Chapter 110: Fifth Lady

Gu Jinfan was a relatively famous figure on the Jiujie. First, she was born into the Duke Xinguo Prefecture and was the first to enter the Medicine Department when all parties did not value it.

Second, she apprenticed to Apothecary Tong, one of the most powerful pharmacists in the Medicine Department, and had outstanding talent in pill refining. When many experienced pharmacists could only refine mortal pills, she could already refine spiritual pills.

Third, the Duke Xinguo Prefecture had been developing very rapidly recently. Some time ago, they had a bountiful harvest in the Kunlun Mountain ruins, and it was said that the Duke Xinguo Prefecture even controlled its own secret realm.

Because of these reasons, Gu Jinfan had always been a figure of attention in the Medicine Department. Now, seeing her so excited about a female menial, everyone was very curious about the female menial's background.

Sensing everyone's scrutiny, Hua Changxi frowned and turned her head to look at Zhu Yu, the bearded man among the menials; it was this person who had just shouted for her.

Seeing her look over, Zhu Yu smiled sheepishly, his expression somewhat apologetic.

Hua Changxi withdrew her gaze and, seeing Gu Jinfan still looking at her, couldn't help but say, "Young Lady Gu Seven, is there anything else?"

Gu Jinfan walked close to Hua Changxi and whispered, "You obtained the cultivation technique in the Zhu Que Transmission Stone, didn't you?"

Hua Changxi's eyes flashed. So the red stone she threw into the magma was the Zhu Que Transmission Stone.

Transmission Stone...

No wonder she obtained the Zhu Que breathing and cultivation method as soon as she touched the red stone; so that was the reason.

Seeing that Hua Changxi did not respond, Gu Jinfan, wanting to confirm her guess, gathered spiritual power in her hand and suddenly attacked Hua Changxi.

Hua Changxi did not expect Gu Jinfan to suddenly make a move on her. She turned her five fingers into claws, grabbed Gu Jinfan's wrist, and her eyes turned cold. "Young Lady Gu Seven, what is the meaning of this?"

Gu Jinfan looked at Hua Changxi, who was holding her firmly, and felt a shock in her heart. Hua Changxi had actually stopped her attack so easily.

"Your luck... is really very good."

The "Zhu Que Divine Art" was the most powerful fire-type cultivation technique in the Four Spirit World. She had coveted it for two lifetimes but never obtained it, yet Hua Changxi had obtained it so easily.

No matter how unwilling Gu Jinfan was, she was helpless. Living a second life, she knew more than others, but she could not control every single thing.

"A high starting point does not mean you can go far. Hua Changxi, I hope you do not disgrace that technique."

Gu Jinfan withdrew her spiritual power, pulled back her hand, and then walked away directly.

Hua Changxi looked at her back, her heart filled with displeasure.

As soon as this person appeared, she had the posture of a judge, as if her own existence had to be approved by her.

She had obtained the technique in the Zhu Que Transmission Stone by accident, but it had also almost cost her her life. Disgrace or not, what did that have to do with her!

She had arrived with a shocking presence and left cleanly, but left her to face the scrutiny and inquiry in the eyes of the people around.

She disliked dealing with such troublesome people the most!

Fortunately, the Department Head came down from upstairs.

Everyone's gaze finally shifted from Hua Changxi to the Department Head.

"Calling you all over today is to ask who took the wooden plaques from the old courtyard in the square. Those who took them must register here with this official."

The Department Head also did not expect that so many people had been to the old courtyard, among whom were many children of powerful families, and even the royal family was involved. It was impossible to use means to force a confession, so he simply asked directly.

"Rest assured, this official will not confiscate the wooden plaques; it is just for registration to facilitate the future management of the Medicine Department."

Seeing that no one stood up to admit taking the wooden plaques, the Department Head thought for a moment and increased the pressure. "The Medicine Department will soon be reorganized. Those with wooden plaques can be given priority for positions."

"Like the position of Street Master of the Jiujie, only those with wooden plaques can serve."

As soon as these words were spoken, everyone reacted and began to discuss in low voices.

Hua Changxi's eyes flickered. It seemed the Department Head was determined to find the person who took the wooden plaques; he had even publicly promised positions.

Seeing that although everyone was discussing heatedly, no one stood up, the Department Head added, "If you don't register now, when this official has arranged all the positions, it will be too late to take out the wooden plaques then."

There was silence at the scene.

Seeing this, the Department Head laughed in spite of himself. "The wooden plaques are just a token of identity. If you want to hide them, then hide them." Saying this, he prepared to take Yuan Tianchou and Mu Qingying away.

"Department Head!"

At this time, someone stood up.

In the team gathered by the Disciple Hall, a young man in his twenties walked out holding a wooden plaque. He walked to the Department Head and bowed. "Greetings, Department Head. Disciple Shen Qianfan was lucky enough to obtain a wooden plaque."

The Department Head looked at Shen Qianfan with a satisfied smile, looked at the wooden plaque in his hand, and asked Yuan Tianchou behind him to register it. "Is there anyone else who wants to come up and register?"

"Department Head, I also have a wooden plaque."

Hua Changxi walked over with the tenth wooden plaque that had no sword pattern.

Seeing Hua Changxi stand out, there was not the slightest surprise in Gu Qiming's eyes. He had already inquired clearly; it was this girl who pushed open the old courtyard gate.

He was very curious, how exactly did she push open the courtyard gate?

"This official heard that you are giving lectures in the courtyard behind the Menial Hall?"

"Yes, Department Head."

"Why do you want to give lectures to the menials?"

"Because I am the manager. When the menials clean and process medicinal herbs, they often get injured. I teach them some medicinal properties and some methods of cleaning and processing, so they can get injured less and work better for the Medicine Department."

"It seems you are very confident in your medical skills. You should know that the physicians and pharmacists on the Jiujie don't dare to give lectures to people casually. This official is a bit curious; you haven't reached the age of fifteen yet, where did you get these medical skills?"

"My family runs a pharmacy, and I have had a photographic memory since I was a child. I can remember any medical book I have read once. After entering the Medicine Department, I came into contact with so many medicinal herbs, and I learned even more. These academic skills are completely enough to guide the menials."

"Department Head, am I not allowed to give lectures to the menials?"

Gu Qiming looked at Hua Changxi, who was responding freely and even asking him back, his eyes flickering. "No, you can lecture as you please. When this official has time, I will also go listen to your lectures."

"If you lecture well... this official will let the physicians and pharmacists of the Jiujie all go listen to your lectures."

Hua Changxi showed joy. "Does the Department Head think so highly of me? Then I must work hard and definitely not disappoint the Department Head's expectations."

Gu Qiming: "..."

Yuan Tianchou and Mu Qingying, who were standing behind him, looked at Hua Changxi, who was climbing up the pole, with admiration, thinking to themselves, as expected of a fierce person who dared to arm-wrestle with the Embroidered Uniform Guard!

Everyone else present also had different expressions.

Seeing that he couldn't suppress Hua Changxi's spirit, Gu Qiming intended to suppress it again, when someone else walked out.

A young lady of seventeen or eighteen walked out from the Apprentice Hall's team.

"Greetings, Department Head. Apprentice Zhu Qinghuan was also lucky enough to obtain a wooden plaque."

Gu Qiming looked at Zhu Qinghuan, looked at the wooden plaque in her hand, and then looked at Hua Changxi and Shen Qianfan.

People from the Menial Hall, Apprentice Hall, and Disciple Hall had all obtained wooden plaques; this was something he hadn't expected.

Before this, he actually didn't value these three places much; his focus was mostly on the Jiujie. He didn't expect that this investigation of the wooden plaques would lead to these three places emerging first.

Also, the pharmacists and physicians on the Jiujie either had people behind them or had their own forces. Even if they took the wooden plaques, they wouldn't expose them so readily.

Adding the three people Shen Qianfan, Hua Changxi, and Zhu Qinghuan who stood out today, he considered the owners of nine wooden plaques known. As for the owners of the remaining nine wooden plaques...

Gu Qiming's gaze fell on the gathered team of the Jiujie. The other nine wooden plaques were probably in the hands of these people.

It was just that these people were fearless and probably wouldn't be as easily incited as the three of Shen Qianfan, taking the bait after just a little bit of bait was released.

Sigh, it was a headache.

If he wanted to find out who took the other nine wooden plaques, he was afraid he would have to spend a great deal of effort.

Knowing that no one else would likely stand up to admit taking the wooden plaques, Gu Qiming publicly praised the three of Shen Qianfan and promised to arrange positions for them in the future, then dismissed the crowd.

Everyone returned to their own homes. When they dispersed, the people from the Jiujie and the Disciple Hall walked together in twos and threes, while the Apprentice Hall and the Menial Hall acted uniformly, with few people leaving the team.

The Apprentice Hall had no obvious leader and could be considered to be huddling together by instinct; but the people from the Menial Hall all followed Hua Changxi.

Gu Qiming looked at this scene and narrowed his eyes.

He might have underestimated the influence of Hua Changxi's lectures in the Menial Hall. Although only about twenty menials came today, judging from the fact that they spontaneously followed Hua Changxi in their movements, the Menial Hall clearly already regarded her as their backbone.

"This girl is not simple!"

Gu Qiming took Yuan Tianchou and Mu Qingying back to his office and then began to order, "Go, immediately investigate the situation of the three, Shen Qianfan, Hua Changxi, and Zhu Qinghuan. Not only investigate their family background but also investigate all their relationships and dealings in the Medicine Department."

Like Gu Qiming, Gu Jinfan was also ordering her subordinates to investigate Hua Changxi. "I want to know everything that happened after Hua Changxi entered the Medicine Department, not a single thing can be left out."

A person who should have died was still alive; Hua Changxi was a variable, and she must know everything about her.

When she returned from the First Street, the morning lecture time had already passed. Hua Changxi called twenty menials with pill refining talent to the No. 6 Qihuang Hall and taught them to refine mortal pills.

After these twenty people started, she entered the side room, set up an isolation array, and began to refine spiritual pills.

She had just refined five furnaces of spiritual pills when Yu Gui's voice sounded in the courtyard: "Sister Changxi, someone is looking for you."

Hua Changxi stopped refining pills and walked out of the room. "Who is looking for me?"

Yu Gui pulled Hua Changxi and whispered, "It's someone from the Disciple Hall. They said they are from the Wu Yi Marquis Prefecture."

"Wu Yi Marquis Prefecture?"

Wasn't this Fifth Lady's husband's family?

Hua Changxi quickly asked, "Where are the people?"

Yu Gui: "I didn't dare to bring them to the Qihuang Hall side, so I let them wait by the warehouse."

Hearing this, Hua Changxi quickly went to the warehouse with Yu Gui. Soon, she saw two young ladies not much older than her. She had seen one of them before; it was the young lady who smiled at her in the square when the head of the Heaven Department came to the Medicine Department.

"Who are you?"

He Sirong and He Siqi first performed a peer greeting to Hua Changxi, and then introduced themselves: "I am the Second Lady of the Wu Yi Marquis Prefecture, He Sirong, and this is my Fourth Younger Sister, He Siqi."

Hua Changxi returned the greeting: "You came to find me, did something happen to my Fifth Sister?"

He Sirong: "Concubine Hua fell yesterday and went into premature labor."

Hua Changxi's expression changed. "Is my Fifth Sister okay?"

He Sirong shook her head: "When we came to the Medicine Department this morning, Concubine Hua had not yet given birth to the child."

Hearing this, Hua Changxi turned and was about to leave. After walking a few steps, she turned back to look at the He sisters: "Thank you for coming to tell me about my Fifth Sister."

After saying that, she ran away.

Watching Hua Changxi's retreating back, He Siqi looked at He Sirong with some worry: "Second Sister, is it appropriate for us to interfere in the affairs of Third Uncle's room?"

He Sirong: "Didn't Third Uncle urge us to have more contact with Hua Changxi? If we have more contact, how could we not mention Concubine Hua."

He Siqi thought of the weak and forbearing Concubine Hua and sighed: "I don't know if Concubine Hua can give birth safely?"

He Sirong's eyes flickered: "The child in Concubine Hua's belly is the offspring Third Uncle has been looking forward to for a long time. Even if Third Aunt is dissatisfied, she will let the child be born. As for Concubine Hua... it depends on whether Hua Changxi can arrive in time."

In the Wu Yi Marquis Prefecture, in a small courtyard behind the main courtyard of the Third Room, basins of bloody water were constantly being carried out of the east side room, and maids and old women were rushing in and out in a panic.

When other women gave birth, there were screams, but at this moment, not a single sound from the woman in labor could be heard in the east side room.

Third Master He sat in the courtyard with a gloomy face, his eyes fixed on the east side room.

Beside him sat Third Madam He, who was silent.

"Third Master, Concubine Hua has no strength left. Should we save the mother or the child?"

A midwife ran out with blood all over her hands and looked anxiously at Third Master He.

Third Master He pursed his lips tightly, his expression hesitant and struggling.

Third Madam He looked at him: "Third Master, if you don't make a decision, neither Concubine Hua nor the child will be saved."

Third Master He looked at Third Madam He and said through gritted teeth: "Save the child."

The midwife said "Eh" and was about to enter the room when she saw someone riding a cloud descending from the sky, blocking her way.

Hua Changxi heard Third Master He's words "Save the child," gave him a cold look, and quickly turned into the east side room.

"Who are you? Get out quickly!"

In the courtyard, Third Master He and Third Madam He only felt an invisible force coming from the east side room. Then, all the maids and old women serving in the room "flew" out, fell to the ground with "bang, bang, bang" sounds, and all fainted.

Seeing this scene, everyone in the courtyard was frightened.

Even Third Master He was shocked by the look Hua Changxi gave him just now. Although Hua Changxi didn't say anything, he understood her eyes: if anything happened to Concubine Hua, someone would have to pay with their life.

"Third Master..."

Listening to his wife's trembling voice, Third Master He recovered from his fear.

Third Madam He looked at him: "Third Master, did you notify the Hua family?"

Hearing this, Third Master He's eyes suddenly lit up. He walked quickly out of the courtyard and ordered Steward Kong, who was waiting outside, to notify the Hua family immediately.

"Besides the Hua family, notify the Dingyuan Count Prefecture and the Hua Tai family, go quickly."

Steward Kong also saw that Hua Changxi came riding a cloud. Knowing how difficult this aunt was, he knew that if Concubine Hua died, that aunt would probably make a big scene, so he hurriedly went to notify people. ===== CHAPTER 111 =====