Chapter 93: The Dan Sheng Hall’s Door Opens
After taking over Eunuch Lu’s position, Hua Changxi did not become busier.
Each bureau had a Second Steward and a Third Steward; as long as they didn’t cause trouble, she wouldn’t interfere with their management.
The only rule she changed was abolishing the previous “filial piety fee.”
This inadvertently earned her more goodwill from the laborers. Of course, the Second and Third Stewards, whose interests were harmed, held some opinions about her.
Hua Changxi’s days in the Labor Department were very regular: in the morning, she taught pharmaceutical knowledge to the laborers of the Four Bureaus; in the afternoon, she refined Elixirs; and in the evening, she devoted herself to Cultivation. Every few days, she would visit the Shen Nong Hall Apothecary Shop.
The days passed peacefully until the end of March.
On March 29th, it was again the day for the Labor Department to distribute monthly stipends. When Hua Changxi arrived at the Internal Affairs Department, she was surprised to find not many laborers there.
“What’s going on today? Not even enthusiastic about collecting their Silver?”
The Steward of the Internal Affairs Department glanced at her: “They’ve all gone to the Plaza to watch the excitement.”
Hua Changxi asked curiously, “What’s so exciting to watch at the Plaza?”
The Steward sighed: “Eunuch Zhou from the First Department is trying to drive out Old Man Gu from the Old Courtyard.”
Upon hearing this, Hua Changxi’s eyelids twitched. After quickly collecting her monthly stipend, she hurried to the Plaza. Before she even got close, she saw that the Plaza was already packed with people.
“Jiu Niang.”
As Hua Changxi stepped into the Plaza, she saw Pharmacist Xu waving at her. She looked around and realized that not only were the laborers watching the spectacle, but many people from Ninth Street had also come.
“Uncle Xu.”
Hua Changxi quickly walked towards Pharmacist Xu. Before she could even ask about his recent situation, she saw several strong male laborers dragging the hunched old man surnamed Gu.
The hunched old man’s claw-like hands were tightly gripping the door frame, preventing others from dragging him away.
Seeing this scene, Hua Changxi’s brows furrowed into a knot: “Is no one going to intervene when they bully an old man like this?”
Pharmacist Xu shook his head and whispered, “The Department Head and the Department Assistant and other officials have all gone into the Palace today.” He then gestured with his eyes for Hua Changxi to look at the middle-aged Eunuch standing by the Old Courtyard gate.
“Behind that Eunuch Zhou stands a Benefactor from the Palace. No Pharmacist on Ninth Street wants to incur the Palace’s displeasure, so naturally, no one will step forward to confront him directly.”
Hua Changxi saw that the male laborers were pulling with all their might, and the hunched old man’s veins were bulging on his face, hands, and neck from the excessive exertion. She found it unbearable: “This is too much.”
Seeing Hua Changxi about to step forward, Pharmacist Xu quickly grabbed her: “There are plenty of capable people here, don’t be reckless.”
Not far away, Mu Qingying also looked distressed and wanted to step forward to help the hunched old man, but Yuan Tianchou stopped her: “The Palace has set its sights on this Old Courtyard. Otherwise, do you think Master and the others would coincidentally not be here today?”
Mu Qingying couldn’t understand: “It’s just an old courtyard. You and I have both been inside, and there’s nothing there. What’s so special about it? Even if the Palace really wants it, can’t they just ask nicely?”
Yuan Tianchou sighed: “Do you think the Palace wants to make things so ugly? It’s all because Senior Gu is unwilling to vacate the Old Courtyard.”
“Gu Xing, considering your age, I’ve already shown you great respect. Don’t refuse a toast only to be forced to drink a forfeit.”
“You are not part of the Medical Affairs Department, so you have no right to occupy a courtyard belonging to the Medical Affairs Department.”
“The Department Head and the other officials, seeing that you are alone and have no one to rely on, have specially purchased a small courtyard for you. The small courtyard is equipped with all living necessities, and they have even hired a servant to take care of you, so you won’t lack a place to live or food to eat.”
Eunuch Zhou spoke these words with righteous indignation. While seemingly directed at Gu Xing, they were actually meant for everyone present.
After all, driving out such an elderly man was indeed a rather unsightly act.
Gu Xing tightly gripped the door frame, completely ignoring Eunuch Zhou’s words.
Among the laborers, Granny Sun watched Gu Xing with teary eyes. The Patriarch of the Gu family was being bullied like this by a Eunuch; this world truly had no justice.
The Medical Affairs Department originally belonged to the Gu family. Now, the royal family, discarding all pretense of decency, was expelling the Gu family’s only descendant.
How despicable and shameless!
Granny Sun wanted to rush out regardless, but she met Gu Xing’s gaze and saw him shake his head at her. She could only suppress her anger and reluctantly step back.
On the other side, Eunuch Zhou saw that Gu Xing was still clinging to the door frame, being so stubborn. He then gave a look to the male laborers who were dragging him.
Upon receiving the signal, the male laborers began using underhanded tactics against Gu Xing during the subsequent struggle.
Soon, blood began to flow from the corner of Gu Xing’s mouth.
Seeing this, Hua Changxi’s eyes sharpened. She broke free from Pharmacist Xu’s grasp and strode over, throwing the male laborers away like chicks, tossing them several meters away onto the ground.
“Old man, are you alright?”
Hua Changxi crouched down to look at Gu Xing.
Gu Xing looked up at Hua Changxi, a flicker of light in his eyes. He managed a weak smile and shook his head.
Seeing this, Hua Changxi hesitated for a moment, then stood up and looked at Eunuch Zhou, who was glaring at her. She knew that reasoning would be useless at this moment. After thinking for a moment, she walked over and stood opposite Eunuch Zhou.
“Eunuch, please don’t be so unsightly in your methods.”
Eunuch Zhou frowned, looking at Hua Changxi: “Are you that Hua Changxi under Eunuch Jia?”
Hua Changxi did not deny it and continued, “That old man is already so old, how many more years do you think he has left to live? When he dies, you can take over the Old Courtyard then. You won’t have to be the villain. This way, you achieve two goals with one action. I hope you will consider this carefully.”
Eunuch Zhou let out a hmph: “What if I insist on driving him out today?”
Hua Changxi looked at him: “With me here, you cannot drive him out.”
Eunuch Zhou knew that Hua Changxi was a Cultivator and that he couldn’t confront her directly. He could only resort to using his authority to pressure her: “I am acting on behalf of a Benefactor from the Palace. Do you want to offend a Benefactor from the Palace?”
Hua Changxi’s tone was cold: “Can a Benefactor from the Palace be unreasonable and force someone to death?”
Eunuch Zhou clearly hadn’t expected Hua Changxi to react this way. He sneered: “Good, very good. I’ll see if you can protect Gu Xing all the time.”
Hua Changxi looked at him expressionlessly: “Eunuch, here’s a piece of advice: don’t make threats to someone who can end your life. You are very easy for me to deal with, and it can be done without anyone knowing.”
“You are working so hard, I assume you don’t want to die prematurely, do you?”
Eunuch Zhou’s expression changed upon hearing Hua Changxi’s direct threat: “You…”
Hua Changxi: “Eunuch, it’s convenient for others and convenient for yourself. It’s best not to push things to the absolute extreme, don’t you think?”
Eunuch Zhou was furious but dared not speak. He looked at Hua Changxi, who was not backing down, and then at Gu Xing, who was still tightly gripping the door frame. He let out a heavy hmph, flicked his sleeve, and turned to leave.
His subordinates, seeing this, quickly followed.
Hua Changxi turned back to Gu Xing and helped him up: “Old man, I don’t think they will give up easily. You should be prepared.”
Gu Xing looked at her and smiled: “I remember you. Can you help me inside?”
The two stood by the door. Hua Changxi saw that the blood on his lips had not yet dried, and after struggling for so long, he was likely exhausted. Seeing that the courtyard gate was only open by a small gap, she placed her hands on the gate and pushed with all her might.
With a creak, the courtyard gate opened completely.
“Whoosh~”
A gentle breeze flew out from the courtyard and dispersed around.
At this moment, everyone in the Medical Affairs Department smelled a faint, elusive Incense of Pills.
As for Hua Changxi, she once again saw a magnificent Palace that flashed by. This time, she saw it more clearly.
She saw that the Palace was situated beneath a towering giant tree, which pierced the clouds like a celestial pillar.
Looking at the fully opened courtyard gate, Gu Xing was stunned. After his surprise, his eyes were filled with unconcealed excitement. Due to his overwhelming emotion, when Hua Changxi turned to look at him, she found that his eyes were filled with tears.
“Old man, what’s wrong?”
Gu Xing quickly raised his hand to wipe away his tears and shook his head: “I thought I was going to die like this. Thank you…”
Hua Changxi found his expression somewhat strange. Eager to investigate the Old Courtyard, she didn’t think too much of it, assuming Gu Xing was thanking her for saving him.
“Old man, let me help you into the courtyard.”
Hua Changxi helped Gu Xing into the courtyard. The crowd of onlookers craned their necks to peer inside. They found it to be an ordinary courtyard, no different from any other, except for the row of three-finger-wide green wooden tokens hanging on the wall to the right of the gate.
Yuan Tianchou and Mu Qingying, who had entered the small courtyard before, exchanged glances of disbelief when they saw Hua Changxi open the courtyard gate so easily.
Mu Qingying stammered: “How strong is Hua Changxi? Last time, even with both of us working together, we couldn’t budge the courtyard gate at all.”
Yuan Tianchou: “…Perhaps it’s not about strength, but her Cultivation is higher, at least higher than yours and mine.”
Mu Qingying: “That can’t be right. We have no shortage of Cultivation Resources, and with the help of Pills refined by Master, we’ve only managed to cultivate a step faster than others. We’ve only recently entered the Qi Sea Realm. Hua Changxi has nothing.”
Yuan Tianchou looked at her: “Junior Sister, you can teach yourself medicine. Don’t you know there’s such a thing as a ‘Genius’ in this world? Perhaps Hua Changxi is a Cultivation Genius.”
“After all, Fairy Qinglian is also a Cultivation Genius. They are twins; it’s unlikely one would be too strong and the other too weak.”
Mu Qingying thought about it and looked at the Old Courtyard, becoming even more curious about Hua Changxi: “If I have the chance, I really want to get to know Hua Changxi.”
Today, she dared to step forward to defend Senior Gu, doing what she herself had not done. She gained a more direct impression of this female laborer who dared to confront the Imperial Guards.
She was a bold and fearless person.
Inside the Old Courtyard, Hua Changxi first helped Gu Xing sit on a lounge chair in the courtyard and then gave him a Pill for treating internal injuries: “This Pill is for treating internal injuries. If you trust me, you can try it.”
Gu Xing took the Pill. He saw that it was not only round and full but also had a sheen. His eyes flickered, and he then swallowed the Pill directly.
The Pill entered his stomach and transformed into a ball of heat, which began to send warm currents throughout his Body. The pain in his Body was immediately soothed.
“Girl, the Pills you refine are of very high quality.”
“Thank you for the compliment.”
Hua Changxi looked around the courtyard and wandered through it.
Seeing a Palace once might have been an illusion, but seeing it twice, she couldn’t convince herself it was still an illusion.
Was this courtyard part of the Palace?
And what was that giant tree?
Gu Xing watched Hua Changxi, like other people who had entered the courtyard, exploring everything. However, unlike others who would eventually cast their gaze on the wooden tokens on the wall, Hua Changxi was tapping the wall, as if trying to determine if it was real.
Had this girl discovered something?
“Old man, how long have you lived in this courtyard?”
“I was born in this courtyard.”
Hua Changxi turned to examine Gu Xing: “Old man, why is your back so hunched?” A nearly ninety-degree bend, how did this happen?
Gu Xing smiled: “This is the price I paid.”
Hua Changxi really wanted to ask what kind of deed required such a price, but she swallowed the words. It was his private matter, and it was better not to ask.
Seeing that Hua Changxi had finally reached the wall with the wooden tokens, Gu Xing smiled: “Girl, anyone who enters this courtyard and has the ability can take a wooden token.”
Hearing this, Hua Changxi was a little surprised: “Does taking a wooden token require ability?” She reached out and easily took down a wooden token.
After examining the wooden token, Hua Changxi couldn’t find anything special about it. She looked at Gu Xing and saw that his expression was a bit dazed: “Old man, is this wooden token difficult to take?”
Gu Xing’s expression returned to normal: “The wooden token is given to those who are fated. For those without fate, it is naturally difficult to take.”
Hua Changxi was not entirely convinced by this reason. She said ‘oh’ and asked again, “Old man, what is this wooden token used for?”
Gu Xing shook his head: “I don’t know either. You’ll have to discover it yourself.”
Seeing that he was unwilling to reveal more, Hua Changxi put away the wooden token. As there was nothing else to explore in the courtyard, she prepared to leave: “Old man, I have something to do, so I’ll be going back now.”
Gu Xing: “Girl, if you have time, can you come visit me often?”
Hua Changxi: “…Alright.”
Without lingering, Hua Changxi left the Old Courtyard. Before leaving, she wanted to help close the courtyard gate, but Gu Xing stopped her.
“No need to close the courtyard gate. From today onwards, the courtyard gate will not be closed.”
Hua Changxi walked out of the Old Courtyard and looked back at the open gate, a look of confusion on her face, not understanding why Gu Xing no longer closed the courtyard gate.
“A Palace, a towering giant tree, what secrets does this courtyard hide?”
On the way back to her own courtyard, Hua Changxi played with the green wooden token she had just obtained: “What is this wooden token used for?”
“Sister Changxi.”
Seeing Yu Hui running towards her with a smile, Hua Changxi put away the wooden token: “Brother Yu, do you need something from me?”
When Yu Hui got closer, he gave Hua Changxi a thumbs-up: “Sister, you’re amazing. You’re the person I admire most right now.”
He hadn’t seen Hua Changxi confront the Imperial Guards before, but today, he had witnessed her facing Eunuch Zhou directly from beginning to end.
He had to admit, this sister had an astonishing amount of courage.
“Sister, you need to be careful of that Eunuch Zhou. The person standing behind him is Beauty Lu from the Palace. Beauty Lu is the birth mother of the Tenth Prince and has considerable influence in both the court and the harem.”
Hua Changxi frowned: “I really hate these Nobles who bully others with their power. They already have the vast majority of benefits, yet they are still not satisfied and want to covet the little scraps others have. If only they could be eliminated once and for all.”
Hearing this, Yu Hui’s legs went weak, and he immediately knelt on the ground.
Hua Changxi was startled and looked at him: “Brother Yu, what’s wrong?”
Yu Hui gave an awkward smile and crawled up using his hands and feet: “No, I’m fine. I came to tell you that the Great Merchant Zhuo, who my Godfather used to cooperate with, has returned to the capital. I want to introduce him to you.”
Upon hearing this, Hua Changxi’s face lit up with joy: “Thank you, Brother Yu.”
Yu Hui: “Sister, I need to tell you in advance. Great Merchant Zhuo is a friend of my Godfather. He is currently with my Godfather at the Qihuang Hall where you previously refined Pills. Do you… want to go and meet them?”
Hua Changxi understood Yu Hui’s concern. Her cooperation with Eunuch Yu had indeed been somewhat unpleasant.
Seeing her silence, Yu Hui quickly added: “Great Merchant Zhuo owns dozens of Apothecary Shops. He needs far more Pills than I do.”
Hua Changxi looked at him: “Introducing such a major client to me, Brother Yu, just tell me directly, what does Eunuch Yu want?”
Yu Hui: “Godfather doesn’t want anything. He just wants to know some things about Cultivators.”
Hua Changxi: “Just that?”
Yu Hui nodded affirmatively: “Just that.”
Hua Changxi didn’t think that information about Cultivators was something that couldn’t be shared, so she agreed: “Let’s go.”
