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

After the figures outside the window disappeared, the room returned to silence.

But he didn't finish his sentence.

After confirming that no one was outside, Pei Zeyu silently said to Liu Wenying: "Get into bed."

Liu Wenying was taken aback for a moment, but then she understood.

Walls have ears; talking in bed is the safest thing to do.

She walked to the bedside and lay down. Pei Zeyu followed suit, the two of them side by side with a half-foot between them.

The curtains fell, creating a separate space.

Liu Wenying could smell his unique, refreshing scent.

"If they provide false accounting, it's a waste of time to look at it further. But the fact that they can provide false accounting shows that they're afraid I'll actually see through their scheme."

He spoke in a whisper, so softly that Liu Wenying had to get very close to hear him, almost snuggling into his arms.

"So, what does Second Master plan to do?"

"To lure them out, I pretended to leave Wujiang, making them think I couldn't find anything and lower their guard. Once people are relaxed, they are more likely to slip up."

Liu Wenying thought for a moment, "But if Second Master leaves, who will keep an eye on them?"

"A-Fu, he is reliable and meticulous in his work."

Liu Wenying frowned, as if she had something to say.

"What's wrong?"

"A-Fu's status is not high enough. As a servant, if he stays in the county government office, Li Tingyu will definitely become suspicious. Moreover, he cannot enter the inner quarters and find out news from Madam Li."

Pei Zeyu hesitated, "What do you mean?"

"I stayed."

"No way." Pei Zeyu replied without hesitation.

"Why not?"

Liu Wenying turned to her side, and the two lay face to face, so close that their breaths mingled.

"I can pretend to be sick. If I suddenly fall ill and am not fit for long journeys, I will naturally stay and recuperate."

At that time, Li Tingyu, in order to curry favor with the Second Master, will surely try his best to persuade him to stay.

"It's too dangerous. Li Tingyu isn't stupid, and neither are the people behind him. If you stay here alone and they find out..."

"No, in Li Tingyu's eyes I am still the Second Master's wife, he wouldn't dare to do anything to me openly."

Liu Wenying grasped the corner of his sleeve.

"Moreover, I have a way to fool the doctor. Doctor Ye taught me some tricks of pulse diagnosis, so it's not difficult to fake a cold and fever."

"More importantly, I want to settle things here as soon as possible and return to the capital."

She won't just urge them without doing anything; she should at least put in some effort.

Pei Zeyu was well aware of Liu Wenying's longing to return home.

Just hearing her say it in person still made me feel uneasy.

Pei Zeyu remained silent, but his eyes shone brightly in the night.

His gaze lingered on her face for a long time, so long that Liu Wenying thought she was about to be rejected.

"Okay." He conceded.

"But you have to promise me two things. First, Afu must stay and stay by your side every step of the way."

"Secondly, if anything seems amiss, prioritize your own safety and well-being; everything else can be disregarded."

Liu Wenying nodded, her eyes crinkling, "Mmm!"

The next morning, news spread from the county government that Madam Pei was ill.

Madam Li personally brought the doctor to see the patient. After examining the pulse, the doctor said that the patient had caught a cold and needed to rest for a few days, avoiding strenuous travel.

Outside, Pei Zeyu was saying goodbye to Li Tingyu.

"I still need to go to other counties to verify the information, so I cannot stay long. My wife's health condition may not be able to withstand the commotion."

Li Tingyu hurriedly replied, "Don't worry, sir. Your wife can rest assured and recuperate at the county office. I will take good care of her."

Pei Zeyu shook his head, "That's not appropriate. It would be too much of a disturbance for my wife to stay at the county office."

"I have already arranged a room for her at an inn so she can rest there. I will come to pick her up after I finish my business."

"This won't do! How can an inn compare to the tranquility of the county government office?"

Madam Li chimed in, "Yes, Lord Pei, please let Madam stay. I will take good care of her and help her recover as soon as possible."

The couple, husband and wife in perfect harmony, were very attentive in trying to persuade each other to stay.

Pei Zeyu pretended to hesitate for a moment before sighing.

"Then... I'll have to trouble Magistrate Li and Madam Li."

"You're too kind, sir. It's an honor for me."

Liu Wenying lay on the bed in the inner room, listening to the sounds outside.

When Pei Zeyu came in, she propped herself up and sat up, her face pale and her voice weak.

"My lord, please be careful on your journey. I will be waiting for you here."

Pei Zeyu took her hand and gently pressed it against her palm.

"Take good care of yourself, I'll come back for you soon."

He looked at her, his eyes deep and intense.

Pei Zeyu rode out of the county government office in a carriage, and Li Tingyu personally escorted him to the South Gate.

As the carriage disappeared at the end of the official road, the smile on his face gradually faded.

That night, in the county government study.

The candlelight flickered inside the room, and there were only two people there.

The person sitting opposite Li Tingyu had a cloth covering his face, revealing only his eyes; he was Zhao Dechang, the Assistant Magistrate of Qingzhou.

Li Tingyu spoke first: "The person has already left. I saw him off this morning."

Zhao Dechang pulled off the towel. "Are you sure you're leaving?"

"Absolutely true."

"But I heard that his wife is still in Wujiang?"

"He said he was sick, and the doctor was someone I found. After examining his pulse, he confirmed it was a cold."

Besides, that man surnamed Pei wanted to take her to an inn, but I stopped him and kept her at the county office, so we could keep an eye on her."

Zhao Dechang chuckled. "You're quite clever."

Li Tingyu smiled obsequiously in return.

"But I still feel uneasy. That Pei fellow was sent from the capital; how could he be so easily fooled?"

Li Tingyu disagreed.

"Sir, you are overthinking it. He has been looking at those accounts for several days and has not found any flaws. Besides, he spends his time in Wujiang sightseeing and with his wife."

"In my humble opinion, he's just a good-for-nothing who's all bark and no bite; I can't see any real talent in him."

Zhao Dechang pondered, "Better safe than sorry. The news from the Crown Prince's side also says that this person is not easy to deal with."

Li Tingyu felt uneasy at his words. "What do we do now? They're all gone."

"He's gone, but his wife is still here. Go back and search the room where he stayed carefully. If you can get anything out of her, that would be best."

Li Tingyu hesitated for a moment, then nodded, "I will take care of it as soon as I get back."

The backyard of the Wujiang County Government Office.

Liu Wenying was "sick" for three days.

For the past three days, she has spent most of her time lying in bed, occasionally getting up to walk around the room, playing the role of a gentle woman.

Afu stayed outside the house, never leaving its side.

Madam Li tentatively asked if she wanted to change the maid to serve her, but Liu Wenying politely declined.

That night, Liu Wenying lay in bed, tossing and turning, unable to fall asleep.

The moonlight outside the window was beautiful, its silvery glow spilling across the ground.

But she always felt uneasy, as if something was hanging there, ready to fall at any moment.

"Ah Fu".

Afu's voice came from outside the door, "Madam?"

"Come inside."

Afu hesitated for a moment, then pushed open the door and entered, stopping behind the screen.

"What are your orders, Madam?"

"I can't sleep. I have a feeling something's going to happen tonight."

"Madam, you are overthinking it. I will keep watch outside; nothing will happen."

Liu Wenying shook her head.

"If they really want to do something, they won't do it openly. Don't keep watch outside tonight. Rest on the soft couch in the side room. That way, you can help them if something happens."

"This... is against the rules."

Like master, servant; Afu had already decided in his heart that Liu Wenying would be his future second wife.

"Rules are rigid, but people are flexible. I'm in the inner room, and you're in the side room. The distance between us isn't considered overstepping the bounds."

"Besides, in these extraordinary times, we can't worry about so many things."

Liu Wenying was adamant, and Afu had no choice but to agree.

…………