Chapter 18: Slander

Lu Yuner’s eyes narrowed slightly, and she responded in a soft voice, “Young Master Su, this subordinate accepts your apology. There’s no need to say sorry again in the future.”

She originally had no intention of making things difficult for him, but the outcome of this matter was unexpected for her.

She didn’t expect that Young Master Su would care so much about her response.

“Mm!” Su Qingwan’s eyes brimmed with tears, the rims starting to redden. A faint smile appeared on his pale face.

…He had finally waited for Sister Yuner’s forgiveness.

Su Qingwan slowly unclenched his tightly balled fists, lightly grasping Sister Yuner’s clothes instead. In the end, unable to withstand his body’s discomfort, he slowly fell into a faint in her arms.

Lu Yuner lowered her gaze, seeing the person in her arms with eyes tightly shut. Her brows furrowed slightly as she quickened her pace.

The medical hall was located directly west of the dining hall, a secluded and tranquil courtyard. Since ascending the throne, the Emperor had placed great importance on cultivating talent. Whether it was the dormitories or dining halls, the Imperial Academy’s facilities were very comprehensive, though it had required no small effort and financial resources.

The medical officers in this medical hall were all dispatched from the palace’s Imperial Physician Institute.

Carrying Su Qingwan, Lu Yuner quickly arrived at the medical hall. Just as she stepped into the front courtyard, she immediately said, “Someone is ill, may I ask…”

Before Lu Yuner could finish speaking, the young female medical officers busily working in the front courtyard subconsciously looked over at the sound. Lu Yuner’s appearance was extremely beautiful, immediately attracting everyone’s gaze the moment she entered the courtyard.

As their stunned gazes fell upon the person in her arms, the medical officers all cast various strange looks her way.

Lu Yuner was also startled by their reactions. She was just carrying a man, was it really necessary to look at her like that? Saving a person was the urgent matter! But just as she was anxiously about to continue speaking, the words at the tip of her tongue…

Suddenly, an old woman around sixty years of age with a youthful appearance despite her white hair walked out from the main hall. She loudly rebuked, “What are you all looking at? Have you finished the tasks at hand?”

Everyone promptly averted their gazes and continued busying themselves with the matters at hand, though their ears remained perked outwards.

The spirited woman over fifty walked up and glanced at Young Master Su in Lu Yuner’s arms. A flash of surprise briefly passed through her eyes before she bowed and said, “This subordinate is Li Tao, the attending physician of the medical hall. Doctor Lu, please follow me.”

Seeing them depart, the crowd began to discuss in low voices.

“Who would have thought, this Doctor Lu’s appearance is so stunning. Honestly, as a fellow woman, one can’t help but admire her.”

“Right, do you all still remember the incident at the dining hall last time when a female student choked on her food? I heard that student was almost unable to breathe, the situation was quite severe. It was this Doctor Lu who used some ‘abdominal thrust’ method to save that student.”

“Indeed, this matter spread throughout both the male and female institutions. It seems this Doctor Lu is quite capable!”

…

Suddenly, a voice full of disdain interjected, “Hmph! Capable?”

The female medical officers looked over again. Wearing white robes, with plain features that couldn’t be any plainer, yet an overbearingly arrogant demeanor – it was Qin Yaxue who had recently fallen off a horse during martial arts class and frequently came to the medical hall to change her dressings.

However, with her arm in a sling, newly changed bandages wrapped around it, her already unremarkable face now swollen from the fall like a steamed bun, eyes nearly invisible – compared to Doctor Lu from moments ago, the difference was like heaven and earth, even difficult to behold. If not for the setting, one might have mistaken her for a pig that had run out from some family!

Despite her comical appearance, the female medical officers could only secretly laugh in their hearts, not daring to make a sound in front of her.

Although Qin Yaxue was a student of the Imperial Academy’s Lüxing Hall, her mother Qin Jin held the position of Minister of Rites. The Imperial Academy was also under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Rites. Even the Libationer would slightly bow upon seeing Qin Yaxue.

Therefore, Qin Yaxue was arrogant and condescending, always feeling she was superior to others. She frequently treated them, the female medical officers, with a cold eye. They could only smash their teeth and swallow them down.

Seeing everyone silent as cicadas in winter, Qin Yaxue smiled smugly, but forgot about her facial injuries. The next second, she hissed in pain as she sucked in a cold breath.

The pain made her uncomfortable, inexplicably igniting her anger. With a snort, she said, “But I heard she originally held the position of Minister of Revenue, an official of positive second rank. Now at the Imperial Academy as a lecturer, she’s become a subordinate eighth rank. The reason behind this should be obvious with just a bit of thought!”

Hearing this, the expressions of the female medical officers varied.

Qin Yaxue inwardly snorted. She often heard her mother say that Lu Yuner was quite scheming, frequently being ungrateful and opposing her mother in court. Daring to fight against her mother, now wasn’t she reduced to such a state? Thinking of this, she became even more contemptuous.

Qin Yaxue mockingly curled her lips and continued, “Now teaching at the male institution, how could she not seize the opportunity to serve others with her looks? Maybe if she becomes the phoenix-ascending husband of some important official, she’ll be able to rise through the ranks in a single step!”

“Hehe!” She slightly opened her mouth and let out a light chuckle. Shifting her tone, “However, she should look at her own worth. That Young Master Su is of such noble status, yet she shamelessly fawns over him. She’s not even fit to carry his shoes!”

Young Master Su was of distinguished birth and possessed unrivaled beauty. Moreover, he was still unwed. She had actually known early on that Young Master Su would be coming to study at the Imperial Academy. It was a pity her facial injuries had yet to heal. If she could marry Young Master Su… lost in thought, she couldn’t help secretly feeling pleased.

When these words fell into everyone’s ears, they all understood her implied meaning. Their hearts filled with even more disgust towards this disrespectful and domineering Qin Yaxue.

Lu Yuner followed the elderly female physician through the main hall and into the back courtyard. They arrived at a clean room. Lu Yuner carefully laid Young Master Su on the bed, letting the elderly physician conduct a thorough examination.

Just as she turned around, something tugged at her sleeve. Looking back, she saw that Young Master Su had awakened. His abnormally pale hand grasped her clothes as he weakly pleaded, “Don’t go.”

Seeing this, Li Tao’s eyes suddenly shifted. She lowered her gaze of her own accord, but was still startled in her heart.

Back when she was still serving in the palace, this Young Master Su would frequently enter the palace to seek out the princes to play. Thus, she also knew a thing or two – this Young Master Su was usually proud, aloof, willful, and lively. How could he be as docile and obedient as he was now? The relationship between these two was not simple.

Lu Yuner subconsciously glanced at the elderly female physician beside her. Seeing her head lowered, it seemed she had indeed worked in the palace before. She then calmly looked towards Young Master Su. “This subordinate will be right here.”

After all, she wanted to know his condition before leaving with peace of mind.

Only then did Young Master Su obediently let go. Lu Yuner gestured to the elderly female physician. “Please.”

Li Tao then stepped forward. After a thorough examination, she said seriously, “Young Master Su, this is due to qi and blood deficiency, exacerbated by the cold wind entering your body and causing a chill. However, after taking a few doses of medicine and recuperating well for a few days, you will recover.”

A chill?

Lu Yuner suddenly recalled that when she arrived at the Imperial Academy this morning, the sky had yet to brighten, but Young Master Su was already standing there. Not knowing when she would go to the Imperial Academy, he had waited there early. It seemed he had been waiting, exposed to the cold wind, for quite some time.

Seeing Lu Yuner lost in thought, Li Tao spoke up. “This subordinate will take my leave first to prepare Young Master Su’s medicine.”