Wenren Ying had indeed thought of doing something, though the Duke Dingbei Mansion was not exactly a solid backing for the Wenren family—it had a high status, but that meant it couldn’t easily intervene in matters. However, the Dowager Princess had shown undeniable kindness to Wenren Ying. Unfortunately, Wenren Ying herself had little influence, and human nature is ultimately selfish. How could she dare to reveal the secret of her rebirth so easily?

But now, the Dowager Princess had been saved by her fourth sister, and at least for the moment, the situation didn’t seem too serious. Whether it was due to her fourth sister’s outstanding medical skills or the timely treatment, as long as the Dowager Princess remained safe, the Duke Dingbei Mansion wouldn’t collapse so easily. Who knows, her fourth sister might even be able to cure the Duke of Dingbei, and the fate of the Princess Changning might also change as a result.

The fate of her family’s second house had already changed drastically. Wenren Ying also had great confidence in the changing fate of Duke Dingbei Mansion. If the household remained standing because of her fourth sister, the ties between the two families would grow even stronger. While this might not bring significant benefits to the Wenren family, it certainly wouldn’t hurt.

This was also why they came to the Duke Dingbei Mansion today, rather than waiting until tomorrow—it was the result of her stubborn persuasion.

After all these years, Wenren Ying still clearly remembered the timing of events because it was related to today’s imperial examination—the palace exam—and closely connected to Cheng Wenzheng. Before coming, she had been worried that something bad might have already happened. If imperial doctors had already been called to the mansion, her fourth sister might not have had the chance to intervene, and events could have still played out as they did in her past life.

Fortunately, their luck was good.

So, isn’t her fourth sister a true bringer of fortune?! Without knowing it, she has already changed so many things.

Facing the awakened Dowager Princess, her fourth sister Xiao Cao presented a very different demeanor—gentle, calm, and soft-spoken—all of which greatly soothed the dowager’s emotions. This cooperation on the Dowager Princess’s part allowed her to calm down, shedding her earlier vulnerability. Rational and dignified once again, she became the steadfast, authoritative figure she used to be, swiftly exercising command to suppress the chaos in the household.

The initial phase of the treatment had concluded, and the Dowager Princess, though somewhat drained, comforted her tearful granddaughter, who had likely been scared out of her wits. She then motioned for Xiao Cao to approach, pulling her close. “Girl, I’m lucky to have had you this time. Otherwise, this old body of mine probably wouldn’t have made it.”

“Your Grace overstates it. You’re still in good health. This was just a momentary lapse due to emotional stress. You’ll be fine.”

The Dowager Princess waved her hand dismissively. She knew better than anyone her own condition. Her resilience wasn’t as unyielding as others might think. Her life had been fraught with sorrows. Days of true peace and comfort had been rare for her. Parents, husband, son, and daughter-in-law—all of them had left her one by one. That inner string of hers had long been pulled to its limit; otherwise, she wouldn’t have collapsed upon hearing the tragic news about her grandson.

When she lost consciousness, she had a vague feeling she might not make it this time.

But here she was, halfway through the gates of the underworld, yet pulled back, feeling somewhat refreshed.

She couldn’t fall. Her grandson’s fate was still uncertain, and her granddaughter needed her. This Wenren girl had saved more than just her life. The Dowager Princess patted her hand, saying nothing more. Some things, it’s enough just to remember them.

The decocted medicine finally arrived, but just as she was about to drink it, a panting judge from the courtyard, accompanied by three imperial doctors, arrived fashionably late.

The Imperial Medical Office primarily serves the emperor and the royal household, but in reality, their services extended beyond that. Officials of the third rank and above, and some with special status, could also summon them. The Dowager Princess of the Duke Dingbei Mansion was one who would have them check her pulse monthly, a matter that even His Majesty would occasionally inquire about. This shows just how highly the emperor regarded her. Thus, the moment word of her fainting due to grief reached them, they had not dared to delay even a moment.

Now, seeing her awake and clear-headed, they finally let out a sigh of relief. “Greetings to the Dowager Princess.”

“At ease,” the Dowager Princess said calmly before directly lifting her bowl and drinking the medicine quite boldly.

The imperial doctors exchanged glances—she’s already taken the medicine?! Who prescribed it? Their concern wasn’t about someone snatching credit but about the fact that improper medication could be dangerous. If something happened to the Dowager Princess, they would bear the responsibility. Working in the Imperial Medical Office for so long, they had developed the mindset: no desire for credit, just the avoidance of blame.

The Dowager Princess, not wanting to trouble them further, said, “Go ahead and check me.” She glanced at Xiao Cao, who readily stepped aside, displaying an air of calm composure and appropriate restraint. The Dowager Princess nodded silently—this was a girl who understands boundaries, neither prideful nor rash, knowing how to advance and retreat properly.

The imperial doctors hurriedly approached to check her pulse. Thankfully, there was nothing amiss.

That was undoubtedly a good sign, but the question of the medicine still lingered…

Understanding their concerns, the Dowager Princess had someone present them with the prescription.

Looking at it together, all the doctors couldn’t help but marvel. The formula was truly well-crafted!

The head physician respectfully reported to the Dowager Princess, “Your Grace, this prescription is excellent. Continue following it, and in three to five days, your health should improve significantly.”

“Then I’ll trouble you no further. You may leave now,” the Dowager Princess said directly, leaving no room for further questions.

What could they do? They had no choice but to offer their farewells.

As they departed, the court official Huang Yi also took his leave, knowing that by now, His Majesty must have already heard about the situation at the Duke Dingbei Mansion. He needed to hurry back and report the details to alleviate the emperor’s concerns.

After sending them off and seeing that the Dowager Princess looked tired, Han Shi prepared to withdraw with her daughter, deciding to forgo their other objective for the visit. Perhaps they could find another opportunity later.

Xiao Cao, being thorough, offered the Dowager Princess some final instructions. To those around them, she appeared thoughtful and attentive, even earning a rare smile from the usually stern dowager. It seemed she approved of whatever Xiao Cao suggested. However, to Xiao Cao, giving medical advice to her patients was simply a routine matter of professionalism.

The Dowager Princess had Princess Changning escort them to the door, where the princess repeatedly expressed her immense gratitude.

Xiao Cao was quite used to this. “Your Highness, no need for such formality. However, I should remind you of one more thing: the Dowager Princess is showing signs of an impending stroke.” Seeing the princess’s face fill with horror once again—she was, after all, just a young girl—Xiao Cao quickly reassured her, “Don’t be alarmed. It’s just a sign. She’ll need more rest, a proper diet, and most importantly, maintaining a peaceful state of mind. Emotions shouldn’t run too high. So spend more time with her. Also, regarding the Duke’s situation, don’t go out of your way to bring it up, but neither should you avoid the topic entirely. Letting her express some emotions is better than keeping everything suppressed. Call the imperial doctors in to check again in two or three days.”

“Since Sister Xuan is already involved, I’ll rely on you to continue caring for Grandmother,” the princess earnestly requested, clearly trusting Xiao Cao more at this point.

Xiao Cao hesitated for a moment but eventually nodded. As a doctor, it’s hard to let go of a patient halfway through treatment; she couldn’t help but feel concerned.