Chapter 563: 198 Chapter Truths and Lies
When Lu Tong entered the room, the atmosphere was somewhat odd.
Pei Yunmeng and Ji Xun stood on either side of the bamboo table, and it was unclear what had just been discussed, but there seemed to be a subtle standoff between them.
Hearing the movement, the two turned to look at her.
As Lu Tong entered, Ji Xun bowed to her, "Doctor Lu, I have something to tell you."
Lu Tong nodded, "All right."
Ji Xun then looked toward Pei Yunmeng, "Could Lord Pei please step out for a moment?"
Pei Yunmeng looked at Lu Tong.
Lu Tong then said, "Lord Pei, please go out first."
Pei Yunmeng frowned, stared at her intently as if amused by something vexing, then left without a word, closing the door with a hint of displeasure.
Lu Tong was watching his departing figure when she heard Ji Xun behind her, "Doctor Lu, please sit down to talk."
"All right."
The two sat down opposite the bamboo table.
The room was quiet, the breeze blowing through the window scattered the summer heat, as Lu Tong looked at Ji Xun.
She did not know what Ji Xun had to talk to her about, but she could roughly guess the purpose of his visit.
Indeed, she had just picked up the tea cup and was about to pour the tea when Ji Xun in front of her spoke up, "About your suspension, is there more to the story?"
The pouring of the tea paused for a moment, but quickly resumed, "Doctor Ji must have heard already."
"Browsing through prescriptions at will is indeed against the rules, but the true reason for your suspension must be the accusation against Envoy Cui of plagiarizing a prescription."
"Accusation?"
Lu Tong pushed the tea cup in front of Ji Xun, "Isn’t it slander?"
Ji Xun took the tea cup, was silent for a moment, and said, "I have seen your prescriptions."
"What?"
"After the spring exam of the Imperial Medical Bureau, I reviewed the papers of all the students on the top list. Your ten prescriptions all have shortcomings, yet they also contain brilliant insights; with some improvements, they could turn into life-saving remedies."
Ji Xun continued, "After I returned to the Medical Officer Institute, I learned of your suspension. Zhu Ling asked the medical officers involved, and after revising the prescription as you suggested, it proved indeed effective in treating epilepsy."
Lu Tong blinked, an unbelievable thought rising in her mind.
"Could it be that Doctor Ji thinks I am wronged? You believe my claim that the Envoy plagiarized my prescription?"
Lu Tong was extremely surprised.
Ji Xun was a gentleman, clear about separating public from private affairs, rigid and upright. He wouldn’t favor or misunderstand anyone because of personal relations. Her clumsy "accusation" was full of holes; considering Ji Xun’s usual caution, he should not have made such a statement.
The woman’s eyes were bright, looking at him with genuine confusion, enough to make Ji Xun feel a bit uncomfortable.
Collecting his thoughts, he said, "We mustn’t make reckless claims without evidence. Based solely on your words, it is indeed difficult to judge. Most importantly, it’s still unknown whether Young Master Qi actually has epilepsy. Only Envoy Cui has access to Young Master Qi’s medical records."
Lu Tong nodded, "Outside, it’s rumored that Young Master Qi was merely scared."
Whether Young Master Qi was scared or mentally ill, nobody in the Medical Officer Institute knew except for Cui Min. This was also the main reason for Lu Tong’s suspension.
"I didn’t understand before, but now I realize that a commoner Medical Officer faces far more difficulties in the Imperial City than I ever imagined." Ji Xun looked at her, "I came today just to tell you that we might temporarily be unable to clear your name regarding Young Master Qi, but I will discuss with Envoy Cui and ensure you return to the Medical Officer Institute after three months."
Lu Tong was momentarily stunned.
This statement was somewhat unusual for the fairness-seeking Ji Xun.
"During the trip to Su Nan years ago, I once said that if you came to Shengjing Imperial Medical Bureau, I would look after you. But you didn’t go there and I had many misunderstandings about you. Now that you have joined the Medical Officer Institute, I cannot stand by if you face injustice," Ji Xun said with a sigh, then looked down and took several exquisitely crafted porcelain vials from his bag.
Lu Tong’s gaze fell upon the porcelain vials.
"This is..."
"Immortal Jade Skin Ointment," he said. "It might be inconvenient for you to get medicine all the time after you go back to West Street. I’ve prepared a few new ones for you. Don’t be frugal, you should take extra care of your injury to prevent future scarring."
Lu Tong’s fingers stiffened slightly.
The five or six porcelain vials lined up in a row, this rare and precious medicine, sought after by the nobility in the palace, now piled up in front of her like common cabbages, somehow looked ridiculous.
Unfortunately, they were of no use to her...
Swallowing the complex feelings in her heart, Lu Tong looked at Ji Xun and sincerely said, "Thank you."
"Doctor Ji," she said, "my accusation against the Envoy might have been without sufficient investigation, a rash connection based on assumptions. That was indeed my fault. The Envoy’s punishment to suspend me is appropriate."
"Let’s leave this matter as it is. Doctor Ji was initially unrelated to this situation, and there’s no need for you to trouble yourself further for me. After three months, whatever arrangement Envoy Cui makes, I will accept it with composure."