Chapter 53: Chapter 50 Suspicion_2
Young Master Dong was not as overbearing as Lady Dong, somewhat shy, seemingly unprepared to be saved by a beautiful girl. Upon seeing Lu Tong’s face, he didn’t dare to raise his head, just whispered his thanks to her softly.
Lady Dong swept away her previous cold demeanor toward Lu Tong. Initially, when she saw Lu Tong reveal her son’s chronic illness, thinking of her son’s reputation, she wanted to tie Lu Tong up. However, later, when Dong Lin was in critical condition, if not for Lu Tong’s efforts to save the day, the consequences would have been unimaginable.
Moreover, Lu Tong appeared to have a deep relationship with the Princely Heir Pei Yunmeng, logically and emotionally, Lady Dong dared not slight her.
She expressed her gratitude to Lu Tong with sincerity, "Thank you, Doctor Lu, for your remarkable healing. You saved my son’s life today, my earlier rudeness to Doctor Lu was indeed my fault..."
Lu Tong cut off her compliments, glanced at Dong Lin, and spoke softly, "The young master has a chronic illness in his lungs, with shortness of breath and difficulty breathing. If provoked, a relapse is inevitable. He needs proper care."
Upon hearing this, Lady Dong’s face stiffened, realizing she couldn’t hide the truth any longer, she sighed deeply and whispered to Lu Tong, "This has been Lin’er’s chronic condition. He has taken many medicines since he was young and seen many doctors. Even the Imperial Physician from the palace was called upon through connections, still to no avail. He didn’t have an episode last year, and we all thought he was cured, but who knew..." She spoke, genuinely adding a sense of worry and sorrow to her expression.
Lu Tong paused for a moment, "That’s not difficult to manage."
Lady Dong was startled, urgently asking, "How so?"
"The lungs store phlegm, and if the ascending and descending movements of the upper burner are blocked, causing fluids to condense, chronic phlegm will build up. A new trigger will stir up the latent pathogen, leading to wheezing. One should first treat the symptoms to expel wind and clear heat, then treat the root cause to alleviate chest tightness and transform phlegm, lower the qi to relieve wheezing, and finally, strengthen the spleen and nourish the kidneys."
Lady Dong didn’t understand the medical principles she was talking about, so she simply asked, "Does Doctor Lu mean that my son’s condition is treatable?"
"I dare not promise a complete cure, but seven or eight out of ten can be eliminated."
The moment these words were spoken, Lady Dong immediately rejoiced and looked at Lu Tong, saying, "Really? Doctor Lu, you must not deceive me!"
Lu Tong responded with a smile.
Lady Dong sized up Lu Tong, still pondering internally.
Dong Lin’s illness had persisted for over a decade, seen by renowned doctors and plenty of medicines consumed. Last year, an Imperial Physician from the palace prescribed a remedy; after taking it for months, Dong Lin improved significantly and had no episodes for a long time, everyone thought he was cured, only for it to flare up so dangerously today at Wan’en Temple.
This Doctor Lu looked young, but the urgency she displayed earlier genuinely brought Dong Lin back from the brink. Moreover, from beginning to end she was calm and composed, perhaps she did have real skills.
Therefore, Lady Dong softened her tone, "Doctor Lu, you’ve helped us greatly, as a benefactor to the Dong Family, once we descend the mountain, we will surely present a generous reward in return."
Her words were half because of the life-saving grace of Lu Tong, and half, presumably, to curry favor with the Princely Heir of Lord Zhao Ning.
Lu Tong knew this well but chose not to reveal anything, simply saying with a laugh, "There’s no need for a generous gift, however, I indeed have one favor to ask."
Lady Dong eagerly said, "Doctor Lu, please feel free to state whatever you need."
"My maid and I came to the mountain to pray for blessings at the Blue Lotus Dharma Assembly. Now that the event has been disrupted and we’ve encountered Young Master Dong, we have been delayed significantly. The coachman we hired has already left after the time we agreed upon. If it’s convenient for you, madam, please help me find a carriage for my maid and me to descend the mountain."
Upon hearing this, Lady Dong laughed, "So that’s what it is—there’s nothing difficult about that. No need to search, just choose any carriage from our residence to take for yourself."
Lu Tong contemplated briefly before agreeing, smiling, "That would be good. When we arrive at the medical hall, I will prepare a few prescriptions to take back to your residence, which can be brewed a few times to help the young master recuperate."
Lady Dong was even more overjoyed and thanked Lu Tong repeatedly. The matter was thus settled.
Dong Lin had fully recovered by now and seemed to have no major issues. Lady Dong hurriedly drove down the mountain to prevent any further accidents from occurring on the mountain. Before leaving, she also arranged a carriage for Lu Tong and her maid, escorting them down the mountain back to Renxin Medical Hall.
Before getting into the carriage, Lu Tong deliberately looked around, but did not see Pei Yunmeng’s figure, and thought he must have already left.
She withdrew her gaze and got into the carriage with Yin Zheng.
The carriage belonged to the Dong Residence, a Vermilion Wheel Canopy carriage, both spacious and impressive, with soft cushions and thin blankets inside. Yin Zheng whispered to Lu Tong, "Miss, I’ve already had someone send the coachman down the mountain."
Lu Tong nodded.
The carriage hired for the ascent wouldn’t descend the mountain so quickly. She said this deliberately, wanting only to borrow Dong Family’s carriage and to make it clear to the people of West Street that even the Minister of Imperial Treasury had to visit Renxin Medical Hall for treatment, proving that her, Lu Tong’s, medical skills were indeed remarkable.
It was a common practice for people in the world to trample the low and elevate the high, to swagger through borrowed authority, which might well be a means of survival.
That’s why, upon seeing Dong Lin suffering from an acute attack of his illness, she had taken the initiative to help. It wasn’t out of a healer’s compassion but because she had noticed the luxurious fabric of his clothes and the jade hairpin, which were clearly not items used by ordinary folk.
Whether from a wealthy family or the child of an official, anyone of sufficient status could assist her in her plans.
She was too inconspicuous, her social standing truly humble. She could approach the Ke Family, but it wasn’t enough for scheming against the Trial Court officials or the Grand Preceptor’s Mansion.
She needed greater fame and more connections to get closer to her goals.
To seek... revenge.
The curtain of the carriage was lifted, and the face of an old maidservant appeared. She smiled at Lu Tong, "Doctor Lu, I am a servant from the Dong Residence. The lady has instructed me to follow you and Miss Yinzhen. Once we arrive at the medical hall, I’ll also retrieve the prescriptions Doctor Lu has written."
Lu Tong nodded to her, and the old maidservant climbed into the carriage and settled down. Yin Zheng stopped talking then.
The road downhill was easier than the way up, making the journey considerably faster. At first, the maidservant made small talk with Lu Tong and Yin Zheng, but seeing that the two weren’t very responsive, she eventually fell silent and dozed off with her eyes half-closed.
They set off at noon and by dusk, they had reached the foot of the mountain. The carriage didn’t stop, hurrying along towards West Street.
As they arrived at West Street, Renxin Medical Hall was just in sight. Yin Zheng stepped down from the carriage first, smiling as she said to Lu Tong, "Shopkeeper Du is indeed diligent today, not closing up even though it’s nearly time for lighting the lamps. He wouldn’t be specifically waiting for us, would he..." Her voice suddenly stopped.
Seeing this, Lu Tong got down from the carriage and upon clearing seeing the situation in front of her, was momentarily taken aback.
The entrance to Renxin Medical Hall was in disarray; one of the doors had been torn apart and lay dilapidated to the side. The signboard was also askew, hanging precariously as if it were about to fall.
Across the street in front of the door stood groups of onlookers, pointing and talking about the shop.
Lu Tong and Yin Zheng entered the shop and saw that the "Chun Shui Sheng" tower that used to pile upon the Phoebe zhennan desk was nowhere to be seen.
The calligraphy penned by Yin Zheng that had been hanging on the wall, "Alone one sits in serene contentment, brewing tea with a flask of spring water. Early blossoms greet the winter plum; one watches the falling flowers amidst a soft rain and gentle breeze," had been torn down, leaving only the bare wall.
The medicine cabinets had been violently yanked open, medicinal herbs were strewn about, and the entire place was a mess as if it had just been plundered.
Yin Zheng called out cautiously, "Shopkeeper Du?"
A "clang" sound came from the inner room, as if something had toppled over.
Lu Tong stepped over the scattered herbs and walked to the back.
The bamboo lounge chair where Shopkeeper Du usually reclined and drank tea was now flattened, and Ah Cheng lay on top of it, his face slightly swollen and the corner of his mouth split, oozing dark blood. He seemed to have been beaten.
The dim light of a half-burnt oil lamp flickered on the table, and Du Changqing sat beside Ah Cheng, his head bowed in silence.
Lu Tong settled herself before asking, "What happened?"
The silence in the shop lingered before Du Changqing’s hoarse voice, laden with suppressed exhaustion, answered, "The men from the mature medicine depot came."
"The mature medicine depot?"
He lifted his head, revealing a face swollen and bruised, and said bitterly, "They won’t let us sell ’Chun Shui Sheng’."