Chapter 308: Chapter 124: Lantern Festival_1
After New Year’s Eve, once the firecrackers had been set off, Renxin Medical Hall resumed business as usual.
While other shops on West Street were closed for rest, the medical hall couldn’t afford to. There were always headaches and fevers in households over the New Year, so the clinic had to remain open for consultations and medicine dispensing. However, the number of patients was significantly fewer than on regular days, thus the shop was relatively quiet.
The morning after New Year’s Eve, when Yin Zheng woke from her drunken stupor, she entered Lu Tong’s room and discovered that the white-robed Guanyin statue that was placed in the small Buddha cabinet was missing. Upon inquiry, Lu Tong only said that it had been broken, which greatly unsettled Yin Zheng for a while.
"For no reason at all, the Guanyin statue broke on New Year’s Eve. That’s a bad sign; who knows if it blocked some disaster. We should go back to the temple later to burn more incense and invite another Guanyin statue to take its place," Yin Zheng suggested to Lu Tong with concern.
Upon hearing Yin Zheng’s words, Du Changqing immediately leaned back in his chair, turned his head toward Lu Tong, and said, "That’s right, go and pray to the God of Literature too. With the spring examination next month, let the God of Literature clear the way for you as well."
"Pray to what god?" Miao Liangfang said with disdain. "When I was young, I didn’t pray to any Buddha, and still, I rose to prominence and passed the exam ahead of those worthless scions from the Imperial Medical Bureau."
"Exactly, that’s why you got kicked out."
"..."
"Old Miao, one must always have a sense of reverence," Du Changqing advised gently.
Ah Cheng muttered, "Sounds like the person who stole and ate the live fish isn’t the master..."
"Shut up."
While listening to their banter, Lu Tong reviewed the medical texts Miao Liangfang had organized for her. With the spring examination looming, she took advantage of the clinic’s quiet days to study even harder than before.
Yin Zheng took the freshly washed handkerchief out to dry in the courtyard, and not long after, she lifted the felt curtain and came back in, asking Lu Tong, "Miss, isn’t this handkerchief one we’ve never seen before?"
Lu Tong glanced up and couldn’t help but pause for a moment.
In Yin Zheng’s hand was a square white silk handkerchief embroidered with a majestic and masculine eagle. However, because it had been stained with blood which hadn’t entirely washed out, it was left with a faint pink tint.
It was the handkerchief Pei Yunmeng had given her on New Year’s Eve.
Yin Zheng looked closely at the handkerchief in her hand, "The fabric feels nice... But I can’t recall ever buying this before?"
All the clothing and handkerchief purchases in the house were managed by Yin Zheng, and Lu Tong secretly mused that after that day, she had washed the handkerchief and intended to find an opportunity to return it to Pei Yunmeng. However, Pei Yunmeng hadn’t shown up again, and she forgot to hide the handkerchief, which was then unwittingly found by Yin Zheng and washed.
With a keen eye, Du Changqing cast a suspicious glance, "Why does it look like a man’s style?"
This type of sharp and stern design was more often used by men.
Lu Tong picked up a teacup from the table and took a sip, keeping her composure as she replied, "It was a thank-you gift from Miss Pei."
"Oh," Yin Zheng suddenly realized.
Lu Tong regularly prepared finished medicines for Treasure Bead, and when Miss Pei’s servant came to collect them, in addition to the consultation fee, other tokens of appreciation were also given. They weren’t too expensive—just some vivid cloths, some boxes of exquisite pastries, and the like.
"What a pity," Yin Zheng said regretfully, touching the handkerchief, "The fabric is nice, and the color is refined, but the embroidery is too harsh, and there’s a stain. Otherwise, it would have been perfect to make into a brocade flower for the Miss."
Lu Tong was almost choked by her tea.
Turning Pei Yunmeng’s handkerchief into a brocade flower to wear at the side of her hair—if he ever saw it, who knows what he might think of her.
Hearing this, Du Changqing looked at Lu Tong, "Speaking of which, Doctor Lu, I give you your monthly allowance on time. You should also buy yourself some jewelry. Don’t always wear those worthless flowers and plants in your hair. It’s the New Year and you still look so plain, dressed like you’re in mourning, people might think someone at the medical hall has died."
"There’s the Lantern Festival in a few days, and it doesn’t end until the evening of the eighteenth. Everywhere they’re selling Golden Moths and Snow Willow accessories—you should buy some to adorn your hair. I have to be honest, I’m tired of seeing the same few flowers you always wear."
Lu Tong hadn’t taken his words to heart, but when she heard the word "Golden Moths," she paused.
Golden Moths...
In the drawer of her sleeping quarters laid a pair of golden moth ornaments.
Lu Tong still couldn’t understand why Pei Yunmeng turned back halfway through that night to give her a pair of golden moths, claiming they were a "birthday gift." Of course, she wouldn’t flatter herself into thinking he had bought them especially for her. It was more likely something he intended to give another girl but changed his mind at the last minute and gave them to her instead.
Perhaps he pitied her, awakening a fleeting and meaningless compassion within this nobleman’s son.