“What—” Third Miss Meng truly lost her composure this time. A panic gripped her heart, as if her secrets had been exposed. Her body trembled slightly, and perhaps her overreaction drew the attention of everyone around. “No, I meant, how did Second Sister encounter a venomous creature? And it’s so serious?” As soon as she finished speaking, Third Miss Meng wished she could slap herself.

“Indeed, how could she encounter a venomous creature? I’d like to know that too. Yao-jie, why don’t you help Aunt analyze the situation?”

Xiao Cao, nearby, suddenly began coughing, her face turning red.

Han Shi quickly moved to pat her back, “Oh dear, what’s wrong?” She was deeply worried.

Xiao Cao finally recovered, feeling a little embarrassed. “Mom, I just choked a bit. I’m fine.” To choke on one’s own saliva is indeed embarrassing, but it wasn’t her fault — the mention of “Yao-jie” had triggered some unfortunate associations.

Once Han Shi confirmed that Xiao Cao was alright, her attention returned to Meng Xinyao. “Yao-jie, help Aunt analyze this.”

Meng Xinyao’s heart pounded like a drum. “I… I don’t know.”

Why is this happening? How could it be like this? According to her plan, if the girl got infected with a dirty disease, she would keep it tightly under wraps, afraid to reveal even a bit to the outside world. She wouldn’t dare to speak of it, not even to her own family. Ruining Meng Xinlan’s reputation wasn’t her ultimate goal, because if Meng Xinlan’s name was tarnished, she wouldn’t fare well either.

But with the Wenren family involved, it was another matter…

The venom’s toxicity wasn’t too severe—whether strong or weak, it would heal in a month or two without medication. The reason she had framed it as a dirty disease was to ensure Meng Xinlan wouldn’t seek other treatment. Additionally, she had added something to the medication, so that once Meng Xinlan recovered, her outward appearance would be utterly ruined.

Becoming an ugly monster, it would be a blessing if Meng Xinlan could spend her life in seclusion with nothing but prayer!

“Aunt, who examined Second Sister? Could there be some mistake?” Meng Xinyao asked cautiously.

“I hope it’s a mistake, which is why we’ve sent for Doctor Wu again.” Madam Meng didn’t answer her previous question. Doctor Wu was the Meng family’s trusted physician.

Meng Xinyao’s legs gave way, and she nearly lost her balance.

“Yao-jie, what’s wrong? You don’t look well,” Madam Meng asked with ‘concern.’

Emotions can escalate fast when people are under pressure.

Meng Xinyao shook her head. “It’s nothing, Aunt. Since there’s nothing I can help with here, I’ll take my leave.”

“Busy? Busy covering your tracks and destroying evidence, are you?” Madam Meng’s voice turned cold. “Oh, I didn’t think you had such courage, Yao-jie. To even frame and silence someone. If that’s the case, I can’t let you leave.”

“Aunt, what are you saying? I… I don’t understand.”

Madam Meng’s patience had run out. She walked swiftly forward and slapped Meng Xinyao across the face. “You vicious, ungrateful wretch. What did Xinlan ever do to you to deserve such harm?”

“Aunt, I didn’t do anything…” Meng Xinyao tried to protest.

Another slap struck her. “Keep talking, keep denying it! If you dare to say another word, do you believe I won’t have you and your mother thrown out of the Meng family? You should know your grandfather’s temperament.”

Meng Xinyao clutched her cheek, trembling in terror.

Madam Meng felt both disappointed and heartbroken. Once, she had harbored a tiny glimmer of hope. But now, Meng Xinyao’s reaction had confirmed everything.

The Meng family had only two branches. Each had one wife and one concubine, both producing children. Even so, the total number of children only amounted to six or seven. Madam Meng had applied the same level of care to raising the children, and she hadn’t treated the children of the concubines any worse than the legitimate ones. As for the second branch’s children, she had treated them like her own. And what had she gotten in return? Her daughter had almost been destroyed by the most vicious of means!

“Meng Xinyao, I’ve never raised my voice at anyone in my entire life, let alone hit someone. But today, with you, I’ve done both. Does that count as your achievement?—Someone, lock her in the ancestral hall. Assign people to guard her. We’ll wait for the whole family to return, report this to the Old Master, and then we’ll decide what to do with her.”

The servants standing by were only just grasping the situation — so it was Third Miss Meng who had caused so much suffering to Second Miss Meng?! Although it was hard to believe, their greater reaction was anger. After all, Second Miss Meng had always treated Third Miss Meng so well. Whenever there was something good, she would share it with her, even giving up things she liked if it meant Third Miss could have them. And this is how Third Miss repays her? A thankless, cruel brute!

Dragging Meng Xinyao away, the servants showed no mercy.

At this point, Meng Xinyao had become surprisingly docile — rather, she was completely overwhelmed and didn’t know how to react. Since she never anticipated the situation would escalate beyond her control, there was plenty of evidence left behind, enough to make everything clear. She had no chance of denying involvement.

In the end, she was simply too inexperienced. Her maliciousness outpaced her understanding of consequences, so her downfall seemed almost inevitable.

The servants who served Meng Xinyao were clearly aware of what their mistress had done. As accomplices, they likely had aided her many times before. However, this time was different — the truth was out, and their punishment would be even more severe than their mistress’s. So, needless to say, they were shaking with fear.

Even the head maid, who could usually maintain control of the situation, was humbled. Before she could say anything, the furious maids and mamas struck her down. When a master commits wrong, the blame falls on the servants for leading them astray. Even if they couldn’t vent their anger on the Third Mistress, they could certainly unleash it on others of similar rank.

Sometimes, people’s simple minds are easily swayed by strong emotions. Anger clouds reason, and a person lacking reason tends to act fiercely. This scene proved that well enough.

As the farce played out, Xiao Cao re-applied ointment to Meng Xinlan and made sure she drank her prescribed medicine. By now, it was almost time for lunch, but the atmosphere in the mansion remained tense. Though the senior members of the family, mostly out of the house, hadn’t returned, everyone was aware of the shocking news—that Third Miss Meng had poisoned Second Miss Meng.

Such an incident had never occurred before, leaving everyone on edge.

The result of this tension was that when Meng Old Master and Wenren Yang sat down for lunch, Meng Old Master immediately noticed something was wrong. “What’s going on?”

With a guest in the house, why were the family members acting so strangely?

Meng Old Master had spent his entire life studying, teaching, and instilling values of integrity. He was a man of principle who couldn’t tolerate moral compromises. The good atmosphere within the household stemmed from his guidance, and while he wasn’t an authoritarian, he was undeniably the absolute authority in the family. Therefore, the rest of the family dared not act carelessly in his presence.

Now that he was asking, no one dared to hide the truth. A servant quietly summarized the situation for him.

Immediately, Meng Old Master’s face darkened. Meng Xinlan was his favorite granddaughter, more cherished than some of his grandsons. He knew that she had been unwell recently, but, as a grandfather, it was not convenient for him to visit her. His daughter-in-law had assured him it wasn’t serious, just that recovery might take some time. So, he had only offered a few words of caution and hadn’t paid much attention. But now they were telling him it wasn’t just an illness—there were deeper, more sordid problems involved?!

However, like most scholars, he was prideful, and with Wenren Yang present, he naturally didn’t show any anger. Still, even though his face remained composed, his good mood vanished completely.

Not long after the meal, Han Shi prepared to take her son and daughter home. She was no longer interested in meddling in the remaining issues of the Meng family, even though they concerned her future daughter-in-law. In the end, such matters were still the family’s own business. So, she asked someone to call for Wenren Yang.

If it were any other time, Master Meng might try to persuade them to stay. But under the current circumstances, he simply let them go without hesitation.

Once Wenren Yang came over, Han Shi was about to leave with her children. However, Xiao Cao pulled Wenren Yang aside. “Xiao Si should go say a few words to Miss Meng. Since we came to visit her while she’s sick, how could we leave without exchanging even a word?”

“Xuan’er, that might be inappropriate,” Han Shi objected.

“Mother, there’s a screen separating them. It’s just a few words. They’re already engaged. What’s the harm?”

Han Shi had no choice but to relent. For anyone else, perhaps she could maintain authority—but not with Xiao Cao. Putting aside small matters, if it were a matter of great importance, she’d still likely yield.

Xiao Cao pulled Wenren Si aside and whispered some advice in his ear. Wenren Si obediently nodded, following her instructions to the letter.

For a young woman, being seen in her most vulnerable state might be reluctantly acceptable before her future mother-in-law, but she would hardly wish for her fiancé to see her like that. The presence of the screen indeed alleviated Meng Xinlan’s tension.

Wenren Yang, following the guidance of his elder sister, showed great concern while speaking to Meng Xinlan, urging her to rest and take care of herself.

Wenren Yang always spoke a little slowly, and now his voice came across as soft and gentle. Facing her fiancé, Meng Xinlan naturally felt some shyness, but her heart also welled up with sweetness.

Previously, Meng Xinlan had been somewhat naive about matters of love, but it seemed she was starting to realize something now.

The others nearby didn’t move in too closely, but they could still hear the conversation in general. Han Shi found it hard to believe. Since when had her bookworm son become so good at coaxing a girl? Her eyes instinctively landed on Xiao Cao.

Xiao Cao, looking completely innocent, as if saying, “I did nothing wrong. Don’t look at me.”

As they left the Meng household and were about to board the carriage, Han Shi couldn’t resist teasing her son again. However, Wenren Yang remained calm, his expression unchanged as if he had mentally checked out, clearly off in his own world again. This left Han Shi both amused and frustrated. That rascal hadn’t changed at all.

Once on the carriage, Han Shi couldn’t help but comment, “That Miss Meng hasn’t even married into our family, yet Xuan’er already treats her so well.” Her tone held a touch of jealousy.

“Mother, I’m just doing this for Xiao Si. After they marry, Miss Meng will surely treat Xiao Si well out of duty as his wife. But there’s a big difference between showing affection out of love and doing so out of obligation. Considering Xiao Si’s temperament, how much feeling could he possibly have for Miss Meng? Even if she’s well-read, can she truly match his intellectual level? Literary companionship and sincere emotional connection are two entirely different matters. Can we really expect Xiao Si to play the role of a romantic suitor? Mother, just put yourself in her shoes—how would you feel?”

Han Shi genuinely thought for a moment. If her husband had the same personality as her son, the very idea gave her chills.

“Exactly,” Xiao Cao continued. “So, while they’re still not married and while Miss Meng remains unaware of Xiao Si’s true nature, we should deepen her feelings for him. If we can make her fall deeply in love before the wedding, then, after they’re married, even if Xiao Si isn’t exactly as she expected, as long as he doesn’t mistreat her, she’ll willingly and wholeheartedly take care of him. She’ll do it out of love. Miss Meng is the type of girl who wouldn’t easily interact with other men, but when it comes to her fiancé, small gestures and gifts are seen as perfectly appropriate. Girls like her are easy to win over with just a little affection.”

Han Shi looked at Xiao Cao in a strange way, as if to say: I didn’t expect you to be like this, Xuan’er.

Xiao Cao felt a little embarrassed. Is it bad to be teaching her brother how to court a woman? But then again, if he’s courting someone he’s going to marry, does it really count as manipulation? Xiao Cao tried to justify it to herself, though her gaze drifted a bit uncomfortably.

Han Shi chuckled, pulling her daughter closer to lean on her shoulder. This was her daughter, after all—perhaps a bit unconventional, but still well within the bounds of her acceptability. As a mother, what could she do but pamper and spoil her?

Now comfortable with her mother’s affection, Xiao Cao even occasionally acted a bit coy, a significant change compared to earlier times.

“Mother,” Xiao Cao asked, her voice thoughtful, “given that young girls growing up under the same roof might have occasional quarrels and even fight, how could things escalate to such a vicious level? How much hatred is necessary to wish harm upon one’s own sister?”

“Silly Xuan’er,” Han Shi gently chided, “Although you’ve experienced much, your surroundings have always been relatively simple. You can’t yet grasp the complexity and fickleness of human nature. The most poisonous schemes, the most vicious people, don’t necessarily act out of hatred or enmity. Sometimes, it’s merely out of envy or a desire to seize what was never theirs to begin with. That Third Miss Meng—you saw how she looked flushed when she entered the room, clearly in a hurry before she came in. You could see from her actions that she wasn’t there for her cousin’s well-being. Her whole focus was on me, trying desperately to impress me. Why would she flaunt herself like that? The reason she targeted her sister is all too obvious.”

Xiao Cao was silent for a moment. “So, she’s got her eyes on Xiao Si and was willing to harm her sister to steal her fiancé?”

Han Shi couldn’t help but laugh at her daughter’s disbelief. “What’s so strange about that?”

“No, I just mean—Mother, with a personality like Xiao Si’s, if it wasn’t for parental orders and a matchmaker’s arrangements, wouldn’t it be difficult for him to find a wife? Why does it seem like he’s suddenly in high demand?”

“What’s wrong with your brother? Xuan’er, are you saying you don’t think much of him?” Han Shi’s tone turned playfully ominous.

Xiao Cao, thinking her mother was genuinely upset, quickly tried to explain, “No, of course not! I just meant…”

“Sweet Xuan’er,” Han Shi cut her off gently, “there are some hard truths best left unsaid.”

Xiao Cao: “…”

Han Shi then burst into laughter. “I know what you mean. It’s true that for family, like us, it’s hard to see the appeal. His character, to be honest, wouldn’t make any girl fall head over heels. But from an outsider’s perspective, Wenren Yang carries himself with dignity, has exceptional scholarly achievements, and comes from a respectable lineage. To them, he’s the very definition of an ideal suitor.”