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

Liu Wenying listened and temporarily lowered her guard, but the trouble remained.

She gently lifted Luo Luo, who was sliding down her chest.

"Is this all the master wanted to tell me?"

"no."

He leaned against the car wall, his expression turning serious.

"If you want to go to the Duke of Zhenguo's mansion, it's better for you to understand some things as soon as possible."

That makes sense. She was wary of the old man, but Pei Dingxuan was always calm and composed, and he wouldn't have stopped her unless it was a matter of great importance.

Liu Wenying listened attentively.

"The Duke of Zhenguo and the Duke of Yuguo disagree on political views. The Duke of Zhenguo supports the Second Prince, while his father is a key figure in the Crown Prince's faction. The two families are like oil and water."

They were mortal enemies in the imperial court, and they never even invited each other to banquets at their residences.

Only Old Madam Yu and my grandmother were close friends since their youth, and both were elders, uninvolved in court intrigues. Their occasional visits were perfectly understandable.

Liu Wenying's eyebrows furrowed tightly.

She had thought that the Duke of Zhenguo's mansion was just another high-ranking family, and that she would go there to serve Old Madam Yu and avoid Madam Pei's sharp edge.

But now that I've heard what the old man said, it's hardly a safe haven.

It was clearly another sea with even bigger waves.

Seeing her serious expression, Pei Dingxuan asked, "What are you thinking about?"

"Although I was seconded by Old Madam Yu, I was ultimately sent by Old Madam Pei, representing the Duke of Yu's mansion."

If anything were to happen to Old Madam Yu during her time of care, it would likely exacerbate the conflict between the two families.

Her trip to Weichang made her realize that sometimes even a small reminder can lead to death.

Although she was insignificant, she could still be used by those with ulterior motives and become a pawn to stir up the situation.

Pei Dingxuan nodded. She was indeed as intelligent as he had imagined, understanding things very quickly.

"come over."

Liu Wenying was taken aback, hugged Luo Luo tightly, and huddled in the corner without moving.

Pei Dingxuan sighed softly as he looked at her wary expression. The two had a deep misunderstanding that would probably not be resolved anytime soon.

"I just thought you were smart, and now you're making a fool of yourself again?"

"If I wanted to do something to you, would I have waited until now?"

Liu Wenying slowly moved over and stopped when she was three inches away from him.

Pei Dingxuan took out a small bone whistle from his pocket.

The whistle was pure white, polished smooth and round, and strung on a thin red cord.

He bent down and, inch by inch, eliminated that three-inch distance into nothingness.

The red string was gently tied around her neck. His fingers brushed against the stray hairs at the back of her neck, the cool touch making her tremble slightly.

"Going to the Duke of Zhenguo's mansion may not be as safe as you expect."

"If an accident happens, remember to blow it."

Liu Wenying looked down at the bone whistle, holding it in her palm; it felt cool.

"Thank you, sir." Her heart was filled with mixed feelings.

It was at least a lifesaver, so she accepted it.

The carriage stopped at the main gate of the Duke of Zhenguo's mansion. Because of the relationship between the two families, Pei Dingxuan did not get out of the carriage.

Liu Wenying got off the carriage with her daughter, and a maid was already waiting at the door.

She was a maid wearing a pinkish-purple vest, with delicate features.

"Are you Liu Wenying? My name is Suxin. I am the personal maid of Old Madam Yu. The Old Madam instructed me to come and fetch you."

Liu Wenying quickly returned the greeting and followed her into the mansion.

The Zhenguo Duke's Mansion, with its carved beams and painted rafters, is just as magnificent as the Yuguo Duke's Mansion, yet also possesses an elegant and tranquil atmosphere, exuding the profound heritage of a noble family residence.

Su Xin led her deeper into the mansion, passing through several corridors, until they arrived at a small courtyard.

The courtyard is small but clean, with blue bricks paving the ground and several chrysanthemums in full bloom in the corner.

The room was fully furnished, with brand-new tables, chairs, and beds, several times better than the servants' quarters she lived in at the Duke of Yu's mansion.

"The old lady has arranged a place for you to stay, right behind her main house, so it will be convenient for her to take care of you."

Su Xin glanced at the child in Liu Wenying's arms and smiled.

"I heard you brought a young girl with you. The old lady specially instructed that two maids be assigned to take care of her. You just need to serve her with peace of mind and don't need to worry about anything else."

Liu Wenying felt a warmth in her heart and was about to express her gratitude.

Su Xin waved her hand, "Don't thank me, it's all thanks to the old lady's kindness."

The two maids inside the room came out to greet them when they heard the noise. They were young, with round faces, and looked honest and dutiful.

Su Xin pointed at them, "Look, from now on, you two will be in charge of taking care of the little girl."

The two knelt down, and Liu Wenying returned the gesture.

She placed Luoluo on the bed and gave the two maids some detailed instructions.

When does Luo Luo wake up? When is she fed? When does she play with him/her? When does she sleep?

He explained everything clearly, down to the smallest detail.

The two maids listened attentively and remembered the words.

After giving her instructions, Liu Wenying straightened up and followed Su Xin outside to see Old Madam Yu.

Su Xin led the way, and Liu Wenying asked casually.

"How frequently does the old lady's headache flare up?"

Su Xin turned around and glanced at her with some surprise. She probably didn't expect her to be so concerned. She hadn't even seen the old lady yet, but she had already asked about her illness.

She slowed her pace and walked side by side with Liu Wenying.

"That's right! It always flares up when the seasons change, and it's started hurting again these past few days because of the cooler weather."

She counted on her fingers, "Sometimes when her mood fluctuates a lot, it hurts too. A few days ago, there were many people at her birthday banquet, and she was happy, but she was in pain all night afterward."

I called a doctor, who prescribed medicine, but it hasn't helped much.

Liu Wenying nodded and then asked, "Has she undergone any treatment?"

"We've tried every remedy imaginable, but nothing works."

"Speaking of which, this illness came about quite strangely. It started after the old lady had a stiff neck once."

At first, I didn't take it seriously, but it became more and more frequent and severe, so I started seeking medical help everywhere.

The imperial physicians from the palace have also come, but none of them can cure it completely.

They talked as they walked, and since the courtyard wasn't far from the old lady's residence, they arrived quickly.

"Grandma, Miss Liu has arrived."

Su Xin pushed open the door and stepped aside to let Liu Wenying in.

It was darker inside than outside, with the curtains half-drawn, letting in only a few streaks of hazy sunlight.

Old Madam Yu had just recovered from her pain the night before. She sat on the soft couch by the window, a thin blanket draped over her, a hand warmer on her lap. She looked listless and lacked energy.

She wore a red gold and jade headband, and there were not many people serving her.

Seeing Liu Wenying enter, Old Madam Yu raised her eyelids and said, "You've arrived? Come here quickly."

Liu Wenying gave her a full curtsy.

Old Madam Yu looked her over a few times. "Was the journey smooth?"

"Thanks to you, the journey went smoothly."

Liu Wenying replied softly, her gaze falling on Old Madam Yu's haggard face, already having some plans in mind.

Since Old Madam Yu was not paralyzed, she naturally didn't have as many people serving her as Mingxitang.

Liu Wenying sat to the side, watching the maid pour tea and water, occasionally lending a hand, handing over a handkerchief, or carrying a teacup.

It was time for the servants to have their dinner.

Su Xin sat down next to Liu Wenying with her bowl in hand, and they started chatting casually.

She asked Liu Wenying if she was settling in well, what she thought of the Duke of Zhenguo's mansion, and whether the food suited her taste.

They chatter on and on, like they're having a casual conversation.

Liu Wenying answered all the questions, but she knew perfectly well what was going on in her mind.

Su Xin was the personal maid of Old Madam Yu, so she didn't have time to chat with her about such trivial matters.

Maybe it was Old Madam Yu who sent her to sound out their intentions.

She put down her chopsticks and took the initiative to speak.

"Grandma Yu's headaches are unlikely to be cured by medication and acupuncture alone; she needs to be recuperated slowly."

"I've noticed that the old lady's daily diet contains quite a few nourishing foods, so she's getting enough nutrition. If we could add some calming and regulating soups, it might be even better."

Su Xin's eyes lit up slightly, and she put down her chopsticks.

"According to you, how should the decoction be prepared?"

…………