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

At midnight, the moon's shadow was faint.

The latch on the side room was pried open through the crack, and with a click, it opened.

The door was pushed open a crack, and a dark figure slipped in.

He first looked into the next room, where his personal servant was sleeping soundly with his back to him on the soft couch.

Only after confirming the location did the shadowy figure proceed cautiously.

He walked around the room, searching through the dressing table, wardrobe, and desk... but found nothing he wanted.

Having gained nothing, the shadowy figure was unwilling to give up and prepared to leave.

Just as I was about to leave, I caught a glimpse of a figure faintly visible behind the bed curtains.

The shadowy figure stopped in his tracks, a wicked thought rising within him, and quietly approached the bedside.

He reached out, intending to touch the person on the bed.

Just as he was about to touch the bed curtains, the figure suddenly turned around.

A man's face, angular and sharp, with thick eyebrows and large eyes staring at him.

The shadowy figure was startled and before it could react, it was struck hard on the back of the head.

Suddenly everything went black, and he staggered forward and fell onto the edge of the bed, revealing Liu Wenying behind him.

Liu Wenying was still holding a vase when she saw the dark figure struggling to get up, so she didn't hesitate to deliver another blow.

Now, the dark figure lay motionless on the ground.

Afu jumped off the bed, looked at the dark figure on the ground, then at Liu Wenying, his mouth agape for a long time.

He was woken up by Liu Wenying before going to sleep and moved to a different spot, but he didn't understand why.

At that moment, he not only understood, but cold sweat was also pouring down his back.

I dare not imagine what would have happened tonight if Liu Wenying hadn't been so quick-witted.

I dare not even think about what would happen to Second Master if something were to happen to Liu Wenying.

Even if you took his head off, it probably wouldn't be enough to appease Second Master.

"Ah Fu, what are you standing there for? Hurry up and tie him up! He's a perfect witness!"

Ah Fu came to his senses and went to help.

The two men quickly tied the dark figure up like a dumpling and stuffed his mouth with a handkerchief.

Afu wiped the sweat from his brow. "Madam, what should we do with this man?"

Liu Wenying stood up, tidied her disheveled hair, and pondered for a moment.

"Take him out of the county office tonight and find a safe place to keep him under guard until Second Master returns, then we'll deal with him accordingly."

"But Madam is left here alone..."

"I'm fine," Liu Wenying interrupted him. "They won't do anything to me. Just go and come back quickly."

Afu gritted his teeth, hoisted the man onto his shoulder, and slipped out the back door under the cover of night.

The next day at noon, a little later than Liu Wenying had expected.

Li Tingyu indeed arrived, saying that he had lost an important seal and had brought people to search for it.

Liu Wenying leaned against the headboard, coughing twice with a pale face.

"Please do as you please, Lord Li. However, my illness is not yet fully cured, so it would be best if I stayed too long."

"No, no."

Li Tingyu gave him a signal, and the yamen runners began ransacking the place.

They searched the bedding, dressing case, desk, and even under the bed, but found nothing.

Li Tingyu was discouraged and was about to leave with his men when he suddenly noticed that Liu Wenying was all alone.

"Where is the lady's personal servant?"

Liu Wenying covered her lips with a handkerchief. "Lord Li, are you talking about Afu? I suddenly had a craving for sweet osmanthus lotus root, so I asked Afu to go out and buy some."

"It's already noon. Does shopping take this long? Is Madam Pei perhaps hiding something from me?"

"We're in an unfamiliar place, so what's wrong with taking it slow?"

Li Tingyu's tone hardened, and Liu Wenying quickly thought of a response.

"In my opinion, it's not that we're unfamiliar with the place, but rather..."

"But what?"

A clear, melodious voice came from outside. Pei Zeyu, dressed in a frost-colored casual robe, stepped into the house, looking travel-worn with bloodshot eyes from a night's journey.

He walked straight to the bedside, took Liu Wenying's hand, and turned around, his gaze sweeping across Li Tingyu's face like a knife.

"I have only been away from Wujiang for three days, and Lord Li has already been aggressively pressuring my wife. Doesn't that mean he doesn't respect me at all?"

How come he's back so quickly?!

Li Tingyu was astonished and quickly bowed and clasped his hands in greeting.

"This humble official wouldn't dare! This humble official simply..."

"No need to say anything more."

Pei Zeyu interrupted him and helped Liu Wenying up.

"Madam is almost fully recovered. I will take her away today and will not disturb Magistrate Li any longer. Farewell."

Li Tingyu tried to persuade him to stay, but Pei Zeyu didn't even turn his head and helped Liu Wenying into the carriage.

The carriage curtain was lowered, and Ah Jin whipped his horse, leaving the Wujiang County government office far behind.

Liu Wenying leaned against the car wall and let out a long breath.

"Second Master, where are we going?"

"Go back to Qingzhou."

Pei Zeyu turned to look at her, his eyes like a dark current beneath ice, as if emotions were churning within.

Liu Wenying sensed that something was wrong with his mood.

It wasn't the frustration of being unable to complete a task; it was something else entirely.

After thinking for a moment, Liu Wenying still asked, "Who is Second Master angry with?"

It shouldn't be hers, right? She and Ah Fu worked together to catch the witness, making a huge contribution!

However, Pei Zeyu said, "Don't do that again. Don't put yourself in danger just to find some evidence."

Pei Zeyu regretted it the day he left Wujiang.

But regret is the most useless thing in the world.

He had to do the work of two people to complete the review of the Qingzhou area as quickly as possible.

He reduced the ten-day trip to three days.

I rushed back late at night and received a message from Afu, only then realizing how dangerous the night had been.

Liu Wenying felt a tightness around her waist as he pulled her into his arms.

His chin rested on the top of her head, and his arms were wrapped tightly around her waist, as if he had lost her and then found her again.

"None of that evidence is as important as you."

Her heartbeat suddenly became erratic, and Liu Wenying froze in his arms, not daring to move.

What did he say? That's not something he would normally say...

Before Liu Wenying could recover from the shock, something was shoved into her hand.

A small porcelain box, white glazed, decorated with a few orchids, very exquisite.

He released her, as if he had returned to his usual self.

"The hand cream I bought for you, the vendor made it sound amazing, saying it could remove calluses and soften your skin, why don't you give it a try?"

Liu Wenying never expected that he, who always prioritized official duties, would have the leisure to buy her hand cream.

But she wasn't one to pour cold water on things.

She'll remember if someone is kind to her.

Liu Wenying gripped the small box tightly, and when she looked up, her eyes rippled with a gentle emotion.

"Thank you, Second Master."

He tucked the small box into his sleeve.

"I've remembered what you said, Second Master. Don't worry, Second Master, I won't take such risks again in the future."

Pei Zeyu's lips curved into a smile, and his heart, which had been hanging in suspense, could finally be put at ease.

The carriage traveled for a long time before stopping to rest at a teahouse beside the official road.

Liu Wenying lifted the carriage curtain and saw Ah Jin feeding the horses water.

"How much longer until we reach Cheongju?"

Ah Jin replied, "About two hours, it'll be quick."

Liu Wenying nodded and was about to turn around and tell the Second Master.

But Pei Zeyu was leaning against the car wall with his eyes closed, his usually straight back slightly crooked.

She had fallen asleep.

His posture must have been uncomfortable; even when he was asleep, his lips were pursed straight, and his brows were furrowed with an unyielding weariness.

Ah Jin also noticed the situation inside the car and said softly, "Sister Liu, I have something I want to tell you."

…………