Chapter 12: New Technique Unlocked

Hua Wuniang was taken away by Old Lady Zhou, who served Lady Zhou Tai.

Watching the carriage disappear into the distance, the Hua family fell into profound silence.

Seeing Fourth Aunt Hua standing at the gate, lost in thought for so long, Hua Changxi stepped forward again: "Fourth Aunt, since you don't want Fifth Sister to become a concubine, hurry and call her back; there is still time."

Fourth Aunt Hua's eyes reddened and her lips trembled; she wanted to speak, but ultimately said nothing.

Old Lady Hua's displeased voice rang out: "Hua Jiuniang, who let you out? Grown-ups' affairs are no place for a young lady to interfere."

"Fourth Aunt!"

Hua Changxi called out to Fourth Aunt Hua again, but Fourth Aunt Hua lowered her head without responding.

Seeing this, Hua Changxi felt powerless; noticing Old Lady Hua's barely contained fury and wishing to avoid being locked in the side room again, which might jeopardize her Medical Bureau apprentice examination in four days, she obediently returned to her room.

Back in her own room, Hua Changxi became somewhat lost in thought.

Witnessing Hua Wuniang's plight, she could not help but think of herself.

Before this, she had been generally satisfied with being born into the Hua family.

Although the elders favored sons over daughters, and although the family's resources leaned toward the male children, the young ladies in the household had not suffered any harsh treatment.

But with the incident involving Hua Wuniang, her perspective changed.

For the sake of the family's male heirs, young ladies could be sacrificed.

Today it was Hua Wuniang; tomorrow it could be her.

Although she had fortunately obtained an opportunity for cultivation, she knew nothing about the matters of cultivation, and she had no way of knowing what the future held for her.

The only thing she could do now was to pass the entrance exam for the Medical Bureau and strive to advance her level of medical inheritance.

Over the next few days, the Hua family courtyard remained somewhat somber, while Hua Changxi stayed quietly in her room, focusing on her cultivation.

In the blink of an eye, September 20th arrived; before dawn, Hua Changxi left home accompanied by Hua Liulang, heading straight for the Medical Bureau.

"The Medical Bureau is not so easy to enter."

Seeing Lady Yao standing at the gate watching the two children depart, Hua Minghe walked over: "I asked around; there are many people taking the exam for the Medical Bureau this time, and Jiuniang may not be able to get in."

Lady Yao showed her disagreement: "Physician Xu has already acknowledged Jiuniang's medical skills."

Hua Minghe sighed: "Working in a government office, ability is important, but connections are even more crucial."

Lady Yao frowned: "Would people with connections covet the position of an apprentice in the Medical Bureau?"

Hua Minghe replied: "Which family doesn't have several relatives? The nobles themselves may look down on it, but their relatives might not."

"Many people have their eyes on the Medical Bureau. When Sanlang turned fifteen, I considered letting him enter the Medical Bureau, but unfortunately, his medical skills were insufficient, and he failed the exam; even trying to pull strings didn't work."

Lady Yao exclaimed in surprise, "Ah! How come I never heard you or Sanlang mention this?"

Hua Minghe said: "What good is it to talk about things that weren't accomplished? Moreover, Sanlang is older now and has his pride to consider."

Lady Yao frowned: "Is the Medical Bureau really that difficult to enter?"

Hua Minghe replied: "The Medical Bureau is a government office; even the least powerful and most deserted office attracts crowds, let alone the Medical Bureau, which is far from deserted—it is a place watched even by the Emperor."

Lady Yao, filled with worry, asked: "Then, according to what you say, there is a ninety percent chance Jiuniang won't get into the Medical Bureau?"

Hua Minghe let out a long sigh: "Our daughter is ambitious and proud, possessing a naive stubbornness in her bones that makes her submit to no one."

"It was right to let her take the Medical Bureau exam; letting her fall hard a few times will teach her how cruel the outside world truly is."

Just as Lady Yao was about to speak, a splash sounded from behind as a basin of water was thrown out, splashing onto the street in front of the gate and raising a cloud of dust.

"Mother!"

Hua Minghe and Lady Yao turned around to see Old Lady Hua standing behind them, holding a wooden basin.

"You two are becoming increasingly audacious, sending Jiuniang, a young lady, to take the Medical Bureau exam without even telling the family; do you still have this family in your hearts?"

Having said this, Old Lady Hua stormed back into the courtyard with the wooden basin, fuming.

Hua Minghe and Lady Yao hurried to follow.

"Mother, it's not that we didn't tell the family; regarding Jiuniang taking the Medical Bureau exam, we ourselves didn't hold much hope and merely let her take it for fun."

"We didn't inform the family because we didn't want everyone to worry together..."

Because of Old Lady Hua's sudden appearance, before Hua Changxi had even entered the examination hall, the entire Hua family already knew she was taking the Medical Bureau apprentice exam that day.

Located in the northeast of Jingcheng, the Medical Bureau covered an enormous area, spanning three entire streets, several times larger than an ordinary ward.

By the time Hua Changxi and Hua Liulang arrived, a large crowd had already gathered at the entrance of the Medical Bureau.

"So many people!"

Watching the candidates entering the Medical Bureau one after another, Hua Liulang was somewhat tongue-tied.

Someone nearby immediately struck up a conversation: "I heard that several thousand people are taking the exam for the Medical Bureau this time, but they will only recruit 200."

Hua Liulang swallowed hard, looking at Hua Changxi: "Jiuniang, with so many people, can you really get into the Medical Bureau?"

Hua Changxi gazed at the plaque of the Medical Bureau, her eyes flashing with determination: "I'm going in."

Saying this, she took out her admission ticket and joined the queue.

The Medical Bureau was a gathering place for the greatest medical masters of the Great Jin Dynasty; even to enter as an apprentice, one's medical knowledge and skills had to reach a certain standard.

Previously, recruiting apprentices required only a written test, but this time, a practical segment for processing medicinal herbs had been added.

Hua Changxi was very confident in herself; if her former self had suffered from serious deficiencies regarding martial arts-related medicinal herbs, the "Annotations on the Hundred Herbs Classic" had already made up for that shortcoming.

As for processing medicinal herbs, that was even less of a challenge.

In her previous life, she had begun learning how to process Chinese medicine by following her grandfather as soon as she could walk; in this life, she had also helped in the Hua family pharmacy for several years, and many of the herbs sold by the Hua family had been processed by her.

The written test assessed everyone's accumulation of medical knowledge; after scanning the questions, Hua Changxi felt confident and began answering calmly.

Due to the fierce competition, in order to make the proctors notice her as a 'promising talent,' she deliberately handed in her answer sheet first.

Immediately after finishing the written test, without giving Hua Changxi any time to rest, a medical officer led her directly to a large square.

Several rows of wooden tables were set up in the square, with a few medicinal herbs placed on each table.

The medical officer led Hua Changxi to one of the wooden tables and waved toward someone in the house on the west side of the square; shortly after, a middle-aged medical officer approached with paper and brush.

"Someone has already finished the written exam so soon? I heard this year's written test was far from simple."

The middle-aged medical officer sized up Hua Changxi a few times and laughed, "Don't tell me she came out without even answering the questions?"

The guiding medical officer clasped his fists in greeting: "Greetings, Officer Sun." Then he smiled and added, "I am only responsible for guiding the way; whether she answered the questions or not, I do not know. I have brought the person over, Officer Sun, so you may supervise her practical examination."

After the guiding medical officer departed, Officer Sun finally turned his gaze toward Hua Changxi.

Hua Changxi clasped her fists and bowed, mimicking the greeting of the guiding officer: "This humble girl, Hua Changxi, pays her respects to Lord Sun."

Seeing her act this way, the middle-aged medical officer raised an eyebrow, chuckled once, and without saying much more, pointed to the medicinal herbs on the table: "Process these five medicinal ingredients."

There were five medicinal ingredients on the wooden table; three were ordinary, common herbs, while two were medicinal materials used by martial artists.

Hua Changxi had processed ordinary herbs before, but she had never handled the two types of medicinal materials used by martial artists prior to this.

However, the *Annotations on the Hundred Herbs* contained detailed explanations of the medicinal properties of those two herbs, so she could process them based on their properties.

Thinking this, Hua Changxi immediately began her work.

The first step in processing medicinal ingredients is washing, to remove dust and sludge from their surfaces.

Just as Hua Changxi finished washing one medicinal ingredient, a line of text suddenly appeared in her vision.

[Stainless Technique (Entry Level): Washing Medicinal Ingredients 1/10]

Hua Changxi's eyelids trembled; suppressing her excitement, she carefully washed the remaining herbs. After cleaning all five ingredients, the text in her vision changed.

[Stainless Technique (Entry Level): Washing Medicinal Ingredients 5/10]

With the washing complete, it was time to proceed with processing.

Processing medicinal ingredients involves water methods, fire methods, and combined water-and-fire methods, among others.

Based on their properties, the five herbs on the table could be processed using fire methods.

Hua Changxi took the washed herbs to an iron stove set up nearby for roasting, determining the degree of drying required according to their properties.

Watching Hua Changxi's skilled and smooth movements, Officer Sun could not help but ask, "Do you have elders in your family who practice medicine?"

Hua Changxi quickly replied with a smile, "In response to Lord Sun, my family operates a pharmacy, and my maternal grandmother's family are medicinal merchants."

Officer Sun wore an expression of 'just as I thought': "No wonder you are so skilled at processing medicinal ingredients." Saying this, he inquired further about the Hua family's situation.

Upon learning that although the Hua family had members serving in the government office, they were all low-ranking officials, he lost interest and asked no more.

At that moment, a group of people pushed several large carts laden with medicinal herbs across the square, led by a smooth-faced, beardless Eunuch.

Looking at the herbs on the carts, Hua Changxi felt a surge of intense desire in her heart.

Those medicinal ingredients were ones she had never seen outside, yet they were all recorded in the *Annotations on the Hundred Herbs*.

Seeing the newcomers, Officer Sun immediately put on a beaming smile and went to greet them: "Has Eunuch Jia just returned from the medicinal estate?"

Eunuch Jia waved his hand, signaling the people behind him to continue moving, while he stopped and countered with a question instead of answering: "Officer Sun, why is this place arranged like this?"

Officer Sun laughed, "Eunuch Jia, a busy person like you forgets easily; have you forgotten that today is the day for recruiting additional apprentices?"

Eunuch Jia let out a long "Oh," then said nothing more, instead looking at Hua Changxi, who was roasting herbs: "Not bad; her technique is very skilled. It seems the Apprentice Hall will be gaining talent again."

Officer Sun, however, sighed: "I borrow your auspicious words. The tasks assigned by the Ministry of Personnel over the past two years have become increasingly heavy; the Apprentice Hall is barely keeping up. If we can truly recruit capable individuals, the Apprentice Hall might find some relief."

Eunuch Jia jerked his chin toward Hua Changxi: "Is not talent right before your eyes? If the Apprentice Hall could stand a bit taller, why worry about lacking capable people?"

Without waiting for Officer Sun to respond, Eunuch Jia said, "This one still has matters to attend to and will not keep Officer Sun company any longer. Farewell."

Watching Eunuch Jia stride away, Officer Sun suppressed a spit of disdain.

Did the Apprentice Hall not wish to stand taller? But did they have a powerful backing?

The Apprentice Hall, the Laborer Hall, and the Disciple Hall were all core departments of the Medical Bureau. The Laborer Hall had support from within the palace, the Disciple Hall was personally overseen by the Bureau Supervisor, but only the Apprentice Hall was treated like a child of a second wife; anyone could interfere in its affairs.

Feeling that Eunuch Jia had mocked him, Officer Sun grew angrier the more he thought about it, suddenly whipping his head around to glare at Hua Changxi.

Seeing Hua Changxi bent over her roasting herbs, making no attempt to eavesdrop on him, Sun Zhigang's face revealed a hint of regret.

If only this examinee had committed even a single irregularity, he would have had someone to vent his anger upon.

Soon after, an unfamiliar medical officer arrived, bringing five examinees with him.

Hua Changxi only glanced up at them briefly; noticing that three of the five were women, she felt slightly surprised but did not dwell on it, continuing to focus on roasting the herbs.

Just as she finished processing one herb, a line of text immediately floated into her vision: [Comprehensive Canon of Processing (Entry Level): Processing Medicinal Ingredients 1/10]

Hua Changxi's heart leaped with joy; a new technique had appeared again.

Coming to the Medical Bureau was indeed the right choice; look, she had unlocked two new techniques in no time.

Just as Hua Changxi was lost in thought, Officer Sun walked over and said to her, "That's enough; you may leave."

Hua Changxi snapped back to reality, looking at the herbs still roasting: "The herbs are not yet fully processed."

Officer Sun replied, "That is no longer your concern; just go."

Hua Changxi frowned slightly. Seeing Officer Sun's impatient expression and fearing he would give her a poor evaluation, she dared not linger. Placing the processed herbs on the table, she slowly walked outward.

She did not leave directly; instead, she turned the corner of the square, stopped when she saw no one around, and crouched at the corner to peek back toward the square.

One look, and anger immediately surged within her heart.

The five newly arrived examinees were all handing slips of paper to Officer Sun.

Although Officer Sun looked somewhat reluctant on the surface, he accepted all five slips.

Hua Changxi wanted to rush over and catch them red-handed, but in the end, she suppressed the impulse.

If she pretended not to have seen this, she still had a chance to enter the Medical Bureau; but if she ran out and exposed the matter publicly, she feared she would never have another opportunity to join the Medical Bureau.

Yet, could she really enter the Medical Bureau relying solely on her medical skills?

Her five medicinal herbs were not even fully processed yet.

Passing the entrance exam for the Medical Bureau was too important to Hua Changxi; she did not want to return home just like that.

If her name was not on the employment list three days from now, she would be completely at a loss.

Hua Changxi thought of Physician Xu; knowing that Physician Xu served on Ninth Street of the Medical Bureau, she avoided others and made her way there.

Her luck was not bad; Ninth Street was right next to the square.

"Number Twelve, Ninth Street..."

Following the address given by Physician Xu, Hua Changxi arrived at the pharmacy on Ninth Street, Number Twelve, where Physician Xu worked; seeing someone emerging from within, she hurried forward: "Greetings, my lord. I am looking for Physician Xu. Could you please announce my arrival?"

Soon, Physician Xu came out.

"Ninth Lady, what are you doing here?"

Upon seeing Hua Changxi, Physician Xu first showed surprise, then immediately pulled her quickly into the alley: "The Medical Bureau does not allow outsiders to wander around at will."

"Are you here for the examination?"

Hua Changxi nodded and quickly recounted what had happened in the square: "Uncle Xu, that Physician Sun didn't even let me finish preparing the herbs before driving me away. Does this mean I won't be hired?"

Physician Xu fell silent for a moment; seeing Hua Changxi looking at him so earnestly, he sighed: "Ninth Lady, try again when the Medical Bureau recruits apprentices next time."

Hua Changxi's expression turned anxious: "Why?"

Speaking of this, Physician Xu's tone became somewhat sharp: "Why else? All the quotas have been taken, of course."

Hua Changxi said: "Didn't you tell me before that this recruitment was for fifty female apprentices? Surely all fifty spots haven't been taken?"

Physician Xu said nothing, tacitly confirming it.

Hua Changxi widened her eyes: "Really? All fifty were taken?"

Physician Xu said: "This kind of situation never used to happen, but this time, for some reason, many noble families are stuffing people into the Medical Bureau."

"Do you know? Even a young lady from the Duke Prefecture came to meddle in this."

Hua Changxi's brows knitted together: "How could noble families care about the position of a Medical Bureau apprentice? Don't they find it undignified?"

Physician Xu said: "Positions in the Medical Bureau are actually quite desirable; noble families have the habit of training female physicians to serve as dowries for their daughters."

"What place is best for training female physicians? The Medical Bureau, of course!"

Hua Changxi was furious, but once her emotion subsided, she immediately looked earnestly at Physician Xu again: "Uncle Xu, I must enter the Medical Bureau. Please help me, and I will surely repay you heavily in the future."

Physician Xu looked troubled: "I have no say in the matter of recruiting apprentices."

Hearing this, Hua Changxi fell silent; after a moment, her face hardened with determination: "I will go back to find that Physician Sun. If he doesn't hire me, I will expose the fact that he accepted bribes."

Hearing this, Physician Xu was startled and grabbed Hua Changxi: "Oh, my little ancestor, you absolutely must not do that! Even if your threat succeeds and you truly enter the Medical Bureau, what awaits you will be a series of retaliations, and in the end, you will still be driven out of the Medical Bureau."

Saying this, he paused.

"Tell you what, I will go find Physician Wang, who is on good terms with me at the Apprentice Hall, and see if he can make an exception for you."

Hearing this, Hua Changxi's face immediately lit up with joy.

Physician Xu added: "But do not get your hopes up too high. Although the Medical Bureau is somewhat different from other government offices, it is still a government office, and matters within such offices are intricately entangled."

"Just like this expansion of apprentice recruitment by the Apprentice Hall; regarding what kind of people to recruit, the Apprentice Hall actually has little decision-making power."

Hua Changxi fell silent, hanging her head: "Uncle Xu, I understand. I have caused you trouble."

Physician Xu thought for a moment and still advised: "Ninth Lady, listen to Uncle Xu. If you cannot enter the Medical Bureau this time, we will try again next time. I refuse to believe that nobles can occupy all the quotas every single time."

Hua Changxi forced a smile: "Very well, I will listen to Uncle Xu. Uncle Xu, please go about your business; I will head home now."

Physician Xu was still somewhat worried: "Don't go looking for that Physician Sun, understand?"

Hua Changxi nodded: "I won't. I was just speaking out of anger earlier."

Physician Xu gave a few more instructions before finally entering the pharmacy, looking back repeatedly with each step.

Knowing that there was a nine-out-of-ten chance she would not be able to enter the Medical Bureau, Hua Changxi felt extremely unwilling to accept it.

If her medical skills had been insufficient, she would have accepted it, but that was precisely not the case.

Although she had verbally promised Physician Xu not to seek out Physician Sun, Hua Changxi's feet still carried her uncontrollably back to the square.

By now, the square was already crowded with candidates participating in the practical examination.

The proctoring physicians were no longer just Physician Sun; there were now ten or so other physicians as well.

Hua Changxi thought that if she hadn't submitted her paper early, perhaps she would never have witnessed that scene of Physician Sun accepting bribes.