Chapter 610: Chapter 211 Tailless_4
Qi Huaying asked, "Won’t you need to take medicine?"
"Taking medicine would speed up the process, but it will also get better on its own without it."
Qi Huaying nodded slightly, feeling somewhat reassured.
She called Qiang Wei over to take the white cat away and then looked at Lu Tong, "Doctor Lu."
Lu Tong bowed in respect.
"I heard that something happened to Envoy Cui and that you replaced the medical officer who was attending to my brother. I wanted to find a chance to speak with you, but I heard from the people at my brother’s residence that you were very busy, so I dropped the idea. If it hadn’t been for the cat’s illness, I would not have come to see you today," she said.
"My brother’s sickness has been tormenting him, and you have had a hard time these past few days."
Lu Tong replied, "It is just my duty, Miss, you needn’t be polite."
Qi Huaying lay on the low couch, covered her mouth and smiled, sizing her up discreetly.
Lu Tong was dressed in a simple lotus-root pink cotton dress with no jewelry at all, only a wood-carved comb in her hair.
Qi Huaying paused for a moment before raising her hand to remove the Golden Curtain Comb from her forehead.
The comb was exquisite, forming a golden floral net, and while being removed, it shone with a dazzling golden light, exuding opulence.
Qi Huaying said, "Qiang Wei."
The maid called Qiang Wei took the comb and walked over to Lu Tong, offering the Golden Curtain Comb to her with a smile, "The Miss is rewarding you, Doctor Lu, please accept it."
Qi Huaying gave her a glare and said warmly to Lu Tong, "Father said you have devoted great effort to my brother’s illness. I know there were misunderstandings between you and my brother during the encounter at Huangmao Hill. My brother is thoughtless; see this Golden Curtain Comb as a peace offering, and I hope Doctor Lu will not disdain it."
Lu Tong did not reach out to take the comb, but simply bowed her head, "You worry too much, Miss."
Qiang Wei laughed, "The Miss is rewarding you, why be so shy? This comb is much more elegant than the wooden one you have, let me put it on you—" she said, reaching to take the wood-carved comb from Lu Tong’s hair.
Lu Tong stepped to the side to dodge.
Qiang Wei’s hand met with air.
Qi Huaying looked at Lu Tong, who instinctively protected the comb in her hair, her expression turning icy.
After a pause, Qi Huaying stared at Lu Tong, her gaze landing on the simple wooden comb in her hair, and asked dubiously, "This isn’t... from Marshal Pei, is it?"
Lu Tong removed the wooden comb, "It’s not."
The woman on the low couch looked at her, her smile fading somewhat.
After a moment of silence, she said, "Doctor Lu, are you aware of the matter concerning Lady Zhao Ning?"
Seeing that Lu Tong remained silent, she continued, "When rebellion struck Shengjing, Lady Zhao Ning was taken hostage by the rebels, and Lord Zhao Ning, to protect the greater good, chose to sacrifice Lady Zhao Ning."
She looked at Lu Tong, her eyes seemingly filled with pity.
"I’ve also heard about the rumors concerning you and Marshal Pei. Now that you are treating my brother and have become acquainted with the Qi family, for the sake of this relationship, I must warn you. Just as Lord Zhao Ning was willing to forsake his wife’s life for the greater good back then, the Prince of Zhaoning would do the same. Given the Prince of Zhaoning’s status, Marshal Pei will surely marry a woman of high birth, an equal match, to spend a lifetime together," she said.
"Being carried away by a moment of joy, in the end, it’ll be Doctor Lu who gets hurt."
Lu Tong remained silent for a long time.
The room fell into an awkward stillness.
Qi Huaying lowered her head, rubbing her forehead, "Actually, I’ve spoken out of turn. I hope you won’t fault me for my lack of discretion, Doctor Lu."
"Not at all," Lu Tong bowed her head, "I thank the Miss for your advice."
Qi Huaying smiled faintly, "Qiang Wei, put the comb on Doctor Lu."
Qiang Wei complied, carefully placing the Golden Curtain Comb on Lu Tong’s forehead.
Lu Tong, like a lifeless doll, allowed her to adorn her impassively.
The comb was luxurious and sat prominently on her forehead, but her cotton dress was plain and rough; the contrast made the scene somewhat comically absurd.
"Thank you for your gift, Miss," Lu Tong bowed her head, "If there’s nothing else, I shall take my leave."
Qi Huaying nodded, and as Lu Tong bowed and was about to leave the room, she was called back.
"Doctor Lu, your comb," she said.
Qiang Wei held the wood-carved comb in her hand, teasingly lifting it, jokingly suggesting, "That comb is so rough, a worthless thing, perhaps you should just throw it away?"
On the low couch, Qi Huaying was stroking the white cat’s fur, seemingly oblivious to their conversation.
Lu Tong glanced at the comb in Qiang Wei’s hand.
After a long while, she said, "It’s worth nothing."
"Throw it away then."