Married to a Villainous Minister - Chapter 23

“So it was you, you wretched girl! You think you’re worthy of eating eggs?” Before Madam Zhao could explode, Old Madam Yu was already yelling curses, all her pent-up frustration with Yu Jiao erupting at once. She grabbed a broom from behind the door and swung it at Yu Jiao.

Yu Jiao hadn’t expected Old Madam Yu to be so aggressive to the point of hitting her. She quickly dodged aside, but Old Madam Yu chased after her, broom raised, shouting furiously, 

“We brought you into the Yu family not so you could live in comfort! You should be thanking the heavens for every bite you get, and you dare covet what belongs to Jinshu and Jinyan? Just watch, I’ll beat you to death!”

The two of them circled the dining table in a chase. Madam Zhao, of course, took Old Madam Yu’s side wholeheartedly and tried to grab Yu Jiao as well, eager to see her beaten. 

Madam Song rushed to block Madam Zhao, and the whole central hall descended into chaos. Though Old Madam Yu was getting on in years, she was still remarkably strong and had no hesitation in trying to strike Yu Jiao.

The first branch, Yu Qizhe and Yu Fuling had just arrived at the hall, unsure what was going on, so they stood aside and watched.

But Yu Jiao wasn’t someone who’d just stand there and take a beating. Small and quick on her feet, she dodged Madam Zhao and deliberately ran toward Old Master Yu for cover. 

As a result, several of Old Madam Yu’s broom strikes landed on Yu Ruhai instead.

Yu Ruhai’s beard quivered with rage. Finally, unable to take it anymore, he slammed his chopsticks down on the table with a loud crack.

“Enough! All of you, stop right now!” Yu Ruhai roared, his voice full of authority. “What kind of disgraceful behavior is this?! Do you want the whole village to come watch us make fools of ourselves?!”

His outburst brought Old Madam Yu back to her senses. Breathing heavily, broom still clenched in her hand, she gave Yu Jiao a vicious glare but stopped chasing her.

Yu Jiao didn’t let her guard down. She stayed far from Old Madam Yu, warily watching her.

Old Madam Yu threw down the broom and sat heavily at the table, her eyes slightly red. Without a word, she turned and walked off toward the east room.

Madam Zhao quickly spoke up, “Father, Mother’s been driven to tears by that wicked girl! You can’t keep protecting her anymore.”

“Since she entered the Yu family, she’s done nothing but stir up trouble stealing food meant for Jinshu and Jinyan, talking back to Mother. That girl is completely lawless, with no regard for anyone!”

Madam Zhao’s words were meant to provoke the old man into driving Yu Jiao out. Jinyan would be coming home from the academy for a break soon, and she didn’t want any more drama before then.

Yu Jiao let out a cold laugh. “All this fuss over a few eggs? Yu Jinshu and Yu Jinyan study hard, so what? Don’t the rest of us in this household work hard too? Doesn’t Wu-ge need to strengthen his body? 

“Doesn’t Jie Geng, a three-year-old child, need nutrition? Why is it that eggs are only reserved for the two boys from the third branch?”

She pointedly mentioned each family member, one by one. In the corner, Yu Zhixing and Wang Mengyan from the first branch, holding little Jie Geng, kept silent, afraid to get involved.

But Yu Jiao’s words struck a chord. In truth, they had long felt the same way. No matter what good things came into the house, only the third branch ever seemed to get any. 

Every time Jie Geng looked longingly at food, Wang Mengyan would have to carry her away and soothe her with empty words. The dissatisfaction was real, they just didn’t dare express it.

“Jinshu and Jinyan are about to sit for the autumn exams,” Yu Hanshan of the third branch spoke up smoothly. “Mother and Xueru just wanted to save the eggs so the boys could bring some to the exam hall.” 

“If they don’t perform well because of food, it wouldn’t be worth it. We’re all one family here, why be so petty? Meng Yujiao, you’re deliberately sowing discord among the Yu family. What exactly are your intentions?”

With a few words, Yu Hanshan twisted the narrative, making it seem like Yu Jiao was the only outsider causing division in a house otherwise united. In a room full of Yu family members, only Meng Yujiao was the one with “ill intentions.”