Married to a Villainous Minister - Chapter 144

Yu Jiao found the situation amusing but didn’t show it on her face. With a calm expression, she asked, “Since Young Master Shen is the heir of Huichun Hall, I assume you know medicine?”

Though the Shen family ran Huichun Hall quite successfully, they weren’t actually from a medical background. Their ancestors had at least known how to identify herbs, but by Shen Yu’s generation, no one cared to study medicine anymore. 

The reputation of the clinic was already well established, and hiring physicians to see patients worked just fine. Shen Yu focused on business, not medicine, he didn’t know the first thing about healing.

The usually self-assured young master of the Shen family felt a rare twinge of embarrassment at her question. “I don’t know medicine,” he admitted, meeting Yu Jiao’s clear almond-shaped eyes with surprising honesty.

“I thought as much,” Yu Jiao replied without surprise. Her tone remained neutral. “Then allow me to offer a small piece of unsolicited advice.”

As a servant brought in tea, Shen Yu personally poured it for Yu Jiao and the others. Seeing how serious she was, he adopted a respectful demeanor. “Please, Miss Meng, speak freely.”

“There are many causes behind gynecological ailments. They are not exclusive to married women,” Yu Jiao said succinctly. “A woman’s chastity cannot be judged based on such illnesses.”

She didn’t mention Miss Zhang by name, but Shen Yu already understood. He’d never liked Zhang Xiuyue, the girl his parents had arranged for him to marry. When he learned of her condition, he saw it as a perfect excuse to back out of the engagement. 

Even without medical knowledge, he knew the Zhang family would never dare send an unchaste daughter into the Shen household.

“I understand what you’re saying,” Shen Yu said with a calm smile. He took a leisurely sip of tea before continuing, “In fact, I should thank you, Miss Meng. I was never fond of that engagement, but without a valid reason, I couldn’t go against my parents’ wishes. Fortunately, your diagnosis gave me the leverage I needed to end it.”

He chuckled lightly. “Seems we’re truly fated. You’re not only Da Yong’s savior, you’ve helped me, too.”

Yu Jiao’s expression grew colder. It was clear now that he never truly believed Zhang Xiuyue to be impure, he merely used her illness as a convenient excuse.

“I didn’t intend to meddle,” she said, voice cool. “But the Zhang family now believes it was I who spread news of her condition. Since you were the one with plans to break the engagement, it’s your responsibility to clarify the situation. You shouldn’t tarnish someone’s name just to serve your own ends.”

Shen Yu saw her displeasure and hesitated before replying, “I admit I didn’t think it through. I didn’t mean to cause you trouble. But I can’t go to the Zhangs now, the situation’s too delicate. I’m afraid I can’t help clear your name.”

He had just gotten out of the engagement, and the Zhang family was still seething. No way was he going to risk more confrontation over this.

Yu Jiao stood up, expression indifferent. “In that case, I’ve said too much.”

Yu Qizhe and Yu Fuling rose as well, ready to leave. Unlike his earlier enthusiasm, Shen Yu now remained seated and simply said, lazily, “Forgive me for not seeing you out.”

Jiang Qinghe, who knew a bit about the Zhang family’s situation, followed them out to the front of the clinic. Only once they reached the front did he say, “Our young master is… difficult. I hope Miss Meng won’t take offense.”

Yu Jiao offered a faint smile. She wasn’t the type to misplace her anger. Whatever the Shen heir did had nothing to do with Jiang Qinghe. “You don’t need to see us off, Doctor Jiang. You’ve got patients to tend to, we’ll take our leave.”

Still, Jiang Qinghe insisted on escorting them to the entrance before returning to his duties.

Yu Fuling, who had accompanied Yu Jiao to treat Miss Zhang before, couldn’t help but comment, “That Young Master Shen may be handsome, but he’s definitely not husband material. Even if the engagement hadn’t been called off, Miss Zhang wouldn’t have had a happy life with him.”

Yu Jiao nodded in agreement, though she doubted the Zhang family would see it that way.

“Fuling, Qizhe, Miss Meng, are you heading back to the village?” A voice called out as they exited Huichun Hall. It was Chen Rou, who had clearly been waiting outside. She smiled as she approached them.

“You’re still here?” Yu Fuling asked in surprise. “You’ve already picked up the medicine. We still have a few things to buy before we head home. Did you come into town alone?”

Chen Rou nodded, clutching her medicine pouch a bit tighter. “Everyone at home is working in the fields. I came by myself. I thought I might head back with you all, if that’s alright. What else are you planning to buy?”

Seeing her alone, Yu Fuling couldn’t bear to turn her away. “We only just got into town. We’re going to walk around a bit more. If you’re not in a rush, you can join us and head back with us later.”

Chen Rou was about to agree when Yu Qizhe spoke coldly, “Sister, we don’t know how long we’ll be going around. It wouldn’t be appropriate to have someone wait around for us.”

Understanding his intent clearly, Yu Fuling quickly changed her tune. “You’re right, that was thoughtless of me. If we delay you and your grandmother’s medicine, that wouldn’t be good. You should go on ahead.”

Chen Rou had no choice but to swallow her words. With a soft, gentle look toward Yu Qizhe, she said sweetly, “Just now I saw how beautiful Miss Meng’s handwriting was. I’d like to learn calligraphy too. Would it be alright if I asked for one of your practice sheets, Qizhe?”

Without hesitation, Yu Qizhe flatly replied, “I’m no master. My calligraphy is barely passable and not worth learning from. If you wish to practice, there are collections by renowned scholars in the bookstore downtown, far more suitable for copying.”

A flicker of disappointment passed through Chen Rou’s eyes. She bit her lip, her delicate, pretty face tinged with vulnerability. But Yu Qizhe didn’t spare her a single glance.

Chen Rou felt a sting of heartache and resentment. She looked at Yu Qizhe’s handsome face, wanting to speak but holding back. The man who once seemed to devote his heart to her now acted as if she didn’t exist.

“If you’re going shopping, I’ll head back first,” she said, forcing a bitter smile while her eyes lingered on Yu Qizhe.

If Yu Qizhe had been healthy, Chen Rou would have gladly married him. With his talent and looks, his future would’ve been promising. But though she was engaged to Scholar Liu, she couldn’t help comparing him to the short, pudgy, and utterly plain Liu. He was no match for the refined Yu Qizhe.

Still, she told herself, ‘Yu Qizhe is sickly, he could die any day. What use is talent or good looks if you’re not long for this world?’ The thought gave her a twisted sense of comfort.

After Chen Rou left, Yu Fuling nudged Yu Jiao and whispered, “Did you see how cold Qizhe was to her? But he’s so warm to you. I think he sees you as his future wife. Otherwise, he wouldn’t have called you his ‘wife’ in front of Young Master Shen.”

“Don’t say such things,” Yu Jiao replied quickly. “He only said that to help me out of an awkward situation.”

Still, she glanced at Yu Qizhe and couldn’t help but feel a little conflicted. Chen Rou had once been the girl he nearly married. To see him treat her so indifferently now, it was hard not to think of it as a bit too cold.