Married to a Villainous Minister - Chapter 187

Madam Yang was visibly emotional. She held onto Yu Jiao’s hand and gently asked again, “Will those unsightly things go away too?”

Yu Jiao shook her head. “They likely won’t, though it’s not impossible. Once the inflammation subsides, they might slowly fade.”

Hearing this, Madam Yang looked a little disappointed.

Yu Jiao explained kindly, “You really don’t need to worry about that. Those growths are like scar tissue from an old wound, just hyperplasia. They’re not harmful.”

Madam Yang felt much more at ease after hearing that. She adjusted her clothes and sighed, “As long as the itching stops and the odor goes away, I won’t ask for more.”

“You can be at ease on that front. With the internal and external treatments I prescribed, the inflammation should clear up within a month.” Yu Jiao washed her hands thoroughly with soap pods and hot water, then dried them with a handkerchief.

Madam Yang noticed how meticulous and clean Yu Jiao was and liked her even more because of it.

After coming out of the inner room, Yu Jiao asked for a brush and paper, ground the ink herself, and wrote up the prescription. She handed it to the maidservant who attended Madam Yang. The maid took the prescription to a pharmacy in Qingzhou to have it filled.

Madam Yang instructed her maid to bring out some fruit. Though autumn had already begun, the Yang household still had watermelons, their rich red flesh glistening. Madam Yang now treated Yu Jiao and her companions much more warmly, inviting them to eat with genuine friendliness.

“Who taught you medicine? Was it passed down in your family?” Madam Yang asked curiously.

Yu Jiao held a wedge of watermelon, took a bite, and replied, “When I was young, I studied under an old physician in the capital, then learned some more from my grandfather.”

“Your family practices medicine too?” Madam Yang smiled. “It must be hard for a young girl like you to treat patients outside your home.”

Yu Jiao nodded slightly. “My grandfather knows medicine,” she answered vaguely.

The grandfather she referred to was her biological grandfather, not Yu Ruhai. But she figured anyone hearing this would assume she meant Yu Ruhai.

“So it’s a family of physicians. I haven’t been to Changkui before, so perhaps I’ve been ignorant. I didn’t know there was a skilled medical family with the surname Yu.” Madam Yang’s words carried a tone of praise.

Yu Jiao responded humbly but steadily, “We’re just a small countryside household, Madam Yang is giving us too much credit.”

Third Madam Mu laughed and said, “This girl is far too modest.” She then added to Madam Yang, “All four of her elder brothers are scholars, and one even ranked first in the county-level exam. He’s staying at our estate now to prepare for the upcoming provincial exam.”

Madam Yang was impressed. Despite being a rural family, the Yu household clearly valued education. And just from Yu Jiao’s words and behavior, one could tell she was raised with discipline and refinement.

Footsteps sounded outside. A tall, fair young woman with striking features entered the room, wearing a pale brocade robe and a snow-colored embroidered skirt. Upon entering, she first bowed to Third Madam Mu, then nestled up beside Madam Yang and said gently, “Mother, has the lady physician arrived?”

Madam Yang took her hand and smiled. “I was just about to send someone to bring you over to accompany Miss Meng around the estate. You’re of similar age, you should get along well.” She turned to Yu Jiao and introduced her, “This is my daughter, Yan-jie. She’s two years older than you.”

Yang Jiyan glanced over Yu Jiao and Yu Fuling, then smiled politely. “So this is the physician Third Madam invited for my mother? She looks so young.”

Madam Yang tapped her daughter on the forehead and scolded, “Don’t be fooled by her age. Miss Meng is highly skilled, far beyond what your extra two years can compare to.” She turned to Yu Jiao with a warm smile. “She’s just spoiled by me and speaks a bit bluntly. Please don’t mind her.”

Yu Jiao merely smiled and said nothing.

Third Madam Mu joined in cheerfully, “I find such straightforwardness quite charming. She’s not spoiled, just refreshingly honest. And with such lovely looks, I couldn’t be more envious.”

Madam Yang chuckled. Though she reprimanded her daughter with words, her expression showed nothing but fondness. Her daughter was indeed proud and a bit aloof, but in her eyes, she was the best there was.

“You young ladies might feel a bit restrained in front of us elders. Go out and enjoy yourselves,” she said to Yang Jiyan. “The osmanthus trees in your courtyard are blooming beautifully. Take the Yu girls there and treat our guests well, don’t be rude.”

Yang Jiyan nodded. Noting her mother’s attitude, she figured that this Miss Meng must have real talent, and so she led Yu Jiao and the others to her courtyard.

As they approached, the scent of osmanthus wafted through the air, sweet and refreshing. Yu Jiao inhaled deeply and immediately felt more relaxed. The heavy incense in Madam Yang’s room had left her dizzy, but this fragrance cleared her mind.

In the courtyard stood two large osmanthus trees, their branches lush and heavy with tiny yellow blossoms, spreading their fragrance far and wide.

Yang Jiyan ordered the maids to bring tea, and they sat by a stone table in the courtyard. “Miss Meng,” she asked, “How is my mother’s condition? Can she really be cured?”

“I’ve already prescribed her medicine. It’s not a serious condition, though it tends to recur easily. She’ll need to take care going forward,” Yu Jiao said gently.

“Can she really be cured?” Yang Jiyan’s brows furrowed with doubt.

Seeing her skeptical expression, Yu Jiao assumed she didn’t believe in her skills. She explained patiently, “Madam likely contracted this from unsanitary conditions during childbirth. It is treatable.”

Yang Jiyan realized she might have been too blunt and quickly reined in her expression, though her eyes still held some complicated emotion. “If my mother can truly recover, I’ll be sure to thank you properly.”

“There’s no need, Miss Yang,” Yu Jiao said, lifting her teacup. The tea was infused with osmanthus and vitex, it was slightly sweet, and the fragrance lingered pleasantly.

Noticing her enjoyment, Yang Jiyan’s proud face softened slightly. “The osmanthus just bloomed recently, so I had the maids pick some and dry it for tea. It’s nothing fancy, but I love the scent.”

Yu Jiao put down her teacup with a faint smile. “Vitex helps clear internal heat and improves eyesight. Blended with osmanthus, the tea is sweet and fragrant. Miss Yang has a thoughtful touch.”

“It is very good,” Yu Fuling agreed, draining her cup and immediately refilling it.

Yang Jiyan’s long brows arched slightly, and the corners of her lips curled with a trace of subtle mockery. “I don’t really understand these things. If you like it, Miss Meng, I’ll have the maids wrap some up for you.” Then she called out, “Go bring the rest of the osmanthus tea cakes and pack them up for Miss Meng.”

Her tone sounded almost like she was handing out a reward.

Yu Jiao’s smile faded slightly. “Thank you, Miss Yang.”

Yang Jiyan didn’t touch her own teacup again. Discussing osmanthus tea was supposed to be a refined pastime, but these two country girls were gulping it down like plain water. She suddenly felt it all lacked the elegance she’d intended.