Luo Sheng’s brow twitched.

The lake water in early spring was still cold, and Luo Chen’s constitution was weak—this was precisely what she had been worried about.

Sure enough, the child had developed a fever.

Luo Sheng closed her eyes as many physicians’ faces flashed through her mind.

Her mother had poor health, and doctors came and went from the Prince’s Manor constantly. She understood all too well the serious consequences of a common cold.

If not handled properly, it could cost a life.

Thinking of that duplicitous youth, Luo Sheng’s heart clenched.

This matter had started because of her—she couldn’t just stand by and do nothing.

“Let’s go take a look.” Luo Sheng rose and walked outside.

Hong Dou quickly downed another cup of tea and hurried to follow.

Quite a few people had already gathered at Luo Chen’s quarters.

The Grand Madam was inquiring about the situation from the physician. Upon seeing Luo Sheng enter, she revealed a smile: “Cousin Miss has arrived.”

“Grand Aunt, how is my younger brother doing now?”

The Grand Madam suppressed her worry and consoled: “He’s just caught a chill. With proper care, he’ll certainly be fine.”

It would be a blessing if Cousin Miss didn’t add to the chaos—knowing too much served no purpose.

“Truly nothing serious?” Luo Sheng didn’t ask the Grand Madam but instead stared intently at the white-bearded physician.

The old physician had long heard of the Sheng Family’s Cousin Miss’s fierce reputation and couldn’t help shrinking his neck, echoing the Grand Madam’s words with a few sentences.

Luo Sheng lowered her brows: “If the physician says it’s nothing, then I’ll believe it.”

The coldness in her words was undisguised.

The old physician’s scalp tingled, and he hastily added: “The illness still varies from person to person—”

Luo Sheng said flatly: “Then please explain my younger brother’s condition clearly, physician.”

The old physician silently cursed this difficult young miss, considering his words carefully: “The young master has a weak constitution. Even if the fever subsides, there’s still a risk of developing lung disease. However, currently we’re focusing on dispelling wind and cold, then carefully recuperating his body…”

The more Luo Sheng listened, the more her brows furrowed.

Even among wealthy families and high-ranking officials, losing one’s life to a common cold was far from rare. Did this mean all the physicians they hired were quacks? Obviously not.

Treatment for colds actually had long established mature methods, but what often left doctors helpless were complications caused by individual patient differences.

Luo Sheng only had a superficial understanding of medicine, but she knew that Luo Chen’s danger lay in his excessively weak body, which had almost no resistance when facing the invasion of cold pathogenic influences.

“Thank you for informing me, physician. Grand Aunt, I’d like to go in and see my younger brother.”

The Grand Madam hesitated briefly before nodding, reminding her: “Chen’er is still sleeping.”

Luo Sheng nodded slightly, leaving Hong Dou outside while lightening her footsteps to enter the inner chamber.

The medicinal fragrance in the inner chamber was even more concentrated than yesterday. The young servant called Fu Song sat on a low stool beside the bed, tears welling in his eyes as he gazed at the unconscious Luo Chen.

Hearing movement, Fu Song turned his head and nearly fell off the low stool, blurting out: “Cousin Miss has arrived!”

Yesterday the young master had instructed him that if Cousin Miss came today, he should drive her out with a broom—so should he follow those orders or not?

While still hesitating, Luo Sheng had already approached and reached out to touch Luo Chen’s forehead.

The scorching heat burned her fingertips.

“Bring a basin of cold water.”

Though her tone was indifferent, it carried a force that Fu Song found impossible to refuse.

The young servant hurried to fetch water. Watching Luo Sheng wring out a hand towel and place it on Luo Chen’s forehead, he silently set aside his dilemma.

Having already accepted Cousin Miss’s commands, driving her out now would be rather inappropriate.

Luo Chen seemed to sense the coolness on his forehead, and his eyelashes trembled.

His hand was held by a slightly cool hand, and a gentle yet firm voice spoke in his ear: “Rest assured, with me here, I’ll definitely make you better.”

This voice was both strange and familiar. In his half-awake, half-asleep state, Luo Chen took a long while to react: This was Luo Sheng!

The youth who had been peacefully unconscious suddenly grew anxious.

Was Luo Sheng about to cause trouble again? No, he needed to quickly get up!

While the youth struggled against drowsiness, Luo Sheng had already quietly departed.

“Hong Dou, take one thousand taels in banknotes and accompany me to the street.” Luo Sheng ordered upon returning to her room.

Hong Dou’s eyes lit up upon hearing this. She crisply agreed and hurried to fetch the money.

The young miss was still that same young miss—that familiar feeling had returned!

The little maid tucked the banknotes into her sleeve and followed Luo Sheng as they left the Sheng Manor with heads held high and chests out. When passing the matrons guarding the second gate, she didn’t forget to spit in their direction.

Upon receiving the news, the Grand Madam’s vision went dark, a single thought spinning madly through her mind: Cousin Miss has—gone—out—to—the—street—again!

The Grand Madam still had lingering fears about the consequences of Cousin Miss’s previous street outings.

Sheng Jiayu hurriedly supported her mother who was about to faint: “Mother, don’t worry, I’ll follow and take a look!”

Before the Grand Madam could stop her, Sheng Jiayu had already dashed out in a flash.

Up ahead, Luo Sheng and her servant walked at an unhurried pace. Sheng Jiayu pursed her lips and followed behind. When Hong Dou unconsciously looked back, she quickly hid behind a tree, her heart pounding wildly.

After calming down, Sheng Jiayu followed again.

Unexpectedly, Luo Sheng didn’t linger on the bustling streets but instead entered an apothecary.

Sheng Jiayu hid in a corner for a long while before seeing Luo Sheng emerge from the shop.

What had Luo Sheng gone into the apothecary for?

Sheng Jiayu carefully examined the sign reading “Jishi Hall,” thinking she must have misread the characters.

Hong Dou shared the same confusion.

The little maid clutched her now-empty purse, stammering: “Miss, the silver is almost all spent.”

She didn’t even recognize what medicinal ingredients they were, yet they were so expensive!

Being expensive didn’t really matter, but how could they have fun without money on hand?

Luo Sheng nodded lightly: “Let’s return.”

Being able to purchase that particular medicinal ingredient in such a small city truly made her breathe a sigh of relief.

She didn’t understand medicine, but several prescriptions were firmly lodged in her mind.

These were some medicinal pills that the Prince had expended great effort to have the renowned divine physician Li Fanghai formulate for her mother. One type was called Yang Yuan Dan, which could nourish one’s constitution, and another was called退 Han Wan, which had miraculous effects in treating colds.

Yang Yuan Dan and退 Han Wan had excellent medicinal effects. If one had to mention a drawback, it was that they were expensive.

The one thousand taels in banknotes she had brought were only enough to purchase the medicinal ingredients needed for Tui Han Wan. As for one ingredient needed for Yang Yuan Dan, it still had to be procured from elsewhere—she had only paid a deposit.

Only when Luo Sheng learned the price of the medicinal ingredients did she deeply comprehend the changes brought by twelve years.

Twelve years ago, one thousand taels in banknotes would have been enough to obtain both medicines.

“Miss, what are you buying these medicinal ingredients for?” Hong Dou patted her small bundle.

“To compound a medicine.”

Hong Dou’s eyes widened: “You know how to make medicine?”

Luo Sheng shook her head matter-of-factly: “Of course not. Isn’t there that white-bearded physician at the manor?”

“Ah, right, our miss is still so clever.” Hong Dou casually delivered a flattering comment and had no further doubts.

However, Luo Sheng paused mid-step and turned her head to ask: “How long does Cousin intend to follow?”

From behind a maple tree slowly emerged a yellow-robed young girl with an embarrassed expression—it was none other than Sheng Jiayu.

Hong Dou couldn’t help but widen her eyes: “Cousin Miss was following us?”

Sheng Jiayu’s face reddened as she covered up: “I just happened to go out and ran into you.”

Hong Dou pursed her lips: “Stop making excuses. You were clearly following our miss. Tsk tsk, if you wanted to go to the street with our miss, you should have just said so directly. Maybe if our miss is in a good mood, she would have agreed.”

The miss now had fewer people serving her, making street outings less lively. Reluctantly accepting the Grand Cousin Miss could work too.

The little maid examined Sheng Jiayu with an appraising, critical gaze.