Chapter 101: Chapter 64 Accidental Encounter_4
"Yes."
Pei Yunmeng entered his own room, and turning his head, saw that Duan Xiaoyan was still there and asked, "Is there something?"
Duan Xiaoyan turned back to close the door, waited for Pei Yunmeng to sit down at the table, then approached and said, "Brother, today Doctor Lu from Renxin Medical Hall visited the Fan Mansion again."
"Hmm."
"...I greeted her."
Pei Yunmeng’s action of pouring tea paused.
He looked up, "You blew your cover?"
"I’ve been wronged!" Duan Xiaoyan protested, "It’s so hot today, I just went to the tea stall across the street to drink a bowl of tea, who knew Doctor Lu would come out so coincidentally. I was even facing away from her, separated by a street, Brother, you might not even recognize me, who knows how she recognized me?
Pei Yunmeng glanced at him and continued drinking his tea, "What did she say?"
"Nothing. I said I was just passing by on an errand, she didn’t suspect anything, and I left."
Pei Yunmeng nodded.
Seeing he had no reaction, Duan Xiaoyan grew bolder and spoke up, "Brother, I’ve been watching the Fan Family for half a month now, aside from giving Lady Fan acupuncture, Doctor Lu hasn’t done anything else. Her medicated tea sells well, Lady Fan likes it, and it doesn’t interfere with our business at the Palace Front Office. Maybe you’re being too cautious about her?"
Pei Yunmeng closed the lid on the tea, "So you trust her that much?"
"It’s not really about trust," Duan Xiaoyan said sincerely, "but keeping watch every day—carriage fees, tea expenses, dining out... My allowance isn’t enough, Brother, can you lend me some..." As he spoke, he reached towards his waist, then suddenly stopped.
"What happened?"
Duan Xiaoyan looked at him, "My pouch is gone."
"Was it stolen?"
"No, there was no silver inside."
Pei Yunmeng said wordlessly, "Then why the long face?"
"Because that pouch was from you!" Duan Xiaoyan cried out, "When I first joined the Palace Front Office, you gave me that pouch, it even had my name on it."
Pei Yunmeng reminded him, "Think about where you might have lost it, have you searched the camp?"
"I can’t remember, I still had it when I settled the bill at the tea stall across from the Fan Family this afternoon. Ah!" His gaze shifted, "Could it have fallen when I was talking to Doctor Lu? I rushed over there and left in a hurry, it’s possible it’s dropped at the entrance of Fan Mansion."
Hearing this, Pei Yunmeng, who had been lounging lazily, sat up straighter and asked, "Are you saying Lu Tong found it?"
"Just possibly." Duan Xiaoyan scratched his head, "But it’s not right to ask her."
"Why not ask?" Pei Yunmeng countered.
Duan Xiaoyan was surprised, "My pouch didn’t have a single copper coin in it, what would Doctor Lu want with it? Moreover, if I really went to ask her, Doctor Lu might think I suspect her of stealing, and if others heard that, they would doubt her character, which would be terrible."
Pei Yunmeng remarked, "It’s considerate of you to think so thoroughly on her behalf."
Before Duan Xiaoyan could reply, he continued, "In a few days I’ll accompany you to Renxin Medical Hall."
Duan Xiaoyan looked at him incredulously, "You really want to ask Doctor Lu? Why?"
"Because the pouch has your name on it."
"My name?"
"If others had found it, so be it, but if Lu Tong found it, I fear you might sell yourself and still count the silver for others."
Duan Xiaoyan was puzzled, "What could a pouch sell me for?"
"That could be quite a lot," Pei Yunmeng smiled, "like..."
"Blackmail."
"Blackmail?" Duan Xiaoyan was astonished, "How could she blackmail me with a pouch? I’m not a woman, nor can she use it as a token of engagement to force me into marriage?" As he spoke, he himself was taken aback, contemplated for a while, then muttered, "That said, it’s not impossible. She recognized me today from just a glimpse of my back, it shows how deep an impression I’ve left on Doctor Lu... But I’m not yet of age, and I can’t decide on marriage matters by myself..."
He rambled on until a thick stack of documents suddenly thudded onto his head. Pei Yunmeng stood up and passed by him, saying, "Alright, if that day really comes, as your half-elder, I will surely present you with a generous gift."
"Congratulations to the two of you for being a perfect match, a beautiful couple ideally formed."