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

Separated by only a curtain, Liu Wenying had already clearly heard the conversation outside the car.

"Madam Zhou." Liu Wenying lifted the curtain and invited her inside.

As soon as Madam Zhou was seated, she said, "I have prepared some local specialties from Qingzhou. Please don't find them too expensive."

Liu Wenying accepted the brocade box, saying, "Madam Zhou, you're too kind. How could I possibly accept such a gift?"

Madam Zhou waved her hand dismissively, then took out a small round wooden box from her sleeve. It was about the size of a palm and was exquisitely carved with a double lotus pattern.

She slipped it into Liu Wenying's hand, lowered her voice, and spoke mysteriously.

"This is a small token of my appreciation, please accept it, Madam."

Liu Wenying opened the small round box, inside was a rouge-colored ointment.

It turned out to be lip rouge. Liu Wenying thanked her and was about to put it away.

Madam Zhou held her hand, "Madam, don't underestimate this. It's a little something for couples. Applying it to the lips helps to strengthen the bond between husband and wife."

Eh? !

Liu Wenying was eager to explain, but her words were dry and stilted: "Madam Zhou, you've misunderstood. Lord Pei and I..."

Mrs. Zhou patted the back of her hand, looking like she understood.

"Madam has been traveling a long way these past few days and must be exhausted. I can tell."

"As a woman myself, I understand your predicament."

Liu Wenying was exhausted, and the more she tried to explain, the worse it got; she couldn't explain it anymore.

"That lip rouge is a secret recipe that's priceless. Madam, try it, it'll definitely have amazing effects."

Time was running out, and Madam Zhou withdrew after finishing her speech.

Liu Wenying said goodbye to her, and the carriage curtain was lifted and then fell again.

The small wooden box in my hand became hot, and my cheeks were so hot I could fry an egg on them.

Before long, Pei Zeyu also boarded the carriage and set off.

The carriage traveled smoothly on the official road. Pei Zeyu leaned against the carriage wall, still holding Liu Wenying's soft hand in his.

"...Li Tingyu and Zhao Dechang have been imprisoned in Qingzhou Prison, and the case files and evidence will be submitted to the Ministry of Justice soon."

"The Ministry of Justice's review, conviction, and verdict process takes at least a year and a half to complete."

This allowed corrupt officials and bad people to live much longer.

Liu Wenying was puzzled. "Why not just escort them back to the capital? Wouldn't that be faster?"

Pei Zeyu patiently answered her questions.

"My trip south is ostensibly an extension of the capital's inspection, but in reality, it is to investigate corruption."

Officials from the Ministry of Personnel are permitted to investigate cases, but arresting and escorting people is the responsibility of the Ministry of Justice and the Court of Judicial Review. Overstepping their bounds is a grave taboo in officialdom.

Liu Wenying suddenly realized.

After a moment of silence in the carriage, Pei Zeyu suddenly asked, "Did Madam Zhou say anything to you?"

Liu Wenying hesitated, but still took out all the things that Madam Zhou had given her.

Several packets of Cheongju specialties, and that small round wooden box.

Pei Zeyu noticed the wooden box at a glance.

"What is this?"

"Mrs. Zhou said... it's a little thing that women put on their lips to help deepen the relationship between husband and wife...

Pei Zeyu raised an eyebrow, reached out to take it, and was about to open it.

For some reason, Liu Wenying was afraid that the Second Master would really take it, so she tried to snatch it, but he dodged her.

The carriage was cramped, and Pei Zeyu pulled his hand back, causing her to miss her target and fall into his arms.

Pei Zeyu took the opportunity to put his arm around her waist, locking her firmly in his embrace.

"Second Master! Give it back to me!"

Liu Wenying's ears burned red as she struggled to get up.

"No rush."

He held the small box high, and with his other hand pressed down on her waist to keep her from moving.

"Madam, would you like to give it a try?" He raised an eyebrow, a smile playing in his foxy eyes.

"don't want!"

Liu Wenying said seriously, "Second Master, you can't just eat or use other people's things that you're going to put in your mouth. Who knows what their intentions are?"

After saying that, she silently apologized to Madam Zhou in her heart.

I'm so sorry, but because of her aching back, I had to splash dirty water on Madam Zhou. She didn't mean to.

Pei Zeyu laughed.

"As the prefect, Zhou Shizhang naturally bears responsibility for failing to supervise such a large-scale corruption case that occurred under his jurisdiction."

His wife is closely related to him, and naturally she wants to use you to put in a good word for me, hoping that when I return to the capital and report to His Majesty, he will be spared.

He looked down at her, his gaze insightful. "So what Mrs. Zhou sent must not be what you described."

Liu Wenying sighed, "Couldn't he be a little more foolish?"

They see through everything and calculate everything accurately, making it impossible for anyone to keep a secret.

Half an hour later, the carriage slowly came to a stop.

Ah Jin reported from outside, "Second Master, there's a teahouse here. Would you like to rest for a while?"

The car was silent for a moment, and after a while, Pei Zeyu lifted the curtain and got out.

As dusk fell, the sky turned a deep orange-red.

"Aim to reach Shicui County before dark. For the return trip to Beijing, prioritize comfort and don't rush."

Ah Jin agreed, but when he looked up, he was stunned.

There were mottled crimson marks on the Second Master's lips, like... lip rouge?!

Afu nudged him quietly.

Ah Jin quickly looked away and went to feed the horse water and food.

Pei Zeyu seemed oblivious and turned back to the carriage.

Inside the carriage, Liu Wenying was leaning against the wall, resting with her eyes closed.

He naturally pulled her into his arms, letting her lean on his shoulder to find a more comfortable position.

"We'll reach Shicui in another hour. I've heard the scenery there is beautiful, including Qixia Lake. Since we're already here, let's go check it out tomorrow."

"Um……"

Liu Wenying looked listless; it wasn't that she didn't want to go, but she was simply too tired.

Last night's insatiable demands, coupled with the ordeal of the journey from Cheongju.

Liu Wenying didn't even have the strength to speak.

Especially the lips, which are naturally red and slightly swollen.

The remaining lip rouge on the lips had been completely eaten away.

Just now in the carriage, Pei Zeyu did try the rouge.

After resting, the carriage resumed its journey, but suddenly it jolted.

The lid of the small wooden round box on the small table was shaken open halfway, revealing that about one-third of the lip balm inside had been used.

Its color is a deep, vibrant red, exceptionally beautiful.

Liu Wenying caught a glimpse of this, and her cheeks flushed again. She quickly closed her eyes and pretended to be asleep.

The group rested overnight in Shicui and set off again the next day.

Instead of continuing north, the carriage took a detour to Qixia Lake.

Qixia Lake is located east of Shicui City, and the carriage stopped at the lakeside.

A thin mist shrouded the lake, obscuring the distant mountain shadows.

The peach blossoms on the riverbank are in bloom, clusters of pink and white, like clouds fallen to earth.

Ah Jin and Ah Fu stayed by the lake to guard the carriage.

Second Master borrowed a small boat from somewhere; it was tiny and just big enough to hold two or three people.

He boarded the boat first and reached out his hand to Liu Wenying.

Liu Wenying placed her hand in his palm and stepped steadily into the boat.

Using the pole, we steered the boat away from the shore and slowly drifted towards the center of the lake.

The water rippled gently beneath the boat, shattering and piecing together the blue sky and white clouds.

Liu Wenying leaned against the bow of the boat and reached out to splash the lake water.

The water was cool, flowing between her fingers, slippery and ticklish, as if little fish were nibbling at her hands.

She was having a great time when her hand was grabbed.

"Don't get too cold." Pei Zeyu pulled her hand back and gently wiped the water droplets from her fingertips with his sleeve.

Today he wore his usual moon-white brocade robe, with his hair tied up with a jade crown, which made his eyebrows and eyes appear even more handsome and unparalleled, as if untouched by worldly dust.

With such a refined demeanor, no one would guess what happened last night...

Liu Wenying felt her ears burning and looked away.

Pei Zeyu leaned down and gave her a light peck on the lips.

…………