Married to a Villainous Minister - Chapter 124

Who would actually dare to probe into the details of him living with Yu Jiao? The women and young girls in the Chen household all flushed with embarrassment.

Yu Qizhe’s long, narrow peach blossom eyes swept coldly over the various expressions on everyone’s faces in the courtyard. He continued, “Yu Jiao’s medical skills are real. If you’re jealous or don’t believe her, that just shows your ignorance.” 

“Those filthy things you said, whether you heard them somewhere or made them up yourself, this ends here. If not, I’ll have Old Master He come and hear it for himself.”

Yu Jiao glanced up at Yu Qizhe beside her. His clean, refined features were still somewhat youthful, but the quiet figure standing protectively in front of her radiated a strength she felt she could rely on.

His hand holding hers was broad and warm. Honestly, Yu Jiao hadn’t cared much about what Chen Ying said. Though she now lived in this world in Meng Yujiao’s body and seemed to have accepted it all with a calm ease, deep down it still felt a little unreal.

So she had always regarded the drama around her with the detachment of an outsider, as if none of it was worth taking to heart. But Yu Qizhe’s defense of her at this moment was so genuine that it stirred something inside her. She lowered her eyes, trying to suppress the emotions bubbling up.

Yu Qizhe’s words had struck right at the source of Chen Gensheng’s fear. The reason he was so harsh with Chen Ying wasn’t because he cared much about Yu Jiao or the Yu family, it was because this whole mess involved the He family.

He still remembered clearly the terrifying scene when the He family had stormed the Yu residence to drag Yu Ruhai away. Now the He family had suddenly turned around, treating the Yu family with such deference and formality, all because Yu Jiao had saved Old Master He. If she hadn’t, who knew what would have happened to the Yu family?

Chen Gensheng was just a small-time village head. If Chen Ying’s filthy words were to reach the He family and offend Old Master He, the Chen family had no one like Yu Jiao to quell that kind of fury. He just wanted to end the matter quickly. His expression was tense as he gritted his teeth, dragged Chen Ying out from behind Madam Chen, and shoved her forward.

“Kneel!”

Chen Ying stumbled and fell to the ground, her face still streaked with tears. Chen Gensheng yanked her hair roughly, forcing her to kneel.

“Bow to Miss Meng and apologize,” he demanded harshly. “If you still won’t sincerely repent, then as your elder, I’ll carry out the family punishment in your father’s stead!”

Madam Qin looked on, unable to bear it, and even Chen Genfu wanted to step in. But Chen Gensheng’s furious glare stopped him in his tracks.

Chen Rou was also warned off by a look from the elder Madam Chen, leaving Chen Ying alone and defenseless. Kneeling on the ground, she cried and refused to speak, her eyes pleading with her parents. But seeing that Chen Gensheng was truly angry this time, Madam Qin wiped away tears and urged her, “Ying girl, just admit you were wrong. Apologize to Zhe-ge’er’s wife.”

In the Chen family, what the elder brother said went. Chen Ying’s face was pressed to the dirt, her heart sinking into despair. She sobbed bitterly for a while before choking out in humiliation, “I was wrong… I shouldn’t have said those vile things. I won’t speak like that again…”

Yu Jiao looked coolly at Chen Ying, who was crying so miserably on the ground, but felt no sympathy. In her mind, there was nothing pitiable about her, words can cut like knives, and those who use them carelessly deserve the consequences.

The hand Yu Qizhe held twitched slightly. Yu Jiao gave his hand a gentle tug and said, “Let’s go home.”

The two of them walked out of the Chen courtyard, with Yu Fuling, who had been standing quietly inside, following them out.

Madam Chen quickly rushed over to help Chen Ying up from the ground, heart aching as she wiped the tears and dirt from her daughter’s face with a handkerchief. She couldn’t help but complain, “Big Brother, she’s just Yu family’s fifth son’s chongxi bride. How could you bear to treat Ying girl like this for someone so lowly?”

Seeing even Chen Genfu looking disapproving, Chen Gensheng frowned deeply and said, bitterly disappointed, “Short-sighted fools! If she were just some stand-in bride for the Yu family, I wouldn’t have punished Ying girl so harshly!” 

“I’m worried those vile things she said will make their way to the He family’s ears. Do you think the He family is easy to offend? All you remember is them delivering gifts to the Yu house, have you already forgotten how they smashed the place up like demons just days ago? One wrong step, and our whole Chen family could be ruined!”