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

"You have taken good care of Ye'er, and Ye'er is also close to you, so please stay."

no doubt.

Liu Wenying curtsied: "Thank you, Madam."

Wen Jingshu then looked at Cuihua and Zhao Nainiang.

"Choose one of you to stay."

As soon as she finished speaking, Zhao the wet nurse stepped forward and pleaded repeatedly.

"Please, Madam, let me stay! I have never neglected my duties in caring for the young master. I feed him and change his diapers every night without complaint! I have always been devoted to the young master!"

As she spoke, her tone suddenly turned sharp.

"Unlike some people who try to steal the spotlight at important occasions like a first birthday party, preventing the little master from having his traditional first birthday celebration. Such overstepping of boundaries would make them a laughingstock if word got out."

The words were utterly malicious, portraying Liu Wenying's accident that day as a malicious attempt to steal the limelight.

Liu Wenying's expression changed slightly, and she suppressed the urge to defend herself.

If her master doesn't let her speak, then speaking rashly will only annoy her.

The more Wen Jingshu listened, the more her brows furrowed.

Just as Zhao, the wet nurse, thought her words had worked, Wen Jingshu said coldly, "Enough!"

Zhao, the wet nurse, shivered, her words cut off, and she nearly bit her tongue.

"Then Japan was an accident. Ye'er's initiative in grabbing Wenying shows that he is close to her. I'm overjoyed, so why would I see it as a source of trouble? Don't bring this up again!"

"Madam, I..." Zhao the wet nurse wanted to say more.

Wen Jingshu interrupted her, "I know how hard Zhao Nanny has worked over the past year. Now that Ye'er is older, he can't have so many people around him anymore, you—"

"Madam."

Just as Wen Jingshu was about to announce her decision, Cuihua stepped forward and interrupted her.

"This servant wishes to resign."

The room fell silent as soon as she spoke.

Even Liu Wenying looked at Cuihua in astonishment.

The Duke's mansion treated its servants very well; otherwise, Zhao the wet nurse wouldn't have gone to such lengths to snatch them.

But why did Tsui Wah give up?

With Cuihua's composure and tact, staying was a sure thing.

Cuihua curtsied and said, "Madam, I still have three children and parents to raise at home. A year has passed, and my milk supply is not as good as before. It's time to go back and take care of the babies at home."

It's perfectly reasonable and there's not a single fault to be found.

Since she was leaving, Wen Jingshu wouldn't try to keep her any longer.

"Since you are both filial and in need, I will grant your request. Go to the accounting office and withdraw three more months' worth of wages as a token of my appreciation."

"Thank you for your kindness, Madam." Cuihua knelt down and kowtowed in gratitude.

Wen Jingshu finalized the arrangement, "Then let Wenying and Nurse Zhao stay in the manor."

Zhao, the wet nurse, forced a fawning smile and hurriedly agreed.

Liu Wenying also thanked her.

The number of wet nurses in the ward was reduced from three to two, so the rules for night duty naturally had to be rearranged.

Previously, Liu Wenying had always worked the day shift, but now she has been transferred to the night shift.

The three of them came out of the main house. Zhao, the wet nurse, glanced at Liu Wenying triumphantly, then swayed away, clearly going to take over the care of Pei Yexuan.

Liu Wenying didn't leave immediately. She walked to Cuihua's side and whispered, "Sister Cuihua, you..."

Cuihua smiled, took her hand, and said, "Come on, help me pack. We can talk later."

The two walked side by side to Youyu Pavilion next door. Once inside, Cuihua began to pack her things.

She didn't have many belongings: a few clothes issued by the manor and some simple jewelry.

She didn't save much money; every month's allowance or bonus was sent home to help make ends meet.

Liu Wenying couldn't just stand by and watch, so she stepped forward to lend a hand and helped her fold the clothes.

Cuihua did not refuse.

Just as he finished packing his bags and was about to leave, Zizhu rushed over, carrying a small cloth bag in her hands.

"This was sent by the madam. It contains not only this month's allowance but also an extra allowance from the madam."

Cuihua took it; it was heavy in her hand, and there were quite a few of them.

She curtsied in the direction of Tinglan Courtyard.

Zizhu then looked at Liu Wenying, "You and Cuihua have a good relationship, so why don't you see her off?"

Liu Wenying nodded in agreement.

The two left Youyu Pavilion and walked along the corridor toward the side gate.

He spoke in a low voice, using vulgar language, and Liu Wenying listened quietly.

"My home is in Willow Lane behind here. There's an old locust tree in front of my house, so it's easy to spot. If you have time in the future, you must come over for a visit. It's not like we can't see each other again."

Liu Wenying nodded emphatically, "I will definitely go."

Cuihua smiled, made sure no one was around, and then whispered the instructions.

"And be very careful of that wet nurse Zhao. She may have gotten away with it today, but she might not be happy about it. If anything seems amiss while you're on night duty, it's better to call for help than to try and tough it out alone."

Feeling a warmth in her heart, Liu Wenying nodded: "I remember, Sister Cuihua, thank you."

"What are you thanking me for? We've known each other for a while, and we get along well. It's fate."

As they were talking, the side gate was already in sight.

The gatekeeper recognized Cuihua. After receiving the news, he checked her baggage and, upon confirming that she had not brought anything she shouldn't have, let her pass.

The two stood outside the side gate, amidst the bustling noise of the long street and the constant flow of carriages and horses.

Sunlight filtered through the leaves, casting dappled shadows that fell upon them.

"I'm leaving..." Cuihua picked up her bundle.

Liu Wenying hugged her, "Sister Cuihua, take care."

"You too, remember to come find me."

After saying that, she carried her bag and walked into the bustling crowd.

She didn't look back, and eventually disappeared around the street corner, never to be seen again.

Liu Wenying stood still for a long time.

Cuihua is gone. There weren't many friends in the manor who truly cared for her to begin with, and now she's lost one more.

How could I not be sad?

An indescribable sense of despondency welled up inside her, and Liu Wenying stood blankly on the street, letting the wind flutter the hem of her clothes.

Zhaolin Academy.

Pei Yaojun was reclining on the couch, flipping through a book. After passing the imperial examination, he was assigned to the Ministry of Works to observe governance, and there was much for him to learn.

But Pei Yaojun was simply not the type to settle down and study. The constant nagging from his parents to study for the imperial examinations and become an official had already exhausted the little patience he had left.

Suddenly, Ah Cai rushed in from outside and started shouting as soon as he entered.

"Third Master, Third Master! There's been some news from the First Madam. She dismissed the extra wet nurses today. Wet Nurse Liu and another wet nurse are already heading towards the side gate. It looks like they're leaving the manor."

Pei Yaojun sat up abruptly, and the book fell to the ground with a thud.

"Really dismissed? How come there were two?"

"This servant doesn't know either. I only heard that the First Madam summoned all three wet nurses to Tinglan Courtyard today, saying that since the young master is one year old, there's no need to keep so many wet nurses and that she wants to dismiss them. As a result, Wet Nurse Liu and another wet nurse have already gone to the side gate."

After her first birthday party that day, although he was angry and didn't want to help her, he kept thinking about her.

Thinking that after his nephew turned one year old, if his sister-in-law really wanted to dismiss her, he would go and ask for her to stay in Zhaolin Courtyard.

How come they've suddenly sent people away after only a few days?!

Pei Yaojun grabbed his outer robe and draped it over his shoulders, haphazardly tying the ties incorrectly, which became a knotted mess.

Ah Cai chased after him, calling out, "Third Master, Third Master, wait for your servant!"

…………