Chapter 228: The Change in the Yu Family

Chapter 228: The Transformation of the Yu Clan

Qiu Huanian turned his head, and upon recognizing the newcomer, he raised an eyebrow.

The consultation area was situated in the inner part of the shop, separated by some medicine cabinets. Qiu Huanian stood in a blind spot, so the person at the door didn't notice him.

The staff at Juhuanlu were meticulously chosen for their integrity and had been instructed by Bai Qinghuan. Despite her attempts to dress up, the woman couldn't conceal her weariness and destitution, yet the staff showed no impatience and warmly greeted her.

"Indeed, if you're a widow, widower, orphan, or elderly, you qualify for free treatment. Our proprietor is currently attending to another patient inside. Please take a seat and wait. Would you like some tea or goji berry soup?"

Following the staff's gesture, the woman glanced toward the consultation area, immediately spotting the homeless child receiving a pulse diagnosis. Her brow twitched, and a look of uncontrollable disgust crossed her face.

"What is the matter with this pharmacy? How can such a filthy stray be allowed to sit on the stool? Is this stool and table still usable for others?!"

Her voice cut sharply through the quiet of the shop. The child, already keeping his head low, shuddered, his shoulders curling up, and his hands, which had been resting on the table, quickly withdrew and hid behind his back.

Taking a deep breath, Bai Qinghuan rose from behind the table and stepped out to the front.

The moment their eyes met, both of their expressions changed, and the atmosphere shifted subtly once again.

Bai Qinghuan bit her lip, torn between hesitation and uncertainty, while the other woman was the complete opposite. She adjusted her hair, adorned only with two brass hairpins, and sneered as she lifted her chin.

"No wonder this pharmacy lacks decorum. It turns out it's run by a concubine of the Li family. As a lowly servant, you ought to be serving the mistress indoors and observing proper widow's mourning. Instead, you're here, flaunting yourself in public for fame. It's truly disgraceful."

Bai Qinghuan had always concealed her origins, and hearing it directly exposed, her face turned pale. Under the watchful eyes of her patients, staff, and friends, she stood there, engulfed in an indescribable humiliation.

She had never harmed any innocent person and had only wanted to live an ordinary life as a medical practitioner. Yet, it felt as if she had been sentenced to an unforgivable punishment by an invisible court, destined to hide in the shadows for the rest of her life.

The intruder seemed to relish Bai Qinghuan's distress, as if seeing Bai Qinghuan's pain restored her own confidence and status.

Frowning, Qiu Huanian was on the verge of intervening when he suddenly heard the sound of light hoofbeats outside, stopping right in front of the pharmacy.

"Is this the pharmacy Brother Hua mentioned? What a coincidence indeed, I..."

Min Leyi handed the reins to a servant and stepped through the threshold. His voice trailed off as he saw the people inside the shop.

His entrance sliced through the tense and humiliating air like a sharp blade. The woman, who had been full of bluster, instantly deflated.

"Madam Yu, is it?" Min Leyi glanced at the woman and then at Bai Qinghuan, who was pale-faced, and more or less guessed what had happened.

Min Leyi folded his whip and held it in his hand, crossing his arms. "What a coincidence indeed! You personally came here for free treatment and medicine? You're not exploiting your widowhood for gain, are you?"

Min Leyi's gaze swept over the rough brass hairpins and tin rings she wore. Madam Yu gritted her teeth, her exposed skin prickling as if aflame.

"...No need for your concern. I was just passing by. I'll leave now."

Madam Yu wanted to leave quickly, but Min Leyi stood at the door, unmoving, and raised his hand holding the whip to block her path.

Madam Yu's eyes blazed with anger. "Are you trying to kick me while I'm down?"

Min Leyi shook his head. "I just want to know what happened earlier, who's right and who's wrong, and to ensure justice is served. What do you think, Brother Hua?"

Qiu Huanian patted the stiffened homeless child's head and walked out under Madam Yu's suspicious and uncertain gaze.

"It really is a coincidence. Long time no see, Madam Yu. Or rather—"

Qiu Huanian smiled. "I heard that the Yu clan recently disowned Yu Wen's branch to distance themselves from the criminal. So, how should we address you now?"

"The wife of the criminal Yu Wen, who was beheaded and displayed as a warning? Or the daughter of the Xie family from Jinzhou, who was stripped of her family's wealth and reduced to slavery?"

Madam Yu's dry lips trembled a few times, and her already pale face turned even more ashen.

When it comes to origins, you are no better than Miss Bai, and besides, origins have never been the measure of true nobility.

As for character and actions, you fall even further short.

Chi Qinghe walked to Bai Qinghuan's side, took her hand, and silently offered her support.

She had only just learned about Bai Qinghuan's past. She did not feel displeased by her friend's concealment because she understood the pain of carrying a past that one does not wish to speak of.

Moreover, she had already shown through her actions that as long as one perseveres, one can move past a stormy past.

Madam Yu glanced around anxiously, looking at the people blocking her way, and suddenly coughed violently, as if she were coughing up her lungs.

It seemed her illness was indeed real, and her current predicament was truly desperate. Otherwise, given Madam Yu's nature, she would never have lowered herself to seek free medical treatment alone at an unfamiliar pharmacy.

She could have received treatment from Bai Qinghuan here and alleviated her condition, but she could not suppress her desire for superiority, and her inherent meanness and arrogance had not changed, costing her a precious opportunity.

Out of a healer's compassion, although Bai Qinghuan no longer wished to treat Madam Yu, she couldn't bear to see a patient suffer in her pharmacy.

She had already snapped out of her negative emotions and stepped forward, saying, "My mistress and sister support me in running this pharmacy. What we've accomplished is beyond your imagination or reach. Everyone has their own way of living. I don't need to concern myself with you, nor can you dictate my life. Madam Yu, please go back and take care of your illness."

Madam Yu's face turned pale, then green, wanting to lash out but not daring to.

She was about to slink away when Tiger Talon, who was following Min Leyi, suddenly stretched out a leg to block the threshold.

Tiger Talon raised an eyebrow with a smirk, but his tone was far from polite, "I say, aren't you the one who loves to talk about rules? A criminal woman failing to bow to the County Lord, the Earl's husband, and the Township Lord— are you asking for a beating?"

Qiu Huanian and the others weren't fond of formalities. Usually, they would avoid such rituals whenever possible and never cared about them.

But this time, after Tiger Talon spoke, no one said to skip the formalities. Even Chi Qinghe, who had never met Madam Yu before, developed a strong distaste for her after witnessing her cruel sarcasm towards Bai Qinghuan.

Qiu Huanian had brought many servants with him, and Min Leyi, as the husband of the illustrious Earl of Dingjiang, had even more personal guards. A group of tall, burly men stood in formation outside, and even without doing anything, they made Madam Yu feel suffocated.

In the end, Madam Yu had to bow in standard etiquette one by one under the watchful eyes of everyone. With each bow, her face grew more ashen and miserable.

After finishing, she staggered out, her steps faltering as if struck by an unbearable blow. But the insults and attacks she had once inflicted on others with her origins and power were far more than this.

Min Leyi watched Madam Yu's figure disappear into a small alley and sighed with some melancholy.

Seeing this old acquaintance again, he felt no anger or resentment, only pity and amusement.

What once seemed catastrophic fades into a mere memory with time.

After resolving this matter, Qiu Huanian and Min Leyi did not stay long, not wanting to disturb Bai Qinghuan's work. They left Juhuanlu and headed towards the temple fair ahead.

As they walked, Qiu Huanian asked, "Brother Yi, you said it was a coincidence when you entered earlier. Do you know this pharmacy?"

Min Leyi nodded, "This pharmacy is near the Dali Temple, close to my home—I mean my maternal home. My sister-in-law has a good relationship with Miss Bai."

"Miss Bai is compassionate, offering free treatment to widows, orphans, and the destitute, and quickly gained a reputation among the common people. Her pharmacy often has children who can't survive on their own."

Min Leyi smiled and said, "My sister-in-law has been investigating the follow-up of those traffickers' cases, trying to send every victimized child back to their real homes. She has an agreement with Miss Bai that if there are children of unknown origin in the pharmacy, she will be notified directly for investigation."

"To keep the pharmacy running, my sister-in-law donates money to the pharmacy every month, and both A-Shen and I have donated as well."

"A-Shen?"

Min Leyi stuck out his tongue, "You call him Yun Se, why can't I call him A-Shen?"

Qiu Huanian held back his teasing remark that was a Pyrrhic victory and pinched Min Leyi's cheek, "Well, well, no wonder you're married; your wit has sharpened considerably."

Min Leyi chuckled and ran forward a couple of steps, then turned back and said, "Of course, I've made even greater progress in other areas."

Seeing his relaxed demeanor, free of any gloom, Qiu Huanian curiously asked about the matter concerning Madam Yu.

"You've been in the capital all along, so you must be more informed than I am. Why hasn't Madam Yu returned to the Yu Clan's ancestral lands in Liaozhou? And why did the Yu Clan suddenly expel Yu Wen and Madam Yu from the clan recently?"

Due to past conflicts and disputes, both the Wu and Min families have been paying close attention to the affairs of the Yu Clan, and Min Leyi indeed knew about this.

"After Yu Wen was beheaded, the Yu Clan sent several messages to the capital, urging Madam Yu to return to the clan with her children. However, Madam Yu stayed in the capital, claiming she needed to maintain connections, refusing to go back."

"All of the Yu Clan's properties, except for the ancestral hall and sacrificial lands, were confiscated. To maintain her extravagant lifestyle, Madam Yu secretly sold off some of the sacrificial lands near the capital. When the Yu Clan found out, they expelled Yu Wen's entire branch from the clan and seized all the remaining assets in Madam Yu's possession."

Min Leyi briefly explained the cause and effect, summing it up as a classic case of reaping what you sow.

It's rare to find someone like Madam Yu, who turned a golden opportunity into a complete disaster.

"The Yu Clan made a decisive move this time," Qiu Huanian commented. "Who is in charge now?"

Min Leyi smiled, "I heard it's Yu Min."

"All the Yu Clan's officials were stripped of their positions. Yu Min, who passed the provincial exam last year, became the top candidate for an official post. Now, the Yu Clan mainly listens to him."

"Yu Min," Qiu Huanian nodded, not continuing the topic.

By a twist of fate, Yu Min ended up on a path completely different from what the clan had originally planned for him.

A second son, raised as an ignorant scholar to adorn the clan's reputation, ultimately became the pillar supporting the collapsing clan. One wonders how Yu Min feels about this.

Does he feel wistful, or does he think it's ridiculous?