Married to a Villainous Minister - Chapter 14

Yu Ruhai smiled kindly and said, “There are no such taboos in practicing medicine. She has a natural talent for pharmacology, she’s promising.”

Old Madam Yu, knowing that Yu Ruhai now favored Yu Jiao for her medical skills, didn’t dare press further. Swallowing her deep dislike for the girl, she turned and left the main hall.

Yu Ruhai took a seat at the consultation table and began taking pulses and diagnosing the patients who had just arrived. He then turned his head to Yu Jiao and asked, “What did you observe from the first patient’s pulse?”

Yu Jiao looked at the first man and replied, “His pulse is deep, and he coughs with labored breathing, it’s a chronic condition.” 

“He should take three jin of swamp milkweed boiled with five sheng of water, strain out the dregs, then add half a sheng of pinellia, five liang each of figwort, cynanchum root, and fresh ginger.”

“And three liang each of licorice root, skullcap, ginseng root hair, and cinnamon bark. Boil it all down into five sheng (2500 mL) of medicinal liquid. Drink half a he (half a hé (半合) 25 mL) per dose, three times a day. It will cure him.”

Hearing Yu Jiao diagnose the condition so clearly and prescribe a formula without hesitation, the patients who had earlier objected to being examined by her couldn’t help but feel impressed.

Yu Ruhai was visibly excited, he truly believed the Yu family had found a gem in Meng Yujiao. She had thoroughly surprised him. “Not bad. You clearly studied the medical books I gave you,” Yu Ruhai said, pretending to be modest.

Yu Jiao’s lips twitched slightly in a faint sneer, but she said nothing more, letting Yu Ruhai spew his nonsense.

For the next two patients, Yu Ruhai continued “testing” Yu Jiao under the guise of mentoring, but in reality, he simply followed her diagnoses and prescriptions to the letter.

After collecting payment and seeing the patients out, Old Master Yu beamed at Yu Jiao with a friendly smile and cautiously asked, “Do you still remember the name of the physician you apprenticed under in the capital when you were young?”

Yu Jiao casually made something up. “I only remember his surname was Li. I don’t know his full name.”

“Do you still have contact with this Doctor Li?” Yu Ruhai asked.

Yu Jiao shook her head. “We lost touch after I returned to Changkui with Father.”

“That’s a shame,” Yu Ruhai said, stroking his beard. Though he said it was unfortunate, there was a sly grin in his eyes. After watching her treat several patients today, he had to admit, even though Meng Yujiao had only studied medicine as a child in the capital, her skills already surpassed his own.

With Yu Jiao’s talent, perhaps the Yu family could finally make a name for themselves in Changkui County.

“You’re a girl, and still quite young. It would be inconvenient for you to practice medicine openly. That’s why I told people I taught you. Even if you prescribed the medicine, they wouldn’t trust it unless they thought it came from me. I’m doing this for your sake,” Yu Ruhai said with a benevolent expression.

Yu Jiao had already seen through his shamelessness and self-righteous facade. She smiled faintly. “Of course, I know you’re doing it for my good. You were gracious enough to forgive what happened before, even though it was shameful. I feel truly sorry about that. I really don’t have the face to stay in the Yu household any longer.”

Yu Ruhai’s smile vanished, his brow furrowing. “You mean you want to leave the Yu family? Do you realize your indenture contract is with us? You didn’t marry into the family, you were bought. Without that contract, you can’t leave.”

Yu Jiao chuckled. “Of course I know that. Let’s not beat around the bush, you’ve seen my medical skills. I can treat patients and prescribe medicine. So here’s what I propose, let me buy my freedom with the money I earn from treating patients. Once I’ve saved enough, you give me the contract and let me go. What do you say?”

Yu Ruhai hadn’t expected this. But after last night’s rescue of Zhou Huai and her flawless consultations today, he had seen enough to know her value. She was a goldmine, perhaps even the key to making the Yu family famous. How could he possibly let her go?

After thinking for a while, he said, “You haven’t seen much of the world. You don’t know how hard it is for a woman to practice medicine. Take today, for example, if I hadn’t stepped in to write the prescriptions, who would’ve let you even touch their pulse? And you’re still young. You have much more to learn in medicine.”

Yu Jiao had made her proposal in part to test him. Seeing that he wouldn’t relent, she feigned disappointment and said softly, “I know you mean well, and I’m grateful you’re willing to forgive me after what happened.” 

“But I also know that some people in the Yu family simply won’t accept me. Rather than continue causing resentment, maybe it’s smarter for me to take the initiative and leave.”

Yu Ruhai quickly replied, “You’re overthinking it. Our Yu family is generous and forgiving. You’ve already admitted your mistake, who could still hold a grudge? You’ve married into our family now, you’re one of us.” 

“Wulang’s just naturally aloof, it’s not personal. Mengshan and his wife are kind-hearted, and you know they’ve treated you well. Don’t worry.”

Yu Jiao cursed him silently, shameless old fox, but she wasn’t about to let go of this chance to fight for her own interests. She put on a pitiful face and said, “But the old madam clearly dislikes me. The Meng family is poor, and they sold me to the Yu family. What I fear most is going hungry.”

Though she didn’t say it outright, her meaning was clear, she was referring to how Yu Ruhai had ordered the family not to feed her, as well as the old matriarch’s cruelty.

Yu Ruhai stroked his beard and chuckled, feigning kindness. “Your grandmother’s just still angry. She’ll calm down in a couple of days. We’re all family, there’s no lasting grudge.” 

“The Yu family may not be rich, but we won’t let you starve. Granted, we’re short on food at the moment, but once we harvest the wheat, things will ease up.”

Yu Jiao pretended to relax and nodded. “Hearing you say that puts my heart at ease.”

Yu Ruhai gave her a smile that didn’t reach his eyes. “Go check the kitchen. See if your mother’s finished cooking, it should be time to eat.”

Yu Jiao responded obediently and walked out of the hall. Yu Ruhai stared at her back as she left, finally realizing he had underestimated her not only in medicine but in wit as well. This girl wasn’t the obedient fool he’d assumed, she was going to be hard to control.

Just then, Old Madam Yu entered from the outer room. Yu Ruhai suddenly said, “Ruomei, I know you care deeply for Silang, and that he detests Meng girl. But from now on, don’t be too harsh with her. We need to treat her well, she’s far more clever than we thought.”

Old Madam Yu’s maiden name is Zhou Ruomei. Her husband rarely called her by that name these days, which made his words land more heavily. Still, she wasn’t entirely convinced. If that girl was really so smart, would she have done something so dirty and stupid?

Then again, perhaps she had some minor cleverness. How else could she have the audacity to aim for someone like their Silang?

Old Madam Yu sat beside Yu Ruhai and asked, “So just because she knows a bit of medicine, you’re going to wrong Silang like this? You know he’s always been my favorite, how can we let a lowborn girl mistreat him? Even if I let it go, how do you expect Hanshan and his wife to treat her kindly? Xueru wants to tear her apart!”

Yu Ruhai sighed. “Just bear with it for now. Meng Yujiao’s medical skills are even better than I thought. Strange, isn’t it? When she first came here, she was dull and slow. But after one scolding from Hanshan, it’s like she became a different person.”