Chapter 77: Chapter 57 Marshal Demands Debt_2
Seeing Lu Tong deep in thought, Dong Lin feared she might get a glimpse into his mind and hastily changed the subject, "However, Doctor Lu, I’ve only taken half a jar, and the rest has been used by my mother... Could it be that my chronic illness cannot be treated with this medicine tea?"
Lu Tong snapped back to reality, "That’s not the case, but..." she looked at Dong Lin, "Lady Dong has a fitting figure, why would she need this medicine tea?"
The physique of Lady Dong, the Minister of Imperial Treasury, was far from needing such a medicinal tea.
Dong Lin chuckled awkwardly, glanced outside the room, and then whispered softly, "It wouldn’t be necessary, but in a few days, there is the Shengjing Midsummer Banquet, to which all the ladies and young misses will go, and my mother... does not want to fall behind others at the banquet."
Lu Tong understood, "I see."
The ladies and young misses of Shengjing often had gatherings under various pretenses. For those who truly wanted to spend time together, such occasions were unnecessary. Over time, these banquets became nothing more than a display of each family’s desire to outdo the others or a means to seek alliances.
Just as she was saying this, someone pushed the door, and Lu Tong turned to see Lady Dong standing at the entrance. Lady Dong first peered inside, then smiled, "Doctor Lu, how is Lin’er doing?"
Lu Tong stood up and handed the prescription she had written to Dong Lin, "Lady Dong need not worry, Young Master Dong is unharmed."
"That’s good to hear." Lady Dong beckoned Lu Tong, "Doctor Lu, you have been busy for a while, come out for a cup of tea."
Lu Tong agreed.
Lady Dong never allowed her to be alone with Dong Lin for too long. Lu Tong understood; perhaps Lady Dong also feared that she might take advantage while treating her son.
She was extra cautious.
Lu Tong took her leave from Dong Lin and joined Lady Dong in the hall for tea. Lady Dong had a servant bring today’s consultation fee and then smiled, "Lin’er has had very few bouts of coughing and wheezing these days. We’ve also consulted other medical officers in the mansion, who have said that Lin’er’s illness has improved a lot. Doctor Lu, we owe it to you."
Lu Tong replied warmly, "Lady Dong is too kind. Young Master Dong is blessed by Heaven and had only minor symptoms. Even without me, with Young Master Dong’s constitution, he would have recovered before long."
Lady Dong liked what she heard, and her smile became more genuine.
After some idle conversation, Lu Tong put down her teacup and said to Lady Dong, "Lady Dong, I have a favor to ask."
"Oh?"
Lu Tong took out a small medicine jar from her medicine box and handed it to Lady Dong. Lady Dong took it and saw the words "Xianxian" written on it, pausing momentarily.
This was a jar of "Xianxian."
She looked at Lu Tong, "What does Doctor Lu mean by this?"
"This is a new medicine tea from our Renxin Medical Hall, named Xianxian," Lu Tong explained seriously, without bringing up what Dong Lin had mentioned earlier, "This medicine tea is beneficial for slimming and works especially well for women."
Lady Dong’s eyes flickered with a hint of profound meaning, "You wish to give this to me?"
Lu Tong smiled, "Lady Dong desires the medicine tea, so I took the initiative to deliver it myself; why would I be so stingy as to only offer one jar?"
"So what are you saying..."
Lu Tong lowered her head, looking somewhat embarrassed as she spoke, "I thought, given your esteemed status, you must know many of the capital’s high-ranking officials. If you could mention it to the ladies and young misses, that would be a tremendous honor for Renxin Medical Hall and me."
Her words highly praised the stature of the Dong Family while humbly placing herself beneath them, appealing to Lady Dong’s vanity. Lady Dong glanced at the medicine jar and laughed, "I thought it was something serious, but it’s just this little thing. It’s just a matter of saying a few words. Since you’ve saved Lin’er, I should help with this minor task."
Lu Tong quickly stood up to express her gratitude.
As Lady Dong watched her, she seemed to recall something and mentioned casually, "But Doctor Lu, for such a small matter, why not ask Marshal Pei for help?"
Lu Tong’s heart skipped a beat.
She looked up to meet Lady Dong’s inquisitive gaze.
Last time at Wan’en Temple, Lady Dong and Lu Tong had a dispute, and it was Pei Yunmeng who stepped in to resolve the situation. At that time, Lady Dong seemed to misinterpret the relationship between Pei Yunmeng and her. She hadn’t expected Lady Dong to bring it up again.
Considering how haughty and rude Lady Dong could be, with even the Minister of Imperial Treasury’s servants and guards looking down on commoners, the relatively polite treatment Lu Tong had been receiving from the household of late might not solely be due to saving Dong Lin’s life. It could also be because they believed she had a close relationship with Pei Yunmeng.
Pei Yunmeng...
Lu Tong thought to herself that since the title of Lord Zhao Ning’s Princely Heir was so advantageous, she might as well unapologetically make use of it once more.