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

"Mother! Here we go again, career advancement, career advancement! Can't your son rely on his own abilities? Why does he have to depend on relatives by marriage?"

Before Madam Pei could finish speaking, Pei Yaojun interrupted her impatiently.

"Based on skill? What you call skill?"

Madam Pei slammed her hand on the table in anger.

"You spend your days cockfighting and horse racing, making friends with scoundrels, working only sporadically. Jun'er, I wouldn't harm you, I'm only doing it for your own good..."

Just as the atmosphere between the mother and son was becoming increasingly tense, a clear knock came from outside the door.

Madam Pei stopped speaking, her brows furrowing slightly, and raised her voice, "Who?"

A clear and gentle female voice came from outside the door.

"This servant is here on the orders of the First Madam to invite Madam Pei to move to the Ice Hall."

Pei Yaojun's eyes lit up as soon as he heard the voice of the newcomer, and his whole being seemed to be injected with vitality.

Madam Pei did not notice the subtle changes in her son, assuming he was just an ordinary maid sent by Wen Jingshu.

She was already quite angry with her son and didn't bother to scold him anymore. She took the opportunity to back down, saying, "Okay, I'll go right now."

She stood up and glared at Pei Yaojun again.

"Think carefully about what I'm saying! Behave yourself at the banquet later! Don't embarrass yourself!"

Pei Yaojun's mind had already drifted outside the door, and he couldn't hear his mother's admonition at all, so he just gave a perfunctory "uh-huh" twice.

After the three returned to the Ice Hall, Wen Jingshu's successor went up Su Mountain.

The maids were entering in single file, carrying crystal-clear glass cups.

The so-called "crispy mountain" is not a real mountain, but rather a sculpture made of delicate, white ice cream.

Then drizzle with amber-colored honey and golden ghee, garnish with seasonal fresh fruit and candied petals, and pile them into the shape of a mountain.

From afar, it appears pure and immaculate, with a sweet and enticing aroma. Just looking at it on a hot summer day can bring a sense of coolness and relief from the heat.

The crispy mountain was served to each guest, and everyone picked up a silver spoon to taste it, making the atmosphere even more lively and relaxed.

As is customary at such banquets, the next step is for the young men and women to showcase their talents or make brief self-introductions.

Firstly, it's to add to the fun, and secondly, it gives both parties a more direct opportunity to get to know each other.

The person in charge of this matter was Madam Pei.

She stood up with a smile, said a few polite words, and then invited the young men and women who wanted to show off to come forward one by one.

In an instant, the sounds of traditional Chinese string and wind instruments filled the ice hall; people were reciting poems, playing the zither and singing softly, or wielding their brushes and ink.

The ladies watched with smiles, offering their comments in hushed tones, their eyes darting back and forth between their own children and the men they were considering.

When it was Cheng Yimian's turn, the daughter of the Minister of Works, the hall became quieter.

She wore a light blue brocade dress, and was beautiful and dignified.

"This humble woman, Cheng Yimian, greets all the ladies, gentlemen, and wives."

"I am but a novice with limited talent and knowledge, and I humbly offer my humble playing for you all. I hope you will not hesitate to offer your guidance and criticism."

She finished speaking with a slight smile, revealing dimples, looking both well-behaved and endearing.

A maidservant presented a zither table, and Cheng Yimian sat behind the zither, from which melodious and graceful music flowed.

The skillful technique and ethereal artistic conception clearly demonstrate the hard work and dedication put in.

When the song ended, the audience erupted in applause.

Madam Pei nodded repeatedly, her eyes filled with a smile.

Her gaze swept over her son and saw that he was only looking down at the ice in his cup, his eyes drifting to the opposite side, completely ignoring Cheng Yimian in the hall.

Madam Pei was so angry that her chest felt tight. She couldn't vent her anger in front of all the nobles on the ship, so she placed her hopes on her daughter.

Pei Rongyue wore a pinkish-brown ruqun (a type of traditional Chinese dress), her hair was styled in two buns, and she wore pearl headdress.

She sat quietly, sipping the crispy mountain pastry, occasionally glancing up at the performance with clear eyes and graceful posture.

Sensing her mother looking over, Pei Rongyue raised her eyes and returned a gentle smile.

Madam Pei's frustration subsided slightly; thankfully, her daughter was an easy child to manage.

It's the third son, sigh...

The exquisite glass goblets were removed, the banquet at Sushan ended, and the atmosphere on the painted boat became increasingly relaxed and casual.

The ladies in the ice cream parlor gathered in small groups by the window, sipping fragrant tea and chatting casually.

Younger men and women were allowed to stroll on the deck of the pleasure boat or the connected terrace to enjoy the scenery.

It also gives young people who are interested in each other a more natural opportunity to connect.

Madam Pei still had her heart set on bringing her son and Cheng Yimian together.

The timing was perfect, and he exchanged a knowing glance with Madam Cheng beside him.

Madam Cheng understood and smiled as she spoke to her daughter, Cheng Yimian.

"Mian'er, it's stuffy in the hall. Why don't you go for a walk on the terrace with Young Master Pei? The lotus flowers there have the best view."

Cheng Yimian blushed slightly, glanced shyly at Pei Yaojun, and nodded.

Madam Pei also turned to Pei Yaojun, "Jun'er, accompany Miss Cheng to the terrace to admire the lotus flowers. Be careful not to neglect the guest."

The two were urged by their elders to walk outside. When they passed Wen Jingshu's spot, Pei Yaojun suddenly stopped.

Wen Jingshu was talking to another lady when she saw him approach and asked in surprise, "Third brother? What is it?"

Ye'er, nestled in her arms, stretched out her upper body, waving and grasping at the lotus flowers outside.

"Sister-in-law, Ye'er seems to really want to go outside. Shall I take him there?"

Wen Jingshu was worried about Ye'er's constant fuss, so she handed Ye'er over to Pei Yaojun and also asked Liu Wenying to accompany her to take care of her.

Upon hearing that she was coming, Pei Yaojun's smile deepened.

The group walked outside, with Pei Yaojun carrying Ye'er in one arm, Cheng Yimian half a step behind, and Liu Wenying trailing behind.

The terrace is spacious and open, enclosed by carved railings, and offers excellent views.

The painted boat glides slowly, the fragrance of lotus blossoms carried on the breeze.

Cheng Yimian, her light blue skirt fluttering, stepped forward, her voice playful.

"Third Young Master, the lotus flowers in Jade Mirror Lake truly live up to their reputation. Look at those twin lotus blossoms, they are blooming so beautifully."

Pei Yaojun held Ye'er while admiring the lotus flowers, absentmindedly humming in agreement.

Despite being ignored, Cheng Yimian was not discouraged. She had done her homework today and learned about Pei Yaojun, the notorious troublemaker in the capital, and knew that he did not like pedantic talk.

With a flick of her eye, she pointed to a small painted boat in the distance, on which stood several young gentlemen playing the game of pitch-pot.

"Look, Third Young Master, the pitch-pot technique on that boat over there isn't as skillful as yours."

Pei Yaojun scoffed, "You've never seen me play the pitch-pot game."

"I have never seen him before, but I have heard that you are a first-rate master of pitch-pot and backgammon. If I have the opportunity in the future, I will definitely ask you to give me some pointers."

When the topic turned to pitch-pot and backgammon, Pei Yaojun barely showed any interest.

Cheng Yimian spoke with a lively expression.

Unlike typical young ladies who are reserved and rigid, she was able to catch Pei Yaojun's occasional jokes.

Liu Wenying, who was a few steps away from the two of them, pretended not to see or hear them.

But how could it be that you really can't hear it?

This Lady Cheng is quite clever. If she and Third Master could be a match, wouldn't I be able to escape Third Master's "sea of ​​suffering"?

As she was pondering, Cheng Yimian handed her a jade fan pendant.

"I got this a few days ago and happened to bring it with me today. I noticed that Third Master's fan was missing something, so I took the liberty of giving it to him."

The jade fan pendant is the size of a pigeon egg and is carved into the shape of a coiled dragon, symbolizing good fortune. The jade is lustrous and smooth.

As expected, Madam Cheng was bold and meticulous, openly showing her affection and hinting at her feelings to the person she liked.

The action was so obvious that everyone around looked over.

Pei Yaojun didn't want to answer, but if his mother found out he didn't, he would get another lecture.

His gaze shifted, and he saw Liu Wenying beside him. A mischievous thought popped into his mind.

…………