Married to a Villainous Minister - Chapter 116

He Dongsheng continued to mock, “With such a granddaughter-in-law, your ancestors must’ve done immense good. Otherwise, with Doctor Yu’s deadly medical skills, I’d advise you to stop practicing medicine altogether.”

Yu Ruhai’s old face flushed red. He gave a sheepish smile. “Master He speaks the truth.”

He Dongsheng ignored him and turned to Jiang Qinghe, curious. “Doctor Jiang, what brings you here?”

Jiang Qinghe had been watching Yu Ruhai’s expression with amusement for a while. Seeing He Dongsheng speak to him, he didn’t hide his intention.

“I came to ask Miss Meng to practice at Huichun Hall. Luckily, you arrived a bit late, otherwise, I might not have been able to buy her deed.” He deliberately teased.

Yu Ruhai had already been sick with regret upon realizing He Dongsheng came to thank Yu Jiao. Hearing Jiang Qinghe rub salt in the wound, his liver practically trembled with fury.

He Dongsheng, seeing Yu Ruhai’s face turning the color of pig’s liver, couldn’t help but laugh aloud. “Doctor Jiang truly has a good eye. Miss Meng is indeed a rare gem. With her talent, staying in this household is like pearls cast before swine. A physician like her should be at a place like Huichun Hall! It’s just a pity…”

He turned to look at the item his two servants were carrying, covered in red silk.

“What’s the pity?” Jiang Qinghe asked, puzzled.

“I had a plaque made especially for Miss Meng. But if she’ll be sitting in at Huichun Hall, then I suppose it’s no use anymore.” He Dongsheng walked over and dramatically lifted the red silk.

Just then, Yu Jiao entered from outside and saw the plaque. It was crafted from redwood, gilded in gold, with four large, striking characters, Miao Shou Hui Chun (“Healing Hands, Restoring Spring”) framed in delicate gold-leaf carvings, grand and eye-catching.

He Dongsheng looked proudly at the plaque. “Quite fitting, isn’t it? If Miss Meng is to sit at Huichun Hall, the plaque will go to you all. ‘Healing Hands, Restoring Spring’ it suits the name Huichun Hall quite well.”

The gold leaf practically dazzled Yu Ruhai’s eyes. He wiped at his corner with his sleeve, unable to tear his gaze away. He had practiced medicine his whole life and always dreamed of hanging a plaque at his door. But his skills never went beyond that of a traveling doctor, treating nothing more than fevers and headaches in poor villages. Who would ever gift him such an extravagant plaque?

Now it was right there, in front of him. Yu Ruhai was green with envy. He cursed himself, how could he have been so foolish as to sell off Meng Yujiao’s deed? Just a little more patience, and this plaque would’ve been theirs.

If only he still held her deed… just imagining that plaque hanging above the Yu family door made him feel giddy. But the moment he remembered he’d handed it to Jiang Qinghe, his regret was so sharp he could hardly breathe.

One wrong move, a lifetime of regret. A chance to bring honor and fame to the Yu family, right at their fingertips, and he had thrown it away with his own hands!

“Master He, you’re too kind,” Yu Jiao said with a calm smile, bowing slightly in gratitude.

Seeing her enter, He Dongsheng’s demeanor instantly changed. Smiling warmly, he said, “Think nothing of it, think nothing of it! I not only came to deliver payment for your consultation, but also to personally apologize. When my father fell ill, I acted rashly in my panic. My servants were rude and disrespectful to you. I sincerely ask for your forgiveness.”

Yu Jiao sat down and took a sip of warm tea. “You’re being too formal, Master He. It was our family’s mistake that led to your father’s condition in the first place. The wrong prescription was ours.”

He Dongsheng looked at her with even more admiration. Even with him humbling himself, Yu Jiao didn’t grow arrogant because of her medical skill. She was honest enough to acknowledge her family’s mistake, clearly someone of integrity and depth.

“As long as you don’t blame me, that’s enough.” He Dongsheng then lifted the red silk cloth off another tray held by a servant, revealing a pile of silver ingots. “This is one hundred taels for your services. Please accept it.”

Yu Jiao glanced at the bright, gleaming silver, her almond eyes curving with a smile. “That’s far too generous. My fee isn’t nearly that much.”

He Dongsheng quickly added, “If you don’t take it, I’ll think you’re still angry with me for forcing you to stay in my home last time.”

Only then did Yu Jiao stop refusing. “If you put it that way, then I’ll accept.”

He Dongsheng beamed. “The steward said they damaged a number of things in your home last time. I had some replacements prepared.”

The steward, hearing himself mentioned, quickly gave Yu Jiao a flattering smile, then started directing the servants to carry the items from the carriage into the Yu family courtyard.

Since He Dongsheng arrived, Yu Jinyan and Yu Jinshu had been watching quietly from the sidelines. Their emotions were… complicated. This Master He had spoken to their grandfather with open disdain, yet treated Meng Yujiao with warmth and respect as though they were equals.

And throughout it all, Yu Jiao remained calm and composed, never fawning, never arrogant. She spoke with grace and confidence, not at all like some unrefined village girl. By contrast, the two of them, supposedly educated men, could only stand awkwardly in the corner, not even able to join the conversation.

Even their grandfather had been thoroughly humiliated and could only smile sheepishly. What were they, then?

Yu Jiao didn’t concern herself with what others were thinking. Remembering what she’d overheard earlier, she turned to Jiang Qinghe and asked, “Doctor Jiang, what brings you here today?”

Jiang Qinghe gave Yu Ruhai a quick glance and smiled smugly. “Though you refused me twice, Miss Meng, I thought of the tale of Zhuge Liang and the three visits to his thatched cottage. I’m simply following the example of the ancients. I wish to ask again, please consider practicing at Huichun Hall.”

He reached into his pouch and pulled out her deed, holding it out to her. “This is your deed, Miss Meng. I purchased it from Doctor Yu as a gesture of sincerity. I now return it to you.”

Yu Jiao took the deed, looked it over, then raised an eyebrow and glanced at Yu Ruhai.

Yu Ruhai forced a pained smile, trying to curry favor with her. But inwardly, he was seething. Jiang Qinghe had clearly done it on purpose. He knew Yu Jiao had cured Old Master He, and that He Dongsheng wouldn’t cause any trouble. Yet he’d deliberately tricked him into giving away the deed.

Just remembering how eagerly he’d stuffed that deed into Jiang Qinghe’s hands made Yu Ruhai want to chop his own hand off.

Yu Jiao chuckled. Yu Ruhai, so proud and greedy for fame, must be in agony now.

“Thank you for your generosity, Doctor Jiang. How much did you pay for the deed?” she asked.

Jiang Qinghe held up one hand. “Doctor Yu asked for fifty taels.”

Yu Jiao looked at Yu Ruhai and narrowed her almond-shaped eyes in amusement. “But I’ve already paid you for the deed, haven’t I? No matter how much you love money, you shouldn’t trick Doctor Jiang. Last time you said you didn’t know where the deed was and refused to look for it. Funny how, once silver was offered, it suddenly turned up?”

Yu Ruhai’s face turned all shades of red and white. He stammered, “Just two days ago, your grandmother was tidying up the wardrobe and… happened to find it…”