Married to a Villainous Minister - Chapter 119

A group of villagers listened with great interest. One sharp-witted woman remarked, “I knew something was up, how could Old Doctor Yu’s medical skills have improved so much lately? Even the wealthy families from town are coming to seek him out. Turns out it’s all because of that bride he bought to ward off bad luck!”

Someone else chimed in, “A girl that capable, how did the Yu family manage to buy her? If I’d known earlier, I would’ve been happy to bring her in for my own son’s fortune!”

“You should head to Mengjia Village and ask around,” another villager joked. “Who knows, maybe you’ll find yourself another daughter-in-law like her! Yu Wulang is clearly a lucky one, being a top scholar and all, of course he’d end up with a skilled wife!”

Laughing and joking, the crowd gradually dispersed.

Ever since Yu Ruhai had been personally rejected by the Chen family when he tried to arrange a marriage between Yu Qizhe and Chen Rou, he had little contact with them. But now that he needed their help, he not only slipped Chen Gensheng two strings of coins but also spoke to him courteously for a good while.

Chen Gensheng, as the village head, was well-informed even if he hadn’t gone to Yu’s house personally to snoop around. He’d already heard the news, the He family had reconciled with the Yu family and were now bringing gifts, not trouble. So, he accepted the bribe without hesitation and followed Yu Ruhai back to the Yu residence.

Yu Ruhai brought out the family genealogy book and asked Chen Gensheng to add Yu Jiao’s name to it. He dropped her original surname, leaving only “Yu Jiao,” and placed her under the names of the second branch couple, an arrangement that seemed fitting enough.

Once Chen Gensheng had been sent on his way, Yu Ruhai, fearing any changes might delay things, clutched the genealogy book and household registry. He called for Yu Jinshu to accompany him, and the two of them snuck off to the county office in Changkui to officially add Yu Jiao to the family registry.

In the eastern wing of the house, Yu Fuling clung to Yu Jiao, looking concerned. “Yujiao, you’re not really going to leave my little brother behind and just walk away someday, are you?”

Seeing the worry on her face, Yu Jiao sighed. “I’ve already found the herbs up in the mountains. Yu Qizhe will recover soon. Once he does and succeeds in the civil exams, he’ll be able to find you a sister-in-law a thousand times better than me.”

Yu Fuling tugged on her sleeve, shaking her head. “I don’t care how good she is, I only want you. You’re the best.”

Yu Jiao chuckled. She still remembered how much this little girl resented her when she first arrived, always talking about Chen Rou. Now, she was acting like she’d completely accepted her.

“How am I the best?” Yu Jiao asked, smiling.

“You’re good to my parents, good to my little brother, and good to me too. You’re just good in every way. Even though my brother never says anything in front of me, I know he thinks highly of you. Otherwise, he wouldn’t have snuck off to the mountains with you to gather herbs. Yujiao, please stay in the Yu family and live well with my brother. If he passes the exams, he definitely won’t let you down.”

A warm image of Yu Qizhe kneeling in the mountain woods to gently wash her feet floated into Yu Jiao’s mind. No one had treated her with such care and reverence in a long time.

She came back to her senses and smiled. “So, he snuck out yesterday?”

“My brother’s never done anything rebellious before. Sneaking out yesterday was a first. He was afraid our parents would worry and stop him because of his health, so he stuffed his pillow under the covers to make it look like he was still in bed. At noon, when our mother went to call him for lunch, she pushed open the door and saw a big lump under the blanket. She thought he was still asleep! It wasn’t until night that they realized something was wrong. When they lifted the blanket and saw the trick, they were completely stunned!”

Yu Jiao hadn’t expected that twist and laughed softly. That rigid little rule-follower Yu Qizhe wasn’t so rigid anymore, it seemed.

She stood up and said to Yu Fuling, “I’m heading to your brother’s room to practice calligraphy.”

Yu Fuling, always eager to help the budding romance along, said mischievously, “Earlier, Grandmother said you were planning to leave, and my brother looked so upset. I think he was heartbroken but too proud to ask you to stay. Now that he knows you’re still here, I bet he’s secretly overjoyed!”

Yu Jiao, of course, didn’t believe any of that nonsense, she knew Yu Qizhe’s personality too well.

She knocked lightly on his door, and Yu Qizhe’s voice came from within. She pushed the door open and stepped inside. He was sitting at his desk writing an essay. When he heard her footsteps, he lifted his gaze slightly to glance at her.