Chapter 25: Wuniang's Marriage

[Realm: Qi Condensation 1078/1000]

[Scripture of a Hundred Herbs (Perfection): Tasting Herbs 3001/10000]

[Stainless Art (Perfection)]

[Encyclopedia of Processing (Entry-level): Processing Medicinal Materials 1/10]

[Meridian Mapping Encyclopedia (Proficiency): Dissecting Medicinal Materials 25/100]

Hua Changxi entered the Labor Hall on September 21st. After a month, all her data had seen significant improvements, and her Stainless Art had upgraded directly to Perfection.

With the Stainless Art perfected, Hua Changxi's ability to control wind and water further improved; she could now control both simultaneously.

Previously, cleaned medicinal materials would remain very wet, but the current Hua Changxi could drain them dry while cleaning them.

Beyond its major role in cleaning herbs, the Stainless Art was also highly effective for Hua Changxi's daily personal hygiene.

For instance, with a single application of the Stainless Art, clothes worn for several days would instantly become as clean as new; similarly, dust-covered floors would become spotless under its influence.

On October 20th, Hua Changxi rose at the third quarter of the Mao hour (5:45 AM). After a hurried wash, she left her dormitory.

At this time, the other roommates were only just beginning to wake up.

"It's truly rare; Hua Changxi actually wakes up earlier than us."

"She's going home today. Manager Du said she can leave as soon as she finishes her tasks."

Watching Hua Changxi walk away briskly, Auntie Shi looked very displeased. She was already regretting her actions, but unfortunately, Hua Changxi would rather wake up early to work than swap days off with her.

When Hua Changxi arrived at the warehouse, it was exactly the fourth quarter of the Mao hour. After waiting a few minutes, the warehouse gates opened.

Having witnessed what happened to Mao Wei, the warehouse staff no longer dared to provoke her in any way other than making things difficult by assigning her the hardest-to-clean medicinal materials.

After loading the assigned materials onto a cart, Hua Changxi pulled the herbs back to the Sixth Bureau.

She submerged the entire cart of medicinal materials in water and activated the Stainless Art. The herbs immediately began to tumble and shake in the water. By the time Lu Qingluo and the others arrived, Hua Changxi had already gone to fetch a second cart for cleaning.

If not for her desire to keep a low profile, with her current mastery of the Stainless Art, she could have cleaned all 500 stalks of medicinal materials in less than fifteen minutes.

Hua Changxi dawdled until the Si hour (9:00 AM), when, under the shocked gazes of everyone in the Sixth Bureau, she pulled the cleaned materials away to deliver them to the Second Bureau.

"How exactly does Hua Changxi wash the herbs? How can she be so fast?"

Normally, it was enough to shock them when Hua Changxi spent an entire morning cleaning 500 stalks, but today was even more absurd—she had finished a whole day's work in just one hour.

Not only were the people of the Sixth Bureau surprised, but the staff at the Second Bureau were also quite taken aback when receiving the materials. They even performed a special inspection to check if they were truly clean.

The result: they were perfectly up to standard.

After completing her task, Hua Changxi quickly returned to her quarters, changed out of her laborer's uniform, and jogged away from the Medical Department.

***

The Hua Family of Xiuzheng Workshop.

Dressed in a peach-pink襦裙 (ruqun), Hua Wuniang knelt in the center of the main hall with a grieving expression and reddened eyes, performing her final farewells to the family elders.

After today, she would no longer be a daughter of the Hua family, but the concubine of the Third Master of the Marquis Wuyi Mansion. In the future, seeing her family would no longer be up to her.

In the main hall, the expressions of the Hua family members were not good; there was both reluctance to see her go and worry for her future life.

Seeing that the Marquis Mansion had only sent a manager and a nanny to collect her, and that the Third Master hadn't even shown his face, Auntie Hua the Fourth wept until she was a mess of tears.

In the entire room, the only ones truly happy were Hua Tai and his wife, who had come to "help with the wedding."

Upon seeing Hua Wuniang finish her bows to the elders, Hua Tai's wife, Madam Zhong, immediately stepped forward with a smile to help her up: "Wuniang, don't cry. The Marquis Mansion is a place of wealth and nobility. Once you enter, you are destined to enjoy a life of luxury."

She then bypassed Old Master Hua, Old Madam Hua, and the Fourth Uncle and Aunt, issuing orders directly.

"Manager Kong and Nanny Shen of the Marquis Mansion have been waiting for a long time; we shouldn't keep them waiting. Sanlang, quickly carry your fifth sister out."

Madam Zhong supported Hua Wuniang, intending to lead her out of the hall.

Hua Wuniang showed a rare moment of defiance; she ignored Madam Zhong and stood still, looking at her relatives one by one.

Today, not only had the Second Daughter, who was already married, returned with her husband, but even Third Aunt had brought her family.

Having a clear understanding of life after marriage, Third Aunt and the Second Daughter's smiles were somewhat forced when they met Hua Wuniang's gaze.

They had married as primary wives and still found life difficult; one could only imagine what Hua Wuniang, as a concubine, would have to face.

Though the Marquis Mansion was wealthy, everything was beyond one's control and subject to the whims of others. How stifling such a life must be.

With tears in her eyes, Hua Wuniang sobbed, "It's a pity that Brother Dalang, Jiu Niang, and Shi Niang are not here. I wonder when I will see them again?"

Madam Zhong hurriedly said, "Oh, my dear Wuniang, the Marquis Mansion is right here in the capital. If you want to see your siblings, just send someone to the house to say so. It will be very easy."

Hua Wuniang gave a bitter smile. Was it really easy to see her family?

She had stayed at the Great Clan Elder's house for a month, where Old Madam Zhou had instructed her via Auntie Bao, a favored concubine of Great Uncle Hua Tai.

From Auntie Bao, she learned that as a concubine, she had no autonomy whatsoever. To see her family, both the master and the primary wife had to nod in agreement.

The Third Master was nearly as old as her father; she truly didn't know how to interact with him.

And as for the Third Master's wife, Madam Shen, she was rumored to be extremely difficult to deal with.

Madam Zhong was considered easygoing, but Auntie Bao had told her that several of Great Uncle's concubines had been sold off by Madam Zhong.

Once she entered the He family, could she really invite her family to visit?

Madam Zhong could not stand Hua Wuniang's hesitation and once again commanded Sanlang: "Sanlang, come quickly and carry your fifth sister out."

Just as Hua Sanlang stood up, he was stopped by Hua Shilang: "I will carry my fifth sister out."

"Shili, you—"

Hua Shilang was only twelve years old. Hua Sanlang hesitated, but seeing him walk determinedly to Hua Wuniang and squat down, he ultimately did not stop him.

"Fifth Sister, I'll carry you out."

Looking at her younger brother, tears burst from Hua Wuniang's eyes again. She sobbed silently and leaned against his back.

Hua Shilang found the weight somewhat taxing, but he feigned ease: "Sister, don't worry. I will practice martial arts hard to be your backbone."

Hua Wuniang gave a choked "Mhm."

Watching Hua Wuniang walk out of the house step by step, the Hua family members also grew red-eyed.

Feeling uneasy, Hua Erniang tried to distract herself: "What's wrong with Ninth Sister? Fifth Sister is leaving today, yet she doesn't even come back to see her off. Is being a laborer so important that she disregards sisterly affection?"

The Hua family was somewhat dissatisfied with Hua Changxi's absence.

Old Madam Hua wanted to call Madam Yao over to scold her several times, but seeing that Hua Tai's couple and the Marquis Mansion's staff were present, she suppressed her anger.

Hua Wuniang was carried out of the Hua courtyard by Hua Shilang, with the family members following closely behind.

At the entrance of the Hua residence, a pink bridal sedan was parked. Nanny Shen, a servant from the household of the Third Master's primary wife, Madam Shen, stood arrogantly by the sedan door. Seeing Hua Wuniang approach, she showed no intention of stepping forward to assist.

Once Hua Wuniang sat in the sedan, Nanny Shen said directly, "After such a long delay, we have finally picked up Concubine Hua. It is time for us to return to the mansion."

She wasn't speaking to the Hua family, but to Hua Tai and his wife.

Hua Tai and his wife, acting as hosts, immediately began chatting with Nanny Shen without hesitation.

"It was only because Wuniang couldn't bear to leave her family that the Nanny was kept waiting. Please do not take offense."

"Wuniang hasn't properly learned anything at home. Once she enters the Marquis Mansion, we must trouble the Third Madam to discipline her well. We wouldn't want her to cause trouble for the Third Master and the Third Madam."

Hearing this, Nanny Shen's expression improved significantly, and a trace of a smile appeared at the corners of her mouth: "Once Concubine Hua enters the Marquis Mansion, she belongs to the Third Master. As the Third Master's primary wife, the Third Madam will naturally discipline the concubines well."

Auntie Hua the Fourth, pained for her daughter, still stepped forward to plead despite Nanny Shen's haughty attitude

"Nanny, our Wuniang is the most obedient and sensible girl. I beg you to tell the Third Master and Third Madam to look after her a little more."

Nanny Shen acted as if she hadn't heard her, not even bothering to respond.

Seeing Nanny Shen's impatience, Madam Zhong forcibly pulled Auntie Hua the Fourth to the back, then smiled at Nanny Shen: "Nanny, you may raise the sedan."

Nanny Shen nodded and was about to order the sedan bearers to move when a hurried voice rang out.

"Wait!"

The Hua family followed the sound and saw Hua Changxi running rapidly toward them.