Married to a Villainous Minister - Chapter 176

“You want to go?” Yu Jiao asked with a smile.

Yu Fuling nodded so vigorously it looked like a pecking chick. “I do! I do!”

“You’d better not go and cause trouble,” Madam Song said as she pulled a small cloth bundle from the cabinet, clearly already preparing to help Yu Jiao pack. “Meng girl is going for a house call, not for a vacation. Why are you acting more and more like a child?”

Yu Fuling pouted and pleaded sweetly, “Moooom~ I can help take care of Yu Jiao. Little Brother is going to Qingzhou for the county exam, he can’t stay with her all the time. She’s a young girl going far away, and we’ll all feel more at ease if I’m with her.”

Madam Song remained unmoved. They had already discussed this with the main branch of the family, and having Yu Qiaoshan accompany them to Qingzhou made far more sense than sending Fuling, a half-grown girl.

Seeing her mother unmoved, Yu Fuling tugged Yu Jiao’s sleeve and shook it, begging, “Come on, say something to mom. Tell her to let me go with you.”

Yu Jiao chuckled. “I already spoke to Second Master Mu. I told him you’d be coming with us.”

“Really?” Yu Fuling’s face lit up with joy. She let go of Yu Jiao’s sleeve and dashed off to pack. “I’m going to get my things!”

Watching her daughter bound away like a bird freed from its cage, Madam Song gave a helpless smile. Though her words were scolding, there was undeniable affection in her tone. “That girl… almost of marriageable age and still acting like such a child.”

Yu Jiao laughed softly. “It’ll be nice to have her with me. I’d feel better having someone familiar around.”

“I’m just afraid she’ll end up causing you more trouble than help…” Madam Song began, but before she could finish, Yu Fuling’s voice came from the side room.

“I’ve never been to Qingzhou before! Mom, let me go with Yu Jiao and see the world! Once I’m married, I won’t be able to go anywhere!”

Yu Mengshan, fond of his daughter, chimed in supportively, “Let the girl go if she wants to.”

With even her husband speaking up, Madam Song relented. “Alright, alright, go then. I’ll help you both pack.”

Hearing her mother give in, Yu Fuling poked her head out from the side room, holding up some clothes with a grin. “You rest, mom, I can pack for myself!”

Madam Song shook her head, smiling as she watched her daughter buzz about with excitement.

There wasn’t much to pack, really, just a few changes of clothes. The main concern was the medical kit. After using her silver needles on Lin Shuang, Yu Jiao had boiled them for sterilization and tucked the case into the side pocket of the kit. She also packed a few herbs, just in case.

She wasn’t too worried about having enough medicine, whatever she needed in Qingzhou could be bought at one of the large pharmacies, which were sure to be well-stocked.

Each of them packed three sets of clothing, all fitting neatly into small bundles.

Yu Fuling, wanting Yu Jiao to look respectable as a traveling doctor, decided to finish sewing the jacket and skirt she’d been working on and urged Yu Jiao to try it on. It was a cross-collared jacket and pleated skirt, made with peach-pink thread embroidered with flowers. The pale yellow and white colors were elegant and understated.

The wide-sleeved short jacket and high-waisted pleated skirt accentuated Yu Jiao’s slender waist. The hem was embroidered with pale moon-colored ginkgo blossoms. After putting it on, Yu Jiao spun around once and admired it, she truly liked it. Yu Fuling’s needlework was exquisite. It was hard to believe such a delicate outfit had been stitched by hand.

“You look beautiful,” Yu Fuling said, eyes sparkling. “Really, you look just as good as any city girl.”

Even without any accessories, Yu Jiao’s natural beauty shone through. Her almond-shaped eyes were lively and expressive. In that simple outfit, she looked far better than the overly dressed-up Zhang family girl.

“The skirt is lovely, thank you, Fuling-jie.” Yu Jiao had seen firsthand how much time and effort went into every stitch.

Seeing how much she liked it, Yu Fuling grinned. “When we get back from Qingzhou, I’ll use that lake-blue fabric to make you a flower-woven beizi jacket.”

(Note: Beizi is a traditional Chinese attire commonly worn by both men and women; it is typically a large loose outer coat with loose and long sleeves.)

“No rush. I’ve got new clothes now. You should finish your own things first,” Yu Jiao replied with a smile. She glanced at Yu Fuling and laughed softly. It was funny how people could change. Fuling had once been cold and curt with her, and now she treated her like a dear sister.

“What are you laughing at?” Yu Fuling asked suspiciously.

Yu Jiao shook her head. “Nothing.”

Unconvinced, Yu Fuling reached over to tickle her at the waist. “Come on, tell me! What’s so funny?”

Yu Jiao, incredibly ticklish, dodged away while giggling. “It’s nothing, really! Good sister, don’t bully me!”

After some time of playing and laughing, they both collapsed onto the bed. Fuling said sincerely, “Life is so good now. Yu Jiao, you really are our family’s lucky star.”

Yu Jiao smiled and sat up, smoothing out her rumpled clothes. “You didn’t sleep much last night, and the bags are all packed. Rest a bit more. I’ll wake you when Second Master Mu arrives.”

Yu Fuling yawned, clearly worn out from her excitement, and reminded her, “You have to wake me! Don’t go sneaking off with Little Brother!”

Yu Jiao laughed and went to check on Yu Qizhe. He was still sitting at his desk reading, showing not the slightest sign of pre-exam nerves. She admired his calm.

“Stop reading already. After all these years of study, a couple of extra days won’t make a difference,” she said, glancing at the bundle on his bed. “Are your things all packed? Need to double-check?”

Yu Qizhe put down the book and looked up. Seeing Yu Jiao in her new outfit, her fair face radiant, he smiled. “I’ve packed everything, don’t worry.”

Her hair was slightly mussed from playing with Fuling. She pushed it back carelessly and said, “Good.”

Yu Qizhe stood and picked up a wooden comb, handing it to her. “The outfit sister made looks great on you.”

Yu Jiao spun around proudly before taking the comb. “Fuling-jie’s needlework is amazing. But making clothes is so much effort, once I’ve got money, I’ll just buy ready-made ones.”

Yu Qizhe chuckled as he watched her struggle with her hair in front of the bronze mirror.

Yu Jiao had never been good at hairstyling. Normally, she just twisted it quickly into a braid or a simple bun, something she’d learned from Fuling. But styling hair took patience, and that she sorely lacked.

Her hair had grown long and was now more of a hassle than ever. If it weren’t for the local custom that said unbound hair made a girl look wild and improper, she’d have just chopped it off. Now, she couldn’t get the little bun to stay no matter what, and frustration was building.

Yu Qizhe noticed her struggling. After watching for a moment, he smiled and said gently, “Let me help.”

Yu Jiao turned to him, her bright almond eyes filled with doubt. “You know how?”

He didn’t answer, just smiled and walked over. He took the comb from her hands.

As the comb neared her hair, she quickly raised both hands to protect her head. “Are you sure you can do this? Don’t pull, it hurts!”

Yu Qizhe gently took her hands and moved them aside. His voice was warm and calm.

“I won’t hurt you.”