Chapter 543: Chapter 192: Stealing Someone Else’s Beauty_2
"A dozen days ago, Envoy ordered me to the study, asking me about the new prescription I devised in the last question of the spring exam’s major pulse diagnosis section,"
"The prescription in the exam was written hastily, with deficiencies. When Envoy asked me how to make amends, I duly informed him,"
"And now," her gaze swept over the wooden boxes in the courtyard, being moved to the entrance, filled with ancient books and ink, her voice turned cold, "Young Master Qi of the Qi Family has recovered from his illness, and the Grand Preceptor’s Mansion has presented a gift of thanks. Yet all this originated from Envoy stealing my prescription."
"Envoy is upright and distinguished, serving as the head of the Medical Officer Institute, how can you commit such a despicable act?"
A pause fell over the surroundings, followed immediately by a rise in murmurs.
Cui Min’s visit to the Grand Preceptor’s Mansion to diagnose Qi Yutai was known to everyone in the Medical Officer Institute.
But as for the specifics of Qi Yutai’s condition and the medical case, besides Cui Min himself, no one knew.
Now that Lu Tong has suddenly made a scene here, questioning Cui Min in front of everyone, it inevitably aroused curiosity.
A voice suddenly spoke from among the gathered Medical Officers—
"Doctor Lu is quite bold, Envoy cured Young Master Qi with his own ability, what does it have to do with you? Accusing someone with big talk and no evidence, do you really think you’re something special just because you topped the spring exam’s honor roll, imagining everyone is coveting your prescription!"
Lu Tong glanced sideways; the speaker was Cao Huai.
Cao Huai huffed coldly.
Ever since a few months ago when he dumped that mess of a task related to Jin Xianrong onto Lu Tong and then claimed illness to go home, he had been dreaming at home about how Jin Xianrong would torment Lu Tong. However, waiting and waiting, he never heard any bad news about Lu Tong; the Medical Officer Institute was calm, with no major events occurring.
Feeling quite puzzled, once back at the Medical Officer Institute, Cao Huai sought out the Medical Officers he was familiar with to inquire about Lu Tong’s news, but was struck by thunder out of a clear sky.
"Doctor Lu? Isn’t she the one treating Vice Minister Jin for renal carbuncle? She actually did a pretty good job. I saw a few times Vice Minister Jin’s Servants delivering medical books to Doctor Lu, respectfully, much better than the previous treatment towards Brother Cao."
"Doctor Lu, is indeed capable!"
Cao Huai felt as if struck by lightning.
Lu Tong had actually cured Jin Xianrong!
That in itself was one thing, but what was more unsettling was that since he had returned to the Medical Officer Institute, Envoy Cui had not assigned any other tasks to him. Although he himself was not someone particularly industrious, with new Medical Officers entering the institute, everyone wanted to stand out. Sitting idle for a long time, failing the Official Examiner’s assessment, would mean no more chance to become an Imperial Physician.
He blamed all his misfortunes on Lu Tong, but he didn’t dare to make a move carelessly since Doctor Lu, who had cured Jin Xianrong, had gained some fame in the Medical Officer Institute, and later, Commandant of the Palace Front Office Pei Yunmeng openly bullied on her behalf.
Yet, unexpectedly, Lu Tong was now courting death on her initiative.
A mere Commoner, so arrogant because she has someone to back her, not knowing her place in the world.
He was inclined to stir up trouble again, wanting to blow the matter up, make it impossible to settle, and thus he feigned a loud rebuke, "Defaming a Court official, do you know what punishment you deserve?"
Lu Tong’s eyes were as cold as ice: "Officer Cao’s accusation is rather biased without basis."
"If you can’t prove it, Doctor Lu, show the evidence."
"I certainly have evidence."
Cui Min’s gaze shuddered slightly, his hand tightening covertly behind his back.
Lu Tong raised her hand, and the scroll in front of her unfurled, trailing long before her.
She said, "That day, Envoy Cui told me that the prescription I wrote in the spring exam was meant to calm the spirit and stop palpitations. But if a patient, in addition to this, becomes disoriented as if mad or delirious, agitated by evil and scared, speaking incoherently, then the effectiveness of this prescription is too weak. It might lessen the symptoms of delirium and reduce the delusions, but the patient would still not be in his right mind, heart and courage startled."
"So, in this prescription, I added several herbs such as bai ji, sesame, light bamboo extract, huang bai, cypress fruit, dragon’s blood..."
Lu Tong unfolded the medical book in her hand.
"This is the list of herbs requested from the Imperial Apothecary by the Medical Officer Institute a few days ago, it includes bai ji, sesame, light bamboo extract, huang bai, cypress fruit, dragon’s blood among other herbs."
"I had just informed Envoy about the prescription, and then he used these very herbs. Could it really be just a coincidence?"
Standing, her expression was very cold: "Envoy first inquired about the Medical Classics and Pharmacology under the guise of questioning, then he stole the prescription and afterwards used it to cure Young Master Qi of the Qi Family."
"In the process, he never mentioned a word about me, clearly wanting to steal credit for himself as if it were his own doing!"
The last sentence, firm and forceful, resounded like a bell.
All fell silent around, the gathered Medical Officers looking at each other, then slowly a low murmuring began.
Although what Lu Tong said seemed reasonable at first, was it not a bit far-fetched to accuse Envoy of plagiarism based on just a prescription?
Cui Min raised his hand, quieting the whispers, then turned his gaze towards Lu Tong.
He stared at Lu Tong, and after a long moment, he spoke, "Doctor Lu, you claim I stole your prescription to treat Young Master Qi’s illness?"