Thrown out of the house, the wet nurse enters the noble household and becomes a person of high statu

That night.

The lights in Tinglan Courtyard went out one by one, leaving only a gauze lamp in the main room, casting a dim light.

After taking a bath, Wen Jingshu's long hair was half-dry and hung loosely down her back.

She sat upright in front of the dressing table, while Zizhu wrung out her hair from behind.

"Nanny Zhao has taken the young master to the side room to settle him in. The maids on night duty are all waiting there, so Madam can rest assured."

"Um."

The woman in the mirror responded, her features still gentle and beautiful.

Thanks to careful postpartum care, her skin has regained its former fair complexion.

But she knew that things were different from before.

Although her waist has become much slimmer, it no longer possesses the lightness and grace of her youth.

Although my lower abdomen is flatter, my skin has become a bit looser and is no longer as firm as before.

Before she was married, she would do her makeup in front of the mirror in the same way, her heart filled with shy anticipation for her future husband.

After marrying into the Pei family, although she and Pei Dingxuan were not deeply in love, they treated each other with respect.

But ever since I got pregnant with Ye'er, through childbirth, postpartum confinement, and recovery...

Upon closer inspection, it turned out they hadn't shared a bed in almost a year.

Tonight is the day he asked to return, and Wen Jingshu has prepared a surprise for him.

After wringing out her hair, Zizhu turned around and took the bedclothes that had been prepared in advance from the clothes rack next to her.

It was a wide-sleeved gauze dress made of extremely soft pink silk gauze, the material as thin as a cicada's wing, faintly revealing the color of the skin.

Zizhu helped her remove her outer robe and change into a gauze dress.

The gauze dress did fit well, outlining her figure, but the lotus scroll pattern embroidered on the chest and below the waist, partially concealing and revealing, made it even more alluring.

"Sigh, things are different now than before," Wen Jingshu sighed.

Zizhu quickly comforted her gently, "Madam, please don't overthink it. Master will be delighted to see the surprise you prepared. Besides, you gave birth to the eldest grandson of the main branch, which is a great achievement that Master remembers."

"Okay, you can go and rest now. No one needs to watch over you at night. We'll call you if we need anything."

Zizhu tactfully withdrew.

Wen Jingshu lay down in bed and waited silently.

After an unknown amount of time, the very soft sound of a door opening came from the outside.

Pei Dingxuan walked in. He had changed out of his daytime official robes and was only wearing his sleeping clothes, his body still slightly damp from his bath.

His cold, stern face showed signs of weariness from being tied up with official duties. He didn't look much into the tent, but instead lifted the other side of the brocade quilt and lay down.

The bed sank slightly under his weight, and Wen Jingshu turned over and moved closer to him.

"uncle."

"Hmm?" Pei Dingxuan thought she was already asleep.

Wen Jingshu took a deep breath, and using the dim light filtering in from outside the tent, looked at the profile of his closed-eye face, and spoke softly.

"I noticed that you seem to really like Luoluo, and Ye'er is also very healthy now. If... if we could have a daughter too, we would have both a son and a daughter, making a perfect family."

Her earnest anticipation was palpable as she said these words.

Pei Dingxuan did not open his eyes, lying flat on the bed with his hands on his abdomen, sleeping very properly.

"Ye'er is not yet one year old, and your body has not fully recovered. The doctor said that you need to recuperate for one or two years after giving birth. Getting pregnant again now will harm your body and is not a good thing."

His words were clear and logical, and his reasons were sound.

Every word and sentence was written with her in mind; it showed genuine concern.

For Wen Jingshu, it was like a basin of lukewarm water—not scalding, but enough to extinguish the flames in her heart.

"Yes... Your Excellency is right. I was inconsiderate."

"Okay, go to sleep."

Pei Dingxuan's breathing gradually became even and long, as if he had fallen asleep.

Wen Jingshu found it difficult to sleep soundly, feeling that the specially prepared gauze dress on her body was a bit itchy.

He didn't even glance at her meticulous preparations.

Wen Jingshu couldn't lie still any longer. She lifted the covers, carefully changing her gauze dress into the most ordinary nightgown before lying back down.

The night was deep, and they were sleeping in the same bed but dreaming different dreams.

The closer it got to Lunar New Year's Eve, the busier the Duke's mansion became.

All the servants in the household, whether they were high-ranking stewardesses or lowly maids and servants, moved with lightning speed and were on high alert.

For a noble family like the Duke of Yuguo's mansion, the year-end ancestral worship ceremony was a must.

It's not as simple as an ordinary family lighting a few incense sticks and kowtowing a few times.

The ancestral hall was already properly decorated, with offerings of meat, fresh fruit, and wine laid out on the altar.

The elders of the clan gathered together, standing in order of seniority, and the Duke and his wife led their children and grandchildren forward one by one.

Burning incense, kneeling in worship, offering libations, and reading prayers—every step was solemn and dignified.

Liu Wenying and the other maids stood in the corner, watching their masters bow and pay their respects again and again.

The air was filled with the scent of sandalwood and candlelight. Even the lively Ye'er was affected by the solemn atmosphere and nestled obediently in Madam Wen's arms without crying or making a fuss.

The ancestral worship ceremony is complicated and lasts from the hour of Chen (7-9 AM) until the hour of Wei (1-3 PM) before finally coming to an end.

Before the masters of the manor could even catch their breath, they had to rush to prepare for the next big event.

That was to go to the Xiangguo Temple, the most popular temple in the suburbs of Beijing, to pray for blessings.

This has been a long-standing tradition of the Pei family. At the end of the year, all the masters of the household, from the old lady and the Duke and his wife to the young masters and ladies of each branch, must go to the Daxiangguo Temple to offer incense and worship Buddha.

Firstly, it's to thank the gods and Buddhas for their protection throughout the year, and secondly, it's to pray for blessings in the coming year.

This December was exceptionally cold, with a biting north wind, and a significant snowfall occurred a few days ago.

The old lady is quite old and cannot withstand too much stress.

Therefore, the government had already decided to move the annual blessing ceremony, which usually took place in the first month of the lunar calendar, to the twelfth month.

Once the ancestral worship ceremony is over, we will set off immediately so that we can settle all the important matters before New Year's Eve and enjoy the New Year in peace.

In the small house in the southeast corner, Liu Wenying quickly packed her belongings after receiving the notification.

The entire household went to the Daxiangguo Temple to pray for blessings and fast, a trip that would last at least three days. As Ye Ge'er's wet nurse, she naturally had to accompany and serve him.

Xiao Zhu helped hold Luo Luo, her face full of envy.

"Sister Liu, you're so kind to be able to go to the Great Xiangguo Temple with your masters. I heard that temple is huge, and incredibly popular with worshippers. So many high-ranking officials and nobles from the capital go there to offer incense!"

"It's just my duty to go and serve the young master."

The journey was bumpy, and the temple was austere; it was not necessarily more comfortable than staying in the mansion.

"How can that be the same? It's good to go out and broaden your horizons! Besides..."

She lowered her voice, with the shyness and anticipation unique to young girls, "I've heard that praying for marriage at the Great Xiangguo Temple is the most effective."

Xiaozhu's parents both work odd jobs in the household and will be fifteen next year.

In wealthy families, when a maid reached marriageable age, the master would often consider her marriage, either by marrying her off to a servant in the household or by letting her go out to marry on her own.

"Sister Liu, if you have some free time, could you please get me a marriage charm?"

Fearing that Liu Wenying would think she was greedy, she added, "I don't ask for great wealth or status. I just hope to marry an honest, kind, and caring person so we can live a peaceful and stable life together."

Xiao Zhu's wish was simple and her attitude was good, so how could Liu Wenying not help her?

"Okay, I've got it. I pray for a marriage charm and for the Bodhisattva's blessing so that our Xiaozhu can find a suitable husband in the future."

Xiao Zhu immediately beamed with joy and thanked him repeatedly.

Liu Wenying packed her belongings, including everyday clothes, some loose change, and ginger syrup to keep the children warm.

When traveling, it's always necessary to be prepared for any eventuality.

But I hope there won't be any troubles along the way.

…………