Married to a Villainous Minister - Chapter 47

“I’m already part of the second branch. Naturally, I won’t entertain any improper thoughts from now on. Er-ge, you don’t need to concern yourself with things that aren’t your business. As Wu-ge’s wife, it’s my duty to stay by his side,” Yu Jiao said calmly.

Yu Jinshu gave a derisive laugh, clearly not believing a word she said. “If you were really so well-behaved, then how did you end up in Jinyan’s bed? No wonder your thoughts started wandering.”

“With Wu-di’s useless body, he probably hasn’t even consummated the marriage, has he? If you’re really that lonely and desperate, I could offer you a little comfort.”

As his words grew more vulgar, Yu Jiao’s expression turned cold with a hint of anger. “Please have some self-respect. You claim to be a scholar, shouldn’t you know the principles of ethics and propriety?” 

“You’re also Wu-ge’s elder brother. It’s disgraceful for you to speak so mockingly about his illness.”

Yu Jinshu had disliked his Wu-di since childhood. Despite being sickly and frail, Yu Qizhe had always been brilliant and talented, often outshining the third branch. Coupled with the ideas instilled by Madam Zhao and Old Madam Yu, that their third branch was superior to the others, Yu Jinshu had long harbored resentment. 

Back when Yu Qizhe was praised for passing the preliminary imperial exams, Jinshu’s jealousy was intense. Now that Yu Qizhe’s health had deteriorated, Jinshu never missed a chance to ridicule him behind his back.

He sneered, “Oh, drop the act. A lowly woman like you thinks she has the right to lecture me? Talking about ethics and shame? If you really had any sense of decency, you wouldn’t have stripped down and climbed into Jinyan’s bed.” 

“If it weren’t for the sake of protecting his reputation, a woman like you would’ve already been drowned in a pig cage!”

Yu Jiao gave a frosty smile. If she’d had her silver needles in hand, she would’ve poked Yu Jinshu full of holes. He’d better pray he never falls ill, because if he ever came to her for help, she’d make sure to enjoy every second of tormenting him.

The next morning, Madam Zhao got up early and packed bags of dried meat and boiled goose eggs for her two sons. She even arranged for a villager with a donkey cart to take them back to the academy. 

In contrast, the eldest branch’s Yu Zhizhou had a much humbler send-off. But since their branch had fallen out of favor with the matriarch, no one dared say anything about it.

Five days later, Yu Ruhai sat anxiously in the main hall from the early morning, waiting for someone from the Mu family. At one moment, he was wringing his hands in worry, afraid that Mu Yan’s carbuncle hadn’t healed properly and that the Mus would come making trouble. The next moment, he’d be stroking his beard with a smile, imagining them arriving with thanks and gifts.

But the entire day passed, and no one came.

At dinner, Yu Ruhai was too anxious to eat. He subtly asked Yu Jiao several times about Mu Yan’s condition. She responded nonchalantly, saying it was just a carbuncle, nothing serious. As long as the Mu family followed her prescription, there shouldn’t be any issues.

That evening, a villager came by to ask Yu Qiaoshan to join them on a hunting trip in the mountains. With the busy wheat harvest approaching, he wanted to take advantage of the current lull to catch some game. If he landed something valuable, he could sell it in town for a bit of money.

Yu Jiao overheard this and was immediately interested. She had long been wanting to explore the mountains to look for herbs. After the villagers left, she went to speak with Yu Qiaoshan and asked if she could join him on the hunt the next day.

Since she’d helped him make the wooden prosthetic, Yu Qiaoshan’s opinion of her had softened a bit, so he didn’t refuse. He agreed to let her come along.

Yu Jiao gathered some herbs to make insect-repellent powder, but after taking a long look at the night sky, her excitement waned. Instead, she went to find Yu Qiaoshan again.

“Uncle, it’s likely to rain tomorrow. It wouldn’t be a good day for hunting,” Yu Jiao said.

Yu Qiaoshan looked surprised. “Really? It’s been nothing but sunny lately, and today’s weather was fine too. Doesn’t seem like it’s going to rain.”