"Advancement? Easy to digest?"
The Imperial Physician blinked, confused. Easy to digest was understandable, but what on earth was advancement?
"Precisely, advancement and easy to digest."
Ye Meng explained, then elaborated, "The liquid medicine itself can be incorporated into the refining of other non-conflicting pills, forming compound pills that possess both effects simultaneously. It can also be used as a broth for medicinal cuisine, aiding in strengthening the effects of the dish, or diluted to enhance flavor, becoming a beverage with the efficacy of Qi and Blood Pills."
"Furthermore, being a liquid, it requires no strong digestive capabilities, nor even the circulation of cultivation techniques. It can be easily digested and absorbed by the body with just stomach acid."
...
The Imperial Physician fell silent. Chu Chen's mouth twitched, and he too remained silent.
This method of alchemy was truly unique. The wisdom of ancient people should not be underestimated; perhaps they simply lacked the breadth of experience of modern people, but their intelligence was likely on par.
Seeing their silence, Ye Meng felt a flicker of unease but did not show it.
The Imperial Physician sighed, "Young people these days, truly surpass their elders. An old fellow like myself is indeed getting old, and there's no use denying it."
"Prime Minister Chu, I'll leave this to you. I shall return and focus on retiring early."
With that, the Imperial Physician waved his hand and departed.
Chu Chen glanced at him, unconcerned. The man was already seventy-five years old and had sustained a serious injury in his younger days while experimenting with new alchemy methods, leaving him with an incurable internal wound.
"Prime Minister Chu, what do you think?" Ye Meng asked, her lips parting slightly.
"Congratulations on passing the assessment!"
Chu Chen turned his head and smiled faintly.
Ye Meng's lips could no longer suppress a slight upturn.
...
At the Ministry of Governance, Chu Chen reviewed the assessment report. The Qi and Blood Pill assessment had concluded, with three hundred participants, all of whom had passed.
"A hundred percent pass rate. Those who tried to slack off ran away when they saw Xin Yue and me presiding."
"This is for the best, but the subsequent assessments will be more challenging."
Chu Chen closed the report and took out his brush to write the details of the next assessment.
One Minister of the Ministry of Health, two Left Vice Ministers, three Vice Ministers of the Three Bureaus, and a number of their subordinate physicians.
Those who succeeded in this assessment would at least secure a position as a physician. The next examination would be for the Vice Ministers of the Three Bureaus.
"In that case, it shall be more difficult. For the Body Refining realm, at least three Body Refining realm pills must be refined to pass. As for Vice Ministers and Ministers, promotion will depend on seniority and merit."
Chu Chen pondered, then began writing the rules. Although he suspected that the Vice Minister positions would likely be a contest among Zhou Yunshen, Li Er, Zuo Shao, Xun Gui, and Ye Meng.
After releasing the assessment, three more days passed. Chu Chen returned to the military training grounds within the city, accompanied by Princess Xin Yue.
For this assessment, most people directly abstained, as they couldn't even refine a single Body Refining realm pill. Only a few managed to do so.
The four, Zhou Yunshen, did not perform as spectacularly as last time. Clearly, refining Body Refining realm pills presented a certain degree of difficulty for them, and they had to prioritize success.
Only Ye Meng, the sole female alchemist, bit her lip and refined with great effort. She was also the only one among those attempting to qualify for Vice Minister who required assistance from the Imperial Guards for alchemy.
The others already possessed Body Refining realm cultivation and could refine pills independently without any assistance.
"Chu Chen, it seems that sister is going to lose this time."
"Mm."
Princess Xin Yue looked at her with a hint of pity.
She could also see that the woman likely had no talent in martial arts, reminding her of her own past. The difference was that she had received the Marrow Cleansing and Meridian Nourishing Pill from Chu Chen, which had improved her martial aptitude, while the other did not.
"Chu Chen, do you have any spare Marrow Cleansing and Meridian Nourishing Pills?"
Watching her struggle to refine, Xin Yue asked with sympathy.
"Why? You want to help her change her aptitude? But even for me, it's quite difficult to obtain this Marrow Cleansing and Meridian Nourishing Pill."
Chu Chen said with a faint smile.
As he spoke, Chu Chen took a moment to check the pills section of the system store.
[Marrow Cleansing and Meridian Nourishing Pill: Greatly enhances personal martial arts aptitude upon consumption. Requires ten thousand points for redemption.]
"Tsk~ Ten thousand points. I once drew two for a thousand points, what good luck I had. It's a shame this thing is so rare through the lottery."
Chu Chen currently had 55,600 points. Even using them all would only be enough to redeem five pills, which was quite a hefty price.
If he used ten thousand points for a summon card, he could summon thousands of soldiers. Spending it on someone unrelated made his heart ache.
"Only difficult?" Princess Xin Yue's eyes lit up, and she playfully reached behind Chu Chen, grabbing his clothes.
"Chu Chen, look, I couldn't cultivate before either. And that sister, although she can cultivate, her talent is surely poor. This reminds me of my past, how pitiful! Cultivating can make one more beautiful, have a better figure, and possess more grace."
"Look at that sister, how hard she's trying to change her destiny. Her knowledge accumulation in alchemy is profound. Can you bear to watch such a hardworking, beautiful, and talented woman fail to achieve her dreams due to insufficient talent?"
Princess Xin Yue said, looking at Chu Chen with a pitiful expression.
Chu Chen said exasperatedly, "You make it sound so easy, but she has no relation to me. Asking me to pay a considerable price to help her, how can I..."
Before he could finish, Princess Xin Yue slyly said, "You can take her as a concubine!"
"Help... Huh?"
"What did you say?"
Chu Chen was stunned.
Why was his fiancée suddenly finding him a concubine?
"Hehe, what? Scared?" Princess Xin Yue asked with a smile.
Chu Chen hesitated for a moment, then nodded, "A little, really. Why suddenly..."
"It's my mother. She's been talking to me a lot lately, saying that I'm a princess, you're busy with state affairs, and you can't leave me for the wedding and honeymoon yet. But you're a young man in his prime, and rather than you going to brothels, it's better to find you a concubine directly."
Princess Xin Yue pouted and complained, then asked, "Speaking of which, when we got engaged, didn't mother send you ten beautiful maids? Didn't you take them in?"
"What kind of lewd words are those! Do I look like that kind of pervert? I've been waiting to marry you!"
Chu Chen retorted.
"Really?"
"As real as gold!"
"Then I'm so happy. But what do you think?"
"About what?"
"Taking Ye Meng into your household!"
"..."