CHAPTER 018
Lu Yun'er’s eyes softened, and she gently responded, "Young Duke Su, I accept your apology. You don’t need to say sorry anymore."
She had never intended to make things difficult for him, but the outcome of this situation had been beyond her expectations. She also hadn’t expected that the Young Duke Su would care so much about her response.
"Mm!" Su Qingwan’s eyes filled with a layer of moisture, and the area around his eyes began to redden. A faint smile appeared on his pale face.
...He had finally received Scholar Yun'er’s forgiveness.
Su Qingwan slowly unclenched the fist he had been tightly holding and instead gently grasped Scholar Yun'er’s sleeve. Eventually, unable to resist the discomfort in his body, he drifted off to sleep in her arms.
As Lu Yun'er looked down and saw that the person in her arms had closed his eyes, her brows furrowed, and she quickened her pace.
The infirmary was located to the west of the dining hall, in a quiet, secluded courtyard. Since ascending to the throne, the Empress had placed great emphasis on cultivating talent. The basic facilities at the National Academy, whether the dormitories or the dining hall, were well-appointed, though they had required significant effort and resources.
The medical officers in the infirmary were all selected from the Imperial Medical Institute in the palace.
Lu Yun'er, carrying Su Qingwan, quickly arrived at the infirmary. As soon as she stepped into the courtyard, she called out, "Someone is ill, may I ask..."
Before Lu Yun'er could finish her sentence, the young female medical officers in the courtyard instinctively looked up at the sound of her voice. Lu Yun'er was strikingly beautiful, and the moment she entered the infirmary courtyard, she drew everyone's gaze.
As their astonished eyes fell upon the person in her arms, the medical officers in the courtyard exchanged various peculiar glances.
Lu Yun'er was taken aback by their reaction. Wasn’t she just carrying a man? Was there a need to look at her like that? Saving a life was more important! She was about to speak again when suddenly, an elderly woman, around sixty years old but still vigorous, emerged from the main hall and sternly scolded, "What are you all staring at? Have you finished your work?"
The medical officers quickly averted their eyes and resumed their tasks, though their ears remained attuned to the commotion.
The elderly woman, still spry and full of energy, approached, glanced briefly at the Young Duke Su in Lu Yun'er’s arms, a fleeting look of surprise in her eyes, and then respectfully greeted, "I am Li Tao, the imperial physician of the infirmary. Scholar Lu, please follow me."
Once the elderly woman left, the other medical officers began to whisper among themselves.
"Who would have thought that Scholar Lu is so stunning? Honestly, even as a fellow woman, I can't help but admire her."
"By the way, do you remember the incident in the dining hall when a female student choked during a meal? I heard that the situation was quite serious, and she could hardly breathe. It was this Scholar Lu who saved her using some 'abdominal thrust technique.'"
"That's right! This news spread throughout both the male and female academies. It seems that Scholar Lu is quite capable!"
...
Suddenly, a voice filled with disdain interrupted, "Hmph! Capable?"
The female medical officers turned towards the voice to see a woman in a white robe, with an ordinary face yet an overbearing demeanor. This was Qin Yaxue, a student from the Zhaoxing Hall, who had recently taken a fall from her horse during martial arts class and had been frequently visiting the infirmary for bandage changes.
However, with her arm now in a sling and her face swollen like a steamed bun from the fall, she looked far from ordinary. Comparing her appearance to that of Scholar Lu was like comparing heaven and earth—she was almost unrecognizable, looking more like a runaway pig!
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.
Qin Yaxue might be a student at the National Academy, but her mother, Qin Jin, held the position of Minister of Rites, and the academy itself was under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Rites. Even the Chancellor would bow slightly in her presence.
As a result, Qin Yaxue was arrogant and overbearing, always feeling superior to others. The female medical officers often endured her disdainful treatment, swallowing their grievances in silence.
Seeing the others cower in fear, Qin Yaxue smiled smugly, forgetting the injuries on her face. The next moment, she winced in pain, hissing as she sucked in a breath.
The pain made her irritable, and she snorted with contempt, "But how did I hear that she used to hold the position of Minister of Revenue, ranked as a second-grade official? Now she’s a mere scholar in the National Academy, a position of the eighth grade. Anyone can figure out the reason for that!"
The medical officers' expressions varied at her words.
Qin Yaxue sneered inwardly. She had often heard her mother mention how deep and scheming Lu Yun'er was, frequently clashing with her in court. Now, Lu Yun'er had ended up in such a lowly position. Thinking of this, Qin Yaxue became even more arrogant.
With a mocking smile, Qin Yaxue continued, "Now that she’s teaching in the male academy, isn’t she just using her looks to gain favor? Who knows, she might end up as some nobleman’s bed warmer and rise to power!"
"Heh!" She chuckled lightly, her tone changing as she added, "But she should know her own worth. The Young Duke Su is of such noble birth, and she dares to approach him? She’s not even fit to carry his shoes!"
The Young Duke Su was not only of noble birth but also extraordinarily handsome and unmarried. Qin Yaxue had long known that he would attend the National Academy, but her injuries hadn’t healed yet. If only she could marry the Young Duke Su... Her heart secretly rejoiced at the thought.
Her words were clearly understood by everyone, further deepening their disgust for this arrogant and disrespectful Qin Yaxue.
Following the elderly physician, Lu Yun'er passed through the main hall and entered the backyard, arriving in a clean room. She carefully placed the Young Duke Su on the bed and asked the elderly physician to conduct a thorough examination.
As she turned to leave, something tugged at her sleeve. She looked back to find that the Young Duke Su had already woken up. His unnaturally pale hand was clutching her sleeve as he weakly pleaded, "Don’t go."
Li Tao noticed this, her eyes flickering as she instinctively lowered her gaze, but she was still startled.
She had once served in the palace and had seen the Young Duke Su frequently visiting the palace to play with the princes. She knew a little about his temperament—usually proud, aloof, and playful. How could he now be so gentle and docile? The relationship between these two was clearly not simple.
Lu Yun'er glanced sideways at the elderly physician, noticing her lowered head. She then calmly reassured Su Qingwan, "I’ll be right here."
After all, she needed to know his condition before she could leave with peace of mind.
Only then did the Young Duke Su obediently release her. Lu Yun'er turned to the elderly physician and said, "Please."
Li Tao stepped forward and, after a thorough examination, earnestly remarked, "Young Duke Su, you are suffering from blood deficiency, coupled with exposure to cold wind, which has caused your body to catch a chill. However, with a few doses of medicine and proper care, you’ll recover in a few days."
Caught a chill?
Lu Yun'er suddenly remembered that morning when she came to the National Academy. It was still dark, and the Young Duke Su had been standing there, waiting for her, not knowing when she would arrive. It seemed he had been waiting for a long time, exposed to the cold wind for just as long.
Seeing Lu Yun'er deep in thought, Li Tao spoke up, "I’ll go prepare the medicine for the Young Duke Su now."
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