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

With the initial success, food was temporarily not in short supply, and Liu Wenying felt at ease.

For several days in a row, she would sneak off to the secluded lake behind the mountain late at night or as dusk approached, and repeat her old trick.

She also found some thin hemp rope among the abandoned items in the temple and wove a simple but quite sturdy small net by herself.

In addition, they have explored more efficient methods.

After chiseling open the ice hole, sprinkle salt evenly around it.

Salt can lower the freezing point, causing the ice layer at the edge of the ice eye to melt and expand more rapidly.

At the same time, the salt seeps into the water, making it easier for fish lacking oxygen to gather near the entrance of the hole.

In this way, within half an incense stick's time, you can catch two or three small but fresh fish.

Granny Tian had been kind to her. Besides sharing half of the monthly allowance and rewards she received in the first few months, Granny Tian refused to share any more with Liu Wenying later.

Remembering the kindness of her godmother and goddaughter, Liu Wenying did not forget her and shared some of the fish soup she had cooked with her.

Granny Tian was worldly-wise and wouldn't tell anyone.

That evening, Liu Wenying took her tools and, familiar with the route, arrived at the lake behind the plum grove.

Having found a spot with relatively thin ice, Liu Wenying began to break through the ice to fish.

The ice gradually melts, revealing the deep, cold lake water below.

He took out a small paper packet from his pocket and sprinkled the few remaining salt grains inside onto the edge of the ice eye.

Then came the waiting.

Liu Wenying held her breath, half-kneeling on the ice, holding her homemade net in one hand, her eyes fixed on the small hole.

The lake was dark and initially there was no movement.

But soon, several small, silvery-white fish, about the length of a finger, floated to the surface.

With quick eyes and hands, Liu Wenying gently probed the net and then lifted it, and two small fish fell into the net.

She was overjoyed, and soon she caught two more.

Liu Wenying wasn't greedy; the soup made from the four small fish was enough for the three of them.

While others are starving and emaciated, if they eat with oily skin, it would arouse suspicion.

Just as Liu Wenying was about to wrap up, a clear and calm voice suddenly sounded from behind her.

"How dare you harbor murderous thoughts and dine on meat in this sacred Buddhist sanctuary?"

The net and the bag of fish in her hands almost slipped from her grasp. Liu Wenying's heart pounded, and she turned around to look in the direction of the sound.

Not far away, beneath a snow-covered pine tree, stood a figure in frosty white.

Pei Zeyu was not wearing a fox fur coat today, but only a plain frost-colored straight robe, with a cotton cloak of the same color over it, and a simple jade belt around his waist.

Her black hair was neatly tied up with a white jade hairpin, without a single strand out of place.

He stood there quietly, as if he had become one with the surrounding cedars and icy lake.

Bathed in the light of the snow, he exuded an air of refined elegance. His deep eyes swept over her with an air of authority that made Liu Wenying's skin crawl.

Oh no, I've been caught red-handed by Second Master.

I've heard that the second master in the manor is gentle and mild-mannered. Should she ask him to be more accommodating?

"This servant greets Second Master."

Liu Wenying knelt and bowed on the ice, her body trembling slightly. She looked afraid, but she was actually cold.

"What's your name?"

"This servant is Liu Wenying."

Liu Wenying? Isn't that the servant who mended the clothes the other day? Pei Zeyu had a vague impression of her.

"Are you aware that Daguo Temple is a sacred Buddhist site, where killing is forbidden and meat is prohibited?"

He slowly took two steps closer, his boots crunching on the snow. "You are fishing here, which violates the temple rules and is disrespectful to Buddha."

A question posed in the heat of the moment is far more unsettling than a direct rebuke.

But Liu Wenying also wanted to ask, if Buddha really has a spirit, how could he just stand by and watch so many people be trapped and starving to death?

She was still a modern person at heart and didn't believe in these things. Now, in order to survive, she was fishing and had no reason to feel any reverence.

But she also knew that what was in her heart could never be spoken aloud.

Liu Wenying composed herself, lowered her body, and said helplessly, "Second Master, please understand, this servant did not intend to be disrespectful. It's just that the temple has been without food for many days, and this servant only wanted to find some food to survive."

Moreover, the lake is located in a remote area, outside the temple grounds. I believe it is not within the forbidden Buddhist area, so I beg Your Excellency for mercy.

"Sharp-tongued." Pei Zeyu uttered four words casually, a compliment disguised as criticism, "Is it acceptable to disregard rules and act arbitrarily just to survive?"

Liu Wenying dared not respond, fearing she would be unable to resist refuting.

In Pei Zeyu's eyes, her obedient appearance was nothing but guilt and fear that left her speechless.

Well, being outside the mansion, he wasn't one to meddle in other people's business.

Clean things up and leave no trace. I did not witness what happened today.

After saying that, he turned and left, his frosty figure quickly blending into the snow.

Eh?

Does this mean Second Master is letting it go?

Liu Wenying was prepared to be punished, but she didn't expect that the other party would just make a lot of noise but do little.

Thankfully, since the other party didn't hold it against her, she sincerely praised the Second Master for his magnanimity.

Have you tidied everything up?

Dream on! How could she bear to let go of a fish she finally caught?

Besides, the fish was almost dried out, so why not eat it?

Liu Wenying found a secluded corner and quickly processed the few small fish.

Although the fish is not big, it still needs to be processed, especially since the gallbladder is bitter.

Just as the fish soup was ready to be cooked and salted, a frosty figure quietly approached, casting a shadow that fell directly over Liu Wenying, who was squatting on the ground.

Liu Wenying looked at the shadow that suddenly appeared above her head and turned her head back again and again.

The Second Master had a handsome face with well-defined features, and a smile on his lips, but his demeanor was cold.

Liu Wenying shuddered, nearly dropping the fish soup in her hands.

"Not only do you dare to fish in a Buddhist temple, but you also dare to start a fire to cook soup. Have you not listened to my words?"

Is Second Master a ghost? How come he's everywhere?

Liu Wenying smiled bitterly.

Second Master is very magnanimous; he let her go once, but he probably won't let her go a second time.

Rather than...

A bold idea popped into Liu Wenying's mind.

She handed him a small bowl of steaming fish soup, her smile somewhat forced and ingratiating.

"The temple is out of food, and everyone is starving. The fish soup may be simple, but it can warm us up and fill our stomachs. Would you like to try some, Second Master?"

Pei Zeyu looked at the ceramic bowl handed to him. The rim of the bowl was chipped, and it was so shabby that he had never seen it before.

But the milky white broth swayed slightly, emitting a fresh and enticing aroma.

His Adam's apple bobbed, and Pei Zeyu actually reached out and took the broken bowl.

However, he did not drink it immediately. He looked up at Liu Wenying and his lips curled up very slightly, the curve so faint as to be almost invisible.

"You've got a clever plan. By making me drink this soup, you've made me an accomplice, making it harder to punish you for this later, is that it?"

I never expected that he would see right through my little scheme. One shouldn't be too smart.

"This servant dares not, but I am concerned about the Second Master's health. People need to eat to survive. After not eating meat for so long, drinking some hot soup is good for him."

"Man is made of iron, food is made of steel?" Her words were rather amusing.

Pei Zeyu said nothing more, brought the bowl to his lips, blew on it to cool it down, and then drank it down.

The broth was warm, with the sweetness of fish and a hint of saltiness. As it slid down my throat, my taste buds, which had become numb from the bland congee, were instantly revived.

As the second master of the Duke's mansion, he had tasted countless delicacies, but none of them could compare to the deliciousness of this bowl of fish soup.

"The taste is acceptable," Pei Zeyu commented.

Liu Wenying breathed a sigh of relief. As long as the Second Master drank it, her plan would be complete.

But she didn't expect that the other party was not so easily fooled.

Pei Zeyu put down the empty bowl, a playful expression on his face. "But even if I did drink the fish soup, so what? I'm the master, and you're the servant. If I say I didn't drink it, do you think others will believe me or me?"

…………