Married to a Villainous Minister - Chapter 78

Yu Jiao added another reminder, “If Miss’s monthly cycle begins, do not add the medicinal herbs to her bath.”

Madam Zhang turned to the maidservants attending Zhang Xiuyue and said, “Did you hear that clearly? There must be no mistakes.”

“Yes, Madam,” both maids answered quickly.

While Jiang Qinghe was still waiting for word from the informant he sent to the Zhang residence, he was surprised to see one of the Zhang family’s young servants arrive at Huichun Hall to collect medicine.

Jiang Qinghe took the two prescriptions and examined them carefully. Seeing that they were formulas for replenishing qi and blood and strengthening kidney yang, he felt something was off. Casually, he asked, “Who in your residence is ill? Why wasn’t I called to take a look?”

The servant had been briefed in advance and responded smoothly, “It’s our house steward. It’s not a serious illness, and the steward said that Dr. Jiang is very busy with patients and didn’t want to trouble you. Coincidentally, Chief Zhang from the countryside was visiting, and he brought along a young woman who knows some medicine, so she wrote the prescriptions.”

Hearing this, Jiang Qinghe’s suspicions eased. He instructed the pharmacy apprentice to prepare the medicine according to the prescriptions and then returned to the inner hall, recounting the servant’s words to Shen Yu without omitting a single detail.

Shen Yu was lying lazily on a soft couch, eyes closed, pretending to nap. A maid knelt beside him, gently massaging his shoulders.

After hearing Jiang Qinghe’s report, Shen Yu didn’t even open his eyes. He simply waved his hand dismissively.

Not long after Jiang Qinghe left the inner hall, the servant he had sent to the Zhang residence returned.

“Young Master, this servant is useless,” the boy said, head lowered. “I spent money to buy drinks for the gatekeeper, but couldn’t find out much. All I heard was that a few guests went to the rear courtyard.”

Shen Yu responded lazily and dismissed him.

Then, turning to the maid, he said with amusement, “Ah Wu, take a guess, who in the Zhang family is sick? If you guess correctly, I’ll give you a bracelet.”

“I wouldn’t dare guess,” the maid said obediently, kneeling beside him.

Shen Yu let go of her hand and pinched her soft cheek. “You’re always so dull. If this keeps up, I won’t bring you out with me anymore. Your sister Ah Lu is much more fun.”

Ah Wu smiled sweetly and said softly, “Young Master is about to marry Miss Zhang. Madam has instructed you not to speak improperly anymore.”

Shen Yu’s eyes darkened slightly, and he let out a cold laugh. “Zhang Xiuyue isn’t even as pretty as you or Ah Lu. How could she ever be my wife?”

Ah Wu gently cautioned him again, “Please, Young Master, mind your words.”

A flicker of irritation passed through Shen Yu’s eyes. He gripped the teacup on the table tightly. If not for the Zhang family’s promise to give two grain shops in the city as dowry upon marrying Zhang Xiuyue into the Shen family, how could he possibly have agreed to such a marriage?

After a long silence, Shen Yu slammed the teacup down on the table and said, mood soured, “Let’s return to the residence.”

Back at the Zhang residence, the young servant returned from Huichun Hall with the medicine and promptly delivered it to the rear courtyard.

Yu Jiao carefully separated the herbs that had been mixed together. She sorted them by type and selected ingredients like cnidium, hibiscus bark, and sophora root. After precisely measuring and adjusting the dosages, she repackaged the medicine into two formulas and handed them to Madam Zhang.

Seeing how Yu Jiao could weigh out exact amounts just by hand without a scale, Madam Zhang couldn’t help but study her more closely, secretly wondering, could this young village girl be the descendant of some famed physician?

Madam Zhang ordered someone to fetch ten taels of silver for Yu Jiao. She was being this generous entirely to ensure silence. She sternly reminded again, “Miss Meng, remember this well, what happened today must never be spoken of.”

Yu Jiao accepted the consultation fee with a smile. “What happened today? I haven’t seen Miss Zhang, nor have I seen you, Madam. I simply rode into town on Village Head Zhang’s donkey cart to buy some supplies and happened to write a prescription for a frail steward. That’s all.”