TL: “Wei Shizi” (魏世子) can be understood as “Heir of the Wei Family”.

Noticing the tension in the atmosphere, the peers capable of speaking up all averted their gazes, while the younger ones were as quiet as quails.

Only Han Qisao couldn’t ignore the situation, as it somewhat involved her. Reluctantly, she began to explain, “Wei Shizi has been frail, raised on medicine since childhood. Plus, things at the Pingyang Marquis’ residence have been… complicated. As a result, his temper isn’t the best. He rarely interacts with outsiders, and about a year ago, he unfortunately broke his leg. So, please be considerate, dear aunt.”

“Can I really hold a grudge against someone so much younger than me?” Han Shi responded, then instructed two maids to follow after him, worried the Wei Shizi might need help due to his condition. It was best to take care of him attentively.

Speaking of the Pingyang Marquis’ residence, it was a mess. Rumor had it that the marquis favored his concubine over his wife. His legitimate wife had been living in a Buddhist hall for years, with the inner residence firmly controlled by the concubine. That concubine wasn’t just favored; she also had powerful backing. In a society where concubines were of low status, no small concubine would dare act so arrogantly without support.

As a result, the legitimate eldest son had to give way to the lowborn child, frequently leaving to live on a family estate under the guise of “recuperation.” Those with any insider knowledge knew the real reason behind it.

As the legitimate eldest son of a lord, he should have been making connections, dressed finely and riding proudly. But in reality, he was almost invisible within the upper circles, with hardly anyone outside the family having laid eyes on him.

A year ago, he broke his leg and became unable to walk. Ironically, it was then that the title of heir was bestowed upon him. No one believed that there wasn’t some trickery involved. In the end, he was just a pitiable soul.

Han Shi had lived a smooth life, and the Wei Shizi was even younger than her own son; was it worth worrying about?

“Xuan’er, what are you thinking about? You’re daydreaming,” Han Shi’s voice interrupted.

Xiao Cao, looking somewhat lost, glanced at Han Shi. Startled, she only reacted a moment later, “Oh, it’s nothing. I just suddenly thought of something.”

As she spoke, she found herself glancing involuntarily towards the departing master and servant. But besides the strong back of the male servant and the faint sight of the wooden wheelchair, there was nothing else to see.

Since a while ago, Xiao Cao had inexplicably felt anxious, and this feeling intensified the farther they went.

Xiao Cao didn’t know what was wrong, and though something was tugging at the edge of her thoughts, she couldn’t quite grasp it. Her body reacted instinctively, taking a few steps forward, but Han Shi quickly held her back.

“Xuan’er?” Han Shi looked in confusion in the direction of Xiao Cao’s gaze.

Could it be that Xuan’er had some connection to Wei Shizi? On second thought, it wasn’t impossible. Xuan’er was quite skilled in medicine, and even an heir to a marquisate, like Wei Shizi, could have sought her out for treatment if he’d heard about her by chance. Moreover, the Wei Shizi wasn’t favored, and the Pingyang Marquis certainly wouldn’t have provided him with the best doctors. Some people might even have gone out of their way to prevent that. Still, Han Shi couldn’t help but worry, despite everything…

The strange feeling that had lingered in Xiao Cao’s chest seemed to dissipate under Han Shi’s touch, breaking whatever train of thought she’d had. She smiled and said, “Maybe it’s just ‘occupational hazard’.” She twirled the silver bracelet from her acupuncture kit, looking somewhat absentminded.

Though Han Shi was unfamiliar with the term “occupational hazard,” she could piece it together based on the context and broke into a smile. She tapped Xiao Cao’s forehead lightly, “You little thing.” She said no more afterward.

Even if others were curious about the unknown exchange between the mother and daughter, Han Shi had no intention of explaining herself to anyone. It wasn’t anyone else’s business.

After making the necessary arrangements, the elders gathered for a chat, while the younger ones went off to play. Han Shi, still worried about Xiao Cao, reminded her youngest daughter to keep a close watch on her older sister. Wen Renying, with a tone of absolute confidence, assured her mother that she would take great care of her fourth sister.

Using this moment, Han Shi leaned in and quietly said to Xiao Cao, “Xuan’er, I know you are kind-hearted, unable to bear seeing anyone suffer from illness. But as for Wei Shizi… The Pingyang Marquis’ residence is full of problems, and some people there are truly small-minded. They act recklessly with powerful backing and take every slight personally. Now, our Wenren family doesn’t fear them, but you’ve only just returned home. I worry…”

Xiao Cao was somewhat taken aback. Was it a mother’s natural bias when viewing her children, or did her family simply misunderstand her? She wasn’t exactly the generous and self-sacrificing person they might have thought.

“Mother, don’t worry. I know my limits.” To Xiao Cao, the relationship between doctor and patient was also about fate. Being at the right place at the right time mattered. For instance, she hadn’t gone out of her way to volunteer help to people she had met since returning to the Wenren family—they all came with conditions already in place. She definitely wasn’t the type to approach every patient she saw.

If she were a famed doctor with a widespread reputation, that would be one thing. But right now, both her age and gender were barriers. If she proactively tried to treat someone, it could easily be misinterpreted. Xiao Cao wasn’t interested in being looked down upon.

Han Shi nodded. Though their time together hadn’t been long, this daughter was trustworthy in every way. As for the time she’d clashed with her second uncle—that was surely an exception. After all, it wasn’t her daughter’s fault; her brother-in-law was to blame. To Han Shi, her precious daughter hadn’t done anything wrong.

—Good-natured, gentle, loving, thoughtful, dignified…

There were endless virtues that Han Shi could list, even with both hands.

Meanwhile, in a secluded corner of the garden, Wei Shizi sat in his wooden wheelchair, propping his chin on one hand, lost in thought.

Rumor had it that Wei Shizi was gloomy and reclusive, with an odd temperament that left people feeling cold and eerie. Most who saw him would avoid him like the plague. Yet in this moment, he bore no trace of those rumors.

Upon closer inspection, his demeanor was striking, with a noble countenance and an extraordinary air about him. The only flaw was his pale and sickly appearance, which marred his good looks.

Perhaps beyond his inability to walk, there were other ailments as well, given that he was dressed a bit more warmly than others.

In his mind, Wei Shizi repeatedly visualized Xiao Cao’s form and face. His beloved Xuan’er had grown up completely. Her grace was ethereal, her beauty unmatched, and her demeanor elegant like a refined orchid. Although it wasn’t the first time he’d seen her in the past three years, this had been the closest and clearest yet. After all, back when they met outside, she’d always been disguised, and he didn’t dare get too close.

Xuan’er was naturally beautiful, but the right clothing and adornments made a difference nonetheless. Compared to her plain, unadorned attire from before, dressed now in resplendent garments and jewelry, she was truly radiant, catching everyone’s eye. She deserved it all.

Thinking of the hardships she’d endured in the past three years, the Wei heir’s heart ached as if cut by a knife. His eyes turned cold and fierce, his entire demeanor now exuding the eerie aura that matched rumors, chilly and forbidding.

Behind him, his servant stood quietly, eyes lowered, like a wooden post.

Wei Shizi couldn’t help feeling a tinge of regret. If he had gotten out and about more, perhaps earlier, he might have encountered Wenren Han Shi sooner, and through that connection, Xuan’er might have returned to her family much earlier, sparing her the hardship of living alone for so long.

He had wanted to make more arrangements for Xuan’er, but she was intelligent and would surely have become suspicious if he had intervened too much—a scenario he sought to avoid. However, if her own family made those arrangements, it would be a completely different matter.