Married to a Villainous Minister - Chapter 135

“No rush. I want to bring Yujiao along,” Yu Qizhe said.

Upon hearing this, Madam Song smiled. “Alright, take your sisters with you. Yujiao hasn’t been out in a long time.”

Not long after, Yu Fuling and Yu Jiao returned from washing the bedding by the river and hung it out to dry in the courtyard. When they heard they would be going to Fahua Temple to offer incense, Yu Fuling looked quite excited. She rarely left the house, hardly ever visiting even the town market. Besides, Fahua Temple was very famous, bustling with worshippers. It was bound to be lively.

Yu Jiao, on the other hand, seemed far less enthusiastic. Temples were all more or less the same, some statues, some incense offerings. She had just gotten her monthly cycle, and while it wasn’t serious, it still made her feel uncomfortable. Hearing from Yu Fuling that Fahua Temple sat halfway up Mt. Chile, which meant hiking uphill, she really didn’t feel like making the effort.

Knowing Yu Qizhe intended to go to Fahua Temple to fulfill a vow, she went to the east wing to find him and said, “You and Sister Fuling go offer incense. I think I’ll stay behind.”

Yu Qizhe hadn’t expected her to be so reluctant. He gently coaxed, “Fahua Temple has beautiful scenery, quiet and elegant. There’s even a hundred-year-old twin tree in the courtyard, many people travel there just to see it. And the vegetarian meals there are delicious. Since you’ve nothing else to do at home, why not come along for a change of pace?”

Hearing about the twin tree sparked a bit of curiosity in Yu Jiao, but the thought of climbing a mountain quickly snuffed it out. “I’m not feeling very well. Fuling said it’s halfway up a mountain, I’ll pass.”

“You’re not feeling well?” Yu Qizhe looked her over, then stepped closer and asked, “Where exactly are you uncomfortable? Did last night wear you out?”

Yu Jiao’s face turned slightly red. She shook her head and mumbled vaguely, “It’s nothing serious. A couple of days of rest and I’ll be fine.”

“Then we’ll wait a couple of days before going to Fahua Temple. You get some proper rest first,” Yu Qizhe said at once.

Left with no other choice, Yu Jiao nodded.

After a moment’s thought, Yu Qizhe added, “Master Huijue at Fahua Temple has fallen ill. He and I are quite close, and I wanted to ask you to examine him.”

During her time with the Yu family, Yu Jiao hadn’t seen Yu Qizhe grow close with anyone. Since he referred to Huijue as ‘Master,’ he must be a well-respected monk.

“If it’s for a diagnosis, we can just go tomorrow,” Yu Jiao replied.

Although Yu Qizhe was worried about his master’s condition, there was no pressing urgency, just as his senior brother Lu Jin had said, Master Huijue was skilled in medicine himself.

“Let’s wait until you’re feeling better,” Yu Qizhe said with concern, thinking of how she’d stayed up all night taking care of him.

Yu Jiao shook her head with a smile. “I’m fine. I just didn’t want to climb a mountain that’s all.”

But Yu Qizhe didn’t believe her. He was convinced she wasn’t feeling well. After all, when she’d gone into the mountains to gather herbs for him, she had braved the rain and climbed hills without complaint. He didn’t think a short trek to Fahua Temple would be too much for her unless something was truly off. He decided firmly that they would wait a couple of days before going.

That evening after dinner, Yu Ruhai handed some silver to Yu Hanshan, telling him to use it to open a butcher’s stall. Though he had scolded the couple from the third branch a few days earlier over the argument with Yu Jiao, he couldn’t resist Old Madam Yu’s constant coaxing. Besides, he figured the family could use more income, so he provided the funds from the family’s common savings.

The next day, Yu Hanshan, grinning from ear to ear, called on Yu Qiaoshan and Yu Mengshan to help him set up a thatched stall at a crossroads about two li away. Villagers from nearby often passed that way to reach the town, and the location was ideal, being close to several other villages too.

Only then did the first and second branches realize the old man had secretly given money to the third branch.

Song Chun and Yu Mengshan didn’t have much to say about it. The old man had always favored the third branch, nothing new there. As long as the third branch no longer had their eyes on Yu Jiao’s money, they were content. They dared not question the old man’s decision.

Madam Zhang was unhappy about it, but after Yu Qiaoshan talked her down, she held her tongue and didn’t stir up any trouble.

It was Madam Zhao, however, who couldn’t resist showing off. She had cut the cotton and satin fabric given to her by Madam Yu Zhou and deliberately sat in the courtyard sewing clothes in plain view.

Madam Zhang was fuming at the sight. Madam Zhao even flaunted it, saying, “The provincial exams are next month. Jinshu and Jinyan will be taking them, it’s only proper for them to look presentable. I need to sew them each a fine robe before the autumn exams. There’s no time to work the fields, I’ll have to trouble eldest sister-in-law to take on a bit more.”