Chapter 25: Fifth Madam's Marriage

[Realm: Qi Training Stage 1078/1000]

[Hundred Herbs Classic (Mastery): Tasted Herbs 3001/]

[Purification Art Mastered]

[Compendium of Processing (Beginner): Processed Herbs 1/10]

[Meridian Mapping Compendium (Minor Achievement): Dissected Herbs 25/100]

Hua Changxi joined the Chores Hall on September 21st, and after a month, all her stats had improved significantly; the Purification Art had directly upgraded to mastery.

After mastering the Purification Art, Hua Changxi's ability to control wind and water improved further; now she could control both wind and water simultaneously.

Previously, cleaned herbs would be covered with a lot of water, but now Hua Changxi could both clean the herbs and drain them dry at the same time.

Besides its great use in washing herbs, the Purification Art also played a major role in Hua Changxi's daily personal hygiene.

For example, one cast of the Purification Art, and clothes worn for several days would instantly become clean as new; another example, a dusty floor would also become spotless under the effect of the Purification Art.

On October 20th, Hua Changxi got up at 5:45 AM, hurriedly washed up, and left the dormitory.

At that time, the other people in the dormitory were just getting up one after another.

"How rare, Hua Changxi actually got up earlier than us."

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

Watching Hua Changxi leave quickly, Aunt Shi had a very bad expression. By now she already regretted it, but unfortunately Hua Changxi would rather get up early to work than swap rest days with her.

When Hua Changxi arrived at the warehouse, it was just 6:00 AM. She waited a few minutes, and the warehouse door opened.

After the incident of Mao Wei being disciplined, the warehouse staff, aside from giving her the hard-to-wash herbs to make things difficult, didn't dare provoke her in other ways.

Hua Changxi loaded the herbs she received onto a cart and pulled them back to the Sixth Bureau.

She soaked an entire cartload of herbs in water, activated the Purification Art, and the herbs immediately tumbled and shook in the water. By the time Lu Qingluo and the others arrived, Hua Changxi had already gone to fetch a second cartload of herbs to wash.

If it weren't for wanting to keep a low profile, with her current proficiency in the Purification Art, she could clean all five hundred herbs in less than a quarter of an hour.

Hua Changxi dawdled until 9:00 AM before pulling the cleaned herbs to the Second Office to hand them in, under the shocked gazes of everyone in the Sixth Bureau.

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

Normally, it was already shocking enough that Hua Changxi spent a whole morning cleaning five hundred herbs. Today, it was even more outrageous—she finished a day's work in just two hours.

Not only were the people of the Sixth Bureau surprised, but even the people in the Second Office were quite astonished when they received the herbs. They even specially inspected whether the herbs were clean.

The result was that they fully met the standards.

After handing in her work, Hua Changxi quickly returned to the dormitory, changed out of her chores uniform, and jogged out of the Medical Department.

The Hua residence in Xiuzheng Ward.

Hua Wuniang, wearing a peach-red ruqun, knelt in the center of the main hall with a pained expression and reddened eyes, making her final farewell bows to the family elders.

After today, she would no longer be a daughter of the Hua family, but a concubine of Third Master He of the Marquis Wuyi's mansion. From then on, she wouldn't be able to decide for herself when to see her family.

In the main hall, the Hua family members also had grim expressions, some reluctant to part with Hua Wuniang, some worried about her future.

Seeing that the marquis's mansion only sent a steward and a matron to pick her up, without Third Master He even showing his face, Fourth Aunt Hua cried like a tearful person.

The only ones truly happy in the entire room were Hua Tai and his wife, who had 'come to help see the bride off'.

Hua Tai's wife, Zhong, seeing Hua Wuniang finish bowing to the family elders, immediately stepped forward with a smile to help her up: "Wuniang, stop crying. The marquis's mansion is a place of wealth and honor. Once you enter, you're destined to enjoy happiness."

Then, ignoring Grandpa Hua and Grandma Hua and Fourth Uncle Hua and Fourth Aunt Hua, she directly started giving orders.

"Steward Kong and Matron Shen from the marquis's mansion have been waiting for a while; we can't keep them waiting. Sanlang, quickly carry your fifth sister out the door."

Zhong helped Hua Wuniang and was about to lead her out of the main hall.

Hua Wuniang showed rare backbone; ignoring Zhong, she stood still and looked around at the family members one by one.

Today, not only had Hua Erniang of the second branch, already married, returned with her husband, but Hua San Gu had also come with her family.

Hua San Gu and Hua Erniang, who were already well aware of life in their in-laws' homes, wore strained smiles when they exchanged glances with Hua Wuniang.

They had married as primary wives, and their post-marital lives were still difficult; one could imagine what Hua Wuniang would face as a concubine.

Although the marquis's household is wealthy and noble, having no control over one's own affairs and being constrained by others—how oppressive a life that would be.

Hua Wuniang, tears in her eyes, choked up and said, "What a pity. Eldest Brother, Ninth Sister, and Tenth Sister aren't here. I don't even know when I'll be able to see them again."

Zhong-shi quickly said, "Aiyo, my dear Wuniang, the marquis's residence is right in the capital. If you want to see your siblings at home, just send someone to our house to let us know. It's very easy to see them."

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

She had stayed in the ancestral home of the great clan for a month. Old Madam Zhou had ordered Concubine Bao, the favored concubine of Great Uncle Hua Tai, to teach her.

From Concubine Bao, she learned that as a concubine, she had no autonomy at all. To see her family, she had to obtain the approval of both the master and the mistress.

Third Master He's age was nearly as old as her father's. She really didn't know how to get along with him.

And Third Master He's wife, Madam Shen, was said to be extremely difficult to deal with.

Even Madam Zhong was relatively easy to get along with, but Concubine 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?

Zhong-shi couldn't stand Hua Wuniang's hesitation and again instructed Hua Sanlang: "Sanlang, hurry up and carry your fifth sister out the door."

Hua Sanlang had just stood up when Hua Shiyilang stopped him: "Let me carry my fifth sister out."

"Shiyi, you..."

Hua Shiyilang was only twelve years old, and Hua Sanlang hesitated for a moment. But seeing him walk resolutely to Hua Wuniang and crouch down, he ultimately did not stop him.

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

Hua Wuniang looked at her full younger brother, and tears streamed down her face again. Silently sobbing, she lay down on her brother's back.

Hua Shiyilang carried her with some difficulty, but still pretended to be at ease and said, "Sister, don't worry. I'll practice martial arts hard to back you up."

Hua Wuniang choked out a soft "Mm."

Watching Hua Wuniang walk out of the house step by step, the Hua family's eyes also reddened.

Hua Shierniang felt terrible and couldn't help finding something else to distract herself: "What's wrong with Ninth Sister? Fifth Sister is leaving home today, and she didn't even come back to see her off. Is being a maid-servant really that important, that she doesn't even care about sisterly affection?"

Regarding Hua Changxi's failure to return, the Hua family was all somewhat dissatisfied.

Old Madam Hua had wanted to call Yao-shi over to scold her many times, but seeing that Hua Tai and his wife, as well as the marquis's household steward nannies, were all present, she suppressed her anger in the end.

Hua Wuniang was carried out of the Hua family courtyard by Hua Shiyilang, and the Hua family followed closely behind.

At the Hua family's gate, a pink bridal sedan chair was parked. Old Nanny Shen, a trusted servant of Shen-shi, Third Master He's principal wife, waited arrogantly by the sedan door. When she saw Hua Wuniang come out, she made no move to come forward and assist.

Once Hua Wuniang was seated in the sedan, Old Nanny Shen said directly, "After all this delay, we've finally picked up Concubine Hua. It's time for us to return to the residence."

These words were not directed at the Hua family but at Hua Tai and his wife.

Hua Tai and his wife, in turn, acted like the hosts and unceremoniously began chatting with Old Nanny Shen.

"It's all because Wuniang couldn't bear to part with her family that we kept you waiting, nanny. Please don't take offense."

"Wuniang hasn't had any proper training at home. After she enters the marquis's residence, we must trouble Third Madam to discipline her strictly, so she doesn't cause any trouble for Third Master and Third Madam."

Hearing this, Old Nanny Shen's expression improved considerably, and a faint smile tugged at her lips. "Once Concubine Hua enters the marquis's residence, she is Third Master's person. Third Madam, as Third Master's principal wife, will naturally discipline her concubines properly."

Hua Fourth Aunt-in-law, after all, felt for her daughter. Even though Old Nanny Shen was arrogant and looked down on them, she still swallowed her pride and stepped forward to plead:

"Nanny, my Wuniang is the most obedient and sensible girl. I beg you to tell Third Master and Third Madam to take good care of her."

Old Nanny Shen acted as if she hadn't heard these words and couldn't even be bothered to respond to Hua Fourth Aunt-in-law.

Seeing Old Nanny Shen's impatience, Zhong-shi forcibly pulled Hua Fourth Aunt-in-law to the back, then smiled at Old Nanny Shen and said, "Nanny, you may lift the sedan chair now."

Old Nanny Shen nodded and was just about to order the sedan-chair bearers to lift it when an urgent voice rang out.

"Wait!"

Following the sound, the Hua family saw Hua Changxi running toward them as fast as she could.