Married to a Villainous Minister - Chapter 107

Hearing that the old man was making a fuss because he feared the He family would come looking for trouble, Madam Song quickly stepped in to defend Yu Jiao.

“If the He family let Meng girl go, then they clearly aren’t pursuing the matter anymore. Father, why are you still worked up? Earlier, when the He family insisted on arresting you, it was Meng girl who spoke up and took responsibility. They only took her because of that. A young girl like her took the blame for everything on your behalf and, thankfully, came back safe and sound. Can’t you and Mother treat her a little better?”

Old Madam Yu’s expression darkened. “What do you mean she took the blame for your father? That prescription was hers to begin with, what does it have to do with your father?”

Yu Ruhai, furious, let out a harsh cough, his face flushing red as he forced phlegm from his throat. With trembling hands bulging with veins, he slammed the table and shouted angrily at Madam Song, “You damned woman! Are you trying to drive me to an early grave?!”

Seeing the old man looking so enraged and aggressive, Madam Song feared he might get seriously ill from the anger. She quickly softened her tone, “Father, Mother, please calm down. I’ll take Meng girl back to our room.”

With that, she led Yu Jiao out of the room, hoping that without her presence, the old couple might calm down a little.

But Old Madam Yu wasn’t having it. She shouted, “Stop right there! Tell her to get out, there’s no such person in the Yu family!”

Before Madam Song could respond, Yu Qizhe stepped in, “Grandmother, Meng Yujiao is a member of my household, she’s my wife and a part of the Yu family. If she wants to stay, no one can force her out. If Grandfather and Grandmother insist on making her leave, then our second household will separate from the family.”

His tone was calm and steady, but his words carried weight.

Yu Jiao looked up at him suddenly, and Yu Qizhe turned to meet her gaze. Her almond-shaped eyes were bright and watery, as if trying to see into his heart. Flustered, he quickly looked away.

“Qizhe, have you lost your mind? You’re talking about splitting the family over that wretched little tramp?” Old Madam Yu was shocked he would say something so drastic.

Yu Qiaoshan quickly tried to smooth things over, “Meng girl is from Qizhe’s household. He’s only saying this because he’s afraid you’ll drive her out. He doesn’t really mean to split the family.”

Yu Ruhai was too furious to speak, his mind reeling. He slumped in his seat, his eyes full of disappointment as he shot a glare at Yu Qiaoshan.

Old Madam Yu scolded, “What business is it of your first branch? Stay out of it!”

Madam Zhang tugged at Yu Qiaoshan’s sleeve, signaling him to stay quiet lest the old couple direct their anger at their branch next.

Yu Ruhai looked at the group from the second branch standing protectively in front of Yu Jiao. Even Yu Fuling, who hadn’t spoken since entering the room, looked ready to defend her.

His old voice was tired and full of dismay. “You lot from the second branch, what a fine bunch. What kind of spell has she cast on you? For the sake of a troublemaker like her, you disobey your elders and go so far as to talk about splitting the family. Fine, very fine…”

He rose to his feet, his head spinning, and stumbled toward the eastern wing.

Old Madam Yu’s eyes flickered. She was actually a little tempted by the idea, after all, Yu Qizhe was weak and sickly, and Yu Mengshan had a broken leg. The second branch couldn’t contribute much labor anyway. Splitting the family might not be such a bad thing. But unfortunately, the old man was too angry to agree in the heat of the moment.

Seeing Yu Ruhai retreat to his room, Old Madam Yu knew there was no way they’d be able to drive Yu Jiao out today. She schooled her face into a cold smile. “You people in the second branch sure know how to repay your father’s kindness. Throwing away your own father for the sake of an outsider, how very filial.”

Despite the chaos, they still hadn’t managed to force Yu Jiao out. Seeing that both the old man and Old Madam Yu had quieted down, Yu Hanshan didn’t dare act smug, but he still threw out a warning. “Second Brother, if something happens to Father because of your branch, this won’t be the end of it!”

Yu Mengshan, being an honest and filial man, felt guilty at the old man’s words and Yu Hanshan’s accusation. Yu Qiaoshan patted his shoulder reassuringly. “Don’t take Third Brother’s words to heart. Father’s health is fine, once he cools off, everything will settle down.”

Yu Mengshan nodded with a bitter smile.

The whole main hall was weighed down with gloom. Both branches retreated to their own rooms. Yu Jiao had originally planned to take the opportunity to retrieve her contract of servitude, but with all the chaos stirred up by the old man and Old Madam Yu, with their shouting and scolding, she never got the chance to bring it up.

Back in her room, Yu Jiao took out the medicine she had bought from Huichun Hall and went to the kitchen to prepare it for Yu Qizhe.

Madam Song, still worried, pulled Yu Qizhe aside and asked, “What’s the real situation with the He family? Are they going to come after us again?”

To reassure his parents, Yu Qizhe answered honestly, “Most likely not. The prescription Yu Jiao gave Old Master He was very effective.”

Hearing this, both Madam Song and Yu Mengshan breathed a sigh of relief. Yu Mengshan said, “Then they probably won’t come for Father either, right?”

Yu Qizhe nodded, though his voice carried a cold edge. “No, they won’t. Yu Jiao gave them a new prescription. Old Master He is recovering. Grandfather and Grandmother…”

He didn’t want to speak ill of his elders behind their backs, so he let the sentence trail off.

Both Madam Song and Yu Mengshan sighed. Who could know what the old couple were thinking? This time, it was all thanks to Yu Jiao, yet not only were they ungrateful, they even tried to throw her out of the house.

That night, Yu Jinyan and Yu Jinshu rushed back from the academy, even though it wasn’t yet a school break. The Yu family was in turmoil, and if the He family scandal affected them, their futures would be in jeopardy.

Madam Zhao, though glad to see them, urged them to return quickly. “Why are you two back now? Something happened at home, but you’d better stay at the academy until things settle down.”

“We’ve already heard what happened,” Yu Jinshu said. “Where’s Grandfather?”

“How did you find out?” Madam Zhao asked, then explained, “Your grandfather got riled up by the second branch and is lying in bed now!”

Yu Jinyan frowned. “What exactly happened?”

Madam Zhao pursed her lips. “It’s all that wretched girl from the second branch, Meng, or whatever her name is. Her prescription caused trouble, and your grandfather, afraid the He family would come for revenge, wanted to drive her out of the house. But Second Brother and his wife defended her, even that sickly Qizhe blocked him!”

Yu Jinyan didn’t wait for more and went straight to the eastern wing to find Yu Ruhai.

Yu Jinshu, meanwhile, stayed with Madam Zhao. “Zhou Shitou came to the academy to tell us. Said Grandfather gave a bad diagnosis to someone in the He family and nearly got dragged away by them. But didn’t they take Meng Yujiao instead? Why’d they let her go?”

“Who knows?” Madam Zhao said quietly. “She claims Old Master He released her. Though your grandfather made the diagnosis, the prescription came from Meng Yujiao. Now that she’s been released, I fear the He family might still come after your grandfather. He can’t afford trouble, we all rely on his medical skills to make a living. Pinning the blame on Meng Yujiao would be best. After all, the prescription was hers.”