“Fourth Sister, we’ve only just left the city, and now you want to go back?” Wenren Ying felt a bit reluctant. They seldom had the chance to leave the city for some fresh air—maybe just a few times a year.

Xiao Cao reached over and pinched her cheek with a smile, “I’m not dragging you along, am I? Without me being a ‘burden,’ you’re free to go and hang out with your little girlfriends. Isn’t that more fun for you?”

Wenren Ying pretended to hesitate but eventually accepted Xiao Cao’s suggestion with apparent reluctance. However, she could only fake it for about three seconds before she burst into uncontrollable giggles.

Han Shi couldn’t help but poke her forehead, “You’ve already got a marriage arranged, and you’re getting married next year, but you still act like a child.”

Wenren Ying pouted, dismissing the comment, “I’ll still be your daughter, even after I’m married. I’ll probably come home every day to stick close to you.”

“I must’ve owed you in a past life,” Han Shi said helplessly, but still with affectionate indulgence.

Xiao Cao was someone who acted swiftly, and Han Shi didn’t waste any time either. She immediately had someone prepare a small gift and arranged a meeting place before heading straight to the Meng family. Even though showing up without sending a formal greeting letter beforehand was a bit improper, under the guise of visiting a sick person, those formalities could be overlooked. On the contrary, such a gesture demonstrated that the Wenren family placed great importance on their future daughter-in-law.

In the blink of an eye, Han Shi saw Xiao Cao drag out Wenren Yang, who had been hiding who-knows-where.

“Xuan’er, are you planning to bring Yang’er along too?”

“She’s his fiancée. Isn’t it right for him to pay her a visit?” Xiao Cao replied matter-of-factly.

Was she putting the girl on a pedestal? The future mother-in-law and sister-in-law were visiting, and now the fiancé had to come too? What kind of lucky girl was this? “Fine. If you say it should be done, then it should be.” After all, her daughter was personally going to check on her. That girl was truly fortunate.

Wenren Yang, upon hearing their upcoming plans, absentmindedly let out an indifferent “Oh.”

It was a marriage arranged without much input from the bride and groom. Wenren Yang had only met his fiancée a few times, hardly enough to get to know her, let alone develop any feelings. Therefore, it was unrealistic to expect him to worry about her. Besides, with his detached personality, no one could really rely on him for much.

The Meng family’s social standing wasn’t particularly high. Wenren Yang’s future father-in-law had passed the imperial examination and become a successful candidate for the Hanlin Academy. For decades, he hadn’t moved from that post and had now become the head scholar of the Hanlin Academy—a clean and respected figure, though still only of the fifth rank. It seemed he was content to remain in the Academy without any plans to move elsewhere. A position of quiet prestige.

But that wasn’t the key point. The most important figure was the fiancée’s grandfather, a renowned scholar of the era and head of one of the prestigious academies in the capital, the Bochuan Academy. His reputation was very high, and he had even taught Wenren Yang for a time.

The Wenren family didn’t have particularly high expectations for Wenren Yang. As long as he lived a decent life, that was enough. But given his peculiar nature, choosing the right kind of wife for him became quite problematic. After much deliberation, Wenren Taibo and Han Shi jointly decided on the Meng family. Although they were scholarly and somewhat modest in comparison, their daughter seemed like the perfect match for Wenren Yang’s character.

Moreover, scholarly prestige didn’t mean an absence of connections. The Meng family might keep a low profile, but if things went awry, their influence and resources would become apparent. Master Meng had mentored countless students who now served in various official capacities, both in the capital and in the provinces. Of course, the Wenren family wasn’t pursuing these connections for personal gain.

In fact, the level of attention garnered by the Meng family’s daughter was in no way inferior to that of noble girls from prominent families.

Wenren Yang’s fiancée was the second daughter in her family, with the courtesy name Xinlan. Because of her mild temperament and excellent academic performance—often surpassing her brothers—she was greatly favored by her grandfather. Regarding his granddaughter’s marriage, Master Meng had been rather tight-lipped, refusing to consent to earlier proposals. Even her parents couldn’t persuade him. But when the Wenren family came knocking on his door, Master Meng readily agreed—as if he had been waiting for this match all along.

In truth, Master Meng knew well what kind of person would be suitable for his granddaughter. Anyone eyeing him for his academic and political connections was out of the question—marrying off his granddaughter into a family like that would undoubtedly lead to her suffering. But Wenren Yang was the exception. He was genuinely the most suitable option in Master Meng’s eyes. Previously, he had hesitated, fearing that Han Shi, with her noble background, might look down on their family’s scholarly modesty. However, once the Wenren family made the first move, the match was secured without further ado.

The Meng family residence, compared to the Wenren family estate, was located in a quieter, more secluded area. It appeared rather ordinary and wasn’t particularly large, but most of the families living in the vicinity were of a similar status.

However, once they entered the house, it became apparent that there was more to it than met the eye. After all, this was the residence of a highly esteemed scholar, and the atmosphere was deeply imbued with a scholarly elegance.

The Wenren family, too, had scholarly roots, but several generations had already entered officialdom, so their household had a very different foundation. Adding Han Shi’s grandeur on top of that, over the course of more than 20 years, the Wenren family had evolved into something far more luxurious—though still with an air of understated elegance.

When the residents of the Meng family unexpectedly welcomed the visiting Wenren family, those present were visibly surprised by the suddenness of the visit.

Han Shi explained her unexpected arrival to Meng Xinlan’s mother.

It was a gesture meant to reflect how seriously the Wenren family considered their future daughter-in-law. Under normal circumstances, this would be something to celebrate. However, the smile on Madam Meng’s face seemed strained, and there was an underlying hint of worry and fear in her eyes.

Madam Meng personally entertained Han Shi and Xiao Cao, while Wenren Yang was taken to see Master Meng. Since it was the Shangsi Festival, the Academy had no classes. When Master Meng learned that Wenren Yang had arrived, he was overjoyed. Although Wenren Yang was indeed impressive, he was still young. Before a scholar like Master Meng—who had spent a lifetime immersed in knowledge—Wenren Yang still lacked a certain depth. There’s no question of him outshining his senior. Nevertheless, when it came to academic discussions, it was as if they were old friends despite their age difference.

It was probably only when surrounded by such great scholars that Wenren Yang felt most at ease.

Meanwhile, Madam Meng continued conversing with Han Shi and Xiao Cao, but she avoided talking about her daughter. Xiao Cao, growing somewhat impatient, spoke up, “May we visit Miss Meng?”

Madam Meng, trying to evade the question, vaguely mentioned that her daughter’s cold had become quite severe and that it was best not to receive visitors, lest they inadvertently contract the illness—especially the future mother-in-law and sister-in-law.

The more an issue is concealed, the more it raises suspicion. The expression on Han Shi’s face became noticeably colder. “Madam Meng, my daughter is well-versed in medicine. She has been caring for our family’s matriarch, and her condition has greatly improved. My daughter is incredibly close to her twin brother, Wenren Yang, so when she heard that Miss Meng wasn’t feeling well, she came right away to offer help. Do you understand what I’m saying?” She stopped just short of directly saying, “Don’t know what’s good for you.”

The Meng family was bound by decorum, and Madam Meng was clearly a loving mother—she wouldn’t deliberately do anything that would disadvantage her daughter. That said, the reason for her evasiveness might be due to something serious happening to the girl.

Madam Meng hesitated for a moment before finally breaking down into tears, covering her face.

Her sudden outburst of tears caught Han Shi off guard, and she softened her tone immediately. “Madam Meng, there’s no need to cry. If you’re facing a difficult situation, let us know, and we’ll figure out a solution together.”

Steadying herself, Madam Meng wiped her eyes and deliberated for a moment before saying, “I’m not sure how to explain, but it might be better if you and the Fourth Miss come see Xinlan for yourselves. Then you’ll understand.”

After all, that was the purpose of their visit. Naturally, they had no reason to refuse.

As they walked, Madam Meng continued, “I had initially been contemplating visiting your Wenren family to call off the engagement. It is my family that has wronged you, but I feared that it would be too great a blow for Xinlan, so I tried to conceal the matter for as long as possible.” As she spoke, she wiped away her tears.

“Is the situation really this serious?”

Before long, they entered a relatively small courtyard. By the looks of it, two masters lived here. One side was “lively,” while the other was quiet — the contrast was sharp. It seemed one of the masters was out.

Several servants were waiting outside the door, their faces full of worry, and the atmosphere was somber. The door to the room was tightly shut, clearly indicating that the person inside was refusing visitors. It didn’t need to be said who it was — it was definitely Miss Meng Xinlan.

Madam Meng glanced at Han Shi and Xiao Cao, her face heavy with concern, and moved to knock on the door. “Xinlan, Madam Wenren and the Fourth Miss from their household have come specially to see you. Open the door. Don’t be afraid…”

“No, no…” The rejection was clear and laced with fear.

Not just Madam Meng, but even the servants around her became more troubled. This Miss Meng Xinlan was supposed to be their future daughter-in-law and sister-in-law, but now with such an attitude… And given the current situation of their young mistress, it was uncertain if the marriage could even proceed, which perhaps explained why Madam Meng wanted to keep things under wraps.

Seeing that no persuasion worked, Xiao Cao spoke up, “Why not just force the door open?”

Madam Meng, deep down, wasn’t determined about making her daughter open the door. She might have even been hoping that Han Shi and Xiao Cao would give up after facing the difficulty. Hearing Xiao Cao’s suggestion, her face turned ash-gray. Her body slightly trembled, a look of despair flickering in her eyes, and she finally seemed ready to give up. “Do as Fourth Miss Wenren says. Force it open.”

Two rough-handed maids stepped forward, and since the door wasn’t too sturdy, breaking it open was easy enough.

“No, no, don’t come in, don’t come in…” Meng Xinlan’s voice turned shrill, mingled with terror and even despair.

But despite her protests, the group entered the room. Meng Xinlan had shrunk into a corner, curled into a ball, her face buried between her knees, and hugging herself tightly as she trembled and wept. Madam Meng tried to coax and pull her, but it was in vain.

Xiao Cao gently pushed aside the others, knelt beside Meng Xinlan, and softly patted her head, speaking comfortingly. “Good girl, don’t be afraid. Let your sister take a look at you, alright? When we face challenges, we must be brave. Hiding from everything won’t solve the problem, right? Did something grow on your face? I’m a doctor, and I dare say my medical skills are pretty solid. So far, I’ve solved many tough cases. Trust me, okay?” While speaking, Xiao Cao subtly took her pulse.

Meng Xinlan just kept shaking her head.

“How about this? I’ll have everyone leave, and it’ll just be the two of us. You let me take a look, alright? I promise, whatever I see, I won’t tell anyone if you don’t want me to. Does that sound okay?”

Meng Xinlan hesitated, and Xiao Cao gestured for the others to leave.

“Alright, it’s just me now. Let me see. Don’t be scared.” Xiao Cao’s voice grew even softer, holding a comforting, calming power.

Patiently, Xiao Cao waited, and finally, Meng Xinlan cautiously lifted her head. First, it was just her eyes, as wary as a wounded animal, full of caution and testing, as if ready to withdraw if she sensed the slightest abnormal reaction from Xiao Cao.

Xiao Cao’s gaze remained gentle and encouraging. Slowly, Meng Xinlan revealed her face — most of it covered with large and small lumps, her pores visibly enlarged, parts of the skin broken, some festering, oozing pus. It was a grotesque and horrifying sight, so it wasn’t surprising that she was scared to show herself to others.

Carefully examining her condition, Xiao Cao stopped Meng Xinlan, who tried to retreat again. “It’s okay, really… Don’t worry. These are just swelling from insect bites. They can be treated, and once healed, there won’t even be any scars. Trust me.”

Meng Xinlan was momentarily stunned. She murmured, “Insect bites? Not some ‘filth’?”

Xiao Cao frowned. “What ‘filth’? Did a doctor tell you that? What nonsense. Quacks, spreading such lies.”

The term ”filth’ often implied a shameful disease, which was a disastrous allegation for a respectable young lady like her.

“I promise you, it’s not any kind of filth.” Xiao Cao gently supported her. “Stand up, let me take a closer look.” She then noticed Meng Xinlan’s hands had the same marks. “Do you have them elsewhere on your body as well?”

Meng Xinlan nodded. “Sister, it’s really not filth, right?”

“Absolutely not!” Xiao Cao’s tone was unwavering.

At that, Meng Xinlan’s tears began to fall like a broken dam.

“Don’t cry, don’t cry. If your tears get on those wounds, it’ll hurt.”

“Sister, I’m crying from joy, really.” The pain was nothing compared to the mental torment she had suffered over the past days.

Xiao Cao smiled. “Once you’re healed, you can be happy all you want. Come over. The medicine you’ve been using is wrong, which is why it’s getting worse. I’ll prescribe something new for you. After a few applications, by tomorrow, the sores will start scabbing over. In a couple of days, the lumps will be gone. Very soon, you’ll fully recover. If there are any small scars, we can use some scar-removal ointment. You’ll be your pretty self again in no time.”

Meng Xinlan finally smiled through her tears.

“That’s better. Now, shall we have the others come back in?”

Meng Xinlan hesitated for a moment, lightly touched her face, knowing how unsightly she currently looked. Her future mother-in-law was here… Xiao Cao was likely her future sister-in-law… After biting her lip, she nodded.

Xiao Cao went out, her expression relaxed. Seeing this, the anxious and visibly tense Madam Meng let out a sigh of relief. Han Shi watched, puzzled.

“Xiao Cao, how is she?” Han Shi asked.

“It’s just insect bites. Though it looks scary, it’s not a big issue. She’ll be fine soon. Mother, when you see her, try not to overreact and scare her.”

“You cheeky girl, what are you saying?”

“Fourth Miss Wenren, did you say it’s really just insect bites?” Madam Meng asked, her tone full of disbelief, much like Meng Xinlan’s earlier reaction.

“Yes. What did you think it was, Madam?”

“N-nothing.” Madam Meng’s eyes lit up with visible joy.

Han Shi, being perceptive, was certain there was something suspicious here.

When they returned inside, Meng Xinlan had somewhat gathered herself. She now exhibited the proper demeanor and etiquette of a well-bred young lady, politely greeting Han Shi while apologizing for her behavior. However, she still didn’t dare meet anyone’s eyes, keeping her head down in an attempt to hide her face.