Married to a Villainous Minister - Chapter 42

A servant outside the carriage snapped harshly, “How dare you! You insolent village girl, speaking so rudely to our master! Where are your manners?”

Yu Ruhai was startled too. He glared fiercely at Yu Jiao and scolded her in a low voice, “Are you trying to get yourself killed? How could you speak to Master Mu like that? Apologize at once!”

The carriage curtain lifted from inside, revealing half of Mu Yan’s tired, darkened face. Yu Ruhai, terrified that Yu Jiao had offended him, quickly bowed and apologized, “My granddaughter-in-law is uncultured and has always had a sharp tongue.” 

“Please don’t take offense, Master Mu. I will make sure she is properly punished.”

Mu Yan ignored Yu Ruhai. Instead, he looked sidelong at Yu Jiao and said in a low voice, “You’ve got quite the nerve. Trying to provoke me with words? I’m no young fool who’ll fall for that kind of trick.”

With that, he let the curtain fall again. Mu Nianjiu didn’t dare say more. He was just about to lift the curtain to get into the carriage when it was lifted again from the inside. Looking up, he saw that his uncle’s expression had darkened even more, and he shrank back instinctively.

Mu Yan stared coldly past Mu Nianjiu at Yu Jiao and said, “Still, since you dared to speak such arrogant words, I’ll give you the chance you clearly want. But if you can’t treat my boils, I won’t spare your family’s reputation for the sake of Nianjiu’s friendship. I’ll ruin the Yu family’s name in medicine today!”

The only reason he changed his mind was that just now, when he scratched his back, one of the boils burst, oozing blood and pus all over his hand, aggravating the pain and making him irritable.

Yu Ruhai was both frightened and furious. He was mad at Yu Jiao for her outrageous words that had clearly offended the Mu family’s patriarch. If Mu Yan really destroyed the Yu family’s medical reputation, how would he continue practicing in the village?

But Yu Jiao remained calm. She invited Mu Yan to step down from the carriage and return to the house for treatment.

Mu Yan was helped down by his servants and led by Yu Jiao straight into the west side of the main hall where medicinal herbs were stored. She made sure all the Yu family women stayed outside.

“Master Mu, please remove your upper garments,” Yu Jiao said directly, without even checking his pulse first.

Mu Yan gave her a glance. The two servants attending him didn’t dare move without his permission. It was only when Mu Nianjiu stepped forward that Mu Yan finally raised his arm. Mu Nianjiu then personally helped his uncle out of his outer robe.

“Only your back needs to be exposed,” Yu Jiao added.

Mu Nianjiu carefully removed his uncle’s upper garment. The moment his back was revealed, Yu Ruhai let out a sharp gasp. The room had been dead silent, so the sound stood out clearly. Mu Yan immediately shot him a glare, and Yu Ruhai responded with an awkward smile.

Yu Jiao, however, showed no surprise at the sight of the festering boils oozing pus all over his back. She carefully examined the shape and swelling of the boils, then asked, “Do you often feel thirsty and irritable? Let me see your tongue.”

Mu Yan nodded and stuck out his tongue. After examining it, Yu Jiao raised her hand to take his pulse.

After a moment, she said, “Your boils cause intense pain, along with alternating chills and fever, constipation, and dark urine. Your pulse is forceful and rapid, and your tongue is red with yellow coating. This is a case of a ‘heat-excess yang-type’ back carbuncle.”

Mu Yan, seeing that she could speak with clear understanding, began to take her more seriously and pulled his robe back over his shoulders. Still, he said coolly, “Anyone with medical knowledge could give a basic diagnosis of boils. Nothing impressive. Tell me, what’s your treatment plan?”

Yu Jiao responded calmly, “The method is to clear heat and toxins, dispel wind, and activate blood circulation.”

“You make it sound so simple,” Mu Yan scoffed lightly. “If it were really that easy, strategists like Fan Zeng or generals like Zong Ze wouldn’t have died from back carbuncles.”

Yu Ruhai whispered to Yu Jiao, “So, how will you prescribe treatment? Do you have something in mind?”

Yu Jiao gave a soft smile, unfazed by Mu Yan’s sarcasm. “I’ll need Grandfather to write the prescription for me.”

Yu Ruhai immediately let out a breath of relief and sat at the desk, beaming as he picked up a brush, ready to transcribe the prescription as Yu Jiao recited it.