Chapter 374: Chapter 142 Marshal Breaks the Siege
A newly appointed female Imperial Medical Officer at the Medical Officer Institute had been assigned to the Southern Pharmacy, resigned to a dead-end future, cleaning pots and cold stoves. Yet, by chance, her success in cleaning and organizing the Red Fragrance Silk earned her the One Dream Pill, which received high praise from Consort Rou. Consequently, Envoy Cui from the Imperial Apothecary valued her and personally came to the Medical Officer Institute to request her services. It took Cui Min, Envoy of the Medical Officer Institute, much coaxing to have her returned, and before long, she was promoted to a Medical Officer.
Such a dramatic rise and fall within a single month made this woman’s life quite legendary.
As this rumor spread across the various institutes, the name of the newly appointed Imperial Medical Officer also became known.
Early in the morning, as Lu Tong was changing her clothes, Lin Danqing entered from outside and immediately said, "Now wherever I go, it’s all about your name, Younger Sister Lu. The days you spent in the Southern Pharmacy were indeed not in vain."
Lu Tong, who was in front of the mirror, turned around, and Lin Danqing’s eyes lit up as she exclaimed, "Where did this fairy come from?"
Lu Tong had already shed the hemp clothes she wore for picking herbs in the Southern Pharmacy, now donning the aqua blue robe of an Imperial Medical Officer, with fine patterns of orchids embroidered on the collar and cuffs, and her long hair was tied up with a ribbon of the same color. Naturally beautiful, the understated and clean hues made her look even more gracefully attractive, like the clear beauty of autumn waters amidst mountain streams.
Lin Danqing circled around Lu Tong twice, stroking her chin in thought before saying, "These ugly clothes from the Medical Officer Institute that nobody else wants to take, how come they look like they’ve gained value just by you wearing them?" She sighed again, "After all, no matter the clothes, what matters is the face."
This saying was somewhat exaggerated, for Lin Danqing herself was quite beautiful. Not just beautiful, but strikingly so, with a kind of cheerful and brisk beauty, like the radiant grandeur of summer roses.
She reached out, taking Lu Tong’s arm, "Let’s go, Younger Sister Lu. Today, Envoy Cui will assign you to a medical department. I really hope you get assigned to the women’s health department too."
Having just returned to the Medical Officer Institute, Lu Tong had not yet been appointed to serve, and first she had to be distributed to a medical department to serve in various rooms. However, most female Medical Officers in the palace were assigned to the women’s health department, with a minority assigned to the great and small Feng pulse departments.
Lu Tong went out with Lin Danqing and headed to the hall of the Medical Officer Institute, where many Imperial Medical Officers were already standing. Upon Lu Tong’s appearance, they all stole glances at her.
Jumping from being a Commoner Medical Worker to the top-rank scholar of the spring examination, and then being assigned to the Southern Pharmacy upon entering the Medical Officer Institute, she became a person of interest in less than a month, difficult to ignore. Additionally, with Lu Tong’s outstanding looks, even Cao Huai, who did not get along with her, could not help but reveal a hint of admiration.
But perhaps because of the rumors, this group of Medical Officers did not take the initiative to speak with Lu Tong. It was Lin Danqing, enthusiastic as ever, who patiently explained the relationships between the various departments and rooms of the Medical Officer Institute to Lu Tong.
After about the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, Cui Min appeared.
He was dressed in a gray long gown that day, with wide sleeves, and there was a sense of grandeur about him as he walked slowly and steadily, giving him the appearance not of a Medical Officer, but rather of one of those pure literati officiants from the court.
The Medical Officers all bowed to Cui Min, who responded in kind and stopped in front of Lu Tong.
"Doctor Lu," he began, his tone gentle, "now that you have returned to the Medical Officer Institute, from tomorrow, you should serve in the various rooms."
Lu Tong listened quietly to his words.
"Considering your qualifications from the spring examination, you should naturally serve in the women’s health department of the North Hall’s Western Longevity Room..."
Upon hearing this, Lin Danqing showed a hint of glee. If Lu Tong was assigned to the Western Longevity Room, they would be able to work together.
However, Cui Min shifted the topic, "...but your proficiency in Medical Classics and Pharmacology has earned Envoy Qiu’s high praise. Assigning you to the North Longevity Hall would be a misuse of your talents."
He asked, "All the departments and institutes have their unresolved medical cases. Doctor Lu, your medical expertise stands out, and as a subject, you should naturally share His Majesty’s concerns, right?"
Lu Tong looked up.
Cui Min was thin and frail, but the robes of an Envoy hung on him with a certain dignity, evoking the image of an upright and solitary cypress, the very picture of a noble and lofty loyal minister. His eyes were gentle as water when he looked at her, yet upon closer inspection, there was a looming dark and oppressive air, like the green mold growing on the wooden bed in the Southern Pharmacy that had been soaked by the rain, chilling to the bone.
She said, "I am at the disposal of the Envoy."
Cui Min then smiled, his expression even more gentle, "Last month, Lord Jin, the Left Assistant Minister of the Ministry of Revenue, fell ill. Cao Huai has treated him for over a month to no avail. Now that Doctor Lu has returned, you shall accompany Cao Huai in attending to him."
The Ministry of Revenue?
A thought flicked through Lu Tong’s mind.
Qi Yutai was precisely in the Ministry of Revenue.
For a moment, Lu Tong almost thought it was divine providence, sympathizing with her struggles for revenge, presenting such a grand opportunity so easily before her. Without hesitation, she replied, "Very well."