Married to a Villainous Minister - Chapter 62

Yu Ruhai’s beard trembled with fury. “So what you’re saying is, Huichun Hall would be willing to freely share all your prescriptions to benefit the people? Funny, I’ve never heard of that happening.” 

“When Huichun Hall buys a prescription, it’s for the greater good, but when our Yu family treats patients, it’s somehow not?”

Mu Yan stood off to the side, smiling faintly without interrupting.

Seeing that Yu Ruhai was impossible to persuade, Jiang Qinghe turned his attention to Yu Jiao, thinking that because she was young, she might be easier to sway. “Miss Meng, why don’t you name your price?”

Yu Ruhai stared at Yu Jiao, worried she might agree too readily.

Yu Jiao paused in thought before responding with a gentle tone. “Doctor Jiang, I wouldn’t say it’s out of the question to sell you the prescription. However, I also don’t want to go against my elders.” 

“How about this, in the future, for any patients who come to our Yu household with carbuncles, I’ll recommend they go to Huichun Hall for the medicine. And for any patients your hall refers to us for treatment, I’ll give you ten percent of the consultation fee. How does that sound?”

Jiang Qinghe’s expression softened. “If that’s the case, I wouldn’t want to make things difficult for you…”

He hadn’t finished speaking when Yu Ruhai cut in sharply, “Why should we give Huichun Hall a cut of our fee? They can’t treat carbuncles, we can. If patients need help, they’ll come to us themselves. What does Huichun Hall have to do with it?”

Jiang Qinghe found Yu Ruhai more and more difficult to reason with. His face turned cold. “Huichun Hall is a major pharmacy, we have no need for your measly ten percent. Don’t insult us, Doctor Yu. Just forget I said anything.”

Seeing the tension rise, Mu Yan finally stepped in, his voice calm and unhurried. “Let’s not let this hurt our relationship. As the saying goes, even if a deal falls through, goodwill should remain.”

Jiang Qinghe fell silent. Yu Ruhai’s expression eased slightly. Changing the subject, he smiled and asked, “It’s nearly noon. Master Mu, why not stay and join us for lunch?”

Mu Yan shook his head. After witnessing Yu Jiao’s medical skills, he had a mind to strengthen ties with her. Over the past few days, he’d asked his nephew Nianjiu about the Yu family’s background. 

He now knew that Yu Jiao was the second branch’s granddaughter-in-law, married as a blessing-bride to a sickly husband. Smiling, he said, “It’s a bit early for lunch. I heard that your fifth grandson earned the Xiucai title a few years ago, sweeping the lower exams in one go, a truly talented young man. I didn’t get to meet him last time. Might I have the honor today?”

At the mention of Yu Qizhe, Yu Ruhai beamed with pride. “My fifth grandson is indeed extraordinarily gifted—”

Old Madam Yu quickly interjected, “It’s just a pity that our fifth boy is quite frail and sickly. He had a serious relapse just a few days ago, and I’m afraid he’s not well enough to come greet Master Mu today.”

Yu Ruhai frowned, casting a sharp glare at Old Madam Yu for her ill-timed remark. But since the words were already out, he could only try to smooth things over with a laugh. “Our fifth boy is feeling better today. Meng girl, go fetch him so Master Mu can meet him.”

Yu Jiao hesitated for a moment, then turned and stepped out of the hall.

Madam Zhao grew anxious. She feared that if Yu Qizhe impressed Master Mu, he might earn the Mu family’s favor. She’d heard plenty about the Mu family from Jinshu, they were a powerful clan in Qingzhou, and one of their main branch members even held a government post in the capital.

She shot several meaningful glances at Old Madam Yu, who responded with a warning look of her own.

Inside the eastern room, Yu Fuling was serving a bowl of medicine to Yu Qizhe. She was the type who couldn’t keep anything to herself. Watching him drink the medicine, she blurted out, “Little brother, I don’t think Meng Yujiao is as bad as I thought anymore.”

Yu Qizhe glanced at her. “Didn’t you really dislike her just a while ago? What’s with the sudden change of heart?”

Yu Fuling looked slightly embarrassed as she explained, “That day when we went up the mountain to collect herbs, she got lucky and found a hundred-year-old ginseng.” 

“You probably don’t know this, but that kind of ginseng is worth a fortune! I thought she’d sneak off to sell it for money, but I just found out she actually used it in your medicine.”