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

Pei Zeyu regretted asking her to massage his shoulders and neck.

Every touch she made made him, who had already tasted the sweetness, insatiable.

Pei Zeyu tightened his grip on the file, forcing himself to refocus his attention on it.

"Does this area hurt?"

Liu Wenying asked, pressing her fingertip against the inside of his shoulder blade.

"……fine."

He didn't actually feel any pain.

All her senses were focused on the place she touched.

It felt like warm spring water was flowing from her fingertips down her back.

Wherever it passes, a tingling, slightly itchy sensation spreads, like a spring breeze thawing the ice, bringing an ultimate sense of comfort.

He wanted to tell her to stop, but the words wouldn't come out.

He thought, "Let's wait a little longer."

At this moment, footsteps were heard outside the door.

"Lord Pei—"

Li Tingyu's voice drifted over from afar, carrying his usual obsequious tone.

"This humble official has come to inquire whether Your Excellency requires anything...?"

Before the words were even finished, the person had already reached the door.

The door was not closed, and Li Tingyu happened to see the intimate scene when he came in.

"Oh dear, I've come at an inopportune time, disturbing you, sir and madam."

He cupped his hands in greeting, saying, "Your Excellency and Madam are truly a perfect match, the envy of all."

Pei Zeyu patted Liu Wenying's hand, then turned to Li Tingyu.

"Is there something you need, Magistrate Li?"

"No, nothing serious. I just came to see if you need anything else. There's a lot of accounting to do; would you like me to send more people to help?"

"Thank you for your trouble, Magistrate Li. I am more than capable of handling this matter myself."

Pei Zeyu was meticulous and kept people at arm's length.

Li Tingyu was rebuffed. He smiled awkwardly, exchanged a few more polite words, and then bowed and left.

"You've had a long journey, my lord. I won't disturb you any longer."

His smile vanished as he stepped outside.

Looking back at the closed door, Li Tingyu spat.

He didn't believe that Pei Zeyu could figure out anything from so many accounts by himself.

However, that man surnamed Pei was completely unyielding; you couldn't get anything out of him.

He had to hurry and see that person to discuss a solution.

The next day at noon, Li Tingyu delivered all the remaining accounts.

Two yamen runners carried in a camphor wood chest, inside which dozens of blue-covered books were neatly stacked.

Pei Zeyu casually picked up some of the top pages and flipped through a few.

"The ink is so fresh?"

Sweating profusely, Li Tingyu said with an apologetic smile, "The original copies were damaged by insects and were in terrible condition. These were all re-copied."

Pei Zeyu lowered his head, the sound of turning pages filling the air.

"The insects have eaten right on these crucial parts."

Li Tingyu chuckled twice, not daring to reply.

Meanwhile, Liu Wenying was sitting opposite Madam Li, drinking tea.

Today she wore a light blue jacket embroidered with plum blossoms, her hair piled high, looking even more radiant than yesterday.

"The tea at your residence is truly excellent. I have tasted many fragrant teas in the capital, but few are as refined as this," Liu Wenying said with a smile.

After being praised by her, Madam Li's expression relaxed a bit.

"You flatter me, Madam. It's just some simple tea. Did you rest well yesterday? Please let me know if there's anything I haven't done properly."

"That's fine."

Liu Wenying put down her teacup and chatted with her for a few minutes before intentionally or unintentionally bringing it up.

"I heard from Madam Zhou, the prefectural governor, that Madam Li and Madam Zhao, the assistant prefect of Qingzhou, are cousins?"

A sense of unease flashed through Madam Li's mind.

"Mrs. Li, please don't overthink it. I'm new here, and Mrs. Zhou is very kind. She chatted with me quite a bit."

Fearing the atmosphere would be awkward, I resorted to parroting others' words, picking up on trivial topics, and making small talk.

Madam Li looked up at Liu Wenying and saw that she looked natural and was just chatting casually, which put her mind at ease.

"Madam is right. I didn't expect Madam Zhou to even tell you this?"

"It was just casual conversation. Madam Zhou also talked a lot about other families. I learned about your poor health from her."

Just then, a maid brought in some snacks.

She placed the plate on the stone table with her head bowed, and as she raised her hand, a jade bracelet was revealed.

The bracelet was of excellent quality, made of top-grade agate, with a delicate texture and exquisite craftsmanship; it was by no means an ordinary object.

How could a maid in a county magistrate's office possess such valuable jewelry?

"This bracelet is really beautiful. Did Madam Li give it to you?" Liu Wenying asked with a smile.

The maid immediately withdrew her hand, covered it with her sleeve, and looked at her master in a panic.

Madam Li's expression changed slightly, but she forced a smile and said, "That bracelet was an heirloom from her family, and it was also a keepsake left to her by her mother."

"I see. I was being presumptuous. I was just thinking that even a maid in the manor has such an expensive accessory, which shows that Madam Li is truly kind to her servants."

Liu Wenying's attitude was sincere, but Madam Li was terrified.

She quickly sent the maid away.

The maid had just left when footsteps echoed in the garden.

Pei Zeyu and Li Tingyu walked in one after the other.

The two women also got up and went out of the pavilion to greet her.

Liu Wenying asked, "Why have you come, my husband?"

"Springtime is just right. We've just arrived in Wujiang, and it would be a waste to stay cooped up indoors all the time. Why don't we go out for a stroll?"

Pei Zeyu walked to her side and naturally took her hand, their fingers intertwined.

Li Tingyu hurriedly stepped forward and said, "If Your Excellency wishes to go sightseeing, I will arrange for someone to accompany you immediately."

Pei Zeyu waved his hand in polite refusal.

"How can that be? Sir, you are new to this place and unfamiliar with Wujiang. It is only right that I accompany you..."

After several rounds of refusals, Li Tingyu finally said helplessly, "Then let my wife accompany you. She is familiar with Wujiang and can introduce the local customs and products to you and your wife."

They claimed to be accompanying someone, but in reality, they were monitoring them.

But Lady Li was much easier to deal with than Li Tingyu.

Pei Zeyu nodded, which was considered an agreement.

A moment later, the three of them, along with their servants, left the county government office.

Madam Li walked a little ahead, enthusiastically introducing the shops and historical sites along the road, while Pei Zeyu and Liu Wenying followed side by side behind her.

As they reached a corner, Liu Wenying deliberately pulled Pei Zeyu back, slowed her pace, and took the opportunity to say, "Shouldn't my husband be looking at the accounts?"

Why did I suddenly feel like traveling?

"The accounts delivered today are falsified."

Liu Wenying's heart skipped a beat. Just as she was about to continue speaking, she saw Madam Li turn back.

"Lord Pei, Madam, what's wrong?"

Pei Zeyu took Liu Wenying's hand. "Madam seems a little tired. I'll wait for her."

Madam Li covered her lips and smiled, "Lord Pei and his wife are truly a loving couple, the envy of all. There's a teahouse up ahead, built by the river; why don't we go over and rest for a while?"

"Okay," Pei Zeyu readily agreed.

The three continued forward, passing an arched bridge with small stalls set up on both sides.

Liu Wenying's gaze swept across the area, and she was suddenly drawn to a piece of jewelry on the stall.

The bone-carved safety buckle has a rugged design.

She stopped and picked up the safety buckle.

The vendors made wildly exaggerated recommendations.

"Madam has a good eye. This comes from the North, carved from genuine wolf bone. It can ward off evil and bring peace."

The North...

I wonder how Third Master Pei is doing now that he's gone to the Northern Border?

…………