“I’ll come back in three days. If there are any issues in the meantime, you can just send someone to the Wenren family. Timing won’t be a problem.” After a slight pause, Xiao Cao continued, “Princess Changning, don’t worry too much. The Mu family has been loyal and brave for generations, defending the Qi Dynasty with hard work and great achievements. The Duke of Dingbei will surely be blessed by fortune and come through this safely.”

Princess Changning’s expression was one of anxiety. To say she wasn’t worried about such a matter was simply impossible.

Beside her, Han Shi and Wenren Ying also chimed in with comforting words. With so many people assuring her that everything would be fine, it helped calm Princess Changning a little. She dabbed the corner of her eyes and said, “Forgive my manners. I’ve made a spectacle of myself in front of you, Madam, and my two elder sisters.”

With affectionate concern, Han Shi patted her on her delicate shoulder. To be honest, this young lady seemed more like a well-mannered noble daughter from a civil official’s family: quiet, gentle, and somewhat fragile. She didn’t quite resemble someone who had grown up under the stern hand of the Dowager Princess.

At the moment, someone alongside the Old Princess Dowager was also recounting to her the events that unfolded after her sudden fainting.

The Dowager Princess remained silent. Theirs was a family of generals, including her, her daughter-in-law, and her granddaughter-in-law, all of whom had followed their husbands and braved storms, even stepping onto battlefields. Yet, her granddaughter was taught differently. The Dowager Princess had known that the daughters of the Mu family would not walk the same path as the family’s daughters-in-law. Women who were too assertive and independent weren’t well-liked in other families. Over the years, her granddaughter had indeed excelled among the noblewomen, and nothing seemed amiss—until now. When an incident arose, it became clear that there wasn’t just a minor issue; there was a significant problem.

The Dowager Princess now harbored regrets. If both her grandson and she met misfortune, could her granddaughter survive?

But is it too late to change her method of instruction now?

Whether it’s too late or not, something must be done.

That evening, Princess Changning noticed that her governess had been replaced, and half of her servants had been changed as well. The next day, to her even greater surprise, a martial arts instructor had been added to her staff. She was rather dumbfounded by all this. ——But that’s another story.

Meanwhile, Xiao Cao and the others had returned to the Wenren family. Wenren Ying was still a little worried. She pulled Xiao Cao aside, “Fourth Sister, the Dowager Princess will be alright, won’t she?”

“As long as she maintains a calm mindset, there shouldn’t be any major issues.”

What worried Wenren Ying was that, even though they already knew that something had happened to the Duke of Dingbei, when the Dowager Princess learned that the Duke would be bedridden for life, it might still be too big of a blow. “Fourth Sister, if the Duke of Dingbei is seriously injured, can you treat him?”

“If the injury is severe, it depends on the situation.”

“For example, if he’s injured his legs and can’t walk, or if he’s hurt his back and can’t sit. Or, worse yet, if he’s completely paralyzed…”

“Ying’er, you’re getting more and more far-fetched.” Han Shi lightly tapped Wenren Ying.

Wenren Ying looked pitifully at her mother, “I was just giving an example. The Duke of Dingbei is severely injured right now, and who knows what the situation is exactly. The conditions at the border are poor; he might be brought back to the capital. If, by chance, they seek out Fourth Sister’s help, wouldn’t it be better for her to be prepared in advance? The Duke is already injured, and my saying so won’t make his injury either worse or better. Sometimes it’s necessary to consider the worst-case scenario.”

“Seventh Sister’s logic isn’t wrong. But still, we must assess the specific situation. Besides, the Duke of Dingbei is an esteemed minister in the Emperor’s eyes. The Imperial Medical Bureau is sure to get involved. It won’t easily fall to me.”

“Fourth Sister…”

“I understand. If I am needed, I will do everything in my power. Don’t worry.”

Wenren Ying finally stopped worrying. Although she harbored hopes that the fate of the Duke of Dingbei’s family could change, if the outcome remained unchanged, it would simply mean that even fate had destined the family for ruin, and no one could save them.

“Fourth Sister, shall we go shopping tomorrow? You’ve been back for several days now.”

“That’s actually a good idea, Ying’er. You can invite the other sisters too,” Han Shi added enthusiastically.

“No, I don’t want to go with Fifth Sister… Wenren Xiang,” Wenren Ying immediately protested.

Han Shi lightly slapped her again, but she herself didn’t really like Wenren Xiang either, so there wasn’t much point in forcing her daughter into such a situation. “Then why don’t just the sisters go, and buy whatever catches your eye?”

Xiao Cao didn’t refuse the suggestion. Although she had been in the capital for nearly three years, there were still many places she hadn’t visited. After all, for commoners, some places were considered “off-limits.” It’s not that signs physically prohibited entry, but showing up could lead to trouble. One shouldn’t view the world through an overly cynical lens, but one also shouldn’t be too naive about human nature.

“We don’t have to invite the other sisters—let’s bring Fourth Brother instead.”

“Bring Yang’er along?” Han Shi and Wenren Ying exclaimed almost simultaneously, surprised.

“Of course! What are brothers for if not to be ordered around by their sisters? Whether shopping or traveling, they should be there at our service and protection.” Xiao Cao said this with a cheerful smile, as if it were the most natural thing in the world.

The mother and daughter duo were speechless for a moment, before Wenren Ying clapped her hands and laughed, “Yes, indeed. That’s exactly how it should be.”

Han Shi also chuckled and tapped Wenren Ying on the head, “You mischievous thing.” She then turned to Xiao Cao. “Our little Xuan is a little rascal herself. Alright then, we’ll call on Yang’er too. After all, it wouldn’t hurt for him to get out and about more.”

With the plan settled, when it was mentioned again that evening, Wenren Xu and his wife, You Shi, ended up also tagging along. Wenren Xu joked that when there’s work to be done, brothers should be the ones to shoulder the responsibility, and as the eldest, there was no way he could shirk his duties. Plus, tomorrow was his day off.

His tone was half-joking, half-serious.

Since Wenren Xu worked at the Hanlin Academy, Xiao Cao actually didn’t interact with him much. What could she say about her eldest brother? He was probably an exemplary nobleman: youthful, with a good nature, and an expert at charming others without crossing the line. He treated his wife with great respect, but to claim that there was a deep love between them would be pure nonsense. However, You Shi was deeply in love with him. It wasn’t obvious on the surface, nor did she seem to mind the presence of his concubines. But if Wenren Xu ever genuinely fell for another woman, there would surely be devastating consequences—either a tragic love story or complete upheaval.

Xiao Cao withheld any judgment on the matter.

Since the examination results would take three days to process, it meant Xiao Cao wouldn’t be able to see Wenren Taibo during that time.

That evening, Han Shi pulled Xiao Cao aside again to discuss meeting with the Wei Shizi, urging her not to get anxious and to keep exploring different options.

Xiao Cao smiled and reassured her, saying there was no need for her mother to worry too much.

Her second daughter was so considerate and sensible that she was nothing like her younger, spoiled sister. Still, Han Shi couldn’t help but feel a pang of maternal sympathy.

Faced with Han Shi’s emotional tendencies, Xiao Cao could only feel helpless.

The next day, after finishing breakfast and tidying themselves up, they were ready to set out.

It wasn’t Wenren Xu’s first time accompanying his wife and sisters on a shopping trip, but for Wenren Yang, it was like a “maiden’s first ride in a sedan chair.”

Wenren Yang, so absorbed in his studies that he had become “clueless,” was periodically pulled back into focus by Xiao Cao, who would tug lightly on his sleeve. His curiosity about his surroundings even began to exceed Xiao Cao’s. Fortunately, he was handsome, with a hint of innocent charm and absolutely no signs of crudeness. No one saw him as a country bumpkin.

“Fourth Sister, let’s stop by the southern and northern goods store first. They’ve got everything there, even some rare and interesting items.”

Initially, Xiao Cao didn’t have any particular plans, but the moment she entered the store, there was a momentary sense of surprise—it had the exact layout of a supermarket from her previous life! Had she just encountered a “fellow countryman”?