Chapter 100: Equal Rights and Responsibilities
The day after obtaining the third wooden token, Hua Changxi began teaching the laborers under her at Number Two Qihuang Hall the tricks and methods for washing medicinal herbs.
The wooden token indeed glowed as Hua Changxi had imagined!
Hua Changxi was full of energy and lectured for three consecutive days, only to find that the white glow on the wooden token remained faint. It wasn’t until she accidentally answered a few questions about the preparation of medicinal herbs that the white glow suddenly intensified.
Number One Qihuang Hall taught content such as the types and properties of medicinal herbs; while Number Two Qihuang Hall taught the methods and techniques for preparing medicinal herbs.
Upon learning the content taught at Number Two Qihuang Hall, Hua Changxi was once again troubled.
The Third Department was primarily responsible for washing medicinal herbs. Teaching laborers the identification and washing methods of medicinal herbs could be considered an effort to improve their work efficiency. Now, teaching them about the preparation of medicinal herbs would likely make anyone suspicious.
Although Eunuch Jia and the other two politely handed over the Qihuang Halls, Hua Changxi noticed that after she took over the Qihuang Halls, several groups of people were secretly watching her.
At this point, if she actively did anything, it would surely make those in the shadows even more suspicious of her.
If she couldn’t be proactive, she would have to find other ways.
“Yun Chu, I see you seem very interested in the preparation of medicinal herbs? You asked several questions about this during class.”
“Steward Hua, am I delaying your lecture time? Then I won’t ask next time.”
“Don’t say that. I quite like you asking questions. In the future, if you have any doubts about preparing medicinal herbs, you can ask me during my lectures at Number Two Qihuang Hall.”
“Does it really not delay your time?”
“It doesn’t delay at all. Teachers like students who ask many questions.”
“Steward Hua, don’t laugh at me, but I just want to learn more. If I learn how to prepare medicinal herbs, when I get older and can no longer work in the Labor Department, I can open a small workshop at home and make a living by preparing medicinal herbs.”
“If you want to make a living from this, then ask more. I will teach you everything I know.”
“Really? Thank you, Steward Hua.”
“Steward Hua, do you know that the people in the Labor Department are very grateful to you? Although we washed medicinal herbs every day before, we knew very little about their medicinal efficacy and properties. If we left the Labor Department, we wouldn’t be able to make a living from it.”
“Now it’s better. You’ve taught us so much knowledge about medicinal herbs. Even if we can’t prescribe medicine like doctors in the future, whether we gather herbs to sell or find work at an apothecary shop, we will still have some means of livelihood.”
Hua Changxi looked at Wang Yun Chu’s face, which was shining with longing, and fell silent for a moment: “.I still have too little content to teach. I will continue to teach in the future.”
Most of the people working in the Labor Department came from poor backgrounds. Many cherished such opportunities to learn something real.
Therefore, in the subsequent lectures at Hall Number Two, with Wang Yun Chu’s active questioning, many people also voluntarily joined the study of medicinal herb preparation.
The laborers communicated and interacted privately. Laborers from other bureaus in the Third Department, influenced by the Fourth, Fifth, Sixth, and Seventh Bureaus, learned that Hua Changxi did not mind people from other bureaus attending her lectures. Consequently, some of them also began to take time to attend lectures at Number One Qihuang Hall and Number Two Qihuang Hall.
On April 20th, Hua Changxi stood before the stone pillar at the gate of Number Two Qihuang Hall, looking at the sword patterns marked on the pillar. A smile curved her lips as she shook off the several groups of people secretly following her and walked briskly back towards the Old Plaza Courtyard.
Half an hour later, under Gu Xing’s silent gaze, Hua Changxi took the fourth wooden token.
Confirming the content taught at Number Three Qihuang Hall took Hua Changxi a great deal of effort. After trying almost all the content of the alchemy inheritance, she finally realized that Number Three Qihuang Hall taught how to plant and cultivate medicinal herbs.
Upon learning that Hua Changxi had cultivated a medicinal garden at Number Three Qihuang Hall and was teaching the laborers how to cultivate and plant medicinal herbs, the several groups secretly monitoring her found it inexplicable and difficult to understand.
On April 28th, Eunuch Jia, Eunuch Zhou, and Eunuch Zhao summoned Eunuch Yu, and the four gathered together.
“Eunuch Yu, you were the first to interact with Hua Changxi. What exactly was her purpose in asking for the Qihuang Halls?”
“Hua Changxi said she wanted to lecture in the courtyard. I don’t know anything else.”
“Eunuch Jia, Hua Changxi was recruited by you and promoted by you. You even told us not to oppose her. What is her background?”
“All I can say is that she has a powerful backer. As long as she doesn’t infringe upon our interests, let her do whatever she wants.”
“Let her? What are you saying? The Labor Department is our territory. Are you all truly okay with a young woman like Hua Changxi stirring up trouble in our territory?”
“But what can you do? We can’t match her backer, nor can we defeat her in a fight. Besides letting her be, what else can we do?”
“Alright, alright. Hua Changxi’s matter is a small one. Let’s think more about ourselves. Do you know how fierce the competition is on First Street?”
Upon hearing this, Eunuch Jia and the other three fell silent.
Hua Changxi lecturing to the laborers in the Qihuang Halls was indeed not a significant matter. In fact, it didn’t affect their interests. Compared to the fierce competition among the apothecary shops on First Street, where they were practically fighting to the death, it was truly insignificant.
“First Street is a battlefield for nobles. Let them fight to their hearts’ content; it has nothing to do with us.”
“It may not be related now, but it doesn’t mean it won’t be in the future.”
“What do you mean?”
“Haven’t you noticed? Ever since those two lanterns on First Street were lit, the Medical Affairs Department has become different from before.”
“The air seems to have become fresher.”
“More than that. After a day of work, even if the tasks were easy, the body would be tired. But recently, have you felt tired?”
“You’re right, it’s true. I find that I feel more energetic staying in the Medical Affairs Department than at home.”
Eunuch Jia sighed heavily: “The benefits that we can all perceive, others are bound to perceive as well. After the competition on First Street concludes, I fear that other places will also become targets of contention.”
Eunuch Yu looked at the other three and hesitated before saying, “I heard a piece of gossip.”
Hearing this, Eunuch Jia and the other two looked at him. Eunuch Yu had connections to the Eastern Depot, which was responsible for handling secret matters for the Emperor, so his information was definitely more reliable than other channels: “What news?”
Eunuch Yu: “It was rumored before that the Medical Affairs Department was a Sacred Land in ancient times.” He then looked at Eunuch Zhou, “Eunuch Zhou, why did you try to seize the Old Plaza Courtyard before?”
Eunuch Zhou: “I don’t know anything. I was just following orders, and Hua Changxi disrupted it. The noble in the palace was very angry. If it weren’t for the lights on First Street being lit that night, which attracted the Heavenly Department Minister the next day, the noble would have definitely ordered me to deal with Hua Changxi.”
Hua Changxi is a Cultivator. How could he deal with her?
To be honest, he was quite grateful to the thief who broke into the Medical Affairs Department. Without him, he would have definitely had to confront Hua Changxi.
Eunuch Zhao frowned: “The Old Plaza Courtyard is being targeted. It’s only a matter of time before the higher-ups interfere with the Labor Department. At that time, will we still be able to remain in the Labor Department?”
Eunuch Jia suddenly said, “Let’s give Hua Changxi a push.”
Hearing this, the other three quickly looked at him.
Eunuch Jia: “If the Medical Affairs Department is truly a Sacred Land as Eunuch Yu mentioned, then Hua Changxi’s occupation of the Qihuang Halls is definitely not solely for the purpose of teaching laborers medicine. She must have other intentions.”
“Since we can’t figure out her intentions, let’s just join her. Whatever her purpose, if we become allies with her, we can at least get a share of the spoils, right?”
Hearing this, Eunuch Zhao was tempted. Eunuch Yu was already doing so. Only Eunuch Zhou hesitated.
He couldn’t help it, as he had clashed with Hua Changxi before.
Eunuch Yu saw through Eunuch Zhou’s concerns: “Hua Changxi, as a person, as long as you don’t completely offend her, there is room for maneuver in her actions.”
Eunuch Zhou had the least seniority in the Labor Department. He understood that Eunuch Jia and the other two were bringing him along simply to stabilize the situation. Regardless, the Labor Department was a whole, and it couldn’t be chaotic internally when outsiders were coveting it.
“Fine, I agree too. However, if Hua Changxi makes things difficult for me, can you speak up for me?”
As individuals who had climbed their way up from countless eunuchs, Eunuch Jia and the other three were decisive in their actions. After discussing it, they directly approached Hua Changxi.
“What? All the laborers in the Labor Department are to come and listen to my lectures?”
After learning what Eunuch Jia and the other three were there for, Hua Changxi, though overjoyed in her heart, feigned a look of difficulty on her face.
Eunuch Jia looked at her: “Changxi, the people from the First and Second Departments are just coming to eavesdrop. Just lecture them as you did for the Third Department before. It won’t delay your time.”
Eunuch Yu added: “The laborers from the storeroom also want to learn more. They will listen to whatever you teach.”
Hua Changxi looked at the four and smiled, asking, “Four esteemed eunuchs, you didn’t think highly of me lecturing in the Qihuang Halls before. Now your attitudes have changed so drastically, it makes me feel uncertain.”
Eunuch Jia and Eunuch Yu exchanged glances with the other two. They knew they had to speak some truth: “Changxi, we won’t hide it from you anymore. The Labor Department is likely to undergo a major overhaul.”
Hua Changxi’s expression indeed changed: “Why do you say that?”
Eunuch Jia: “Have you been paying attention to the events on First Street recently?”
Hua Changxi hadn’t really paid attention to this; her energy had been focused on unlocking the Qihuang Halls: “What happened on First Street?”
Eunuch Jia: “The nobles, in order to secure opportunities for their own Alchemists to refine pills on First Street, have employed all sorts of tactics, causing many incidents and resulting in many deaths.”
Hua Changxi looked surprised: “So intense?”
Eunuch Jia: “There are rumors that the Medical Affairs Department is a Sacred Land, and various factions are eyeing it. Once the competition on First Street concludes, our Labor Department will likely be drawn into the vortex of contention.”
“The Medical Affairs Department is a Sacred Land?”
Hearing this statement, Hua Changxi’s eyes flickered. Dan Sheng Hall, a Sacred Land for alchemy?
Seeing Hua Changxi remain silent, Eunuch Yu spoke up: “Changxi, if outsiders truly set their sights on the Labor Department, we must stand united.”
Hua Changxi was confused: “If the people above want to remove your positions, can you resist?”
Hearing this, the expressions of Eunuch Jia and the other three changed.
Eunuch Jia directly asked, “Changxi, if the people above ask you to leave the Labor Department, will you leave?”
Hua Changxi felt she had a higher opinion of these four eunuchs before her. Such keen crisis awareness, such strong survival instincts, such decisive action.
Her silence, in the eyes of Eunuch Jia and the other three, meant that she would not be threatened into leaving the Labor Department.
“We are all old members of the Labor Department and don’t want to be kicked out like dogs. The conflict hasn’t reached the Labor Department yet. We are willing to stand by your side and help you gain complete control of the Labor Department.”
Hua Changxi looked at the four and began to ponder.
With their help, unlocking the Qihuang Halls would indeed be much easier.
During this time, she often thought that someone had taken wooden tokens before her. If she could unlock the Qihuang Halls, others likely could too.
If someone were indeed targeting the Labor Department and intended to seize the Qihuang Halls by force, what could she do then?
Confront them with martial force?
But once a fight broke out, it would mean she was challenging the imperial authority of the Great Jin Dynasty, and the subsequent problems would be immense.
Therefore, it was best to quietly secure the Qihuang Halls first. If the wooden tokens were indeed the keys to entering and exiting the Qihuang Halls, she needed to gain control of all nine Qihuang Halls in the Labor Department first.
As long as she held the keys to the Qihuang Halls, even if the Royal Family intervened in the future, they wouldn’t be able to snatch them from her.
Unlocking the Qihuang Halls would take a certain amount of time. During this period, if Eunuch Jia and the other three helped her cover her tracks, it would buy her more time and also help her avoid being targeted by outsiders.
However, these four had others behind them. How could such people be used?
Hua Changxi: “Four esteemed eunuchs, your intentions today are beyond my expectations. I need to think carefully.”
Seeing that Hua Changxi did not immediately agree, Eunuch Jia and the other three exchanged glances and could only rise and leave.
As soon as they left, Hua Changxi flew to the Old Plaza Courtyard.
Seeing Hua Changxi arrive again, Gu Xing’s eyelids twitched. Seeing that she didn’t linger by the wall where the wooden tokens were hung, he breathed a sigh of relief.
This girl had taken four wooden tokens. Now there were only six left on the wall. If she took them all, what would other fated individuals have to take when they arrived?
“Old man, I just heard some news. They say this place is a Sacred Land. Is that true?”
Gu Xing was silent for a moment: “The original name of the Medical Affairs Department was Dan Sheng Hall. The central avenue of the Ninth Street is called Pilgrimage Road.”
Hua Changxi understood his meaning, her eyes sparkling: “In other words, this is a Sacred Land for alchemy.”
Gu Xing did not answer.
Hua Changxi continued to ask: “Are those who took the wooden tokens now bound to Dan Sheng Hall?”
Gu Xing remained silent, implicitly acknowledging it.
Hua Changxi asked again: “Now that I have the wooden tokens, if someone else, for example, the Department Head, wants to drive me away…”
Gu Xing interrupted her: “Only the Master of Dan Sheng Hall can strip away or expel someone who possesses a teaching token.”
Hua Changxi: “Who is the Master of Dan Sheng Hall?”
Hearing this question, Gu Xing was somewhat speechless: “This old man doesn’t know either. I am also waiting for the Master of Dan Sheng Hall to appear.”
Hua Changxi was silent for a moment: “Old man, what do you think of me?”
Gu Xing was stunned for a moment: “Not bad.”
Hua Changxi: “Can I become the Master of Dan Sheng Hall?”
Gu Xing was silent: “.The Master of Dan Sheng Hall is not someone I can choose.”
Hua Changxi: “Becoming the master of this Sacred Land must come with a price, right?”
Gu Xing answered very directly this time: “Of course.”
Hua Changxi: “What price?”
Gu Xing shook his head.
Hua Changxi: “Do you not know, or do you not want to say?”
Gu Xing: “Knowing some things in advance may not be good for you. It might affect your decisions.”
Hua Changxi touched her chin: “It seems this price is quite heavy.”
Gu Xing stopped talking and closed his eyes, appearing as if he no longer wanted to deal with Hua Changxi.
“Old man, sorry to have disturbed you. I’m leaving.”
Hearing the sound of footsteps receding, Gu Xing opened his eyes. Then, with a ‘swish,’ he stood up. The force was too great, and he pulled his back, causing him to tremble in pain.
Another wooden token was missing from the wall!
