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

He had barely finished speaking when he covered her lips with his again.

"Um, wait, wait a minute..."

"No, we won't wait."

He held her wrist, pressed it against the side of the pillow, and kissed her again.

This time it's even more ferocious; once a person who is supposed to be abstinent and virtuous becomes addicted, they become more greedy than anyone else.

The heat he brought was scalding, lingering on her neck before moving back to her lips, as if savoring some delicacy.

Reluctant to swallow it all at once, yet unable to resist licking it repeatedly.

Liu Wenying craned her neck, just as the sash in her hair was about to come undone.

The door creaked open.

Pei Dingxuan stood at the doorway, his dark robes soaked through by the chill of the snowy night.

Liu Wenying's hair was disheveled, and her lips were bright red.

Pei Zeyu's brocade robe was not exactly neat, and his fingers were still lingering on her sash.

"Second brother, impressive skills..."

The charcoal brazier crackled and popped, sending up a few sparks.

Pei Zeyu's lips still bore the lingering blush from their kiss. "Big brother, pretending to be drunk, isn't that a clever tactic?"

Pei Dingxuan's eyes burned with suppressed anger. "Couldn't you be a little gentler?"

He was referring to the swelling around Liu Wenying's lips.

"But Yingming clearly likes it very much."

"Like her? She's drunk. Do you even know who she likes?"

Pei Zeyu also stepped up without hesitation.

The two faced off, the atmosphere inside the room heavy and tense, as if it could break down at any moment.

Just then, the door was pushed open again, even harder than before, and the door slammed against the wall with a loud bang.

Pei Yaojun stumbled in, his collar open, his body reeking of alcohol, which was even stronger than the charcoal fire in the room.

He steadied himself against the wall, his eyes glazed with drunkenness as he scanned the room.

It swept past Pei Dingxuan, past Pei Zeyu, and finally landed on the beautiful woman on the bed.

"Yingying, I... I'll keep you company on New Year's Eve..."

She staggered toward the bed, her feet feeling like they were stepping on cotton, as if she had no strength.

Liu Wenying was quite drunk, but she recognized something.

She raised her hazy eyes and gave the newcomer a confused smile.

"Third...Third Master..."

She reached out her hand, as if to reach for him.

Pei Yaojun grinned and reached out to shake his hand.

But before his hand could touch Liu Wenying, it was stopped by another hand.

Pei Dingxuan's face was colder than the snow outside.

At the same time, Liu Wenying's other hand was also gently held.

She turned her head and saw the Second Master, who was leaning down to look at her with a gentle yet undeniably possessive gaze.

Pei Dingxuan's voice was deep, "Yingniang shouldn't only favor the younger ones."

"Yes," Pei Zeyu chimed in smoothly, "the older ones can't be left out either."

Pei Yaojun was blocked from getting close, and he stubbornly shouted.

"What do you mean 'big' or 'small'? She's calling me!"

"It was you who called out, but it was us who were holding her hand," Pei Dingxuan said calmly.

Pei Yaojun struggled but couldn't break free. He looked at Liu Wenying with a wronged expression.

"Yingying, look at them..."

Liu Wenying tilted her head and looked at the three of them, not understanding what had happened. She only knew that both of her hands were being held and felt warm.

She blinked and muttered, "It's so cramped, the bed is too small..."

The three men froze simultaneously.

Outside, the wind and snow started again, and the north wind swirled snowflakes against the window paper, making a rustling sound, and the cold was biting.

Inside the house, the charcoal fire was burning brightly.

The crimson light shone on the four of them, casting their intertwined shadows on the wall, making it impossible to distinguish one from the other.

...Pei Yaojun hiccuped, tilted his head, and fell asleep, but still stubbornly held onto one of Liu Wenying's fingers.

Pei Dingxuan and Pei Zeyu looked at each other, neither willing to let go.

Liu Wenying closed her eyes in the warm embrace, her breathing became even and gentle, and a smile lingered on her lips.

The wind and snow outside the window grew fiercer, while the stove inside the house burned brightly.

……

New Year's Eve, deep within the imperial palace.

The family banquet was held in Chengming Hall, which was brightly lit and filled with the sounds of clinking glasses.

The emperor sat high on his throne, surrounded by his consorts on either side, while princes and princesses sat in order.

The sounds of string and wind instruments filled the air, and the graceful dances created an atmosphere of imperial grandeur throughout the palace.

The Second Prince, Xiao Yiheng, sat upright at the table, a gentle and refined smile always on his face.

He dealt with his brothers' subtle probing, and even responded to the attentiveness of every palace servant with just the right amount of warmth.

The second prince was praised by everyone in the palace for his approachability, gentleness, and refinement, and he never embarrassed anyone.

Therefore, no one could see through him.

Midway through the banquet, he excused himself to change his clothes and quietly left the table.

Walk through the long corridor, avoiding the occasional palace servants passing by.

Xiao Yiheng climbed onto the rarely visited viewing platform in the palace.

From this vantage point, one can enjoy a commanding view of the entire imperial city, even amidst the biting wind.

He stood by the railing, holding a jug of wine he had taken from the banquet, and took a sip.

The liquor was icy cold, but it set off a fire as it went down my throat.

Beneath my feet, the lights of countless homes in the capital city shone.

Bright red Spring Festival couplets are pasted on the lintels of thousands of households, and laughter and joy fill the windows of families reunited.

The children, dressed in new clothes, set off firecrackers in the yard, while their parents playfully brushed the snow off them.

Above them were dazzling displays of fireworks from the palace.

Fireworks exploded in clusters, illuminating half of his profile before quickly fading into darkness.

This is the grandeur of a prosperous era.

As Xiao Yiheng gazed at the dazzling display, the smile on his face gradually faded.

I heard soft footsteps behind me.

He didn't turn around. "Who told you to come along?"

The personal attendant cautiously stepped forward, bowed, and said, "Your Highness has been gone for a long time, and this servant is worried."

Xiao Yiheng didn't speak, but took another sip of wine.

The eunuch, observing his expression, mustered his courage and asked, "Does Your Highness find the banquet boring?"

"Boring?"

Xiao Yiheng chuckled, his voice carried away by the night wind.

"How could it be boring? There's wine, meat, singing, dancing, and fireworks—it's so lively!"

"It may be lively, but that's not His Highness's liveliness."

Xiao Yiheng paused, his hand holding the wine pot still.

The eunuch lowered his head and spoke even softer.

"Your Highness may deceive everyone in the palace, but you cannot deceive yourself."

The night wind howled, causing his clothes to flutter.

Xiao Yiheng remained silent for a long time.

So long that the eunuch thought he had said something wrong and was about to kneel down to beg for forgiveness, he smiled.

The laughter was soft, blending with the sound of the wind, and it was impossible to discern any emotion behind it.

"You scoundrel, you've got some nerve," he said.

The eunuch prostrated himself on the ground and said, "This servant deserves to die."

Get up.

Xiao Yiheng turned around, leaned against the railing, and gazed at the myriad lights of the city.

"You're right, the excitement belongs to them, I have nothing."

The eunuch felt a pang of sadness and didn't dare to reply.

Xiao Yiheng took another sip of wine, his gaze drifting towards the distant lights.

There were ordinary alleys he had never set foot in, and ordinary reunions he could never have.

It was New Year's Eve, a day for family reunion, yet he could only sit in the palace, smiling at those people whose hearts were hidden from his eyes.

The eunuch didn't know what to say, so he stood silently beside him.

After a long silence, Xiao Yiheng said, "Tell me, is there a place in the capital...?"

He paused, seemingly considering his words.

"A place where I don't need to fake a smile, a place where I can be myself."

The eunuch was taken aback and cautiously replied, "Your Highness asked, but this servant cannot answer."

Xiao Yiheng's smile was forlorn.

"But I've heard that home is where the heart is. If Your Highness wishes to find such a place, perhaps you should ask your own heart: where can Your Highness find peace?"

…………