Married to a Villainous Minister - Chapter 20

Day and night, Yu Ruhai dreamed of someone in the Yu family becoming a high-ranking official, bringing honor to their ancestors. Of all the descendants, only Yu Qizhe showed any real promise, his previous achievement of “Young Top Scholar” academic title had once been a proud moment. Yu Ruhai wasn’t ready to give up just yet.

Yu Jiao naturally wanted to help nurse Yu Qizhe back to health. After all, it was a way to repay the debt she owed him for saving her life.

“I’ll need to check his pulse first.” As soon as Yu Jiao spoke, Yu Ruhai shouted out into the courtyard, full of energy, “Fifth Boy! Fifth Boy!”

After several calls, Yu Qizhe entered the main hall. Yu Ruhai said, “Let Meng girl check your pulse.”

Hearing the commotion, the elderly matron of the household stepped out from the inner room. Yu Qizhe glanced at Meng Yujiao, then sat down and extended his slender, pale wrist.

Yu Jiao gently placed her fingers on his pulse, remaining still for a long time. Yu Ruhai hardly dared to breathe and eventually asked in a low voice, “Meng girl, what do you think? Is there a way to treat it?”

By now, Madam Zhao from the third branch and Madam Zhang from the main branch had also gathered in the hall. Seeing Yu Jiao taking Yu Qizhe’s pulse, all eyes were fixed on her.

Yu Jiao’s brows furrowed ever so slightly before she pulled her hand back. Meeting Yu Qizhe’s clear gaze, she gave a faint smile. “Though his pulse is weak and withered, it’s not incurable. Give me a few days to think through a proper prescription.”

Yu Qizhe’s refined face showed no discernible change in expression. He rose, nodded to Yu Ruhai, and returned to his room to continue reading.

Yu Ruhai couldn’t hide his excitement. He hurriedly said to Yu Jiao, “Meng girl, please do give it some serious thought. If you need any herbs, feel free to use whatever is in the medicine room. If we don’t have it, we’ll go to the city to buy it.”

Once Yu Qizhe had left, the smile on Yu Jiao’s face faded. Her eyes narrowed slightly as she observed the expressions of everyone in the room.

“Wu-ge’s body is already like a spent lamp with no more oil. I have no prescription to restore it.”

Yu Ruhai looked as if he had been struck by lightning. His already wrinkled face seemed to age even more in that instant. He stroked his dry beard helplessly, lips moving, but unsure of what to say.

Old Madam Yu lowered her eyes, showing no visible emotion. Madam Zhang from the main household sighed and went back outside to continue weaving grain baskets.

Madam Zhao, as if nothing had happened, continued sewing soles onto shoes. Yu Jiao took in everyone’s reactions, a glint of contemplation flashing through her eyes.

The creak of the courtyard gate sounded, Madam Song had returned, carrying freshly washed clothes. Yu Jiao got up and walked outside. She helped Madam Song unload the laundry basket and began hanging the clothes to dry.

Seeing that there were no outsiders around, Madam Song asked, “The patients are gone?”

Yu Jiao nodded and said nothing more. The two of them worked together to hang quilts and bedding on bamboo poles in the courtyard.

Voices could be heard from outside the gate. Before long, the eldest son of the main household, Yu Zhixing, and his wife Wang Mengyan entered the yard carrying their child.

They were surprised to see Yu Jiao helping hang clothes. After the scandal surrounding Meng Yujiao, all the younger generation had been sent away, Yu Fuling to her maternal grandparents, and Yu Zhixing with his wife back to her family.

Yu Qiaoshan, who had been working on carpentry in the courtyard, looked up and said, “You’re back?”

Wang Mengyan walked over to him with the child, looking at the nearly finished small wooden bed. “Father, your craftsmanship just keeps getting better. Our little Jie Geng is about to have her own bed.”

The little girl in her arms called out sweetly, “Grandpa, hug!”

Yu Qiaoshan quickly wiped his hands and took the girl into his arms. Yu Zhixing carried a cloth bag into the main house. Madam Zhang put down her cane basket and followed him into the west room.

“My mother-in-law gave some brown sugar and fifty duck eggs for Mengyan and the little one to build up their health.” Yu Zhixing gently set the cloth bag on the floor.

Madam Zhang took out the brown sugar and duck eggs, her face lighting up. “Your in-laws are always so generous! But this can’t be openly shared, or your grandmother will accuse us of being unfilial.”

She counted out fifteen duck eggs to give to the communal kitchen and stashed the rest away. Wang Mengyan entered the house with the child and curiously asked, “Mother, why is Meng Yujiao still at home?”

Madam Zhang glanced outside, lowered her voice, and said, “That Meng girl has skills. Your grandfather values her medical ability and can’t bear to send her away. Just wait, there’s more drama to come.”

Wang Mengyan, still playing with her child, said in surprise, “Meng Yujiao knows medicine? And she’s still allowed to stay? Hasn’t Third Aunt and Grandmother made a fuss?”

Madam Zhang snorted. “Of course they have! But that girl’s skills are too good. She saved Zhou Huai when he was carried home nearly dead. And just today, the village head from Zhang Village brought his epileptic son to her for treatment. If the boy really gets better, no matter how much your grandma and third aunt complains, your grandfather won’t drive her out!”

Yu Zhixing and Wang Mengyan both gasped. Still in disbelief, they said, “Meng Yujiao is that skilled in medicine? How come we never heard about this before?”

“Who knows? Just stay out of it, whatever happens,” Madam Zhang warned them.

Then she took some duck eggs to report to Old Madam Yu. Seeing the goods brought from her in-laws’ home, Old Madam Yu was naturally pleased and even praised Wang Mengyan’s family.

In the courtyard, Yu Jiao finished helping Madam Song with the laundry. She walked over to where Yu Qiaoshan was working, standing quietly by as he smoothed the small wooden bed and added final touches.

“Uncle,” Yu Jiao finally spoke, “can you help me make something?”

Yu Qiaoshan looked up at her. He wasn’t sure how to interact with Yu Jiao and stayed silent for a moment before asking, “What is it you want made?”

“I’ll draw a picture, so you can check if it’s possible to build it.” Yu Jiao picked up a small branch from the ground, used Yu Qiaoshan’s knife to sharpen it into a point, and went back to the east room.

She knocked on Yu Qizhe’s door. After a brief wait, he opened it. Seeing that it was her, he asked calmly, “What is it?”

“May I borrow some of your paper and ink?” she asked.

He stepped aside, letting Yu Jiao enter the room. It was simply furnished, but the shelves were full of books, and the desk was piled with more.

She glanced briefly at Yu Qizhe’s notes. His calligraphy was elegant and refined. Although she couldn’t quite understand the content, it was obvious that he was truly gifted in his studies.

Yu Jiao took a sheet of paper, dipped her sharpened twig into the ink, and began to draw.

Yu Qizhe stood quietly by, slightly intrigued by her unconventional brush. After a while, her drawing began to take shape, it was the outline of a human leg.

He lifted his gaze to her profile and asked, “What is this?”