Chapter 271: A Three-Way Split
With the emergence of the Guardian Families, the Medical Affairs Department underwent earth-shattering changes in just a few short months.
First, Meng Qingyao ignited the Pill Fire on Ninth Street’s Second Street, and with the assistance of Pill Sheen, the number of Second Rank Alchemists significantly increased.
Next, the Divine Wood bestowed eighteen Secret Realms, leading to the establishment of the Spiritual Realm Pavilion.
Following that was the appearance of the Altar of Alchemy, the plaza expanded dozens of times, and the Spiritual Energy of the entire Medical Affairs Department surged, making it the most spiritually dense and suitable place for Cultivation in the Capital City.
Finally, Dan Yuan Peak, Shenhe Peak, Qingyao Peak, and Xuanhuang Peak appeared successively, not only further expanding the territory of the Medical Affairs Department but also obtaining the Protector Saint Token, which allowed them to recruit Holy Guards.
As guards responsible for maintaining the order and safety of the Sacred Land, the Holy Guards, upon their appearance, set a unified tone for the order management of the Medical Affairs Department.
The Medical Affairs Department was no longer just a medical department governed by the Chu Imperial Family; it was no longer subject to the rule and management of the Royal Family.
Now, the Holy Guards dictate the order management of the Medical Affairs Department.
At the foot of Dan Yuan Peak, the Personnel Department.
Hua Changxi expressionlessly flipped through the apprentice roster.
Pharmacist Xu and the seven individuals, including Hua Shuran, stood by, looking somewhat apprehensive.
It couldn’t be helped; Dan Yuan Peak had been established for over three months, and they had only recruited about a thousand apprentices so far.
Excluding over seven hundred retired Demon Suppressing Army soldiers, over eighty Hua Clan Members, and over a hundred people from the Marquis Wu Yi’s Mansion, they had only recruited a few dozen individuals sporadically.
“Hall Master, currently, Qihuang Hall, the Altar of Alchemy plaza, and Ninth Street are all under the control of the Holy Guards. Although there are no restrictions on people within the Medical Affairs Department, movement and exchange between various locations have significantly decreased.”
“Those who were originally interested in joining our Secret Realm are now afraid to make any moves.”
“People within the Medical Affairs Department dare not approach Dan Yuan Peak, and outsiders cannot even enter the main gate, let alone understand our situation here.”
“Prince Shou will not allow us to set up registration points at the entrance, so we cannot introduce the Dan Yuan Secret Realm to the outside. I’m wondering if we should recruit people outside the Medical Affairs Department, perhaps at the city gates?”
Hua Changxi looked at the speaker in surprise. Regarding the eight Medicine Children assigned to Number Thirteen Qihuang Hall, she felt a degree of rejection towards everyone except Pharmacist Xu, to the point that she still didn’t remember their names.
Wan Feng noticed Hua Changxi’s hesitation and guessed that she had forgotten his name. He quickly introduced himself.
“Hall Master, I am Wan Feng. I have loved studying Medical Skills since I was young. After I came of age, I entered the Medical Affairs Department as a Medicine Child. Later, by chance, I tested for a Fire-Wood Spiritual Root, and I began to study Alchemy Techniques.”
“When the higher-ups decided to assign Medicine Children to Qihuang Hall, I used all the Silver I had saved to grease the wheels, and only then did I get into Number Thirteen Qihuang Hall.”
“It is the greatest fortune of my life to be able to follow you, Hall Master. Currently, I have memorized the First Rank Spiritual Plant Compendium and the First Rank Spiritual Medicine Preparation Compendium by heart.”
Pharmacist Xu and the other seven: “…”
Goodness, Wan Feng, he’s seizing every opportunity to promote himself to the Hall Master.
Hua Changxi looked at Wan Feng and was not displeased with his self-recommendation. From his words, she could tell that he was genuinely thinking about recruiting more apprentices for the Dan Yuan Secret Realm and was actively paying attention to the changes in the Medical Affairs Department’s situation.
Since Meng Qingyao, Yan Qianying, and Gu Xing obtained the Protector Saint Token, they had all recruited Holy Guards with the support of their respective backing forces.
In just one or two months, the public order management of the Medical Affairs Department underwent three changes in authority.
The first time, Meng Qingyao used her hundred Holy Guards to seize control of the Medical Affairs Department from the Royal Family.
The second time, after Yan Qianying recruited Holy Guards, she joined the competition for control of the Medical Affairs Department.
After a period of maneuvering, Meng Qingyao was responsible for the order of Qihuang Hall and the Altar of Alchemy plaza, while Yan Qianying was responsible for the order of Ninth Street.
The third time, Gu Xing, with the backing of the Heavenly Department, also recruited Holy Guards and took over the task of maintaining order in Qihuang Hall from Meng Qingyao.
From then on, the order management of the Medical Affairs Department was divided among these three.
Considering the current situation where the Medical Affairs Department was divided into three factions, Hua Changxi sighed, “I didn’t expect the influence of Prince Dong’an’s Estate to be even greater than I imagined.”
She was not surprised that the Guardian Families and the Heavenly Department had layouts in the Nine Netherworlds, but she was somewhat surprised that Prince Dong’an’s Estate also had a presence in the Nine Netherworlds.
In Five Finger Mountain, she had saved Prince Dong’an; if not for her, Prince Dong’an would likely have died at the hands of the Asura Gate.
She found it hard to imagine that someone she had to save would have the capability to orchestrate plans in the Nine Netherworlds.
Hua Changxi’s seemingly random sigh left Pharmacist Xu and the other eight bewildered.
However, someone still managed to guess the underlying meaning of her words.
He Sirong: “Hall Master, Hall Master Yan’s ability to recruit Holy Guards was not due to Prince Dong’an’s Estate, but rather the support of the Royal Family.”
Hua Changxi was surprised: “Weren’t the four great non-royal kings said to be quite disobedient to the Royal Family? Why would the Royal Family support Yan Qianying?”
He Sirong: “Because the current Princess Consort of Dong’an is Princess Chaoyang, who is the daughter of the Grand Emperor.”
Hua Shuran saw that Wan Feng and He Sirong were both vying to demonstrate their abilities to Hua Changxi. Knowing that Hua Changxi was not well-informed about the Royal Family, she also spoke up.
“Princess Chaoyang is the daughter of Consort Dowager Dou and is a full sibling to Prince Xiang.”
“After the Princess Consort of Dong’an passed away, the Grand Emperor personally decreed that Princess Chaoyang be married to Prince Dong’an.”
Hua Shuran paused: “Princess Chaoyang has only one son, who is the direct disciple of the Taisu Palace Master, Yan Xiaoyang. He and Shi Niang are fellow disciples, and according to the Earl’s Mansion, their relationship is very close.”
Hua Changxi’s eyes widened. She hadn’t expected to hear news about her Shi Niang. She looked at Hua Shuran: “Can the Earl’s Mansion gather information about Taisu Palace?”
Hearing this, Hua Shuran and He Sirong exchanged a helpless glance, gaining a further understanding of Hua Changxi’s tendency to remain oblivious to outside affairs.
He Sirong reminded her: “Master Zhang hails from Taisu Palace.”
Hearing this, Hua Changxi couldn’t help but think of Wen Lanzhou, who helped Master Zhang manage Number Four Qihuang Hall.
She didn’t interact much with other Qihuang Hall Masters, but every time she saw Wen Lanzhou, he would smile at her.
She used to find it inexplicable, but now she finally understood the reason.
Hua Changxi wanted to inquire more about Hua Shi Niang’s affairs, but with so many people present, she suppressed the thought.
As a direct disciple of the Taisu Palace Master, Shi Niang should be doing well.
Seeing that Hua Changxi didn’t ask further, He Sirong continued: “Although Princess Chaoyang is a stepmother, she has been quite good to the three sons of Prince Dong’an’s former wife and has never sought the position of Heir.”
Hua Shuran chimed in: “I heard that Princess Chaoyang is preparing to return to the capital.”
Hua Changxi nodded and showed no further reaction.
Pharmacist Xu’s information channels were not as good as those of Marquis Wu Yi’s Mansion and Dingyuan Earl’s Mansion. Noticing Hua Changxi’s continued focus on He Sirong and Hua Shuran, he quickly handed over two invitations.
“Jiu Niang, Hall Master, these are from Qihuang Pavilion and Spiritual Realm Pavilion.”
Before Hua Changxi could open the invitations, Wan Feng spoke with a look of indignation: “Hall Master, they are after the First Rank Spiritual Plant Preparation Compendium.”
Hua Changxi glanced at him, then began to read the invitations. After a moment of silence, she smiled at Pharmacist Xu.
“Go tell Shen Qianfan that the First Rank Spiritual Plant Preparation Compendium can be shared with other Qihuang Halls, but I want to teach classes in Number One to Number Nine Qihuang Halls.”
“As for Spiritual Realm Pavilion, tell Meng Qingyao that the Dan Yuan Secret Realm wants to set up a registration point at the entrance of the Medical Affairs Department. If she can help me resolve this matter, I will give her the First Rank Spiritual Plant Preparation Compendium.”
