Chapter 12: New Skill Unlocked

Hua Wuniang was taken away by Granny Zhou, who served by Madam Zhou.

Watching the carriage drive into the distance, the Hua family remained in profound silence.

Seeing Fourth Aunt Hua standing at the doorway, lost in thought for a long time, Hua Changxi could not help but step forward again: "Fourth Aunt, since you also don't want Fifth Sister to become a concubine, then hurry and call her back. It is not too late yet."

Fourth Aunt's eyes were red and her lips trembled; she looked as if she wanted to say something, but in the end, she said nothing.

The displeased voice of Old Madam Hua rang out: "Hua Jiuniang, who let you out? Matters of adults are not for a young lady like you to meddle in."

"Fourth Aunt!"

Hua Changxi called out to Fourth Aunt once more, but Fourth Aunt only lowered her head without responding.

Seeing this, Hua Changxi felt powerless. Noticing that Old Madam Hua was struggling to suppress her rage, and not wanting to be locked in the side room again—which would jeopardize the Medical Bureau apprentice exam in four days—she obediently returned to her room.

Back in her own room, Hua Changxi drifted into a daze.

Watching Hua Wuniang's ordeal, she couldn't help but think of herself.

Before this, she had been generally satisfied with being born into the Hua family.

Although the elders practiced favoritism toward males and family resources were skewed toward the sons, the young ladies of the house had not suffered any real mistreatment.

However, once Hua Wuniang's situation unfolded, her perspective changed.

For the sake of the family's males, a young lady could be sacrificed.

Today it was Hua Wuniang; tomorrow it could be her.

Though she had been fortunate enough to obtain the opportunity for cultivation, she still knew nothing about the intricacies of it. She had no way of knowing what the future held for her.

The only thing she could do now was to pass the exam for the Medical Bureau and work hard to raise her medical inheritance level.

For the next few days, the Hua courtyard was somewhat silent. Hua Changxi stayed quietly in her room, focusing on her cultivation.

In the blink of an eye, the twentieth of the ninth month arrived. Before dawn, accompanied by Hua Liulang, Hua Changxi left the house and headed straight for the Medical Bureau.

"The Medical Bureau is not that easy to enter."

Seeing Lady Yao standing at the doorway watching the two children's receding figures, Hua Minghe walked over. "I've made some inquiries. Many people are applying for the Medical Bureau this time; Jiuniang might not be able to get in."

Lady Yao showed a look of disagreement. "Even Pharmacist Xu recognizes Jiuniang's medical skills."

Hua Minghe sighed. "In the government, having ability is important, but connections are more important."

Lady Yao frowned. "Would people with connections care about a mere apprentice position at the Medical Bureau?"

Hua Minghe: "Every family has relatives. The nobles might not care, but the relatives of the nobles do."

"Many people are eyeing the Medical Bureau. When Sanlang was fifteen, I thought about letting him enter, but unfortunately, his medical skills weren't proficient enough and he failed. Even when I tried to pull strings, I couldn't make it work."

Lady Yao let out a surprised "Ah!" "Why didn't I hear you mention this to Sanlang?"

Hua Minghe: "Why mention something that wasn't accomplished? Besides, Sanlang is grown now; he has his pride."

Lady Yao frowned. "Is the Medical Bureau really that difficult to enter?"

Hua Minghe: "The Medical Bureau is a government office. No matter how powerless or desolate an office is, people flock to it. Moreover, the Medical Bureau is not desolate; it is a place even the Emperor keeps an eye on."

Lady Yao was filled with worry. "So, according to you, there is a high probability that Jiuniang won't get in?"

Hua Minghe let out a long sigh. "Our daughter is high-spirited; in her bones, she possesses a certain naive and stubborn refusal to submit to anyone."

"You were right to let her take the exam. Let her fall a few times; then she will realize how cruel the outside world is."

Just as Lady Yao was about to speak, there was a loud *splash* as a basin of water was thrown from behind, spilling onto the street in front of the door and kicking up a cloud of dust.

"Mother!"

Hua Minghe and Lady Yao turned around to see Old Madam Hua standing behind them, holding a wooden basin.

"You two are getting more and more capable! Letting a young lady like Jiuniang apply for the Medical Bureau without even telling the family—do you even care about this household?"

Having said that, Old Madam Hua turned and stomped back into the courtyard with the basin in hand.

Hua Minghe and Lady Yao hurried to follow her.

"Mother, it's not that we didn't tell the family. Regarding Jiuniang's application, we actually didn't hold much hope; we just let her take the exam for practice."

"We didn't tell the family because we didn't want everyone to worry along with us..."

Because of Old Madam Hua's sudden appearance, the entire Hua family knew that Hua Changxi was attending the Medical Bureau apprentice exam today before she even reached the examination hall.

The Medical Bureau was located in the northeast of the capital, occupying a vast area that spanned three entire streets, several times larger than an ordinary residential ward.

By the time Hua Changxi and Hua Liulang arrived, a large crowd had already gathered at the entrance of the Medical Bureau.

"So many people!"

Seeing the continuous stream of examinees entering the Medical Bureau, Hua Liulang was somewhat speechless.

Someone nearby immediately chimed in: "I heard thousands are applying this time, but the Medical Bureau only accepts 200 people."

Hua Liulang swallowed hard and looked at Hua Changxi. "Jiuniang, with so many people, can you actually get in?"

Looking at the plaque of the Medical Bureau, Hua Changxi's eyes flashed with determination. "Sixth Brother, go home. I'm going in."

With that, she took out her admission permit and joined the queue.

The Medical Bureau was the gathering place for the greatest medical masters of the Great Jin Dynasty. Even to enter as an apprentice, one's medical knowledge had to reach a certain standard.

In the past, recruiting apprentices only required a written exam, but this time, a practical medicinal processing stage had been added.

Hua Changxi was very confident in herself. While her previous self had serious deficiencies regarding martial artist medicinal herbs, the *Commentary on the Classic of a Hundred Herbs* had compensated for this.

As for processing medicinal herbs, that was even easier.

In her past life, she had followed her grandfather since she could walk, learning how to process traditional Chinese medicine. In this life, she had also helped at the Hua family pharmacy for several years; many of the herbs sold by the Hua family were processed by her.

The written exam tested the accumulation of medical knowledge. After browsing through the questions, Hua Changxi felt prepared and began answering them calmly.

Because the competition was so fierce, she intentionally submitted her paper first to ensure the proctors would notice her as a "promising talent."

Once the written exam ended, without giving her time to rest, she was directly led by a medical officer to a plaza.

Several rows of wooden tables were set up in the plaza, each with several stalks of medicinal herbs placed upon them.

The medical officer led Hua Changxi to a wooden table and beckoned to someone in a room on the west side of the plaza. Shortly after, a middle-aged medical officer arrived carrying paper and a brush.

"Someone finished the written exam so quickly? I heard this time's exam wasn't simple."

The middle-aged medical officer sized up Hua Changxi and smiled. "She didn't just walk out without answering the questions, did she?"

The guiding officer cupped his hands in greeting. "Greetings, Medical Officer Sun." He then added with a smile, "I am only responsible for guiding. Whether she answered or not, I wouldn't know. I have brought her here; Medical Officer Sun, please supervise her practical exam."

Only after the guiding officer left did Medical Officer Sun turn his gaze toward Hua Changxi.

Hua Changxi performed a formal bow, mimicking the guiding officer's greeting. "This girl, Hua Changxi, greets Lord Sun."

Seeing this, the middle-aged officer raised an eyebrow and chuckled. Without saying much more, he pointed to the herbs on the table. "Process these five medicinal herbs."

There were five herbs on the table: three were ordinary herbs, and two were herbs used by martial artists.

Hua Changxi had processed ordinary herbs before, but she had never handled those two martial artist herbs.

However, the *Commentary on the Classic of a Hundred Herbs* provided detailed explanations of their medicinal properties, so she could process them according to those properties.

With this thought, Hua Changxi began to act.

The first step in processing herbs was cleaning—removing dust and soil from them.

As soon as Hua Changxi finished cleaning one herb, a line of text suddenly jumped into her vision.

[Pure Cleansing Technique (Beginner): Cleaning Herbs 1/10]

Hua Changxi's eyelids flickered. Suppressing the excitement in her heart, she continued cleaning seriously. Once all five herbs were cleaned, the text in her vision changed.

[Pure Cleansing Technique (Beginner): Cleaning Herbs 5/10]

After cleaning, the next step was processing.

Processing methods included water-based, fire-based, and combined water-and-fire methods.

Based on their properties, the five herbs on the table only required the fire-based method.

Hua Changxi took the cleaned herbs to a nearby iron stove to roast them, determining the degree of drying based on their medicinal properties.

Seeing her skillful movements and smooth operation, Medical Officer Sun couldn't help but speak. "Does anyone in your family practice medicine?"

Hua Changxi quickly replied with a smile, "To answer Lord Sun, my family runs a pharmacy, and my grandmother's family are medicinal merchants."

Medical Officer Sun had a "just as I thought" expression. "No wonder you are so proficient at processing herbs." He then proceeded to ask a few more questions about the Hua family.

Upon learning that although the Hua family had members working in the government, they were all low-level clerks, he lost interest in asking further.

At that moment, a group of people pushed several large carts of medicinal herbs through the plaza, led by a fair-faced, beardless eunuch.

Looking at the herbs on the carts, Hua Changxi felt a surge of heat in her heart.

Those were herbs she had never seen outside, yet they were all recorded in the *Commentary on the Classic of a Hundred Herbs*.

Seeing the newcomer, Medical Officer Sun immediately greeted him with a beaming smile. "Is Eunuch Jia returning from the medicinal manor?"

Eunuch Jia waved his hand to signal his men to keep moving, but he stopped himself. Instead of returning the greeting, he asked, "Medical Officer Sun, why is this place arranged like this?"

Medical Officer Sun smiled. "Eunuch Jia must be losing his memory; have you forgotten that today is the day for recruiting new apprentices?"

Eunuch Jia let out a long "Oh," and then said nothing more. Instead, he looked at Hua Changxi, who was roasting the herbs. "Not bad, your technique is very proficient. It seems the Apprentice Hall is about to gain another talent."

Medical Officer Sun, however, sighed. "I hope you are right. The tasks assigned by the Minister have become heavier these past two years; the Apprentice Hall is almost overwhelmed. If we can truly recruit useful people, it will lighten our load."

Eunuch Jia tilted his chin toward Hua Changxi. "Isn't the talent right before your eyes? If the Apprentice Hall had a bit more backbone, why would you worry about a lack of useful people?"

Having said that, without waiting for a response, Eunuch Jia added, "This old one has matters to attend to, so I won't stay to chat. Farewell."

Watching Eunuch Jia stride away, Medical Officer Sun gave a restrained "Tch."

Did the Apprentice Hall not want more backbone? But did they have powerful backers?

The Apprentice Hall, along with the Servitor Hall and the Disciple Hall, were all core departments of the Medical Bureau. The Servitor Hall had people from the Palace backing them, and the Disciple Hall was personally overseen by the Supervisor. Only the Apprentice Hall was like a stepchild; anyone could meddle in its affairs.

Medical Officer Sun felt he had been mocked by Eunuch Jia. The more he thought about it, the angrier he became, and he suddenly turned back to look at Hua Changxi.

Seeing that Hua Changxi was focused on roasting the herbs and hadn't been peeking in his direction at all, Sun Zhigang felt a trace of regret.

If only this examinee had been even slightly improper, he would have had someone to vent his anger upon.

Before long, an unfamiliar medical officer arrived with five examinees.

Hua Changxi only glanced up at them. Seeing that three out of the five were women, she was slightly surprised but didn't think much of it and continued focusing on her work.

Once she finished processing one herb, a line of text immediately appeared in her vision: [Encyclopedia of Processing (Beginner): Processing Herbs 1/10]

Hua Changxi was overjoyed; a new technique had appeared.

Coming to the Medical Bureau was indeed the right choice; she had unlocked two new techniques at once.

While Hua Changxi was momentarily stunned, Medical Officer Sun walked over and said to her, "That's enough. You may leave."

Hua Changxi snapped out of it and looked at the herbs still being roasted. "The herbs aren't finished being processed yet."

Medical Officer Sun: "That is not your concern. Just leave."

Hua Changxi frowned slightly. Seeing Medical Officer Sun's impatient expression, she was worried he might give her a bad review. She didn't dare stay longer; she placed the processed herbs on the table and walked slowly toward the exit.

She didn't leave immediately. She turned the corner of the plaza and, seeing no one around, stopped and peeked back toward the plaza from the corner.

The sight she saw immediately filled her with rage.

The five newly arrived examinees were all handing notes to Medical Officer Sun.

Though Medical Officer Sun looked somewhat reluctant, he accepted all five notes.

Hua Changxi wanted to rush over and catch them red-handed, but in the end, she suppressed the impulse.

If she pretended not to see, she might still have a chance to enter the Medical Bureau. If she ran out and made a scene, she feared she would never have another chance.

However, could she really enter the Medical Bureau solely on her own medical skills?

She hadn't even finished processing those five herbs.

Passing the exam was too important to Hua Changxi; she didn't want to go back like this.

If her name wasn't on the recruitment list in three days, she would be truly lost.

Hua Changxi thought of Pharmacist Xu and knew he worked on Ninth Street of the Medical Bureau, so she sought him out while avoiding others.

Her luck was quite good; Ninth Street was right next to the plaza.

"Ninth Street, Number Twelve."

Following the address Pharmacist Xu had given her, Hua Changxi found the pharmacy at Number Twelve, Ninth Street, where he worked. Just then, someone was coming out, so she hurried forward. "Greetings, sir. I am looking for Pharmacist Xu. Could you please inform him?"

Soon, Pharmacist Xu came out.

"Jiuniang, what are you doing here?"

Seeing Hua Changxi, Pharmacist Xu was surprised at first, then quickly pulled her into an alley. "The Medical Bureau does not allow outsiders to wander around freely."

"Are you here for the exam?"

Hua Changxi nodded and quickly recounted what had happened at the plaza. "Uncle Xu, that Medical Officer Sun sent me away before I could even finish processing the herbs. Does this mean I won't be recruited?"

Pharmacist Xu fell silent. Looking at Hua Changxi's pleading eyes, he sighed. "Jiuniang, come back and take the exam the next time they recruit apprentices."

Hua Changxi's expression grew urgent. "Why?"

At this, Pharmacist Xu's tone became somewhat sharp. "Why else? The slots have all been taken."

Hua Changxi: "Didn't you tell me before that they were recruiting 50 female apprentices this time? Surely all 50 slots haven't been taken?"

Pharmacist Xu said nothing, which was a silent confirmation.

Hua Changxi's eyes widened. "All 50 are really taken?"

Pharmacist Xu: "This wouldn't normally happen, but I don't know what's going on this time. Many noble families are trying to stuff people into the Medical Bureau."

"Do you know? Even the young ladies from the Duke's manor came to join in."

Hua Changxi's brow furrowed. "Why would noble families care about an apprentice position at the Medical Bureau? Don't they find it undignified?"

Pharmacist Xu: "Positions at the Medical Bureau are actually quite sought after. Noble families have a habit of training medical women to serve as dowries for their daughters."

"And where is the best place to train them? The Medical Bureau!"

Hua Changxi was incensed. Once her emotions settled, she immediately looked at Pharmacist Xu pleadingly. "Uncle Xu, I must get into the Medical Bureau. Please help me. I will surely reward you handsomely in the future."

Pharmacist Xu looked troubled. "I have no say in the recruitment of apprentices."

Hearing this, Hua Changxi fell silent. After a moment, her expression turned fierce. "I'll go back and find that Medical Officer Sun. If he doesn't recruit me, I'll tell everyone about him taking notes."

Pharmacist Xu was startled and grabbed her. "Oh, my dear girl, you must not do that! Even if your threat works and you actually get into the Medical Bureau, what awaits you will be a series of retaliations. In the end, you will still be kicked out."

He paused.

"How about this: I'll go find Medical Officer Wang, who is a friend of mine in the Apprentice Hall, and see if I can pull some strings for you."

Upon hearing this, Hua Changxi's face instantly brightened.

Pharmacist Xu added, "But don't pin too much hope on it. Although the Medical Bureau is different from other government offices, it is still a government office, and everything within it is intricately connected."

"Just like this recruitment in the Apprentice Hall—the Apprentice Hall doesn't actually have much say in what kind of people are recruited."

Hua Changxi fell silent, her head hanging low. "Uncle Xu, I understand. I've caused you trouble."

Pharmacist Xu thought for a moment and then advised, "Jiuniang, listen to your uncle. If you can't get in this time, we'll try next time. I don't believe the nobles can occupy every single slot every single time."

Hua Changxi managed a forced smile. "Alright, I'll listen to you, Uncle Xu. You go back to your work; I'll head home now."

Pharmacist Xu was still uneasy. "Don't go looking for that Medical Officer Sun, do you hear me?"

Hua Changxi nodded. "I won't. I was just speaking out of anger."

Pharmacist Xu gave a few more instructions before entering the pharmacy, looking back several times.

Knowing that she most likely wouldn't get into the Medical Bureau, Hua Changxi was extremely unwilling.

If her medical skills were insufficient, she would accept it, but that wasn't the case.

Although she had verbally promised Pharmacist Xu not to look for Medical Officer Sun, her feet uncontrollably led her back toward the plaza.

By this time, the plaza was already crowded with examinees participating in the practical exam.

The proctoring officers were no longer just Medical Officer Sun, but about a dozen other medical officers as well.

Hua Changxi thought that if she hadn't submitted her paper early, she might not have witnessed the scene of Medical Officer Sun accepting those notes.