Chapter 58: Chapter 52: Bullying by Taking Advantage of One’s Position_1
In the back courtyard of the medicine preparation facility, a fresh medicine was simmering in the cauldron, accompanied by the "gurgling" sounds as snow-white powder floated and sank on the surface of the water.
Looking at the woman in front of him, Lou Si’s face grew increasingly unsightly.
"Chun Shui Sheng" from Renxin Medical Hall had a reputation he had vaguely heard of before but never took seriously. The medicine preparation facility had seen plenty of fine prescriptions from the Imperial Apothecary, and it was not necessary to give special treatment to the finished medicine made by an obscure little medical hall. The reason he led people to smash Du Changqing’s shop was because of the five hundred silver pieces Bai Shouyi had sent him.
Bai Shouyi personally came to visit, handing over five hundred silver to Lou Si, hoping he would give Renxin Medical Hall a hard time.
Lou Si knew that Bai Shouyi had been coveting the Du Family’s medical hall for a long time, but that Du Changqing, though usually generous, was exceptionally stubborn on this matter and would never agree, leading to some friction between the two medical halls over the matter of medicinal tea some days before.
Taking people’s money to do their bidding, as long as the official seal in Lou Si’s hand as the Medicine Examiner Officer did not fall, Renxin Medical Hall would not be able to continue selling their finished medicine. It was a matter of lifting a finger for him, not worth mentioning.
Back when Old Master Du was still around, Lou Si and the Du Family had some friendship, but now that the Du Family had fallen into decline, any fool would know to choose between five hundred silver and Young Master Du’s face.
Having taken Bai Shouyi’s silver, he came specifically to find fault; how could he seriously examine and verify the quality and reasoning of the medicinal tea? Now, faced with Lu Tong’s calm questioning, he found he couldn’t answer a single question.
Lou Si’s gaze flickered, "This officer inspects dozens of finished medicines every day. How can I be expected to remember the reasoning behind every single one? Don’t be absurd and obstinate."
Du Changqing laughed out of irritation, "Listen to yourself. Aren’t your words just arbitrary and unreasonable?"
Lu Tong said, "So, it’s as I thought. I assumed an establishment like the Official Medicine Bureau would keep a record of every single finished medicine sent for verification. After all, the verification of finished medicines is a major concern for a medical hall. If a single finished medicine fails the verification, the medical hall loses the right to sell any other finished medicines, doesn’t it, Lord Lou?"
Lou Si broke out in a cold sweat.
This woman’s words were sharp and acerbic, piercing to the core. Naturally, the process of verifying finished medicines had to be recorded, which he couldn’t deny and furthermore, a single failed verification didn’t mean the medical hall loses the right to sell other finished medicines...
He sneaked a glance towards the screen; others might not know, but Ji Xun of the Hanlin Medical Institute surely would.
Lou Si vaguely responded, "Yes. Naturally, it is recorded, but how can the Official Medicine Bureau’s records be perused by outsiders at will?"
Lu Tong nodded, "In that case, we have overstepped." She turned to the guard Sheng Quan from the Dong Family, "Brother Sheng has heard clearly. Our medical hall no longer has the right to sell prepared medicines; therefore, we are powerless to assist with Young Master Dong’s illness."
Upon hearing this, Lou Si’s heart tightened as he interjected, "Wait, what does this have to do with Young Master Dong?"
Lu Tong looked at him, her eyes seemingly mocking as she said, "I was ordered by Lady Dong to develop a prepared medicine for Young Master Dong. Unexpectedly, our medical hall is now disqualified from selling prepared medicines due to failing the verification. Consequently, we are naturally unable to treat Young Master Dong. If Young Master Dong continues to be afflicted by his illness in the future, causing sorrow to Lady Dong and Old Master Dong, they should blame me for not being skilled enough to pass the verification at the Official Medicine Bureau."
"Developing a prepared medicine for Young Master Dong?" Lou Si was skeptical, "Nonsense! Even if Young Master Dong is unwell, with the Imperial Physician available in the palace, why would Lady Dong ever resort to using a female doctor from a minor medical hall?"
Lu Tong said nothing, only looking towards Sheng Quan.
Sheng Quan, always quick-tempered, had grown impatient listening to the exchange between Lu Tong and Lou Si. Hearing Lou Si’s evasive and equivocal words, his anger flared as he retorted, "What business is it of yours to question the Madam’s decisions? Now that the young master is in urgent need of the medicine Doctor Lu is to prepare, can the Official Medicine Bureau bear the responsibility if his condition is delayed?"
The servants of the Minister of Imperial Treasury were always overbearing, and since the medicine preparation facility was under the supervision of the Ministry of Imperial Treasury, Sheng Quan did not deem Lou Si worth his attention. His angry words took Lou Si by surprise.
Lou Si looked at Lu Tong, his gaze uncertain.
The wife of the Minister of Imperial Treasury loved her son deeply and was especially protective and indulgent of Young Master Dong. Logically, if Young Master Dong fell ill, they would send for an Imperial Physician from the palace to treat him for peace of mind. Why would they trust an unknown female doctor from a little medical hall?
Yet Sheng Quan was Lady Dong’s trusted guard, and his words could not be false.