[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-the-first-iron-rice-bowl-of-great-jin":3,"chapter-the-first-iron-rice-bowl-of-great-jin-the-first-iron-rice-bowl-of-great-jin-chapter-193":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"chinese","The First Iron Rice Bowl of Great Jin",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":20,"prevChapterSlug":21,"totalChapters":22,"novelImage":23},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":16,"volume":17,"translator":18,"content_hash":19},151879,261,"Chapter 193: Hidden Talents","the-first-iron-rice-bowl-of-great-jin-chapter-193",193,"\u003Cp>\"Hua Changxi!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Pang Shaoyu led a team of Embroidered Uniform Guards to the Weaponry Workshop for a shift change. As soon as he reached the street, he saw Hua Changxi standing among the crowd.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He had a deep impression of Hua Changxi. Whether it was her daring to provoke the Embroidered Uniform Guards the first time they met, or her outstanding medical skills, it was all unforgettable.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hua Changxi heard the call, turned toward the sound, and found it was Pang Shaoyu: \"Commander Pang, what a coincidence.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As soon as she finished speaking, the Embroidered Uniform Guard beside Pang Shaoyu hastily corrected, \"It's His Excellency the Thousand Commander.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hua Changxi was taken aback, then smiled and said, \"Congratulations, Thousand Commander Pang, on your promotion.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Pang Shaoyu waved his hand, telling the guards behind him to go ahead with the shift change. After sending them away, he gave a bitter smile. \"My uncle can no longer cultivate. He has already left the Northern Pacification Office. This promotion to Thousand Commander is just compensation from the Commissioner for my uncle's years of loyalty and risking his life.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After hearing this, Hua Changxi's eyes flickered. Wanting to learn more about the imperial family's situation, she probed, \"Although your uncle's spiritual root is severely damaged, it's not beyond repair.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Spiritual plants and medicines to repair spiritual roots are rare, and ordinary people can't obtain them. But the imperial family definitely has them. Your uncle was the Pacification Commissioner of the Northern Pacification Office, with great merit. It shouldn't be too difficult for him to request some precious medicine, right?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hearing this, Pang Shaoyu's expression turned unpleasant. \"A Pacification Commissioner is just a fifth-rank official.\" Although his words said that, his expression revealed the resentment in his heart.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In other departments, a fifth-rank position is indeed not high, but the Northern and Southern Pacification Commissioners of the Embroidered Uniform Guards are known to the Emperor, and can be considered powerful ministers close to the imperial heart.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>My uncle left the Northern Pacification Office ostensibly because his spiritual root was damaged and he could no longer cultivate. But in reality, the imperial family had their eyes on the position of Northern Pacification Commissioner.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When my uncle was severely injured, the higher-ups didn't even arrange for a skilled physician to treat him. If I hadn't timely brought Hua Changxi, my uncle might have been left to die.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The imperial family was eager for my uncle to vacate the position quickly, so they could have a legitimate reason to install someone else. Why would they provide precious medicine to treat him?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His promotion to Thousand Commander was merely a compensatory measure by the Commissioner to avoid making subordinates too disheartened.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Pang Shaoyu remembered his uncle's instruction to cultivate a good relationship with Hua Changxi, so he proactively revealed, \"In the past two years, the imperial family has been placing Chu clan members everywhere. Now every department in the court has their presence. Officials without background or backing can only vacate their positions for them.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hua Changxi didn't comment on this matter but asked, \"Are there many cultivators among the imperial clan?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Pang Shaoyu nodded solemnly. \"Many. Even though people born with spiritual roots are few, the imperial family possesses the Human Seed Fruit Tree. Using Human Seed Fruits, they can refine Rebirth Pills. Taken together with attribute spirit pills, they can create acquired spiritual roots.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Because of the Human Seed Fruit Tree, not only have a large number of imperial clan members become cultivators, but the imperial family has also recruited many former high-grade martial artists. High-grade martial artists were already formidable in combat, and after embarking on the path of cultivation, their strength has skyrocketed.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hearing this, Hua Changxi gained a preliminary understanding of the imperial family's formidable foundation. However, heavenly treasures like the Human Seed Fruit Tree were definitely not in unlimited supply.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just as she wanted to ask further, she noticed an \"unusual\" middle-aged male cultivator outside the Weaponry Workshop.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The reason it was unusual was that from spiritual energy perception, that person appeared to be only a mid Core Formation cultivator; but through her Observation, Auscultation, and Inquiry technique, she \"saw\" a Nascent Soul floating above his dantian.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Pang Shaoyu noticed Hua Changxi's unusual reaction, followed her gaze, and his face immediately darkened. \"That man is the new Northern Pacification Commissioner who replaced my uncle, Chu Zhufeng.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hua Changxi's eyes flickered. \"The imperial family really has hidden dragons and crouching tigers.\" She paused, \"Even the Commissioner has come. You must not be here just to guard the Weaponry Workshop, right?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Pang Shaoyu genuinely wanted to befriend Hua Changxi, but he also knew that if he couldn't offer corresponding value, she wouldn't bother with him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He had never been able to gauge Hua Changxi's cultivation level, but he was certain that her strength was definitely above his.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She was stronger than him, and also knew alchemy and medicine. To befriend someone like her, as an Embroidered Uniform Guard, what he could offer in exchange was some information unknown to outsiders.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"The Weaponry Workshop is home to generations of blacksmiths. According to our intelligence, many of them received inheritance of artifact forging after the spiritual energy revival.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Alchemy, artifact forging, talisman making, and formation setting are not things one can learn casually. Mastering them is even more difficult. The Weaponry Workshop has already produced a batch of artifact forgers with decent skills. Those people are precious talents, so naturally the imperial family wants to recruit them.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Part of our Embroidered Uniform Guards' mission is to register and investigate those artifact forgers one by one.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At this point, Pang Shaoyu lowered his voice. \"The reason Chu Zhufeng came in person is because he wants to secretly find the successor of the Artifact Saint Palace.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"The Fusang Divine Tree only flashed a few times, causing the spiritual energy around the Weaponry Workshop to surge, leading countless fire spiritual root cultivators to break through. One can imagine that after the sacred land opens, it will definitely be an unparalleled cultivation paradise.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Not only does the imperial family wish to possess it, but other noble families are also extremely covetous.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Pang Shaoyu looked at Hua Changxi and suddenly said, \"You came today to see your father and brother, right?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hua Changxi: \"You know my father and brother?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Pang Shaoyu smiled. \"I'm an Embroidered Uniform Guard; gathering intelligence is the most basic survival skill. We've dealt with each other a few times, so I won't hide it. I've investigated your family privately.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"When the Embroidered Uniform Guards come here on missions, we inevitably have to deal with the Demon Suppression Army and the Six Fan Bureau. I've met your father and brother, so I recognized them.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hua Changxi heard this and said nothing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Pang Shaoyu, afraid she might be angry, added, \"The situation at the Weaponry Workshop is complicated now, and all sides are making moves. You should remind your father and brother not to rush into things, lest they be used as pawns and lose their lives without knowing why.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hua Changxi: \"Thank you for the reminder. I will.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just as Pang Shaoyu was about to say something, he saw Hua Minghe and Hua Dalang, who had spotted Hua Changxi, approaching together.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Ninth Sister!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Father, Elder Brother.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As soon as Hua Minghe and Hua Dalang drew near, and Hua Changxi had just called out to them, Pang Shaoyu smiled and quickly stepped forward to greet them and introduce himself.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I am Pang Shaoyu, a Qianhu of the Jinyiwei, and a friend of Hall Master Hua. If Uncle Hua and Brother Hua ever have need of me in the future, please don't stand on ceremony.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I won't disturb your conversation. I'll take my leave first.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Pang Shaoyu had put on a full show of a low-profile initiative to befriend them, which rather surprised both Hua Minghe and Hua Dalang. Both had dealt with the Jinyiwei before, and every time they interacted, the Jinyiwei always had their eyes on top of their heads — how could they ever be so polite and friendly?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After Pang Shaoyu left, the father and son both looked at Hua Changxi, with unusual emotions flickering in their eyes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At this moment, Hua Changxi was wearing a red Dharma robe refined by Tong Yao. She looked both valiant and capable, as well as flamboyant and dazzling. Standing among the crowd, she could be said to be like a crane among chickens — impossible to ignore.\u003C\u002Fp>",1417,"2026-05-29T04:10:26.746Z","2026-06-01T04:29:08.487Z",1,"deepseek-v4-flash","50c9ed7cedc428bea4066c2e06658238f4d803d9d8301acec1055be12096e2ce","the-first-iron-rice-bowl-of-great-jin-chapter-194","the-first-iron-rice-bowl-of-great-jin-chapter-192",547,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fthe-first-iron-rice-bowl-of-great-jin-cover.jpg"]