Chapter 146: The Imperial Family Takes Over the Medical Bureau

On the sixteenth day of the tenth month, Hua Changxi arrived early at the Medical Bureau. After two months, stepping into the Corvée Hall again, she immediately noticed something amiss; the hall was filled with many unfamiliar faces.

"Steward Hua, you have finally arrived."

Seeing Hua Changxi, Zhou Qiuyu hurriedly trotted forward.

Hua Changxi led her to her own courtyard before asking, "Has something happened in the Corvée Hall?"

Zhou Qiuyu nodded: "A month ago, His Majesty issued an imperial edict ordering Prince Shou to take over the Medical Bureau."

Hearing this, Hua Changxi's face showed surprise: "What about the Bureau Chief?"

Zhou Qiuyu replied: "The Bureau Chief's position remains unchanged; they have simply shifted from being the primary decision-maker of the Medical Bureau to an official assisting Prince Shou."

"As soon as Prince Shou arrived, he replaced personnel everywhere. The person now managing the Corvée Hall is no longer Eunuch Jia or his group, but someone appointed by Prince Shou. Even the staff in the storeroom have all been replaced."

Hua Changxi frowned deeply upon hearing this: "Then where are Eunuch Jia and the others?"

Zhou Qiuyu said: "Eunuch Jia and the others pulled some strings; although they remain in the Corvée Hall, they are now merely ordinary corvée laborers."

"The Qihuang Hall has also been taken over by Prince Shou's people; we can no longer enter or leave at will. Fortunately, Eunuch Jia had good sources of information and received advance warning, so he secured the body-refining equipment from Qihuang Hall Number Eight. Otherwise, Eunuch Jia and the others might have been taken away for interrogation."

As she spoke, worry appeared on her face.

Seeing this, Hua Changxi said directly, "If you have something to say, just say it plainly."

Zhou Qiuyu said: "I also heard from Eunuch Jia and the others that before long, all corvée laborers in the hall will be dismissed. At that time, we will no longer be able to stay in the Corvée Hall."

Hua Changxi fell silent, then thought for a moment and asked: "You, Wang Yunchu, and the others—how is your alchemy progressing?"

Zhou Qiuyu replied modestly: "We do not refine well, but we are capable of producing finished pills."

Hua Changxi looked at her: "If you were to leave the Corvée Hall now and work at the apothecary shops under my name, would you be willing?"

With the imperial family now involved in managing the Medical Bureau and her wooden token lost, it was already difficult for her to maintain a foothold within the bureau, let alone protect others.

After a pause, Zhou Qiuyu nodded: "We will all follow Steward Hua's orders."

Hua Changxi said: "Go and tell Wang Yunchu and the others. If they are willing to work at the apothecary shops, they should voluntarily resign from their duties in the Corvée Hall and then seek out Yu Gui; he will make arrangements for them."

Managing ten apothecary shops was no easy task; last year, Yu Gui had already resigned from his storeroom duties to devote himself fully to managing the shops for Hua Changxi.

Zhou Qiuyu nodded in agreement.

Afterwards, Hua Changxi asked about Mu Qingying and Yuan Tianchou giving lectures at the Qihuang Hall.

Zhou Qiuyu said: "In August, they lectured almost every day, but by September, the frequency began to decrease. By October, they were only lecturing once every ten days."

Hearing this, Hua Changxi was somewhat surprised: "Why so few lectures?"

Zhou Qiuyu replied: "I heard some physicians and pharmacists from Ninth Street discuss it; they say the content of each lecture repeats too much, with little new material, so the two need time to conduct further research."

Hua Changxi's eyes flickered. Indeed, lecturing at the Qihuang Hall required not only many students but also instructors with profound accumulation and high attainment in medical arts. Since Mu Qingying still needed her guidance even to refine mid-grade Grade One pills, what could she possibly teach everyone about alchemy?

As for Yuan Tianchou, his alchemy skills and familiarity with spiritual plants were even inferior to Mu Qingying's.

It seemed her previous worries—that Mu Qingying and Yuan Tianchou might condense the three-dimensional small sword on the wooden token and bind themselves to the Qihuang Hall—had been unnecessary.

At this moment, a knocking sound came from outside the courtyard gate.

Hua Changxi glanced over; seeing it was Lin Sheng, she dismissed Zhou Qiuyu first.

"Master."

Lin Sheng entered respectfully, quickly gauging Hua Changxi's expression. Seeing her silent and merely looking at him faintly, he sensitively avoided mentioning matters instructed by Eunuch Lin, instead speaking of the Embroidered Uniform Guard.

"Battalion Commander Pang of the Embroidered Uniform Guard says he knows you, Master. Recently, while handling a case, many guards were injured. Knowing your superb medical skills, he wishes to invite you over to examine them."

Hearing this, Hua Changxi realized: "So the Embroidered Uniform Guard came to the apothecary shop looking for me for this reason?"

Lin Sheng nodded: "It should be so. I heard that in recent days, several members of the Embroidered Uniform Guard have already died."

Hua Changxi said: "I am aware of this matter. You may leave."

Lin Sheng stood without moving, appearing hesitant to speak.

Hua Changxi looked at him but said nothing.

Finally, unable to bear the pressure, Lin Sheng spoke voluntarily: "Master, my godfather has also looked for you several times recently, saying he had an appointment with you to visit the Ghost Market."

Hua Changxi scoffed: "When did I make an appointment with your godfather? I know nothing of such a matter. If I wish to go to the Ghost Market, I alone shall decide the time. Whether or not I go with your godfather is of no consequence to me."

Lin Sheng had not expected Hua Changxi to adopt such an attitude; his godfather was a member of the Eastern Depot, and this was the first time he had seen someone show such disregard for the Eastern Depot's face.

Unwilling to speak further with Lin Sheng, Hua Changxi said impatiently: "Su Xing, you may withdraw."

Lin Sheng still did not move and said somewhat embarrassedly: "Master, I have one more matter to report. I have already perfected the 'Skin Refining' chapter; may I ask when I might begin practicing the next chapter?"

Hearing this, Hua Changxi smiled: "What do you think?"

Lin Sheng hesitated briefly: "...If possible, I wish to begin practicing the next chapter immediately."

Hua Changxi looked at him and rejected him outright: "No. As for why, figure that out yourself."

Lin Sheng was anxious inwardly and wished to pledge his loyalty, but seeing Hua Changxi's unwillingness to say more, he knew further words were futile; thus, he silently bowed and withdrew.

Not long after Lin Sheng left, while Hua Changxi was pondering the significance of remaining in the Medical Bureau, a knocking sound came from outside the courtyard again.

This time, the visitor was unexpectedly Mu Qingying.

"Hua Changxi, Prince Shou wishes to see you."

Hua Changxi's expression startled: "See me? For what purpose?"

Mistaking her reaction for fear of meeting the imperial family, Mu Qingying hurriedly said: "Do not worry; you are not the only one being summoned. Prince Shou is summoning everyone who possesses a wooden token. My senior brother has already gone to notify the others; come with me to First Street."

Hearing this, Hua Changxi frowned, feeling that being summoned by Prince Shou boded ill. Nevertheless, she followed Mu Qingying to the Medical Bureau building, intending to see exactly what Prince Shou planned to do.

In the deliberation hall of the Medical Bureau building on First Street, Hua Changxi saw Gu Jinfan, Zhu Qinghuan, Shen Qianfan, Yuan Tianchou, and the others.

"Prince Shou arrives."

Amidst the eunuch's announcement, a brocade-clad man who appeared to be only twenty or thirty years old appeared; behind him followed the Seventh Imperial Prince, Chu Junhao.

As Chu Junhao passed before Hua Changxi, he offered her a friendly smile.

"Why are there so few people? Was it not said that there were eighteen wooden tokens?"

As soon as Prince Shou sat down, he scanned the people present and his face immediately showed displeasure.

Director Gu Qiming smiled and replied, "Your Highness, these are the individuals confirmed to possess wooden tokens; the identities of the remaining persons have not yet been ascertained."

Upon hearing this, Prince Shou snorted coldly, "The Minister of the Heaven Department always praises you before my imperial brother, claiming you have rendered meritorious service in managing the Medical Bureau. Yet, in this king's view, he has exaggerated; unable to even identify a dozen or so people, Director Gu, you have neglected your duties."

Gu Qiming's smile did not fade as he said, "Your Highness's admonition is correct; this official will certainly rectify matters in the future."

Hearing this response, Prince Shou ceased his reproaches and turned his gaze toward Hua Changxi and the others.

The moment Prince Shou looked over, Hua Changxi swiftly lowered her eyes, concealing the disgust and revulsion within them.

This Prince Shou emanated a fishy stench that was unbearable to her, making her feel like vomiting.

Hua Changxi quickly glanced out of the corner of her eye at Mu Qingying and the others beside her; seeing that their expressions toward Prince Shou showed nothing unusual, she immediately realized that only she could smell the foul odor on him, and she hastily adjusted her facial expression.