Married to a Villainous Minister - Chapter 29

“Oh.” Yu Jiao’s reaction was strikingly indifferent, not a hint of extra emotion on her face.

After taking a few steps, she turned back and said to Yu Fuling, “So you’re saying she looked down on Yu Qizhe’s poor health, and that’s why she didn’t marry into your family?” 

“That doesn’t exactly sound like something worth bragging about.”

“You—!” Yu Fuling was so flustered by her sharp response that she nearly jumped in anger. “That’s not it at all! Rou’er is not that kind of person!”

Yu Jiao gave a faint smile, neither agreeing nor arguing further, and headed toward the main hall.

“This is Wulang’s wife,” Yu Ruhai introduced kindly with a smile when Yu Jiao entered. “She’s quite talented in medicine and is currently studying under me.”

Chen Rou looked at Yu Jiao and nodded politely, smiling with gentle grace. “So Miss Meng is also a physician? A woman practicing medicine, how rare!”

She had already heard that the Yu family had purchased a wife to bring good fortune to Yu Qizhe, without even holding a proper wedding. Deep down, Chen Rou looked down on someone like Meng Yu Jiao. 

How could a woman like that be worthy of Yu Qizhe? But lately, rumors in the village had been swirling that this so-called “fortune-bringing wife” actually had medical skills. 

Chen Rou had come today to see for herself whether the woman truly knew anything about medicine. Yu Jiao gave her a slight nod and sat down beside Yu Ruhai.

“What symptoms does your grandmother’s cough have?” Yu Ruhai asked.

“She coughs worse at night, keeps her up for hours. During the day, it’s not as bad,” Chen Rou replied.

Yu Ruhai turned to Yu Jiao. “What’s your opinion?”

“Proper diagnosis involves looking, listening, questioning, and pulse-taking,” Yu Jiao said. “The patient isn’t present, and hearing symptoms secondhand is prone to error.” 

“As they say, ‘Every medicine is three parts poison.’ A doctor shouldn’t prescribe recklessly.”

Yu Jiao stood up. “Master, the food is ready. I’ll go call the others to eat.”

Chen Rou looked embarrassed. “As you know, my grandmother has trouble walking and can’t leave the house. Grandpa Yu, it’s enough if you can just give me some standard cough medicine for now. My father will take her to see a physician in town in a few days.”

At the mention of visiting a town doctor, Yu Ruhai’s face stiffened. Doesn’t that imply she doesn’t trust my skills? He called out, “Meng girl, don’t go just yet. What cough prescriptions have you studied in the books?”

Yu Jiao paused, turned back, and said, “Master, may I speak with you privately?”

Yu Ruhai hesitated, then stood and followed her into the west room where the herbs were stored. “Meng girl, what do you have to say that can’t be said in front of others?”

“You really want me to write her a prescription?” Yu Jiao got straight to the point, skipping pleasantries.

Now that no one else was around, Yu Ruhai dropped his pretense and sighed. “Meng girl, you don’t understand the history between our Yu family and the Chens. Back when Wulang passed the provincial exam, the Chens were practically tripping over themselves to get close to us.”

“They hinted multiple times at wanting to form a marriage alliance. But as soon as Qizhe’s health declined, they never brought it up again. When it came time to find someone to marry him for good luck, we weren’t even planning to buy a wife, we first went to the Chen family and begged them.” 

“I practically swallowed my pride. And what did they do? Slammed the door in our face! I’ve never gotten over that insult!”

Yu Jiao gave a light smile. “I can treat Grandma Chen’s cough, but if I do, I want half of the consultation fee going forward.”

“You want payment?” Yu Ruhai’s expression turned sour on the spot. Talking about money was practically life-threatening to him.

Yu Jiao nodded calmly.

His face darkened entirely. “Meng Yujiao, how long have you even been practicing? And you think you’re entitled to consultation fees already? People come to this house because of me, Yu Ruhai!”

“You really think a girl like you can prescribe medicine for them? Forget it, drop this nonsense!”

“Master, let me know when you’ve made up your mind,” Yu Jiao replied, then turned and walked out.

She already had a good grasp of Yu Ruhai’s medical abilities. If she wanted silver, there was no rush. When a patient showed up with something he couldn’t treat, she believed he’d agree to her fifty-fifty split in the end.

Back in the herb room, Yu Ruhai’s face turned an ominous shade as he spat, “That damn girl thinks she’s the reincarnation of Hua Tuo! Tail held sky-high! Think I can’t manage without her?”

Still seething, he turned back to the herb shelves, grabbed a few common ingredients, and walked out stiff-faced into the hall. 

Forcing a smile at Chen Rou, still seated, he said, “I’ve prepared a few packets of cough medicine for your grandmother. Take one dose in the morning and one at night. Let her start with these.”