Married to a Villainous Minister - Chapter 98

He Dongsheng didn’t give Yu Jiao a chance to speak. He shouted toward the servants outside, “Someone, lock this girl in the woodshed!”

Steward He turned pale with fright and stammered, “Master, this Miss Meng might actually be able to cure the old master. She’s the one who treated Second Master Mu’s illness.”

The servants outside had already rushed in to seize her, but Jiang Qinghe quickly stepped forward to stop them. “Wait! Master He, that Yu Ruhai is a quack. He stole Miss Meng’s prescription, which is what caused the old master’s condition to worsen. If Miss Meng had treated him personally, this wouldn’t have happened. Please, calm down. Why not let her examine him first?”

He Dongsheng raised a hand, stopping the servants mid-action. His tone was filled with doubt as he said, “Doctor Jiang… what are you saying? You know this Miss Meng? She’s just a girl, so young. Why are you playing games with me?”

Jiang Qinghe gave a helpless smile. If he hadn’t seen it with his own eyes, he wouldn’t have believed it either that this little girl had medical skills even better than his.

“I’m not deceiving you, Master He. Don’t you remember what I told you before?”

He Dongsheng paused, recalling what Jiang Qinghe had said earlier beside the old master’s sickbed, that he would try to find a doctor who might just save his father’s life.

He hadn’t had much hope. In all of Changkui County, only one or two doctors had skills that rivaled Jiang Qinghe’s. He had already invited those few to treat his father, and they had all shaken their heads and left, powerless.

He’d assumed Jiang Qinghe had only said that to offer some comfort. But now Jiang Qinghe had returned alone. He Dongsheng’s eyes flicked back and forth between Yu Jiao and Jiang Qinghe, suspicion in his gaze. After a long silence, he asked, “Doctor Jiang, the doctor you mentioned… is it her?”

Jiang Qinghe nodded.

Seeing how serious he looked, He Dongsheng didn’t know what to make of it. He stared for a moment, then finally turned to Yu Jiao. He coughed, clearing his throat awkwardly, and said, “Your surname is Meng, right? You’re from the Yu family? Since Doctor Jiang vouches for you, I’ll trust you for now. Come with me.”

He didn’t waste words and immediately led Yu Jiao to the west wing where the old master was staying. He’d decide what to do next after she examined the patient.

Outside the room, several female members of the He family saw their master leading a young girl inside. They wanted to ask questions, but one look at He Dongsheng’s grim expression kept them silent.

Inside, a few of He Dongsheng’s brothers were gathered at the old master’s bedside. Each one put on a show of being deeply filial, red-eyed and kneeling by the bed, wiping away tears. Yu Jiao glanced at the scene without emotion. She had seen death too often to be moved by displays of grief, no matter how heartfelt they appeared.

“Big Brother, who is this?” one of the men kneeling by the bed asked as he wiped the old man’s face.

He Dongsheng didn’t reply, simply casting a cold glance at Yu Jiao.

Calm and composed, Yu Jiao stepped forward, pulling the old man’s withered arm from beneath the blankets. Her fingers gently rested on his wrist, where age spots covered his frail, bony skin. Just as Jiang Qinghe had said, the pulse was thin, rapid, and weak, sometimes barely there.

She let go of his wrist and leaned in to examine his head. As she lifted the pillow and turned his head slightly, the condition of the abscess on the back of his scalp came into full view. 

The swelling had flattened, but the root of the sore was scattered and sluggish. The pus had formed slowly, the skin was dark red and dull, and the discharge was thin. The rotten flesh clung stubbornly, refusing to fall away.

She turned to Jiang Qinghe and asked, “What’s the tongue coating like?”

Jiang Qinghe quickly answered, “Pale red tongue, white and greasy coating.”