Chapter 384: Chapter 144 The Truth of the Needle_3
Miao Liangfang had been a medical officer inside the Palace for many years and had once served as an Envoy. Most people in the Palace knew him more or less. Ten years had passed, some old acquaintances were no longer there, but those who remained made it much easier to navigate through the intricacies.
Jin Xianrong...
Miao Liangfang had told her about this man, who was lascivious and lacked self-control, naturally flirtatious, and young yet deeply indulged in the pleasures of the spring bedrooms. He also often consumed substances to greatly nourish his kidneys. Lu Tong still remembered Miao Liangfang’s disdain when mentioning this man, "I dare say, if he continues his reckless ways, in no more than fifteen years, he’ll become impotent just like his father!"
Miao Liangfang was exactly right, and it didn’t even take fifteen years for Jin Xianrong to become incapable.
He placed great importance on his masculine pride, and because of his father’s example, he was extremely anxious about this matter. Lu Tong only needed to threaten him slightly, mixing truths with lies, to easily manipulate him.
As long as she could manipulate this man, she would have a chance to get close to the Ministry of Revenue...
...and to get close to Qi Yutai.
The noise from outside had unknowingly quieted down, and the surroundings became peaceful. The carriage slowly came to a stop, and the coachman’s voice came from outside, "Miss, we have arrived at the Palace Marshal’s Mansion."
We have arrived at the Palace Marshal’s Mansion.
Lu Tong drew back the carriage curtain and stepped down.
Walking inside, a vast open space gradually appeared before her.
It was unclear whether it was a martial arts field or something else, the weapon racks in the corner were covered with weapons. Further back was a small courtyard filled with Chinese parasols, with a wisteria pergola planted right in front of the door. The fallen flowers, wet from the night rain, spread across the ground, their fragrance strikingly permeating the air.
She had just reached the doorway when she collided with a young man in an Imperial Guard uniform. It was unclear if he was one of the Palace Front Office Guards. He also paused upon seeing her, "You...?"
Lu Tong said, "I am Lu Tong from the Medical Officer Institute, sent here on duty for medical consultations."
The Imperial Guard scratched his head, as if he was only just making out Lu Tong’s face, said nothing, and turned to walk inside, calling out loudly, "Brothers, come out, a medical officer from the Hanlin Medical Institute is here for consultations!"
Hearing the movement, a group of people came out one by one from within. When they saw Lu Tong, they were all momentarily stunned before they all gathered around her, their enthusiasm nearly overwhelming.
"Eh, is this a new medical officer? Why haven’t we seen you before?"
"My surname is Li, what’s your esteemed surname?" asked the one who was cheerfully introducing himself.
"Lu."
Another person came forward, pushing the previous inquirer to the side, and said with a smiling face, "So you are Medical Officer Lu... You’re so young, how did you end up in the Hanlin Medical Institute? You even look younger than my little sister... Are you betrothed?"
"Shoo, shoo, shoo, Medical Officer Lu, look at me!" the speaker had already rolled up their sleeve early, whether intentionally or not revealing a muscular forelim. They lifted it high in front of Lu Tong’s eyes, "I’ve been feeling under the weather these past few days. Could you check my pulse? Could I be sick?"
The typically quiet Palace Marshal’s Mansion suddenly bustled with life. The Palace Front Office Guards were all in their prime, but unfortunately accustomed to seeing only men day in and day out. Suddenly faced with such a young and beautiful girl, everyone strutted their stuff like peacocks vying for attention. The shy ones stood watching from a distance, while the bold ones were in greater numbers, surrounding Lu Tong in the middle, asking after her warmly. She was slender and delicate, and at a glance, it was hard to find where she was in the crowd.
All that could be heard was the incessant chatter.
As soon as Pei Yunmeng entered, she saw this scene and frowned slightly, then asked Xiao Zhufeng who was standing in the corner drinking tea, "What’s going on?"
Xiao Zhufeng gestured towards the crowd with a nod of his head, "Your Doctor Lu came to provide consultations."
Pei Yunmeng was taken aback.
"Thanks to her, for the first time, I know what it feels like to raise ducks in the Palace Marshal’s Mansion," Xiao Zhufeng said with a touch of mockery, setting down his teacup before turning and leaving.
Pei Yunmeng: "..."
He walked to the center of the hall. The guards were fervently showing off, oblivious to his return. Seated in the middle, Lu Tong was busy taking pulses, with dozens of bare arms stretched out in front of her, each forcibly displaying their powerful contours. As for the silly, smiling faces, they resembled the look Zhizi had whenever he begged Duan Xiaoyan for a bone, licking his fingers as he approached.
It was truly an eyesore.
Unable to bear it any longer, Pei Yunmeng stepped forward and tapped the table with his scabbard, "Quiet down."
If the noise continued, outsiders might indeed believe that the Palace Marshal’s Mansion had switched to duck farming.
"My lord?"
Only then did the guards notice him, quickly standing up to move aside, and someone even took the initiative to explain, probably fearing he would not understand, "My lord, the new Medical Officer Lu from the Medical Officer Institute has come to give us our consultations."