiful, like a delicate orchid in a deserted valley. As she walked in, it seemed as if the restlessness of the room dissipated, a truly delightful sight to behold.
If it weren’t for her beauty, it’s unlikely that the notoriously picky Prince of Zhaoning would have treated her differently, even going as far as to engage in a public dispute with Qi Yutai.
Thinking of this, Jin Xianrong sighed inwardly.
He got up slowly, took a couple of steps, then stopped, looking at her with a gaze that avoided her as if dodging a plague.
"Medical Officer Lu," he said politely, gesturing with his hand, "please sit."
Lu Tong sat down at the table, took out a piece of velvet, and gestured for Jin Xianrong to extend his hand so she could take his pulse.
Jin Xianrong extended his hand and placed it on the cloth. Lu Tong’s fingers rested on his wrist, the gentle and cool touch usually sent his mind racing, but today it felt like a hot potato, so burdensome he wished he could withdraw it immediately.
"How have you been feeling these past few days, Lord Jin?" Lu Tong asked.
Jin Xianrong replied absently, "Good, good. Thanks to Doctor Lu’s blessings, I’m back to my old self, no, even better than before."
Lu Tong nodded, "That’s very fortunate."
Her expression sincere, she seemed genuinely happy for him, which made Jin Xianrong feel a bit uncomfortable.
After all, this Doctor Lu was not only beautiful but also highly skilled in medicine, almost like a life-giving parent to him, and Jin Xianrong held favorable views of her.
But then disaster struck out of the blue. On Huangmao Hill, Xia Miao, Lu Tong stabbed to death Qi Yutai’s beloved dog with a hairpin.
That was a dog from the Qi Family!
Jin Xianrong furrowed his brows, the two arching lines of his eyebrows shot up.
Even if it were a dog, as long as it bore the Qi surname, it was no ordinary dog.
Others might not understand Qi Yutai’s character, but Jin Xianrong, who often worked with him at the Board of Rites Office, had figured him out to some extent. He seemed mild and untempered, but he was actually vindictive and proud.
At the time, Qi Yutai wanted to hold Lu Tong accountable for the dog’s death, and Jin Xianrong, not wanting to see his life-giving parent lose her life, spoke out boldly, thinking that after all the years they had both worked at the Ministry of Revenue, Qi Yutai would not really take his anger out on him to the point of bearing a grudge.
But unexpectedly, at the last moment, Pei Yunmeng got involved.
Others might not have understood the situation, but Jin Xianrong had inside information from the palace, that the Qi Family intended to establish a marital alliance with the Pei Family.
For a prospective son-in-law favored by the Qi Family to openly quarrel with them over another woman, that was a significant feud.
Furthermore, with the recent spread of rumors, and Qi Yutai not visiting the Board of Rites Office after Huangmao Hill, Jin Xianrong could tell that this matter was not likely to end well.
Having been an official in the court for so many years, he saw clearly that this issue was no longer just a piece of juicy gossip.
The Qi Family had strong ties with the Crown Prince, and with Lu Tong’s involvement, the likelihood of the Pei Family siding with the Third Prince increased. With the ongoing strife between the Third Prince and the Crown Prince, and the emperor’s intentions not yet clear...
When the situation was unclear, one should not rashly take sides. The best course of action was to stay neutral and offend neither side, which meant Lu Tong needed to be kept at a respectful distance.
As Jin Xianrong was pondering how to subtly suggest a change of Medical Officer for his treatments, he heard the person in front of him say, "Lord Jin, today is the last time I will treat you."
"After this, I will not come again."
With his words stuck in his throat, Jin Xianrong only managed to utter an "Ah?"
Lu Tong pulled back the velvet beneath his wrist.
"Lord Jin’s illness is nearly cured. Hereafter, with routine care, any Medical Officer can prescribe medicine. As long as you exercise a little restraint in the future, it won’t be the same as before."
Jin Xianrong responded awkwardly.
Lu Tong looked at him, paused for a moment, and said, "I am very grateful for your assistance at the hunting ground incident, Lord Jin."
Her sincerity made Jin Xianrong feel a wave of guilt.
To change doctors so abruptly, without reason, would make anyone suspect foul play.
No doubt, Lu Tong also realized the consequences of offending the Qi Family and didn’t want to involve him any further; that’s why she took the initiative to distance herself.