Married to a Villainous Minister - Chapter 94

Yu Jiao and Yu Zhixing struggled through the rain-soaked mountains with umbrellas in hand, searching for yaocao (a rare medicinal herb). After scouring half the mountainside, Yujiao had gathered plenty of other herbs but still hadn’t found a single trace of yaocao.

On the way, they encountered a wild mountain rabbit foraging for food. Yu Zhixing didn’t chase it. The mountain paths were slippery, and now that the wheat had been harvested, their family had enough food. Despite being a seasoned hunter, Yu Zhixing followed the old village rule: if the household wasn’t short on food or clothing, it was best not to kill wild animals needlessly.

Yu Jiao wanted to cross over the mountain ridge to check the other side, but Yu Zhixing suggested they rest first. They found a rocky overhang that offered some shelter from the wind and rain and took out the now cold and stiff flatbread from their bundles, each eating a little.

After resting for a short while, they packed up and pushed on, using tree branches for support as they climbed over the ridge.

By the time they stopped, it was already you hour (around 5–7 p.m.), and still no sign of yaocao. Unwilling to remain in the mountains after dark, they headed back home.

When they returned, their clothes were soaked and their shoes covered in mud. Madam Song had already prepared two large tubs of hot water for them. After bathing, Yu Jiao heard from Yu Fuling that someone had come earlier seeking treatment for an ulcerous condition. The old master Yu had treated the patient, and the visitor had been extremely generous, giving thirty taels of silver as payment, and promising even more once cured.

Yu Jiao wasn’t focused on the silver, instead, she felt a growing concern. Not all ulcerous diseases were of the same “excessive heat and yang” type as Second Master Mu’s condition. Yu Ruhai had likely used the same prescription she had created before, but with illness, even slight differences in diagnosis or treatment could lead to disastrous consequences.

While drying her hair with a cloth, Yu Jiao planned to ask Yu Ruhai about the patient’s pulse condition. But just outside the eastern room, she was stopped by Old Madam Yu, who looked at her with a half-smile and asked, “It’s late. Your grandfather has already gone to bed. What do you need him for?”

Yu Jiao brushed her still-damp hair aside and replied, “I wanted to ask about the patient who came for treatment today, what kind of condition they had.”

Old Madam Yu chuckled lightly. Her tone was calm but laced with mockery. “Your grandfather already diagnosed and prescribed treatment. What more is there to ask? You’re still young, and your grandfather’s been practicing medicine for half his life. It’s not your place to question him.”

Yu Jiao considered her words and found some logic in them. Although Yu Ruhai’s skills were only mediocre, he was still a doctor. He should understand that slight differences in illness require careful adjustments in treatment. Since he had already prescribed medicine, he likely had some confidence.

“You’re right. I’ll head to bed then,” Yu Jiao said, turning to leave.

Old Madam Yu felt quite pleased. That girl had always acted so self-important just because she knew some medicine. Now the old master had treated a patient with the same illness she once did, and suddenly she had nothing to say!

As she watched Yu Jiao walk away, thoughts swirled in her head. She needed to find a way to get everything Meng Yujiao knew, then the old master wouldn’t need her anymore, and naturally, Yujiao would lose her place in the household.

Old Madam Yu wasn’t the only one with that idea, Yu Ruhai was beginning to think the same. After all, he had just successfully treated a wealthy family’s patriarch. He no longer felt like some barefoot doctor from a backwater village.

For several days, he didn’t make Yujiao pound rice or do chores. Instead, he instructed her to go sit in Yu Qizhe’s room and copy medical texts.

Yu Jiao understood what Yu Ruhai was trying to do. But since fate had brought her to Taiyan in this lifetime, she was determined to leave her mark and fulfill her purpose. She treated the task as calligraphy practice and copied some of the medical books she already knew by heart.

Her handwriting was becoming increasingly refined, though since she was copying Yu Qizhe’s writing, her style was beginning to resemble his quite closely.

Finally, the rain that had plagued the village for days came to an end. The sky cleared, and so did everyone’s mood. Yu Jiao and Madam Song gathered the laundry that had piled up and carried it to the river at the village entrance.

Because of the rain, much of the wheat in the fields had been blown down. Families that hadn’t yet harvested their crops were busy digging small trenches to drain the water.

As Yu Jiao and Madam Song washed clothes by the river, villagers passed by in small groups and greeted them. Many hadn’t seen Yu Jiao before. Thanks to Yu Qizhe’s good reputation, people were curious about his bride. While chatting, they openly sized her up.

Yu Jiao didn’t mind their stares. She was composed and gracious, occasionally looking up with a smile to call out to a passing auntie or madam.

People had heard that the Yu family had bought a young girl to marry into the family to bring good fortune to Yu Qizhe. Many assumed she would be unremarkable. But now that they saw her, they thought she was more charming and capable than many girls they’d married into their own families. Not only was she good-looking, but she was also polite and sweet-spoken, clearly clever and refined.

Hearing others praise Yu Jiao brought a glow to Madam Song’s face. Though she responded with modest words, deep down she was growing increasingly fond of her daughter-in-law.

By the time they finished washing the large basket of clothes, it was nearly dusk. After crouching by the river for so long, Madam Song’s back ached. She stood and stretched, smiling. “Time to go home and start dinner.”

Yu Jiao took the wrung-out clothes and loaded them into the basin. “I’ll do the cooking today. You go hang up the laundry and rest.”

Madam Song felt deeply comforted by her offer and waved her hand. “I’m not tired.”

They chatted casually on their way home. Yu Mengshan was waiting at the door, seeing them return, he quickly took the basin from them and told them both to go rest. He had grown used to his prosthetic by now. Though he couldn’t do heavy labor, he eagerly handled whatever tasks he could.

Yu Mengshan hung the clothes on the drying line strung across the courtyard. Yu Jiao wanted to help, but Madam Song pulled her inside. “Let your uncle do it, let’s take a break together.”

She poured a cup of tea for Yu Jiao and another for herself. They sat in the house, quietly enjoying the moment.

The once constantly worried Madam Song now had a relaxed brow and a gentle smile. Now that Yu Mengshan could walk again, and there was hope that Qizhe’s health might be restored, Madam Song felt truly content. She wished only for these peaceful, uneventful days to last forever.

After two cups of tea, Madam Song got up to cook. Yu Jiao offered to help, but Madam Song smiled. “You go sit in Qizhe’s room for a while. I’ll call you both when dinner’s ready.”

Yu Jiao had hoped for a little break and didn’t want to go back to copying. But with no choice, she sighed and entered Yu Qizhe’s room to resume her practice.

Seeing her frown, Yu Qizhe said, “If you don’t like copying medical texts, don’t force yourself. You don’t have to follow Grandfather’s orders.”

Yu Jiao scoffed lightly. “If I stop copying, who knows how your grandfather will react!”

Yu Qizhe looked up at her, his voice quiet. “I thought you didn’t care about that kind of thing.”

Yu Jiao tilted her chin slightly. The warm golden sunlight spilled through the window onto her fair forehead, highlighting her delicate features like a porcelain doll. She scoffed again, “How could I not care? Honestly, it’s you who never seems to mind anything happening in this family.”

Yu Qizhe’s fingers tightened slightly on the book he was holding. His handsome face remained expressionless. “I’m not going to live long anyway. Why bother worrying about these trivial things?”

“Stop that!” Yu Jiao said seriously. “Who says you won’t live long? Those quacks just didn’t know what they were doing. Once I find the right herbs, I promise you’ll live to be a hundred.”

Yu Qizhe lowered his head, letting the half-open book hide the faint smile on his lips. “Mm,” he murmured in response.

Just as the two were talking, they were interrupted by urgent, heavy pounding on the door. The loud bang bang made Yu Jiao frown slightly. She figured it must be a patient in need of emergency treatment. Without looking up, she dipped her brush into the inkwell and continued copying her medical text.