Chapter 103: Chapter 65: Pei Yunmeng’s Suspicions_2
Ah Cheng squatted in front of the medicine cabinet, the rustling sound of grabbing herbs buzzing in the air, while Yin Zheng stood by the table at the entrance, diligently wiping the table with her head down.
Duan Xiaoyan was stunned for a moment, then laughed awkwardly, "How so? I just mentioned it casually."
Lu Tong nodded, "Young Master Duan, I have not seen your purse."
Duan Xiaoyan hastily replied, "I also feel that you didn’t see it, it must have been dropped somewhere else." After speaking, he gently tugged at the hem of Pei Yunmeng’s robe under the table.
Pei Yunmeng sat to one side, his gaze brushing over a stack of ’Xianxian’ on the counter of the medicine shop, then suddenly changed the topic, "Doctor Lu’s herbal tea sells well, I hear that even the Examiner Official from the Fan Family has taken the initiative to request it."
"It was merely a stroke of luck to catch Lady Fan’s eye."
"How can it be luck?" he smiled, "Lady Fan takes great care of her figure, and Doctor Lu just so happens to have created a slimming herbal tea, a timely help amidst the snow; were it not for the knowledge that Doctor Lu is from out of town, I might have thought Doctor Lu had prepared it especially for Lady Fan."
Yin Zheng’s hand wiping the table tensed, gripping the cloth tightly.
Lu Tong looked at him, "Lord Pei flatters me, creating a medicinal tea is not as simple as it appears to others. Moreover, as a mere commoner, I have no connection with the noble families, how could I influence the decisions of the lady?"
He nodded, "That’s true."
He then looked towards Yin Zheng, who was in front of the counter, her head down diligently gathering the scattered white papers on the table.
Pei Yunmeng watched for a while, then took a sweet cane juice tube from the table and took a sip, immediately furrowing his brows as though he found the juice too sweet.
He called out to Lu Tong, "Doctor Lu."
Lu Tong responded.
"I remember on previous occasions, that maid by your side was always quick to speak. Why has she become much quieter these past few times we’ve met?" He casually placed the tube back on the table and continued, "She’s not keeping her distance from me on purpose for fear of slipping up in her speech, is she?"
A flicker of concern crossed Lu Tong’s brow.
She looked up at Pei Yunmeng.
The room had not been lit in daylight, and as the sky completely darkened, he sat in the dimness of summer, clad in bright crimson brocade, a long sword at his waist sharp and imposing, his elegance exceptionally striking.
But the smile in his eyes was faint.
After a pause, Lu Tong replied calmly, "Lord Pei jests; we are of lowly status, in the presence of noble sons and esteemed guests like yourself, we sometimes find ourselves tongue-tied and unsuited for elegant company. I hope Lord Pei takes no offense."
Her repeated use of "Lord Pei" was tinged with irony. Duan Xiaoyan, sensing the subtlety of the atmosphere, became restless and, pretending to be nonchalant, asked Ah Cheng on the other end, "Um... is the herbal tea ready yet?"
"Ready, ready!" Ah Cheng yelled out as he slapped two large packages of herbal tea onto the counter, wiping the sweat from his brow, "There was quite a bit of herbal tea, sorry for the delay, my lords."
"No problem, no problem." Duan Xiaoyan also wiped his sweat, stood up to fan himself, and exclaimed, "It’s so hot today!"
He walked over to the counter, paid the silver, then picked up two big packages of herbs, urging Pei Yunmeng, "My lord, it’s getting late, we should head back, can’t keep Doctor Lu from seeing patients."
Lu Tong stood up, "Lord Pei, take care." There was no hint of an urge to stay.
Pei Yunmeng watched her quietly for a moment, then lowered his head and chuckled, stood up, took a few steps, and as if suddenly remembering something, turned around to pick up the unfinished cup of ginger honey drink from the table, shaking it at Lu Tong, "Thanks for the ginger honey drink, Doctor Lu."
"Until next time."
After they left Renxin Medical Hall, Yin Zheng moved to the doorway, waiting until their figures were no longer visible before she patted her chest and breathed a sigh of relief.
Ah Cheng muttered under his breath, "Lord Pei is usually such good temper, yet always gives off an eerily imposing air..." he mused to himself, "It must be because of the ominous aura of his sword..."
On the other hand, after leaving the medical hall, Duan Xiaoyan and Pei Yunmeng went ahead to fetch their horses.
Duan Xiaoyan complained in a low voice, "Brother, I said it was a wasted trip today; Doctor Lu would not have picked up my purse. Now, with this awkward situation, how can I see her again in the future?"
Pei Yunmeng paused, "Who says it’s impossible?"
Duan Xiaoyan was startled, "Is she lying?"
"It does not seem so. But take her words with a grain of salt, you only believe a third of what she says, and at crucial moments, don’t even trust that third," Pei Yunmeng advised.
Duan Xiaoyan was speechless, "Brother, I always feel that you are biased against Doctor Lu. I’ve inquired before, and Doctor Lu has a good reputation on West Street, they say she is a ’Living Bodhisattva’ with both beauty and a kind heart, only you guard against her as if against a thief. Isn’t that an overreaction to a weak woman?"
"Weak woman?" Pei Yunmeng sneered, "Did you see clearly what she was wearing today?"