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

Liu Wenying was tidying up the cleaned pillowcases, and Ling'er was also busy doing the same thing beside her.

She complained as she worked, "I don't know when it will cool down. I toss and turn all night and can't sleep. I've soaked my clothes with sweat. It's so hot."

"I really envy the old lady; she has ice available day and night..."

Liu Wenying asked with a smile, "Is your room also very hot?"

"It's so hot! Our house faces west, and in the afternoon the sun beats down like a sauna. We don't even have an ice bath at night, so we have to keep the windows open, but there are so many mosquitoes..."

As she spoke, she suddenly remembered something and casually said, "Grandma Sun's room is still the best. It's in a shady spot, and I heard it's cool even in the hottest summer. You don't even need to use a fan to sleep at night."

Liu Wenying paused in her movements.

"Is Granny Sun's room very cool?" she asked Ling'er.

Ling'er nodded. "I heard it from other girls. Some of them had given things to Granny Sun. The room was comfortable to go into. It must be in a good location and well-ventilated."

The old lady's ice supply was insufficient, but the second master had enough.

Xi Chun frequently changed the ice. She was related to Granny Sun, and Granny Sun's room was very cool.

The doubts that had been dormant in my heart for so long began to gather again.

Liu Wenying lowered her eyes and said nothing more.

In the afternoon, as usual, the old lady took her afternoon nap, and the Mingxi Hall was quiet and peaceful.

Seeing that the maids guarding the house had all retreated to the corridor, Liu Wenying quietly moved to the ice mirror, intending to investigate.

She bent down to examine it closely. The ice detector was intact, the copper walls were cool, and there was no visible damage to the insulation layer.

Liu Wenying reached out to test the temperature of the inner layer when a sharp shout came from behind her.

"What are you doing?"

Liu Wenying felt a chill run down her spine. Turning around, she saw Xi Chun standing not far away, holding a plate of sliced ​​melon.

Her eyebrows furrowed, and her wide-open eyes were fixed on Liu Wenying's hand that touched the ice mirror.

Since the Dragon Boat Festival, Xi Chun has been avoiding her, not taking the initiative to provoke her, and even deliberately avoiding her.

Why are you always so nervous about ice-related matters, as if you're protecting something important?

Yes.

She's in charge of the ice cream business and sees me as a thorn in her side, probably worried that I'll take the opportunity to cause trouble and find something to use against her.

Liu Wenying composed herself. "Let me check if the ice detector is damaged. The ice has been melting faster than usual these past few days."

Xi Chun pursed her lips and placed the melon dish on the table.

"I've been watching the ice crystals all day long, what could possibly be wrong with them?"

She didn't look at Liu Wenying; her eyes darted away.

"If you have nothing else to do, then take good care of the old lady and don't go around thinking about other things."

"I'm not just making things up."

Her expression was tense, which deepened Liu Wenying's suspicions.

"When I was in Tinglan Courtyard, the ice in the ice cup in the First Madam's room was only changed twice a day."

But Mingxi Hall changes its staff three or even four times a day; the difference is simply too great.

Xi Chun was about to retort, "What do you know? Are you in charge of the ice or am I in charge of the ice?"

Unexpectedly, Granny Wu walked over, her face displeased, and scolded her in a low voice.

"What's all the noise about? The old lady just fell asleep, don't disturb her!"

Xi Chun fell silent, lowered his head, but the resentment in his eyes did not dissipate.

Liu Wenying curtsied: "Please forgive me, Granny."

Granny Wu called the two of them outside, her gaze sweeping between them, her brows furrowed.

"When the two of you get together, nothing good ever comes of it. So, what's up now?"

Liu Wenying then explained all her doubts in detail.

Upon hearing this, Granny Wu also sensed something was amiss and looked at Xi Chun: "Is the ice mirror really being changed so frequently?"

Xi Chun bit her lip. "It's been hot lately, so the ice melts faster. I'm just replacing it as needed, and there's nothing wrong with that."

Granny Wu then looked at Liu Wenying, "So, what did you figure out?"

Liu Wenying shook her head: "Not for now, but the speed at which the ice is melting is indeed abnormal."

Xi Chun's eyes reddened, feeling deeply wronged.

"I think she's just holding a grudge against me because she remembers how I criticized her before. She's just deliberately picking a fight and trying to find fault with me."

Liu Wenying: "I didn't, I was just stating the facts."

"Alright!" Granny Wu interrupted the two of them, rubbing her temples.

"I will keep an eye on the matter of the ice mirror. For now, the old lady is resting, so let's keep quiet."

If there is a real problem, investigate it thoroughly before making any statements; if there is nothing to it, don't jump to conclusions.

She paused, then looked at Liu Wenying. Because of the old lady's trust in her, Wu Mama inevitably changed her usual attitude and became more lenient.

"It's normal to have doubts, but everything must be based on evidence."

Then he looked at Xi Chun and said, "Don't be so confrontational."

Both of them bowed their heads in agreement.

Granny Wu waved her hand, signaling the two to disperse and go about their own business.

The argument was temporarily put aside, but Xi Chun's anxiety did not dissipate.

While Liu Wenying returned to her room and Wu Mama was taking stock of the miscellaneous items, she left Mingxi Hall and hurried towards the main kitchen.

She should ask her aunt for advice.

Smoke filled the large kitchen as servants busied themselves preparing dinner.

Granny Sun, dressed in a brown cloth skirt, stood by the stove with her hands behind her back, instructing the servants not to cut corners, displaying the authority of a head nanny.

Seeing Xi Chun rushing over in a panic, Granny Sun frowned and pulled her to a quiet corner behind the stove.

"What are you doing here? Why aren't you at Mingxi Hall? What are you doing here?"

"Auntie, something terrible has happened..."

Xi Chun was at a loss.

"It seems Liu Wenying has found out about me stealing ice."

"What?"

Granny Sun suddenly tightened her grip on Xi Chun's hand, looked around to make sure no one was there, and then asked in a low voice.

"Don't panic, tell me slowly, how did she find out? Tell me carefully, don't leave out a single detail!"

Despite the pain from being caught, Xi Chun dared not cry out. He endured the pain and recounted in detail how Liu Wenying had examined the ice sample and questioned the frequency of ice changes.

Finally, her voice trembled with tears.

"Although she had no evidence, her eyes clearly showed that she was suspicious!"

What should I do about my aunt? If she finds out anything, I'm finished!

Granny Sun released her grip, her face so gloomy it could drip water.

She had managed affairs in the Duke's mansion for many years and had also been running the inner courtyard for so long. What storms hadn't she seen?

"What are you afraid of? She's only caught a glimpse of the situation, there's no concrete evidence yet. If you panic, you'll only give yourself away."

Xi Chun was so anxious that tears were about to roll down her cheeks. "But, but I'm scared. Aunt, you don't know her. She seems friendly, but she's actually very difficult to control."

Now that she's become suspicious, she certainly won't give up easily. What if she really finds out...?

"There's no 'what if'!"

Granny Sun interrupted her sharply. Seeing that she was terrified, she felt even more angry, but she had to suppress it and patiently gave her some advice.

"What are you afraid of? Just because you're finished doesn't mean I'll be okay. From now on, the ice in the ice chest will remain the same, and you can change it exactly as before."

"But...but she's already noticed something's wrong. If I continue as before, won't she easily find something to use against me?"

"idiot!"

Granny Sun couldn't help but mutter a curse.

"It's precisely at times like these that you mustn't panic! If you hastily change the frequency, it will only make her more convinced that something is amiss."

Xi Chun looked at her with teary eyes, still feeling uneasy.

Granny Sun sighed, "Besides, there's one more move, have you forgotten?"

…………