Chapter 88: Framed

After the medicine shop in Feng'an Ward was renovated, Hua Changxi prepared to open it. Thus, after accepting An Ze and An Ran, she entered Wuzhi Mountain and gathered many medicinal herbs for refining martial artist pills.

Having become more and more proficient with the Somersault Cloud, Hua Changxi now only needed one hour to return from Wuzhi Mountain to the capital.

After collecting all the required herbs, Hua Changxi played with the mountain spirit and Xiao Song for a while, then left, returning to the Hua family before dark.

Over the next two days, Hua Changxi stayed home. Besides cultivating and reading, she also guided her parents and two elder brothers. On the day before she was to return to duty at the Chore Hall, all four successfully induced qi into their bodies.

On the seventh day of the first lunar month, apart from Hua Changxi having to report to the Chore Hall, Hua Silang, Hua Qiniang, and Hua Shierniang were also going to cultivate at the Earl Manor.

When the four left in the morning, Old Master Hua and Old Madam Hua, along with their sons and daughters-in-law, stood at the gate, watching them go. Everyone wore expressions of reluctance.

Seeing that Second Uncle Hua and Second Aunt Hua, as well as Fourth Uncle Hua and Fourth Aunt Hua, had reddened eyes, Old Master Hua said, "Enough, stop looking so glum. Silang and the others are going to win glory for the family; we should be happy."

After hearing this, Old Madam Hua muttered, "Jiuniang hasn't brought any glory to the family."

As soon as these words were spoken, Hua Minghe and Yao Shi's expressions immediately turned sour.

Old Master Hua saw this and glared at Old Madam Hua: "Jiuniang is a blessed child. With Dalang and Shiniang to support her, her future days won't be bad. Let her do whatever she wants."

Old Madam Hua did not agree with this: "Dalang and Shiniang have more siblings than just Jiuniang. If they had to take care of all of them, they'd be exhausted to death."

"Isn't Jiuniang very capable? She didn't listen to the family and insisted on entering the Medical Office as a chore servant. If she really has backbone, she shouldn't rely on the family's glory."

Upon hearing this, Hua Liulang felt very irritated and couldn't help raising his voice: "Grandmother, Big Brother and Shiniang are Jiuniang's full-blooded siblings from the same mother. Why can't Jiuniang rely on their glory?"

"Don't you just want Big Brother and Shiniang to help the other siblings in the family? It's unreasonable that they help their cousins but not their own sister."

"What kind of logic is that?"

Seeing Hua Liulang openly talking back, Old Madam Hua was first stunned on the spot, then flew into a rage, launching into a scolding at Yao Shi:

"Yao Shi, look at the children you've raised—every single one unfilial and disrespectful. Are they trying to rebel?"

In the past, Yao Shi would have silently endured Old Madam Hua's scolding, but this time, Yao Shi glanced at Old Master Hua, who did not speak up to stop it, ignored Old Madam Hua, walked over, took Hua Liulang's hand, and went straight back to her room.

This behavior not only stunned Old Master Hua and Old Madam Hua but also shocked Second Uncle Hua, Second Aunt Hua, and the others.

Hua Minghe and Hua Sanlang exchanged helpless glances. Out of filial piety, the father and son found it difficult to say anything to Old Master Hua and Old Madam Hua; yet toward Yao Shi and Hua Liulang, they couldn't bear to reproach. In the end, the father and son chose to escape.

"Father, Mother, I'm going to report for duty."

"Grandfather, Grandmother, I'm going to the medicine shop."

Watching Hua Minghe and Hua Sanlang hurry away, the Hua family fell into another silence.

A clear flicker of panic passed through Old Master Hua's and Old Madam Hua's eyes. Their ability to control the entire Hua family relied to a large extent on the cooperation of the main branch.

Now the main branch was no longer cooperating...

Second Aunt Hua glanced at the old couple and quickly gave Second Uncle Hua a meaningful look.

Second Uncle Hua saw it but did not move at first. Only after Second Aunt Hua pinched him did he force a smile and speak: "Father, Mother, please don't be angry with Big Brother and his wife. You still have me and Fourth Brother. We will always be filial to you."

"Fourth Brother, Fourth Sister-in-law, what do you say?"

Fourth Uncle Hua glanced at Second Uncle Hua: "Father, Mother, Big Brother and his wife, as well as me and my wife, are all filial to you."

The words of Second Uncle Hua and Fourth Uncle Hua calmed the panic of Old Master Hua and Old Madam Hua.

Yes, they still had Second Son and Fourth Son.

At this moment, Old Master Hua felt immensely relieved that he had forcibly taken the three elixirs Shiniang brought back and distributed one each to the second and fourth branches, preventing the main branch from dominating alone.

Things hadn't even progressed far yet, and the head couple already dared to show them a cold shoulder. If they truly became the sole dominant force, the entire Hua family would probably have to act according to their mood—where would his own position be?

"Second Son, Fourth Son, your father knows you are good. Don't worry too much about Silang, Qiniang, and the others. If you miss them, I will take you to the Earl Manor to see them."

"Father, can we really go to the Earl Manor?"

"When I went with Big Brother to pay respects to the Earl last time, the Earl himself said I was welcome to visit anytime."

Hearing Old Master Hua say this, Second Uncle Hua immediately stepped forward to support Old Master Hua, and Second Aunt Hua cheerfully supported Old Madam Hua. The group thus returned to the courtyard.

Back in the main hall, Old Master Hua dismissed everyone. When only he and Old Madam Hua remained in the room, Old Master Hua spoke: "The head couple dote on that girl Jiuniang, and Liulang also shares the same sentiments as her. From now on, stop criticizing Jiuniang in front of them."

At this point, Old Madam Hua couldn't be bothered with Hua Changxi anymore. Instead, she looked anxiously at Old Master Hua: "Has Big Brother... really grown estranged from us?"

Old Master Hua still understood Hua Minghe well. Whether it was his martial arts training or entering the Six Doors, the family had fully supported him. Even later when he married Yao Shi, the family had made compromises.

The old masters knew in their hearts that he was aware of his responsibilities to the family.

He might have minded the distribution of pills, but to say he would abandon the family entirely—that would not happen.

On this point, Old Man Hua still had faith in his own son.

Old Madam Hua said with full regret, "We never should have let Yao into the family. The children from the second and fourth households have always been filial to us, but those born to Yao are practically here to take revenge on our family."

Old Man Hua gave Old Madam Hua a faint glance. "Da Lang, San Lang, and Shi Niang are all good. Liu Lang was influenced by Jiu Niang. Of the eldest's five children, only Jiu Niang truly has a rebellious bone."

"Actually, it's fine if Jiu Niang likes to stir up trouble. Doesn't she want to find her own way out? Let her find it. As long as she doesn't ask the family for help, from now on, we shouldn't meddle in her affairs. Don't let her affect our relationship with the eldest again."

Old Madam Hua snorted. "Yao even dared to give me cold looks. How could I still dare to control Jiu Niang? From now on, I'll just pretend I don't have her as a granddaughter."

Hua Changxi was completely unaware of the commotion in the Hua family. After returning to the Miscellaneous Affairs Hall, she immediately wanted to verify whether teaching others to process herbs could increase her cultivation speed.

Therefore, after the New Year, all the female servants in the Sixth Bureau saw Hua Changxi standing by the ditch bank, instructing the members under her charge on how to quickly wash the herbs and what to pay attention to while doing so.

"This Hua Changxi isn't as unsociable as you said. I think she's quite enthusiastic. Qiuyu also told me that this person has a strong sense of responsibility."

Steward Zhou Ran had returned after the New Year. Hua Changxi had taken her place as steward, and she in turn had taken Hua Changxi's place as a servant, serving under Du Ruo.

Du Ruo, watching Hua Changxi earnestly instruct Zhou Qiuyu and the others, looked a bit puzzled. Seeing her friend Zhou Ran's skeptical gaze, she immediately said:

"I didn't lie to you. If you don't believe me, go ask Wang Yunchu and the others—see if Hua Changxi used to be aloof and unwilling to talk to people."

Zhou Ran laughed. "Don't be nervous. I didn't say you lied to me. I'm just a little curious about Hua Changxi."

Du Ruo was still thinking about Hua Changxi's change. "...Could it be that because she became steward, Hua Changxi is different now?"

Zhou Ran smiled. "Of course a steward would be different. One of a steward's duties is to urge those under them to do their jobs well."

"Hua Changxi is an expert at washing herbs. Seeing her subordinates dawdle so much while washing herbs probably made her feel it would embarrass her, so she wanted to teach a few tricks to Qiuyu and the others."

Du Ruo thought that must be the reason. Hua Changxi was indeed a proud person; this seemed like something she would do.

Zhou Ran said, "Do you think... we can go over and listen in? Qiuyu told me that Hua Changxi's explanations about herbs are more comprehensive than any medical book she's read. Whenever she didn't understand something in the medical books, after hearing Hua Changxi explain it, she got it."

Du Ruo realized she really didn't understand Hua Changxi well. She shook her head. "I don't know either."

Zhou Ran said, "Knowledge learned becomes your own. Next time Hua Changxi gives an explanation, I'll shamelessly sidle over and see if she'll chase me away."

Du Ruo didn't stop her. Even if Hua Changxi didn't want servants from other groups to listen, the worst she could do was kick them out. Zhou Ran might lose face, but nothing else would happen, so she let her go.

Many people had the same idea as Zhou Ran. When they saw Zhou Ran go over to listen without being chased off, more and more people came to hear Hua Changxi's explanations.

Time passed in a flash, and it was now the second month.

On the first day of the second month, Hua Changxi finished her own duties, then taught Zhou Qiuyu and the others how to clean the herbs they had received that day. After confirming they could handle it, she returned to her lodgings.

As soon as she got back, Hua Changxi glanced at her cultivation data.

[Realm: Core Formation: 20,010,000 / 10,000,000]

Realm points had broken through 20 million!

Seeing that in just over a month, her realm points had increased by ten million, Hua Changxi was undoubtedly happy.

The Fire Lotus Hall had been put into use on the twenty-third of the twelfth month last year. From that day on, her cultivation speed had been increasing continuously.

By now, cultivating for one shichen could increase her cultivation by forty thousand points.

One month after the Five Finger Mountain was opened, the initial surge of people entering and leaving subsided. Now the number of people coming and going each day had stabilized, and the cultivation speed was no longer increasing noticeably.

She was quite satisfied with this.

Although the Five Finger Mountain had plenty of resources, too many people going in and out would quickly deplete them. Now that the number had decreased, she felt it was good.

Even though the Five Finger Mountain could no longer bring a significant boost to cultivation speed, she had confirmed that teaching pharmacology could also increase cultivation speed.

At first, because she only taught the ten people under her, Hua Changxi didn't notice this clearly. But later, as more and more female servants came to listen in, she confirmed that this really did boost cultivation speed.

"Opening the Five Finger Mountain, teaching pharmacology..."

"The great trend of spiritual energy revival—is it to have everyone participate?"

Through these two things, Hua Changxi discovered that she seemed to have found a remarkable rule.

Only by doing things beneficial to the revival of spiritual energy could one gain benefits.

Hua Changxi understood this point, and her heart was burning with enthusiasm.

As long as she cultivated fast enough, she could quickly raise her cultivation level; as long as she had a high enough level, no one could bind or harm her, and she could live freely and carefree.

In a good mood, Hua Changxi wanted to eat something delicious, so she went to the mess hall kitchen.

"Granny Sun, I'd like to eat your tofu skin buns."

Last year, when Hua Changxi was punished to go to Sancha Medicine Village, Granny Sun talked with her once. After she returned, Granny Sun began to befriend her without any pretense.

Hua Changxi didn't feel any malice from Granny Sun, and wanted to see what she was up to, so she allowed her approach.

Now whenever she came to the mess hall to eat, she had special dishes prepared by Granny Sun.

Seeing Hua Changxi's smiling eyes, Granny Sun asked with a laugh, "What good thing happened today that makes you so happy?"

Hua Changxi smiled and said, "Now many people from the Sixth Bureau come to listen to me teach the methods for washing medicinal herbs. I can feel their admiration for me, and they no longer gossip about me behind my back like before. Of course I'm happy."

While handling ingredients, Granny Sun looked at her curiously: "I thought you didn't care about these things."

Hua Changxi paused: "The feeling of being liked is naturally better than being hated. I am also human. Although others' opinions cannot sway me, I am still happy to be recognized and liked."

Granny Sun chuckled and was about to say something when Manager Qin entered.

Seeing Hua Changxi there, Manager Qin quickly asked her to look at her wrist—she had fallen during the New Year, and her wrist had started hurting again.

The kitchen lighting was poor, so Hua Changxi and Manager Qin went to the front hall.

"Eh, isn't that Manager Leng? Why is she in the back courtyard?"

Hua Changxi was massaging Manager Qin's wrist when she suddenly heard others in the mess hall murmuring. She looked up and saw Manager Leng's back as she hurried away.

Manager Leng's sudden arrival at the Sixth Bureau's back courtyard struck Hua Changxi as odd, but she didn't dwell on it. However, a quarter of an hour later, the Sixth Bureau's front courtyard suddenly fell into chaos.

"Oh no, oh no! The Imperial Guard has surrounded the Sixth Bureau!"

A matron from the mess hall ran in with a panicked expression.

"Who surrounded the Sixth Bureau?"

"The Imperial Guard!"

"What are the Imperial Guard doing at the Sixth Bureau?"

"I don't know! They've confined everyone and are heading to the back courtyard."

Upon hearing this, Hua Changxi and the others in the mess hall all turned pale.

Thinking of Manager Leng who had just been in the back courtyard, Hua Changxi quickly left the mess hall and returned to her own residence.

As soon as she entered the room, she sensed something was off. Leaping up, she quickly found a palm-sized wooden box hidden in a crack in the eaves.

Hua Changxi opened the box and saw three elixir pills inside. Unfortunately, the final sealing step in alchemy had been done poorly; the pills' spiritual energy had leaked out, allowing her to detect them.

"The Imperial Guard is investigating! Everyone in the back courtyard, come out and stand in line!"

Hearing the commotion outside, Hua Changxi quickly stowed the wooden box into the Shennong Cauldron. After checking the room for any other unusual items, she stepped out of the house.