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

As night deepened, the stars became more sparse.

Recently, a major case in the Ministry of Justice has been closed, and colleagues and subordinates have been holding celebratory banquets one after another.

Pei Dingxuan could not refuse, and went to several drinking parties. When he returned, he was heavily reeking of alcohol and his steps were unsteady.

He had intended to go to the side room to take a look, but fearing that the smell of alcohol would disturb the peace, he gave up the idea and returned to the main house first.

Surprisingly, the room wasn't completely dark; a soft gauze lamp was lit.

Wen Jingshu was still awake, sitting on the chaise lounge by the window, turning the pages of a book by lamplight, with a hangover soup warming on the small table beside her.

Seeing her husband return, Wen Jingshu put down her book and stood up.

"The old man is back. I've prepared some hangover soup; would you like some?"

Pei Dingxuan hummed in agreement, took the bowl of sobering soup at the perfect temperature, and drank it all in one gulp.

The soup, with its subtle medicinal aroma and sweetness, soothed my stomach, which had been irritated by the smell of alcohol.

"Hot water is ready in the shower room, sir, go take a bath and relax."

Wen Jingshu approached, took the empty bowl, and said softly.

Pei Dingxuan said no more, took off his outer robe, and entered the bathhouse.

The bathroom was filled with steam, and a large cypress tub was filled with hot water, with soothing spices and flower petals floating on the surface.

Pei Dingxuan removed his undergarments, leaned back against the tub, the hot water covering his chest, and the lamplight gilded his muscles with a warm golden hue.

He closed his eyes and rubbed his temples, still slightly intoxicated, his breath carrying the faint, pungent taste of the imperial brew.

The sound of water was soft, and wisps of steam rose gently.

The beaded curtain rustled softly as someone entered.

Pei Dingxuan did not open his eyes, assuming it was just a maid coming in to add hot water.

However, her soft hand first landed on the man's damp temples, then slowly slid down his neck, stopping at his muscular shoulders and neck, gently massaging them.

Wen Jingshu was only wearing a thin silk nightgown, the belt loose and the collar slightly open.

Her gentle eyes fell on her husband's broad shoulders and back, and his chest, which was clearly defined despite being submerged in water.

The misty steam blurred his cold, handsome features, adding a touch of languor rarely seen on him.

She and he had been married for several years, but they spent little time together.

Busy with official duties and immersed in the grim atmosphere of the Ministry of Justice for many years, his temperament became increasingly cold and reserved.

Managing the vast internal affairs of the Duke's mansion was also a laborious and demanding task for her.

Both of them are busy, and even when they are in the same room, they don't have many opportunities to sit down and spend time together.

In addition, Ye'er was young, and she had to devote a lot of time to taking care of him, so the intimacy between the couple became even more sparse.

Now that Ye'er is growing up, she is becoming more and more adept at managing the affairs of the household, and she also has trusted people to take care of them.

In the stillness of the night, looking at the often empty side of the bed, a woman's thoughts begin to stir.

Managing the household affairs is her responsibility.

Providing offspring for her husband's family and ensuring the continuation of the family line is also an inescapable responsibility.

She and Pei Dingxuan only had one son, Ye'er, which was ultimately a bit too few.

Both logically and emotionally, she should... take the initiative.

My fingertips lingered on his shoulders and neck, feeling the strength and warmth hidden beneath his skin.

Her bold touch should have evoked the tenderness that should exist between husband and wife.

But what flashed through Pei Dingxuan's mind was the snow-white figure he had glimpsed a few nights ago.

She had a slender waist and a round figure, with her dark hair cascading over the edge of the couch like mist shattered by moonlight.

The image is so clear it's almost abrupt, carrying the unique privacy and taboo of the night.

Wen Jingshu slowly moved her hand down, about to reach towards her well-defined abdomen—

"Jingshu, that's enough."

Pei Dingxuan reached out and suddenly grabbed her wrist.

Wen Jingshu froze, her smile faded slightly, and a hint of disappointment flashed in her eyes, but she quickly concealed it.

"It was my rashness, my husband, please take your time washing..."

She pulled her hand away from his and left the steamy bathroom that made her feel suffocated.

The beaded curtain swayed, making a soft, clinking sound, before falling silent again.

Pei Dingxuan immersed himself alone in the gradually cooling water until the coolness completely extinguished the inexplicable burning sensation rising in his body.

He slowly opened his eyes, his deep brown eyes filled with a dark and unreadable emotion.

After a long while, he got up from the bathtub, water droplets rolling down his lean body.

I dried myself off, changed into clean pajamas, and went outside.

Outside, Wen Jingshu had regained her usual dignified demeanor, but a hint of sadness lingered beneath her forced smile.

When he came out, Wen Jingshu went up to him and took the initiative to smooth out the wrinkles in his collar.

Pei Dingxuan did not refuse.

It seemed like she was trying to ease the tension, or perhaps she had genuinely remembered something.

Wen Jingshu handed over a bracelet with a faint scent of mint and mugwort.

It was a bracelet woven from turquoise and moon-white silk threads, with tiny tourmaline beads in the middle.

The bluish-green color inexplicably reminded him of that person, as if he were wrapped in tender lotus leaves, and as the layers were peeled back, a pinkish-white curve like a lotus petal was revealed.

"While you were bathing just now, I noticed a few red spots on the back of your hand, sir. I suppose they were bothered by mosquitoes in the summer. The servants are very thoughtful; they made mosquito-repellent bracelets, which are quite effective. Why don't you give them a try, sir?"

She didn't explicitly say who made it, but Pei Dingxuan understood.

My fingertips held the light green bracelet, its texture delicate to the touch.

Pei Dingxuan suddenly felt a surge of inexplicable impulse, as if something was burning in his chest, making him restless.

He just wanted to see Liu Wenying immediately.

The thought came so suddenly and violently that he had no time to think it over.

In an instant, he moved at will and walked outside.

"Sir?" Wen Jingshu was startled by his sudden action. "Where are you going so late?"

The night wind blew in, causing Pei Dingxuan's dark blue robes to flutter.

He strode across the threshold with his long legs, without looking back, leaving behind a brief remark before disappearing into the thick night.

"Let's go see Ye'er."

The side room was extremely quiet, with only a tiny oil lamp wick burning, emitting a dim, yellowish light.

Pei Yexuan slept soundly in bed, his breathing as even as a breeze brushing against the window.

Night had fallen, and Liu Wenying, who had been busy all day, felt tired and lay down on another soft couch to rest.

She wore a light, light blue-green dress for summer. Because of her lying position, the dress was slightly loose, revealing a small section of her fair and beautiful neck and delicate collarbone.

As she turned over, the hem of her skirt slipped down to her calves, revealing a beautifully curved ankle and half of a delicate foot.

The feet are delicate, and the toes are round and round like pearls.

Half-hidden beneath her scattered skirt, bathed in moonlight, she resembled a fledgling pigeon with its wings folded, half-lying down for a rest, exuding a touch of naive charm.

Pei Dingxuan pushed open the door silently and entered, his gaze immediately locking onto the slender figure on the soft couch.

My heartstrings felt like they were being gently plucked, sending waves of a dense, ticklish sensation through me.

He instinctively reached for his sleeve pocket, only to find it empty. He then realized he had changed his clothes and the porcelain vase was gone.

His mind raced; he knew he should turn around, but he couldn't move his feet.

Torn between reason and desperation, his feet moved slowly toward the soft couch, his steps preceding his reason.

He leaned closer, his dark blue nightgown covering his light green shirt, the fabrics clinging together, the scents of agarwood and frankincense mingling, a seductive allure silently growing in the lamplight.

He restrainedly brushed his fingertips past her temples, tucking a stray hair behind her ear, his voice so low and husky it was almost inaudible.

"Liu Wenying, you provoked me first..."

…………