Chapter 38: Bound by Good and Bad

Chapter 38: Relying on Each Other Through Good and Bad

Hua Changxi stood at the entrance of the dormitory, watching Eunuch Lu and Manager Leng. She was quite surprised; she hadn't expected Eunuch Lu to come in person.

Eunuch Lu had personally delivered the medicine and was personally supervising the brewing. It seemed he intended to stay until he had personally seen that the poisoned female servants had taken their medicine.

This confirmed one thing for Hua Changxi: the prescription she had provided was worth far more than she had imagined.

It made sense. The First Bureau must have encountered many cases of poisoning due to improper medicinal processing, yet they had never found a definitive cure.

If Eunuch Lu could help the First Bureau solve this problem, he would likely earn a massive favor from them.

In Hua Changxi's view, the poison affecting Lu Qingluo and the others wasn't difficult to neutralize. She wondered if the First Bureau simply couldn't afford a skilled physician, or if the Medical Bureau had failed to thoroughly research the properties of these herbs.

Soon, the medicine was ready.

Bowls of steaming medicinal soup were delivered to the twenty female servants who had been poisoned by improper processing. After taking the medicine, the women quickly fell asleep.

Manager Leng, undeterred by the trouble, went around to check on them one by one. After finishing, she said to Eunuch Lu, "They are all asleep, looking very peaceful. They aren't shivering or breaking out in cold sweats like before."

Eunuch Lu's eyes flickered. "That is very good."

Manager Leng suddenly spoke up loudly, "Eunuch Lu, you stayed up all night for these women, and you've been running around all day today, pleading with so many people just to get this medicine. Now that they are fine, you should go back and rest."

Eunuch Lu looked at Manager Leng with a smile, his eyes full of satisfaction. "They are our people. Even though this happened in the First Bureau, we cannot simply ignore them. As long as they recover, it is nothing for me to bow my head and beg for help."

Upon hearing this, the third-in-command managers of the Sixth Bureau stepped forward one after another to thank Eunuch Lu. The female servants in the courtyard didn't dare approach to speak, but they watched Eunuch Lu with moved expressions.

Accepting everyone's gratitude, Eunuch Lu solemnly instructed Manager Leng, "I won't wait here any longer, lest I make you feel uncomfortable. However, you must keep a close watch. No matter how late it is, if anything happens, you must tell me."

Manager Leng said, moved, "Rest assured, Eunuch Lu. I will look after them."

Eunuch Lu did not linger and left the Sixth Bureau. Before leaving, he cast a glance at Hua Changxi, who was standing at the dormitory entrance, and gave Manager Leng a meaningful look.

After he left, Manager Leng sent the people in the courtyard back to their rooms to rest, leaving only Du Ruo behind.

"Go call Hua Changxi here."

Du Ruo glanced at Manager Leng and went into the room to call Hua Changxi out.

Manager Leng smiled at Hua Changxi. "You've been in the Servant Hall for over three months now, haven't you?"

Hua Changxi gave a brief "Mhm."

Manager Leng didn't mind her cold attitude and continued smiling, "Only three months—you're still a newcomer by count. However, your actions in the Servant Hall don't act like a newcomer at all."

"A newcomer wouldn't be as bold as you."

"It's one thing to strike people in the Sixth Bureau, but you even went to the warehouse to cause trouble and fight. I heard you even got into a scuffle at the Internal Affairs Office a few days ago. How can you be so reckless? Aren't you afraid the Servant Hall will kick you out?"

Hua Changxi remained silent, her expression unchanging.

Seeing this, Manager Leng raised an eyebrow and smiled again. "Of course, other newcomers aren't as capable as you. Tasks that take a full day, you finish in less than half a day."

"Speaking of which, Du Ruo, I have a few words of criticism for you."

Manager Leng suddenly shifted the topic to Du Ruo, causing Du Ruo's expression to change.

Just as Du Ruo was about to explain, Manager Leng continued, "With such a capable person arriving in our Sixth Bureau, why didn't you report her to me?"

As she spoke, Manager Leng looked at Hua Changxi with a smile again. "If I had known Changxi was so efficient, I would have certainly assigned her more tasks. That way, she could earn more silver."

Hearing this, Hua Changxi finally reacted.

Time was her most precious resource. If most of her day was consumed by duties, her time for cultivation and for refining medicine at the Qihuang Pavilion would be drastically reduced.

"Manager Leng, that prescription was a gift of filial piety to Eunuch Lu. I make my living under his command; I will follow the rules I am supposed to follow."

Manager Leng's long speech was entirely aimed at the prescription.

Eunuch Lu wanted not just the profit, but the prestige as well.

Manager Leng laughed, sizing up Hua Changxi. "I thought so. If a girl can catch the eye of Eunuch Jia, she certainly can't be just some reckless hothead."

Having received Hua Changxi's implicit answer, Manager Leng had no desire to stay outside in the cold. She said to both Hua Changxi and Du Ruo, "Alright, it's getting late. I'll go check on the others again. You two should go back and rest."

Once Manager Leng was far away, Du Ruo looked at Hua Changxi with a complex expression.

Hua Changxi didn't bother guessing her thoughts and asked directly, "Is there anything else, Manager Du?"

Du Ruo fell silent for a moment before saying, "On behalf of those poisoned female servants, thank you." If Hua Changxi hadn't provided the prescription, no one knew what would have happened to them.

She had heard many stories of servants from the First and Second Bureaus being poisoned by improper medicinal processing; due to lack of timely treatment, some went mad, some lost their ability to move, and some died.

Hua Changxi smiled slightly. "Manager Du, I am a physician." With that, she turned and went back to her dormitory.

Du Ruo was stunned. She understood what Hua Changxi meant: a physician saves lives not for thanks, but for the sake of the healer's heart.

The day after taking the medicine, Wang Yunchu and the others were able to move freely. Consequently, everyone in the Sixth Bureau was expressing their gratitude to Eunuch Lu.

Hearing this, Hua Changxi said nothing. After finishing her duties, she intended to go to the Qihuang Pavilion to refine medicine, but she was intercepted by Wang Yunchu halfway there.

"Hua Changxi, thank you."

Hua Changxi had given the prescription to Du Ruo in front of their roommates, so Wang Yunchu and the others all knew that the female servants were saved thanks to her.

Now that Eunuch Lu had taken the credit, they didn't dare say anything, but Wang Yunchu felt she should thank Hua Changxi personally.

Hua Changxi replied, "You're welcome."

Seeing her apparent haste to leave, Wang Yunchu hesitated before explaining, "Hua Changxi, I wasn't the one spreading those rumors about you."

"I know you probably thought it was me, but I swear, it definitely wasn't."

"I admit I didn't like you much before, but I've suffered because of a bad reputation myself. I would never maliciously smear someone else's name."

Hua Changxi watched her make the swearing gesture and paused. "Fine, I understand. Is there anything else?"

Wang Yunchu seemed to hesitate. "Are you going to the Qihuang Pavilion to see Eunuch Yu again?"

Hua Changxi did not deny it.

Wang Yunchu looked around and lowered her voice. "Be careful. There are people in the warehouse specifically watching you. The reason your business with Eunuch Yu is known by everyone is because someone is intentionally causing trouble behind the scenes."

Hearing this, Hua Changxi frowned.

People in the warehouse were watching her?

The only person she had offended in the warehouse was Mao Wei, whom she had knocked out. She hadn't seen him for a while; Yu Hui said he had been transferred to the medicinal farm.

Wang Yunchu looked at her, appearing as if she had something difficult to say.

Hua Changxi stared at her. "What exactly are you trying to say?"

Wang Yunchu said, "Changxi, other female servants want a better life, so they associate closely with certain eunuchs. I can understand that. But you are so capable; you don't need to rely on anyone. Why must you be like them?"

Hua Changxi's eyelid twitched. "I am simply working for Eunuch Yu. It is not what you think."

Wang Yunchu let out an "Ah."

Regardless of whether she believed her or not, Hua Changxi added, "Thank you for telling me just now. I will be careful. Is there anything else?"

Wang Yunchu shook her head quickly.

Hua Changxi: "Good. I'll get back to work."

Upon arriving at the Qihuang Pavilion and seeing Yu Hui there, Hua Changxi told him about the matter of the warehouse people watching her.

After hearing this, Yu Hui immediately stated, "I will tell Godfather about this. Don't worry, I will definitely find the person spreading these rumors about you and Godfather."

Hua Changxi said, "The rumors are secondary. I am worried about our collaboration in refining medicine. If people find out, I fear it will cause trouble."

Yu Hui's expression grew even more serious. "I will investigate immediately. Focus on your refining."

Once he left, Hua Changxi immersed herself in refining medicine. It was three days later by the time she finished processing this batch of discarded herbs.

After the toxins were cleared from Wang Yunchu and the others, the matter of the prescription had become a closed chapter for Hua Changxi. Who could have guessed that on the twenty-third day of the twelfth lunar month, Manager Leng would find her again.

"You want me to go help at the First Bureau?"

Hua Changxi was actually hoping to quickly upgrade the *Complete Manual of Medicinal Processing* to perfection, so being sent to the First Bureau was exactly what she wanted. However, she maintained an expression of surprise and resistance.

After all, just a few days ago, her colleagues from the Sixth Bureau had been ruthlessly turned away from the First Bureau after being poisoned.

Manager Leng smiled. "Eunuch Lu knows you understand pharmacology and that your medical skills are quite good, which is why he gave you this opportunity."

Hua Changxi gave a silent, cynical laugh in her heart.

Seeing her silence, Manager Leng continued, "To ensure the herbs are processed before the New Year, the First Bureau has even requested help from the apprentices in the Apprentice Hall."

"I heard from Eunuch Lu that you previously applied to the Apprentice Hall. I assume you wanted to enter the Apprentice Hall to study medicine and pharmacology. This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for you."

"Working alongside the 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 by observing them."

"The apprentices of the Medical Bureau are not like those in outside clinics; they have real skills. Even if you only learn a tiny fraction of their expertise, it will be enough to benefit you for a lifetime."

Hua Changxi didn't want to listen to her nonsense and waste her time, so she immediately stated, "Manager Leng, I'll go."

Hearing this, Manager Leng nodded with a smile. "That's the spirit. Come, I'll lead you to the First Bureau."

Hua Changxi was surprised. "Right now?"

Manager Leng: "The workload at the First Bureau is heavy. Today is the Little New Year, and the actual New Year is only a few days away. Naturally, we must hurry."

The First Bureau was smaller than the Third Bureau, but it had even more courtyards, each filled with various herbs drying in the sun.

Processing herbs required knowledge of pharmacology and certain processing techniques. Compared to the servants in the Third Bureau who were only responsible for washing herbs, the servants in the First and Second Bureaus were considered technical personnel.

Manager Leng led Hua Changxi to a two-entry courtyard.

"Eunuch Bao, this is Hua Changxi, recommended by Eunuch Lu."

Manager Leng walked toward a eunuch in his twenties with a beaming smile. After they chatted for a while, they turned their attention to Hua Changxi.

Eunuch Bao sized her up. "Since she was recommended by Eunuch Lu, I shall make use of her for the time being."

As he spoke, he beckoned a male manager over.

"Take her to process Ironwood Root."

A few days ago, Wang Yunchu and the others had been poisoned after being pricked by Ironwood Root while processing it.

Since this girl could neutralize the poison of Ironwood Root, it was assumed she would know how to process it.

Ironwood Root was extremely difficult to process; the roots were covered in barbs, and one could easily be injured if not careful.

In previous years, they could barely keep up with the supply. However, a month ago, the Director had issued a notice to expedite the processing of a batch of Ironwood Root to be sent to the Heaven Department after the New Year.

The Medical Bureau fell under the jurisdiction of the Heaven Department. Since the Heaven Department had issued the order, the Vice Director had personally visited the First Bureau to urge them to ensure the herbs were processed.

He was a close friend of Eunuch Lu. Knowing that Lu was under great pressure and in urgent need of experienced hands for processing, Lu had recommended Hua Changxi, who had cured the Ironwood Root poisoning.

After the male manager led Hua Changxi away, Manager Leng saw Eunuch Bao's uneasy expression and smiled. "Don't worry, Eunuch Bao. This Hua Changxi was personally recruited into the Servant Hall by Eunuch Jia. It is said he values her ability to handle medicinal herbs."

Eunuch Bao was somewhat surprised. "Recruited by Eunuch Jia himself?" After a thought, he added, "I have no more business here. Go back and thank Little Lu for me. When I am free, I will go find him for a drink."

Once Manager Leng left, Eunuch Bao was still uneasy and walked directly to the room where the Ironwood Root was being processed.

On the other side, Hua Changxi followed the male manager into a room filled with swirling steam. More than ten cauldrons in the room were glowing with fire, and the people inside were processing herbs using methods such as stir-frying, roasting, calcining, or simmering.

The manager's surname was Qin. He led Hua Changxi to a cauldron and pointed to several baskets of herbs nearby, asking, "Do you know how to process Ironwood Root?"

Hua Changxi did not answer immediately. Instead, she stepped forward to inspect them. Seeing that the baskets contained only Ironwood Root, she nodded. "I do."

Manager Qin glanced at her. "Do you need someone to assist you?"

Hua Changxi looked at the other cauldrons in the room and noticed there were four people at each one. Thinking of the processing methods she intended to use from the *Complete Manual of Medicinal Processing*, she said, "No, I can do it alone."

Hearing this, Manager Qin looked at her again and warned, "While there is some margin for error in processing herbs, if you destroy too many, you will be held responsible."

Hua Changxi smiled. "Thank you for the warning, Manager. I will be careful."

Manager Qin gave a grunt of acknowledgment and stopped bothering her, turning to supervise the others.

As soon as he left, Hua Changxi rolled up her sleeves and got to work. She first adjusted the heat. Once the cauldron reached her desired temperature, she took ten stalks of Ironwood Root at once and placed them in the cauldron to roast.

Eunuch Bao happened to walk in at that moment. Seeing Hua Changxi's bold move, his eyelid twitched. His most skilled processing servant only dared to process five stalks at a time.

It couldn't be helped; the medicinal properties of Ironwood Root were aggressive, and the roots were covered in fine barbs—and those barbs happened to be the most potent part of the herb. One could not lose focus for even a second during the process; a single slip would result in being pricked, allowing the "poison" of the Ironwood Root to enter the body through the wound.

To an ordinary person, Ironwood Root was "poisonous," but to a martial artist of the seventh rank or higher, it was a precious medicine used to convert internal strength into astral qi.

Not just Ironwood Root, but most herbs used by martial artists were "poisonous" to ordinary people due to their intense potency.

Worried that Hua Changxi would ruin the Ironwood Root, Eunuch Bao hurried forward to stop her. But as he approached, he saw the originally brown Ironwood Root gradually turning a vibrant, bright red.

A pharmacist from Second Street had once provided a standard for processing Ironwood Root: once roasted, the entire root should turn bright red for optimal quality.

Next, he saw Hua Changxi swiftly use tongs to pick out pieces of completely burnt charcoal, then directly placed the roasted Ironwood Root into the charcoal to calcine it.

Eunuch Bao's heart tightened; the operation was too crude. But before long, he saw a grayish-white scab-like layer forming on the surface of the Ironwood Root.

Then, after Hua Changxi used tongs to lift the Ironwood Root with the grayish-white scab, she sprinkled a few drops of water into the charcoal. Instantly, a burst of steam evaporated from the charcoal.

The moment the steam rose, Hua Changxi placed the scabbed Ironwood Root back on top to roast. In just a few seconds, the Ironwood Root turned bright red once again.

Seeing this, Eunuch Bao could no longer restrain himself. He stepped forward and stared intently at the ten processed stalks of Ironwood Root.

Seeing that Eunuch Bao was only watching and had no intention of questioning her, Hua Changxi did not take the initiative to explain. Instead, she began processing the second batch.

A quarter of an hour later, Eunuch Bao saw that the Ironwood Root Hua Changxi processed maintained its bright red color without changing, and he was overjoyed.

He had seen the Ironwood Root processed by the Second Street pharmacist, and it looked just like this.

No, the Ironwood Root processed by Hua Changxi was even redder than the pharmacist's, and the steps seemed much simpler.

The others in the room also gathered around. For no other reason than the fact that they were also processing Ironwood Root. To avoid "poisoning," most could only process one stalk at a time and required assistance from others.

While they hadn't paid much attention when Hua Changxi first entered, they were now watching her process the Ironwood Root with unblinking eyes.

Since she had started her cultivation, Hua Changxi had developed a habit: intense focus.

Just as she was being surrounded now, she was completely unaffected. Her mind was focused on only one thing: processing the Ironwood Root perfectly.

In the crowd, while everyone else was focused on the steps and methods of her processing, Lu Qingling was watching Hua Changxi herself.

Like Wang Yunchu, she couldn't understand why such a capable person would seek to rely on a eunuch, leading to the rumors spreading throughout the entire Servant Hall.

Soon, Hua Changxi finished another ten stalks of Ironwood Root.

She placed the processed roots into a specialized container before looking up at the others.

Eunuch Bao looked at her, his eyes shining. "Hua Changxi, can you teach the apprentices from the Apprentice Hall how to process Ironwood Root?"

Ironwood Root was difficult to process, and since all the servants from the Third Bureau who had come to help a few days ago had been "poisoned," the current processors were all apprentices brought in by Eunuch Bao from the Apprentice Hall.

Hua Changxi looked at Eunuch Bao. Following the principle of building good relations, she didn't hesitate much before agreeing. "I can."

Lu Qingling was surprised by her quick agreement.

From what she had heard from her sister, Hua Changxi was not a person who enjoyed helping others.

Seeing that Hua Changxi had given him face, Eunuch Bao smiled. "Don't worry, I won't mistreat you."

Hearing this and seeing Hua Changxi's satisfied smile, Lu Qingling suddenly realized.

Hua Changxi wasn't unwilling to help; she was just unwilling to help those who wouldn't bring her any reward.

This person was truly pragmatic!