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

The footsteps approaching from afar were steady, composed, and unhurried, unlike Atai's hurried and staggering steps.

Liu Wenying's heart tightened.

Those who could freely roam the palace at night were either rich or noble.

What if it were a prince, princess, or a favored concubine? If a servant like her were to bump into them, wouldn't that be troublesome?

The incident at Hanguang Palace was still fresh in her mind, and she didn't want to cause any more trouble.

Liu Wenying hurriedly got up and slipped into the shadows behind the artificial hill.

The rockery, with its jagged peaks and intersecting holes, perfectly concealed her slender figure.

The footsteps grew closer.

Under the moonlight, the group slowly walked onto the white jade bridge, bypassed the lake, and passed through the palace road.

The one walking in front was dressed in a python robe in the style of a crown prince, about twenty years old, with a handsome face.

Behind him followed a middle-aged man dressed as a scholar, bowing respectfully with his head down.

Crown Prince Xiao Chenlin walked to the bridgehead, stopped and looked at the lake, his tone nonchalant.

"That third son of the Pei family is quite lucky."

The scholars behind him responded in hushed tones.

"Your Highness is right. Although Third Master Pei has passed the imperial examination, he is still young and has a dissolute nature. He can't cause any great trouble."

"A spoiled brat? Not necessarily. Being able to rank seventh in the second class shows he has some skill, but it doesn't really matter."

He was certain of victory, saying, "The Duke of Yu's family is my henchman. That old bastard Pei Hongtai is quite sensible. Now that his youngest son has entered officialdom, the Pei family is even more closely tied to me."

The scholar flattered, "Your Highness is wise. The eldest son of the Pei family is in the Ministry of Justice, the second son is in the Ministry of Personnel, and now the third son has also entered officialdom. The three outstanding members of the family can all be used by Your Highness."

"The one in the Ministry of Justice is the key. He'll inherit the title and take charge of the Pei family. As for that third son, he's just an extra..."

The two then spoke in hushed tones, presumably about other matters of the court.

Liu Wenying heard it vaguely, but felt that every word and sentence was full of power struggles and calculations.

They walked and talked, their voices fading into the distance until they could no longer be heard.

Behind the artificial hill, Liu Wenying felt a chill run through her body. She had only accompanied Pei Yaojun to a banquet; how could she have stumbled upon such a secret?

She overheard everything: the Crown Prince's cronies, the succession to the title, and the court's intrigues.

If the Crown Prince found out… she shuddered and dared not think any further.

Why hasn't Atai come back yet?

Could something have happened?

The sudden thought made her even more uneasy.

Liu Wenying peeked out and looked in the direction Atai had left, but it was empty; there wasn't a soul in sight.

"Who goes there?!"

A sharp shout pierced the night sky.

Several torches shone, illuminating the shadows behind the artificial hill.

Liu Wenying stood frozen in place as a squad of imperial guards in armor, wielding long halberds, approached her.

Liu Wenying revealed her identity, "I am an attendant who accompanied the newly appointed Jinshi to the palace."

The head of the imperial guards sized her up. "A follower? Why are you lurking here so suspiciously? Do you have a badge?"

Waist token? She doesn't have any waist token; Third Master never gave her one.

Perhaps Atai has it; Atai is the old man's man.

"The waist token is with another servant. He had a stomachache and went to find the outhouse, so he told me to wait here."

"Hiding behind the artificial hill and waiting? I think you have ulterior motives and are planning something nefarious! Take you away!"

Two guards stepped forward and grabbed her arms, one on each side.

"Let me go! I really am just a follower!"

Liu Wenying struggled, "You can go to Hanguang Palace to ask, ask Third Master Pei, ask the people from the Duke of Yu's mansion!"

The captain of the Imperial Guards was completely unconvinced. "Tonight is the Qionglin Banquet; there will be many people and many eyes watching. Who knows, some scoundrels might sneak into the palace. Take them away! Hand them over to the Inner Court for interrogation!"

The Inner Court was the place in the palace where palace servants who had committed crimes were interrogated. If you went in, you would be lucky to escape with your life.

It’s over.

Liu Wenying felt a chill run through her body.

If they are taken away, I'm afraid their chances of survival are slim.

What should Luo Luo do? Her daughter is still waiting for her at home...

Just as Liu Wenying was in despair, a clear and melodious male voice rang out from the night: "Wait."

The captain was interrupted and was about to reprimand who dared to obstruct him when he looked up and saw who it was. His expression changed abruptly.

"This humble servant greets Your Highness, Second Prince!"

The rest of the Imperial Guards also knelt down in unison, their armor clashing clearly.

Liu Wenying looked up in a daze.

Under the moonlight, a tall and slender figure walked slowly towards him. He was dressed in elegant casual clothes, his hair was tied up with a silver crown, and his features were handsome.

In particular, the smile on her lips was like a gentle breeze on a spring night, caressing her face without a trace of harshness.

But even though those eyes were smiling, it inexplicably felt that the smile didn't reach their eyes.

The Second Prince, Xiao Yiheng, approached and asked, "What happened?"

The captain hurriedly reported: "Your Highness, while patrolling this area, I found this woman hiding behind the artificial hill acting suspiciously. She has no waist tag on her and her behavior is suspicious. I was about to take her to the Inner Court for questioning."

Xiao Yiheng raised an eyebrow and looked at Liu Wenying.

Liu Wenying seized the opportunity to retort, "Your Highness, I am a servant of the Duke of Yu's mansion. I accompanied the Third Master to the palace banquet and am not a thief."

The captain said sternly, "If you are a follower, why don't you serve your master at his side, but instead hide here and do sneaky things?"

"It was because the master thought I was too uncouth and feared that I might offend a noble person, that he sent someone to escort me out of the palace."

The person who was escorting me suddenly had an urgent matter to attend to and had to leave temporarily, asking me to wait here. He said he would return soon.

The patrol captain sneered, "How fast is 'soon'? From the time we found you until now, at least the time it takes to brew a cup of tea has passed. Where is that person? Why hasn't he returned yet?"

"I...I don't know..."

The captain wasted no more time. "The palace rules are strict; hiding and spying are serious crimes. Take him away!"

No! It can't be taken away!

Ignoring everything else, Liu Wenying knelt down before Xiao Yiheng, desperately clinging to the last glimmer of hope.

"Every word I have said is true, without a single lie. I beg Your Highness to investigate!"

"You audacious thief, how dare you obstruct His Highness!"

"I am not a thief!"

"Alright." Xiao Yiheng raised his hand, interrupting the argument between the two.

He walked up to Liu Wenying and bowed slightly. "I recognize you. Just now in Hanguang Hall, you were standing behind Third Master Pei."

Liu Wenying nodded emphatically.

Xiao Yiheng straightened up and said to the patrol captain, "Since she was brought by Master Pei, she is not a thief. Let her go."

"Your Highness!"

"I will release her as I say. I will send someone to personally escort her out of the palace later. I will not allow her to linger in the palace and cause any trouble. Let's leave it at that."

The Second Prince had already made his point, so the Imperial Guards dared not object and had no choice but to give him face and leave.

Liu Wenying staggered to her feet and finally breathed a sigh of relief.

Her back was already soaked with cold sweat, but she didn't care.

The Second Prince did not rescue a complete stranger out of kindness; he did so only because of the Duke of Yu's family.

She composed herself and curtsied to Xiao Yiheng.

"Thank you for your help, Your Highness. When I return, I will definitely inform the First Master and Third Master that it was Your Highness who helped me."

…………