“You are always so attentive, but only to your patients. Your grandmother’s condition has improved a lot, hasn’t she told you that you don’t need to visit her at night anymore? Today, all she did was chat with a few elderly ladies. There are so many people taking care of her, she won’t get tired. Your second aunt is also in her confinement after giving birth, and she hasn’t even gone out. At most, only the Du family comes by to see her, talk to her. Don’t you think they care for your second aunt more than you do? Aren’t you worrying too much?”

Xiao Cao smiled, “I’ll still go and check.”

“Alright, alright, go ahead. If I stop you, you won’t be able to sleep well tonight.”

“I’ll just take a quick look and come back soon.”

“Hmm, but about your second aunt…”

“What is it?”

“Nothing.”

After seeing Xiao Cao leave, Han Shi sighed helplessly. What could she do about her daughter? The only choice was to spoil and indulge her. How could she get mad at her for this?

Xiao Cao went to see the Old Madam Wenren. “You must be exhausted from the whole day. Why come here instead of resting?” Even though the Old Madam’s tone was indifferent, her heart was warm. With so many people around, it was comforting to know that someone truly cared without seeking anything in return.

Xiao Cao didn’t say much, but simply checked the Old Madam’s pulse and asked about her condition while keeping her company for a conversation.

Soon, the Old Madam waved her off. After the maid gave her a massage, she wanted to rest.

Xiao Cao then went to the second household’s quarters, where the maids greeted her warmly. Wenren Xi quickly came out with a smile, pulling Xiao Cao towards her, “Fourth Sister, you’re here! Weren’t you told not to come in the evenings anymore?” Even within the palace, none of the noblewomen received such dedicated daily care, both morning and evening. No one could be as considerate as her Fourth Sister.

“There are quite a few people here today, and it’s only a short walk home.”

“That’s why you’re the best, Fourth Sister,” Wenren Xi said, snuggling up to her affectionately.

After entering the house, they realized there was quite a lively gathering in Du Shi’s quarters. Both the eldest daughter, who had already married, and members of the Du family were present, as well as Wenren Xi’s younger sister. No wonder they had heard noise from outside earlier. Xiao Cao now understood what her mother had wanted to tell her earlier—how could the matron of the house not be aware of the guests staying?

At this moment, everyone in the room was staring at Xiao Cao, making her instinctively want to step back.

Xiao Cao took a deep breath and was about to pay her respects when Wenren Xi, smiling, broke the awkwardness, “Grandmother, Aunt, Sister, please go easy. Don’t scare Fourth Sister. It’s not how people are supposed to be stared at like this.”

“Exactly, Mother. Anyone would feel uncomfortable being stared at like that. Xuan’er, come here,” Du Shi replied cheerfully.

Xiao Cao smiled, but before she could complete her formal greeting, someone quickly stepped forward, grasping her hand tightly. The person’s hand trembled, filled with emotion. “Fourth Sister… Fourth Sister…”

“Second Sister, what’s wrong?” Xiao Cao said, holding her hand with a smile.

“I… I…” Wenren Pei, the second sister of the Wenren family, seemed to be at a loss for words, as if there were a thousand things she wanted to say but didn’t know where to start. She had always assumed her mother had remained in the same condition, but today, upon seeing her, she hardly recognized her.

Wenren Xi placed her hand on her elder sister’s wrist. She understood her sister’s emotions better than anyone. As daughters, seeing their mother recover was cause for celebration. Their joy and gratitude were immeasurable; they had even prayed to the gods, willing to sacrifice anything for her recovery. However, the gods hadn’t helped—Fourth Sister had changed everything with ease. The gratitude in their hearts was profound, almost to the point of reverence. “Second Sister, there will be many days like this ahead,” Wenren Xi smiled gently.

“Yes, yes. Fifth Sister is right,” Wenren Pei wiped her eyes and smiled.

Du Shi felt both joy and heartache for her daughter. The state her daughter had been in was entirely because of her, but now, things would be better.

Xiao Cao finally paid her respects to the Du family’s elders before checking Du Shi’s pulse. “Second Aunt doesn’t need to take any more medicine. You have been severely depleted, and the best remedy now is to nourish yourself slowly with food. Simply put, eat more, stay happy, and that will work better than any medicine.”

“Alright, we’ll do whatever Xuan’er suggests,” Du Shi laughed.

Du Shi’s mother was deeply grateful to Xiao Cao from the bottom of her heart. Before her daughter was married, she had been cherished like a gem, but over the past twenty years, she had lived like a ghost of her former self. How could it not break her heart? She had been powerless to change anything and could only weep in private. Now that her daughter had practically been “brought back to life”, how could she not be overjoyed?

When she first met Xiao Cao, she had been courteous, but now she looked at her like she was her own granddaughter.

Xiao Cao had grown accustomed to feeling people’s gratitude by now. However, dealing with strangers’ emotions was manageable—they were not her family, and even in their enthusiasm, they remained restrained. But this was different, and their overwhelming feelings now left her less sure of how to handle the situation.

Feeling overwhelmed, Xiao Cao found an excuse and slipped away, her retreat looking a little flustered.

“Mother, looks like you frightened Xiao Cao,” Du Shi teased.

“Did I really?”

“Fourth Sister just returned. She’s not used to such displays of affection, especially after all her struggles out in the world. She hasn’t experienced something like this before. You nearly hugged her to death! How could she not be scared?” Wenren Xi laughed, covering her mouth.

Old Madam Du patted her head, “My fault, my fault. Next time I’ll be more reserved, alright?”

This sent the whole room into laughter.

“Earlier, I noticed that Sister-in-law seemed a bit distracted. Is something wrong?” Du Shi asked, turning to her younger sister-in-law from her maternal home.

“What could it be other than her worry about Long’er? She likely noticed how good your family’s Fourth Daughter is at medicine and is thinking about asking her for help. Sigh, they say that boy is almost three now and still hasn’t started talking—he’s so dull. Could he really be… simple-minded?”

Long’er was the first child of the fourth generation of the Du family, the legitimate son and eldest grandson. When he was born, the whole family had been overjoyed. However, as time passed, they realized there was something wrong with him. Mocked as “the fool” by outsiders, how could their hearts not be heavy with worry?

“Mother…” Du Shi’s sister-in-law called out sorrowfully. “It’s one thing to hear outsiders say such things, but when it comes from family, it’s even more hurtful. Long’er’s mother cries day in and day out, her eyes are nearly swollen shut from crying. And she’s still so young…”

“Enough, that’s your family’s niece. Do you expect me, an old woman, to spend my days comforting a granddaughter-in-law? Stop with all this nonsense. The best thing to do would be to have another child—one healthy and strong.”

“Mother, don’t say that.” Du Shi reached out to comfort the old madam. “Sister-in-law, don’t worry. Bring the child over another day, I’ll ask our Xuan’er to take a look, alright? Rest assured, Xuan’er won’t mind.”

“Thank you, eldest sister,” she replied gratefully.