Chapter 465: Chapter 169: Suburb of the Capital Hunt
After the Dragon Boat Festival, the weather became increasingly hot.
In Shengjing, the sun scorched the earth with its searing rays, and the stalls selling ice treats in the streets and alleys once again bustled with life. The wealthy households could not endure the summer heat, and one after another, they took their families to their villas in the mountains to escape the heat. The cool shade of the trees on the mountain became a favored destination for the sons and daughters of the nobility.
"Xia Miao" then came on the second tenday after the Dragon Boat Festival.
On the night before the royal hunting expedition, Chang Jin received the list of medical officers participating in this summer’s expedition to the mountains from Cui Min’s hands.
The suburban hunt was also considered a major annual event for the noble youth of Shengjing. In the days when the former emperor and the Crown Prince were alive, they would personally take part in the hunt as a component of "military rites."
Apart from the guards, there were also some medical officers and medical workers from the Medical Officer Institute and the Imperial Apothecary accompanying the expedition.
All were from either wealthy or noble families. It was inevitable to have scrapes and bumps during the mountain hunt, and having medical officers on hand to apply medicine and dress wounds also demonstrated the royal family’s compassionate and lenient attitude.
The list of medical officers set to go up the mountain was already prepared from the start, a total of ten, including several veteran medical officers from the Medical Officer Institute as well as a few newly appointed Imperial Medical Officers, all of whom were young people from families with not too shabby backgrounds.
After all, accompanying the hunt was a prestigious and favorable matter for the medical officers, and naturally, such favors were to be given to more deserving individuals.
Chang Jin looked at the list in his hand and unexpectedly turned to the person in front of him, "Envoy, how... why is Doctor Lu suddenly on this list?"
Chang Jin remembered clearly that there had been no mention of Lu Tong’s name on the previous list.
"Doctor Wang suddenly felt a chill and Lu Tong was called in as a replacement," Cui Min, with his eyes lowered, flipping through the medical records in front of him, replied indifferently.
"I see."
Chang Jin nodded. No wonder the list had only now reached his hands, it must be a last-minute substitution. Lu Tong was skilled in medicine, having cured Jin Xianrong recently, his reputation in the Medical Officer Institute was on the rise. Having this opportunity to show his face in front of the nobility could be beneficial for the future Official Examiner’s assessment to become an internal medical officer.
It seemed that the Envoy was beginning to take Lu Tong seriously.
With this thought, he bowed gratefully to Cui Min, "Then I’ll take the list now and announce it to the medical officers."
Cui Min: "Go ahead."
After Chang Jin left the room, another person came in from the outside, watched Chang Jin’s retreating back until he was out of sight, then closed the door without a sound, looked toward Cui Min, and whispered, "My lord, the Qi Family suddenly requested that Doctor Lu accompany the hunt. Do they really intend to take action against Doctor Lu during the hunt?"
Some days ago, Young Master Qi Yutai from the Grand Preceptor’s Mansion had someone send a message insisting that Lu Tong must accompany this year’s hunt.
How could the Medical Officer Institute dare not comply with the orders of the Grand Preceptor’s young master?
Not to mention that Lu Tong was just a commoner with no status or background.
Actually, the fact that Qi Yutai had arranged things in such a roundabout way instead of directly targeting Lu Tong was somewhat surprising.
After all, with his status, it would be incredibly easy for him to manipulate Lu Tong.
Cui Min put down the pen: "I do not know."
He was indifferent to the life and death of Lu Tong.
To him, Lu Tong was but an ant.
The confidant spoke again, "Looking at the roster, isn’t the Envoy accompanying the hunt this year? Envoy Qiu from the Imperial Apothecary is going."
"Not going."
Cui Min said, "Knowing that there might be unexpected changes, I should naturally avoid drawing suspicion. As for Qiu He..."
The old man was just too fixated on advancing his career, wishing to take credit for everything for the Imperial Apothecary. Little did he know that in this world, the more you do, the more mistakes you make, especially in front of those with high status and power.
This lesson, he had learned from another person ten years ago.
"Let Chang Jin go on my behalf."
He closed his eyes.
"Lately, he’s been a bit too concerned about Lu Tong."
...
When Chang Jin delivered the list to the lodgings, Lin Danqing was sitting at the table wiping his face. Hearing the good news, he didn’t even bother to even out the blush and pearl powder on his face before turning to look at Lu Tong, who was reading at the table.
"Young Sister Lu, did you hear? You’ll accompany me on the hunt tomorrow!"
Lu Tong looked bewildered.
Chang Jin, usually stern-faced, couldn’t help but show a trace of a smile, influenced by Lin Danqing’s excitement, "It’s because Doctor Wang suddenly felt a chill that Lu Tong was called in as a replacement. The chance is rare. Cough, you should buy some peaches or pears later to properly thank Doctor Wang!"
After delivering the news, he went off to inform the other medical officers in different lodgings.
The lamplight flickered weakly in the room, and Lin Danqing was still excited, "This is fantastic! I was worried it would be so boring to go to the hunting grounds by myself, having you there will be perfect!"
Lu Tong, however, was not in such good spirits.
Obtaining a spot for the expedition was not easy. Given Lin’s father’s many years of service in the Medical Officer Institute, it was not surprising to see Lin Danqing’s name on the list, but for her own name to be included...
Lu Tong frowned slightly.
Something was amiss.
How could it be her turn, a commoner, to partake in such a noble event? It was well known that all final roster decisions were passed through Cui Min’s hands.