Chapter 38: Good and bad are interdependent
Hua Changxi stood at the entrance of the dormitory, also watching Eunuch Lu and Steward Leng. She was also surprised that Eunuch Lu would come in person.
Eunuch Lu personally delivered the medicine, personally supervised the brewing of the medicine, and it seemed he would personally ensure the poisoned female laborers had taken the medicine before leaving.
This made Hua Changxi certain of one thing: the medicinal formula she provided was worth more than she had imagined.
Indeed, the First Department must have encountered many cases of poisoning from processing medicinal herbs, like Lu Qingluo and the others, but they never had a complete antidote.
If Eunuch Lu could help the First Department solve this problem, he would likely gain a great favor from them.
However, the poison affecting Lu Qingluo and the others was not difficult to resolve in Hua Changxi’s opinion. She wondered if the First Department couldn’t afford good physicians, or if the Medical Affairs Department hadn’t thoroughly researched the medicinal efficacy of these herbs.
Soon, the medicine was brewed.
Bowls of steaming medicinal soup were delivered to the twenty female laborers who had been poisoned due to improper processing of medicinal herbs. After taking the medicine, the female laborers quickly fell asleep.
Steward Leng, without minding the trouble, checked on them one by one. After checking, she said to Eunuch Lu, “They’ve all fallen asleep and look peaceful, unlike before when they were sweating cold and shivering.”
Eunuch Lu’s eyes flickered, “That’s very good.”
Steward Leng suddenly said loudly, “Eunuch Lu, you stayed up all night for these female laborers last night, and today you’ve been running around all day, begging many people to get this medicine. Now that they are fine, you should go back and rest.”
Eunuch Lu looked at Steward Leng with a smile, his eyes full of satisfaction, “They are all my people. Although the incident happened in the First Department, I cannot ignore it. As long as they can recover, it’s nothing for me to humble myself and beg for help.”
As soon as these words were spoken, the Third Stewards of the Sixth Bureau stepped forward to thank Eunuch Lu. The female laborers in the courtyard dared not approach to speak, but they looked at Eunuch Lu with moved expressions.
Eunuch Lu accepted everyone’s gratitude and solemnly instructed Steward Leng, “I won’t wait here any longer, to avoid making you uncomfortable. However, you must keep a close watch. If anything happens, no matter how late, you must inform me.”
Steward Leng said emotionally, “Eunuch Lu, please rest assured, I will take good care of them.”
Eunuch Lu did not linger. He left the Sixth Bureau, glancing at Hua Changxi standing at the dormitory entrance before leaving, and gave Steward Leng a meaningful look.
After he left, Steward Leng told everyone in the courtyard to return to their rooms to rest, leaving only Du Ruo behind.
“Go and call Hua Changxi over.”
Du Ruo glanced at Steward Leng and went into the room to call Hua Changxi out.
Steward Leng smiled at Hua Changxi, “You’ve been at the Labor Department for over three months, haven’t you?”
Hua Changxi hummed in response.
Steward Leng didn’t mind her indifferent attitude and continued to smile, “You’ve only been here for three months, so you’re still a newcomer. However, your actions in the Labor Department are not at all like a newcomer’s.”
“A newcomer wouldn’t be as bold as you.”
“It’s one thing to injure someone in the Sixth Bureau, but you also caused trouble and fought in the storeroom. I heard you even fought in the Internal Affairs Department a few days ago. Why are you so daring? Aren’t you afraid the Labor Department will kick you out?”
Hua Changxi remained silent, her expression unchanged.
Seeing this, Steward Leng raised an eyebrow and smiled again, “Of course, other newcomers aren’t as capable as you. You complete in half a day what takes others a full day.”
“Speaking of which, Du Ruo, I need to criticize you a bit.”
Steward Leng suddenly shifted the topic to Du Ruo, causing Du Ruo’s expression to change.
Just as Du Ruo was about to explain, Steward Leng continued, “We have such a capable person in the Sixth Bureau, why didn’t you report it to me?”
Saying this, Steward Leng smiled at Hua Changxi again, “If I had known Changxi was so capable, I would have given her more tasks so she could earn more silver.”
Hearing this, Hua Changxi finally reacted.
Time was the most precious thing to her. If she spent most of her day on duty, her cultivation time and her time for alchemy at Qihuang Hall would be significantly reduced.
“Steward Leng, that medicinal formula was my offering to Eunuch Lu. I live under Eunuch Lu’s care, and I will abide by the rules.”
Steward Leng had said all that simply to get the medicinal formula.
Eunuch Lu not only wanted profit but also reputation.
Steward Leng smiled and appraised Hua Changxi, “I knew it. If a young lady can catch Eunuch Jia’s eye, how could she be a reckless fool?”
Having received Hua Changxi’s confirmation, Steward Leng didn’t want to stay out in the cold. She said to Hua Changxi and Du Ruo, “Alright, it’s getting late. I’ll go check on those people again. You two should go back and rest.”
After Steward Leng walked away, Du Ruo looked at Hua Changxi with a complicated expression.
Hua Changxi couldn’t be bothered to guess her thoughts and directly asked, “Does Steward Du have anything else?”
Du Ruo was silent for a moment, then said, “I thank you on behalf of those poisoned female laborers.” If Hua Changxi hadn’t provided the medicinal formula, no one knew what would have happened to the poisoned individuals.
She had heard plenty of stories about laborers from the First and Second Departments who were poisoned due to improper processing of medicinal herbs. Due to lack of timely treatment, some became mentally impaired, some lost their mobility, and some died without treatment.
Hua Changxi smiled, “Steward Du, I am a physician.” After saying that, she turned and returned to the dormitory.
Du Ruo was stunned for a moment. She understood Hua Changxi’s words: a physician saves lives not for thanks, but for the sake of their calling.
The day after taking the medicine, Wang Yun Chu and the others could move freely, and thus, everyone in the Sixth Bureau was thanking Eunuch Lu.
Hua Changxi didn’t say anything upon hearing this. After finishing her duties, she was heading to Qihuang Hall to refine medicine when Wang Yun Chu stopped her halfway.
“Hua Changxi, thank you.”
Hua Changxi had given the medicinal formula to Du Ruo in front of her dormitory mates, so Wang Yun Chu and the others all knew that the poisoned female laborers were saved thanks to her.
Now that Eunuch Lu had taken the credit, they didn’t dare say much, but Wang Yun Chu felt she should personally thank Hua Changxi.
Hua Changxi replied, “You’re welcome.”
Seeing that Hua Changxi seemed eager to leave, Wang Yun Chu hesitated before explaining, “Hua Changxi, the rumors about you were not spread by me.”
“I know you must have thought I was spreading gossip about you everywhere before, but I swear, it was absolutely not me.”
“I admit, I didn’t like you before, but I’ve suffered from having a bad reputation myself, so I would never maliciously smear someone else’s reputation.”
Hua Changxi watched her raise her hand to swear, then paused, “Okay, I understand. Is there anything else?”
Wang Yun Chu seemed to have something to say but hesitated, “Are you going to Qihuang Hall to see Eunuch Yu again?”
Hua Changxi did not deny it.
Wang Yun Chu looked around, lowered her voice, and said, “Be careful. Someone from the storeroom is watching you. The reason the rumors about you and Eunuch Yu spread like wildfire is because someone is deliberately causing trouble behind the scenes.”
Upon hearing this, Hua Changxi frowned.
Someone from the storeroom was watching her?
The only person she had offended in the storeroom was Mao Wei, whose front teeth she had knocked out. She hadn’t seen him recently; Yu Hui said he had been transferred to the Medicine Farm.
Wang Yun Chu looked at her, appearing hesitant to speak.
Hua Changxi looked at her, “What exactly do you want to say?”
Wang Yun Chu said, “Changxi, other female laborers want to live better lives, so they associate closely with some eunuchs. I can understand them doing that, but you are so capable, you don’t need to rely on anyone. Why are you the same as them?”
Hua Changxi’s eyelids twitched, “I am just working for Eunuch Yu, it’s not what you think.”
Wang Yun Chu exclaimed, “Ah.”
Hua Changxi ignored whether she believed her or not and continued, “Thank you for telling me that just now. I will be careful. Is there anything else?”
Wang Yun Chu quickly shook her head.
Hua Changxi said, “Alright, I’m going to get busy.”
Upon arriving at Qihuang Hall and seeing Yu Hui there, Hua Changxi told him about Wang Yun Chu’s warning that someone from the storeroom was watching her.
After hearing this, Yu Hui immediately stated, “I will tell my godfather about this. Don’t worry, I will definitely find out who spread those rumors about you and my godfather.”
Hua Changxi replied, “The rumors are secondary. I am worried about our collaboration in alchemy. If this matter becomes known, I fear it will cause trouble.”
Yu Hui’s expression became even more serious, “I will investigate immediately. You focus on your alchemy.”
After he left, Hua Changxi immersed herself in alchemy. It was three days later when she finished processing this batch of discarded medicinal herbs.
After Wang Yun Chu and the others’ toxins were cleared, the matter of the medicinal formula was considered closed by Hua Changxi. Who would have thought that on the twenty-third day of the twelfth lunar month, Steward Leng would find her again.
“You want me to help out at the First Department?”
Hua Changxi was just about to upgrade the 《Compendium of Processing》 to Perfection. Being sent to the First Department was exactly what she wanted, but she still put on an expression of surprise and reluctance.
After all, just a few days ago, her colleagues from the Sixth Bureau had been poisoned at the First Department and unceremoniously sent back.
Steward Leng smiled, “Eunuch Lu knows you understand pharmacology and have good medical skills, which is why he gave you this opportunity.”
Hua Changxi inwardly scoffed.
Seeing that she remained silent, Steward Leng continued, “To process the medicinal herbs before the New Year, the First Department has also invited apprentices from the Apprentice Hall to help.”
“I heard from Eunuch Lu that you applied to the Apprentice Hall before. It’s likely you wanted to study medical skills and pharmacology there. This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for you.”
“Working alongside people from the Apprentice Hall, you can ask them anything you don’t understand. Even if they are unwilling to guide you, you can learn from observation.”
“The apprentices at the Medical Affairs Department are different from those in outside medical clinics. They have real skills. Even if you only learn a fraction of their abilities, it will be enough for you to benefit for a lifetime.”
Hua Changxi didn’t want to listen to her nonsense and waste her time. She immediately said, “Steward Leng, I’ll go.”
Upon hearing this, Steward Leng nodded with a smile, “That’s right. Let’s go, I’ll take you to the First Department.”
Hua Changxi was surprised, “Go now?”
Steward Leng replied, “The workload at the First Department is heavy. Today is already Little New Year’s Eve, and there are only a few days left until the New Year. Of course, we need to hurry.”
The First Department was smaller than the Third Department, but it had no less courtyards, and each courtyard was filled with various medicinal herbs being dried.
Processing medicinal herbs requires some understanding of pharmacology and some processing techniques. Compared to the laborers in the Third Department who were only responsible for washing medicinal herbs, the laborers in the First and Second Departments were considered technical personnel.
Steward Leng led Hua Changxi to a two-courtyard residence.
“Eunuch Bao, this is Hua Changxi, recommended by Eunuch Lu.”
Steward Leng walked towards a eunuch in his early twenties with a smile. They chatted and laughed for a while before turning their attention to Hua Changxi.
Eunuch Bao sized up Hua Changxi, “Since she is recommended by Eunuch Lu, I will give her a try.”
Saying this, he beckoned and called a male steward over.
“Take her to process Ironwood Root.”
A few days ago, Wang Yun Chu and the others were poisoned when their hands were pricked by Ironwood Root while processing it.
Since this girl could resolve the Ironwood Root’s poison, she likely knew how to process it.
Ironwood Root was extremely difficult to process. Its roots were covered in thorns, and one could easily get injured if not careful.
In previous years, they could barely supply enough Ironwood Root. Unexpectedly, a month ago, the Department Head issued a notice ordering them to expedite the processing of a batch of Ironwood Root to be sent to the Heavenly Department after the New Year.
The Medical Affairs Department was under the jurisdiction of the Heavenly Department. The Heavenly Department had issued an order, and the Department Assistant himself had personally visited the First Department to urge them to process the medicinal herbs.
He was good friends with Eunuch Lu. Eunuch Lu knew he was under great pressure and urgently needed experienced individuals to process medicinal herbs, so he recommended Hua Changxi, who had resolved the Ironwood Root poison.
After the male steward led Hua Changxi away, Steward Leng saw Eunuch Bao looking worried and smiled, “Eunuch Bao, please rest assured. This Hua Changxi was personally recruited into the Labor Department by Eunuch Jia. It is said that he valued her ability to handle medicinal herbs.”
Eunuch Bao was somewhat surprised, “She was recruited by Eunuch Jia?” After thinking for a moment, he said, “I have no further business here. Please convey my thanks to Xiao Luzi for me. When I have free time, I will go find him for a drink.”
After Steward Leng left, Eunuch Bao was still uneasy and walked directly to the room where Ironwood Root was being processed.
Meanwhile, Hua Changxi followed the male steward into a steamy room. Over a dozen boilers in the room were emitting flames, and the people inside were processing medicinal herbs by stir-frying, charring, calcining, or simmering.
The male steward’s surname was Qin. He led Hua Changxi to a boiler and pointed to several baskets of medicinal herbs beside it, asking, “Do you know how to process Ironwood Root?”
Hua Changxi did not answer immediately. Instead, she stepped forward to examine them. Seeing that the baskets contained only Ironwood Root, she nodded and said, “Yes.”
Steward Qin looked at her, “Do you need someone to assist you?”
Hua Changxi glanced at the other boilers in the room, noticing four people at each one. Thinking of the processing techniques from the 《Compendium of Processing》 she intended to use, she said, “No, I can do it alone.”
Hearing this, Steward Qin looked at Hua Changxi again and reminded her, “Although processing medicinal herbs has a certain margin of error, you will be held responsible if you ruin too many herbs.”
Hua Changxi smiled, “Thank you, Steward, for informing me. I will be careful.”
Steward Qin grunted and left her to supervise the others processing medicinal herbs in the room.
As soon as he left, Hua Changxi rolled up her sleeves and got to work. She first adjusted the heat. When the boiler reached the desired temperature, she placed ten Ironwood Roots into the boiler at once to roast.
Eunuch Bao happened to walk in at this moment. Seeing Hua Changxi’s bold move, his eyelids twitched. The most skilled processing laborer under him dared to process only five Ironwood Roots at a time.
It was unavoidable. Ironwood Root had a potent medicinal property, and its roots were covered in fine thorns. The thorns were the most potent part of the herb. During processing, one could not afford to be distracted for even a moment, or they would be pricked, and the ‘poison’ of the Ironwood Root would enter the body through the wound.
For ordinary people, Ironwood Root was ‘poisonous.’ However, for martial artists of the Seventh Rank and above, Ironwood Root was a precious medicine that could catalyze internal energy into gang qi.
Not only Ironwood Root, but many other medicinal herbs used by martial artists were also ‘poisonous’ to ordinary people due to their strong medicinal properties.
Eunuch Bao, worried that Hua Changxi would damage the Ironwood Root, quickly walked over to stop her. But as he approached, he saw the originally brown Ironwood Root gradually turn bright red all over.
The pharmacist on Second Street had provided a standard for processing Ironwood Root. After being roasted, if the Ironwood Root turned bright red all over, it was considered optimal.
Then, he saw Hua Changxi quickly use tongs to pick out pieces of completely burnt charcoal and directly place the roasted Ironwood Root into the charcoal to calcine.
Eunuch Bao’s heart tightened. This method seemed too crude. However, shortly after, he saw a grayish-white crust form on the surface of the Ironwood Root.
Next, Hua Changxi picked up the Ironwood Root with the grayish-white crust using tongs and sprinkled a few drops of water into the charcoal. Instantly, steam rose from the charcoal.
The moment the steam rose, Hua Changxi placed the Ironwood Root with the grayish-white crust back to be roasted. In just a few seconds, the Ironwood Root turned bright red all over again.
Seeing this, Eunuch Bao could no longer hold back. He quickly walked over and examined the ten processed Ironwood Roots closely.
Seeing that Eunuch Bao was only looking and not asking her anything, Hua Changxi did not step forward to explain. Instead, she began processing the second batch.
A quarter of an hour later, Eunuch Bao saw that the Ironwood Root processed by Hua Changxi consistently maintained its bright red color without changing, and he was overjoyed.
He had seen Ironwood Root processed by the pharmacist on Second Street, and it was just like this.
No, the Ironwood Root processed by Hua Changxi was even brighter red than the pharmacist’s, and the steps seemed simpler.
Everyone else in the room also gathered around. They too were processing Ironwood Root. To avoid ‘poisoning,’ most could only process one plant at a time and required assistance from others.
If everyone hadn’t paid much attention when Hua Changxi first entered, now, all eyes were fixed on her processing of Ironwood Root.
After Hua Changxi began cultivating, she developed a habit: focus.
Just like now, even though she was surrounded by people, she was not affected at all. Her mind was focused on only one thing: processing the Ironwood Root well.
Among the crowd, while others were paying attention to Hua Changxi’s steps and methods for processing Ironwood Root, Lu Qingling was observing Hua Changxi herself.
Like Wang Yun Chu, she couldn’t understand why such a capable person would rely on Eunuch Yu, leading to rumors spreading throughout the entire Labor Department.
Soon, Hua Changxi processed another ten Ironwood Roots.
She placed the processed Ironwood Roots into the designated box before looking up at the others.
Eunuch Bao looked at her, his eyes shining, “Hua Changxi, can you teach the apprentices in the Apprentice Hall how to process Ironwood Root?”
Ironwood Root was difficult to process, and the laborers from the Third Department who had helped a few days ago had all been ‘poisoned.’ Now, those processing Ironwood Root were apprentices invited by Eunuch Bao from the Apprentice Hall.
Hua Changxi looked at Eunuch Bao. With the principle of building good relations, she agreed without much hesitation, “Yes.”
Lu Qingling was surprised by her prompt agreement.
From what she had learned from her sister, Hua Changxi was not a person who readily helped others.
Eunuch Bao smiled upon seeing Hua Changxi’s cooperation, “Don’t worry, I won’t treat you unfairly.”
Upon hearing this and seeing Hua Changxi smile with satisfaction, Lu Qingling suddenly understood.
Hua Changxi wasn’t unwilling to help; she was unwilling to help those who wouldn’t bring her any reward.
This person was truly pragmatic!
