Chapter 99: Chapter 64: Chance Encounter_2
This simply delighted Zhao Shi to the point of ecstasy.
She had been only half-convinced by Lu Tong’s words, but now that she had witnessed their effectiveness with her own eyes, she finally felt relieved.
After slimming down a bit, Zhao Shi had her servants go to Qingyi Pavilion in Shengjing to make several dresses of Moonlight Gauze. With her figure trimmed and her makeup lightened, she looked ethereal and graceful in her gauzy attire—so different from her former vibrancy. It was a refreshing change for Fan Zhenglian, and their marital affection had grown even stronger than before. Perhaps before long, she could truly embody the exquisite beauty who dances in the palm of a hand and be worthy of the name "Fei Yan."
As for Lu Tong, Zhao Shi noticed that Lu Tong always visited in the afternoon and left before dusk, conveniently avoiding the days Fan Zhenglian was on official duty. As Lu Tong was reticent and didn’t pry upon entering the mansion, she seemed to be very proper.
Zhao Shi was pleased with this, as discerning people always set her mind at ease. Otherwise, with such a young Female Doctor in the house, she really feared that one day Fan Zhenglian might harbor lustful thoughts.
The Female Doctor hadn’t shown any sign of improper intentions, so Zhao Shi was no longer as harsh toward her as she had been initially.
About an hour and a half later, after Lu Tong had completed the acupuncture treatment for Zhao Shi, Zhao Shi asked the maid Cui’er to take her to the next room for a cup of tea.
When Cui’er brought the tea and the consultation fee, Zhao Shi, who wasn’t generous, offered very little money. As for the herbal tea gift, it was as if it didn’t exist—Lu Tong didn’t bring it up either.
While Lu Tong was drinking tea, Yin Zheng slipped a small jar into Cui’er’s hand with a smile, "Miss Cui’er, this is hair oil made by Doctor Lu herself. It contains medicinal herbs, and with prolonged use, your hair will become shinier."
Cui’er demurred, "How can I take something from Doctor Lu ..."
"It’s not expensive," Yin Zheng laughed, "We initially wanted to give several jars to the Lady, but Doctor Lu thought that the Lady always uses expensive creams and might not care for ours, so please don’t look down on it, Miss Cui’er."
Cui’er then put the jar in her sleeve, her smile became more genuine, "Then, I thank Doctor Lu very much."
Lu Tong shook her head and took a sip of the hot tea in her hands.
Cui’er was Zhao Shi’s personal maid. A little kindness wouldn’t buy Cui’er’s loyalty, but it would bring Yin Zheng much closer to her.
Once their relationship improved, her lips would loosen.
After Lu Tong finished her tea, she got up to leave. Cui’er escorted them out. As they passed through the floral hall, they bumped into a man head-on.
The man apologized softly. Lu Tong looked up to see a tall, middle-aged man with thick eyebrows and big eyes, wearing a faded aquilaria-colored cloth robe that suggested an imposing demeanor, yet he acted very humbly.
Lu Tong had seen this man before but didn’t know what his relationship with the Fan Family was. On several occasions, when Lu Tong finished her visits, she would encounter him at the gate, where he was usually handing over various tributes to the servants of the Fan Family.
This was the first time she saw him coming to the inner court.
Lu Tong glanced at him as another maid of Zhao Shi was directing the man to place the items he carried in the courtyard, which appeared to be rural offerings like pheasants, geese, and ducks.
The man wiped his sweat as he passed by Lu Tong and said through the yard gate to Zhao Shi, who was cooling off inside the floral hall, "My Lady ..."
"I know," Zhao Shi sounded quite impatient.
The man seemed somewhat embarrassed and quickly left after exchanging a few words with Zhao Shi’s maid.
Watching his retreating figure, Lu Tong asked Cui’er while walking forward, "He is ..."
Cui’er replied with a smile, "That’s Lord Qi from the Trial Court, a capable man under our master’s command."
A capable man under his command?
Lu Tong thought of the man’s faded robe and the way the maid treated him with such an authoritative air as she casually asked, "Lord Fan holds him in high esteem?"
"Of course, he does," Cui’er said, perhaps thankful for the hair oil from Lu Tong, willing to chat more, "When our master came back from Yuan’an County, he specifically brought Lord Qi back to Shengjing with him." Upon reaching this point, Cui’er seemed puzzled, "Why is Doctor Lu asking about Lord Qi?"
Yin Zheng nudged Cui’er and whispered with a chuckle, "That gentleman is quite handsome and has an impressive presence ..."
Cui’er understood and covered her mouth, saying, "That’s really a pity. Lord Qi already has a wife and children, but ..." She looked at Lu Tong and trailed off.
Lu Tong knew what her look meant; in the eyes of the people from Fan Mansion, even if a lowly Resident Female Doctor like her were to marry a minor official as a concubine, it would be considered fortunate.
After leaving the Fan Mansion and Cui’er had departed, Lu Tong stood at the gate, turning to look back at the entrance plaque of the Fan Mansion.
Yin Zheng asked, "Miss, what is it?"