Chapter 454: Chapter 166 Comfort
The wind made the shadows under the trees sway a few times, yet the person stood still as if nailed to the ground, unmoving.
Lu Tong took a step back and nodded, "Lord Pei."
Pei Yunmeng smiled as he glanced at Ji Xun before saying, "Deputy Envoy Xiao suddenly developed a headache this evening. Would Doctor Lu come with me to have a look?"
No matter whether his reason was true or false, it was better than continuing the standoff with Ji Xun here. Ji Xun’s queries were too clear without any concealment, and her already worthless pride would be shattered by the blade of righteousness.
Lu Tong nodded, "Alright. I’ll go get my medical box." With that, she turned to leave with Pei Yunmeng.
"Wait."
The voice of Ji Xun came from behind.
Lu Tong’s footsteps paused.
That person’s voice was still cold and indifferent, impartial as always, without a trace of emotion.
"Doctor Lu’s medical skills are lacking; Marshal Pei might consider changing to another medical officer."
Lu Tong’s movements stiffened slightly.
This was a tactful suggestion and an outright suspicion.
He no longer looked at her with the eyes of someone seeing a medical officer; he truly believed she was "unprincipled, so how could she be a doctor," which is why he reminded Pei Yunmeng this way to change to a real medical officer.
Pei Yunmeng also understood the warning in those words.
After a pause, he smiled, turned around, and looked at the man before him.
"No need to change."
"I think she’s very good. The Palace Front Office isn’t so strict with rules, and the Imperial Guards also like Doctor Lu very much."
Ji Xun was taken aback for a moment.
The young man stood under the bright light, the warm hue of the lamp reflecting in his dark pupils, the smile on his lips seemed to carry a bit of coldness.
He had little interaction with the Commandant of the Palace Front Office, and they barely spoke in private; most of what he knew about Pei Yunmeng was heard from others. Although to the unknowing outsider, Pei Yunmeng was a kind and courteous Princely Heir, medical officers in the palace couldn’t help but hear more genuine evaluations of him from others.
He was not as bright and amiable as he appeared on the surface; it was all a disguise.
However, at this moment, Ji Xun caught a glimpse of displeasure in the other’s eyes, one that didn’t even bother to conceal.
It was as if he was backing up the person by his side.
After saying this, Pei Yunmeng no longer paid any attention to him, turned around and signaled to Lu Tong, "Let’s go, Doctor Lu."
Lu Tong came back to her senses, picked up her medical box, and followed his steps.
She indeed didn’t want to stay here any longer.
Their shadows gradually receded with the pear blossom lantern, and the courtyard suddenly darkened again. The sound of footsteps was drawing near from afar, and the voice of a medical officer arose, "Doctor Ji."
The medical officers returning from inventorying the medicine stock had come back.
Ji Xun nodded to them and then gazed into the darkness for a long while before withdrawing his gaze and leaving as well.
...
The night wind no longer shielded by the shrubs of the Medical Officer Institute became much colder as it rampaged through the alleys.
Lu Tong walked towards the carriage at the end of the alley with Pei Yunmeng.
Even though they had left the gates of the Medical Officer Institute, that vermillion gate splitting the night into two incompatible worlds, Lu Tong still felt as if a sharp gaze was pursuing her from behind and, unable to confront it, she could only flee hastily.
The unusual silence alerted the person by her side.
Pei Yunmeng cast her a glance and casually spoke up, "Why didn’t you talk back just now?"
Lu Tong paused.
"You always go toe to toe with me, but you were very polite with that Ji Xun. When I saw Doctor Lu standing there taking the scolding, I thought I had mistaken someone else."
His words were teasing, momentarily dispelling the awkwardness Lu Tong had faced with Ji Xun. She looked up angrily at the person in front of her, "Were you eavesdropping on me talking?"
"Eavesdropping?" Pei Yunmeng laughed, "Why would I bother with such a thing?"
"The gates of the Medical Officer Institute were not closed; you two stood there openly, and Doctor Ji’s voice was not soft."
Lu Tong fell silent.
That was true.
In fact, if Pei Yunmeng hadn’t arrived just in time and they had waited a little longer until the medical officers returned from collecting herbs in the storeroom, everyone would have witnessed the scene of Ji Xun questioning her.
"Why didn’t you argue back just now?" he asked.
Lu Tong composed herself and answered, "Argue back what? He spoke the truth. I really do have ulterior motives; aren’t you the one who knows this best?"
Pei Yunmeng’s steps faltered slightly as he finally noticed something amiss and looked down at her.
She walked beside him with the medical box on her back, her expression neither cold nor warm, as usual. However, Pei Yunmeng sensed that today she seemed gloomier than before, just like the moment he had entered the Medical Officer Institute and seen her in a standoff with Ji Xun.
He knew Lu Tong was cunning and calm, never willing to accept the short end of the stick in a verbal clash. Ji Xun’s queries could have been met with her sarcastic rebuttal if she wished, yet she merely stood quietly under the tree, the faint light of the wind lantern making it impossible to discern her expression, yet for some reason, he could feel that in that moment, she seemed to want to escape from there.