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

Liu Wenying held Luoluo and looked her over from left to right, while soft laughter came from the side.

Xiaozhu and Ling'er stood to the side, their eyes also red.

The godmother, Granny Tian, ​​stepped forward, smiling as she wiped the corner of her eye. "You're finally back. It's good that you're alright."

Liu Wenying smiled at them, indicating that they could rest assured.

Suddenly, she noticed that Luo Luo was wearing gold bracelets on both of her wrists.

"This bracelet..."

Granny Tian said, "It was a gift from the master. He said that Ye'er has so many bracelets that he can't wear them all, and it would be a waste to have more. The servants don't have such small sizes, so he simply gave them to Luoluo."

Following Granny Tian's gaze, Liu Wenying noticed a person standing not far away: Pei Dingxuan.

He stood with his hands behind his back, dressed in a black casual suit with gold trim.

Liu Wenying hurriedly carried Luo Luo forward, saying, "This servant thanks you on Luo Luo's behalf, sir."

Pei Dingxuan helped her up, his eyes fixed on her, his gaze dark and filled with longing.

A thousand words were stuck in my throat; I wanted to say something caring and ask about the safety of my journey.

However, due to the large number of people and eyes in front of the mansion, he could only suppress all his emotions and pretend to be calm in his tone.

"No need for formalities, please take the child and go home first."

Liu Wenying nodded, sensing the unspoken words in his eyes, but also knowing that the occasion was inappropriate.

"Thank you for your consideration, sir. This servant will take her leave now."

"You may all leave now."

Liu Wenying, along with Granny Tian and others, entered the mansion first.

Pei Zeyu stepped down from the carriage unhurriedly, his gaze following Liu Wenying's retreating figure until she disappeared from sight after passing the screen wall, before slowly withdrawing his gaze.

As soon as they returned to the manor, Pei Dingxuan couldn't wait to separate them, he was really very careful.

"Big brother."

"Second brother."

The two men bowed to each other, maintaining a facade of brotherly affection.

"Second brother, you must be tired from your official business trip to the capital. But I wonder why you took Grandmother's maid with you?"

Pei Dingxuan held back his words. He wanted to ask Pei Zeyu whether taking the person away was truly due to official business or a pretext for personal gain.

Pei Zeyu's expression remained unchanged. "What Grandmother means is that if you have any questions, elder brother, you might as well ask Grandmother."

Pei Dingxuan's smile froze slightly.

It was an open secret in the household that his grandmother favored him.

He stared at Pei Zeyu's spirited eyes, and the frustration in his chest churned even more violently.

Pei Dingxuan took a deep breath. "There is something I have been pondering for a long time but still cannot understand. I would like to ask my second brother to enlighten me."

"Please speak, brother."

"Who was with you in the east wing on the day of your birthday banquet?"

When Pei Zeyu and Lin divorced, he was busy with important matters at the Ministry of Justice and had no time to spare, so he simply assumed that the couple's marriage had come to an end.

After all, he was not unaware that the two had frequently clashed and argued before.

However, rumors later spread throughout the capital that Pei Zeyu was impotent and had never touched Lin Shi from beginning to end.

How is that possible?

On the day of the birthday banquet, he and Xiao Yiheng clearly passed by the east wing and heard the noise inside.

What kind of rumor is this about someone being unable to have sex?

To find out the truth, one should either ask the Lin family or Pei Zeyu.

Since the Lin family has already been sent away from the capital, that leaves only Pei Zeyu.

But Pei Zeyu also left the capital.

Pei Dingxuan had no choice but to subtly inquire with his mother, who was present that day, and only then did he learn that the rumors were not unfounded.

Pei Zeyu truly never consummated his marriage with Lin.

What does the commotion on the day of the birthday banquet count for?

The thought that Pei Zeyu had gone out of the capital on official business and even took Liu Wenying with him made his bad premonition grow stronger.

Now that they had finally returned home, he couldn't contain himself and immediately asked the question.

Pei Zeyu's smile spread from the corners of his lips to his eyebrows, radiating smugness.

"Since you already have the answer in your heart, why ask again?"

He didn't say it explicitly, but he said everything.

Pei Dingxuan's breath hitched. Guessing was one thing, but hearing it with his own ears was quite another.

My chest felt like it had been hit by a blunt object; it was throbbing with a dull ache.

If he had gone in under the pretext of rectifying family traditions, things might not have turned out this way.

Pei Dingxuan withdrew his hand and clenched his fist. "Are you aware of this matter...?"

Pei Zeyu cut him off, "Big brother, you don't need to use the same tactics you use on third brother on me. I know what I'm doing; I'm not fooling around."

Pei Dingxuan was speechless. He could use his position as the elder brother to control Pei Yaojun.

But he couldn't do that with his second brother; he wouldn't fall for that approach.

Pei Zeyu looked up and stared directly at Pei Dingxuan, his eyes clear and bright like a pool, his words carrying a warning.

"My elder brother has been in the Ministry of Justice for a long time and is used to using his power and status to suppress people, but there are always people more powerful than you. I hope that my elder brother... will respect her choice."

After saying that, Pei Zeyu was about to leave.

"You think you've really won?"

Pei Dingxuan's voice came from behind, stopping Pei Zeyu in his tracks.

Pei Zeyu turned to look at him: "Is there anything else you want to say, brother? At least I'm closer to her than you are, aren't I?"

His tone was calm, yet it was like a sharp dagger, precisely piercing Pei Dingxuan's heart.

If Pei Yaojun posed some threat to him, then Pei Dingxuan was someone he didn't even consider a threat.

He has a family, a wife and children, and in the future, he may also have the responsibility of the entire Yuguo Duke's Mansion.

Pei Zeyu understood Liu Wenying's personality; she wouldn't choose him, as that would be unfair to Wen Jingshu.

Pei Dingxuan was well aware of his disadvantages, but he had secretly vowed to fight for it no matter what.

It's still uncertain who will win the prize.

"The Princess is pregnant and will soon give birth. His Majesty has selected a suitable wet nurse for her in the capital. The imperial edict should arrive soon."

Pei Zeyu's composure vanished, replaced by a somber and cold expression.

"Big brother, you've got some skills."

Pei Dingxuan smiled, "Likewise."

He left in a snow-white robe, the meeting ending unhappily.

Southeast courtyard.

Liu Wenying held Luoluo tightly as they returned to their residence. The furnishings inside remained the same, and the house was regularly maintained, so there was no dust.

The group sat together and started talking.

Liu Wenying shared her experiences and interesting stories from her trip south with them, their laughter filling the air and creating a lively atmosphere.

Suddenly, there was a rapid knocking on the door.

Xiao Zhu went to open the door and saw it was the gatekeeper.

"Steward Liu, hurry to the front courtyard's flower hall! People from the palace have arrived!"

Liu Wenying was inevitably startled. What could someone from the palace have to do with her?

Inside the flower hall in the front courtyard, a eunuch dressed in a dark blue robe was slowly sipping tea.

Seeing Liu Wenying enter, he put down his teacup and stood up.

"So you are Liu Wenying? Come and receive the imperial decree."

Liu Wenying was even more surprised, but she still obediently performed the greeting.

"This humble woman receives the imperial decree."

The eunuch took out a scroll of bright yellow imperial edict from his sleeve and read it aloud in a high-pitched voice.

"By the grace of Heaven, the Emperor decrees: Her Highness the Princess is eight months pregnant and needs a virtuous wet nurse to serve her. It is said that Lady Liu Wenying of the Duke of Yu's Mansion is gentle and healthy. She is hereby summoned to the palace to serve her. This is the imperial decree."

Liu Wenying raised her head and said, "Father-in-law, please forgive me, but I am still nursing my own daughter and I am afraid I am not up to the task."

She had just returned to the capital to reunite with Luo Luo, was she about to have to go back to the palace to part again?

The eunuch narrowed his eyes. "Are you trying to defy the imperial decree?"

…………