Married to a Villainous Minister - Chapter 36

Yu Jinshu was still holding a grudge, but hearing that the family was willing to spend money to send him to the county academy softened his expression a little. “Thank you, Grandmother,” he said.

“You and Jinyan must study hard,” Old Madam Yu said, looking at Yu Jinshu with hopeful eyes. “I don’t want you two stuck in this poor mountain village for the rest of your lives.”

Yu Jinshu avoided her gaze and replied perfunctorily, “I know. I’ve been working hard on my studies, but no one can say for sure how the exams will go.”

Madam Zhao chimed in to support him, “Mother, don’t worry. Jinshu and Jinyan have both been studying diligently lately.”

Old Madam Yu looked straight at Yu Jinshu. “It’s not just about working hard, you have to put your heart into it too.”

Yu Jinshu nodded politely, “Grandmother, I’ll head back to my room now.”

After Yu Jinshu left, Madam Zhao quickly returned to the west wing. The moment she stepped inside, she couldn’t wait to tell Yu Hanshan, “Mother said she’ll spend money to send Jinshu to the county academy too!”

Yu Hanshan’s eyes widened with joy. “Mother really said that?”

“She said it right in front of me and Jinshu, how could it be fake?” Madam Zhao replied smugly. “Now both Jinshu and Jinyan can take the autumn exams. Who knows, maybe one of them will really pass and become a juren (someone who passes the provincial exams)! Then we’d be the parents of a real scholar!”

“Don’t daydream,” Yu Hanshan scoffed. “It’s not that easy to become a juren. And didn’t we already spend most of our money sending Jinyan to the county school? Where is Mother getting the silver to send Jinshu too?”

Madam Zhao lowered her voice. “You can’t take everything she says at face value. Mother’s got all the money in her hands. She said after the autumn harvest, she’ll sell some grain. That should be enough to put the silver together.”

Yu Hanshan glanced toward the east wing. “Eldest Brother and his wife don’t know about this, do they?”

“So what if they do?” Madam Zhao said with disdain. “What, they think they can send Yu Zhizhou to the county school too? Wishful thinking! Mother would never spend money on the first branch.”

Yu Hanshan lowered his voice even more. “Keep it down. If Jinyan is already at the county academy and now Jinshu goes too, what if Eldest Brother and his wife make a fuss? Tell Mother to wait until Jinshu is officially enrolled before letting the rest of the family know. We don’t need any extra trouble.”

Madam Zhao muttered under her breath, “Mother only cares about us. Even if they do kick up a fuss, it won’t change a thing. She knows exactly where her loyalties lie, with our third branch.” 

“Besides, those two from the first branch couldn’t speak up even if they wanted to. They’re so timid they wouldn’t dare argue with Mother. You can stop worrying.”

Just then, they heard footsteps outside the west wing. Yu Hanshan nudged Madam Zhao with his elbow, signaling her to stay quiet.

There was a knock at the door. Madam Zhao opened it and saw Madam Zhang standing outside. Her heart skipped a beat, a bit nervous. “Big sister-in-law, is something wrong?”

Madam Zhang stood at the door and said, “Xueru, Sanlang hasn’t come home yet. Could you ask Jinshu if he knows where Zhizhou went?”

Yu Qiaoshan and Madam Zhang, the first branch couple, had two sons and a daughter. Their daughter, Yu Gancao, is already married, and their eldest son, Yu Zhixing, already has a wife and daughter of his own. 

Only their youngest, Yu Zhizhou, is still young and studying at the same academy in town as Yu Jinshu.

Madam Zhao noticed that Madam Zhang looked calm, not like someone who had just overheard their conversation. Relieved, she quickly smiled and said, “I’ll go ask Jinshu.”

Madam Zhang waited at the door. After a while, Yu Jinshu came out from the inner room. “Big Aunt, Zhizhou said he had something to do and would be home a bit later.”

“Did he say what it was?” Madam Zhang asked with concern.

Yu Jinshu shook his head. “No, he didn’t mention it. But…” He hesitated, putting on a troubled expression. “Lately, Zhizhou has been hanging around with a certain idle student at the academy.” 

“When I came back, I saw the two of them walking off together. I’m not sure where they went.”