Chapter 146: The Royal Family Takes Over the Medical Affairs Department
On October 16th, Hua Changxi arrived at the Medical Affairs Department early. Two months later, stepping into the Labor Department again, she immediately noticed something was amiss; there were many unfamiliar faces in the Labor Department.
“Steward Hua, you’ve finally arrived.”
Zhou Qiuyu saw Hua Changxi and quickly ran over.
Hua Changxi led her to her courtyard before asking, “Did something happen in the Labor Department?”
Zhou Qiuyu nodded, “A month ago, the Emperor issued an imperial decree for Prince Shou to take over the Medical Affairs Department.”
Upon hearing this, Hua Changxi’s expression showed surprise, “Where is the Department Head?”
Zhou Qiuyu: “The Department Head’s position remains unchanged, but he has transitioned from being the primary decision-maker of the Medical Affairs Department to an official assisting Prince Shou.”
“As soon as Prince Shou arrived, he replaced people everywhere. The person now in charge of the Labor Department is no longer Eunuch Jia and his group, but someone appointed by Prince Shou. Even the people in the storeroom have all been replaced.”
Hua Changxi frowned as she listened, “What about Eunuch Jia and the others?”
Zhou Qiuyu: “Eunuch Jia and the others pulled some strings. Although they are still in the Labor Department, they are now just ordinary laborers.”
“The Qihuang Hall has also been taken over by Prince Shou’s people. We can no longer enter or exit freely. Fortunately, Eunuch Jia was well-informed and received the news in advance, storing away the body refining equipment in Qihuang Hall Number Eight. Otherwise, Eunuch Jia and the others might have been taken away for questioning.”
As she spoke, her face showed worry.
Seeing this, Hua Changxi said directly, “Just say what you need to say.”
Zhou Qiuyu: “I also heard Eunuch Jia and the others say that before long, all the laborers in the Labor Department will be dismissed. At that time, we won’t be able to stay in the Labor Department anymore.”
Hua Changxi fell silent. After thinking for a moment, she asked, “How are your alchemy studies, and those of Wang Yun Chu and the others?”
Zhou Qiuyu humbly replied, “We’re not very good, but we can refine finished elixirs.”
Hua Changxi looked at her, “If I were to ask you to leave the Labor Department now and work at the apothecary shops under my name, would you be willing?”
The Royal Family was involved in the management of the Medical Affairs Department, and she had lost her wooden token. It was now difficult for her to even establish a foothold in the Medical Affairs Department, let alone protect others.
Zhou Qiuyu nodded after hearing this, “We will all listen to Steward Hua.”
Hua Changxi: “Go and tell Wang Yun Chu and the others. If they are willing to work at the apothecary shops, they should proactively resign from their positions in the Labor Department and then find Yu Hui. He will make arrangements for them.”
Managing ten apothecary shops was not an easy task. As early as last year, Yu Hui had already resigned from his position in the storeroom to focus on helping Hua Changxi manage the apothecary shops.
Zhou Qiuyu nodded in agreement.
Afterward, Hua Changxi inquired about Mu Qingying and Yuan Tianchou lecturing at the Qihuang Hall.
Zhou Qiuyu: “In August, they lectured almost every day. But in September, the number of their lectures began to decrease. By October, they lectured only once every ten days.”
Hua Changxi was somewhat surprised upon hearing this, “Why so few lectures?”
Zhou Qiuyu: “I heard some physicians and pharmacists from Ninth Street discussing in private that the content of their lectures was too repetitive, and they couldn’t come up with anything new. They had to spend a lot of time researching in advance before each lecture, which is why they reduced the number of lectures.”
Hua Changxi’s eyes flickered as she listened.
Indeed, lecturing at the Qihuang Hall required not only many students but also lecturers with deep accumulation and high attainments in medical skills. Mu Qingying even needed her guidance for first-rank mid-grade elixirs. When she taught others to refine elixirs, she couldn’t delve deeply into the subject.
As for Yuan Tianchou, his alchemy level and familiarity with spiritual plants were not as good as Mu Qingying’s.
It seemed her previous concern that Mu Qingying and Yuan Tianchou might condense the small three-dimensional sword on the wooden token and bind it to the Qihuang Hall was unnecessary.
At this moment, there was a knock on the courtyard gate.
Hua Changxi glanced over and saw it was Lin Sheng, so she asked Zhou Qiuyu to leave first.
“Master.”
Lin Sheng walked in respectfully, quickly observing Hua Changxi’s expression. Seeing that she was silent and merely looking at him, he shrewdly avoided mentioning the matter Eunuch Lin had instructed him to convey and instead spoke about the Imperial Guards.
“Captain Pang of the Imperial Guards said he knows Master. Some time ago, the Imperial Guards were handling a case, which resulted in many Imperial Guards being injured. Knowing Master’s superb medical skills, they wanted to invite Master to take a look.”
Hua Changxi realized, “The Imperial Guards came to the apothecary shop to find me for this matter?”
Lin Sheng nodded, “It should be. I heard that several Imperial Guards have died in these past few days.”
Hua Changxi: “I understand. You may go.”
Lin Sheng remained standing, looking as if he had something more to say.
Hua Changxi looked at him without speaking.
Finally, Lin Sheng couldn’t bear the pressure and said, “Master, my godfather has also looked for you several times recently, saying that he had an appointment with you to go to the Ghost Market together.”
Hua Changxi scoffed, “When did I make an appointment with your godfather? I had no idea about this. If I want to go to the Ghost Market, I set the time. Whether I go with your godfather or not is irrelevant to me.”
Lin Sheng was surprised by Hua Changxi’s attitude. His godfather was from the Eastern Depot. This was the first time he had seen someone show such disrespect to the Eastern Depot.
Hua Changxi grew impatient and said to Lin Sheng, “Alright, you may leave.”
Lin Sheng still didn’t move and said somewhat sheepishly, “Master, I have one more matter to report. I have already reached Perfection in the Skin Refining chapter. I would like to ask when I can practice the next chapter?”
Hua Changxi smiled upon hearing this, “What do you think?”
Lin Sheng pondered for a moment, “…If possible, I would like to start practicing the next chapter now.”
Hua Changxi looked at him and directly refused, “No, you cannot. As for why, figure it out yourself.”
Lin Sheng was anxious and wanted to show his loyalty, but seeing that Hua Changxi was unwilling to say more, he knew that further words would be meaningless. He could only bow and retreat.
Not long after Lin Sheng left, while Hua Changxi was contemplating the meaning of staying in the Medical Affairs Department, there was another knock on the courtyard door.
This time, it was Mu Qingying.
“Hua Changxi, Prince Shou wishes to see you.”
Hua Changxi’s expression was startled, “See me? What for?”
Mu Qingying thought she was afraid of meeting royalty and quickly said, “Don’t worry, it’s not just you. Prince Shou is summoning everyone who possesses a wooden token. My Senior Brother has already gone to notify the others. Come with me to First Street.”
Hua Changxi frowned upon hearing this, feeling that the summons from Prince Shou was not a good omen. However, she still followed Mu Qingying to the Medical Affairs Department Building, wanting to see what Prince Shou intended to do.
…
On First Street, in the assembly hall of the Medical Affairs Department Building, Hua Changxi saw Gu Jin Fan, Zhu Qinghuan, Shen Qianfan, and Yuan Tianchou.
“Prince Shou arrives.”
Amidst the eunuch’s announcement, a man in his late twenties or early thirties appeared, accompanied by the Seventh Prince Chu Junhao.
As Chu Junhao passed by Hua Changxi, he gave her a friendly smile.
“Why are there only so few people? Weren’t there eighteen wooden tokens?”
As soon as Prince Shou sat down, he scanned the people present with displeasure.
Department Head Gu Qiming replied with a smile, “Your Highness, these are the individuals confirmed to possess wooden tokens. The identities of the remaining people have not yet been ascertained.”
Prince Shou snorted upon hearing this, “The Heavenly Department Minister always praises you to Imperial Brother, saying you manage the Medical Affairs Department with merit. But in my eyes, he exaggerates. You can’t even ascertain the identities of over a dozen people. Department Head Gu, you have failed in your duty.”
Gu Qiming’s smile remained undiminished, “Your Highness’s reprimand is just. This subordinate will certainly correct it in the future.”
Prince Shou, hearing his response, did not continue further and turned his gaze to Hua Changxi and the others.
The moment Prince Shou looked over, Hua Changxi quickly lowered her eyes, concealing the disgust and revulsion in her eyes.
This Prince Shou exuded an unbearable stench that made her feel nauseous.
Hua Changxi quickly glanced at Mu Qingying and the others beside her with her peripheral vision. Seeing that their expressions towards Prince Shou were normal, she immediately realized that only she could smell Prince Shou’s foul odor and quickly adjusted her facial expression.
