The guild messenger arrived at the clinic just after noon. His dark blue coat bore the district seal, and the notice in his hand carried Qinghe’s license number beneath a line forbidding registered suppliers from selling to the refuge until the district office reviewed its medicine practices.
“I’m Ruan,” he said. “I was told to deliver this directly to Lu Qinghe.”
“I’m here,” Qinghe replied. She took the paper, read it once, and looked at the clause requiring her to stop experiments and return all samples. “The notice applies to the whole refuge?”
“Until the review is complete.”
She scanned the lower lines. “My license is still listed as active.”
“Guild records say you remain registered. You can restore access by ceasing the experiments and returning the samples under guild custody.”
“The sample on our sealed bench belongs to the clinic study. It is not guild property. I will not hand it over without an independent review.” She set the notice on the records table and opened the clinic ledger. “I’ll write the reason for my refusal here. Include it in your report.”
Ruan folded his hands. “The report will say you declined.”
