Chapter 110: Wu Niang’s Life Hangs by a Thread
Gu Jin Fan was a relatively well-known figure on Ninth Street. Firstly, she was from the Duke of Xin State’s Mansion and was one of the first to join the Medical Affairs Department when others didn’t prioritize it.
Secondly, she became an apprentice to one of the most skilled pharmacists in the Medical Affairs Department, Pharmacist Tong, and possessed exceptional alchemy talent. While many experienced pharmacists could only refine Mortal Pills, she could already refine Elixirs.
Thirdly, the Duke of Xin State’s Mansion had been developing at an astonishing pace recently. Not long ago, they had reaped significant rewards from the Kunlun Mountain Ruins, and it was rumored that the Duke of Xin State’s Mansion even possessed its own Secret Realm.
For these reasons, Gu Jin Fan had always been a figure of attention in the Medical Affairs Department. Seeing her so agitated towards a Female Laborer now, everyone was very curious about the Female Laborer’s background.
Feeling the gazes of everyone, Hua Changxi frowned and glanced at the bearded Zhu Yu among the laborers. It was this person who had called out to her loudly just now.
Seeing her look over, Zhu Yu gave an awkward smile, his expression somewhat apologetic.
Hua Changxi withdrew her gaze and saw Gu Jin Fan still looking at her. She couldn’t help but ask, “Seventh Daughter Gu, is there anything else?”
Gu Jin Fan approached Hua Changxi and whispered, “You obtained the Cultivation Method from the Vermilion Bird Transmission Stone, didn’t you?”
Hua Changxi’s eyes flickered. So, the red stone she had thrown into the lava was the Vermilion Bird Transmission Stone.
Transmission Stone.
No wonder she had obtained the Vermilion Bird Breathing and Exhalation Cultivation Method upon touching the red stone; that was the reason.
Seeing Hua Changxi not respond, Gu Jin Fan, wanting to confirm her guess, gathered Spiritual Power in her hand and suddenly attacked Hua Changxi.
Hua Changxi hadn’t expected Gu Jin Fan to suddenly attack her. She formed her fingers into a claw and grabbed Gu Jin Fan’s wrist, her gaze chilling, “Seventh Daughter Gu, what do you mean by this?”
Gu Jin Fan looked at Hua Changxi, who was firmly holding her, and was shocked. Hua Changxi had so easily blocked her attack.
“Your luck is truly very good.”
The Vermilion Bird Divine Art is the most powerful Fire Element Cultivation Method in the Four Spirit Realm. She had coveted it for two lifetimes without obtaining it, yet Hua Changxi got it so easily.
No matter how unwilling Gu Jin Fan was, she could do nothing. Having lived another life, she knew more than others, but she couldn’t control every event.
“A high starting point doesn’t mean you can go far. Hua Changxi, I hope you don’t disgrace that Cultivation Method.”
Gu Jin Fan withdrew her Spiritual Power, retracted her hand, and then left directly.
Hua Changxi watched her retreating figure, feeling displeased.
From the moment she appeared, this person acted like a judge, as if her very existence needed her approval.
The Cultivation Method from the Vermilion Bird Transmission Stone was obtained by chance, but she had almost paid with her life. What did disgracing it or not have to do with her!
She had caused a stir and left decisively, leaving Hua Changxi to face the scrutiny and probing looks of the surrounding people.
She hated dealing with troublesome people like this the most!
Fortunately, the Department Head had come down from upstairs.
The gazes of the crowd finally shifted from Hua Changxi to the Department Head.
“I’ve called you all here today to ask who took the Wooden Token from the Old Plaza Courtyard. Those who took it must register with me.”
The Department Head hadn’t expected so many people to have visited the Old Courtyard, including quite a few Children of the powerful and influential, and even members of the Royal Family. Using force to interrogate them was impossible, so he decided to be direct and ask.
“Don’t worry, I won’t confiscate the Wooden Tokens. It’s just for registration, to facilitate future management of the Medical Affairs Department.”
Seeing that no one stepped forward to admit they had taken a Wooden Token, the Department Head thought for a moment and increased his efforts, “The Medical Affairs Department is about to undergo reorganization. Those who possess a Wooden Token can be prioritized for job assignments.”
“Positions like Street Master of Ninth Street can only be held by those who possess a Wooden Token.”
As soon as these words were spoken, the crowd finally reacted, murmuring amongst themselves.
Hua Changxi’s eyes flickered. It seemed the Department Head was determined to find the person who took the Wooden Token, as he was directly promising positions.
Seeing that although the crowd was discussing heatedly, no one had come forward, the Department Head said again, “If you don’t register now, it will be too late to produce your Wooden Token once I’ve assigned all the positions.
There was silence in the hall.
Seeing this, the Department Head chuckled, “The Wooden Token is merely a token of identity. Feel free to hide it.” With that, he prepared to leave with Yuan Tianchou and Mu Qingying.
“Department Head!”
At this moment, someone stepped forward.
From the crowd gathered at the Disciple Hall, a young man in his twenties walked out holding a Wooden Token. He approached the Department Head, bowed, and said, “Greetings, Department Head. I am disciple Shen Qianfan, and I was fortunate enough to obtain a Wooden Token.”
The Department Head smiled with satisfaction at Shen Qianfan, looked at the Wooden Token in his hand, and instructed Yuan Tianchou behind him to register it. “Is there anyone else who wishes to come forward and register?”
“Department Head, I also have a Wooden Token.”
Hua Changxi walked over, holding the tenth Wooden Token without a Sword Pattern.
Gu Qiming saw Hua Changxi step forward, his eyes showing no surprise. He had thoroughly investigated and knew it was this girl who had pushed open the Old Courtyard gate.
He was very curious how she had managed to open the courtyard gate.
“I heard you were Lecturing in the Courtyard behind the Labor Department?”
“Yes, Department Head.”
“Why do you want to Lecture to the Laborers?”
“Because I am their Steward. When the Laborers wash and process Medicinal Herbs, they often get injured. I teach them about the properties of Medicinal Herbs and methods for washing and processing them, so they can get injured less and work better for the Medical Affairs Department.”
“It seems you are very confident in your Medical Skills. You know, the Physicians and Pharmacists of Ninth Street dare not casually Lecture to others. I am curious, you haven’t reached your coming-of-age ceremony yet, where did you learn all these Medical Skills?”
“My family runs an Apothecary Shop, and I have a photographic memory since childhood. I can remember any Medical Book I’ve read after seeing it once. After entering the Medical Affairs Department and coming into contact with so many Medicinal Herbs, I’ve learned even more. This knowledge is entirely sufficient to guide the Laborers.”
“Department Head, am I not allowed to Lecture to the Laborers?”
Gu Qiming looked at Hua Changxi, who was responding with ease and even questioning him back, his eyes flickering uncertainly. “No, you can Lecture freely. When I have time, I will also come to listen to your lecture.”
“If your lectures are good, I will have the Physicians and Pharmacists of Ninth Street all come to listen to you.”
Hua Changxi showed delight. “Does the Department Head think so highly of me? Then I must work hard and not disappoint the Department Head’s expectations.”
Gu Qiming: “…”
Yuan Tianchou and Mu Qingying, standing behind him, looked at Hua Changxi, who was seizing the opportunity, with admiration. They thought, she truly lives up to her reputation as a formidable person who dared to contend with the Imperial Guards!
The others present also had varied expressions. A mere Laborer dared to aspire to Lecture to the Physicians and Pharmacists of Ninth Street; how audacious!
Seeing that he couldn’t suppress Hua Changxi’s arrogance, Gu Qiming intended to press further when someone else stepped forward.
A Young Woman, about seventeen or eighteen years old, walked out from the Apprentice Hall’s group.
“Greetings, Department Head. I am apprentice Zhu Qinghuan, and I was also fortunate enough to obtain a Wooden Token.”
Gu Qiming sized up Zhu Qinghuan, then looked at the Wooden Token in her hand, and then looked at Hua Changxi and Shen Qianfan.
The Labor Department, Apprentice Hall, and Disciple Hall all had people who obtained Wooden Tokens; this was something he hadn’t expected.
Before this, he hadn’t paid much attention to these three places. His focus had been more on Ninth Street. He hadn’t expected that this investigation into the Wooden Tokens would see these three places come forward first.
It made sense. The Pharmacists and Physicians of Ninth Street either had powerful backing or their own influence. Even if they obtained a Wooden Token, they wouldn’t expose it so readily.
Including the three people who stepped forward today, Shen Qianfan, Hua Changxi, and Zhu Qinghuan, he now knew the owners of nine Wooden Tokens. As for the remaining nine Wooden Token owners…
Gu Qiming’s gaze fell upon the gathering crowd of Ninth Street. The other nine Wooden Tokens were most likely in their hands.
However, these people were confident and wouldn’t be as easily swayed as Shen Qianfan and the other two. A little bait might not be enough to hook them.
Sigh, this is troublesome.
To find out who took the other nine Wooden Tokens, he feared he would have to put in a great deal of effort.
Knowing that no one else would come forward to admit taking a Wooden Token, Gu Qiming publicly praised Shen Qianfan and the other two, promising to arrange positions for them in the future, and then dismissed the crowd.
Everyone returned to their respective homes. As they dispersed, people from Ninth Street and the Disciple Hall walked in twos and threes, while those from the Apprentice Hall and Labor Department moved as a unified group, with few leaving the formation.
The Apprentice Hall lacked a clear leader, so they naturally stuck together. However, the people from the Labor Department all followed Hua Changxi.
Gu Qiming narrowed his eyes as he watched this scene.
He might have underestimated Hua Changxi’s influence in the Labor Department through her lectures. Although only about twenty laborers had come today, judging by their spontaneous following of Hua Changxi’s lead, the laborers of the Labor Department clearly regarded her as their backbone.
“This girl is not simple!”
Gu Qiming returned to his office with Yuan Tianchou and Mu Qingying and immediately gave instructions: “Go immediately and thoroughly investigate the circumstances of Shen Qianfan, Hua Changxi, and Zhu Qinghuan. Not only investigate their family backgrounds but also all their connections within the Medical Affairs Department.”
Similar to Gu Qiming, Gu Jin Fan was also instructing her subordinates to investigate Hua Changxi: “I want to know everything that has happened to Hua Changxi since she entered the Medical Affairs Department, not a single detail should be missed.”
The person who should have died is still alive. Hua Changxi is a variable, and she must know everything about her.
By the time she returned from First Street, the morning lecture time had passed. Hua Changxi called twenty laborers with alchemy talent to Number Six Qihuang Hall to teach them how to refine Mortal Pills.
These were the candidates she planned to assign to the branch of Shennong Apothecary Shop for alchemy.
After these twenty began their practice, she entered a side room and set up an Isolation Array to begin refining Elixirs.
Just as she had refined five furnaces of Elixirs, Yu Hui’s voice echoed from the courtyard: “Sister Changxi, someone is looking for you.”
Hua Changxi stopped refining and walked out of the room. “Who is looking for me?”
Yu Hui pulled Hua Changxi aside and whispered, “It’s people from the Disciple Hall. They said they are from the Marquis Wu Yi’s Mansion.”
“Marquis Wu Yi’s Mansion?”
Isn’t that Fifth Sister’s in-laws?
Hua Changxi quickly asked, “Where are they?”
Yu Hui: “I didn’t dare bring them to Qihuang Hall. I’ve asked them to wait by the Storeroom.”
Upon hearing this, Hua Changxi hurried to the Storeroom with Yu Hui and soon saw two Young Women not much older than herself. She had met one of them before – the Young Woman who had smiled at her in the plaza when the Heavenly Department Minister visited the Medical Affairs Department.
“Who are you?”
He Sirong and He Siqi first bowed to Hua Changxi as equals, then introduced themselves: “I am the Second Daughter of Marquis Wu Yi’s Mansion, He Sirong, and this is my Fourth Sister, He Siqi.”
Hua Changxi returned the bow. “Are you looking for me because something has happened to my Fifth Sister?”
He Sirong didn’t beat around the bush and got straight to the point: “Concubine Hua fell yesterday and had a premature birth.”
Hua Changxi’s expression changed. “Is my Fifth Sister alright?”
He Sirong shook her head. “When we came to the Medical Affairs Department this morning, Concubine Hua had not yet given birth.”
In other words, Hua Wuniang had been in labor all night and still hadn’t given birth.
Hua Changxi realized Hua Wuniang was in critical condition and turned to leave. After a few steps, she looked back at the He Family Sisters. “Thank you for coming to tell me about Fifth Sister.”
With that, she ran off.
Watching Hua Changxi’s receding figure, He Siqi looked at He Sirong with some worry. “Second Sister, is it appropriate for us to interfere in Third Uncle’s concubine’s affairs?”
He Sirong: “Didn’t Third Uncle instruct us to interact more with Hua Changxi? If we interact more, how can we not mention Concubine Hua.”
He Siqi thought of the gentle and forbearing Concubine Hua and sighed. “I wonder if Concubine Hua can give birth safely?”
He Sirong’s eyes flickered. “The child in Concubine Hua’s belly is an heir that Third Uncle has long awaited. No matter how displeased Third Madam is, she will allow the child to be born. As for Concubine Hua, it depends on whether Hua Changxi can rush back in time.”
In Marquis Wu Yi’s Mansion, in a small courtyard behind the main courtyard of the third branch, basins of bloody water were constantly being carried out from the East Wing Room. Maids and servants bustled in and out in a frenzy.
Other women in labor would cry out in pain, but at this moment, not a sound could be heard from the birthing woman in the East Wing Room.
Third Master He sat in the courtyard with a grim expression, his eyes fixed on the East Wing Room.
Beside him sat Third Madam He, silent.
“Third Master, Concubine Hua has no strength left. Should we save the mother or the child?”
A midwife, her hands covered in blood, ran out and looked at Third Master He anxiously.
Third Master He pursed his lips, his expression a mixture of hesitation and struggle.
Third Madam He looked at him. “Third Master, if you don’t make a decision soon, both Concubine Hua and the child will be lost.”
Third Master He looked at Third Madam He and gritted his teeth. “Save the child.”
The midwife said, “Yes,” and was about to enter the room when she saw someone descending from the sky on clouds, blocking her path.
Hua Changxi heard Third Master He’s words, “Save the child,” and gave him a cold glance before quickly turning and entering the East Wing Room.
“Who are you? Get out!”
Someone in the room screamed loudly.
Then, Third Master He and Third Madam He in the courtyard felt an invisible force emanate from the East Wing Room. The next moment, all the maids and servants attending the birth in the room were ‘flung’ out and fell to the ground with thuds, all unconscious.
Seeing this, everyone was terrified.
Even Third Master He was shaken by the look Hua Changxi gave him. Although Hua Changxi said nothing, he understood her gaze: if Concubine Hua met with misfortune, someone would pay with their life.
“Third Master…”
Hearing his wife’s trembling voice, Third Master He finally snapped out of his fear.
Third Madam He looked at him and questioned, “Third Master, did you notify the Hua family?”
Upon hearing this, Third Master He’s eyes suddenly lit up. He quickly walked out of the courtyard and instructed Steward Kong, who was waiting outside, to quickly notify the Hua family.
“Besides the Hua family, the Dingyuan Earl’s Mansion and Hua Tai’s household must also be notified. Hurry.”
Steward Kong had also seen Hua Changxi arrive on clouds. Knowing how difficult this young lady was to deal with, he knew that if Concubine Hua died, this young lady would likely cause a huge scene. He hurried to notify the families.
