Of course, Wenren Ying wouldn’t go so far as to harm the child still in the womb. Things between her and Wu Yaru hadn’t deteriorated to the point where she’d resort to unscrupulous means. Besides, Wu Yaru wasn’t worth tainting her conscience with such a karmic debt.

Retracting her gaze, Wenren Ying inadvertently spotted her fourth sister’s indifferent expression. A thought flashed across her mind—ah, right. How could Wu Yaru’s situation escape her fourth sister’s keen eyes? From the way things had been lately, she understood her fourth sister’s temperament at least a little. Having a good temper? Undeniably so. But a good temper didn’t mean no temper at all.

—Like the time their fourth brother got so engrossed in his books that he forgot to eat. The servants’ reminders went unheeded, and when their fourth sister found out, their previously incorrigible fourth brother was scolded into submission, apologizing profusely, his head drooping.

Anyone who didn’t take care of their health wouldn’t have her fourth sister’s favor. Whether it was close family—elders or juniors—they’d get a talking-to. As for outsiders, they likely wouldn’t leave a good impression.

“What’s wrong with Fourth Sister?” Wenren Ying asked with a hint of feigned curiosity.

“She knows she’s pregnant, yet still insists on going out to attend a banquet when her health is poor. If she doesn’t care for her unborn child, she might as well not be pregnant,” said Xiao Cao coldly, without any hesitation, glaring at Wu Yaru. Her words were pointed.

Wu Yaru instantly froze, instinctively shielding her belly with her hands. The realization that she had just exposed herself came too late, and she couldn’t maintain her composure. Her face twitched slightly.

Wu Yaru had come to the Wenren family intending to announce her pregnancy and tie the unborn child to the returning Wenren family’s fourth daughter. From the effort she put into inviting relatives and hosting a banquet, it was evident the Wenren family valued this girl. Especially after Wu Yaru met with their aunt, her conviction only grew stronger. So, no matter how much she hated them, she had to appear cordial with Wenren’s Fourth Young Lady on the surface. Associating her child with the Wenren family would only bring benefits. In fact, her original plan was to sow discord between Wenren Ying and the newly returned Fourth Young Lady. Once the sisters started quarreling, she believed one of them would eventually fall out of favor with their aunt. That would serve her purpose well.

Yet, her plan had just failed before it even started, leaving her exposed.

Wenren Ying never expected her fourth sister to be so direct. As it turns out, her sister’s personality was refreshingly straightforward and blunt. Also, Wu Yaru’s health wasn’t good? In that case, without having to say or do anything herself, Wenren Ying’s goal was already achieved. How fortunate…

Xiao Cao wasn’t someone to retaliate so harshly upon their first meeting, having barely exchanged a word. Of course not. But it was true that Wenren Ying and Wenren Xi’s subtle encouragement had worked. Xiao Cao had developed a strong dislike for Wu Yaru. And, upon discovering that Wu Yaru was so careless with her pregnancy, Xiao Cao had no reason to hold back. If it had just been a random stranger at their first meeting, Xiao Cao might have simply watched with detachment, perhaps making a few polite reminders.

“Cousin… cousin, what are you saying? Are you implying that I… that I’m pregnant?” stammered Wu Yaru, her lips trembling as she clutched her belly, seemingly apprehensive yet slightly excited.

The apprehension was real, but the excitement seemed rather fabricated.

Now that Wenren Ying’s goal was achieved, she couldn’t let her fourth sister continue playing the villain. With a soft chuckle, she spoke, “Cousin, are you pretending you didn’t know? Are you trying to take everyone here for fools, or do you think we’re all blind? When you arrived today, I found it curious—other sisters were moving about so easily with their maids keeping a little distance, but you, Cousin, had two maids nervously following right behind you. You were walking so cautiously that you might as well have stomped on every ant you passed. And your hands, one way or another, kept guarding your belly. And now you say you didn’t know? Tell me, who’d believe that?”

Speechless, Wu Yaru was at a loss. Normally, she wouldn’t have needed to be this vigilant. However, since she had been caught off guard by Wenren Ying before, she had decided to be extra cautious. Little did she realize that being too cautious would backfire, exposing her, especially to a sharp-eyed, unmarried girl like Wenren Ying. She hadn’t accounted for that.

“Your concern for my fourth sister seems to exceed your concern for your own body and your child. As a younger sister, I’m truly touched. But since we’re all family, even if you hadn’t attended today, you could simply have explained the situation to us. We’d only have been happy for you. This way, however, if something untoward were to happen to you, wouldn’t you just make us out to be the guilty ones? So, Cousin, it’s best you go back and take care of yourself and your child. That’s what’s really important.”

With that, Wenren Ying had said everything there was to say, not holding anything back.

No matter what situation, there is always a limit. Once crossed, it raises suspicions of ulterior motives—or in Wu Yaru’s case, gives the impression that she’s forsaking prudence to climb the Wenren family’s social ladder. She ends up exposing herself as highly calculating, making everyone question if she even knows what her true priorities are. Who would appreciate someone who cannot even discern what’s most important?

As for Wu Yaru, what could she do? Before she could even process it, Wenren Ying had already called several maids to escort her out and handed her over to Aunt Wu Han Shi. With her mother present by her side, it stood to reason that Wu Yaru would feel more at ease. And best of all, if her cousin’s husband joined them at the Wenren residence, things could only get better.

Internally, Wu Yaru burned with the desire to strangle Wenren Ying, but she was forced to leave amidst the maids’ escort. Before exiting, she shot Xiao Cao a sharp glare. To her, it was Xiao Cao who had pushed her into this predicament. Building ties? Why should she lower herself for anyone in the Wenren family? They didn’t deserve it! Wu Yaru raised her chin slightly, straightened her back.

Yet her proud stance looked no different from that of an arrogant peacock. And unusually, her departing figure seemed rather despondent.

Despondent, indeed. She had been married for over two years without any sign of pregnancy. While everything seemed fine on the surface, her mother-in-law had long begun expressing dissatisfaction. The introduction of several maidservants into her quarters was the clearest sign. Her husband also spent fewer nights in her room. Now that she had finally conceived, she wasn’t taking proper care of herself—in turn making her in-laws think she didn’t care about the child or household. One can only imagine what the outcome would be.

Wu Yaru unconsciously clenched her fists, her nails digging into her palms. Waves of dizziness overcame her, and her belly began to ache faintly.

Wenren Ying couldn’t help but smile. Though it seemed a bit juvenile, she felt a sense of satisfaction. In truth, Wu Yaru wasn’t an easy opponent either. It was rare that Wenren Ying could best her so completely and so easily.

Xiao Cao, however, frowned slightly. Wu Yaru’s current state…

Wenren Ying noticed her fourth sister’s expression and immediately guessed what she was thinking. But someone like Wu Yaru…even if her fourth sister kindly extended a hand to help, Wu Yaru would only assume she had ulterior motives. And since they couldn’t hide the fact that her sister was skilled in medicine, sooner or later Wu Yaru would concoct some excuse to blame her sister. She might even accuse her sister of being heartless, failing to save her, thus tarnishing her reputation.