Chapter 545: Chapter 192: Stealing Others’ Beauty_4
"One cannot be too careful in scrutinizing colleagues," Officer Cao affirmed. "Doctor Lu had misunderstood without seeking to verify—such a trifle today could lead to greater chaos within the Medical Officer Institute in the future."
"The saying goes, ’Indulging the negligent destroys the harvest; coddling thieves harms the good citizen.’ Although I value Doctor Lu’s innate talent for medicine, I cannot condone unrestrained behavior. Rules exist for a reason and must be followed."
"Bring forth," he declared calmly, "remove Doctor Lu from the imperial roster, effective immediately. Doctor Lu is to be suspended from duty for three months, after which a final decision will be made."
Lin Danqing was taken aback: "Envoy, please reconsider!"
But Cao Huai was visibly overjoyed: "The Envoy is wise! We do not wish to associate with such impatient and selfish individuals!"
The Medical Officers whispered among themselves, while only Lu Tong stubbornly stared at him, standing erect like a statue under the sun, rigid and refusing to bow her head.
"Doctor Lu, do you have any objections?" Cui Min asked, looking at her indifferently.
Being suspended for three months was one thing, but they didn’t say she could return to the Medical Officer Institute after that. Her future, whether to stay or go, rested solely on a thought from Cui Min.
Lu Tong looked at him steadily for a long while, and then after a moment, slowly lowered her head, her voice filled with restraint.
"No."
...
The crowd in the courtyard gradually dispersed, and the farce came to an end.
Lu Tong returned to her living quarters, entered without a word, and shut the door behind her.
All the doors of the wooden cabinet were open. She folded her clothes one by one, placed them in the unfolded pack, when Lin Danqing stepped through the door, hurrying over to stop her hands, which were busy gathering up her things.
"Younger Sister Lu," she said urgently, "don’t rush off just yet. There may be a way around this, and being suspended is no trivial matter."
Lu Tong paused in her actions and turned to ask, "Do you think I was lying in the courtyard just now?"
"This..."
Lin Danqing faltered.
To accuse Cui Min of plagiarism based solely on a similar prescription would surely be too far-fetched. What’s more, while there were rumors throughout Shengjing of Qi Yutai suffering madness, the truth was known by no one.
And how easy is it to cure madness?
Now, Qi Yutai had already proven the rumors false at the Board of Rites Office.
Lin Danqing was puzzled, for Lu Tong was not usually impulsive. Why then did she confront Cui Min with a prescription at the news of Qi Yutai’s recovery today?
She should have gathered more evidence before acting!
She advised, "No matter what, it is impossible to prove the Envoy’s plagiarism with just a prescription." She whispered, "The Medical Officer Institute, let alone the Qi Family, would never admit to Qi Yutai suffering madness. If they learn of your public accusations, it’s likely to cause trouble afterward."
Lu Tong remained silent.
"Now that it has come to this, I have nothing more to say."
She looked resolute, unwilling to lower her head, and Lin Danqing was inwardly anxious: "Just humble yourself this once, a brave man does not suffer the immediate loss. If need be, you can stay for now and slowly find evidence later."
"There’s no need." Lu Tong cut her off, bent down to continue packing on the bed, "Nor do you need to run around on my behalf. Going through all the trouble to enter the Medical Officer Institute is not worth losing a position over me."
"But..."
"There are no ’buts’." she said, "I can practice just as well from West Street. The salary from the Medical Officer Institute is not much different from that of a medical practice."
She spoke with such determination that Lin Danqing couldn’t persuade her further and simply sat to one side, watching her pack in silence.
"In this Medical Officer Institute, it took me so long to find someone I could talk to. With you gone, who will I share snacks with at night? No way I’m sharing with that rat sneaking in through the wall. Just the thought of sharing a room with a rat is rather disgusting, not to mention I don’t even know if the rat poison worked."
The sunlight shone bright outside, leaving no trace of shadow in the brightly lit room of the living quarters.
Lu Tong glanced at the sun outside.
The summer light cast upon the green trees outside the window, the branches dense and lush. But in a few months’ time, when autumn arrives, the blooms will be gone, only desolation left.
She withdrew her gaze.
"Don’t worry."
Lu Tong stood up, walked to the cabinet, and placed each of the four porcelain jars into the medical box before locking it again.
"It’s just a matter of time before death comes."