[{"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-198":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},151884,261,"Chapter 198: Poison Tongue","the-first-iron-rice-bowl-of-great-jin-chapter-198",198,"\u003Cp>\"Hall Master!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing that Hua Changxi had finally returned to Qi Huang Hall, the other seven medicine apprentices all breathed a silent sigh of relief.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Entering the Thirteenth Qi Huang Hall, each of them carried a mission. First, to learn the art of alchemy; second, to investigate the secret of Qi Huang Hall; third, to gather information on Hua Changxi.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Who would have thought that Hua Changxi was no ordinary person? After meeting them once, she never came back to Qi Huang Hall.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hua Changxi looked at the seven medicine apprentices who followed Pharmacist Xu into the main hall: \"Do you have business?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The seven medicine apprentices sensed the impatience in Hua Changxi's tone and exchanged uneasy glances. Finally, Hua Shuran, relying on being of the same clan as Hua Changxi and the legitimate daughter of the Earl's manor, spoke first: \"Hall Master, we are here to receive your commands.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hua Changxi looked at the seven: \"You were not selected by me to enter the hall, so I have no commands for you.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At these words, Hua Shuran and the other six all showed stunned expressions. Even Pharmacist Xu had not expected Hua Changxi to be so blunt.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The room fell silent, the atmosphere somewhat tense.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hua Shuran and Hua Wanyue had not anticipated Hua Changxi being so inconsiderate. Both felt that Hua Changxi might not treat others as her own, but they were of the Hua clan and naturally on the same side—yet Hua Changxi's conduct clearly disregarded this.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He Sirong and He Siqi exchanged helpless glances. When they learned that their families had arranged their entry into the Thirteenth Qi Huang Hall without consulting Hua Changxi, they had guessed it would displease her. Yet they never expected Hua Changxi to be so repulsed that she wouldn't even bother with the pretense of superficial courtesy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhu Yu, Zhou Bin, and Wan Feng all lowered their heads, staring at the ground, their expressions still composed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hua Changxi took in the reactions of the seven: \"If there's nothing else, you may leave.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hearing this, Hua Shuran and the others exchanged looks but remained standing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He Sirong took a deep breath and stepped forward: \"Hall Master, the masters of other Qi Huang Halls all teach the medicine apprentices alchemy.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After hearing this, Hua Changxi turned to Pharmacist Xu: \"As for the medicine apprentices' alchemy, are the required spirit herbs also distributed by the Medical Bureau?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Pharmacist Xu shook his head: \"No, each month the Medical Bureau only distributes sixty portions of spirit herbs for refining first-grade spirit pills to each Qi Huang Hall.\" Spirit herbs were precious, so naturally they couldn't be supplied to medicine apprentices for practice.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hearing this, Hua Changxi smiled: \"So in that case, the Medical Bureau doesn't actually intend to train medicine apprentices. The medicine apprentices in each Qi Huang Hall are just menial laborers helping with rough work?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Uh...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Pharmacist Xu gave an awkward smile and did not respond.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The others once again experienced Hua Changxi's sharp tongue. What menial laborers? They were not lowly people. Anyone who could enter Qi Huang Hall came from a powerful background. They were merely stooping to stay in the Thirteenth Qi Huang Hall because they had a purpose.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hua Changxi asked again: \"Has this month's spirit herb quota been distributed?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Pharmacist Xu nodded: \"Yes, I went to collect the spirit herbs on the first day of the twelfth lunar month.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hua Changxi: \"Go and fetch thirty portions of spirit herbs.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Pharmacist Xu wanted to ask what the spirit herbs were for, but remembering his current subordinate relationship with Hua Changxi, he swallowed his words and went straight to fetch thirty portions.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hua Changxi inspected the quality of the spirit herbs. The processing and storage were mediocre, with over thirty percent showing signs of spiritual energy leakage.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It seemed the Miscellany Hall really lacked someone who truly knew how to handle spirit herbs!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thinking about it, it made sense. With the constant influx of various spirit herbs, unless one had inherited knowledge of spirit herbs, they probably couldn't even name them, let alone process them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You eight people, divide these thirty portions among yourselves. Those who take less this month will be compensated next month. From now on, do this every month.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Pharmacist Xu looked as if he wanted to say something, but seeing Hua Changxi's uncompromising expression, he quickly distributed the spirit herbs.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After he finished, Hua Changxi said: \"Alright, you've received your spirit herbs. You may leave.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hua Wanyue couldn't hold back: \"Hall Master, none of us know how to refine pills. Won't you teach us?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hearing this, Hua Changxi let out a light laugh and looked at the eight medicine apprentices: \"I know you all come from distinguished backgrounds. But in the Thirteenth Qi Huang Hall, your identity is that of medicine apprentices. If you can't recognize this, you'd best go back to where you came from as soon as possible.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She paused.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Remember, I did not ask you to come to the Thirteenth Qi Huang Hall. Before you entered, you should have prepared yourselves to be medicine apprentices. Now you turn around and make demands of me—do you assume I am obliged to take responsibility for you?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhu Yu spoke up: \"But the hall master does have the duty to teach the medicine apprentices.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hua Changxi: \"That's other hall masters, not me. I am who I am. If you have complaints, the door is right there. You can leave anytime.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At this, everyone fell silent.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A cold smile curled at the corner of Hua Changxi's mouth: \"Don't compare other Qi Huang Halls with ours. They are all in the same boat. But you and me? If you don't stab me in the back, I'll count my blessings. And yet you still expect me to teach you alchemy? Do you really take me for a fool?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Pharmacist Xu and the eight others: \"...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hua Changxi had said her piece, leaving Hua Shuran and the others with no choice but to withdraw from the main hall.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After Xu Yaoshi and the others left, he could only look at Hua Changxi helplessly: \"Ninth Lady, that's no way to run a hall.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hua Changxi shrugged nonchalantly: \"I'm just that special.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xu Yaoshi felt a pang in his chest: \"...Keep this up, and you'll have no subordinates left to work with.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hua Changxi looked at him and laughed despite herself: \"If I had to use people with divided loyalties, how pathetic would I be?\" Seeing that Xu Yaoshi was about to say more, she cut him off directly, \"Uncle Xu, just handle the miscellaneous affairs of Qihuang Hall for me. As for everything else, I know what I'm doing.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing her like this, Xu Yaoshi could only shake his head and sigh deeply.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After he withdrew, Hua Changxi swept her divine sense over the four alchemy rooms in the Western Wing, and found that three of them had activated their restrictions, leaving her somewhat speechless.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Conspiring openly right under her nose—did they think so little of her? Did they think she wouldn't notice the restrictions, or that she could do nothing even if she did?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In Alchemy Room No. 1, Hua Wanyue was complaining to Hua Shuran: \"Is Hua Changxi out of her mind? Not giving us any face is bad enough, but saying those things in front of outsiders? Is she stupid or something?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hua Shuran didn't respond, only speaking after a long silence: \"What I saw was that Hua Changxi is extremely confident.\" Then she looked at the furious Hua Wanyue, \"She doesn't care about our reactions at all, nor does she worry about us spreading her words.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"We entered the Thirteenth Qihuang Hall without her consent, and now she's determined to make us unhappy, to slap our faces in public.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hua Wanyue's anger subsided a little, and she said indignantly, \"She has no reverence for the clan. She never stops to think—without the Hua clan, where would she be?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hua Shuran did not take that up. Her father had told her that, aside from Hua Bin—who had lost both parents and received the clan's care—the rest of Hua Bin's family had not only received no support but had faced suppression. Using clan sentiment to coerce them was almost impossible.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In Alchemy Room No. 2, He Sirong and He Siqi were also discussing Hua Changxi.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He Sirong: \"The Hua family's standing is still too low. Hua Changxi's attitude clearly shows she intends to go it alone. She's so unguarded—she never even thought of using us.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He Siqi: \"What do we do now? Hua Changxi is so dismissive of us. Whether it's alchemy or anything else, I'm afraid we won't achieve our goals.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He Sirong: \"The mansion went to great lengths to get us into the Thirteenth Qihuang Hall, so of course we'll stay. The higher-ups distributed sixty sets of medicinal herbs, and Hua Changxi gave thirty to us. What does that mean?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"It means she's very confident—confident that she can use the remaining thirty sets to refine the thirty bottles of elixirs required by the Medical Bureau.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He Siqi's eyes widened at this analysis: \"If that's the case, then Hua Changxi's success rate for refining spirit elixirs must be a hundred percent?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He Sirong: \"We'll know soon enough. If that's true, then Hua Changxi's alchemy skills far exceed anything you or I can imagine. The Medical Bureau has no shortage of alchemists, but who dares claim they never fail a single refinement?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Even if Hua Changxi refuses to teach us, when the Qihuang Halls start their rotation of lectures at the beginning of the new year, you and I can enter the Shui Lou Yue and listen in. I think we'll learn a lot.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In Alchemy Room No. 3, Zhou Bin and Wan Feng were also speaking in low voices.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhou Bin shook his head: \"Before I entered the Qihuang Hall, I heard that our hall master had a difficult temperament and very strained relations with her family. Today we've certainly experienced it for ourselves.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wan Feng also looked disapproving: \"It's really a lack of proper upbringing in the Hua family. The hall master speaks without thinking, acting purely on impulse. She speaks bluntly now, but she gives no thought to the consequences. Mark my words, she'll end up eating her own words.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In Alchemy Room No. 4, Zhu Yu sat alone by the window, holding the \"Complete Compendium of Common Plants\" that Hua Changxi had compiled and edited. He appeared to be reading intently, but was actually pondering Hua Changxi's earlier words.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Locusts tied to the same rope...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Was that some ignorant rambling, or did it mean she didn't consider the other seventeen Qihuang Halls worth mentioning? Did she believe the imperial court's allocation and arrangement of the Qihuang Halls would ultimately come to nothing?\u003C\u002Fp>",1806,"2026-05-29T04:10:26.746Z","2026-06-01T04:29:08.487Z",1,"deepseek-v4-flash","16757fddcb47747fb1a95ae0bc09317d233eff3f6635e42d187b2869cd99c474","the-first-iron-rice-bowl-of-great-jin-chapter-199","the-first-iron-rice-bowl-of-great-jin-chapter-197",547,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fthe-first-iron-rice-bowl-of-great-jin-cover.jpg"]