Chapter 154: Choosing a Pavilion
Gu Xing lost his temper. Prince Shou was driven out of the Old Courtyard, so naturally, others found it inappropriate to continue staying in the Courtyard. Led by the Steward, they left the Courtyard.
The Steward directly led everyone towards Prince Shou. Upon reaching him, he even asked with concern, “Your Highness, are you alright?”
Prince Shou had likely been beaten severely, as he still couldn’t manage his expression. He glared fiercely at the Steward, “You knew Gu Xing’s Strength was formidable, yet you deliberately didn’t tell me. Were you trying to make a fool of me?”
Upon hearing this, the Steward immediately put on an exaggerated look of grievance. “Your Highness, you wrong this subordinate. Firstly, you never asked this subordinate about Gu Xing’s Strength. Secondly, as a Guard, you should have been able to guess that Gu Xing’s Strength is formidable.” If one doesn’t even know such common sense, they deserve to be beaten.
Hearing Gu Qiming’s words, Prince Shou became even angrier. He was angry that Gu Qiming wasn’t loyal enough to warn him about Gu Xing’s danger beforehand; he was even angrier that Gu Xing dared to openly attack him, a Prince.
He represented the Royal Family. Gu Xing attacking him was tantamount to disregarding the Royal Family.
Prince Shou cast a sinister glance at the Old Courtyard, his Killing Intent undisguised.
Seeing this, the Steward recalled the Heavenly Department Minister’s instructions to take good care of Gu Xing. He smiled and stepped forward, blocking Prince Shou’s view with his body, and changed the subject with a smile, “Your Highness, for the eighteen Qihuang Halls, those with Wooden Tokens choose first, and you can distribute the rest, how about that?”
Prince Shou looked coldly at the Steward and snorted, “In my entire life, besides Father Emperor and my two Imperial Brothers, no one has dared to pick before me.”
The Steward smiled and reminded him, “Your Highness, in the hands of the unworthy, the Qihuang Halls are just a few dilapidated Courtyards. There’s no difference who picks first. If you truly wish to pick first, then go ahead.”
Prince Shou didn’t actually want to pick first; he just didn’t want to act according to Gu Qiming’s wishes. Moreover, what he truly wanted to take over wasn’t the Medical Affairs Department, but the Dan Sheng Hall.
He also knew that to open the Dan Sheng Hall, the key might still lie with these individuals who held the Wooden Tokens.
If it weren’t for this reason, he would have punished them during the last summons due to their disrespect towards him.
Prince Shou looked at Mu Qingying, Yuan Tianchou, Gu Jin Fan, Shen Qianfan, Zhu Qinghuan, and Hua Changxi, “All of you, tell me, which Qihuang Hall do you wish to choose?”
Yuan Tianchou and Mu Qingying exchanged a glance, then both looked at Hua Changxi.
Seeing his two apprentices looking at Hua Changxi, Gu Qiming also smiled and looked over, “Hua Changxi, you choose first this time.”
Prince Shou glanced at Gu Qiming and did not object.
Seeing everyone looking at her, and then at Prince Shou and the Steward watching her, Hua Changxi didn’t refuse. “I choose Number Eighteen Qihuang Hall.”
Upon hearing this, Mu Qingying, Yuan Tianchou, Gu Jin Fan, Shen Qianfan, and Zhu Qinghuan were all somewhat surprised, looking at Hua Changxi thoughtfully.
Hua Changxi had previously been active in Qihuang Halls Number One to Number Nine in the Labor Department. She hadn’t gone to Qihuang Halls Number Ten to Number Eighteen in the Apprentice Hall, yet she chose Number Eighteen Qihuang Hall. Why?
Mu Qingying and Yuan Tianchou exchanged a glance, both guessing that Hua Changxi had seen through the trap of letting her choose first. No matter what she chose first, it would be snatched by Prince Shou or their own Master, so she was just picking randomly.
As expected, Prince Shou spoke, “Number Eighteen Qihuang Hall is not allowed. I have other uses for this Hall. Choose another one.”
Hua Changxi snorted inwardly and said, “Then I choose Number One Qihuang Hall.”
Hearing this, Gu Qiming looked at his two apprentices.
Yuan Tianchou and Mu Qingying showed helpless expressions. Hua Changxi was randomly picking Qihuang Halls, so trying to find out from her which Qihuang Hall would be beneficial to them was likely impossible.
The content taught in Qihuang Halls Number One to Number Six was already clear to the Steward. Number One Qihuang Hall taught Spiritual Plant knowledge, which was suitable for his apprentice Qingying, so he naturally intended to snatch it.
“Number One Qihuang Hall is also not allowed. Hua Changxi, please choose another one.”
Hua Changxi looked at the Steward, a hint of mockery on her lips. “How about letting others choose first? I’ll accept whatever Qihuang Hall is left. I’ll accept any Qihuang Hall I take over.”
Gu Qiming felt a bit awkward, rubbed his nose, and chuckled, “If you’re letting you choose first, then choose.”
Hua Changxi smiled, “Since that’s the case, then I choose Number Six Qihuang Hall.”
Gu Qiming coughed lightly again, “Um, Number Six Qihuang Hall is also not allowed.”
Hua Changxi looked at him, “Steward, you tell me which Qihuang Hall is acceptable, just assign me one, I won’t choose anymore.”
Gu Qiming also felt a bit embarrassed. Knowing he couldn’t find out anything from Hua Changxi, he decided to be direct and looked at Prince Shou, smiling:
“Your Highness, Number One and Number Six Qihuang Halls are more suitable for my two unworthy apprentices. Number Two and Number Three Qihuang Halls were chosen by myself and the Minister. Number Four Qihuang Hall was chosen by the Celestial Master’s Mansion.”
Prince Shou heard this and didn’t say much, directly stating, “Since that’s the case, then for the Labor Department, the remaining Number Five, Number Seven, Number Eight, and Number Nine Qihuang Halls will be taken over by Xiao Qi, Yu Yan, and the other two.”
Saying this, he looked at Gu Jin Fan, Shen Qianfan, Zhu Qinghuan, and Hua Changxi, “You four choose one from Number Ten to Number Seventeen Qihuang Halls.”
Gu Jin Fan was speechless at the actions of Prince Shou and the Steward. It would be better if they just assigned them directly. “Then I choose Number Ten Qihuang Hall.”
Shen Qianfan: “I’ll take Number Eleven.”
Zhu Qinghuan: “I’ll take Number Twelve.”
Hua Changxi: “Then I’ll take Number Thirteen.”
This time, no one tried to snatch the Qihuang Hall Hua Changxi chose. The remaining few Qihuang Halls were then distributed by Prince Shou to others.
After all eighteen Qihuang Halls had someone to take charge of them, Prince Shou directly stated, “The Qihuang Halls belong to the Medical Affairs Department. You are nowthe person incharge of the Qihuang Halls. From now on, you must submit thirty bottles of First Rank Elixir to me every month.”
As soon as he finished speaking, Shen Qianfan was the first to object, “Thirty bottles of First Rank Elixir? I don’t have that many Spiritual Medicines or Spiritual Plants. If that’s the case, I won’t be the Steward of the Qihuang Hall.”
Hua Changxi also agreed, “Me neither.”
Gu Qiming had been secretly observing Hua Changxi. During the selection of Qihuang Halls, she had always appeared indifferent. Now, she was directly giving up the Qihuang Hall, which made him unable to understand.
If the Qihuang Hall truly had any special significance, would Hua Changxi give it up so easily?
Zhu Qinghuan also spoke, “I also cannot produce that many Spiritual Medicines and Spiritual Plants.”
Prince Shou looked at the three with dissatisfaction, “The Medical Affairs Department will be responsible for providing the Spiritual Medicines and Spiritual Plants. You just need to refine the pills well.”
Hearing this, Shen Qianfan breathed a sigh of relief, “If that’s the case, then there’s no problem.”
Prince Shou glanced at Shen Qianfan and, not wanting to waste any more time, left with his entourage.
Seeing him leave, the Steward said a few perfunctory words and then left with Mu Qingying and Yuan Tianchou.
As soon as they left, Hua Changxi went directly to Number Thirteen Qihuang Hall behind the Apprentice Hall.
Similar to the layout of the Labor Department, the Qihuang Halls behind the Apprentice Hall were all on the same street.
Hua Changxi had long wanted to see the Qihuang Halls in the Apprentice Hall, and now she could finally investigate them openly.
She had intended to visit all the Qihuang Halls from Number Ten to Number Eighteen, but unexpectedly, each Qihuang Hall was guarded by two Guards. Hua Changxi could only enter Number Thirteen Qihuang Hall.
After entering Number Thirteen Qihuang Hall, Hua Changxi looked around and found that there was no difference from Qihuang Halls Number One to Number Nine; they were all stone Courtyards with the same layout.
“What Medical Skills will be taught in Number Thirteen Qihuang Hall?”
