Married to a Villainous Minister - Chapter 198

Yu Fuling quickly said, “Come in and light the lamps.”

A maid entered and lit the lamps. Yu Fuling turned to Yu Jiao, her expression worried. “Your throat…”

Yu Jiao shook her head and mouthed silently, “It’s fine.”

“What time is it now?” Yu Fuling asked the maid.

The maid replied, “Just past the hour of You (around 5 to 7 p.m.). This afternoon, the Third Madam came by. Seeing that you young ladies were still asleep, she didn’t want to disturb you. These tonic herbs and medicines are what she left for you.”

The table was stacked with gift boxes, ginseng, deer antler, and other valuable tonics. Yu Jiao glanced at them and rasped softly to the maid, “Send these back to Third Madam.”

The maid, reading her lips, said quickly, “Third Madam ordered that you must keep them, miss. I don’t dare return them.”

Yu Jiao’s throat hurt badly, so she didn’t argue further and simply put the items away.

The maid continued, “Misses Yu, there’s food warming on the stove. Since you two were asleep, I didn’t dare have the kitchen bring it earlier. Are you hungry now? Should I fetch it?”

Yu Jiao nodded. The maid took up a lantern and went to the kitchen.

Yu Fuling poured her a cup of hot tea. “You’d better not speak anymore. If you need something, just gesture to me.”

Yu Jiao smiled faintly, took out paper and brush, and wrote, ‘My throat isn’t serious. After a few doses of medicine, I’ll recover in three to five days. Don’t worry.’

Then, on a new line, she wrote ‘Tomorrow, please tell the maids to find some fresh willow branches for me.’

Yu Fuling nodded. “All right. But what do you need willow branches for?”

Before Yu Jiao could write again, Yu Fuling waved her hands. “Never mind, never mind. Writing everything out must be tiring.”

Yu Jiao gave her a smiling glance and put the brush down.

Soon, the maid returned with the food and set it out. “The medicine for both young ladies is still boiling on the stove. Earlier, I didn’t want to ruin its potency by making it too soon.”

Before Yu Jiao could respond, Yu Fuling quickly said, “All right, thank you for your trouble.”

She handed a pair of chopsticks to Yu Jiao. “From now on, when we deal with people, I’ll do the talking. You just keep quiet until your throat’s healed.”

Yu Jiao smiled and nodded.

Knowing Yu Jiao’s throat hurt and that both sisters were injured, the maid had already asked the kitchen to make lighter dishes for the next few days.

The mild-tasting food was easy on the stomach, and Yu Jiao ended up eating more than usual. After dinner, they both took their medicine. Having slept all afternoon, neither felt sleepy yet.

Yu Jiao picked up her brush to continue silently copying from a medical text. Yu Fuling sat beside her, studying the contents carefully. When she didn’t understand something, she noted it down to ask Yu Jiao later once her throat recovered.

They sat like that for nearly two hours. The night outside grew still; even the maids had gone to bed.

Yu Jiao finally felt a bit drowsy. She put down her brush, nudged Yu Fuling, and glanced toward the bed.

Understanding her meaning, Yu Fuling gathered the pages Yu Jiao had written. “You’re right, it’s time to sleep.”

Neither of them slept soundly that night. Perhaps because of what happened at the Yang estate, Yu Fuling kept having nightmares, muttering in her sleep. Yu Jiao woke several times from her talking.

The next morning, after washing and breakfast, Yu Fuling had the maids bring the willow branches Yu Jiao had requested. Yu Jiao picked out a few, laying them to dry in the courtyard. She also gathered some dry twigs, lit them, and after they burned down, used the charcoal to draw sketches of surgical tools, forceps, round needles, angled needles, and the like.

Just as she finished, Third Madam Mu arrived.

“Are your injuries any better?” Third Madam Mu asked with concern.

Yu Fuling hurriedly answered in the gentle tone she’d learned from Yu Jiao, “Much better, thank you for your concern, Third Madam.” She glanced at Yu Jiao and explained, “My sister’s throat has gone hoarse; she can’t speak for now. Please don’t take offense.”

At that, Third Madam Mu’s face tightened with worry. “How could it be so bad? I have some turtle jelly tonic in my quarters. I forgot to send it over yesterday.”

Before Yu Jiao could stop her, Third Madam Mu had already ordered a maid to fetch it.

Yu Jiao pointed toward the pile of supplements in the room and looked at Yu Fuling. Yu Fuling said, “Third Madam, my sister and I don’t really need these tonics. Please take them back.”

Third Madam Mu waved a hand. “These were meant for you. The storeroom has plenty, you two girls shouldn’t be so formal. Second Master already said you are to treat this place as your home.”

Yu Fuling looked at Yu Jiao, who nodded lightly, so she didn’t insist further.

Third Madam Mu turned to Yu Jiao. “Master Yang and Miss Yang are here, they came especially to see you. Second Master is receiving them in the main hall. Would you like to meet them?”

Yang Yuancheng had come in person, bringing generous gifts and his daughter, Yang Jiyan. Naturally, Third Madam Mu assumed they were here to apologize for what happened yesterday.

Yu Jiao nodded, guessing that Yang Yuancheng might have found the steel craftsman she needed.

Before long, the maid returned with the turtle jelly. Third Madam Mu insisted Yu Jiao take some before going.

Though Yu Jiao’s sore throat came from being strangled rather than from internal heat, she didn’t refuse the kind gesture and quietly finished the small bowl.

When she was done, she took the drawings she’d made, folded them into her sleeve, and, along with Yu Fuling, followed Madam Mu to the front hall.

There sat someone Yu Jiao hadn’t seen before, Third Master Mu. He looked very much like Mu Yan, only younger in appearance, smiling as he chatted warmly with Yang Yuancheng.

When Second Madam Mu saw Yu Jiao enter, she smiled. “Ah, Yu girl is here.”

Yu Jiao and Yu Fuling bowed politely to everyone in the room before standing to the side.

Yang Yuancheng gave his daughter a look. Reluctantly, Yang Jiyan stepped forward and said apologetically, “It was my fault yesterday for not taking proper care of you both. Father and Mother have already scolded me. I hope you can be understanding and not hold it against someone as thoughtless as me.”

Saying this before so many people made her feel utterly humiliated. But her father had insisted on bringing her here to the Mu residence to apologize to “these two country bumpkins.” She dared not defy him, so she forced herself to say the words.

Yu Jiao looked at Yang Jiyan coolly, saying nothing.

Yu Fuling still had a fairly good impression of her, after all, she had sent them osmanthus tea yesterday. She didn’t hold the servant girl’s behavior against her and said, “Please don’t say that, Miss Yang. It was the maid’s fault, not yours.”

Yang Jiyan lowered her eyes to hide her resentment and replied softly, “I’m just glad you don’t blame me.”

Seeing that Yu Jiao still hadn’t spoken, she stepped forward and took her hand. “Younger sister, are you still angry with me?”