Chapter 59: Chapter 52: Bullying Others by Flaunting One’s Power_2

What exactly is going on here?

Seeing the change in Lou Si’s expression, Du Changqing took the opportunity to sneer, "Lord Lou, perhaps you should weigh your official hat and see if it can withstand the rage of the Minister of Imperial Treasury. If Young Master Dong indeed suffers mishaps, let’s see if you can continue to hold your position as Medicine Examiner Officer."

His attempt to borrow power clearly hit the mark, as Sheng Quan frowned disapprovingly at him. Lou Si hastily said, "If that is the case, then treating Young Master Dong is evidently the priority. Doctor Lu," he turned to Lu Tong, "as for the matter of manufacturing and selling prepared medicines, we’ll have to give you a few more days’ leeway."

"I’m afraid that won’t be possible," Lu Tong shook her head, "Young Master Dong’s illness requires meticulous care, not something that can be resolved in a day or two. He’ll need at least three to five years of continuous medication."

Sheng Quan narrowed his eyes and urged, "Then let’s not set a deadline!"

Feeling cornered, Lou Si inwardly cursed the female doctor for clearly exerting pressure on him using the Dong Family’s influence. But, being under someone’s roof, he had no choice but to bow his head and squeezed out a reluctant "fine."

Lu Tong nodded at him, "Correct. Today, due to Young Master Dong’s condition, Lord Lou, you relaxed the rules concerning the medical hall’s right to sell prepared medicines, a move which could lead outsiders to criticize Renxin Medical Hall of bullying with power. To clear up this unwarranted criticism, I would ask that Lord Lou later points out the inaccuracies in the ’Chun Shui Sheng’ prescription, so that Lu Tong can modify the recipe. This way, once Chun Shui Sheng is verified, the medical hall can continue selling prepared medicines without impeding Young Master Dong’s treatment – a perfect solution all around."

Not wanting to accept a loss on ’Chun Shui Sheng’ either, Lou Si felt stifled, but with Sheng Quan watching, he managed a strained smile and said, "Naturally."

Lu Tong addressed Sheng Quan, "Once we get the official seal from the Bureau of Prepared Medicines, we’ll deliver the medicines to your residence." Turning to Lou Si with a smile, she said, "We have taken up much of your time today, Lord Lou, and we shall not keep you from your important duties any longer. We take our leave."

She and Du Changqing left, leaving Lou Si standing there, too choked with frustration to utter a word, watching their departing figures in silence.

Ji Xun stepped out from behind the screen.

Catching his wits, Lou Si hurried over and said, "Doctor Ji." He was noticeably anxious.

Ji Xun frowned slightly, his tone not entirely approving, "A mere medical hall, yet so bold and unafraid just because it has the backing of the Minister of the Imperial Treasury?"

Lou Si breathed a sigh of relief—Ji Xun didn’t know of Bai Shouyi’s prior bribery and had only seen Lu Tong and Du Changqing pressuring with the Dong Family’s might, leading to his bias. Lou Si said, "Indeed, my influence is too slight, and I didn’t wish to offend..."

Intending to dissociate himself from blame, he was interrupted as Ji Xun glanced at him and coldly said, "One should govern according to his position. If you follow convenience out of fear of those above, I’m afraid the Bureau of Prepared Medicines won’t last much longer." With that, Ji Xun left abruptly.

Lou Si stood there dazed for a while, until a young pharmacy assistant came to call him back to reality. He then flung his sleeves in frustration and cursed, "Now I truly find myself in a situation—being neither here nor there, just like Zhu Bajie looking at himself in the mirror!"

...

After Lu Tong and Du Changqing returned to Renxin Medical Hall, Yin Zheng had already tidied up the shop inside and out.

Having made arrangements with the Bureau of Prepared Medicines, Sheng Quan went back to report to the Dong Family. Lu Tong asked Du Changqing to take Ah Cheng home to rest well after a long day. As evening fell, the doors of Renxin Medical Hall were shut, and Lu Tong went to the back kitchen with the sorted medicinal herbs.

Dong Lin’s pulmonary condition needed to be treated slowly, and having relations with the Dong Family could benefit Renxin Medical Hall considerably at present. At the very least, the Bureau feared them somewhat.

Yin Zheng walked in and said to Lu Tong, "Miss, we sent some to Lord Cao earlier, and we’ve also covered our lodging expenses at Wan’en Temple. We have forty-five taels of silver left at the moment."

Lu Tong nodded her head.

Yin Zheng sighed, "I never realized it before, but coming to the capital has shown me just how quickly silver can be spent."

Lu Tong replied, "Gathering intelligence is naturally costly, and we’ll need to spend more in the future to build relations with Lord Cao."

"Luckily, miss, you are clever," Yin Zheng said with a smile, "Having done business with Shopkeeper Du, we can split the earnings from selling the prepared medicines. With increased revenue every month, we won’t be so tight-handed."

After talking with Lu Tong for a while longer, Yin Zheng went to the next room to sleep.

Lu Tong fetched a basin of hot water and sat down at the table, rolling up her sleeves to reveal a blood mark the length of a finger spreading upwards from her right wrist.

It was a scratch left by Ke Chengxing struggling in the Buddha hall at Wan’en Temple earlier.

She wiped the wound clean with a wet cloth, unconcerned, then picked out a small bottle from the drawer, casually sprinkled some powder on the scratch. Her movements slowed, and she became somewhat lost in thought as she dusted the powder on.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by Aunomay Read