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

Liu Wenying was held in his arms, still in shock.

When I reached out, I touched a bump—the knot of the rope that held the mask to the back of his head.

With a flick of the fingers, the knot was untied, the mask slipped off, and fell to the ground.

The moonlight shone unblindingly on that face.

There were no horrifying scars.

He had only a pair of narrow, phoenix-shaped eyes, a high, straight nose, and tightly pursed thin lips.

That face she knew all too well.

Pei Dingxuan.

Liu Wenying's mind went completely blank.

She gave him a push.

Pei Dingxuan's shoulder was pulled, causing him to wince in pain, but he didn't make a sound, only letting out a muffled breath.

Liu Wenying tried to get as far away from him as possible, collapsing onto the grass beside him, arms crossed, panting heavily.

Her intuition was right; the so-called Jia Ming was indeed someone she knew.

Jia Ming, pseudonym...

Ah, the answer is right there in the riddle itself.

Why did you pretend to be a stable boy?

Despite the pain in his shoulder tugging at his nerves, Pei Dingxuan maintained a calm and composed expression.

"My equestrian skills were among the best in the Imperial Academy back in the day. If you want to learn, no one is more suitable than me."

Liu Wenying curled her lips and said sarcastically, "Master really cares about his servants. Even when teaching horsemanship, he has to humble himself and personally disguise himself to teach. This servant is flattered by such kindness."

As soon as she said it, she realized how sharp her words were.

But Pei Dingxuan was not angry. He just looked at her, a helpless smile appearing in his narrow phoenix eyes.

"You understand the deeper reason, don't you?"

Liu Wenying's face changed, and a sense of panic overwhelmed her. She dared not meet those all-seeing eyes again, gritted her teeth, got up, and turned to run away.

After taking a few steps, he suddenly stopped.

The person behind him remained silent.

Liu Wenying turned around, and Pei Dingxuan was still lying on the same spot, face up, motionless.

The moonlight shone on his face, making his handsome features appear somewhat pale.

She bit her lower lip, hesitating.

If he hadn't caught her and cushioned her fall, she would be the one lying on the ground unable to get up right now.

If you fall off a startled horse and hit your head...

She dared not imagine the consequences.

Liu Wenying turned back, walked to his side, squatted down, and reached out to help him up.

His hand was halfway out when it froze in mid-air.

Pei Dingxuan's gaze fell on her dangling hand, something flickered in his eyes, then dimmed again.

"I'll go find you a doctor."

Liu Wenying withdrew her hand, her tone stiff.

"No need, it's just a dislocation."

Dislocation? That's all?

Dislocation is a bone injury, how can he describe it like it's just a scrape?

Pei Dingxuan struggled to sit up and used his uninjured hand to press down on his dislocated shoulder.

With a sudden burst of force, a twist and a push, a sharp, teeth-grinding cracking sound came from the joints.

Liu Wenying felt a chill run down her spine, then looked at Pei Dingxuan.

He merely furrowed his brow slightly, and his breathing became heavy for a moment.

He then slowly released his grip, rotated his shoulder, and said calmly, "All done."

Pei Dingxuan stretched his shoulder, which had just been repositioned, and spoke in a casual tone.

"There are methods of dismemberment in prisons; once you've seen it many times, you'll naturally become familiar with it."

Liu Wenying swallowed hard.

Pei Dingxuan realized what was happening and quickly said, "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to scare you."

"I cannot bear your apology, sir, and you need not apologize to me."

She rose and stepped back, curtsied respectfully, and said with a respectful distance, "Since you have nothing else to do, sir, I will take my leave now."

After saying that, she turned and left.

Pei Dingxuan tried to grab her, his fingertips hovering in mid-air, but he couldn't touch her sleeve.

Liu Wenying stopped.

She didn't turn around; she just kept her back to him, speaking in a low voice.

"If it were Jia Ming who taught me to ride a horse, I would be filled with gratitude. But if it were you, Master... I would only be afraid."

She didn't say what she was afraid of.

Unfortunately, Pei Dingxuan understood.

What she feared was his identity, and everything that came with it.

Things like rules, hierarchy, and those things she couldn't bear or respond to.

Liu Wenying did not linger and walked away.

Under the moonlight, the blue figure grew farther and farther away, gradually merging into the night.

Pei Dingxuan stood there, gazing in the direction she had disappeared, remaining motionless for a long time.

Her profile, showing her focused and attentive expression as she learns to ride a horse.

Her eyes were filled with panic as she fell into his arms.

When she said she was afraid of him, it was like the sound of a falling leaf.

Scene after scene flashed repeatedly in my mind.

Throughout his life, despite holding high positions and wielding power, he had never cared for anyone so much, nor had he ever been so cautious.

But she really didn't want to, so much so that she was afraid and terrified.

Should we really give up now?

The night breeze blew by, its coolness penetrating, but he seemed oblivious, his heart filled with an unbridled sense of melancholy.

Suddenly, I felt a warm, rubbing sensation on my face.

Hongyun, who had run away in fright, slowly strolled back. She lowered her head as if she were human and rubbed her warm cheek against him, as if she were coaxing him or comforting him.

Pei Dingxuan raised his hand and gently stroked Hongyun's mane.

Hongyun stood obediently, letting him touch her; her big eyes looked especially gentle in the moonlight.

"She likes you a lot, and so do I."

A once-in-a-lifetime moment of passion.

He couldn't bear to let go.

……

The next day, the sky was high and the clouds were wide.

On the high platform erected in the center of the hunting grounds, banners fluttered and dragon flags waved in the wind.

The Emperor of Wei sat on his throne, surveying the dense crowd below.

The imperial guards stood in formation, and civil and military officials stood solemnly.

The sons and daughters of various noble families lined up on both sides, each with a look of high spirits and anticipation after yesterday's enjoyment.

The emperor smiled slightly and stood up.

"Yesterday, the soldiers of the Great Wei were in high spirits, their horsemanship and archery were unparalleled, and the young men and women galloped freely on the hunting grounds, showing their charm. I am very pleased."

The crowd below shouted in unison, "Long live His Majesty! Long live the Great Wei!"

The shouts echoed like a tide, reverberating among the mountains.

After everyone quieted down, the emperor continued, "The autumn hunt has just begun. I hope you will all continue your efforts and not waste this precious time, nor betray the martial spirit of our Great Wei!"

"As Your Majesty commands!"

The crowd cheered again, and the atmosphere reached its peak.

Some were already eager to try, ready to mount their horses and gallop towards the center of the hunting grounds, where the forests were ablaze with autumn colors.

Just then, a voice suddenly rang out, interrupting the lively atmosphere.

"Your Majesty, please wait."

Yelü Yuanjia slowly rose from the direction of the Northern Barbarian delegation.

He cupped his hands in a respectful gesture toward the Emperor of Great Wei, but his words carried a subtle hint of provocation.

"Yesterday, I went hunting with the soldiers of Wei and witnessed firsthand the riding and archery skills of the Wei men. They truly lived up to their reputation."

"Today, I, the Crown Prince, have a request that I humbly request, and I hope Your Majesty will grant it."

The emperor's gaze darkened slightly, but he maintained his imperial composure.

"Your Highness, please explain."

Yelü Yuanjia smiled, looked around at the crowd of people from Great Wei below the stage, and said loudly.

"I have long heard that the Great Wei is full of talented people, both in literature and martial arts. Today, I, the Crown Prince, dare to set three questions to test the abilities of the young men of the Great Wei."

"I wonder if anyone here dares to answer?"

…………