Chapter 368: Chapter 140: Undermining the Foundation_2
Having said all this in one breath, she bowed down, her voice calm, "This subordinate took the initiative without authorization to clean and prepare the medicinal materials in a different manner, unbeknownst to Medical Worker He. I ask for the Envoy’s discerning judgment, and I am willing to bear all consequences alone."
Lord Zhu opened his mouth but said nothing. Court Envoy Qiu He’s face wore a smile, showing not the slightest anger, and after a brief contemplation, he asked, "Then how did you come to know of this method of treatment?"
The Imperial Apothecary and Medical Officer Institute had existed for many years, and within them were those who were experts in medical theory. Yet, how to deal with the toxicity of the Hongfang xu had always been a problem; otherwise, the people in Consort Rou’s part of the Palace wouldn’t be cursing them to bloody hell every year.
Remaining kneeling, Lu Tong maintained a respectful demeanor, "Replying to the Envoy, when this subordinate was young and living in my hometown, I once suffered from this poisonous herb, and I only got better thanks to the treatment of a traveling physician who passed by. I had seen her treat the Hongfang xu this way and thus remembered it."
Court Envoy Qiu He asked eagerly, "Where is that traveling physician now?"
"She’s a rootless person who doesn’t inquire about others’ comings and goings. I also do not know where she is at present."
Court Envoy Qiu He looked disappointed for a moment but then turned his gaze back to Lu Tong, uncertain whether he believed her previous statement.
He stepped forward, extended his hand to help Lu Tong up, and said with a smile, "Rise. I came here today not to trouble you. The Hongfang xu you processed were used to make the One Dream Pills, which were of pure medicinal quality. Consort Rou specially rewarded you for this, and that’s why I thought to find you."
Lu Tong then showed a hint of surprise at the appropriate moment, "Many thanks for Consort Rou’s high regard."
Court Envoy Qiu He looked at her, his eyes filled with an admiring smile. "I see that Physician Lu is about the same age as my granddaughter, yet you are already proficient in medical theory. Let’s consider the Hongfang xu an opportunity provided by the traveling physician. The ’Spring Water Blossom’ that was praised by everyone in the medical community in the city previously, that came from you too, didn’t it?"
Lu Tong was taken aback.
At that time, Bai Shouyi from Xinglin Hall played dirty tricks, first by colluding with the familiar pharmacy to find fault, and when that failed, he then connived with the Imperial Apothecary to seize the Spring Water Blossom recipe in the name of making it an official medicine.
She hadn’t expected to hear Court Envoy Qiu He bring it up here.
It made sense, though, as Court Envoy Qiu He was the Imperial Apothecary Envoy. He would have seen every official medicine recipe.
Lu Tong lowered her head, "You flatter me, Envoy."
Court Envoy Qiu He saw her composed demeanor and straightforward gaze and liked her all the more. He turned to Lord Zhu jokingly, "Medical Supervisor Zhu, you have such a talent in your pharmacy, why keep her hidden away? If not for Shi Changpu’s meticulous work, we wouldn’t have known about this aspect of the Hongfang xu at all!"
Lord Zhu’s face stiffened, and he was just about to placate with a smile when he suddenly heard Lu Tong speak in surprise, "Unaware?"
A chill ran through his heart, and before he could speak, he saw Lu Tong looking at him in confusion, her tone full of incomprehension. "Didn’t I already write down the recipe for Lord Zhu? Why hasn’t Lord Zhu passed it on to the Imperial Apothecary?"
Lord Zhu was startled, "When did you..."
"Wasn’t it because Lord Zhu suspected me of tampering with the Hongfang xu that I was punished to reflect in the ancestral hall? On the first day in the ancestral hall, I gave the recipe of the Hongfang xu to Lord Zhu, who said it would be submitted to the Imperial Apothecary for evaluation. How come..." She looked at Court Envoy Qiu He, "It seems the Envoy is not aware?"
Upon this declaration, the expressions of several people in the courtyard turned towards Lord Zhu, with Court Envoy Qiu He’s gaze being the sharpest.
Lord Zhu’s face changed in an instant, and he retorted, "Nonsense, when have you ever given me the recipe!"
As a Medical Supervisor of the Medical Officer Institute and not a Medical Worker, if he had received the recipe, he could only report it to Envoy Cui Min of the Medical Officer Institute or Envoy Qiu He of the Imperial Apothecary. There was no reason to keep it for himself. Now, by making this statement in front of Envoy Qiu He, Lu Tong was essentially telling him that while using the name of the Imperial Apothecary to ask for the recipe, he had kept it for himself.
A Medical Supervisor concealing a recipe was a serious crime!
Lord Zhu’s face flushed with anger as he endeavored to refute, "My Lord, this woman is spouting nonsense. I haven’t seen her at all during her three days of seclusion!"
Shi Changpu gave a glance at Court Envoy Qiu He, quickly understood the higher-up’s intent, and with a laugh, forcefully pulled Lord Zhu out, saying, "Why are you raising your voice, Medical Supervisor Zhu? No one’s accusing you of anything. Let’s discuss this outside; don’t disturb the Envoy and Physician Lu’s conversation..."
Lord Zhu struggled to turn back, wanting to explain further, but how could he, a corpulent man, match the strength of Shi Changpu, who dealt with medicinal materials in the storehouse daily? In no time, he was dragged out.
Peace returned to the courtyard.
Court Envoy Qiu He looked at Lu Tong, apparently unconcerned with the earlier turmoil, his gaze still gentle, "Physician Lu is proficient in medical theory; staying in the Southern Pharmacy is indeed a waste of your talent."
Lu Tong remained silent.
"How about joining us at the Imperial Apothecary?"