Joy and Mourning

"Only the Office of the Inner Clerk possesses top-grade purple Ganoderma lucidum?"

Zhang Xuezhou at Shanglin Garden consumed energy at a rate far exceeding that of ordinary people.

Almost all the major medicinal ingredients that could be used to make the Tenfold Complete Great Tonic Pill had been used up, and only the new emperor's request allowed the preservation of Huangjing and many remaining medicine chests.

Just as the Qi and Blood Fortune Pill cannot be refined without the Demon Core core catalyst, the Shanglin Garden can no longer refine the Tenfold Complete Great Tonic Pill.

"You want to go back to the Imperial Medical Hall?"

Chunyu Tiying was undoubtedly shaken and wanted to use the power of the imperial court to try to refine the Life-Creating Fortune Pill.

But people change and things fade away, no matter where they are. Chunyu Tiying was highly regarded a few years ago, but now there is no place for her in the Imperial Medical Hall.

When she returns, she will have to oust some people who have risen to power, which will inevitably lead to grudges and entanglements.

Zhang Xuezhou asked a question, Chunyu Tiying thought for a few seconds before shaking her head repeatedly.

"We can only try through Yi Shuo!"

Even if Chunyu Tiying returned to the Imperial Medical Hall and rose to a high position, she could not simply refine elixirs at will.

Many Alchemist are no different from Zou Bugui; they all secretly keep some of the materials after handling them, and only after a long time do they have the opportunity to try to refine pills for themselves.

Nowadays, it's almost impossible to get into this system at the right time and achieve your goals in a short period of time.

Only Yi Shuo, who had always served at Changxin Palace, had a slight chance of being the one.

"If we could obtain three or four ounces of the top-grade purple Ganoderma you mentioned, then we could try to combine it with the ingredients for the Life-Creating Fortune Pill," Zheng Wukong sighed.

"Three ounces, right?"

Zhang Xuezhou gave an awkward reply.

He used far more than three ounces of purple lingzhi.

The purple Ganoderma lucidum, each the size of a human head, weighed over twenty kilograms, and he had squandered nearly three hundred of them in the past few days.

The new emperor's heartache and anxiety were not without reason; only someone like Zhang Xuezhou, who likes to take things and use them immediately, wouldn't care.

Seeing that Zheng Wukong's request was so small, Zhang Xuezhou felt speechless with emotion.

They undoubtedly squandered a precious resource, squandering the millennia-old accumulation of the Shanglin Garden secret realm.

Of course, Zhang Xuezhou could also be described as a rescue effort.

However, the complete eradication of millennia of accumulated wealth in a single day will undoubtedly leave behind regrets.

Zhang Xuezhou could only be thankful that the elixir was divided into two parts: one for him and the other for the new emperor and empress dowager to distribute.

His refining process is complete; now it depends on the situation at the Office of the Inner Clerk.

"I can still get some Polygonatum sibiricum, do you need any?" Zhang Xuezhou asked.

"What's the use of Polygonatum?" Chunyu Tiying complained.

"Good medicine is always a good thing," Zheng Wukong.

"I'll bring a few slices over then. You can use them as you see fit. If you don't need them, you can soak them in water to drink," Zhang Xuezhou said.

"If you ever come across any powerful medicines in the future, please think of us first, even if it's just a scrap," Chunyu Tiying instructed. "Common medicines have too many limitations; we can't even conduct in-depth research on them!"

"Become!"

Zhang Xuezhou nodded.

The premiums in the medicinal herb industry have always been outrageous, with prices fluctuating wildly.

To those who don't need the herbs, even glancing at them is a waste of time; but to those who do need them, good medicine is undoubtedly worth a fortune.

Wei Shao'er's daily income of several strings of cash was barely enough to maintain his health, Chunyu Tiying didn't ask for much, only telling Zhang Xuezhou not to forget them.

"My grandfather's health is failing; I beg you two expert doctors for help!"

Zhang Xuezhou, Chunyu Tiying, and others continued their discussion when Xu Yuan, looking anxious, hurriedly knocked on the door and entered.

"We have already performed acupuncture on Xu Ji..."

Let's go take a look!

Chunyu Tiying frowned and spoke, Zheng Wukong stood up.

Xu Yuan was already over thirty years old, and Xu Ji was extremely old.

For older people, minor ailments only cause physical inconvenience, but for Xu Ji, the main reason is simply that he has reached a certain age.

Like the elderly people in Zhang Household Village, they will all leave one by one when their time comes, and no one can keep them from leaving.

When Zhang Xuezhou and the others arrived at Xu Ji's side, Xu Ji, who used to be able to fight tiger demons, had become so thin that he was barely recognizable as a human, and his body was trembling uncontrollably.

"His time has come; he's exhausted. Any attempt to force him to stay will only cause him more suffering," Chunyu Tiying, frowning.

"I have Tenfold Complete Great Tonic Pill here, would you like to try them?" Zhang Xuezhou asked, taking out the medicine.

"The difference between one moment of torment and three moments of agony!"

Chunyu Tiying pursed her lips.

Apart from those who practice the Fate Technique, no one knows the time of a person's death better than a doctor.

Chunyu Tiying reached out and pressed Xu Ji's body down; her fingers were already coated with oil when she lifted them.

This was the last bit of fuel and oil that was being used to prolong life. Normal people would break out in a sweat when they were seriously ill, but Xu Ji was just burning out oil. After that, he was completely exhausted.

Adding fuel to the fire at this point would be useless; rather, Xu Ji's lifespan had come to an end.

Upon hearing Chunyu Tiying's assessment, Xu Yuan couldn't help but weep. His attempt to bring good fortune through marriage couldn't change anything for Xu Ji.

This was the first elderly person to pass away after Zhang Household Village began to live and work in peace and contentment, leaving everyone somewhat silent for a moment.

Zhang Xuezhou held a Tenfold Complete Great Tonic Pill between his fingers and placed it near Xu Ji's mouth, but couldn't force it down; he clearly didn't want to torture Xu Ji.

Perhaps it was the scent of the elixir, or perhaps it was a final burst of energy before death, Xu Ji, his body trembling and struggling, opened his cloudy eyes and looked at the many people before him in a hazy blur.

"Lord Dongfang is back!"

Having said what needed to be said, Xu Ji did not look at Xu Yuan, but instead looked at Zhang Xuezhou, whom he rarely saw.

"Your Majesty should not have appointed an agricultural official..."

Xu Ji pointed his trembling finger toward the imperial palace in Chang'an City.

For cultivators of the Agricultural Sect, receiving an imperial decree to recognize those with the talent for farming is a lifelong aspiration.

The imperial court was indeed doing this, but Xu Ji discovered that ideals and reality were two different things.

These agricultural officials were not appointed to truly capable individuals, but rather local gentry and wealthy landowners occupied the positions and received the credit.

Without the power of the strong and without the ability to discern the truth, this investiture ceremony was nothing more than a celebration for the local gentry and nouveau riche.

As the Empress Dowager and the new emperor sought out talented individuals, various prefectures and counties recommended virtuous and respected people to go to Chang'an City. Many local gentry also happily flocked to Chang'an City, awaiting imperial decrees.

Xu Ji had waited most of his life, but he never expected that this would be the outcome he would face before his death.

He should have left long ago, but he was unwilling to accept it and kept seeking a fair outcome, even going to the Prefectural Governor's Office in the capital to submit his humble advice.

The imperial decree, already issued, would obviously not be changed because of his remonstrance, and the continued waiting did not yield the result Xu Ji desired.

Now that he is about to die, Xu Ji is left with only this one worry.

"The Agricultural Sect ideology itself is not problematic, but when the government implements policies, it's difficult for them to reach the grassroots level and be effectively implemented. Those with ability but without connections find it too difficult to demonstrate their talents!"

Xu Ji spoke in a low voice, his words slurred in his final moments, but he expressed himself clearly.

Zhang Xuezhou had no choice but to summarize.

"Your Majesty isn't as foolish as you think. This batch of agricultural officials won't have it so easy!"

Zhang Xuezhou responded and vouched for Xu Ji, whose eyes lit up before he slowly lay down.