Wenren Ying’s thoughts shifted, and she quickly sped up to catch up, blocking Wu Yaruo’s path. Wu Yaruo instinctively took a step back, as if Wenren Ying was about to do something to her.

“Fourth Sister’s adoptive father is a doctor, and she has also learned some medical skills from him. That’s why she could tell at a glance that Cousin, you’re not feeling well. Fourth Sister has always been kind-hearted. Even towards those she doesn’t care for, she can’t bear to see them suffer. So, Cousin, why not let Fourth Sister take a look at you first? Just in case something happens…”

“No need!” Wu Yaruo interrupted coldly. “Something happens or not, I’m perfectly fine. Don’t go cursing me, dear cousin.”

“Look at what you’re saying, Cousin. How am I cursing you? People… Alright, I won’t say anymore.” Wenren Ying patted her own mouth and stepped out of the way.

Wu Yaruo felt like there was something stuck in her throat, making her feel even more uncomfortable. But she had to be fine. Only by being alright could everything be swept under the rug. If anything affected the child, she would be the guilty one, not only receiving cold stares but also losing any justification to deal with the concubines with authority.

Looking at Wenren Ying, Wu Yaruo suddenly smiled. “Does it really not bother you, Cousin?”

Wu Yaruo believed that her very existence was enough to make Wenren Ying act like a cat whose territory had been invaded, with claws out, ready to attack. That sister, who returned later in life, took away far more than the small things Wenren Ying received from her aunt. Could Wenren Ying truly accept it happily? Wu Yaruo didn’t believe a word of it. She came with the intention of sowing discord between the two sisters. Even if her goal wasn’t achieved, she wanted to plant a thorn in Wenren Ying’s heart.

Other people may not have understood this seemingly random question from Wu Yaruo, but Wenren Ying did. It had to be said that Wu Yaruo knew her well. If the Wenren Ying from her previous life had encountered her fourth sister at that time, she would have almost certainly treated her as an enemy, probably causing trouble until the sister left. Unfortunately, in her previous life, her fourth sister never returned. The one who met the fourth sister was Wenren Ying, who had been reborn after a stormy journey, and the fourth sister had a generous nature. She didn’t come back aiming to reclaim everything owed to her. They both didn’t fight, which naturally led to harmony. Wu Yaruo’s scheming would be in vain.

“What does it matter to you, Cousin? But believe me, the outcome you’re hoping for is not going to happen.”

“Then I shall see.”

Wenren Ying gave her a sweet smile.

Wenren Ying returned to Xiaocao’s side and naturally linked arms with her. “Fourth Sister.”

“She clearly won’t accept it, so why did Seventh Sister even bother?” Xiaocao, too, hadn’t intended to do anything.

“I know, but I wanted to prevent anyone from blaming you later, Fourth Sister. Now, it was she who refused.” Wenren Ying blinked her eyes, appearing innocent.

But the earlier events had shown that Wenren Ying wasn’t purely innocent. When she showed her claws, she could leave someone bleeding all over, while those she protected would feel genuinely cared for. “Seventh Sister, you’re really sweet. But it doesn’t really matter. You didn’t have to take it to heart. Going up there might even have caused you more frustration.”

“Fourth Sister might not care, but I don’t want you to be unjustly blamed and criticized by others, nor will Father and Mother tolerate it. No one in this household will tolerate it. Right, Fifth Sister?”

Wenren Xi nodded without hesitation. “That’s right. We won’t tolerate it.”

“You two…” Xiaocao felt both exasperated and indulgent towards them.

Up until now, what this family had shown Xiao Cao was mostly kindness. In this world, the concept of family was even more profound, with stronger connections between people. Though she hadn’t been with them long, Xiao Cao clearly felt the inescapable bonds of blood. They treated her sincerely, and she responded with her full affection. This did not conflict with her original intention of returning to the Wenren family with some ulterior motives, right?

As for the occasional sense that her legitimate younger sister felt a bit off, Xiao Cao never paid it much attention. After all, her sister showed no hostility and hadn’t done anything to harm her. So even if the affection wasn’t particularly pure and carried some unknown motives, as long as it didn’t cross the line, there was no need to mind.

Wu Yaruo, on the other hand, wanted to stubbornly hold out, but her body wasn’t under her control. After being provoked again, when she saw Han Shi along with her own mother and the other women, she started to feel wobbly.

Her mother, Wu Han Shi, was terribly frightened. Han Shi, however, remained calm and asked, “What’s going on? Wasn’t everything fine just a moment ago?”

One of the maidservants who had returned with them was from Han Shi’s side. Originally worried that her own daughter might run into trouble, Han Shi had left a trusted person as a precaution. Now, this maidservant carefully retold the events, though she left out any insinuations about Wenren Ying or Wenren Xi “adding fuel to the fire.”

Han Shi never particularly liked Wu Yaruo, and she was a shrewd person. Some things didn’t need to be said, as she could guess a good portion of the truth. Was she really unaware of the private dealings between Wu Yaruo and her youngest daughter? More likely, she had turned a blind eye since her daughter hadn’t suffered. However, what Wu Yaruo was trying to do now clearly crossed Han Shi’s bottom line.

Han Shi gazed at Wu Yaruo with a deep look. Wu Yaruo was sweating, her makeup smeared, and she looked at her aunt pitifully, as if she had no strength. Han Shi flashed a faint smile. “You silly girl, how can you be so careless? Someone, escort the young lady to the guest room and call for a doctor. Also, someone go to the front and invite the Song son-in-law over.”

Han Shi’s tone seemed as usual, but inside, Wu Yaruo felt like she had been plunged into an icy lake. It was clear to her that Han Shi wasn’t going to intervene in how the Song family would deal with her. “Aunt…” Wu Yaruo truly felt like crying. Her pride was now completely shattered.

“Why are you standing there? Hurry and help the young lady to the guest room to rest. And you, sister, go with her.” Han Shi turned to address Wu Han Shi.

“Aunt…” Wu Yaruo’s heart was filled with reluctance, her face growing even more pitiful.

Wu Han Shi, who was supporting Wu Yaruo, trembled slightly. The methods they had discussed to deal with Wenren Ying and Wenren Xuan were finely calculated. Based on their understanding of Wenren Ying, the success rate should have been very high. But Wenren Ying’s attitude towards her sister was completely unexpected, and this foolish girl asserted herself recklessly in such a critical situation without even informing her own mother about the pregnancy. At this point, Wu Han Shi wanted nothing more than to strangle her disobedient daughter. “Shut up!” Wu Han Shi hissed into Wu Yaruo’s ear. “Don’t provoke your aunt any further…”

Wu Han Shi was, herself, a concubine’s daughter, and during her younger days, she had led a pitiful life. When she first got married, the Wu family had hoped to profit from their connection to the Han family through her. But she hadn’t been of much use, and once that became clear, her status in the Wu family had steadily declined. Later, when she gave birth to a daughter, she became even less favored. Yet, a few months after her daughter’s birth, her position in the Wu family rose significantly. This was because her daughter was born on the same day as a pair of twins from a distant cousin’s family. When the daughter from that family went missing, Wu Han Shi’s daughter was favored by association. Since then, both her and her daughter’s status in the Wu family soared.

Wenren Han Shi wasn’t just Wu Yaruo’s pillar of support. She was also Wu Han Shi’s backbone.