Chapter 168: Chapter 84: The Sunken Boat_3

"What’s wrong, Miss?"

Lu Tong frowned slightly, a subtle unease rising in her heart.

She paused for a moment and said, "It’s still early, let’s stroll a bit more before heading back."

Yin Zheng, although curious, didn’t remain puzzled for long. With the Mid-Autumn Festival around the corner, the market was bustling with activity. Since arriving in Shengjing, they had mostly stayed at their medical clinic, rarely venturing out, so a visit to the market was an exciting treat.

"That sounds good." Yin Zheng, pulling Lu Tong to a halt in front of a crowd watching street performers, said cheerfully, "Besides, Shopkeeper Du gave us a day off today, and you’ve been working hard all these days, Miss. It’s only fair to relax for a day."

The Shengjing market was prosperous, offering entertainment far richer than anything in Changwu County or Su Nan. The streets were filled with all sorts of performances, and though they couldn’t compare to the luxurious extravagance of the southern city’s taverns, the market’s local flavor was all the more captivating.

They spent the entire day on their feet, starting with a variety show, moving on to watch tightrope walkers, then sitting down for a shadow play. They ate fish dumplings and fried fish rice at the Nanshi Shop, had sugared mung bean soup, and ended their day by looking around the Bead Shop without making a purchase.

By the time they were heading home, the sky had completely darkened.

Yin Zheng, having frolicked all day, was excited, her eyes shining brightly as she walked beside Lu Tong, chatting and laughing with arms full of large and small bags.

"Miss, Shengjing really is better than Su Nan. Su Nan doesn’t have nearly as many variety shows. No wonder people are so desperate to come to the Imperial City. Aside from things being a bit more expensive, everything else is better here."

After waiting for a moment without hearing a reply from Lu Tong, Yin Zheng turned her head to see Lu Tong with a slight frown and a gaze filled with disquiet.

She prompted, "Miss?"

Lu Tong snapped back to reality, "Yes?"

"Do you have something on your mind, Miss?"

Lu Tong shook her head, "Just a bit tired."

Yin Zheng nodded, "We’ve been out all day, once we get back and wash up, you should rest early. Shopkeeper Du said that tomorrow, the fifteenth, we’ll celebrate the festival together at the clinic, so we might have to rise early for that."

As they talked, the clinic was already in sight. The lanterns at the entrance of Renxin Medical Hall swayed slightly in the night breeze, casting a cool, autumnal glow.

Du Changqing had gone back early with Ah Cheng. Since Du Changqing had given Lu Tong the day off, he didn’t feel like opening the clinic and, after cleaning up the courtyard that the pawnshop soldiers had left in disarray the previous day, he had closed up shop and left.

Yin Zheng, lighting a candle and walking around the courtyard, laughed, "Shopkeeper Du did a good job cleaning up. The courtyard is even cleaner than when I do it."

Lu Tong glanced at the courtyard; the earth under the plum tree that had been disturbed last night was now covered up and leveled. The flower pot broken on the steps had also been cleared away. After Du Changqing had swept, he had also sprinkled water, which had not yet completely dried; the wet sheen on the stone slabs under the candlelight made the autumn night seem even more serene and chilly.

The door of the outermost room was wide open, and darkness lay inside—Xia Rongrong and her servants had already left.

At this time in the past, Xiang Cao would be out in the courtyard feeding the rabbits, and occasionally, they would exchange greetings.

Yin Zheng looked at the empty room and sighed.

"When she was here, it felt inconvenient to have an extra person around, but now that she’s gone, the courtyard seems eerily quiet." As soon as the words left her mouth, she seemed to realize something and hastily added, "But it’s better that she’s gone; it’s not convenient having extra people around while we walk through the courtyard and make medicines."

Lu Tong remained silent.

She had indeed deliberately driven Xia Rongrong away.

Because of Du Changqing, Xia Rongrong constantly had her maid, Xiang Cao, keep an eye on Lu Tong, overtly and covertly. Had Lu Tong been an ordinary resident doctor, it wouldn’t have mattered much.

Unfortunately, the matters Lu Tong had to attend to could not be known to others.

When she accidentally caught a glimpse of the expensive jade bracelet on Xia Rongrong’s wrist, she had her suspicions. Yin Zheng secretly followed them and discovered the pair secretly conversing with Wen You, a clerk from Xinglin Hall.

Bai Shouyi had long been at odds with Renxin Medical Hall. When he found common ground with Xia Rongrong, Lu Tong decided to turn the tables on them.

Although Du Changqing could be easily swayed, he particularly detested everyone at Xinglin Hall. With Xia Rongrong associating with Bai Shouyi, even if Du Changqing were to remain nostalgic, after this incident, his patience would wear thin.

Indeed, Du Changqing had "requested" Xia Rongrong to leave.

Lu Tong lowered her gaze.

It was all intentional.

She had intentionally "buried a corpse" at night for Xia Rongrong to see, deliberately letting Xia Rongrong pass the incorrect message to Bai Shouyi.

She had intentionally found Duan Xiaoyan’s belongings but did not return them, and also intentionally left her purse on Liu Kun’s corpse.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by Aunomay Read