Chapter 38: Good and Bad are Intertwined

Hua Changxi stood at the door of the dormitory, also watching Eunuch Lu and Steward Leng. She was also very surprised; she didn't expect Eunuch Lu to come in person.

Eunuch Lu personally sent the medicine, personally supervised the boiling of the medicine, and it looked like he would personally watch the poisoned female menials take the medicine before leaving.

This made Hua Changxi confirm one thing: the prescription she gave had a value even greater than she had imagined.

Also, the First Bureau must have often encountered the situation where Lu Qingluo and the others were poisoned due to processing medicinal materials, but they had never had a thorough method for detoxification.

If Eunuch Lu could solve this problem for the First Bureau, he would probably gain a huge favor from the First Bureau.

It was just that the poison Lu Qingluo and the others had, in Hua Changxi's view, wasn't difficult to solve. She didn't know if the First Bureau couldn't afford to hire a good physician for diagnosis, or if the Medicine Department hadn't thoroughly studied the efficacy of these medicinal materials.

Soon, the medicine was boiled.

Bowls of steaming medicinal soup were delivered to the twenty female menials who had been poisoned due to improper processing of medicinal materials. After taking the medicine, the female menials soon fell asleep.

Steward Leng didn't find it troublesome to check them one by one. After checking, she said to Eunuch Lu: "They are all asleep, and their expressions are very peaceful, not like before, sweating coldly and shivering."

Eunuch Lu's eyes flickered: "That's very good."

Steward Leng suddenly said loudly: "Eunuch Lu, you didn't sleep all night last night for these female menials, and you ran around all day today, begging many people to get this much medicine. Now that they are fine, you should go back and rest."

Eunuch Lu looked at Steward Leng with a smile, his eyes full of satisfaction with her: "They are all my people. Although the incident happened in the First Bureau, I cannot ignore it. As long as they can get better, it's nothing for me to lower my head and beg others."

As soon as these words were spoken, the Third Stewards of the Sixth Bureau stepped forward one after another to thank Eunuch Lu. The female menials in the courtyard didn't dare to go over to talk, but they all looked at Eunuch Lu with moved expressions.

Eunuch Lu accepted everyone's gratitude and solemnly instructed Steward Leng: "I won't wait here, so as not to make you uncomfortable. But you must keep a close eye on them. If anything happens, no matter how late, you must tell me."

Steward Leng said with emotion: "Eunuch Lu, don't worry, I will take good care of them."

Eunuch Lu didn't stay any longer and left the Sixth Bureau. Before leaving, he glanced at Hua Changxi standing at the dormitory door and gave Steward Leng a wink.

After he left, Steward Leng let the people in the courtyard return to their rooms to rest, leaving only Du Ruo behind.

"Go and call Hua Changxi over."

Du Ruo glanced at Steward Leng, entered the room, and called Hua Changxi out.

Steward Leng looked at Hua Changxi with a smile: "You've been in the Menial Hall for more than three months, right?"

Hua Changxi gave an "Mm."

Steward Leng didn't mind her cold attitude and continued to smile: "Only three months, so you're still a newcomer. But your actions in the Menial Hall don't look like a newcomer at all."

"Newcomers aren't as bold as you."

"It's one thing to hurt people in the Sixth Bureau, but you also ran to the warehouse to cause trouble and beat people. I heard you even took action at the Internal Affairs Bureau a few days ago. You say, why are you so bold? Aren't you really afraid that the Menial Hall will drive you out?"

Hua Changxi was silent and didn't speak, and there was no change in her expression on the surface.

Seeing this, Steward Leng raised her eyebrows and smiled again: "Of course, other newcomers aren't as capable as you. Chores that take a whole day, you finish in less than half a day."

"Speaking of this, Du Ruo, I have to criticize you a few words."

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

Just as Du Ruo wanted to explain, Steward Leng continued: "Such a capable person came to our Sixth Bureau, why didn't you report it to me?"

As she said this, Steward Leng looked at Hua Changxi with a smile again: "If I had known Changxi was so capable, I would have had to add some tasks for her, so she could earn more silver."

Hearing this, Hua Changxi finally had a reaction.

Time was the most precious thing to her. If most of her day was spent on chores, then her time for practicing and going to the Qihuang Hall to refine medicine would be greatly reduced.

"Steward Leng, that prescription was my tribute to Eunuch Lu. I make a living under Eunuch Lu, and I will follow the rules I should follow."

Steward Leng said so much, but it was all aimed at the prescription.

Eunuch Lu not only wanted profit, but also wanted fame.

Steward Leng smiled and sized up Hua Changxi: "I said it, Sister can catch Eunuch Jia's eye, how could she be a reckless greenhorn?"

Having obtained Hua Changxi's definite word, Steward Leng didn't want to stay outside in the cold weather, so she said to Hua Changxi and Du Ruo: "Alright, it's not early anymore. I'll go check on those people's situation again, and you all go back to rest."

After Steward Leng walked far away, Du Ruo looked at Hua Changxi with a complex expression.

Hua Changxi didn't bother to guess her thoughts and said directly: "Does Steward Du have anything else?"

Du Ruo was silent for a moment and said: "I thank you on behalf of those poisoned female menials." If Hua Changxi hadn't brought out the prescription, she didn't know what would have happened to those poisoned people.

She had heard plenty of stories about menials in the First and Second Bureaus who were poisoned due to improper processing of medicinal materials. Because they weren't treated in time, some became stupid, some lost their mobility, and some died without treatment.

Hua Changxi smiled: "Steward Du, I am a physician." After saying this, she turned and returned to the dormitory.

Du Ruo was stunned. She understood Hua Changxi's words. A physician saving people wasn't for gratitude, but for that heart of a healer.

The day after taking the medicine, Wang Yunchu and the others could move freely. As a result, everyone in the Sixth Bureau was thanking Eunuch Lu.

After hearing this, Hua Changxi didn't say anything. After finishing her chores, she was about to go to the Qihuang Hall to refine medicine, but was stopped by Wang Yunchu halfway.

"Hua Changxi, thank you."

Hua Changxi gave the prescription to Du Ruo in front of the people in the same dormitory, so Wang Yunchu and the others all knew that the poisoned female menials were saved thanks to her.

Now that Eunuch Lu had taken the credit, they didn't dare to say anything more, but Wang Yunchu felt that she should thank Hua Changxi personally.

Hua Changxi: "You're welcome."

Seeing her look like she was in a hurry to leave, Wang Yunchu hesitated but explained: "Hua Changxi, those rumors about you weren't spread by me."

"I know you must have thought it was me spreading your gossip everywhere before, but I dare to swear, it definitely wasn't me."

"I admit, I didn't like you a bit before, but I've suffered from having a bad reputation, so I wouldn't maliciously smear someone else's reputation."

Hua Changxi looked at her raising her hand to swear and was silent for a moment: "Alright, I know. Do you have anything else?"

Wang Yunchu was hesitant: "Are you going to the Qihuang Hall to find Eunuch Yu again?"

Hua Changxi didn't deny it.

Wang Yunchu looked around and lowered her voice: "Be careful. Someone in the warehouse is specifically watching you. The reason your affair with Eunuch Yu is known to everyone is that someone is deliberately causing trouble behind your back."

Hearing this, Hua Changxi frowned.

People in the warehouse watching her?

The only person in the warehouse she had offended was Mao Yong, whose molar she had knocked out. She hadn't seen him during this time, and Yu Gui said he had been transferred to the Medicine Farm.

Wang Yunchu looked at her, looking like she found it hard to speak.

Hua Changxi looked at her: "What exactly do you want to say?"

Wang Yunchu: "Changxi, other female menials want to live a little better, so they have close dealings with several eunuchs. I can understand why they do this, but you are so capable, you don't need to rely on anyone at all. Why do you have to be like them?"

Hua Changxi's eyelids twitched: "I'm just doing things for Eunuch Yu, not what you think."

Wang Yunchu gave an "Ah."

Hua Changxi didn't care whether she believed it or not and said again: "Thank you for what you just told me. I will pay attention. Anything else?"

Wang Yunchu hurriedly shook her head.

Hua Changxi: "Alright, I'm going to get busy."

Arriving at the Qihuang Hall and seeing Yu Gui there, Hua Changxi told him about "people in the warehouse watching her" that Wang Yunchu had mentioned.

After hearing this, Yu Gui immediately stated: "I will tell my foster father about this. Don't worry, I will definitely find out who is spreading rumors about you and my foster father."

Hua Changxi: "The rumors are secondary. I'm worried about our cooperation in refining medicine. If this matter is known by others, I'm afraid it will cause trouble."

Yu Gui's expression became a bit more serious: "I'll investigate immediately. You can refine medicine with peace of mind."

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

After Wang Yunchu and the others' toxins were cleared, the matter of the prescription was turned over for Hua Changxi. Who would have thought that on the twenty-third day of the twelfth lunar month, Steward Leng would find her again.

"Let me go to the First Bureau to help?"

Hua Changxi was just trying to upgrade the *Encyclopedia of Processing* to perfection. Letting her go to the First Bureau to help was exactly what she wanted, but on the surface, she still showed an expression of surprise and resistance.

After all, a few days ago, her colleagues from the Sixth Bureau were poisoned in the First Bureau and were ruthlessly sent back.

Steward Leng smiled: "Eunuch Lu knows you understand pharmacology, and your medical skills are also quite good, so he gave you this opportunity."

Hua Changxi scoffed in her heart.

Seeing her not speaking, Steward Leng continued: "In order to process the medicinal materials before the New Year, the First Bureau also invited apprentices from the Apprentice Hall to help."

"I heard from Eunuch Lu that you applied for the Apprentice Hall before. I think you also want to enter the Apprentice Hall to learn medical skills and pharmacology. This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for you."

"Working with people from the Apprentice Hall, you can ask them anything you don't understand. Even if they are unwilling to guide you, you can steal their techniques from the sidelines."

"Apprentices in the Medicine Department are different from those in outside medical clinics. They have real skills. Even if you only learn a little bit of their skills, it will be enough for you to benefit for a lifetime."

Hua Changxi didn't want to listen to her nonsense and waste her time, so she immediately stated: "Steward Leng, I'll go."

Hearing this, Steward Leng nodded with a smile: "That's right. Let's go, I'll take you to the First Bureau."

Hua Changxi was surprised: "Go now?"

Steward Leng: "The First Bureau has heavy tasks. Today is already the Little New Year, and there are only a few days left until the New Year. Of course, we must seize the time."

The First Bureau was a bit smaller than the Third Bureau, but there were no fewer courtyards. Every courtyard was filled with various medicinal materials drying.

Processing medicinal materials required understanding certain pharmacology and knowing some processing methods. Compared with the menials in the Third Bureau who were only responsible for washing medicinal materials, the menials in the First and Second Bureaus were considered technical personnel.

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

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

Steward Leng walked toward a eunuch in his twenties with a beaming smile. The two chatted and laughed for a while before turning their gaze to Hua Changxi.

Eunuch Bao sized up Hua Changxi: "Since it's a person recommended by Eunuch Lu, then I'll use her for now."

As he said this, he waved his hand and called over a male steward.

"Take her to process Ironwood Root."

A few days ago, Wang Yunchu and the others were poisoned because their hands were pierced by the Ironwood Root while processing it.

Since this girl could detoxify the Ironwood Root, she must know how to process it.

Ironwood Root was really too difficult to process. The roots were covered with barbs, and one would be injured if not careful.

In previous years, they could barely keep up with the supply of Ironwood Root. Who knew that a month ago, the Department Head notified them to hurry up and process a batch of Ironwood Root, which would be sent to the Heaven Department after the New Year.

The Medicine Department was under the jurisdiction of the Heaven Department. The Heaven Department issued an order, and the Department Head even came to the First Bureau in person to urge them to process the medicinal materials.

He and Eunuch Lu were good friends. Eunuch Lu knew he was under great pressure and had heavy tasks, and was in urgent need of experienced hands to process medicinal materials, so he recommended Hua Changxi, who had detoxified the Ironwood Root, to him.

After the male steward took Hua Changxi away, Steward Leng saw Eunuch Bao looking worried and smiled: "Eunuch Bao, don't worry. This Hua Changxi was recruited into the Menial Hall by Eunuch Jia himself. It is said that he valued her ability to handle medicinal materials."

Eunuch Bao was a bit surprised: "She was actually recruited by Eunuch Jia?" Thinking for a moment, "I'm fine here. You go back and thank Little Lu for me. When I'm free, I'll go find him for a drink."

After Steward Leng left, Eunuch Bao was still worried and walked directly to the room where Ironwood Root was processed.

On the other side, Hua Changxi followed the male steward into a room filled with heat. In the room, more than a dozen boilers were emitting firelight, and the people inside were processing medicinal materials by stir-frying, roasting, calcining, or simmering.

The male steward's surname was Qin. He led Hua Changxi to a boiler and pointed to the baskets of medicinal materials beside it, asking: "Do you know how to process Ironwood Root?"

Hua Changxi didn't answer immediately but went up to investigate. Seeing that they were all Ironwood Roots in the baskets, she nodded: "I know."

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

Hua Changxi looked at the other boilers in the room and found that there were four people in front of each boiler. Thinking of the processing methods in the *Encyclopedia of Processing*, she said: "No need, I can do it alone."

Hearing this, Steward Qin looked at Hua Changxi again and reminded: "Although there is a certain tolerance for processing medicinal materials, if you ruin too many medicinal materials, you will have to take responsibility."

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

Steward Qin gave an "Mm," didn't bother with her anymore, and went to supervise the others in the room processing medicinal materials.

After he left, Hua Changxi rolled up her sleeves and started working. She first adjusted the heat, and when the boiler reached the temperature she wanted, she took ten Ironwood Roots at once and put them into the boiler to roast.

Eunuch Bao happened to walk in at this time. Seeing Hua Changxi's domineering style, his eyelids twitched. The most capable processing menial under him only dared to process five Ironwood Roots at a time.

There was no way around it; the medicinal properties of Ironwood Root were overbearing, and the roots were covered with fine barbs. However, the barbs were the part with the strongest medicinal properties. One couldn't be distracted at all during the processing. If one wasn't careful, one would be pricked, and then the "poison" of the Ironwood Root would enter the body through the wound.

For ordinary people, Ironwood Root was "poisonous," but for martial artists above the seventh grade, Ironwood Root was a precious medicine for stimulating internal energy into external energy.

Not only Ironwood Root, but most other medicinal materials used by martial artists were "poisonous" to ordinary people because their medicinal properties were too strong.

Eunuch Bao was worried that Hua Changxi would ruin the Ironwood Root and walked over quickly, wanting to stop her. But when he was about to get close, he saw the originally brown Ironwood Root gradually become bright red all over.

The pharmacist on the Second Street had given a processing standard for Ironwood Root. After the Ironwood Root was roasted, it was best for it to turn bright red all over.

Then, he saw Hua Changxi quickly use fire tongs to pick out pieces of charcoal that had completely burned through, and then directly put the roasted Ironwood Root into the charcoal to calcine.

Eunuch Bao's heart tightened. This operation was too rough. But not long after, he saw gray-white scabs forming on the surface of the Ironwood Root.

Then, after Hua Changxi picked up the Ironwood Root with completely gray-white scabs on the surface with tongs, she sprinkled a few drops of water into the charcoal. Instantly, a burst of heat evaporated above the charcoal.

Just as the heat emerged, Hua Changxi put the Ironwood Root with gray-white scabs on the surface back up to roast. In just a few seconds, the Ironwood Root turned bright red all over again.

Seeing this, Eunuch Bao couldn't help it anymore and walked over quickly, staring at the ten processed Ironwood Roots and examining them carefully.

Seeing that Eunuch Bao was just looking and didn't intend to ask her, Hua Changxi didn't take the initiative to explain but started processing the second pot.

A quarter of an hour later, seeing that the Ironwood Root processed by Hua Changxi always maintained a bright red color without changing, Eunuch Bao was overjoyed.

He had seen the Ironwood Root processed by the pharmacist on the Second Street, and it was just like this.

No, the Ironwood Root processed by Hua Changxi was even brighter red than the one processed by that pharmacist, and the steps seemed to be simpler.

Everyone else in the room also gathered around. For no other reason than that they were also processing Ironwood Root. To avoid being "poisoned," most could only process one at a time, and they also needed others to help.

If people didn't take it to heart when Hua Changxi came in before, at this moment, everyone was watching her process Ironwood Root intently.

After Hua Changxi started practicing, she developed a habit, which was focus.

Just like now, surrounded by people, she wasn't affected at all. In her mind, she only thought about one thing, which was to process the Ironwood Root well.

In the crowd, while others were paying attention to Hua Changxi's steps and methods of processing Ironwood Root, Lu Qingling was looking at Hua Changxi herself.

Like Wang Yunchu, she couldn't figure out why such a capable person would still want to rely on Eunuch Yu, causing the entire Menial Hall to spread rumors about her.

Soon, Hua Changxi processed another ten Ironwood Roots.

She put the processed Ironwood Roots into a specially prepared box before looking up at the others.

Eunuch Bao looked at her with shining eyes: "Hua Changxi, can you teach the apprentices in the Apprentice Hall how to process Ironwood Root?"

Ironwood Root was difficult to process. Adding that all the menials from the Third Bureau who came to help a few days ago were "poisoned," now those processing Ironwood Root were apprentices invited by Eunuch Bao from the Apprentice Hall.

Hua Changxi looked at Eunuch Bao and, in the interest of getting along well, agreed without much hesitation: "Yes."

Seeing her agree so readily, Lu Qingling was a bit surprised.

The Hua Changxi she learned about from her sister wasn't a person who was happy to help others.

Seeing Hua Changxi give so much face, Eunuch Bao smiled: "Don't worry, I won't treat you badly."

Hearing this, and seeing Hua Changxi smile with satisfaction, Lu Qingling suddenly realized.

Hua Changxi wasn't unwilling to help others, but unwilling to help those who wouldn't bring her any return.

This person was really realistic! ===== CHAPTER 39 =====