Chapter 405: Chapter 150 Young Master Qi_2

Lu Tong stopped in his tracks and asked Jin Xianrong at his side, "Is this Lord’s room?"

"How could it be?" Jin Xianrong replied, "That’s Young Master Qi’s golden abode."

"Young Master Qi?"

"The son of the current Grand Preceptor, Minister Qi’s residence. Ah," Jin Xianrong sighed, "look at that gemstone screen, it’s worth a whole three thousand taels of silver. Even I can’t afford such luxury, yet they have the audacity to place it in the Board of Rites Office, not fearing that someone might take it away."

Lu Tong nodded, "Young Master Qi is quite particular."

"Isn’t he just?" Seeing that Lu Tong seemed interested, Jin Xianrong led him into the room for a look, "For tea, he insists on the finest Jianzhou white tea. Ever since he arrived at the Board of Rites Office, I too have tasted quite a variety of teas."

Then he pointed to the Gilded Double-Moth Patterned Incense Burner on the desk, "The incense he burns is Spirit Rhinoceros Fragrance; smell it, a burner isn’t cheap." Having said that, he casually picked up a fragrant pill from a small box beside him and handed it to Lu Tong, "Doctor Lu, take one back with you to try out. It calms the mind and soothes the spirit, you can’t find it just anywhere."

Lu Tong accepted the fragrant pill.

"Then there’s his food, his clothing... To tell the truth, the salary from the Ministry of Revenue isn’t even enough for his monthly tea expense. When it comes to being particular, Young Master Qi indeed stands out," Jin Xianrong said.

Perhaps harboring some jealousy towards Qi Yutai, Jin Xianrong’s words of praise came out with a slightly sour tone.

Lu Tong chuckled, glanced around, and curiously asked, "Is Young Master Qi not here today?"

"He’s occupied with matters today and won’t be coming for the time being; he usually does," Jin Xianrong said, "If he didn’t come, wouldn’t it be a waste of fine incense and tea leaves?"

Lu Tong nodded and said nothing more, then turned her gaze back to Jin Xianrong, "Lord Jin, enough small talk, I should start with the acupuncture for you."

Jin Xianrong flinched, trembling slightly, "...Oh, yes, of course."

...

That day, the acupuncture session started later than usual.

Jin Xianrong’s condition had improved, and the prescription had been changed. The obvious symptoms of his kidney abscess were healed, but he still couldn’t engage in sexual activity and needed to continue treatment.

By the time he returned to the Medical Officer Institute, it was nearly evening.

After several bouts of rain, many leaves had fallen from the locust trees at the entrance of the Medical Officer Institute, but new delicate green shoots had sprung forth. In the distance, the evening glow of the sunset slowly spread over, casting a soft orange-red hue over the courtyard.

Lu Tong encountered Ji Xun at the entrance of the Medical Officer Institute’s hall.

The young man was dressed in a plain robe with silver edges, his hair tied up high. The colors of the evening sky spilled a gap onto him, lending an exceptionally noble and serene elegance to his features, like a recluse from the mountains.

There was no lack of young men in the Medical Officer Institute, yet those recently graduated from the Imperial Medical Bureau tended to be more restless. This man was very young, but didn’t bear the slightest trace of frivolity; serene like a piece of cold-hued fine jade, he always brought a sense of peace to one’s heart.

Lu Tong stopped, nodded to him respectfully, "Doctor Ji."

Ji Xun nodded.

Following him was Xiao Medicine Boy who seemed to be on his way home. Just as he was leaving, he suddenly remembered something, looked at Lu Tong, and asked, "Is Minister Jin showing any improvement?"

By now, the fact that Lu Tong was treating Minister of the Ministry of Revenue, Jin Xianrong, was known not only throughout the Medical Officer Institute but also in the Imperial Apothecary.

"Minister Jin’s chronic ailment is difficult to treat, but fortunately, after using the medication for a while, he’s showing gradual signs of recovery. Given time, his condition might return to what it was before," Lu Tong replied.

Ji Xun nodded, pondered for a moment, then suddenly called out to her, "Doctor Lu."

Lu Tong answered.

He said, "The other day I ran into you picking out medicinal herbs in the storeroom. Did you use the ’Red Fragrant Cotton’?"

Lu Tong paused.

She looked up, meeting Ji Xun’s inquiring gaze.

Ji Xun was well-proportioned.

There was always a detached coolness in his eyes as though he was a crane passing through the forest, belonging to a realm far from the mundane world.

Watching Lu Tong with a calm and studied gaze that lacked the sharpness and edge of Pei Yunmeng, Ji Xun’s eye color was lighter. When he gazed intently, it didn’t put one under pressure, but being under such translucent scrutiny, the darker corners of one’s heart seemed hard to speak of.

It made him aware of his own shortcomings.

Lu Tong hesitated for a moment, then smiled faintly, "Doctor Ji jests. ’Red Fragrant Cotton’ is exclusively held by the Imperial Apothecary. Given its preciousness, there is a set allowance for its use in the Medical Officer Institute, and ordinary officials like me cannot obtain it."

"I haven’t used the ’Red Fragrant Cotton’."

She spoke with certainty, and Ji Xun’s eyes lingered on her face for a while before he nodded, "I see."

Lu Tong stood for a moment longer, and seeing that Ji Xun had no other instructions, she bowed and went into the compound with her medicine box.

After she left, Ji Xun remained standing there, looking down in thought, silent.

He had encountered Lu Tong that night, and he happened to catch a glimpse of red leaves that looked like the remains of ’Red Fragrant Cotton’ in her bamboo basket.

’Red Fragrant Cotton’ was poisonous. Apart from the medical workers of the Imperial Apothecary, medical officers from the Medical Officer Institute weren’t allowed to use it at will.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by Aunomay Read