Married to a Villainous Minister - Chapter 197

“You think a hundred taels of consultation fee makes it right?” Mu Yan was still visibly upset. “As if anyone’s that desperate for a mere hundred taels. With Yu Jiao’s medical skills, earning that amount would be a breeze!”

“You’re right, Second Master,” Second Madam Mu gently pulled him back to sit down and poured him a cup of tea. “Third Sister-in-law isn’t wrong either. I understand you feel bad for the Yu sisters, but this was an accident. Madam Yang couldn’t have predicted it. Otherwise, she wouldn’t have gifted the girls those jade bracelets.”

Third Madam Mu let out a sigh. “Still, it was my fault. I brought them along and didn’t watch over them closely. I shouldn’t have let them leave my side.”

“Don’t say that, Third Sister-in-law,” Second Madam Mu comforted. “This isn’t something you can be blamed for.”

Mu Yan’s expression eased a bit. He stood up and said to Second Madam Mu, “I’m going to check on Yu Jiao. Have someone fetch some supplements from the storehouse and send them to the girls.”

Third Madam Mu nodded. “I’ll go pick some good ones right away.” She turned to Second Madam Mu. “Don’t overthink it. Go have lunch while it’s still hot.”

Third Madam Mu stood up again. “I remember Third Master has some quality healing medicine. I’ll have a maid deliver it to the Yu sisters.”

Mu Yan made his way to Luofu Courtyard. The side room door was closed tight, with two maids standing guard outside.

Seeing him approach, the two maids curtsied and said, “Second Master, Second Miss Yu is treating First Miss Yu’s injuries. It’s inconvenient to go in right now.”

Mu Yan nodded and waited in the courtyard.

From inside the room came the sound of Yu Fuling’s cries of pain. Mu Yan frowned deeply, a pang of guilt twisting in his chest. He had brought them to Qingzhou, yet they had suffered such a cruel fate.

Inside the room, Yu Jiao poured more medicinal wine into her palm and said to the tearful Yu Fuling, “Be strong, sister. Just bear it a bit longer. If the bruises don’t get dispersed, you’ll suffer even more later.”

Yu Fuling bit her lip and nodded through the tears.

Yu Jiao rubbed her hands to warm them before gently pressing her palm onto the bruises on Yu Fuling’s abdomen, carefully controlling the pressure as she spread the medicine.

Yu Fuling trembled from the pain and tried to pull away, but Yu Jiao knelt on the bed and used her knees to gently pin down her sister’s legs, methodically massaging the bruised area.

By the end of it, Yu Fuling’s clothes were soaked through. Though she still hurt, it was less intense than before. She went behind the screen, changed into clean clothes, and tidied up her disheveled hair.

Only then did Yu Jiao open the door.

Hearing the noise, Mu Yan stepped forward. His eyes immediately went to the bruises on Yu Jiao’s delicate neck. With concern, he asked, “Third Madam told me you were hurt at the Yang residence. Is it serious? Should we call a doctor—” He cut himself off, remembering Yu Jiao was a doctor.

“It’s nothing serious, thank you for your concern, Second Master,” Yu Jiao replied hoarsely, stepping aside to invite him in.

Mu Yan caught sight of the obvious purple bruises on her fair neck and grew angry. “That’s nothing serious? Yu Jiao, I brought you to Qingzhou. At my age, I count as half a guardian to you. If anyone wrongs you, don’t be afraid. Just tell me!”

Yu Jiao tugged at her collar to cover the marks and gave a light smile. “It just looks bad, that’s all. But thank you.”

“Really alright?” Mu Yan looked at Yu Fuling next. “Is your sister’s injury severe?”

Yu Fuling quickly bowed and said, “It’s not serious. Please don’t worry, Second Master.”

Though Mu Yan was old enough to be their father, propriety still stood between men and women. He didn’t stay long. Before leaving, he said, “Rest well, both of you. If you need any medicine, just tell the maids and they’ll fetch it for you.”

Yu Jiao saw him at the door.

After leaving, Mu Yan immediately ordered people to investigate which guest the Yang family had received in the past few days.

Yang Yuancheng’s official rank hadn’t been promoted yet, and when it came to power, the Mu family wasn’t far behind. He was determined to find out who had acted so outrageously under Yang’s roof, laying hands on two young girls.

In all of Qingzhou, there weren’t many people the Mu family needed to fear. If he found out who had dared to treat the Yu sisters that way, he would make sure they paid the price.

Once Mu Yan left, a maid entered and softly asked, “Misses, would you like your meal now?”

Yu Jiao nodded.

One maid went to the small kitchen to fetch the food. Another, noticing the heavy smell of medicinal wine in the air, asked politely, “Miss Yu, should I open the folding screen to let in some fresh air?”

Yu Jiao gave a soft “mm” of agreement. Yu Fuling approached and gently parted her sister’s collar. “What about your neck? Want me to apply some medicine?”

“I’ll do it myself after eating,” Yu Jiao’s throat ached, and she gave a slight cough, unwilling to speak much more.

When the food arrived, Yu Jiao barely ate, picking only at the lighter dishes. She handed the herbs she’d bought to the maid, asking her to decoct two doses of medicinal soup in the small kitchen.

“I’m feeling a bit tired. I’ll lie down for a bit. Fuling, wake me when the medicine is ready,” Yu Jiao said, putting down her chopsticks and wiping her lips with a handkerchief.

“Go rest,” Yu Fuling said softly.

Yu Jiao went to the inner room to sleep. Yu Fuling, still shaken and sore, drank a bowl of soup and had the dishes cleared away.

Afraid of disturbing her sister, she quietly sat on the soft divan by the window. She wanted to tell Yu Qizhe what had happened at the Yang residence, but worried it would disrupt his studies, he had the exam in just two days. So she kept the matter to herself.

She sat quietly for a long while. When the medicine was ready, a maid brought it in. Yu Fuling got up and gently woke the already asleep Yu Jiao. “The maid brought the medicine. Drink it before you go back to sleep.”

Yu Jiao picked up the bowl, sniffed it to identify the herbs, and handed one bowl to Yu Fuling. “This one’s yours.”

Yu Fuling accepted it, noticing how hoarse Yu Jiao’s voice had become. “Your throat?”

“It’s nothing, I’ll be fine in a few days,” Yu Jiao said, tilting her head back and drinking the entire bowl. She set the empty bowl aside, lay back down, rolled over to make room for her sister, and murmured, “Fuling, if you’re tired, lie down and rest a bit too.”

Yu Fuling drank her medicine, had the bowls taken away, and lay down beside her sister. Her mind was restless and her body ached. She thought she wouldn’t be able to sleep, but before long, she too drifted into a deep slumber.

When Yu Jiao woke again, she opened her eyes to darkness. Faint light flickered outside the window, it was already night.

As she got out of bed, she accidentally brushed against Yu Fuling and woke her.

From outside, a maid softly asked, “Miss Yu, are you awake? Shall I come in and light the lamp?”

“Come in—” Yu Jiao opened her mouth, but her throat burned with dryness. Her voice was so raspy it was almost inaudible.

She was nearly voiceless.