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

The scenery of the Duke of Zhenguo's mansion is different in each season, but it is especially serene in winter.

The courtyard was filled with white snow and budding winter plum blossoms. The plum branches were weighed down by thick snow, but they could not hide the crimson blossoms that were about to open.

Liu Wenying led Pei Yaojun on a tour of the mansion, introducing things as they walked.

"I heard from the people in the manor that the pavilion over there is best for viewing lotus flowers in summer, and also for appreciating plum blossoms in winter."

"There's a little grotto under the artificial hill there. It's very cool in autumn, but it's sealed off in winter and only opens in spring..."

Her delicate nose was slightly red from the cold. Pei Yaojun listened absentmindedly, then suddenly said, "I don't want to see any of this."

Liu Wenying was taken aback. "Then what does Third Master want to see?"

He stood behind her, a few snowflakes landing on his crimson shoulders.

"Where do you live? Take me to see it."

Liu Wenying hesitated, "Is...this alright?"

"Old Madam Yu said you were to show me around the manor, so why isn't your place considered part of the manor?"

Seeing his insistence, Liu Wenying had no choice but to take him back.

The two stopped in front of a courtyard. It was cold, and the doors and windows were closed, making the courtyard seem rather deserted.

Pei Yaojun stepped in and looked around.

This place was much larger than the one she lived in at the Duke of Yu's mansion. It had a main house and two side rooms, and there was an old locust tree in the courtyard with its branches piled high like snow, resembling an open silver umbrella.

"Oh, is Old Madam Yu planning to keep you here for a long time? Don't be tempted."

Pei Yaojun turned around and said seriously, "When we get back, I'll mention it to Grandmother and ask her to move you to a bigger house."

Liu Wenying couldn't help but chuckle. "Third Master, you're overthinking it. This courtyard is close to the Old Madam's bedroom, making it convenient to take care of her at any time, which is why it was assigned to me."

Pei Yaojun couldn't believe it. Judging from Old Madam Yu's demeanor, she had interrupted his request for people before he had even spoken.

His gaze swept around the courtyard and suddenly settled on a corner.

There were several cloth bags piled up there, made of coarse cloth, and it was unclear what was inside.

"What is that?"

Liu Wenying walked over and tidied up the several cloth bags. "Sandbags, for running on your legs."

Since we're planning to leave the manor to make a living, the area outside the manor is not as safe as the area inside. If we encounter danger, even if we can't fight back, we can at least run away.

The more you exercise, the better you can protect yourself.

But to Pei Yaojun, it meant something else entirely.

"You want to learn martial arts?"

Liu Wenying shook her head, "It's just for physical fitness, it's not about martial arts."

Fearing that Pei Yaojun would continue and discover something amiss, she deliberately changed the subject.

"I've heard that Third Master is quite skilled. Today is a rare opportunity; could you perhaps demonstrate a few moves so that this servant can see your prowess?"

"You really want to see it?"

Liu Wenying nodded vigorously, "Mmm-hmm."

Pei Yaojun raised an eyebrow and decided to grant her request.

He walked to the corner of the wall and broke off a plum blossom.

The branches are strong and vigorous, adorned with a few half-open red flowers, their petals still covered with snowflakes.

The plum blossom twirled between my fingers, stirring up a gust of fine snow.

Liu Wenying stepped back to make room for him, her face full of anticipation.

Pei Yaojun stood in the center of the courtyard, held the plum blossom branch in front of him, closed his eyes, and when he opened them again, the smile in his peach blossom eyes had disappeared.

With a flick of his wrist, the plum blossom branch shot out diagonally, bringing with it a sharp gust of wind.

Snowflakes rustled down from the branches, creating a white mist around him.

What he held in his hand seemed not to be a flower branch, but a supple, meandering snake.

Suddenly, his wrist sank, and the softness transformed into strength, the branch as hard as iron, the momentum as powerful as a rainbow.

Liu Wenying was stunned; she had never seen such a dashing figure before.

Red clothes against white snow, plum branches as sharp swords.

His aura was captivating.

Suddenly, he lunged at her.

The sharp sword aura rushed towards her, and she could feel the chill even before making contact. Liu Wenying wanted to dodge, but she was not fast enough.

The plum blossom branch suddenly stopped an inch in front of her, the buds on the branch trembled slightly, the wind stirred her hair, and snowflakes fell on her eyelashes.

She blinked, and the snow melted.

Pei Yaojun held the flower branch firmly, and the smile in his peach blossom eyes had returned without him noticing.

"Is it pretty?" he asked.

"It's beautiful..."

Liu Wenying raised her hand in a daze, about to clap her hands.

"Slap, slap, slap."

Three unhurried claps came from the courtyard gate.

The two turned around at the same time. A middle-aged man stood there with his hands behind his back, followed by his entourage.

Liu Wenying's expression changed slightly, and she quickly bowed, saying, "This servant greets the Duke of Zhenguo."

Pei Yaojun recognized the person and turned the flower branch upside down, holding it in his hand and bowing respectfully.

"Junior Pei Yaojun greets the Duke of Zhenguo."

The Duke of Zhenguo stepped forward, unable to stop himself from scrutinizing Pei Yaojun.

From shoulder to waist, from waist to leg, and then back from leg to the hand holding the plum blossom branch.

"Young man, you have good bone structure, broad shoulders and a strong waist; you are a good prospect for martial arts."

The Duke of Zhenguo now serves in the Ministry of War. Although he has retired to the second line, he still cannot hide the dignified aura that only comes from years of battlefield experience.

Pei Yaojun's lips curled up. He was always proud and arrogant, and being praised by the Duke of Zhenguo made him even more proud and arrogant.

"Thank you for your praise, Lord Zhenguo. I have also practiced martial arts."

The Duke of Zhenguo also became interested, broke off a plum branch, weighed it in his hand, and said: "Since you have such a foundation, do you dare to spar with me? I'll use this branch as a sword and stop when we've made our move."

Pei Yaojun's eyes lit up, and he immediately agreed, "Why wouldn't I dare!"

He held the plum blossom branch horizontally in front of him, assuming a starting stance.

The thorns from the Zhenguo Duke's flower branch came without any frills, straight and fast as lightning.

Pei Yaojun dodged to the side, the plum blossom branch tilting at an angle, trying to use the force against him.

The Duke of Zhenguo neither dodged nor yielded; with a tremor of the withered branch, he actually knocked the plum blossom branch away.

The two walked back and forth in the snow, their branches intertwined, and the fine snow was swirled up and fluttered around them.

Liu Wenying stood aside, barely daring to breathe, her eyes fixed on the two of them, filled with amazement.

Pei Yaojun was young and strong; every move he made was accompanied by a whooshing sound.

The Duke of Zhenguo wielded the flower branch with ease, making moves with a leisurely and skillful pace, each move defusing the attack while leaving room for maneuver.

Suddenly, the opponent switched from defense to offense, and the branches came crashing down on him. Pei Yaojun immediately used a horizontal branch to block it.

With a crisp snap, the sturdy plum branch broke in half, one half held in Pei Yaojun's hand and the other half falling to the ground.

The half-open crimson blossoms on the branches scattered, petals falling like rain, covering his head and face.

Pei Yaojun stood there stunned, looking down at the broken branch in his hand, completely convinced of his defeat.

He put down the broken branch and bowed respectfully, saying, "This junior has lost."

The Duke of Zhenguo tossed aside the plum branch, clapped his hands, and laughed, "Good! A true man can accept defeat."

He patted Pei Yaojun on the shoulder and said, "You are indeed a good prospect, but even a rough gem needs polishing. You have neglected your practice and your skills have been wasted."

Pei Yaojun blushed at what was said, "When I first started learning martial arts, I got into a conflict with someone, so my father forbade me to continue practicing, lest I cause even greater trouble."

The Duke of Zhenguo scoffed, "It's one thing for the Duke of Yuguo to disagree with me on political matters, but how can he be so confused about such things?"

He shook his head and sighed, "To throw the baby out with the bathwater, to let promising talents go to waste—that's the biggest disaster!"

…………