Married to a Villainous Minister - Chapter 166

It was rare to see Yu Ruhai acting so meekly, but this tactic of slapping with one hand and offering a sweet date with the other, Yu Jiao wasn’t buying it.

“You’re really putting me in a difficult position here,” Yu Jiao said coolly. “I think what Wu-ge said earlier made quite a bit of sense. You might want to consider his suggestion.”

Seeing that Yu Jiao was still refusing, Yu Ruhai’s expression darkened with a touch of displeasure. “All I asked was for you to visit Headmaster Lin’s residence. Whether it works out or not is another matter. Why are you being so evasive?”

“I have no personal connection with Headmaster Lin,” Yu Jiao replied calmly. “If anything, wouldn’t it make more sense for Si-ge and the others to go themselves? They’re the county school students, after all.”

As she spoke, she stepped forward and pulled out twenty-five taels of silver from her sleeve, placing them on the table. “This is half the consultation fee for last night’s visit. Sister Fuling and I haven’t slept a wink, we’re truly exhausted. We’ll go get some rest now.”

With that, she grabbed Yu Fuling’s hand and led her out of the main hall.

Yu Ruhai stared at the silver on the table, and for the moment, couldn’t bring himself to force Yu Jiao to go to the Lin household. But Yu Jinshu wasn’t about to let it go so easily. He moved to block Yu Jiao, only to be stopped by Yu Qizhe.

Yu Jinshu glared angrily at him. “Step aside!”

Yu Qizhe didn’t budge, standing firm in front of him. “Er-ge, you’re a grown man. Why is it that every time there’s trouble, it’s the women who have to go resolve it? Yu Jiao may be registered under the second household, and even if you don’t acknowledge her as your sister, I do, and I will protect her.”

“What’s that supposed to mean?” Yu Jinshu’s face turned livid with rage. “Move, or do you want a beating?”

A glint of coldness flashed in Yu Qizhe’s peach blossom eyes. His lips curved into a mocking smile. “If your hands are itching, Er-ge, I’ll gladly keep you company.”

Yu Jinshu exploded in fury and threw a punch at Yu Qizhe. Madam Song gasped in shock and moved to intervene. But Yu Qizhe effortlessly caught the incoming fist and twisted it sharply with hidden strength. Yu Jinshu cried out in pain, his face contorted.

Madam Zhao, who had been watching coldly from the side, had hoped Yu Jinshu would finally teach that sickly second-house brat a lesson. But to her shock, the next moment, it was her own son who was howling in pain.

“You little beast! You dare strike your own brother? Let go of him at once!” She shrieked.

Yu Qizhe leaned in and whispered coldly into Yu Jinshu’s ear, “Er-ge, just like when we were kids, still so easy to beat.” Then he let go, stepped back half a pace, and walked away without sparing Madam Zhao a glance, ignoring her scolding entirely.

Yu Jinshu clutched his shoulder, his face twisted in agony. Yu Qizhe’s words had triggered a long-buried memory from childhood. Back then, he had been sickly and slow-witted, yet once they began studying, the tutors favored Yu Qizhe over all his brothers.

He had always disliked this fifth brother, often beating him behind their elders’ backs. If Yu Qizhe dared complain, the next beating would be even worse.

Once, their second aunt caught him in the act and made a huge fuss, causing their grandfather to punish him by copying “Respect Between Brothers” a hundred times.

Later, he plotted revenge, luring Yu Qizhe into the woods with some village boys, intending to teach him a harsh lesson. But instead, it was Yu Qizhe, half a head shorter at the time, who pinned him to the ground and beat him black and blue.

That feeling of helplessness, of screaming to no avail and nearly being strangled to death, was pure terror. He had thought he’d forgotten it, but now, it came flooding back, vivid as if it happened only yesterday.

He remembered Yu Qizhe sitting on him, expressionless, those narrow eyes devoid of any warmth, cold and emotionless. Yu Jinshu broke into a cold sweat, chills running down his spine.

“My son, what’s wrong? Say something! Don’t scare your mother!” Madam Zhao, alarmed by her son’s silence and dazed look, pushed his shoulder in panic.

Yu Jinshu came back to himself, his face pale. “I’m fine.”

Madam Zhao, furious, turned on Madam Song. “Second sister-in-law, this is the good son you’ve raised? And that Meng Yujiao, this is how you raise your daughter? Just going to let her ruin Jinshu’s and Jinyan’s futures?”

Madam Song had no interest in arguing and replied mildly, following up on Yu Jiao’s earlier words. “Sister-in-law, Meng girl had no choice. That Master Zhang truly crossed the line. How can you blame Yu Jiao for ruining their futures?”

Before Madam Zhao could retort, she turned to Yu Ruhai and Madam Zhou. “Father, Mother, the meal’s ready. I’ll go serve it from the kitchen.” Then she walked out, ignoring Madam Zhao’s curses and complaints behind her.

Now that Yu Jinshu and the others had no way to secure student spots, Yu Ruhai had no appetite. With a deeply troubled face, he sighed and said, “Jinshu, you three had better try again with Master Zhang, maybe there’s still a way to turn things around.”

Yu Jinshu still wanted to send Yu Jiao to seek out Headmaster Lin, but clearly, Yu Ruhai had no intention of forcing her. So, he could only give a reluctant nod. The three of them took the silver again and left the house.

It wasn’t until late afternoon that they returned. From their dejected faces, Yu Ruhai immediately knew things had gone poorly.

“Master Zhang took the money and brought us to the Zhang estate, even got us through the gate. But then the servants kept saying the master was busy and made us wait in a pavilion. We drank so much tea while waiting but never saw him,” Yu Jinshu said bitterly.

They hadn’t eaten all day, and the tea left them both bloated and starving. Though the servants were polite, constantly refilling their cups, it wasn’t long before all three urgently needed the latrine. When they asked, the servants claimed the estate’s toilets were under renovation. Left with no choice, the three had to leave the Zhang estate in search of one elsewhere.

After relieving themselves, they tried to return, only to be refused entry, this time, the gatekeepers wouldn’t even recognize them.

Yu Ruhai slumped in despair. Master Zhang’s actions made it clear he had no intention of letting the matter go. He mourned the wasted hundred taels and fretted that the three wouldn’t be able to sit the county exams.

Trying to console himself, he thought, At least fifth boy can still attend. He waved the others off. “You three go rest.”

Yu Jinshu pursed his lips and said resentfully, “Why won’t grandfather just force Meng Yujiao to ask Headmaster Lin to make an exception for us? Are we really expected to wait another three years?”

Madam Zhao wept, wailing, “Father, Jinshu’s getting older, and his engagement has already been broken off. He can’t afford to waste another three years! You’ve always loved Jinshu the most, they’re your own grandsons! If they miss the county exam, their futures are ruined. No matter what, you have to make that girl beg for the recommendation letter!”

She turned to Madam Zhou. “Mother, say something! Meng Yujiao is ruining your grandsons’ futures, aren’t you going to stand up for them?”

Madam Zhou had been inclined to side with Jinshu and Jinyan, but before she could speak, Yu Ruhai, brow furrowed and visibly irritated by Madam Zhao’s wailing, snapped impatiently, “Force her to go? That’s easy for you to say. Look at her personality, if you think you can force her, be my guest! I’ve told you before, don’t provoke her. If you’d treated her kindly from the start, today wouldn’t be like this!”