Denghuaxiao

Shengjing has passed the minor summer heat, and the weather is getting hotter and hotter.

In front of the silk shoe shop on West Street, there is a pavilion made of brocade cloth. In the evening, two or three vendors sit under the pavilion to enjoy the cool air.

It was rarely cool today, and the sun was gone in the morning. Du Changqing took Xia Rongrong and his servant to the city for a stroll, and bought some local products for Xia Rongrong's parents. Acheng and Yin Zheng were the only ones left in the hospital to help Lu Tong sort out the medicinal materials.

Lu Tong was sitting in the medical clinic, stacking the newly made "Xianxian" in the corner of the long cabinet. A few days ago, she had another hundred taels of silver on credit from Du Changqing, so she could only make more medicinal tea to subsidize it.

Yin Zheng was sweeping the floor while Acheng went to the syrup shop on West Street to buy sweet syrup for Lu Tong.

Du Changqing had a hard time understanding Lu Tong's taste, but the newly opened syrup shop was just right sweet for Lu Tong. Two cups cost three copper coins in total. Others in the hospital thought it was too sweet, so Lu Tong bought it every day. , one person drank two bamboo tubes.

After about half a stick of incense had passed, Lu Tong had just laid out all the medicinal teas, and Acheng came back.

Acheng looked hesitant when he came back, holding a bamboo tube filled with syrup in his hand, looking a little restless.

Lu Tong glanced at him: "Why don't you come in?"

Before Acheng could say anything, a voice suddenly emerged from behind him: "Doctor Lu!"

Lu Tong stopped putting the medicinal tea, and Yin Zheng, who was sweeping the floor, straightened up and looked out the door.

Duan Xiaoyan walked in from the door with a smile and greeted several people familiarly: "Miss Yin Zheng."

Lu Tong looked towards him. Behind Duan Xiaoyan, standing a handsome young man with a knife, he met her eyes with a smile.

Lu Tong's heart sank.

This man is simply haunted.

She paused and said quietly: "Why is Mr. Pei here?"

Pei Yunying walked in: "Buy medicine."

"Buying medicine?"

Duan Xiaoyan turned around and said, "It's been a hot summer day lately. It's inevitable that the brothers in the camp will be overheated when they're out and about. Sir, I want to buy some herbal tea to cool down the heat. I'll share it with the brothers after I get through it." He smiled at Lu Tong. : "I don't think they are all acquaintances, and they came here specifically to patronize Dr. Lu's business."

Lu Tong nodded: "Thank you." Then he said to the two of them: "Wait a moment."

She sat down at the table and took a pen and paper to write the prescription. Pei Yunying stood in front of the medicine cabinet, his eyes passing over her flying handwriting and raising his eyebrows slightly.

Lu Tong didn't notice. After writing the prescription, he handed it to Acheng, who went to grab the medicine. Yin Zheng looked at the two of them and said with a smile: "You two sit here for a while, and I'll go take a dip..."

Before the word "tea" was uttered, two bamboo tubes containing sweet syrup were already placed on the small table.

Pei Yunying raised her eyes, and Lu Tong took back his hand with a smile: "Young master and Young Master Duan can try the syrup you just bought."

This means that I don't plan to make tea for them.

It only takes a moment to finish a cup of sweet syrup, but it takes a while to make tea. Although Lu Tong didn't say it explicitly, he still expressed his intention of expelling guests vividly.

Pei Yunying's eyes passed over Lu Tong's face. After a while, he shook his head and good-temperedly picked up the bamboo tube containing the syrup and took a sip.

The next moment, the smile on the young man's face froze.

Duan Xiaoyan next to him had already shouted: "Bah, bah, bah, this is too sweet! Doctor Lu, what did you buy?!"

"Ginger honey water." Lu Tong said, "Is it very sweet? I think it's just right. The medicinal materials in the medical clinic are all bitter. The ginger honey water in the hands of Young Master Duan is sweeter than the medicine."

Her expression was calm and her tone was not joking at all. It was not clear whether she was deliberately teasing her.

Pei Yunying put down the bamboo tube and sighed: "It makes sense."

Lu Tong looked at him.

There is no trace of anger on this person's face, and his attitude is always polite and warm. I don't know whether he is well-educated or scheming.

Acheng was still taking the medicine. Duan Xiaoyan put his fist to his lips and coughed softly. He found something to say and said, "Doctor Lu, I saw you at the door of Fan's Mansion last time. I wanted to talk to you a few more words, but we were on official business at the time." Busy...how are you doing these days? No one is coming to trouble you, right?"

Lu Tong followed and sat down at the table: "No, thanks to Mr. Duan's concern."

Duan Xiaoyan coughed twice more: "Speaking of which, last time I was at Fan Mansion, I lost my wallet..." When he said this, he looked at Lu Tong tentatively.

Lu Tong watched him quietly.

Duan Xiaoyan stuttered: "Have you seen my purse?"

There was a moment of silence in the shop.

Gray clouds covered the sky, and the leaves of the plum branches in front of the door rustled in the wind.

After a while, Lu Tong said calmly: "Young Master Duan, do you suspect that I stole your wallet?"

Acheng squatted in front of the medicine cabinet, grabbing the medicinal materials with a rustling sound. Yin Zheng stood at the table in front of the door, lowering his head and wiping the table carefully.

Duan Xiaoyan stayed for a while, then laughed awkwardly: "How could it be? I just mentioned it casually."

Lu Tong nodded: "Mr. Duan, I didn't see your wallet."

Duan Xiaoyan said hurriedly: "I don't think you saw it. I should have fallen somewhere else." After saying that, the hand under the table gently tugged at the corner of Pei Yunying's clothes.

Pei Yunying sat aside, his eyes passing over a stack of 'Xianxian' stacked on the drug store table, and suddenly changed his subject: "Doctor Lu's medicinal tea is selling well. I heard that even the official Fan family has taken the initiative to invite him. "

"It's just a fluke that I got into Mrs. Fan's eyes."

"How could it be a fluke?" He laughed, "Mrs. Fan cares about her body, so Doctor Lu made a slimming medicinal tea just in time. If I hadn't known that Doctor Lu was from outside, I would have thought that Doctor Lu specially prepared it for Mrs. Fan."

Yin Zheng's hand wiping the table clenched the rag nervously.

Lu Tong looked at him: "My lord, I have said that making a herbal tea is not as simple as others may see. Besides, I am an ordinary person and have nothing to do with the official family. How can I influence my wife's decision?"

He nodded: "Yes."

He looked at Yin Zheng in front of the desk again. Yin Zheng lowered his head and was carefully collecting the scattered white papers on the table.

Pei Yunying looked at it for a while, then reached out and picked up the bamboo tube of sweet syrup on the table and took a sip. Then he frowned, as if he thought the syrup was too sweet.

He called Lu Tong: "Doctor Lu."

Lu Tong responded.

"I remember the few times we met before, the girl next to you was always quick to talk. Why, these few times we met, there was a lot of silence." He put the bamboo tube back on the table and said unhurriedly: "No way. Afraid of spilling the beans, why are you staying away from me?"

Lu Tong's eyebrows jumped.

She raised her eyes and looked at Pei Yunying.

There were no lights in the shop during the day, and the sky was completely gloomy. He was sitting in the summer gloom, dressed in crimson brocade clothes, with a long sword on his waist, and he was particularly graceful and elegant.

But the smile in his eyes was very weak.

After a pause, Lu Tong calmly replied: "Your Majesty, you are just joking. We are of low status. When we meet the princes, grandsons and distinguished guests like you, we are clumsy and clumsy and can't stand up to the stage. I hope you won't blame me." She kept saying "Sir" "That's ironic. Duan Xiaoyan also noticed the subtlety of the atmosphere. He became restless and pretended to ask Acheng on the other end: "Um... are the medicinal tea bags ready?"

"Okay, okay!" Acheng shouted, placing two large bags of medicinal tea on the table and wiping his sweat: "There is a bit too much medicinal tea, which has delayed the two adults' efforts."

"It's okay, it's okay." Duan Xiaoyan also wiped his sweat, stood up and fanned himself with his hands, saying, "Why is it so hot today!"

He walked to the table, paid the money, picked up two large bags of medicinal materials, and urged Pei Yunying: "Sir, it's getting late, we should go back, so we don't want to delay Dr. Lu's treatment."

Lu Tong stood up and said, "Sir, go slowly." There was no intention of holding back.

Pei Yunying looked at her quietly. After a while, he lowered his head and smiled, then stood up and took two steps. Suddenly he remembered something, turned around, picked up the unfinished cup of ginger honey water on the table, and gave it to Lu Tong. Shaking it: "Thank you Doctor Lu for the ginger honey water."

"See you next time."

The two of them left Renxin Medical Center. Yin Zheng moved to the door and waited until they could no longer see their backs, then patted his heart and breathed a sigh of relief.

Acheng muttered in a low voice: "Master Pei has such a good temper, why does he always look at something weird..." He muttered to himself, "It must be because his sword is so evil..."

On the other side, Duan Xiaoyan and Pei Yunying left the medical center and went to lead the horses.

Duan Xiaoyan complained in a low voice: "Brother, I told you that today's trip was in vain. There is no way Doctor Lu could pick up my purse. How can I see her again in the future if she is put in such an embarrassing situation?"

Pei Yunying stopped: "Who said it's impossible?"

Duan Xiaoyan was stunned: "Is she lying?"

"I can't tell. But just believe her by three points. Don't believe even three points when necessary."

Duan Xiaoyan was speechless: "Brother, I always feel that you are biased against Dr. Lu. I have asked before that Dr. Lu has a very good reputation in West Street. They say that she is a living Bodhisattva with a beautiful heart and a kind heart. You should guard against thieves." Hold her. A weak woman, as for that?"

"Weak woman?" Pei Yun said, "Did you see what she was wearing today?"

"What to wear?" Duan Xiaoyan was stunned for a moment: "It's a pretty dress. Dr. Lu is good-looking and looks good in anything he wears."

Pei Yunying glanced at him.

Duan Xiaoyan was puzzled: "Am I wrong?"

"The first time I saw her, she was wearing coarse cloth in Baoxiang Tower. The second time, in Wan'en Temple, she was wearing a white skirt. Today, she has changed to Yunsu gauze."

"Brother, you actually remember it so clearly." Duan Xiaoyan disagreed, "It's normal. Doctor Lu is a foreigner. He came to Shengjing and learned how to dress up the women in Shengjing. Everyone has a love for beauty. Gardenia has several It’s a floral dress.”

Pei Yunying handed him the bamboo tube he brought out from the hospital and turned around to untie the horse's rope: "Coarse cloth is three hundred yuan per piece, silk is five hundred yuan each, and Yunsu yarn is at least one yuan per piece. In less than half a year, Doctor Lu’s cost of clothing materials has increased a lot.”

Duan Xiaoyan held up the bamboo tube in confusion: "What does this mean?"

Pei Yunying untied the horse's rope and got on the horse: "This means that if Lu Tong is the front secretary who entered the palace with you, then she is now your immediate boss."

He said "drive" and rode away. Duan Xiaoyan stayed there for a long time, came back to his senses, and said angrily: "Brother, you are scolding me!"

……

Renxin Medical Center.

It was not until evening that Du Changqing led Xia Rongrong and his servant back.

I gained a lot from my trip today. The local products Du Changqing brought back filled half of the yard. Seeming to be extremely tired, Du Changqing didn't say much to Lu Tong and greeted Acheng to go home.

Yin Zheng closed the door of the medical shop and Lu Tong lit the lamp. Xia Rongrong asked Xiang Xiang to come over and handed Yin Zheng a small paper bag.

Yin Zheng was confused: "This is..."

Vanilla smiled and said, "It's the white jade frost square cake that my young lady and my cousin bought today. I thought Dr. Lu likes sweets, so I brought some specially to Dr. Lu."

Yin Zheng thanked her and returned to Lu Tong's room with the paper bag. Lu Tong had just come in from the door carrying a medical box.

"The square cake sent by Miss Xia next door," Yin Zheng said.

Lu Tong: "Put it on the table."

Yin Zheng put the square cake on the table, turned around, closed the doors and windows, and used scissors to shorten the wick, making the room brighter.

Lu Tong put away the medical box, then bent down and took out a small box from under the bed, then opened the desk drawer and took out a light golden purse.

The purse is made of silk satin, with two ducks playing in the water embroidered on it. The water plants linger among them, which is very interesting and exquisite. Hidden on the edge of the purse is a line of small characters, which is the person's name - Duan Xiaoyan.

This is Duan Xiaoyan's purse.

Yin Zheng came over with an oil lamp, put it on the table, looked at her purse and asked Lu Tong softly: "Girl, young Master Duan came to the hospital today, why don't you return your purse to him?"

That day, Duan Xiaoyan was walking in a hurry at the door of Fan Mansion. When Lu Tong and Yin Zheng were about to leave, they saw a purse falling on the ground.

The purse was still loose, with Duan Xiaoyan's name embroidered on it. Maybe he kept it after paying for the tea at the tea stall and it fell out while walking.

Lu Tong picked up the purse and put it away. Duan Xiaoyan came today. Yin Zheng thought Lu Tong would return the purse, but unexpectedly Lu Tong didn't say anything.

In the silence of the long night, Lu Tong's fingertips touched the embroidery with the raised name on her purse, and she suddenly said: "Why is Duan Xiaoyan at the door of Fan's house?"

Yin Zheng was stunned and subconsciously replied: "...Didn't you pass by on an errand?"

"Since we were passing by on errands, why were we wearing regular clothes? There were only three or four people drinking tea in front of the tea stall. After seeing you and me, Duan Xiaoyan left, and those people also left, which means they were together."

"Duan Xiaoyan asked me why I was here at that time. I only told him to perform acupuncture for others. But today Pei Yunying said that I performed acupuncture for Zhao, which shows that he knows my every move very well."

"Also, when you called Duan Xiaoyan by his name that day, he didn't respond for a long time, and finally turned around, as if he didn't want to be discovered by you and me. Why is this?"

Yin Zheng was frightened when she heard this: "What the girl means is..."

"He's watching me."

Lu Tong said calmly: "We are being targeted."

The plum branches outside the window are reflected on the flower window through the gauze curtain, and a painting is framed in the window scenery.

Yin Zheng's lips turned white: "But why are they staring at the girl?"

Lu Tong lowered his eyes: "As early as when we were at Wan'en Temple, Pei Yunying had suspected me. The temptation all the way was just for the death of Ke Chengxing, but the case has been closed and there is no evidence, so he can only rely on me. Take action."

Hearing this, Yin Zheng became more and more nervous: "They are officials and we can't fight them. What are you going to do now?"

Lu Tong picked up the purse on the table, looked at the two ducks playing in the water carefully, and smiled slightly.

"It's okay, just let him keep an eye on it."

She reached out to open the box, put the purse in, then bent down and put the box back under the bed.

There is no trace of anything.

"For us, this might be a good thing," she said.