Chapter 309: Chapter 309: Du Yueyao Wants to Study Medicine
Lu Zheng wore a smile, pretending not to notice Du Yueyao’s unease, and said with a smile to Madam Du, "Thank you for your concern, Madam. I already have a fiancée."
Madam Du’s expression remained unchanged, completely at ease, and she nodded with a smile, saying, "I said that a young man like you, full of talents, couldn’t possibly be living alone. So it turns out you already have a beautiful betrothed."
Du Yueyao hesitated for a moment, having already suppressed her earlier discomfort, but wanted to speak yet didn’t know how to begin.
Madam Du decisively asked on behalf of her daughter, "May I ask which family’s young lady is fortunate enough to have won your favor, young master?"
"I am the fortunate one to have caught her interest," Lu Zheng said with a smile. "My fiancée’s family lives next door, her surname is Liu, and they have been physicians for generations."
"Ah, so they are childhood sweethearts!" Madam Du suddenly understood.
"A family of physicians!" Du Yuru said with solemn respect.
Du Yueyao couldn’t help but feel gloomy, thinking how she had only met him twice, and how could she possibly compare to someone with whom he’s had a twenty-year-long bond?
The Du family only inquired about Lu Zheng’s residence but did not delve into his past or his neighbors.
After all, they were just here to repay a kindness, and prying too much into personal matters could lead to resentment if Lu Zheng found out, thus turning into enemies.
If there were to be further developments between Lu Zheng and Du Yueyao, it wouldn’t be too late to address them later.
Therefore, they didn’t know that Lu Zheng had only moved here less than two years ago, nor that the Liu family were also newcomers.
Lu Zheng merely smiled and didn’t explain.
"To be honest, my father was a physician too, but I did not inherit his skills; instead, I entered the bureaucratic world," Du Yuru said with a smile. "I highly respect physicians for their work in saving lives and healing the masses."
"The young master practices an extraordinary art, upholding justice, and his fiancée is from a lineage of physicians, saving and healing others. Truly a perfect match made in heaven," Madam Du also praised with a smile.
The two quickly dispelled the previously awkward atmosphere.
As the Prefect of Yizhou, Du Yuru wasn’t a bad person. If they could become friends, Lu Zheng wouldn’t push them away, especially since there might be interactions with officials in the future.
However, if they harbored any ulterior motives, Lu Zheng wouldn’t accept that.
For now, seeing their sincere expressions, Lu Zheng felt he hadn’t misjudged them.
"Qingyan has profound medical skills and often consults at Renxin Hall," Lu Zheng mentioned.
"Oh?" Du Yuru raised an eyebrow, "That’s quite rare!"
In all professions, who can avoid illness?
Therefore, being a physician inevitably involves interacting with various people. Although physicians naturally find themselves in a favorable position, they occasionally encounter unreasonable townsfolk.
Thus, beyond medical skills, a physician needs strong communication skills and psychological resilience to calm people’s hearts and handle their own emotions.
"Is that so? Yue Yao has learned medical skills too but has rarely had the chance to practice. I somewhat envy Miss Liu," Du Yueyao said, turning her head.
Du Yuru smiled and said, "When Yueyao was a child, my parents took care of her. With direct lineage, she learned some medical skills from her grandfather for several years. But later, when she followed me to my post, there was no medical hall for her to practice and apply her skills."
Du Yueyao contemplated and looked at Lu Zheng, speaking softly, "If the young master doesn’t mind, Yue Yao would like to meet and discuss medical skills with Miss Liu."
Du Yueyao had a simple thought. Lu Zheng saved them, and visiting to express gratitude only with gifts seemed insufficient to repay the favor.
Moreover, since Lu Zheng was an Abnormal People not planning to become an official, her father also had no place where he could help, so upon hearing Liu Qingyan’s family was a lineage of physicians, Du Yueyao thought of offering her own medical knowledge to Liu Qingyan.
In her mind, even the highest-skilled folk physicians’ knowledge wasn’t as well-documented or authoritative as her own.
Of course, there was also an underlying curiosity to meet Liu Qingyan and see who she was, and what abilities she possessed.
Du Yueyao’s thoughts were written all over her face, and both the Du couple and Lu Zheng saw through them.
Lu Zheng looked at the Du couple, and Du Yuru smiled, "I’ve only just arrived, Yueyao doesn’t have any close friends, so she should certainly make more."
Lu Zheng raised an eyebrow, are you sure?
But since Du Yuru didn’t issue a polite refusal, Lu Zheng naturally didn’t keep it at bay.
"Sure, when Qingyan returns tonight, I’ll introduce her to Miss Du."
"The young master is too kind."
Lu Zheng looked at Du Yuru, "Mr. Du, will you be staying in Tonglin County tonight? If you don’t mind, I will have Uncle Li prepare rooms for you."
Du Yuru heard this and didn’t stand on ceremony, simply smiled, "Thank you for the trouble, young master."
"Mr. Du, you’re too polite. Uncle Li, let Aunt Liu prepare the evening meal."
"Alright!" Uncle Li responded and hurried off to the kitchen.
What a situation!
The Prefect of Yizhou! That Old Li would ever have the opportunity to serve such esteemed guests, and it seemed they were indebted to their young master!
Reflecting on the experiences of the past year, Uncle Li even felt his life had not been in vain.
...
Afterward, Lu Zheng continued conversing with Du Yuru’s family and then led them on a tour of his home.
When it seemed about the right time, Lu Zheng sent Uncle Li next door to invite Liu Qingyan.
After a short stroll and upon returning to the front courtyard, Liu Qingyan came in gracefully.
"Lu Lang~"
She wore a light green floral satin dress, adorned with ebony hairpins, her eyebrows lightly drawn, eyes resembling autumn water, and her face bare of heavy makeup, yet she seemed like a lotus emerging from water.
Seeing Liu Qingyan, Du Yuru’s family was momentarily stunned.
"I heard we have visitors?" Liu Qingyan said with a smile.
"Indeed, let me introduce you. This is Mr. Du’s family, the one I told you about, the family involved in the Painted Wall incident," Lu Zheng said, introducing Liu Qingyan. "Mr. Du is the prefect of Yizhou, and his family, too, comes from a line of physicians."
"Honored to meet Mr. Du," Liu Qingyan slightly bowed, elegantly and gracefully.
"Please, rise! No need for formalities!" Du Yuru made a motion as if assisting her up, while Madam Du stepped forward and took Liu Qingyan’s hand.
"She’s truly like a Celestial Immortal, and such a perfect match with Young Master Lu!"
"Thank you, Madam," Liu Qingyan said, holding Madam Du’s hand, then turned to Du Yueyao and smiled, "Nice to meet you, Miss Du."
"Nice to meet you, Miss Liu!" Du Yueyao also bowed, although her expression was calm and poised, her eyes couldn’t disguise her astonishment.
"Young Master, the dinner is ready," Uncle Li came forward and said.
Lu Zheng nodded and then invited everyone to the front hall to take their seats.
...
During the banquet, Liu Qingyan engaged in conversation as elegantly as a blossom, with a leisurely and graceful demeanor that impressed the Du couple, making them realize she was indeed worthy of being Lu Zheng’s fiancée.
Meanwhile, having completely relinquished her previous thoughts after meeting Liu Qingyan, Du Yueyao genuinely engaged in conversation about medical skills with her.
Unexpectedly, this conversation left Du Yueyao astounded, realizing that Liu Qingyan’s prowess in the medical field far exceeded her own—not only in practical experience but in theoretical knowledge as well, transcending her own heritage by leaps and bounds.
After a talk, Du Yueyao’s eyes shone with anticipation, "Sister Liu, may I learn medical skills from you?"