When Shen Fenghuo walked in, Lu Jin had already risen from his desk. She placed the food box on the nearby table and lifted the lid.
Inside was a porcelain bowl, resting on a warming plate. The hot drink had been kept perfectly warm and was still steaming.
"Young Minister Lu, this is the new osmanthus glutinous rice ball hot drink from the canteen."
She cleared her throat softly, looking away. "It won't taste as good once it cools."
Lu Jin washed his hands and sat down at the table. Picking up a spoon, he stirred the drink slowly and deliberately.
The glutinous rice balls were white, soft, and chewy, sprinkled with bits of golden osmanthus flowers. He scooped one into his mouth—sweet, soft, and fragrant with a subtle osmanthus aroma.
"It tastes very good."
Lu Jin praised, "When I entered the Dali Temple earlier, I noticed the clerks all chatting about the hot drink. I had planned to go try it after finishing today's paperwork, but I didn't expect A'He to bring it to me."
Shen Fenghuo looked left and right, avoiding Lu Jin's gaze. "Oh, it was nothing, just a small favor."
Lu Jin nodded and continued enjoying the hot drink.
Only then did Shen Fenghuo slowly let her gaze return to him. He ate with focus, but his complexion did appear somewhat pale.
At first glance, she couldn't detect any signs of injury.
Hesitating for a moment, she finally asked, "Young Minister Lu, are you injured? I heard from the officers earlier that…"
Lu Jin's hand holding the hot drink gradually stilled. He lifted his eyes to look at her, his gaze deep and penetrating. "From last night?"
Shen Fenghuo was momentarily stunned before understanding dawned on her. "It doesn't hurt anymore."
Lu Jin's brow furrowed slightly.
He had no clear knowledge of the specifics of what happened last night. He had only gleaned fragments from the case notes Lu Heng left on paper, catching phrases like "she was injured," along with nearly five hundred words of scathing criticism directed at him.
Lu Heng had berated him, suggesting he might as well resign as Chief Minister of the Court of Judicial Review.
Apart from occasions when he needed to go out at night to investigate cases, Lu Heng usually couldn't be bothered to leave him such lengthy messages.
Nor would he go to the palace to seek out the Empress.
When Lu Jin regained consciousness, he found himself kneeling outside the main hall.
Lu Jin set down the spoon and stood up. "Then, let me take a look."
Seeing her remain motionless, he said nothing more. He walked a few steps and reached out to close the door.
"Come behind the screen."
Shen Fenghuo followed him behind the screen. The light there was slightly dimmer than outside, adding an inexplicable sense of unease to her heart.
"Where?"
Lu Jin turned sideways to look at her.
Shen Fenghuo muttered softly, "Young Minister Lu, don't you already know?"
"Hmm…"
Lu Jin drew out his tone slightly, guessing, "If it's your arm, lift it yourself."
Shen Fenghuo didn't move, forcing an awkward smile. "Young Minister Lu, in broad daylight, this isn't appropriate."
Lu Jin lowered his gaze to look at her.
It felt like an interrogation again.
A moment of silence passed.
Shen Fenghuo took a deep breath and sat down on the nearby soft couch, lifting her left arm.
He was the knife; she was the fish on the chopping block.
She finally understood why, after only a few months in his position at the Dali Temple, Lu Jin had been able to resolve so many cases.
If a criminal were to meet his gaze, they would probably fear they hadn't confessed enough.
Outwardly, he appeared gentle and refined.
But… after these days of interaction, she knew he was not what he seemed.
Lu Jin also sat down on the soft couch. Reaching out, he slowly pushed up her sleeve.
On the exposed part of her arm, the red marks from the fire had not completely faded, leaving faint pinkish-red traces.
Lu Jin's gaze fixed on that spot, unwavering.
Shen Fenghuo felt utterly uncomfortable under his gaze, her eyes darting restlessly until they settled on the top of his bowed head, lost in a daze.
Old cases from years past, new cases emerging—so many trials to oversee.
Lu Jin’s hair remained thick and jet-black.
What tonic had he been taking?
“Did you bring the medicine?”
Shen Fenghuo snapped out of her admiration for his hair’s texture and hurriedly retrieved the small porcelain bottle from her bosom.
Lu Jin took the bottle, dipped his knuckles into the cool ointment, and applied it to her flushed skin.
His fingertips seemed warmed, while the ointment carried a slight chill. He gently massaged the reddened area in slow, deliberate circles, his movements unbearably unhurried.
The sensation was delicate yet distinct, like a feather lightly tickling her heart or warm water flowing through her limbs.
It felt even gentler than when he had applied the medicine the previous night.
Shen Fenghuo felt all the blood in her body rushing to her face, her entire being burning as if about to steam.
“A’He, are you hot?”
Lu Jin lifted his gaze to her, though the motion of his knuckles never ceased.
Shen Fenghuo shook her head. “No, not at all… I was just tending the fire in the Dali Temple Dining Hall earlier—it got quite warm. We prepared more hot beverages today.”
She chuckled awkwardly several times. “Can’t be helped—the Officers all love to drink them.”
“Oh, I see.”
Lu Jin responded, a faint smile curling at the corner of his lips.
After her reply, his movements grew even more leisurely. The ointment was spread evenly, its coolness dispelling some of the heat, yet making the delicate sensation on Shen Fenghuo’s skin all the more pronounced.
This moment felt far too prolonged.
Lu Jin had quite a lot of hair.
There seemed to be a tiny mole near Lu Jin’s eyelid.
Lu Jin’s nose bridge was so straight.
…
After what felt like an eternity, Shen Fenghuo finally waited for him to finish spreading the ointment evenly.
Lu Jin withdrew his hand and placed the porcelain bottle on the low table beside them.
Shen Fenghuo felt as if granted a reprieve, releasing a long-held breath. Her tense shoulders relaxed momentarily, and she was about to withdraw her arm.
Unexpectedly, Lu Jin suddenly leaned closer, bringing her arm nearer. His warm breath brushed against the skin of her arm.
Again? Again!
Shen Fenghuo’s pupils contracted sharply, and she exclaimed urgently, “Lord, don’t kiss it!”
Lu Jin’s movements halted, his gaze deepening as he looked at her. “Don’t kiss?”
Lu Heng… what exactly had he been doing at night?
Kiss.
Where had he kissed?
Did he have time to kiss before rushing to confront the Empress?
Lu Jin’s eyes suddenly grew profound, giving Shen Fenghuo an inexplicable sense of strangeness and unfamiliarity.
She quickly replied, “Actually, it doesn’t hurt at all anymore. It’s already healed. Thank you, Young Minister Lu—”
Before she could finish, Lu Jin suddenly switched hands. He picked up a piece of apricot-colored soft cake and unceremoniously stuffed it into her mouth.
The sweet, cloying red bean paste melted on her tongue, instantly silencing her unfinished words.
Shen Fenghuo stared wide-eyed, holding the cake in her mouth along with…
As the soft cake entered her mouth, she instinctively closed her lips, her warm, soft lips exactly wrapping around his knuckle.
Damp, warm, and delicate.
“I’ve said before, when others aren’t around, there’s no need to call me Young Minister Lu. And don’t speak of what happened at night.”
He lowered his gaze to her, his Adam’s apple bobbing slightly. “This is… a reward for applying the medicine.”
Meeting her gaze, Lu Jin applied a bit more pressure, inexplicably pushing his finger a little deeper into her mouth.
Shen Fenghuo sprang up, the couch chair creaking in protest. Flustered, she spat out his knuckle.
What was he doing!
Who eats cake like this!
Lu Jin watched her flustered, almost steaming appearance and withdrew his hand, saying, "This was bestowed by the Empress."
His wife.
She seemed about to be thoroughly cooked.
Shen Fenghuo let out an "oh" and flew out from behind the screen.
"It was specially bestowed by the Empress for you to eat."
Lu Jin also stood up, reaching over to pick up a small food box from beside the desk. "There are also some pastries. They taste excellent, and I thought you might like them. Take them home after your duties and enjoy them slowly."
Shen Fenghuo nodded vigorously.
She replied softly, "Thank you, Lord, and thank you for the Empress's grace."
The delicate sweetness of the pastries still lingered on her tongue, but Shen Fenghuo felt increasingly uncomfortable under Lu Jin's gaze.
His attention was too focused.
Different from how he looked at her at night.
Under such a gaze, she couldn't help but suddenly ask, "Lord, have we… met before?"
The fragrance of plum blossoms drifted subtly.
The red plum branch in the porcelain vase on the desk was freshly cut, half shy, half resilient.
Lu Jin fell silent for a moment before letting out a low chuckle, his tone gentle. "How could that be?"
In the midst of their silent exchange, a faint sound came from the window—a soft creak as it was quietly pushed open, letting in a chill.
Lu Jin glanced at the gap and said sternly, "No entering through the window."
As soon as he finished speaking, a soft exclamation came from outside the window, followed by a dull thud as Ming Yi fell from the windowsill.
Rubbing his arm, he muttered, "The door is closed. If I don't use the window, should I break down the door?"
"It's not locked."
Ming Yi quickly got up and pushed the door open. As soon as he stepped inside, he encountered Shen Fenghuo, her face flushed red.
What kind of look was that?
Seeing him rubbing his arm, Lu Jin said, "You're also a Sizhi. Next time, learn from Sizhi Zhou—use the main entrance, and stop climbing walls. This isn't the Lu Residence."
He paused briefly before adding, "And even the Lu Residence isn't allowed anymore."
Shen Fenghuo was so embarrassed she didn't know where to put her hands and feet, so she could only give him an awkward wave. "Sizhi Ming, would you… like a bowl of hot drink?"
"I'll have some later."
Shen Fenghuo packed up the food box, ready to make her escape.
"Don't leave yet."
Lu Jin called out, "I actually wanted to speak with you about something."
Shen Fenghuo replied, "What is it?"
Ming Yi cleared his throat, bowed his head, and cupped his hands. "Young Minister Lu, the physician to examine you has arrived and is waiting outside."
"Then invite him in."
A moment later, a hunched figure cautiously peeked inside—it was Lu Weng from "Lü's Clinic" in Yong'an Fang.
He appeared to be in his sixties, his beard and hair already tinged with frost.
Perhaps it was his first time stepping into the Shaoqing Office of the Dali Temple. His eyes were filled with restraint, yet also a mix of apprehension and honor at being summoned by someone of high status. As he entered, he carefully straightened his collar, afraid of being impolite.
Lu Weng looked up and saw Lu Jin seated at the desk. As Sizhi Zhou had mentioned, his complexion indeed carried a pallor, with a faint weariness lingering between his brows. Lu Weng hurriedly bowed and approached.
His gaze swept past Shen Fenghuo standing nearby, pausing briefly but not lingering. He then bowed deeply to Lu Jin and said respectfully, "This humble commoner, Lu Weng, greets Young Minister Lu."
"Rise."
Lu Weng quickly complied, standing with his hands lowered and his body slightly bowed before the desk. He dared not look directly at Lu Jin, instead slowly observing his complexion.
His face was pale and tinged with gloom, his brow slightly furrowed, as if burdened by a lingering illness.
He steadied his mind and respectfully inquired, "May I ask where Young Minister Lu feels unwell? Is it dizziness in the head and eyes, a stifling sensation in the chest and abdomen, or soreness and swelling in the limbs?"
Lu Jin raised his eyes, looking down at him with a disdainful gaze.
The intensity of this stare was too intimidating. Lu Weng’s heart tightened, and he instinctively shrank his neck.
"This official has recently often felt a stabbing pain and tightness in the chest, especially severe at night, occasionally accompanied by numbness in the limbs. The pulse is deep and sluggish."
Lu Jin described the symptoms clearly and said calmly, "Now tell me, how should it be treated?"
Lu Weng dared not be negligent and quickly clasped his hands in reply, "In response to Young Minister Lu, based on your description, this may be due to blood stasis obstructing the meridians and poor qi circulation. The focus should be on unblocking the meridians and activating the collaterals. First, you can use a combination of Chinese angelica and safflower, decocted in wine for oral administration, to regulate the flow of qi and blood in daily life. If the chest tightness is severe, a small amount of musk can be ground into powder and taken with water. However, this herb is precious, and the dosage must be precise; it should not be taken in excess."
"Aside from these, is there a faster method?"
Lu Weng stole a glance at Lu Jin’s expression and, seeing no displeasure, mustered the courage to continue, "If Young Minister Lu does not mind a slightly unconventional method, leeches can also be used as an auxiliary treatment. Leeches stir-fried with talcum powder should be used to remove their toxicity, then ground into fine powder with pseudoginseng and earthworms for oral administration. This medicine has a strong blood-breaking effect and can directly attack the areas of stasis, yielding faster results. However, the dosage must be strictly controlled—no more than one qian per day, and it must be taken on an empty stomach."
Seeing that Lu Jin remained silent, Lu Weng hurriedly added, "But leeches have a potent medicinal nature. Only with Young Minister Lu’s approval would this humble commoner dare to prepare the formula, not daring to be the slightest bit careless."
The Shaoqing Office fell into a brief silence. Lu Weng received no response, and sweat began to bead on his forehead.
Lu Jin raised an eyebrow and said dismissively, "Oh? Leeches as medicine? Can those filthy creatures crawling in muddy fields truly be useful, and even cure this official’s chest tightness?"
With a response at last, Lu Weng immediately straightened his chest, pride evident on his face.
"Young Minister Lu jests. For chest tightness and stabbing pain caused by blood stasis, leeches are precisely the right remedy. The leeches collected by this humble commoner’s clinic are all large ones gathered by herb gatherers from deep marshes or caught by farmers along irrigation channels. Each is as long as a thumb, plump and full of medicinal potency. No other clinic in Chang’an has such high-quality leeches in stock!"
Lu Jin did not reply.
Ming Yi stepped aside, and two clerks behind him carried in a dark, heavy object.
It was a fake cat pelt, its black fur glossy and smooth. At first glance, it looked as if a giant cat were crouching on the ground.
Lu Jin turned to Shen Fenghuo beside him. "A’He’s memory has always been excellent, and her sense of smell is even more acute, isn’t that right?"
Shen Fenghuo nodded in agreement. "That is so."
Lord, how did you know?
Lu Jin looked up and motioned for her to come closer. "Then come over and smell what scent is on this fur."
Shen Fenghuo complied, walking forward and bending down to approach the fake cat pelt.
She leaned over to smell the outer layer of black fur. Amid the tanning odor of the pelt, there was a faint, elegant fragrance, very familiar. She then reached out to part the fluffy fur around the neck and probed deeper inside, where the fragrance grew stronger.
"It’s the scent of incense."
She straightened up and looked at Lu Jin. "It’s exactly the same as what I smelled last night at Yichun Villa."
Lu Jin followed up, "This incense is unique to Ximing Temple. Ximing Temple was specially built by His Majesty and the Empress for the Crown Prince. All the incense in the temple is imperial-made. In addition to premium sandalwood, it is blended with poria, fragrant solomonseal, and honey. It is said to soothe the mind, nourish the body, and pray for the Crown Prince's longevity and blessings, with the protection of immortals. Such a blend is certainly not found in ordinary places."
Shen Fenghuo frowned thoughtfully, "But if the giant cat took me past Ximing Temple in Yankang Ward and then broke into Yichun Villa, it's possible it picked up the scent along the way."
"Not necessarily."
Lu Jin shook his head, his gaze falling on the cat skin. "A'He, take another look inside."
Seeing Lu Jin's indication for her to examine closely, Shen Fenghuo simply crouched down, lifted the neck of the cat skin, and crawled inside.
The fur covering was lined with soft black cloth and supported by a bamboo frame, large enough to accommodate at least two people.
Ming Yi stood to the side, watching her actually crawl inside, his lips twitching repeatedly.
Shen Fenghuo felt around inside for a moment and soon found some fine powder near the chest area.
She emerged with the powder on her fingers. "Sir… Young Minister Lu, there's incense ash inside here, with the same scent. So, the fragrance on the outside wasn't actually picked up from the outside."
Lu Jin nodded and continued, "From this, we know that the person using this fake cat skin to cause trouble was already carrying this incense ash… Worshippers at Ximing Temple can only bow and pray. Each time incense is offered, it is placed on the altar by temple personnel."
Shen Fenghuo listened, still holding up the cat skin, sniffing left and right.
Her sniffing suddenly drew a low chuckle from Lu Jin.
Lu Weng, already sweating profusely at the sight of the giant cat skin and the conversation between the two, felt his scalp tingle upon hearing Lu Jin's laughter.
"Even if leeches are effective as medicine, I imagine it would be a slow, gradual treatment. This official investigates cases day and night, without such leisure to wait slowly."
Lu Jin shifted the topic, his gaze sharpening instantly as he looked directly at Lu Weng, finally resuming their dialogue.
"This official has heard that in the past, the Queen Mother of the West passed down a health-preserving method to Emperor Wu of Han, which spoke of 'replacing blood in two years, replacing essence in three years.' It is said this method can invigorate the spirit. If practiced by the elderly, it can restore youth; if practiced by the chronically ill, it can restore health. Lu Weng, with your years of medical practice, do you know if this is true?"
Lu Weng trembled all over at Lu Jin's words, beads of cold sweat breaking out on his forehead. He hastily raised his sleeve to wipe it away.
He stammered, "This humble subject dare not deceive Assistant Minister… That 'blood replacement' theory is nothing but a baseless rumor among the people, utterly absurd. Leeches used in medicine are at most the size of a palm. How could they possibly replace human blood…"
As he spoke, Lu Weng frantically wiped away sweat. The back of his robe was damp with cold sweat, his legs shaking so badly he could barely stand.
He repeatedly bowed, "Assistant Minister, please see clearly, those are nothing but empty words of Daoist immortality cultivation, not to be taken seriously, not to be taken seriously at all!"
"What are you afraid of?"
The smile faded from Lu Jin's lips as he looked up at Lu Weng. "Thumb-sized ones naturally won't do."
His gaze fell on Lu Weng like a blade, each word deliberate. "What if this official wants… ones the size of an arm?"
Lu Weng instantly turned as pale as paper.
With a "whoosh," Shen Fenghuo emerged from the giant cat skin, stood up beside it, and watched Lu Jin.
He still had that gentle, jade-like appearance, sitting there casually, yet one dared not look directly at him.
Moreover, does Lord suffer from palpitations?
Author's Note:
A'He: Is it done? I want to go back and cook.
Lu Jin: Where did you kiss? Which places did you kiss?
(Note: The stir-frying of leeches with talcum powder appears in Rihuazi's Materia Medica. Compendium of Materia Medica records earthworms and pseudoginseng being used together with leeches, which are slightly toxic. As for this prescription, don’t take it seriously—I made it up.
"Replace blood in two years, replace essence in three years" comes from the supernatural classic The Inner Biography of Emperor Wu of Han. It’s a legend, just a legend.