[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-the-great-jin-s-most-iron-rice-bowl":3,"chapter-the-great-jin-s-most-iron-rice-bowl-the-great-jin-s-most-iron-rice-bowl-chapter-255":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"chinese","The Great Jin's Most Iron Rice Bowl",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":19,"prevChapterSlug":20,"totalChapters":21,"novelImage":22},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":15,"volume":16,"translator":17,"content_hash":18},1897029,2531,"Chapter 255: The Pusher of the Era (Twenty-Four)","the-great-jin-s-most-iron-rice-bowl-chapter-255",255,"\u003Cp>The moon hung high, and lights were kindled in the Hua family courtyard.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the yard, Old Lady Hua chatted with her daughters-in-law and granddaughters while frequently glancing toward the gate: \"It's nearly midnight; why haven't the eldest and the others returned yet?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lady Yao was also staring at the gate, her expression gloomy and filled with worry.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yesterday's commotion at the Medical Bureau had been too massive; now everyone in the capital knew a tall Alchemy Cauldron Altar had appeared there.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>According to news from the Marquis's residence, that Alchemy Cauldron Altar seemed to have emerged because of Ninth Maiden.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Was this seemingly a good thing, a joyful event?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet earlier during dinner, the Marquis's head steward had rushed to the Hua home, summoning the old master and all the male members of the household to the Marquis's residence.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Because of the steward's grave and tense expression, Lady Yao's heart had remained suspended ever since.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ninth Maiden rarely spoke of her situation at the Medical Bureau at home, and the Hua family lacked channels to probe specific internal news from the Bureau; thus, most information the family possessed about Ninth Maiden came from the Marquis's residence.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Over the past year or two, the Marquis's residence had grown increasingly attentive to their family; at every clan assembly, they summoned the household's men, and each time, they discussed Ninth Maiden.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lady Yao felt this clan assembly was likely related to her Ninth Maiden once again.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Creak...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The courtyard gate swung open; Old Master Hua led the way, followed closely by the three brothers Hua Minghe, Hua Ming'ang, and Hua Mingcheng, then Hua Sanlang and the other Hua grandchildren.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing the Hua men all wearing grim faces, Old Lady Hua, Lady Yao, and the other women felt their hearts suddenly lurch.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Old man, has something happened?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Old Master Hua ignored Old Lady Hua and walked straight into the main hall.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing this, Old Lady Hua hurried after him, and the others followed into the room as well.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Once everyone had entered the main hall, Old Master Hua snorted coldly: \"Ninth Maiden has committed a grave offense!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hearing this, Lady Yao's face turned instantly pale; before she could ask, Hua Minghe stepped forward with furrowed brows to refute: \"Father, how can you say Ninth Maiden caused trouble? It is clearly the noble families forcing her hand.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Old Master Hua glared at Hua Minghe: \"That is still due to Ninth Maiden's reckless conduct; if she had sought help from the Marquis's residence, with them mediating, how could matters have reached today's state?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I said long ago that Ninth Maiden is young and inexperienced; obtaining a secret realm is like a toddler carrying a gold ingot through the streets—she cannot protect that ingot.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"The Marquis's residence has sent messages several times, offering to help Ninth Maiden manage the secret realm; I told you to persuade her, yet what did you do? You simply let Ninth Maiden act recklessly.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"The waters of the capital run deep; even the Marquis's residence must tread carefully when stepping forward, let alone our family.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Since entering the Medical Bureau, Ninth Maiden has grown increasingly arrogant; first she disregarded me, and later, when clansmen sought to draw closer to her, she acted as though none of them were worthy of her notice.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"All that could be overlooked; behind closed doors, these are family matters, clan matters. But now? She has become so insolent that she disregards even the Imperial House and the nobility.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"If the Imperial House truly moves against our family, do you think we have any room to resist? Do you wish for the entire household to be buried alongside your willful Ninth Maiden?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Old Master Hua had long harbored a bellyful of fury toward this granddaughter, Hua Changxi, who disregarded him and ignored the family's interests; now, frightened by the combined pressure from the Imperial House and the nobility, he unleashed a torrent, venting all his dissatisfaction and worry.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After hearing this, Hua Minghe's face darkened; he wished to refute but found no words.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Compared to the other younger generations in the family, Ninth Maiden was indeed somewhat disobedient.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lady Yao grew frantic, urgently tugging at Hua Minghe: \"What exactly has happened to Ninth Maiden?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hua Minghe sighed and quickly explained about Hua Changxi erecting the Oath Stele and publishing the announcement to recruit apprentices.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Upon hearing this, Lady Yao became confused: \"There is nothing wrong with these two actions Ninth Maiden took?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hua Ming'ang exclaimed loudly: \"The problem is enormous! Sister-in-law, do you not realize that by doing this, Ninth Maiden has provoked the wrath of everyone?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Saying this, he carefully explained to Lady Yao and the rest of the Hua family how Hua Changxi had infringed upon the interests of various parties.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After listening, Lady Yao muttered gloomily: \"The secret realm belongs to Ninth Maiden; can she not decide for herself whom to recruit?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hua Ming'ang replied: \"Yes, the secret realm belongs to Ninth Maiden, but the Medical Bureau is still a government department under Imperial jurisdiction; if the Imperial House dislikes Ninth Maiden, it is all too easy for them to suppress her.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lady Yao fell silent.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing that both Hua Minghe and Lady Yao had fallen quiet, Hua Ming'ang glanced at Old Master Hua and continued: \"Eldest Brother, Sister-in-law, one must bow one's head when standing under another's eaves!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"With Ninth Maiden jointly boycotted by the Imperial House and the nobility, not only will she fail to recruit a single person, but the entire Hua clan will suffer collateral damage.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"In my opinion, you should immediately go see Ninth Maiden and persuade her to submit proactively to Prince Shou; once the Imperial House relents, there will be no further trouble.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hearing this, both Hua Minghe and Lady Yao knit their brows tightly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Asking Ninth Maiden to bow to Prince Shou meant asking her to surrender management rights over the secret realm; Ninth Maiden would never agree to that!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Old Master Hua also knew his granddaughter's nature and said: \"Ninth Maiden is too young and impetuous; she simply does not understand the proper measure in dealing with others. The Marquis has stated that if Ninth Maiden is willing to yield, he is willing to step forward to negotiate with Prince Shou and ensure she does not suffer too greatly.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing the eldest couple remain silent, Old Master Hua grew angry: \"Matters must be resolved!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Since this incident has just occurred, the sooner we resolve it, the less fallout we shall suffer. Must you truly wait until our family and the clan suffer severe devastation before you discipline your precious daughter?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At these words, both Hua Minghe and Lady Yao displayed expressions of helplessness.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After a moment, Hua Minghe spoke: \"Father, I will go persuade Ninth Maiden.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Old Master Hua said: \"Go first thing tomorrow morning.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hua Minghe gave a muffled \"Mm\" and left the main hall; shortly after, the others also took their leave one by one.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Once everyone had departed, Old Lady Hua looked at Old Master Hua: \"Did Ninth Maiden truly do wrong?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Old Master Hua let out a long sigh: \"Wealth stirs the human heart; to acquire wealth yet be unable to protect it—that is the mistake!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>All parties wished to carve up the resources within Ninth Maiden's secret realm, yet Ninth Maiden had erected an Oath Stele, refusing to let any party gain even a slight advantage; if they did not target her, whom would they target?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Old Master Hua had grown up orphaned and destitute, only marrying and having children through great fortune; now, with sons and grandsons filling the hall, he could not bear to see anything befall the Hua family.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Regarding this ninth granddaughter who brought trouble upon the household, even though she was the most outstanding in the family, at this moment, the old master could not muster the slightest affection for her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"If Ninth Maiden does not change her nature, she will suffer a catastrophic fall!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"In the past, her minor antics meant she bore the consequences herself, good or bad; but now, as her actions grow ever more conspicuous, I truly fear that one day, our family and the clan will incur disaster because of her!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hearing this, Old Lady Hua also displayed a worried expression: \"Then what shall we do? The eldest couple恐怕 cannot persuade Ninth Maiden.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Old Master Hua felt equally helpless; he did not know what to do either, and once again regretfully thought to himself: If only the promising younger generation in our family were not Ninth Maiden.\u003C\u002Fp>",1427,"2026-06-12T02:51:23.636Z",1,"Qwen3.5 397B","b153f239f09e70fa9da27eab41ef972186d68c26f35fc8e5ee72e4b78a721093","the-great-jin-s-most-iron-rice-bowl-chapter-256","the-great-jin-s-most-iron-rice-bowl-chapter-254",558,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fthe-great-jin-s-most-iron-rice-bowl-cover.jpg"]