Married to a Villainous Minister - Chapter 11

Before long, Zhou Huai’s rigid limbs relaxed. His eldest son helped him sit up. Zhou Huai moved his lips slightly and finally managed to speak, “What happened to me?”

“Father, you suddenly started convulsing and passed out. You nearly died,” his eldest son replied, still shaken. He turned to Yu Jiao and added sincerely, “It’s thanks to Miss Meng’s treatment that you’re still alive.”

Zhou Huai looked at Yu Jiao with surprise. He had only heard that Yu Ruhai had spent money to buy a girl from the Meng family to perform a wedding ritual for Yu Wulang, he hadn’t expected the girl to also know medicine. He gave her a word of thanks.

Just then, Madam Zhou returned with Old Master Yu, having gone to fetch medicine. She saw Zhou Huai already standing like nothing had happened, chatting and even laughing. It was hard to believe he had just been at death’s door. 

She quickly expressed her heartfelt gratitude to Yu Jiao, praising her medical skills. “How much is the consultation fee? I’ll have Shitou run home and get it.”

Yu Jiao looked toward Yu Ruhai. “You should ask Grandfather about the consultation and medicine fee. This was my first time treating someone, I’m not quite sure.”

Yu Ruhai hadn’t expected Yu Jiao to be so tactful. After a moment’s thought, he said, “Though Zhou Huai’s illness was sudden and severe, the prescribed herbs aren’t especially rare. And since this was my granddaughter-in-law’s first consultation, we’ll just charge five qian (copper coins).”

Madam Zhou bowed in thanks. Yu Jiao turned to Zhou Huai and added a reminder, “It’s best to cut back on the aphrodisiacs.”

Zhou Huai and his wife instantly blushed, avoiding eye contact. Yu Jiao, as a healer, was used to situations like this and continued calmly, “You were lucky this time. It was just convulsions and fainting. But ‘Horseback Madness’ can kill instantly. It’s best not to get too carried away during intimate moments.”

Everyone in the room looked awkward after her frank statement.

Zhou Huai, being an older man, was extremely embarrassed to have this kind of thing aired in front of everyone. He stammered, “I… I understand.”

Trying to ease the tension, Madam Zhou said quickly, “Thank you for your trouble, Miss Meng. Sorry to have disturbed your rest in the middle of the night. We’ll head back now.”

She helped Zhou Huai up and gave her dazed son a tug. Zhou Huai’s eldest son, Shitou, hurriedly lifted the door board they had used to carry his father.

Unexpectedly, Yu Ruhai offered, “I’ll walk you out.”

As they walked out, Madam Zhou turned and called warmly to Yu Jiao, “Miss Meng, do come visit us sometime when you’re free. I’ll make pancakes for you.”

Yu Jiao smiled and nodded. 

At the gate, Madam Zhou praised her repeatedly, “Old Master Yu, you’ve really found a good granddaughter-in-law. So modest and unassuming, yet with such skill in medicine! If I hadn’t seen it with my own eyes, I wouldn’t believe a girl could treat illnesses like this. Old Master Yu, did you already know Miss Meng knew medicine? Is that why you arranged the marriage with Wulang?”

Yu Ruhai’s face soured slightly. “The Meng family doesn’t know medicine. But this granddaughter-in-law of mine does have a talent for pharmacology. She’s only studied with me briefly, but she’s already showing promise.”

Madam Zhou caught the subtext and smiled. “It’s all thanks to your excellent teaching. Still, Wulang really lucked out with this wife, he’s found a treasure!”

Yu Ruhai walked them to the edge of the courtyard and lowered his voice, “In these times, it’s still not considered proper for women to practice medicine, especially with conditions like Zhou Huai’s. If anyone asks about tonight, it’s best to keep quiet.”

Madam Zhou immediately understood. “Of course. If not for Old Master Yu’s miraculous skills tonight, my husband might not have made it. I’ll tell the children not to breathe a word.”

Yu Ruhai nodded, satisfied, and shut the gate behind them. He had practiced medicine in the village for half his life, there was no way he’d let a young, green girl steal the spotlight or take the credit.

Back inside the house, Madam Zhang from the main household asked curiously, “Meng Yujiao, do you practice medicine?”

Yu Jiao nodded. “I learned a bit of pharmacology when I was young, while living in the capital with my father. I know a little.”

When the two older daughters-in-law had come in earlier, Zhou Huai had looked like he was about to die. Yet they had seen Yu Jiao bring him back to consciousness with just a few acupuncture points and bloodletting. That was hardly “just a little.”

Madam Zhang turned to Madam Song. “Second sister-in-law, you’re really blessed. Wulang has always been weak, but now he has a wife who understands medicine. With her taking care of him, he’ll surely get better.”

Madam Song looked at Yu Jiao with hope and gratitude in her eyes.

Yu Jiao glanced toward Yu Qizhe. He avoided her gaze, quietly tidying up the inkstone, brushes, and papers on the desk, then turned and left for the east wing.

Old Madam Yu gave a cold snort. Clearly displeased with Yu Jiao stealing the limelight, she snapped sarcastically, “Just a blind cat running into a dead mouse. Don’t go thinking she’s some merciful bodhisattva! What if the man hadn’t survived? Then our entire Yu family would’ve had to bear the blame!”

She glared at Yu Jiao and scolded, “Running out in the middle of the night like that, what a disgrace for a new bride! And those shameless words you spouted, how could you say such things? You’ve completely embarrassed our family!”

Yu Jiao smiled calmly. “As a healer, asking questions and making a diagnosis is my duty. Just as you said, if I hadn’t gotten the full story and failed to save the patient, your Yu family would have taken the blame. So tell me, which of my questions shamed the family?”

Old Madam Yu was momentarily speechless and could only glare at her in disgust. “You just happened to get lucky saving Zhou Huai, and now you’re getting full of yourself? Don’t forget, in this household, your words mean nothing! Get back to the woodshed where you belong!”

Yu Jiao hadn’t expected the old matron to be this harsh. She had thought that showing her skills would change the family’s opinion of her. Clearly, Old Madam Yu’s dislike of her ran deep and wouldn’t be changed by anything.

The smile on her face cooled. She was about to speak when Yu Ruhai reentered. He glanced at her, his eyes curious. “You really know medicine?”

Yu Jiao repeated what she had said earlier. “As a child in the capital, I studied under a doctor my father introduced me to. I still remember some of what I learned.”

A faint smile appeared on Yu Ruhai’s deeply lined face. He knew something of the Meng family’s background. Meng Yujiao’s father, Meng Qingyun, had left their village when he was young to make a name for himself. 

Years later, he returned with his wife and daughter. Only then did the villagers learn he had been living in Shengjing all that time, a man with worldly experience.

What Yu Ruhai hadn’t expected was that Meng Yujiao had such good fortune, to have trained under a doctor in the capital. That was leagues beyond a backwoods village healer like himself.

He made up his mind. “As the saying goes, birds of a feather flock together. Since you know medicine, perhaps you really are a good match for our family. You’ve made mistakes in the past, but you’ve learned your lesson. From now on, behave yourself and take good care of Wulang. Now, go back to your room.”