Chapter 370: Chapter 141: Returning to the Institute
The entrance to the Medical Officer Institute was unusually lively.
Envoy Qiu He, accompanied by a group from the Imperial Apothecary, blocked the front of the Hanlin Medical Institute, attracting onlookers from the surrounding palace attendants who craned their necks to watch from a distance.
Decades earlier, when the previous emperor was still alive, the Hanlin Medical Institute and the Imperial Apothecary were harmonious and got along well. It all changed ten years ago when Cui Min of the Hanlin Medical Institute became famous throughout Shengjing with his "Cui’s Pharmacology" and subsequently took over as the head of the Medical Officer Institute.
In truth, Cui Min’s expertise in pharmacology was impressive, and his thick tome of medical prescriptions was enough to astonish anyone, earning him the admiration of those from the Imperial Apothecary. The trouble began after he became the head of the institute, as the whole Hanlin Medical Institute started to put on airs, belittling the Imperial Apothecary for being a mere research center for medical formulas, incapable of coming up with even a single prescription. To think that Envoy Cui He, despite his old age, could be bested by a younger inferior.
The one who carelessly spread such words behind his back did not anticipate that they would reach Cui He’s ears, angering the old man so much that he almost choked on his own phlegm.
This was how their feud began.
The Imperial Apothecary and the Medical Officer Institute maintained a facade of peace with a subtle and delicate relationship. Who could have expected Envoy Qiu He today to bring a group of people to their doorstep? To the onlookers, it inevitably seemed like he was coming to start trouble.
Upon hearing the news, medical officers started to come out to join the spectators. Lin Danqing, too, mingled among the crowd, immediately spotting Lu Tong following behind Qiu He. He joyfully waved his hand and called out, "Younger Sister Lu!"
Lu Tong nodded in response, but this caused Cao Huai on the other side to look rather displeased.
After waiting a while longer, someone came out from inside the Medical Officer Institute.
It was a middle-aged man dressed in a brown medical officer’s robe and official cap, looking polished yet somewhat frail and thin. The man quickly stepped forward, bowing his head in respect to Qiu He, "I had no idea Envoy Qiu was coming. My apologies for not welcoming you from afar. Please forgive me."
His tone was fully respectful.
Lu Tong only glanced at the man before lowering her eyes.
It seemed this man was the one who had taken Miao Liangfang’s medical formula, forcing Miao Liangfang out of the Medical Officer Institute—that very Cui Min.
He was also currently the head of the Medical Officer Institute and the one who had sent her to the Southern Pharmacy.
Qiu He, with his hands clasped behind his back, nodded indistinctly as if accepting Cui Min’s courtesy unintentionally, and then began speaking amiably, "There is no need for such formality, Envoy Cui. I’m here today, in fact, to seek one person."
Although Cui Min had already learned about Qiu He’s intentions from others, upon hearing this directly, he still felt a sinking feeling in his heart. He smiled, quickly glancing at the woman by Qiu He’s side before responding, "I’m afraid I don’t quite understand what Envoy Qiu means."
Shi Changpu, standing to the side, inwardly rolled her eyes at his response.
How could he not understand? The Medical Officer Institute was filled with Cui Min’s people, who had been buzzing about for a good while; here Cui Min was, still playing innocent. Truly hypocritical.
Qiu He said with a smile, "What Envoy Cui may not know is that every year, the Imperial Apothecary delivers the One Dream Pill to Consort Rou’s palace. This year, the One Dream Pill has particularly pleased Consort Rou, who personally called for someone to receive her reward. Afterwards, when the medical officers were taking stock, they discovered the red silk cotton material sent by the Southern Pharmacy differed from that of previous years."
Cui Min’s expression flickered.
This was news to him.
Cui Min’s face became serious, "Red silk cotton inherently contains poison, which weakens upon harvesting, but what Envoy Qiu implies is..."
Qiu He gave a slight smile, took a few steps aside, and allowed Lu Tong to be fully exposed to view, "Physician Lu, perhaps you should explain it yourself."
Lu Tong bowed her head, "Yes."
After a pause, Lu Tong spoke up, "To the Envoy, I used black bean juice, perilla juice, azurite juice, blue juice, and ground centipede juice boiled in water to soak and clean the red silk cotton. The flower of the red silk cotton is most toxic, and although its roots and stems lack fragrance, they contain a strong medicinal property. As long as it is soaked in this way, it retains the medicinal property of the roots and stems.
"By doing this, we retain its medicinal potency while eliminating the fragrance, ensuring not only the health of the pill makers but also maximizing the effectiveness of the One Dream Pill."
She explained the method for preparing the medicinal material without holding back, leaving the older medical officers from the Medical Officer Institute stunned. The more astute and studious ones quickly went inside to grab paper and pen to jot down the information.
The cleaning and harvesting of red silk cotton in the medicinal garden had always posed a challenge, but this novel method was the first anyone had heard of.
Cui Min also heard of it for the first time, his gaze lingering on Lu Tong’s face.
Qiu He then said with a smile, "Envoy Cui, with such an expert in pharmacology under your wing, yet you choose to assign her to the drudgery of the Southern Pharmacy— isn’t this a waste of talent? What’s the matter? Are you, in the prime of your life, becoming as blind as this old man?"