Married to a Villainous Minister - Chapter 113

Yu Qizhe silently watched Yu Jiao for a while, then gently cupped her small face in his hand and moved her off of him. As he lifted the outer robe draped over his body to cover her, he realized he was only wearing his underclothes.

His ears flushed red. Awkwardly, he placed the robe over Yu Jiao, then grabbed another dried outer garment nearby and put it on before heading out of the cave.

They hadn’t eaten much since the day before. Thinking to catch a rabbit or pheasant for food, Yu Qizhe didn’t dare go far for fear Yu Jiao would wake and panic if she didn’t find him. He searched around nearby but saw neither rabbit nor pheasant.

Instead, he spotted a fruit tree in the distance, its branches dotted with reddish-orange fruit. Upon approaching, he realized it was a cherry tree. The lower branches still bore unripe fruit, so he picked one to taste, it was sour.

After a moment’s thought, he lifted his hem, tucked it into his waistband, and began climbing the tree, hands braced against the trunk.

The cherries higher up were ripe, but many had been pecked apart by wild birds. Carefully selecting the best ones, Yu Qizhe gathered a small bundle in his hem and leapt down, agile in a way that defied his long-term illness.

Cradling the cherries in his hands, Yu Qizhe returned to the cave.

Yu Jiao had already woken. Not seeing Yu Qizhe in the cave when she awoke, she guessed he had stepped out. She didn’t dare go looking, afraid the mountain forest was too vast and they might miss each other.

She tidied the cave, smothered the remnants of the fire with soil, and returned the small iron pot to its place. She also gathered some damp firewood from the cave entrance and stacked it in the breezy mouth of the cave, thinking it would soon dry. That way, if someone ever stayed overnight here again, they’d have dry wood to burn.

As Yu Qizhe stepped through the cave entrance, Yu Jiao was checking on the medicinal yaocao soaking in water. Seeing it still healthy and alive, she breathed a sigh of relief.

“You’re awake? I found some fruit,” Yu Qizhe said, offering the cherries to her.

Yu Jiao’s eyes lit up at the sight of the cherries. She picked one up and popped it into her mouth, asking, “How’s your body? Has the fever gone?” She tiptoed to feel his forehead.

Yu Qizhe bent his knees slightly to let her touch his forehead. “The fever was gone when I woke up.”

Feeling that his temperature was normal, Yu Jiao finally relaxed and turned to lighter topics. “Where did you pick these cherries? I’ve been up the mountain several times and never saw a cherry tree.”

He placed a handful of cherries in her palm. “Found them on the north slope. Want me to take you there?”

Yu Jiao popped another cherry into her mouth, her almond-shaped eyes curving into cheerful crescents. “They’re quite sweet. No need to go looking, let’s head down the mountain already.”

“Alright.” Yu Qizhe nodded, slinging the grass basket over his back. The two walked out of the cave together.

Sunlight filtered through the forest canopy, casting mottled shadows on their path. With the yaocao found, Yu Jiao was in high spirits, her steps light. Seeing her finish off the cherries, Yu Qizhe handed her the remaining ones.

“These cherries are pretty tasty. You have some too,” Yu Jiao said, realizing she’d eaten almost all of the cherries Yu Qizhe had picked. She offered him one.

Yu Qizhe paused, then leaned down and gently took it with his lips, his warm, soft lips brushing against her fingertips. Yu Jiao’s face turned red at once, and she quickly turned her head away, pretending nothing had happened.

But Yu Qizhe’s charming, seductive peach blossom eyes never left her. He bit into the cherry, its sweet and tangy flavor spreading in his mouth, and smiled. “Yeah, it is pretty sweet.”

Looking at his flirtatious smile, Yu Jiao’s heart raced like a drum. She gritted her teeth and muttered, “Little demon… your seduction skills are getting stronger. But I, this girl, am the embodiment of Liu Xiahui himself, totally immune to pretty faces!”

Yu Qizhe didn’t quite catch her mumbling, but instinctively felt it wasn’t something flattering. Smirking, he replied, “No fine wine or toasting cup can rival the taste of cherries fed by fair hands.”

“Shut up!” Yu Jiao barked, cheeks red, though her girlish tone carried no real threat.

Yu Qizhe chuckled quietly. He liked seeing her blush and get flustered from his teasing.

Meanwhile, Jiang Qinghe arrived at Qingyu Village in a horse-drawn carriage. That morning, a servant from the He family had invited him to diagnose the old master at the He residence. Jiang Qinghe had been truly astonished by Yu Jiao’s medical skills.

Though he’d known her prescription was clever, he hadn’t expected such immediate and powerful results. In just a few days, the old master’s condition had significantly improved. The previously detectable signs of qi deficiency and toxin retention had completely vanished, and the boils on his head had all but healed. It was safe to say he had fully recovered.

Meng Yujiao continued to shatter his expectations. After returning from the He residence, Jiang Qinghe was so excited he couldn’t sit still. He immediately ordered a carriage and rushed straight to Qingyu Village.

Ancient sages once paid three visits to a thatched cottage, Meng Yujiao was worth just such devotion.

When the carriage stopped at the Yu household, Jiang Qinghe lifted the curtain and, with the help of his young assistant, stepped down. The two He family servants stationed at the Yu residence recognized him and greeted him. “Doctor Jiang, what brings you here?”

“I’m here to see Miss Meng,” Jiang Qinghe replied. He was a bit puzzled to see the He family still keeping watch outside the Yu home. That morning, the He family patriarch had spoken of Meng Yujiao with admiration and gratitude, it didn’t seem like they were planning any further trouble for the Yu family.

The servant explained, “Miss Meng went up the mountain to gather herbs yesterday and hasn’t returned yet.”

Jiang Qinghe looked toward Qingyan Mountain, concern rising. “She went up the mountain alone? It was raining yesterday, why would she head into the mountains then?”

The servant quickly clarified, “She wasn’t alone. Her husband, Fifth Master Yu from the second branch of the Yu family, went with her.”

Jiang Qinghe frowned. He remembered that the fifth son of the Yu family was known for his frail health, supposedly a short-lived man. How could the Yu family let him accompany Meng Yujiao into the mountains?

Resolving that he had to get Meng Yujiao out of the Yu family’s clutches no matter what, Jiang Qinghe’s face turned grim as he stepped through the gates.

Yu Ruhai had already heard the voices outside. Recognizing Jiang Qinghe, his expression relaxed somewhat, and he greeted him with a smile. “Doctor Jiang, what brings you here? Please, have a seat.”

His attitude was significantly friendlier than the last time Jiang Qinghe had come to buy a prescription.

Jiang Qinghe didn’t bother with pleasantries. He plopped down into a chair and got straight to the point. “You have Miss Meng’s contract, don’t you? Name your price, I’m here to buy it.”

A gleam of shrewdness flashed in Yu Ruhai’s old eyes. He couldn’t quite figure out why Jiang Qinghe had suddenly shown up wanting to buy Meng Yujiao’s contract.

Trying to fish for information, he put on a knowing air. “Last time, we were very grateful for your help with the He family. But may I ask, why are you so keen to buy Meng Yujiao’s contract? You do know she nearly endangered Old Master He with that prescription.”

He probed further. “You seem to have a close relationship with the He family. May I ask how Old Master He’s health is now? Is the He family patriarch still angry at us because of Meng Yujiao?”