Chapter 517: Chapter 184 White Lotus Dew_3
A rumor about a fire incident, if happening in the past, would never have caused such a disturbance. Perhaps it wasn’t that the Grand Preceptor’s Mansion had lost its former influence, but rather that the Third Prince’s line had risen to prominence.
And there was Emperor Liang Ming...
Inside the quiet room lit by firelight, Yan Xu narrowed his eyes, his gaze fixed intently on Pei Yunmeng like that of a predatory hawk.
"Was it you who orchestrated the fire at Fengle Building?"
"How could it be?"
Pei Yunmeng spoke earnestly, "In the past few days, I was busy reorganizing the new army and didn’t even step out the door, so don’t come accusing me." After speaking, he nudged the person beside him, "Right, Xiao Er?"
Xiao Zhufeng cleared his throat lightly, "Correct, I can vouch for that. He is not related to this matter."
Yan Xu observed the person before him with a stern face.
The young man allowed himself to be examined with open and clear eyes, his expression of presumed innocence and integrity was enough to make one feel ashamed, as if to doubt him was in itself a wrongdoing.
It reminded one of his mother.
Yan Xu abruptly withdrew his gaze.
Pei Yunmeng blinked.
The man averted his eyes and said coldly, "Yuan Yao will not miss the chance to deal with the Grand Preceptor’s Mansion, so don’t act rashly in these next few days, just wait and see."
"I won’t."
Yan Xu and Xiao Zhufeng both looked at him at the same time.
Pei Yunmeng spoke calmly and deliberately, "Now, Yuan Yao is making great efforts to ’win me over,’ and I’ve just ’made an enemy’ of the Grand Preceptor’s Mansion, so to show my loyalty, I should spare no effort in kicking them while they’re down. That’s the only way to demonstrate my sincerity to His Majesty, the officials, and the Third Prince."
Light flickered from the lamps, and the room was hushed.
Yan Xu stared at Pei Yunmeng inscrutably for a long while, then suddenly let out a cold laugh, "Pei Yunmeng, you’re taking such a roundabout way, is it all for that Female Doctor surnamed Lu?"
He suddenly realized, "Good idea, killing two birds with one stone."
Yan Xu laughed out of exasperation, his tone darkening, "Utterly clueless."
Yet Pei Yunmeng remained composed.
"This is what our teacher taught us: ’Repay kindness, forget grievances. Short is the memory of wrongs; long is the gratitude for favors.’"
He spoke with sincerity, "I dare not forget the Grand Preceptor’s teachings for a moment."
Yan Xu was infuriated by his carefree demeanor and, in a rage, grabbed the paperweight from the table and threw it at him, which he avoided by swiftly dodging to the side.
Yan Xu commanded, "Get out!"
"Oh." He responded leisurely and took a couple of steps before suddenly turning back as if he had just thought of something.
"Since these days you’re advocating for the Crown Prince and must oppose me, why not hit me again now, to appear more committed to our respective masters?"
Xiao Zhufeng remained silent with his head down.
Yan Xu gnashed his teeth, "Get out."
He raised his eyebrows regretfully and replied, "Fine then."
...
After trivial matters from the imperial court reached the Medical Officer Institute, the busy daylight hours gained a bit of intrigue.
As summer solstice approached evening, a strong wind suddenly blew before a heavy rain.
The lush greenery in the lodging courtyard swayed in front of the windows, rustling loudly, the strong wind bringing a refreshing coolness to the heart.
The Medical Officers, while gathering drying clothes from the courtyard, quietly discussed that if this rain had fallen around midnight a few days earlier at Fengle Building, the current state of affairs at the court might have been very different.
Lu Tong closed the wooden windows.
Chang Jin’s youngest daughter came down with chickenpox and took leave from the Medical Officer Institute. With the Medical Records Pavilion unattended, the new Chief Physician let Lu Tong temporarily take over Chang Jin’s duties.
New medical records were classified and put in their respective places, the records of officials organized by department and rank, and those of the Royal Family secured under lock, inaccessible to ordinary people... The records had to be taken out regularly for cleaning and airing, and those partially damaged needed repair. After reviewing and cross-checking roll by roll, it was already very late.
The boisterous laughter of the other Medical Officers had at some point faded away, and when Lu Tong glanced at the timepiece, it was nearly midnight.
She extinguished the lantern, leaving only one oil lamp alight, planning to close the door and return to her lodgings for rest. Suddenly, she heard a soft knocking at her ear.
"Thud thud—"
The sound was very gentle, coming from the window.
Lu Tong steadied herself and approached the window, hesitating before pushing it open.
As soon as she pushed, a bamboo tube gently pressed against her cheek, cool to the touch with a lingering chill.
Pei Yunmeng’s face appeared from behind the bamboo tube.
Before the summer rain, the wild wind had knocked the trees outside this way and that, and although rain was imminent, he appeared unconcerned, holding a bamboo tube in his hand, his demeanor fresh and easy.
Across the window, Pei Yunmeng thrust the bamboo tube into Lu Tong’s hand.
"What’s this?"
"White Lotus Dew."
The young man leaned against the window outside, smiling, "The fire in Rouge Lane burnt down the sweet syrup stalls, and I saw no carts in the streets last night. Saw this at the alley corner, drink it sparingly."
Since the blaze at Fengle Building, Firewatch Tower’s manpower had doubled, and Patrol House patrols were ceaseless day and night, prohibiting any vending carts selling hot food or drinks from roaming about. This strict situation was expected to continue for a while, perhaps even until the end of summer.