Now that both parents and siblings are gone, she thought she would be spared this part of the ritual, yet the one feeding her the soup dumpling turned out to be Miao Liangfang.
Lu Tong clutched her skirt and sat down beside Miao Liangfang, who fed her a snow-white glutinous dumpling.
As the sweet fragrance of sesame spread from her lips and teeth, Miao Liangfang looked at her with a smile and said, "Xiao Lu, though we are not related by blood, on the eve of the spring examination, I was, after all, somewhat your teacher. It is said that one who has been a teacher for a day is a father for life. Now that you are getting married, I shall boldly assume the role of an elder."
Lu Tong smiled and replied softly, "Thank you, Teacher."
She had two mentors.
One taught her to see through the cruel realities of the world, the wickedness of human hearts; the other taught her the ethics of medicine, that patients come first.
The former taught her to seek; the latter taught her to let go.
From far to near, the sounds of carriage and horses echoed down West Street, and Ah Cheng shouted, "The bridegroom’s procession will soon reach the alleyway, don’t dawdle, quickly carry Doctor Lu to her palanquin!"
Du Changqing pushed through the crowd. He, too, had changed into a brand-new yellow robe for the day, standing out brightly among the throng of people, he walked up to Lu Tong in just a few steps and crouched down: "Get on!"
The bride was traditionally carried to her wedding sedan by her brother, but with no one else in Renxin Medical Hall to take on the task, it fell to Du Changqing.
Yin Zheng assisted Lu Tong as she leaned on Du Changqing’s back. Though Du Changqing spent his days slouching in the shop as if without a care, his back was surprisingly broad and sturdy, carrying Lu Tong with ease to the palanquin while prattling, "Did you keep the silver note I gave you yesterday safe? Be a bit haughty when you get to the Pei Family, don’t let them look down on you. Yin Zheng will be with you later on, you brought all your jewelry, right..."
He spoke in trivial matters, like a true elder brother worrying about his sister about to leave the family home. As Lu Tong listened, her eyes gradually moistened.
If Lu Qian were still alive, today he should have been the one carrying her onto the joyous palanquin. Lu Rou would have combed her hair, and her parents would have fed her the first dumpling soup before leaving the house.
Her family was gone, yet she had found new kin. Although they were different people, perhaps the warmth and bonds, the love and concern, were the same.
Du Changqing kept talking as he walked, occasionally cursing Pei Yunmeng. When they reached the wedding sedan, he set Lu Tong down, letting Yin Zheng assist Lu Tong into the palanquin.
"Lift the sides—," Ah Cheng’s cheering voice rose from outside.
Thus, Miao Liangfang handed out the pre-prepared colorful ribbons and lucky money to the surrounding onlookers.
"Aiyoh," Official Hu was squeezed out of the crowd, a few strands of his beard pulled out, but he managed to snatch two strings of lucky money from others’ hands and stuffed one of them to Wu Youcai next to him: "You Cai, you’re no young man anymore and still unmarried, soak up some of Doctor Lu’s good fortune, it’s perfect for you!"
Beside Official Hu, dressed in the blue robe of a scholar, Wu Youcai held the lucky money and smiled sheepishly.
When Wu Youcai received the wedding invitation from Renxin Medical Hall, he asked the family for whom he tutored for a two-day leave, specifically to return to the city to attend. Now working as a private tutor on the outskirts of town, he seems to be enjoying his life, appearing more at ease than before, not always so burdened with worries. It is said that the family treating him well, and last year they even subtly asked if he was considering getting back into the "arena," only to be tactfully declined by Wu Youcai.
Sometimes, when one’s gaze turns towards the distance, the world seems broader, not confined to one place.
"Aiyoh," as someone bumped into him, Wu Youcai turned around to see a woman in a cloth skirt being pushed back by the jostling crowd. In a hurry, he bowed his head and apologized, "Sorry, sorry, it wasn’t on purpose."
"It’s alright."
He Xiu bent down and picked up the colorful ribbons that had fallen to the ground.
She had come on purpose to witness Lu Tong’s wedding.
Since the incident with Envoy Cui Min from the Medical Officer Institute, no new Envoy had been appointed temporarily, leaving Chang Jin to manage in the interim. The New Emperor was reforming the court, requiring both the Medical Officer Institute and the Imperial Apothecary to conduct self-inspections from top to bottom. The medical workers who had been previously banished to the Southern Pharmacy finally had the chance to clear their names, and those who had been oppressed and unable to see the light of day could start over and make new choices. This was because the regulations for dispatching medical workers to the Southern Pharmacy were deemed unreasonable. From now on, newly appointed Imperial Medical Officers, regardless of their status, would take turns serving in the Southern Pharmacy.
Mei Erniang also resigned from the Medical Officer Institute and left the Imperial City.
He Xiu remained at the Southern Pharmacy, but no longer did menial tasks such as gathering Crimson Fantasia Floss. Shi Changpu from the Imperial Apothecary felt she was good at processing and identifying herbs and, with the Imperial Apothecary’s Envoy agreeing with Chang Jin, transferred He Xiu from the Southern Pharmacy to the Imperial Apothecary.
The work at the Imperial Apothecary was much easier than at the Southern Pharmacy; coupled with Shi Changpu, who was especially good at shirking work, her days became leisurely. After Lu Tong sent her the wedding invitation, He Xiu took leave from Shi Changpu and came to West Street.
Now, the poison from the Crimson Fantasia Floss in her system was completely cured, the pockmarks on her face had all cleared, and she could joyfully return home during her monthly breaks to reunite with her younger siblings, with happiness clearly written on her face.
He Xiu took a few steps forward and Lu Tong also spotted her. He Xiu stealthily waved to Lu Tong, and Lu Tong broke into a smile, with He Xiu following with a laugh of her own.
He Xiu felt that Lu Tong seemed much more relaxed now than when she was in the Southern Pharmacy. Back then, whenever they gathered Crimson Fantasia Floss together, no matter what happened, Lu Tong always maintained a calm demeanor. Although this calm was reassuring, it was like an invisible wall that clearly separated Lu Tong from everyone else.
But now that wall was gone. When the young woman laughed, there was a hint of childlike innocence about her, typical of girls her age, pure and joyful about the present moment.
Just then, someone outside suddenly shouted, "Here they come— the groom is here—"
The crowded neighbors on the street side quickly made way upon hearing this, and from the end of West Street, a procession approached with a man leading on a tall and magnificent horse. The horse’s saddle and bridle were striking, and the man wore a red damask round-necked robe with gold ornaments and black leather boots. He was suave and handsome, exuding the air of a man enjoying the spring breeze on horseback.
It wasn’t that no one on West Street had ever been married, but it was truly the first time anyone had worn such an eye-catching red damask robe.
"Oh!" exclaimed Widow Sun, who was in the front, catching sight of the man’s face. She gasped in shock and excitement, pinching the arm of the person next to her, "What a ’handsome leader among the group’!"
Dai Sanlang silently endured the pain of Widow Sun pinching his arm and turned his face away.
Lu Tong heard the noise from outside as well.
She really wanted to lift the curtain to see what was happening outside, but Yin Zheng’s voice came from beyond the curtain, "Miss, you mustn’t come out. We’re just about to lift the sedan chair, hang in there."
Lu Tong had no choice but to suppress her impulse.
Then, the voices of Pei Yunmeng and Du Changqing bidding farewell could be heard from outside, and the bridal sedan swayed as it was lifted off the ground.
She felt the horse’s hoofbeats stop beside her as if she could sense the person outside watching her, and her heart settled slightly.
More sounds of wedding money being thrown filled the air, and the bearers of the sedan chair gave a long shout—
The sedan chair was lifted.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
