Married to a Villainous Minister - Chapter 75

Jiang Qinghe was unfazed by the young master’s reaction and patiently explained, “She’s the young girl who prescribed the medicine that cured the Mu family’s Second Young Master of his ulcerous illness.” 

“Last time, her grandfather blocked our attempts to buy the formula when we visited the Yu family. But that girl, she’s young and seemed easy to talk to. I’ve already sent someone to follow her. Why not try again?”

The maid lifted her hand, letting her young master spit the grape seed into her palm.

“She’s just a backwater village girl,” Shen Yu said lazily, propping himself up on one elbow. His tone was indifferent, as if this matter didn’t concern him in the slightest. “If we can’t buy it, we’ll just take it by force.”

“About that…” Jiang Qinghe hesitated, clearly uneasy. “That girl cured the Mu family’s Second Young Master, and from what I saw, he treats her with great respect. If we act with force, I’m afraid the Mu family won’t sit idly by.”

Shen Yu slowly sat up and turned his head, revealing a strikingly handsome face. With thick brows and starry eyes, a prominent nose, and refined features, he looked every bit the image of a jade-like gentleman.

He lazily furrowed his brows. “Then think of another way. You’re bothering me with such a trivial thing?”

Jiang Qinghe knew the young master well, he was always idle, pleasure-seeking, and disinterested in mundane affairs. Clearly, he didn’t think much of Yu Jiao’s medical skills, so Jiang Qinghe simply nodded and prepared to leave.

Just then, someone knocked at the door. The medicine shop apprentice who had been sent to follow Meng Yujiao returned and reported that the donkey cart had quietly stopped at the back gate of the Zhang residence, and the whole group had entered the estate.

From within the room, Shen Yu heard this and raised his eyebrows. “Someone in the Zhang family is ill? Why didn’t they send for you?”

Jiang Qinghe was just as puzzled. He was acquainted with nearly all the prominent families in town. Whenever someone fell ill, it was standard practice to send a servant to Huichun Hall to request a house call. 

The Zhang family in particular had ties to the Shen family soon to be joined in marriage and even their household servants usually came to Huichun Hall for medicine. Why would they seek out an obscure village girl like Meng Yujiao instead?

“Maybe she’s not there to treat anyone?” Jiang Qinghe speculated.

Shen Yu, already irritated by the impending marriage arrangement with the Zhang family, grew more annoyed. He even lost interest in the grape the maid was about to feed him. “Send someone to investigate the Zhang residence.”

After entering through the Zhang residence’s back gate, Yu Jiao and her group were led by servants to meet the lady of the house.

Since Yu Zhixing was an outsider and a man, the servants politely escorted him to a separate room for tea.

Village Head Zhang, being a long-time family servant born into the Zhang household, had earned the master’s trust and was later granted the job of managing their estate in the countryside. Because of this close relationship, there was no need for formalities.

He brought Yu Jiao and Yu Fuling into the side hall where Madam Zhang received guests, then knelt respectfully before her and said, “Madam, this is Miss Meng.”

Madam Zhang, dressed in fine silks and jewels, gave Yu Jiao a once-over. Seeing the girl’s slim and petite figure, and realizing she was even younger than her own daughter Yue’er, she couldn’t help but feel a bit dismissive. 

Still, the situation with her daughter’s health was dire, and with the wedding to the Shen family looming, she had no choice but to grasp at straws.

Suppressing her thoughts, Madam Zhang spoke with restrained politeness, “Miss Meng, thank you for making the trip. I assume Zhang Laosan and his wife have explained the situation to you. Regardless of whether you can cure my Yue’er or not, this matter must remain strictly confidential.”

Being the lady of a wealthy household, her presence alone was enough to intimidate those with little worldly experience. Yu Fuling shrank back a little, nervously clinging to Yu Jiao.

But Yu Jiao remained calm and composed. She replied steadily, “I will keep it completely confidential.”

Madam Zhang noted her poise and maturity, which seemed far beyond her age. Finding her a bit more pleasing to the eye, she nodded and rose to her feet.

“Come with me,” she said, leading Yu Jiao further inside.