Chapter 372: Chapter 141: Return to the Courtyard_3

The medical workers inside the Southern Pharmacy had already heard the news and were clustered at the entrance, sizing up their just-returned colleague.

A medical worker, who wasn’t very familiar with her on normal days, approached to greet her with an ingratiating tone, "Doctor Lu, are you heading back to the Medical Officer Institute?" and then said, "You might not know yet, but a big incident happened in the pharmacy during the day!"

Lu Tong stopped in her tracks.

The medical worker then pulled her towards the dormitory, whispering in a mysterious tone, "Medical Supervisor Zhu has been taken away."

Zhu Mao had been taken away.

While Qiu He and Lu Tong were talking, the people from the Imperial Apothecary found a recipe for cleaning and sorting Shi Changpu in Zhu Mao’s room, which solidified the crime of Zhu Mao’s private possession of medical recipes.

It was a serious crime for a Medical Supervisor to privately hoard medical workers and officers’ prescriptions, with punishments ranging from a hundred floggings to imprisonment and exile.

Zhu Mao belonged to the Medical Officer Institute, but Cui Min, who now wanted to display his magnanimity and make amends, had to back Lu Tong up. If he intended to support Lu Tong, there had to be someone who was dealt with to make an example to others.

With the evidence and charges ready at hand, whether they were true or false became insignificant—

"Leaving now?" A voice interrupted Lu Tong’s thoughts, Mei Erniang stood a few steps away, regarding her coldly.

Lu Tong let go of the bundle she had been packing.

Mei Erniang walked up to Lu Tong.

Lu Tong still remembered the first time she met Mei Erniang, who stood at the entrance of that dark room, her makeup plastered on extremely white, like wearing a false mask, her eyes somber and deep.

The woman’s eyes and brows were still melancholic today, but perhaps because she was not wearing makeup, her sallow skin oddly gave her a touch of realism, no longer like a pale mask, but more like an ordinary, somewhat haggard and aging woman.

At least she was alive.

Mei Erniang stared at her for a long while before suddenly letting out a cold snort, "You are really capable."

Lu Tong nodded, "Thank you for your help."

That night, the night she was punished by Zhu Mao to kneel at the Shennong Shrine, she had He Xiu deliver a letter to Mei Erniang, along with a message.

The letter contained the recipe for cleaning and sorting Shi Changpu. And the question that was sent...

Lu Tong had He Xiu ask Mei Erniang, "Do you want revenge?"

"Do you want revenge?"

Mei Erniang thought of the question He Xiu had whispered in her ear, and her stiff gaze softened slightly.

How could she not want revenge?

Originally, she was a promising female doctor, but after offending someone, she was thrown into this neglected Southern Pharmacy, becoming Zhu Mao’s plaything, suffering torment.

Zhu Mao, dangling a nearly invisible hope, deceived her into willingly confining herself in the Southern Pharmacy to become an object of amusement, day after day, year after year. Mei Erniang was aware of the deceit but endured it silently as a reason to keep going.

What would change if she exposed the truth?

Zhu Mao would not suffer any punishment; revealing the truth would only serve to prove her own ridiculousness and misery.

Despairing until death.

Until Lu Tong sent that letter, bringing back that message.

There was a way after all.

There was still a chance for retribution.

Private hoarding of prescriptions was a grave offence, especially since the Imperial Apothecary and the Medical Officer Institute already had a delicate relationship. Even if it was to prove his own innocence, the Medical Officer Institute would not let this matter slide lightly—to avoid a blight on their reputation.

Zhu Mao’s fate would not be pleasant.

Mei Erniang’s heart, long devoid of satisfaction, started to feel a rush of contentment. Simply imagining that high and mighty face showing panic and begging for mercy, she felt utmost delight.

Zhu Mao probably never imagined that he would trip over this hurdle. He never doubted Mei Erniang because he believed that in her eyes, Lu Tong was just a beautiful female doctor who posed a threat to her status. He was confident that in their competition for his favor, they would be envious and jealous over the small privileges in the Southern Pharmacy, never suspecting that the two would join hands.

Because he had been the "master" for too long, he thought the "servants" would never dare to resist.

He underestimated the "hatred" of commoners.

"I won’t thank you." Mei Erniang looked at her dispassionately, her tone impatient, "At most, we’ve each taken what we needed."

"I know," Lu Tong replied with a smile.

The reason for framing Zhu Mao was partly that he harbored unseemly intentions towards her, and it was also a counterattack against Cui Min. As for Mei Erniang...

She simply made use of Mei Erniang’s disgust for Zhu Mao.

Mei Erniang snorted, "Pack up your things and get out quickly. If you really have the ability, then don’t come back in. Some places, if you manage to leave once, you might not make it out a second time." Having said that, she didn’t spare Lu Tong another glance and turned to leave.

Lu Tong stood still for a long moment, then bowed her head, slowly finishing her packing.

Before leaving, she looked back one more time.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by Aunomay Read