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

"Jun'er is simple-minded and has always been pampered by me. She doesn't understand complicated things at all."

"He must have been seduced and bewitched by someone else, which led him to do such a ridiculous thing!"

The more Madam Pei spoke, the angrier she became.

The old woman stood to the side, her eyes darting around.

"Madam, if it really was that maid who caused this trouble, should we... teach her a lesson?"

Isn't it common for mistresses in large, secluded mansions to deal with immoral servants in order to maintain peace and order in the household?

If it's a slave who has signed a contract of servitude, you can be ruthless and just beat them to death.

At best, send them to a remote villa and never let them return.

If she's employed, then kick her out so she can never enter the capital again.

Madam Pei was awakened by the nanny and tapped her fingers on the mirror stand.

How could she not want that?

But that maid is now serving by her grandmother's side.

She did a lot of work to help her grandmother with her illness.

If she were to extend her influence to Mingxi Hall, not only would her grandmother be furious, but even the Duke would be enraged.

Just as they were in a dilemma, a maid's voice suddenly came from outside.

"Madam, Liu Wenying, the head maid of Mingxi Hall, requests an audience."

Madam Pei was taken aback, then sneered.

Said Cao Cao, Cao Cao.

"What is she doing here? She seduced Jun'er and did those things, and now she's pretending to be pitiful?"

The old woman tentatively asked, "Madam, would you like to see her?"

"I won't see her. Let her wait." Madam Pei withdrew her gaze, picked up a comb, and slowly combed her hair.

The night breeze grew cool, and the lanterns under the eaves swayed in the wind.

Liu Wenying stood outside the door of Hechun Hall, her eyes lowered, utterly respectful.

The maid went in to announce her arrival, then came out and shook her head at her: "Steward Liu, Madam is resting. Please come again another day."

Liu Wenying nodded and remained standing in the same spot.

She didn't leave; she waited until after a cup of tea, then two cups of tea...

There were lights on inside, and shadowy figures moving about, clearly indicating that no one was resting.

Liu Wenying stood waiting.

Until all the candles in the room went out and darkness returned.

The personal maid came out of the room, closed the door, glanced at her, and left without saying anything.

The maid came out again, her tone helpless.

"Steward Liu, Madam is truly resting. You may return now."

Liu Wenying glanced at the dark window and finally curtsied, saying, "This servant takes her leave."

For several days in a row, I was turned away at the door.

On the sixth day, the birthday banquet came to an end, the guests left the mansion, and the noise subsided.

The Duke's mansion returned to its former tranquility.

Madam Pei came out of the front hall, rubbed her stiff shoulders and neck, and was about to walk towards the backyard.

A figure suddenly appeared from the side and knelt in front of her.

"This servant, Liu Wenying, greets Madam."

Madam Pei paused, and a layer of frost instantly settled on her well-maintained face.

"Is it you?"

She didn't even want to look at it again, and was about to walk around it.

"Madam, please wait."

Liu Wenying stepped aside to stop her from leaving, while simultaneously adopting a very humble posture, speaking before the other party could get angry.

"This servant requests an audience today for one matter only. The matter of marriage that Third Master mentioned has deeply troubled this servant. I have come to explain my feelings to Madam and beg for your understanding."

Madam Pei sneered, her words laced with sarcasm.

"You know there's a huge difference in our social status? What kind of person are you to dare covet Jun'er?"

"This servant dares not even dream of it, much less aspire to the status of your noble family. I know in my heart that there is absolutely no way I could enter your household."

Madam Pei was taken aback. She thought the girl would cry and beg, or even bring up her grandmother to pressure her.

Unexpectedly, she made it clear that she didn't want to get married at all.

Although she was clear-headed, Madam Pei would not let it go so easily based on just a few words.

Liu Wenying noticed the change in her gaze and knew she had made the right bet.

If those words aren't clearly stated beforehand, her life might be in danger after the birthday banquet ends.

She continued, "This servant truly only has one request."

Madam Pei's cold smile reappeared.

Sure enough, they still wouldn't let go of the opportunity to curry favor.

The maid lowered her stance and said those things to reduce her guard, but in the end, she was still trying to curry favor with Jun'er.

Liu Wenying replied, "What this servant asks for is to continue serving the old lady."

Madam Pei's cold smile froze slightly.

"The old lady's leg recovery is at a critical stage, and her rehabilitation training cannot be interrupted for even a day."

"This servant does not seek titles or favors, but only a place to settle down and serve."

"Madam is a reasonable person and naturally knows that the well-being of the old lady is of utmost importance to the entire household."

Madam Pei looked at her with a complex expression.

She is indeed intelligent.

The wise understand why they didn't act sooner.

During the birthday banquet, everyone in the household was watching closely, and the grandmother was especially inseparable from her.

She waited until the birthday banquet was over before taking action, but the maidservant came to see her just before the banquet ended.

She wouldn't come, so she came every day until just as the birthday banquet was ending, when she stopped him and spoke so succinctly.

"Jun'er's attitude is that he will marry no one but you."

Madam Pei opened her lips, her tone still cold, but slightly gentler than before.

Liu Wenying pursed her lips, "Third Master may have just been acting on a whim. Let's just consider his words about marriage a misunderstanding."

From this day forward, I will keep quiet about it and will also advise Third Master not to let this matter distract him further.

I'm sorry, Third Master.

She has a vulnerability that she must protect.

"The one who tied the knot must untie it. Fine, I'll give you a chance."

Liu Wenying nodded deeply and bowed again, "Thank you, Madam."

After she stepped aside, Madam Pei brushed past her.

At that moment, Madam Pei's voice drifted over, and her short sentence sent chills down her spine.

"Grandmother can't live without you, but your daughter is still in the manor, isn't she?"

Liu Wenying's back was soaked with cold sweat, and she forgot to reply immediately.

Madam Pei achieved her goal and did not expect any reaction from her; she was content as long as she heard it.

Only after Madam Pei had completely left did Liu Wenying relax her shoulders and finally breathe a sigh of relief.

If she hadn't persistently sought an audience, how could she have had a chance to protect herself once Madam Pei finished her birthday banquet and had time to spare?

Autumn day, Chenshuang Courtyard.

A sudden gust of wind swept up a few fallen leaves in the yard, swirling them as they landed on the windowsill, bringing with them a touch of melancholy.

Inside the main room, Pei Zeyu sat alone at the tea table.

A pot of water was simmering on a small red clay stove, bubbling and steaming.

He raised his hand, picked up the teapot, and poured boiling water into the teacup. His movements were fluid and natural, just like any other day.

Once the tea was fully brewed, he slowly poured it out, filling the table with scalding hot tea that overflowed, flowing down the table and dripping onto the floor.

He was completely unaware.

"Second Master?"

Afu's voice rang out beside him, but he seemed not to hear it.

"Second Master!" Afu called out again, his voice louder.

Pei Zeyu then came to his senses and looked down to see that the tea had spilled all over the table.

He casually put it down and asked dryly, "What is it?"

Afu sighed silently, took out a letter from his pocket, and presented it with both hands.

"Second Master, the scout has returned from Xinghua Village."

"We have thoroughly investigated Liu Wenying's background. This is a letter brought back by our spies. Please take a look, Second Master."

…………