If not for keeping up the act, Wen Ning would have clicked her tongue outright. Was “sharing the bed” really such a prize? And they were fighting over it. If it was all just a dream, why not dream bigger—like handsome men competing to serve her?
She put on a look of shock and sorrow. “You… you really think of me this way? How could I ever dare hope for the Protector’s favor? Last night I was truly frightened, so I sought his help. Though he caught the man who broke into my room, he barely spoke to me. I could tell clearly—he dislikes me. I know my place. Someone like me, with no talent and a timid nature, is unworthy to stand at his side. The one who deserves that place should be a woman like Sister Luo—dignified and wise.”
Her self‑deprecation, paired with lavish praise for Concubine Luo, left everyone stunned. The absurd part was that she spoke with such sincerity, as if from the heart. What was this woman doing, playing completely against the rules?
Concubine Hua gaped for a long moment before finding her voice. “You… you know it then. Someone like you could never compare to Sister Luo…”
“Yingying.” Concubine Luo spoke calmly, cutting her off.
Wen Ning glanced at her, secretly curling her lip. So late to intervene—only after several rounds of bickering.
Concubine Hua truly was the perfect little sidekick, happily used as a weapon.
Concubine Luo looked at Wen Ning again, as if trying to pierce through her. “Last night, you truly said nothing to the Protector?”
Wen Ning immediately held up three fingers in a vow. “Sister Luo, you must believe me.”
Unless Concubine Luo had the nerve to ask Chen Jinfeng directly, she couldn’t prove otherwise. And even if she suspected Wen Ning was lying, it hardly mattered. Everyone knew they weren’t truly “sisters.”
Wen Ning pressed her lips together, looking forlorn. “Besides, even if I wanted to speak more with the Protector, he wouldn’t bother with me…”
Concubine Hua’s face lit with glee. So she had been rebuffed last night—serves her right!
Concubine Luo studied her for a long while, then finally smiled her usual flawless smile, tinged with apology. “Then I misunderstood you, Ning’er. We entered the Protector’s household together—it is fate. I only wish to prevent us sisters from harming one another. Surely you understand?”
Wen Ning quickly lifted her gaze, eyes brimming with gratitude. “Of course, I understand Sister Luo’s intentions. I’ve always regarded you as my own elder sister. Hearing of Sister Cheng’s misfortune pains me deeply as well.”
Concubine Hua looked uncomfortable, wrinkling her nose. “Hmph. Who knows if your words are true or false…”
But Wen Ning suddenly turned to her, face earnest. “Sister Hua, in fact, I’ve been meaning to say—you must have been constipated for quite some time, haven’t you? Constipation may not be a serious illness, but it shouldn’t be left untreated.”
Concubine Hua froze, her eyes widening in disbelief. “You… you…” How did this woman know about her constipation?
Wen Ning smiled faintly. “I’ve had some free time lately, so I’ve been studying a few medical books left by my grandfather. They say that people suffering long‑term from constipation often have a dull complexion, with dark spots or patches appearing on the nasolabial folds or cheekbones. They also tend to develop acne. Just now, I noticed Sister Hua has several pimples on her face. Using such heavy powder at this time will only hinder their healing.”
Concubine Hua quickly raised her hand to cover the blemishes, her expression a mix of shock and humiliation. “Just from those few points, you…”
“Of course, not only those.” Wen Ning glanced at her, feigning difficulty.
“When Sister Hua spoke just now, I noticed a strong odor from her mouth. That too is a symptom of long‑term constipation.”
Concubine Hua nearly fainted. Wasn’t this the same as executing her in public?
The others stared at Wen Ning in disbelief. So when she said she studied medical texts, she really meant it! But was this something a proper young lady should be doing?
Wen Ning remained calm. Exposing Concubine Hua’s ailment wasn’t just to shame her. More importantly, she had already decided last night: she had no other skills, only medicine. If she wanted to earn money, this was her path. Revealing her medical knowledge bit by bit would help her future plans. And who said enemies couldn’t become patients?
The more of an enemy they were, the less guilty she would feel cutting them down.
With that wicked thought, Wen Ning smiled. “It seems Sister Hua does care for herself. Surely you’ve already sought treatment, but since it hasn’t worked, perhaps the physician’s methods were lacking. In the texts I’ve read these past days, there are several remedies for constipation. If Sister Hua doesn’t mind…”
Constipation, constipation—was she going to stitch those words onto her lips?
Concubine Hua was so mortified she nearly cried. She stomped her foot and shouted: “Who do you think you are? I… I don’t want your treatment!”
Then she stormed out of Wen Ning’s room.
Only then did Concubine Luo recover, her expression complicated as she looked at Wen Ning—who met her gaze with innocent bewilderment. Her eye twitched. Her instincts told her Wen Ning was definitely hiding something. But for now, she couldn’t see what medicine this woman was selling in her gourd. At last, she said softly: “I didn’t expect Ning’er to have such talent in medicine. Just a few books, and you can do this much.”
Wen Ning immediately put on a shy, modest look. “It’s only a trifling skill. If Sister Luo doesn’t mind, I could take your pulse for peace of mind.”
Concubine Luo choked, quickly replying: “No need.” She could no longer stay. Making an excuse, she hurried out of Wen Ning’s room.
Only after leaving the courtyard did she turn to her trusted maid, Shuqin, with her brows furrowed. “What do you think of Lady Wen now?”
Shuqin said: “She has changed greatly. I can’t see what she intends. Suddenly studying medicine—could it be to attract the Protector’s attention?”
Another maid, Siqi, scoffed. “What respectable family’s daughter studies such lowly arts? Even if she learns well, can she surpass Physician Huo at the Protector’s side?”
Everyone frowned. How could Wen Ning compare to Physician Huo? It was an insult!
Shuqin nodded in agreement. “Indeed, I was mistaken. And as Sister Hua said, if the Protector were truly bewitched by her, he wouldn’t have sent her back to her own quarters last night. I suspect he already knew of Concubine Cheng’s adultery, and simply used the incident to dispose of her. The Protector has never been close to women. If he were so easy to approach, you wouldn’t have been troubled these past two years.”
Concubine Luo fell silent, recalling that dragon‑like, phoenix‑eyed man of extraordinary bearing. Her heart felt stuffed with cotton—swollen and aching. Such a man—what woman could resist? Otherwise, two years ago, she wouldn’t have begged her father to send her into the Protector’s household. Yet after two years, he hadn’t even looked at her properly. She had once thought his eyes would never hold any woman. She could not be the exception. Wen Ning certainly could not. At last, she pressed her lips together. “Keep an eye on Lady Wen. If nothing else happens, leave her be for now.”
Siqi laughed. “Of course. The Protector has finally returned, and they say he will stay long in Fenglin. Mistress, you must focus on him now. Who has time to bother with that pretender Wen Ning?”
Concubine Luo said nothing, but her lips curved slightly, her face blooming like a peach blossom, radiant and alluring.
Note: The heroine’s rank in the Wen family is now clarified—she is the third daughter.