Chapter 38: Good and Bad Are Interdependent

Hua Changxi stood at the dormitory door, also watching Eunuch Lu and Steward Leng; she too was surprised, never expecting Eunuch Lu to come in person.

Eunuch Lu had personally delivered the medicine and supervised its decoction; it seemed he would not leave until he had personally witnessed those poisoned female laborers take their doses.

This confirmed one thing for Hua Changxi: the prescription she had provided was worth far more than she had imagined.

Indeed, cases like Lu Qingluo's poisoning from improper herb processing must have been common in the First Bureau, yet they had never found a method to fully cure the toxin.

If Eunuch Lu solved this problem for the First Bureau, he would likely earn a massive favor from them.

Yet in Hua Changxi's view, the poison afflicting Lu Qingluo and the others was not difficult to cure; she wondered whether the First Bureau could not afford skilled physicians, or whether the Medical Office simply had not thoroughly studied the properties of these herbs.

Soon, the medicine was ready.

Bowl after bowl of steaming decoction was handed to the twenty female laborers poisoned by improper herb processing; after taking the medicine, they quickly fell asleep.

Steward Leng, without minding the trouble, went to check on each one; after finishing, she reported to Eunuch Lu, "They are all asleep, their expressions peaceful, unlike before when they were breaking out in cold sweats and shivering."

Eunuch Lu's eyes flickered. "That is excellent."

Steward Leng suddenly raised her voice: "Eunuch Lu, you stayed up all last night for these female laborers, and today you ran about all day, begging many people just to obtain this medicine. Now that they are safe, please go back and rest."

Eunuch Lu looked at Steward Leng with a smile, his eyes full of satisfaction: "They are all my people; although the incident occurred under the First Bureau, I could not simply ignore them. As long as they recover, it matters little if I must lower my head to beg others."

At these words, the three stewards of the Sixth Bureau stepped forward one after another to thank Eunuch Lu; the female laborers in the courtyard did not dare approach to speak, but they all watched him with moved expressions.

Eunuch Lu accepted everyone's gratitude and earnestly instructed Steward Leng: "I will not wait here any longer, lest I make you uncomfortable. However, keep a close watch; if anything happens, no matter how late, you must inform me."

Steward Leng, deeply touched, replied: "Rest assured, Eunuch Lu; I will look after them well."

Eunuch Lu did not linger further; he departed the Sixth Bureau, but before leaving, he glanced at Hua Changxi standing at the dormitory door and gave Steward Leng a meaningful look.

After he left, Steward Leng dismissed everyone in the courtyard to rest, keeping only Du Ruo behind.

"Go fetch Hua Changxi."

Du Ruo glanced at Steward Leng, then entered the room to call Hua Changxi out.

Steward Leng smiled at Hua Changxi: "You have been in the Laborers' Hall for over three months, haven't you?"

Hua Changxi hummed in acknowledgment.

Steward Leng did not mind her cold demeanor and continued smiling: "Having been here only three months, you are technically still a newcomer, yet your actions in the Laborers' Hall are anything but those of a novice."

"A newcomer would not be so bold as you."

"It was one thing to injure someone in the Sixth Bureau, but then you went to the warehouse to cause a scene and beat people; I heard you even got into a fight at the Internal Affairs Office a few days ago. Tell me, why are you so daring? Are you not afraid the Laborers' Hall will expel you?"

Hua Changxi remained silent, her expression unchanged.

Seeing this, Steward Leng raised an eyebrow and smiled again: "Of course, other newcomers do not possess your abilities either; tasks that take a day to complete, you finish in less than half a day."

"Speaking of which, Du Ruo, I must criticize you a few words."

Steward Leng suddenly shifted the topic to Du Ruo, causing her expression to change.

Just as Du Ruo was about to explain, Steward Leng continued: "With someone so capable arriving in our Sixth Bureau, why did you not report it to me?"

Saying this, Steward Leng smiled at Hua Changxi once more: "Had I known Changxi was so capable, I would surely have assigned her additional tasks, allowing her to earn more silver."

Hearing this, Hua Changxi finally reacted.

Time was her most precious resource; if most of her day were consumed by duties, the time she could devote to cultivation and to refining medicine at the Qihuang Hall would be drastically reduced.

"Steward Leng, that prescription was my tribute to Eunuch Lu. Since I make my living under Eunuch Lu, I will abide by the proper rules."

All of Steward Leng's lengthy speech had been aimed solely at obtaining the prescription.

Eunuch Lu desired both profit and fame.

Steward Leng laughed, sizing up Hua Changxi: "I knew it; how could a sister who caught Eunuch Jia's eye be a reckless hothead who charges blindly?"

Having received Hua Changxi's clear answer, Steward Leng had no desire to remain outside in the cold; she told Hua Changxi and Du Ruo, "Well, it is getting late. I will go check on those people again; you two may return to rest."

Only after Steward Leng had walked far away did Du Ruo look at Hua Changxi with a complex expression.

Too lazy to guess her thoughts, Hua Changxi asked directly: "Does Steward Du have anything else?"

Du Ruo fell silent for a moment before saying, "On behalf of those poisoned female laborers, I thank you." Had Hua Changxi not provided the prescription, no one knew what would have become of those poisoned individuals.

She had heard countless stories of laborers from the First and Second Bureaus who, poisoned by improper herb processing and lacking timely treatment, ended up mentally impaired, paralyzed, or dead.

Hua Changxi smiled slightly: "Steward Du, I am a physician." With that, she turned and returned to the dormitory.

Du Ruo paused, understanding Hua Changxi's words: a physician saves lives not for gratitude, but solely out of a healer's heart.

The day after taking the medicine, Wang Yun and the others could move freely; consequently, everyone in the Sixth Bureau was thanking Eunuch Lu.

Hua Changxi said nothing upon hearing this; after finishing her duties, she headed to the Qihuang Hall to refine medicine, only to be blocked halfway by Wang Yun.

"Hua Changxi, thank you."

Since Hua Changxi had given the prescription to Du Ruo in front of their dormitory mates, Wang Yun and the others all knew that the poisoned female laborers had been saved thanks to her.

Now that Eunuch Lu had claimed the credit, they dared not say much, but Wang Yun felt she ought to thank Hua Changxi personally.

Hua Changxi replied, "You're welcome."

Seeing Hua Changxi's eagerness to leave, Wang Yun hesitated before explaining: "Hua Changxi, I was not the one who spread those rumors about you."

"I know you probably thought I was the one spreading gossip about you everywhere, but I swear, it absolutely was not me."

"I admit, I found you somewhat disagreeable before, but having suffered from a bad reputation myself, I would never maliciously tarnish another's name."

Hua Changxi watched her raise her hand in an oath, fell silent for a moment, then said, "Very well, I understand. Do you have anything else?"

Wang Yun seemed hesitant to speak: "Are you going to the Qihuang Hall again to see Eunuch Yu?"

Hua Changxi did not deny it.

Wang Yun glanced around, then lowered her voice: "Be careful; someone from the warehouse is specifically watching you. The reason your affair with Eunuch Yu became common knowledge is that someone is deliberately sabotaging you behind the scenes."

Hearing this, Hua Changxi frowned.

Someone from the warehouse was watching her?

The only person she had offended at the warehouse was Mao Wei, whose teeth she had knocked out; she had not seen him lately, and Yu Gui had said he was transferred to the Herb Manor.

Wang Yun looked at her, appearing unable to bring herself to speak.

Hua Changxi looked at her: "What exactly are you trying to say?"

Wang Yunchu: "Changxi, other female laborers want a better life, so they maintain close ties with several eunuchs; I can understand them doing that. But you are so capable, you have no need to rely on anyone. Why must you be like them?"

Hua Changxi's eyelid twitched: "I am merely working for Eunuch Yu. It is not as you imagine."

Wang Yunchu let out an "Ah."

Hua Changxi, regardless of whether she believed it or not, added: "Thank you for telling me those things just now. I will take note. Is there anything else?"

Wang Yunchu hurriedly shook her head.

Hua Changxi: "Very well, I will get back to work."

Upon arriving at the Qihuang Hall and seeing Yu Gui was also there, Hua Changxi told him what Wang Yunchu had just said about the storehouse staff keeping an eye on her.

After hearing this, Yu Gui immediately stated: "I will speak to my godfather about this matter. Rest assured, I will definitely root out whoever is spreading these rumors about you and my godfather."

Hua Changxi: "The rumors are secondary. I am worried about our collaboration in refining medicine. If this matter becomes known, I fear it will breed trouble."

Yu Gui's expression grew several degrees more serious: "I will investigate immediately. You just focus on refining medicine with peace of mind."

After he left, Hua Changxi threw herself into refining medicine. It was three days later by the time she finished processing this batch of discarded medicinal ingredients.

After the toxins in Wang Yunchu and the others were neutralized, the matter of the prescription was considered closed for Hua Changxi. Who could have expected that on the twenty-third day of the twelfth lunar month, Steward Leng would seek her out again?

"Send me to assist in the First Office?"

Hua Changxi had been eager to upgrade the "Complete Canon of Processing" to perfection. Being sent to assist in the First Office suited her intentions perfectly, though on the surface she still feigned surprise and reluctance.

After all, just a few days prior, colleagues from the Sixth Bureau had been poisoned in the First Office and ruthlessly sent back.

Steward Leng smiled: "Eunuch Lu knows you understand medicinal principles and possess good medical skills, which is why he has given this opportunity to you."

Hua Changxi chuckled inwardly.

Seeing she remained silent, Steward Leng continued: "To ensure the medicinal ingredients are processed before the New Year, the First Office has even hired apprentices from the Apprentice Hall to help."

"I heard from Eunuch Lu that you previously applied to the Apprentice Hall, wishing to enter and study medicine and pharmacology. For you, this is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity."

"Working alongside people from the Apprentice Hall, you can ask them about anything you do not understand. Even if they are unwilling to guide you, you can still learn by observing from the sidelines."

"Apprentices of the Medical Bureau are not like those in external clinics; they possess true skill. Even if you learn only a fraction of their abilities, it will suffice for your entire life."

Unwilling to listen to her nonsense and waste her time, Hua Changxi immediately stated: "Steward Leng, I will go."

Hearing this, Steward Leng nodded with a smile: "That is the right attitude. Come, I will lead you to the First Office."

Hua Changxi asked in surprise: "Go now?"

Steward Leng: "The First Office has a heavy workload. Today is the Little New Year, and the actual New Year is only a few days away. We must naturally seize the time."

The First Office was slightly smaller than the Third Office, yet it had no fewer courtyards. Every courtyard was filled with various medicinal ingredients hanging out to dry.

Processing medicinal ingredients requires understanding certain pharmacological principles and mastering specific processing techniques. Compared to the laborers in the Third Office who were only responsible for cleaning ingredients, the laborers in the First and Second Offices were considered technical staff.

Steward Leng led Hua Changxi to a two-courtyard compound.

"Eunuch Bao, this is Hua Changxi, recommended by Eunuch Lu."

Steward Leng, beaming with a smile, approached a eunuch in his twenties. After chatting and laughing for a while, they both turned their gaze toward Hua Changxi.

Eunuch Bao sized up Hua Changxi: "Since this person is recommended by Eunuch Lu, this one will make use of her for now."

Speaking thus, he beckoned with his hand, summoning a male steward.

"Take her to process Ironwood Roots."

Just a few days ago, Wang Yunchu and the others had been poisoned precisely because their hands were pierced by Ironwood Root thorns while processing them.

Since this girl could neutralize the poison of the Ironwood Root, she presumably knew how to process it as well.

Ironwood Roots were indeed extremely difficult to process; their roots were covered in backward-facing thorns, and one careless moment could lead to injury.

In previous years, they could barely keep up with the supply of Ironwood Roots. Who would have known that a month ago, the Bureau Chief issued a notice ordering them to hurry and process a batch of Ironwood Roots to be sent to the Heaven Department after the New Year.

The Medical Bureau fell under the jurisdiction of the Heaven Department. With orders from the Heaven Department, the Bureau Vice-Director had personally visited the First Office to urge them to ensure the medicinal ingredients were processed.

He and Eunuch Lu were friends. Knowing he was under great pressure with a heavy task and urgently needed experienced hands for processing medicine, Eunuch Lu had recommended Hua Changxi, who had neutralized the Ironwood Root poison.

After the male steward led Hua Changxi away, Steward Leng, seeing Eunuch Bao's worried expression, smiled: "Rest assured, Eunuch Bao. This Hua Changxi was personally recruited into the Laborer Hall by Eunuch Jia. It is said he valued her ability to handle medicinal ingredients above all."

Eunuch Bao looked somewhat surprised: "She was actually recruited by Eunuch Jia?" After a moment of thought, he said, "There is nothing else needed here from this one. Go back and convey my thanks to Little Lu. When I have free time, I will find him to drink wine."

After Steward Leng departed, Eunuch Bao remained uneasy and directly strode toward the room where the Ironwood Roots were being processed.

Meanwhile, Hua Changxi followed the male steward into a room filled with swirling steam. Over a dozen furnaces inside were blazing with fire, and the people within were processing medicinal ingredients by stir-frying, roasting, calcining, or simmering.

The male steward, surnamed Qin, led Hua Changxi to a furnace and, pointing to several baskets of medicinal ingredients nearby, asked: "Do you know how to process Ironwood Roots?"

Hua Changxi did not answer immediately. Instead, she stepped forward to inspect them. Seeing that the baskets contained only Ironwood Roots, she nodded and said: "I do."

Steward Qin glanced at her: "Do you need someone to assist you?"

Hua Changxi looked at the other furnaces in the room and noticed that four people stood before each one. Thinking that she would need to employ the processing techniques from the "Complete Canon of Processing," she replied: "No need. I can manage alone."

Hearing this, Steward Qin looked at Hua Changxi again and reminded her: "Although processing medicinal ingredients allows for a certain margin of error, if too many ingredients are ruined, you will still bear responsibility."

Hua Changxi smiled: "Thank you, Steward, for the warning. I will be careful."

Steward Qin uttered an "Mm," stopped bothering her, and went to supervise the others processing medicine in the room.

As soon as he left, Hua Changxi rolled up her sleeves and got to work. She first adjusted the heat. Once the furnace reached the temperature she desired, she took ten Ironwood Roots at once and placed them inside to roast.

Eunuch Bao happened to walk in at that moment. Seeing Hua Changxi's bold move, his eyelid twitched. Even the most skilled processing laborer under his command would only dare to process five Ironwood Roots at a time.

There was no other way; the medicinal properties of the Ironwood Root were domineering, and its roots were covered in fine thorns. Yet, these thorns were precisely the part with the strongest medicinal potency. During processing, one could not afford the slightest lapse in concentration. A moment of carelessness would result in being pricked, allowing the "poison" of the Ironwood Root to enter the body through the wound.

For ordinary people, the Ironwood Root was "toxic." However, for martial artists of the seventh rank or above, it was a precious medicine capable of catalyzing internal force into true qi.

Not only the Ironwood Root, but most other medicinal ingredients used by martial artists were "toxic" to ordinary people due to their overly potent properties.

Worried that Hua Changxi would ruin the Ironwood Roots, Eunuch Bao walked over quickly, intending to stop her. Yet, just as he was about to approach, he saw the originally brown Ironwood Roots gradually turning bright red throughout.

The pharmacists of Second Street had provided a processing standard for Ironwood Roots: after roasting, the roots turning completely bright red indicated the optimal state.

Next, he watched as Hua Changxi swiftly used fire tongs to remove pieces of fully burned charcoal, then directly placed the roasted Ironwood Roots into the charcoal for calcination.

Eunuch Bao's heart tightened; this technique was far too crude. Yet, shortly after, he saw a gray-white scab forming on the surface of the Ironwood Roots.

Afterward, Hua Changxi used tongs to lift the ironwood root, its surface now entirely crusted with a gray-white scab, sprinkled a few drops of water onto the charcoal, and instantly, a wave of hot steam rose from above the charcoal.

The moment the steam billowed up, Hua Changxi placed the scab-crusted ironwood root back on top to roast; within mere seconds, the root turned bright red throughout once more.

Seeing this, Eunuch Bao could no longer restrain himself; he strode over quickly, fixed his gaze on the ten processed ironwood roots, and began examining them closely.

Noticing that Eunuch Bao was only observing without any intention of questioning her, Hua Changxi did not step forward to explain but instead began processing the second batch.

After a quarter of an hour, Eunuch Bao saw that the ironwood roots processed by Hua Changxi maintained their bright red color without changing, and he was immediately overjoyed.

He had seen the ironwood roots processed by the pharmacist of Second Street, and they looked exactly like this.

No, the ironwood roots Hua Changxi had processed were even brighter red than those made by that pharmacist, and the steps seemed simpler as well.

The others in the room also gathered around; for no other reason than that they too were processing ironwood roots, yet to avoid 'poisoning,' most could only process one root at a time and even required assistance from others.

If earlier, when Hua Changxi first entered, everyone had paid her little mind, now all eyes were fixed unblinkingly on her as she processed the ironwood roots.

Ever since Hua Changxi began cultivating, she had developed a habit: focus.

Just as at this moment, surrounded by a crowd, she remained completely unaffected, her mind occupied by only one thing: processing the ironwood roots properly.

Amid the crowd, while everyone else focused on Hua Changxi's steps and methods for processing the ironwood roots, Lu Qingling was watching Hua Changxi herself.

Like Wang Yun, she could not understand why someone so capable would still choose to attach herself to Eunuch Yu, sparking rumors about her throughout the entire Menial Hall.

Soon, Hua Changxi finished processing another ten ironwood roots.

She placed the processed roots into a specialized container box before finally raising her head to look at the others.

Eunuch Bao looked at her, his eyes shining: "Hua Changxi, could you teach the apprentices of the Apprentice Hall how to process ironwood roots?"

Ironwood roots were difficult to process, and since all the menial laborers from the Third Bureau who had come to help a few days prior had become 'poisoned,' those currently processing the roots were apprentices invited by Eunuch Bao from the Apprentice Hall.

Hua Changxi glanced at Eunuch Bao and, adhering to the principle of building goodwill, agreed without much hesitation: "I can."

Seeing her agree so readily, Lu Qingling felt somewhat surprised.

From her sister's accounts, the Hua Changxi she knew was not someone inclined to help others.

Seeing that Hua Changxi was giving him such face, Eunuch Bao smiled: "Rest assured, I, this Eunuch, will not treat you unfairly."

Hearing these words and seeing Hua Changxi smile with satisfaction, Lu Qingling suddenly understood.

Hua Changxi was not unwilling to help others; she was simply unwilling to help those who could offer her no return.

This person was truly pragmatic!