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

Madam Pei looked at Liu Wenying, took the teacup, and her melancholy lessened slightly.

"You're right, it was just a moment of sentimentality on my part."

Liu Wenying smiled slightly, "Today is your joyous day, you should be happy."

She pointed to the pile of birthday gifts, "Look, His Majesty has bestowed a coral tree, and nobles have all come to offer their congratulations. The hall is full of guests celebrating your birthday."

"This is a blessing that many people would kill for."

While comforting the old lady, Liu Wenying subtly steered the conversation back to the joyous occasion of the birthday banquet.

Sure enough, someone immediately responded.

"Indeed! It's rare to find maids around Madam Pei who are so clever and sensible, speaking and acting with such impeccable manners."

Another lady nodded in agreement: "I think she's very good at dealing with people and things, and she's even better than some women from humble backgrounds."

Liu Wenying quickly curtsied, "Ladies, you flatter me. I am unworthy of such praise."

The old lady smiled, her eyes filled with satisfaction: "Wenying is indeed a good girl. I recovered so quickly and well thanks to her care during my paralysis."

The atmosphere at the table became lively again, and the ladies began to talk about their own family anecdotes, with laughter filling the air.

When the time came, Granny Wu held the gift list and loudly announced the congratulatory gifts that had been sent.

"His Majesty bestowed upon us two red coral trees, one hundred bolts of palace silk, and one thousand taels of gold..."

"The Duke of Yu and his wife presented a peach inlaid with red gold and jewels, a pair of jade cabbages, and ten century-old ginseng roots."

Next came the birthday gifts from each household.

The fourth daughter, Pei Rongyue, presented a hundred longevity characters that she had embroidered herself. The stitches were fine and dense, and the characters were all different shapes and sizes.

The gift from the old man and his wife was a white jade Guanyin statue, exquisitely carved and with a dignified appearance.

The gift from the second master and his wife was a set of sandalwood screens inlaid with mother-of-pearl and depicting the character "one hundred longevity," which was luxurious and grand.

When it was Third Master's turn, Granny Wu announced loudly, "Third Master presents a set of clay sculptures depicting the entire family of the Chinese zodiac."

There was a moment of silence in the hall, followed by a few suppressed chuckles and whispers.

"Clay sculpture? That's far too rudimentary."

"He still has that spoiled brat nature of his, like he hasn't grown up yet."

The voices were low, but they still drifted into Pei Yaojun's ears intermittently.

His face was full of smiles, but now those smiles gradually froze.

Seeing this, Madam Pei quickly smiled and said, "What good things don't we have in the manor? Jun'er's gift is a token of his heart. What's wrong with clay sculptures? Clay sculptures are what show thoughtfulness."

But everyone could tell it was just polite talk, so the others could only awkwardly smile and chime in.

Pei Yaojun felt his face burning, wishing he could disappear into the ground.

Just then, a clear, weak voice rang out.

"Huh? Granny Wu, it seems like the gift list is missing another congratulatory gift from Third Master."

Granny Wu looked down and flipped through the gift list several times. "No, that's all..."

Liu Wenying walked over and gently touched the very small print at the bottom of the gift list with her slender finger. "Granny, look, isn't this it?"

The text was written in small characters and the ink was light, so it looked like it was added later.

After seeing it clearly, Granny Wu frowned and hesitated before reading it aloud.

"Third Master presents... a walking aid."

A walking aid? What is that?

The people in the hall looked at each other in bewilderment.

The old lady was also very curious. "Jun'er, what is a walking aid? I've lived for sixty years and this is the first time I've ever heard of it."

Pei Yaojun hurriedly explained, "Grandmother, it looks like a wooden frame with handrails and wheels underneath, so people can use it to walk."

He described it simply, but it only confused everyone more.

Several of the old ladies-in-waiting were also discussing it in hushed tones.

"A wooden frame? To hold onto while walking?"

"It sounds like a walking stick, but walking sticks don't have wheels, do they?"

The Dowager Lady Yu, dressed in a dark blue jacket, smiled and said, "Third Master Pei's words are rather mystical; we old folks can't understand them. Why don't you take them out and let us see them?"

The old lady nodded, "Exactly, Wenying, what do you think?"

Liu Wenying quickly chimed in, "The old lady is right. Seeing is believing. Take it out and let everyone see, and they will understand."

Soon, two servants carried the walking aid covered with red silk to the open space in the hall.

As the red silk was lifted, the exquisitely designed and uniquely shaped walking aid was revealed.

The walker was made entirely of mahogany, with a warm, smooth texture and a dark red luster.

The armrests are wrapped in soft deerskin, and the front is decorated with an exquisitely carved pine and crane motif symbolizing longevity.

The most ingenious part is the four small wheels at the bottom, which are cleverly designed and rotate flexibly.

"This is the walking aid? Let me take a closer look."

Liu Wenying pushed the walker in front of the old lady.

"Madam, the purpose of this walking aid is to help people with leg problems stand and walk."

"You see, if you hold onto this spot with both hands and shift your body weight forward, you can push it forward."

"With it, you can walk around slowly."

She demonstrated as she spoke, gently and calmly.

The old lady was deeply moved. "Can it really make me stand up and walk?"

"Naturally, the walking aid is stable and effortless, making it perfect for your rehabilitation."

"Then I'll give it a try, right now."

Granny Wu said urgently, "Madam, no, all the guests are here, what if..."

"What if what? I've lived this long, I'm thick-skinned, I'm not afraid of making a fool of myself."

The old lady was eager to try and said to Liu Wenying, "Help me up."

"Eh."

Liu Wenying then called Ling'er over, and the two of them steadily helped the old lady up, one on each side.

"Madam, take it slow. Use your legs as much force as possible, and move your feet slightly forward. Yes, like that..."

The old lady took a deep breath, steadied her trembling legs, and moved her right foot forward half a step.

The wheels of the walker glided smoothly, carrying her forward.

One step, two steps, three steps...

Although he walked with difficulty, he needed someone to carefully support him with every step.

But she really did start walking!

The hall was completely silent; everyone held their breath.

Several elderly ladies were also very excited and stood up one after another.

The Duke's eyes were filled with tears, which he wiped away with his large hand.

The old lady took about seven or eight steps, and her smile grew even more joyful and cheerful.

The rehabilitation training a few days ago, plus the stimulation I felt today from seeing a room full of guests walking freely.

At this moment, with the help of a walking aid, she finally took her first step.

The room erupted in cheers and applause.

"Congratulations, congratulations, this is wonderful..." said Madam Yu, the old lady of the Duke of Zhenguo.

Other guests also stood up to offer their congratulations, and for a moment, the hall was filled with wishes for the old lady's speedy recovery.

The most esteemed princess at the table clapped her hands and laughed, "Excellent! What a wonderful walking aid! Young Master Pei is clever and his filial piety is commendable!"

The eldest princess's status was extraordinary; to receive a single word of praise from her was already a great honor.

Pei Yaojun stepped forward from his seat, bowed, and said, "Your Highness is too kind. I am unworthy of such praise."

"I remember you were in charge of the Ministry of Works, and it seems you chose the right path."

"The zodiac clay sculptures have auspicious meanings, and the walkers are ingeniously designed, practical, and thoughtful, making them a hundred times better than those that are flashy but impractical."

The princess's words were pointed, and the guests who had just mocked the simplicity of the clay sculptures now all looked embarrassed.

Pei Yaojun secretly glanced at Liu Wenying.

This glory we enjoy today was given to us by her.

If it weren't for her, I'd probably still be the laughingstock of others.

Pei Yaojun bowed again, "Your Highness, the walking aid is not actually the work of this humble servant alone."

…………