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

Liu Wenying's eyes welled up with tears as she listened to these words.

The old lady reached out and patted the back of her hand.

"However, Zhiyao is right about one thing: Yu'er does treat you very specially."

Liu Wenying pondered to herself, thinking that the old lady's protection of her was ultimately a result of weighing the pros and cons.

Cherishing her talent, unwilling to let her become a tool, and mindful of the Second Master's wishes, not wanting to offend his grandson, it was truly a win-win situation.

But the old lady was so perceptive that she saw through her embarrassment at a glance.

"You're too sensitive and perceptive, don't overthink it. More importantly, I really like you."

The old lady spoke from the bottom of her heart.

Liu Wenying suddenly looked up, her eyes filled with astonishment and confusion.

The old lady's protection of her was not out of scheming, but rather out of genuine affection for her.

"It all started when you came to the capital from a collateral branch, and Ye'er choked on something, and you calmly came to the rescue."

"Later, when you entered Mingxi Hall, you stayed by my side every day, serving me attentively and without finding the work too tedious."

"They even came up with such ingenious rehabilitation methods, helping me gradually get rid of the troubles of my leg ailment."

"I've seen everything you've done."

Liu Wenying's eyes suddenly reddened.

"I would have been happy if you had chosen the bracelet."

"That jade bracelet is precious; even my granddaughters-in-law don't have one. If you wear it, it will tell the people in the mansion that you have my backing."

Tears finally streamed down her face uncontrollably, and Liu Wenying hurriedly raised her hand to wipe them away.

The old lady also took out a handkerchief and personally wiped away her tears.

"Don't cry. Choosing the path of a steward's maid is not an easy one."

Liu Wenying shook her head, her voice choked with emotion but firm: "May you rest in peace."

She grasped the old lady's hand in return, her eyes sparkling.

"This servant not only wants to walk smoothly on her own, but also wants to help the old lady walk with her."

The old lady paused for a moment, then immediately understood the implied meaning in her words.

The goal is to heal her legs so she can stand up and walk again.

"Alright, alright, then tell me, what other treatment methods are there?"

Liu Wenying pursed her lips, afraid of disappointing the old man, and only said softly:

"Haste makes waste, but please trust me, Madam, you will get better."

The old lady patted her shoulder with satisfaction and didn't ask any more questions.

Chenshuang Courtyard.

Pei Zeyu hurried back to the house, his steps unsteady.

As he entered, he tripped over the threshold and stumbled, but luckily he managed to grab the door frame in time to avoid falling.

"Second Master!" The attendants rushed forward in a panic.

Pei Zeyu brushed aside the person who was helping him and walked straight into the house.

Lin Zhiyao was sitting in the side room when she heard the noise and came out to greet them.

Seeing him in such a state, she quickly stepped forward to show her concern.

"What's wrong, my husband? You don't seem to be feeling well—"

"Did you go and tell Grandmother?" Pei Zeyu interrupted her.

Lin Zhiyao was stunned: "What?"

He took a step closer, his gaze sharp as a knife. "You told Grandmother you were going to take a concubine for me, and you even specified someone?"

The air pressure was extremely low, and the maids and attendants around them remained silent as if trembling with fear.

Lin Zhiyao's expression changed slightly, and she stammered, "I... I was only thinking of my husband."

"What right do you have to interfere in my affairs?" Pei Zeyu sneered.

Lin Zhiyao's eyes welled up with tears. "I've long seen that you and Liu Wenying are in love. I'm not the kind of person who's easily jealous. If you like her, just take her into your family..."

"You noticed? What did you notice?"

Pei Zeyu interrupted with a sneer, his laughter mocking.

"Seeing that I treat her differently, you're thinking of taking her as a concubine to bear your children, so you can secure your position as the second wife?"

Lin Zhiyao turned pale when her secret was exposed.

"Ah Fu! Ah Jin!"

Pei Zeyu stopped looking at her and shouted, "Pack up all her things and take her to the side room!"

Lin Zhiyao exclaimed in surprise, "Husband, why?!"

"I don't want to see you. From today onwards, you will live in the side room until Grandmother's birthday."

After her birthday celebration, Lin Zhiyao knew without a doubt that a divorce was imminent.

Chaos erupted in the courtyard. The servants looked at each other in bewilderment, but dared not disobey.

As instructed, Afu and Ajin entered the main house and began tidying up Lin Zhiyao's dressing case, clothes, and books.

Lin Zhiyao tried to stop him, but Pei Zeyu froze her in place with a single look.

She watched helplessly as her belongings were moved out one by one.

Her dowry included a dressing case, a brocade quilt embroidered with twin lotus blossoms, and her frequently used inkstone...

The other servants who were not allowed to enter the house all lowered their heads, but secretly looked up at each other.

Lin Zhiyao felt her face burning with shame and indignation.

She had been married into the Pei family for three years, and had never been so publicly humiliated.

"My husband...we've been husband and wife, why are you so heartless?"

Pei Zeyu didn't answer, but just watched as the last item was carried out of the main house.

Then he turned around and slammed the door shut.

Lin Zhiyao finally couldn't hold on any longer; her legs went weak, and she barely managed to stand by leaning on her maid.

She no longer cared about appearances, and stumbled out, covering her face.

Lin House.

She cried all the way, her face covered in tears, and she no longer resembled a lady of the Duke's mansion.

Madam Lin was doing needlework when she saw her burst in like this, and she was so startled that she stopped sewing and almost pricked her flesh.

As soon as she entered, Lin Zhiyao threw herself onto her mother's lap and burst into tears.

"What happened? What's going on?"

Lin Zhiyao held her mother's hand, tears streaming down her face, and sobbed as she recounted what had just happened.

Finally, she sobbed, "Mother, your method of taking a concubine didn't work. Instead, it pushed my second master even further away..."

Mrs. Lin was quite surprised.

"That shouldn't be the case. Taking a concubine shows your virtue and generosity; he should be grateful to you. Why is he instead..."

She paused, as if realizing something, and her gaze sharpened.

"Could it be that the maidservant is unwilling? Is she stupid to turn down such a high-ranking offer?"

After much thought, this is the only explanation that makes sense.

"If Second Master Pei is angered and embarrassed after being rejected by that maid, then so be it."

As Lin Zhiyao listened, she felt as if she had been stabbed in the heart.

She went to great lengths to get the person she wanted.

But it is what others desperately want to avoid and stay away from.

The thought was more humiliating to her than being kicked out of the main house.

"Mother, what should we do now?"

Lin Zhiyao's eyes were brimming with tears. "He's already given me the divorce papers, he's just waiting for Madam Pei's birthday to..."

Madam Lin sighed, "In the end, we still have to come back to having offspring."

Lin Zhiyao was stunned. Offspring?

"But my relationship with Second Master has reached a freezing point. How can I possibly have children in the short term?"

Madam Lin patted her hand, her expression calm, her words calculating.

"Silly child, just because you can't have it when you're awake doesn't mean you can't have it at other times."

She was going all out for her daughter's marriage.

Unable to decipher the meaning behind her words, Lin Zhiyao looked up, her face full of confusion.

"What Mother means is..."

Madam Lin leaned close and whispered in his ear.

Lin Zhiyao's expression changed little by little.

Confusion, shock, hesitation, and finally, a complex and indistinct struggle.

"This...will this work? Second Master has touched me before, but in all these years, my belly hasn't...shown any signs of pregnancy."

…………