He nodded and said, "That’s perfect. Shall we go for a walk?"
Lu Tong agreed and was about to head out with him.
The staff of Renxin Medical Hall were stunned by their lack of consideration, standing there blankly. Du Changqing was the first to react. "Wait!"
Lu Tong looked up.
Du Changqing quickly stepped forward to block the door, his gaze fierce as it circled Pei Yunmeng before turning to Lu Tong fiercely. "Do you even know what time it is and you still want to go out?"
Lu Tong: "The sun has not set yet."
"The sun will set soon!" He burst into anger. "Did I say I agreed?"
Pei Yunmeng glanced at Du Changqing indifferently.
That look was calm, a slight smile even at the corner of the youth’s lips, yet it made Du Changqing feel a sudden chill, subconsciously hiding behind Lu Tong.
"...I am your employer, and I am responsible for everyone in the medical hall." He stuck his head out from behind Lu Tong, barking without much conviction.
Miao Liangfang coughed awkwardly. Yin Zheng pushed Lu Tong out, glaring at Du Changqing, and said with a smile, "The lady has been in Su Nan for so long, and after returning, she’s been at the Medical Officer Institute. It’s good to relax. Going out with Lord Pei to clear your mind is good too. The weather in Shengjing has been nice these days, so don’t worry about it..." Then he shot a warning glance at Du Changqing.
Du Changqing still wasn’t ready to give up, but Lu Tong and Pei Yunmeng had already left through the main gate. He had no choice but to follow them out, squeezing out a sentence. "You must return by the time of the dog (7-9 pm), do you hear me?"
No one answered.
Ah Cheng, unable to do anything, spoke, "Employer, the two of them are already holding hands and have left, what’s the use of shouting here?"
"Holding hands?" Du Changqing exclaimed in shock. "When did they get together?"
He had been too preoccupied with other things to notice this detail.
Yin Zheng looked at him with disdain. "Employer, in the future, don’t do these out-of-date things anymore. Do you know what you just looked like?"
"Like what?"
"Like the evil mother-in-law in storybooks who tries to break up a pair of lovers with a stick."
"..."
...
Lu Tong had no idea that Renxin Medical Hall turned into a scene of chaos after she left.
As evening passed, the people of Shengjing who went out to enjoy the spring had all returned. Along the way, the beauty of blooming fragrance and red apricots was everywhere, and countless spring colors emerged. As they walked, a fine rain began to fall, and just as they were passing over Luoyue Bridge, they arrived at Qinghe Street in South City.
Qinghe Street was bustling as always. "Lu Yuan Pawnshop" appeared just as before. The shopkeeper, who had once deliberately sold Lu Tong’s sister an overpriced hairpin, sat inside the shop, dozing off, showing signs of tiredness amidst the persistent spring rain.
Having not brought an umbrella when they left, Pei Yunmeng looked ahead and then turned to ask Lu Tong, "Shall we go upstairs to avoid the rain?"
Lu Tong followed his gaze and looked.
Not far away was Yuxian Tower.
"This rain won’t stop anytime soon." He led Lu Tong under an eave to shelter from the rain, then casually began, "At this rate, you won’t be able to return to the medical hall by the time of the dog. What will you do?"
Lu Tong: "..."
Pei Yunmeng, at times, she felt he was very generous, but sometimes she felt he held grudges too tightly.
She was silent for a while and was just about to agree when her gaze was suddenly drawn to the river further away.
Yuxian Tower faced the river, and both sides were planted with fresh willows. It was a spring day, with the spring rain like smoke, the green willows like mist. Several painting boats floated on the river, with soft melodies of the qin emanating from them, accompanied by the recitation of poetry by elegant scholars—
"Ten miles of pond enshrouded in haze, where does the spring wind lament the most? On the long embankment, birds sing unfound, light cotton drifts silently onto the ancient boat..."
Lu Tong was taken aback and suddenly remembered something Du Changqing had once said.
"If you truly wish to enjoy the rain, why not go to Yuxian Tower in South City? The floor above faces the river with a view of willows. When it rains, the misty rain hangs thick, and the river water turns a shade of green. If you sit in a painting boat, ask a boat-lady to play a few strings of the qin, drink some warm wine and have a dish of goose fat rolls, that would be the joys of life..."
Right now, it was raining, and a thought struck Lu Tong. She tugged at Pei Yunmeng’s sleeve, "Let’s go sit on that," she said.
Pei Yunmeng followed her line of sight. "The boat?"
He looked down at Lu Tong, puzzled, "Aren’t you prone to seasickness?"
Lu Tong was like a duck out of water. When she went to Su Nan, she was so seasick she was utterly miserable, and her journey back to Shengjing wasn’t much better. During those days crossing the water, watching her get seasick was distressing to onlookers.
"That boat doesn’t need rowing; it just drifts on the water. It doesn’t rock violently like the previous water journey, so it should be fine. Plus, I have this." Lu Tong said, showing the Fragrance Pouch at her waist to Pei Yunmeng.
Funnily, Pei Yunmeng’s "Night Light Cold" had a fragrance she favored. Whenever she smelled it, she always felt focused and serene, pleasantly cool and refreshing. On their journey back along the waterway, this Fragrance Pouch was more effective for Lu Tong than any seasickness medicine.
Pei Yunmeng looked at her, not quite approving, "Why do you always disregard your own health?"
Even knowing it would be hard on her, she always seemed eager to try. It was true in the past, and it was the same now.
Lu Tong: "I just want to sit on this one."
Pei Yunmeng: "..."
He looked down at her, his gaze fixed on Lu Tong, who calmly met his eyes.
After a moment, Pei Yunmeng sighed and nodded, "Alright."
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