Chapter 371: Chapter 141: Returning to the Courtyard_2
This statement is not very pleasant to hear, and it took a moment for Cui Min to barely maintain his composure before he said, "Envoy Cui feels ashamed, not having the keen eye for talent as you do."
Qiu He waved his hand, "Well, if you hadn’t assigned Physician Lu to the Southern Pharmacy, how would I have known that your Medical Officer Institute harbored such a talent? I won’t hide from you that my visit today is to ask you to hand someone over."
He looked at Lu Tong with a smile, nodded in satisfaction, and spoke in a benevolent tone that was, however, aggressively insistent, "Envoy Cui, the Hanlin Medical Institute is a place with hidden dragons and crouching tigers, brimming with talent, and Doctor Lu could only tend to the gardens here. In my opinion, our Imperial Apothecary is far more suitable for Doctor Lu. If Doctor Lu joins us, I will ensure that she fully utilizes her pharmacological expertise and does not waste her talent."
"Envoy Cui, would you consider letting her transfer to the Imperial Apothecary?"
Upon hearing this, the expressions of everyone at the Medical Officer Institute varied, and their looks toward Lu Tong changed in an instant.
Qiu He, the Envoy of the Imperial Apothecary, even speaking to Cui Min, still maintained his elder’s deportment, and now he personally came to request a newly appointed Imperial Medical Officer, hinting through his words how highly he regarded Lu Tong.
For a moment, the medical officers viewed Lu Tong with a mix of envy and jealousy.
Yet the same words, falling upon Cui Min’s ears, carried a different meaning.
Qiu He’s words might be lost on others, but Cui Min could read between the lines. It was an insinuation, implying that he was jealous of his subordinates’ talents, deliberately assigning Lu Tong to the Southern Pharmacy to ensure she would never stand out.
With fingers slightly clenched within the sleeves, Cui Min’s face remained composed, as he looked toward Lu Tong and asked softly, "Does Doctor Lu wish to go to the Imperial Apothecary?"
This kicked the ball back into Lu Tong’s court.
Lu Tong bowed respectfully, humbly responding, "I am deeply grateful for the generous consideration of both Envoys and count it my good fortune to be at either the Imperial Apothecary or the Medical Officer Institute. I only wish to devote myself to the study of pharmacology, to not fail His Majesty’s grace, and regarding my posting, I leave it in the hands of the esteemed leaders."
Her words were sincere, her tone gentle, but she could feel a probing gaze upon her, like burning needles.
Lu Tong scoffed internally.
Cui Min was smart and always cared for his reputation. If he allowed her to follow Qiu He back to the Imperial Apothecary today, when this matter came up for discussion tomorrow within the palace, they would say either that Cui Min couldn’t recognize talent and gave away a medical prodigy too easily, lacking the insight of Qiu He, or they would speculate that Cui Min’s pettiness led him to neglect his talented subordinate out of jealousy.
Neither scenario was what Cui Min wanted to hear.
Cui Min could neither let her go nor could he simply make use of her and promote her. It was the equivalent of shooting himself in the foot.
He wanted to push her into the mud but then personally pull her out?
His plan might be well-intentioned, but...
But she didn’t need someone to come to her rescue, she could climb out on her own.
All around was silent, the silent standoff unfurling before the two of them.
Qiu He turned to Cui Min with a smile, "Envoy Cui, what have you decided?"
Cui Min did not speak for a long time.
The woman before him wore plain brown hemp clothes, seemingly weak and submissive, but unbeknownst to all, the positions of the supplicant and the one being petitioned had already reversed. It was as if he could see, beneath her meek exterior, a mocking curl of her lip.
It was a silent sneer.
After a long while, Cui Min looked up, showing a remorseful smile, and said, "I’m afraid I will have to disappoint you."
He looked at Lu Tong, his tone appreciative, "Doctor Lu’s medical skills are exceptional, and the Medical Officer Institute is indeed in need of such staff, talent is too valuable to give away willingly. Therefore, Doctor Lu," he bowed deeply, sincerely offering her an apology, "my previous negligence was my oversight; I hope Doctor Lu is magnanimous and can forgive me."
The Envoy of the Medical Officer Institute personally offering an apology to a newly appointed Imperial Medical Officer, especially one who came from the status of a commoner medical worker, was already giving ample face.
Facing the complex gazes of all, Lu Tong remained composed, stepping aside to avoid Cui Min’s apology, "Envoy Cui is too kind, I dare not accept."
She looked up, directly into Cui Min’s eyes, and began smilingly, "I am willing to stay."
...
The bit of commotion at the Southern Pharmacy eventually dispersed.
Gossip always spreads quickly, and as it was passed around, it turned into a tale of two Envoys nearly coming to blows over a newly appointed Imperial Medical Officer.
Onlookers wouldn’t think there was any problem with the Envoys, but the beautiful medical officer, sought after by both, would become the target of all in this dispute.
At this moment, the main character of this dispute, Lu Tong, was stepping through the entrance of the Southern Pharmacy.
With all eyes from the Imperial Apothecary and the Medical Officer Institute upon her, Cui Min couldn’t let her go and had to invite her back with kind words. But before heading back, Lu Tong first had to go to the Southern Pharmacy to retrieve her belongings.