Married to a Villainous Minister - Chapter 229

Sitting across from them, Yu Qizhe quietly observed the conversation between the others, his gaze darkening slightly.

Yang Jiyan wanted to get closer to Yu Qizhe but didn’t want to make her intentions too obvious. Noticing that he hadn’t eaten much, she smiled and said, “Brother Yu, do you not like fish? The squirrelfish here at Fuyun Pavilion is made by a chef from Suzhou. It’s very well prepared, you should give it a try.”

Yu Jinshu looked delighted when he heard her call “Brother,” and was about to respond, only to realize she was speaking to Yu Qizhe. Instantly, the food lost its flavor for him.

Yu Qizhe glanced at Yang Jiyan and replied flatly, “Thank you for your kind offer, Miss Yang, but I really don’t like fish.”

Yu Jiao looked at him in surprise. How had she not known he didn’t like fish? Back home, they’d cooked many fish soups to help him recover, and he had always finished them without complaint.

Yu Qizhe also looked at her briefly. Yu Jiao sensed that he seemed a bit displeased and began to wonder if he had seen through Yang Jiyan’s intentions.

Yang Jiyan appeared slightly embarrassed. Shao Zhong quickly chimed in, “I love fish the most! Every time I come to the south of the city, I always order their squirrelfish.”

He helped himself to three or four mouthfuls of fish, stuffing them into his mouth. “Delicious!” he exclaimed with a grin.

Watching him eat so ungracefully, Yang Jiyan frowned slightly. Compared to the calm and elegant Yu Qizhe seated beside him, Shao Zhong was like heaven and earth apart.

To further prove Yang Jiyan’s claim that the squirrelfish was worth trying, Shao Zhong encouraged the others to try it too. He alone ended up eating over half the dish and cleaned the entire plate.

As the meal was coming to an end, Yu Jiao called over a waiter. Since she had promised to treat Gu Yun, it was only right that she pay the bill.

But Shao Zhong, wanting to appear generous, refused to let a woman pay. “Today’s meal is on me. You’ve all come a long way, and it’s only right I play the host.”

Yu Jiao looked to Gu Yun, who smiled and said, “If someone wants to spend money, why not let them?”

Yu Jiao replied, “Then what about my pouch?”

“I’ll return it to you, but you still owe me a meal,” Gu Yun said, pulling the pouch from his sleeve and handing it to her.

Yu Jiao took it, it felt heavy and bulging as if it were stuffed with something.

She immediately opened it, anxious to see whether the jade clasp was still inside. But instead, she found it filled with silver. The jade clasp was nowhere to be seen, and even the amount of silver wasn’t the same as what she had lost.

Aside from the pouch itself, nothing inside was familiar.

She looked up at Gu Yun in confusion. “This silver…”

Gu Yun turned his face away and said casually, “Didn’t I say I’d reward you with a pouch full of silver?”

He looked slightly embarrassed as he added, “Your father’s keepsake was pawned off by that thief and then resold by the pawnshop, it’s gone now. I hope you’re not too upset.”

Yu Jiao softly murmured her thanks. The pouch had been lost for quite some time, and it was no surprise the jade clasp couldn’t be recovered. After all, she wasn’t truly Meng Yujiao. Her emotional ties to Meng Qingyun and Liu Sanniang weren’t that deep. Though it was a pity, it didn’t make her too sad.

Onstage, the opera Romance of the Western Chamber hadn’t finished yet. Shao Zhong turned to Yang Jiyan and asked, “Would you like to stay a bit longer for the show? We could have them clear the dishes and bring some snacks.”

Yang Jiyan did want to stay longer, she was hoping for another chance to speak with Yu Qizhe alone. She looked at Yu Fuling and gently asked, “Sister Fuling, would you like to stay a bit longer?”

Before Yu Fuling could answer, Yu Qizhe stood up. “Sister, Yu Jiao, we should go back and pack.”

Yu Fuling quickly nodded and apologetically said to Yang Jiyan, “I’m sorry, Miss Yang. We need to get ready to return to Changkui.”

Yang Jiyan looked disappointed. “When will you leave? I’d like to come see you off.”

Yu Fuling replied, “We’ve already imposed quite a bit, Miss Yang. It wouldn’t be right to trouble you further. There’s really no need.”

Having no excuse to insist, Yang Jiyan watched as everyone rose and headed downstairs.

As they walked down the stairs, Shao Zhong stayed close beside Yang Jiyan, kindly reminding her, “Watch your step.”

Yang Jiyan was well aware of Shao Zhong’s intentions. To her, he was like an annoying fly that never left her alone, utterly irritating. She lifted her chin and ignored his attentiveness.

Outside the Fuyun Pavilion, the group made their way to the carriages.

Yang Jiyan linked arms with Yu Fuling and said, “Just like when we arrived, let me send you and Sister Yu Jiao home.”

Noticing that the Mu family’s carriages were nearby, Yu Jiao said, “No need to trouble you, Miss Yang. We’ll go back with our brothers.”

“Then I’ll escort Miss Yang home,” Shao Zhong offered eagerly.

Yu Jinshu smiled and said his goodbyes. “Miss Yang, Brother Shao, we’ll be heading off first.”

Yang Jiyan glanced over at the Mu family’s carriage. She saw Yu Qizhe helping Yu Jiao and Yu Fuling into the carriage, and a soft smile formed on her lips. Though he always appeared distant and aloof, he was incredibly attentive to his sisters.

In the future, once they became family, that attentiveness would be hers too.

Gu Yun and Liu Ziqi were also returning to the Yang residence but didn’t want to travel with Yang Jiyan, so they left ahead.

Only after Yu Qizhe boarded the carriage did Yang Jiyan step up into hers, saying lightly to the driver, “Let’s go.”

Just as the carriage began to move, someone called out and blocked the path. “Is Miss Yang inside?” Outside, a maid called anxiously.

Shao Zhong thought someone was causing trouble and quickly stepped up to the Yang carriage, scolding, “Who goes there?”

Yang Jiyan lifted the curtain and peered outside. Recognizing the maid as Shen Wan’s personal servant, she asked, “Did Sister Shen send you?”

When Shao Zhong saw that they knew each other, he stepped aside.

The maid hurried to the carriage, eyes red with worry. “Young Miss Yang, our young lady has had an accident.”

“What happened to Cousin Xueyan?” Yang Jiyan’s heart sank at the maid’s expression. She quickly said, “Get in, I’ll go with you to the Sun residence.”

The maid wiped her tears and climbed into the carriage. Choking back sobs, she explained, “Miss fell and the doctor said the baby didn’t survive… Young Miss Shen said you had invited a female physician on today’s lake trip. She asks if you could bring that physician to the house.”

Upon hearing this, Yang Jiyan immediately looked toward the Mu family’s carriage, which hadn’t gone far. She turned to Shao Zhong and said, “Hurry, catch up to Miss Yu!”

Shao Zhong rushed after the carriage, shouting, “Miss Yu, please wait!”

Yu Qizhe had been speaking with Yu Jiao, asking when she would begin treating Gu Yun, when Yu Fuling heard the shouting outside. She lifted the curtain and looked out. “Someone’s calling us.”

She spotted Shao Zhong running after their carriage. “That Mr. Shao is chasing us.”

Yu Qizhe instructed the driver to stop. Shao Zhong caught up, panting, and called, “Miss Yu, please wait!”

Yang Jiyan’s carriage followed closely behind. She lifted the curtain and called out, “Sister Yu Jiao, could I trouble you to come with me? Sister Shen’s cousin had a complication, she’s hoping you can come take a look.”