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

Liu Wenying felt disgusted by his piercing questions.

She never provoked anyone.

First, the Third Master insisted on pestering her, then the First Master inexplicably blamed her, and now all the blame has been pinned on her.

She looked up and met Pei Dingxuan's furious gaze.

Because of her pent-up anger, she didn't notice the hurt in his eyes.

"That's right, that was just a delaying tactic."

Pei Dingxuan's hand, which was holding her chin, suddenly froze.

He didn't expect her to admit it.

"Since you admit to using all your scheming, the Duke of Yu's mansion... will not tolerate you."

Are we going to be kicked out of the mansion?

Liu Wenying's nose stung, and tears welled up in her eyes, but she forced them back, asking in a tearful voice, "What did I do wrong?"

She looked at him and spoke her mind, word by word.

"The First Madam was weak after giving birth, so I helped take care of her. The Young Master is still young, so I took good care of him."

The old lady's leg ailment was unbearable, so I massaged her and fed her medicine. In every single one of these situations, I did my best.

"Sir, as the Vice Minister of the Ministry of Justice, you are a just and impartial prison official praised by everyone in the capital."

"Judging cases should be based on evidence, and the facts should be considered in terms of reason and emotion. Why is it that when it comes to me, you are so harsh and unwilling to let me off the hook?"

Pei Dingxuan felt a lump in his throat, speechless at her question, and the pressure on his fingers unconsciously loosened.

Liu Wenying sniffed, holding back her tears.

"Yes, I want to stay in the Duke's mansion, even if it means doing everything I can."

"I was an orphan with a child, wandering in the capital. It was the Duke's mansion that gave me a place to stay and food to eat."

"I didn't take it for nothing. I relied on my own hands to walk from Tinglan Courtyard to Mingxi Hall, and to the position of trust between the old lady and me."

I can't just let go of all this immediately, like throwing away an old piece of clothing, and turn around and walk away.

She looked up, her gaze piercing straight into Pei Dingxuan's eyes.

"If I asked you to give up your official position and your promising future, would you be willing?"

As soon as the words were spoken, only the sound of their breathing could be heard in the corner.

A gentle breeze swept by, causing the stray hairs at her temples to flutter wildly.

Pei Dingxuan's anger subsided somewhat, and his deep, melancholy, like ashes cooling, was amplified infinitely.

She looked up at him, her eyelashes still damp with tears, and stubbornly raised her chin, refusing to let them fall.

"Besides, sir, you hold a high position; how could you possibly know how ordinary people like you survive in this world?"

Yes.

She was a young widow with a child, and it was already a stroke of luck that she was able to enter the government office.

If he really kicks her out, and she has a young child with her, what will she encounter in this chaotic world?

Those greedy eyes, those malicious covetous glances.

Those... he had seen too much of the filth and depravity, and even dealt with it himself.

Money is not necessarily a lifesaver; if she actually had money on her, she would probably be in even greater danger.

Pei Dingxuan lowered her eyes. The corners of her eyes were terribly red, like glass that had been burned by fire, ready to shatter at any moment, yet still retaining its last sharpness.

What on earth is he doing?

On a snowy night at Daxiangguo Temple, he risked his life to protect her.

She was nearly assaulted by a villain in the reed field, and he wished he could tear that man to pieces.

He protected her like that before, and she was grateful.

Now, he himself has driven her to such a miserable state, making her lose all hope in him.

He admired her.

Therefore, although he was annoyed that she didn't know how to be appreciative when it came to taking a concubine, he ultimately did not force her.

He acquiesced to her going to Mingxi Hall.

He thought it would be better to stay away from himself and his third brother.

But last night, when he saw her come out of Zhaolin Courtyard, who could know the turmoil in his heart?

She distanced herself from herself, but grew closer to her third brother.

I had a sleepless night, tossing and turning until now, and finally managed to find her to get some answers.

But how did things... turn out like this?

Pei Dingxuan closed his eyes, his Adam's apple bobbing violently.

But if we let go now and let her go to her third brother's side...

No, he didn't want to see it.

The dark, filthy desires hidden deep within my heart grew and spread unchecked.

Even if she hates him and resents him, he is unwilling to watch her fall into someone else's arms.

Even though that person was his own younger brother.

He released his grip on her chin, letting his hand hang down at his side, curling up slightly.

He would not allow her to remain in the Duke's mansion, nor would he allow her to wander and struggle to survive in the mortal world.

He would provide her with a secluded villa where there were no master-servant rules, no need to serve others, and no need to worry about making a living.

She just needs to live a peaceful life and do what she wants.

Pei Dingxuan spoke softly, "I don't necessarily want you to leave..."

Before he could finish speaking, he was abruptly interrupted by a soft call.

"Big brother."

The corner of his white robe emerged from the side of the artificial hill, and Pei Zeyu stood with his hands behind his back, his expression calm, gentle, and refined.

Pei Zeyu came to Mingxi Hall to pay his respects to the old lady as usual, but he did not see Liu Wenying.

Only after asking Granny Wu did I learn that she had been called away by the master.

He quietly found his way out and, in a secluded corner of the artificial hill and low wall, witnessed a scene that took his breath away.

She leaned against the cold stone wall, her eyes red and brimming with tears.

Her pale chin was tightly gripped by a hand with distinct knuckles, forcing her to tilt her face upwards.

The owner of that hand, her elder brother Pei Dingxuan, was leaning closer to her, his expression inscrutable.

They spoke very softly; you couldn't hear them unless you got close.

The situation remained deadlocked, and he couldn't help but take a step, breaking the silent standoff.

"My elder brother left court very early today."

Upon seeing it was him, Pei Dingxuan frowned, his expression displeased. "Second brother, is something the matter?"

Pei Zeyu stepped forward, his gaze sweeping over Liu Wenying's reddened eyes.

"Grandmother's acupuncture is over, and she's waiting for Lady Liu to come back and tell her the story."

He paused, then slowed his voice further.

"Brother, what do you need her for by summoning her here?"

"She has made a mistake and must be expelled from the manor."

Liu Wenying suddenly looked up, incredulous; she refused to accept this outcome.

Pei Zeyu repeated it in surprise.

"Brother, are you saying you want to expel her from the manor?"

"Yes."

"Oh? May I ask, elder brother, what mistake did she make that was so serious as to warrant being expelled from the manor?"

Pei Dingxuan frowned. "Second brother, you don't believe me?"

"It's not that I don't believe it."

Pei Zeyu smiled, his eyes clear and bright.

"My elder brother handles cases in the Ministry of Justice, and he always insists on evidence. Now that we're dealing with a servant, there should be a plausible reason to convince her and to ensure that everyone else in the household knows the rules, shouldn't there?"

Pei Dingxuan felt a lump in his throat.

What angered him was that Liu Wenying had spent the night with his third brother, but the matter involved Zhaolin Courtyard, and without concrete evidence of her presence, it was difficult to bring it up in detail.

They couldn't very well say that she and her third brother slept together in bed; if that got out, wouldn't it ruin the reputation of the Duke's mansion?

Moreover, he also harbored hidden thoughts.

"You're not one to meddle in other people's business. Is a mere maidservant in this household worth confronting me about?"

Pei Zeyu slowly and deliberately waved the folding fan in his hand.

"It's not a standoff; I just trust what I see."

"Since she came to Mingxi Hall, she has always considered the needs of her grandmother and served her with meticulous care."

My grandmother's illness progressed slowly, and she was often listless. But since her arrival, with massages, medication, and lighthearted conversation, my grandmother's complexion has improved day by day. Even Dr. Ye praised her for her dedication.

"When we were at Tinglan Courtyard, my sister-in-law mentioned that she took good care of Ye'er and never made a mistake. She also helped my sister-in-law a lot when she was weak after giving birth."

He spoke clearly and logically, recounting Liu Wenying's diligence and contributions in the household.

"May I ask, elder brother, what exactly did she do wrong that is so serious as to warrant being expelled from the manor?"

The painted boats were like that, and so are we today.

…………