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

The next day, as night fell, candles were lit in the tent.

Xue Bi sat at the desk, moving the beads on the abacus.

The wind howled outside the window, whipping dry branches against the windowpane with a soft thud.

He rubbed his temples and was about to close the ledger when he heard the sound of hurried hooves outside the door.

Xue Bi looked out the window. The night was dark, and he could vaguely see a man and a horse standing in front of the manor gate.

The villager on night watch opened the door, and the sound of conversation could be faintly heard, followed by footsteps approaching the accounting room.

"Is Liu Zhuangtou here? I have an urgent letter to deliver to you."

Xue Bi stood up to greet him, "She's not here, you can have it."

The other party had not only a letter, but also a palm-sized brocade box wrapped in blue silk.

The messenger hesitated, "This... the other party instructed that it must be delivered to Liu Zhuangtou personally."

"You're from the capital, aren't you? If you delay any longer, the city gates will close, and you won't be able to get back tonight."

The messenger's expression changed; he had clearly been proven right.

"I am the accountant of the estate, I can't run away, you can rest assured."

"Then... please be sure to pass it on, sir."

Xue Bi took the item; it was icy cold to the touch.

The messenger hurried away, and the sound of hooves quickly disappeared into the night.

Xue Bi walked back to the desk and placed the letter and brocade box under the lamp.

The envelope was made of fine cloud-patterned paper, and the seal was stamped with dark red wax.

There were no words, only a very simple pattern, like a bamboo leaf.

It's Pei Zeyu.

Someone approached again from outside the door. Xue Bi stuffed the letter and the brocade box under the account book and then casually grabbed a booklet to cover it up.

"Mr. Xue, aren't you going to rest yet?"

Liu Wenying's voice rang out from outside the door, tinged with weariness.

Xue Bi steadied himself and turned around, his face already regaining its usual calm.

"Some accounts need to be checked again. It's windy at night, why is Wenying out?"

Liu Wenying walked in, wearing a light blue cloak that made her fair skin stand out.

"Although keeping accounts requires meticulousness, one should not overwork oneself. I was very grateful for your help with the budgeting when the nursing home was closed recently."

"Wenying is too kind. Everyone worked together, and I was just doing my duty."

Liu Wenying covered her mouth and yawned, a few tears welling up in the corners of her eyes.

Xue Bi felt a lump in her throat. "Go back and rest."

"Okay, you should go early too."

Liu Wenying turned around, the tassels of her cloak swaying in an arc under the light.

She had reached the door and was about to step over it.

The letter and the brocade box on the table looked like two red-hot coals; just looking at them made Xue Bi restless.

Just as Liu Wenying stepped out of the door...

"Hearing the Oriole".

She turned around, her eyes filled with confusion.

Xue Bi walked out from behind the table and took out the two items from under the ledger.

"Someone just delivered something, specifically asking me to give it to you; I almost forgot."

Liu Wenying took the envelope, glanced down at the sealing wax, paused slightly, then looked up and smiled, "Thank you."

"Of course," Xue Bi smiled.

The door was slightly ajar, and Luo Luo was fast asleep in the inner room, her soft snores even and drawn out.

Liu Wenying placed the brocade box and letter on the dressing table and opened them by candlelight.

Unfold the letter, and familiar handwriting comes into view.

Pei Zeyu's handwriting is vigorous, slender, and elegant, with a restrained turn at the corners, which is consistent with his style.

Wenying felt as if she had seen the letter in person. She was preoccupied with many matters in the capital and was unable to keep her promise to visit him in winter, for which she felt very guilty.

The war in the north was at a stalemate, while undercurrents were swirling within the court.

I am overwhelmed with other matters, and only when the night is quiet and all is still do I think of the warm light in a corner of Zhiyun Manor, which brings me a moment of peace.

She lightly traced the ink stain with her fingertips and continued reading.

Enclosed with this letter is a carved ball, which I personally carved.

Each time I thought of you, I carved a stroke, and it took days and months to complete.

I intended to give it as a New Year's gift, but I cannot be there in person; my heartfelt wishes will go first.

Looking at you, seeing the object is like seeing you in person.

Liu Wenying opened the brocade box, and a palm-sized ivory sphere lay quietly in the blue silk, its surface smooth and lustrous.

The sphere is intricately carved with openwork, nested in layers, totaling as many as nine layers.

The outermost layer features a lotus scroll pattern, gradually transitioning inwards to cloud patterns, auspicious beasts, landscapes, and more...

Up to the very center level, there was a tiny courtyard outline carved out.

She held the ball in her palm and gently spun it.

The inner sphere rotates slowly, exquisite and ingenious.

In a daze, I seemed to see Pei Zeyu sitting alone at his desk late at night, carving lines of longing onto ivory with each stroke.

A smile involuntarily crept onto Liu Wenying's lips. She carefully placed the ghost-craft ball back into the brocade box and took out paper and pen.

During the day, Luo Luo would draw when she was bored, and there was still some undried ink in her inkstone.

She added water to grind the ink, then dipped her brush in the ink.

The pen tip hovered over the paper for a moment, paused, and then the first line of text was written.

Second Master's Respect: I have received both the letter and the Ghostly Craft Ball.

I am well, everything is going smoothly in the manor, and Luo Luo is healthy and lively, so please don't worry.

She wrote slowly, her handwriting was delicate and neat, showing that she had practiced diligently.

I have already expressed my desire to leave the manor to the First Madam. I expect to receive my employment contract soon, at which time I will be free.

She paused here, then wrote again.

For Luo Luo's sake, I will temporarily choose to stay at Zhiyun Manor.

The child is young and will grow up better in familiar surroundings. I hope you will understand.

When she finished writing, she put down her pen and gently blew on the letter to dry it.

The candlelight flickered, illuminating her lowered eyes, her long eyelashes casting soft shadows beneath them.

She suddenly took out rouge from her makeup box, dipped her fingertip in the crimson color, and gently pressed it onto her lips.

He lowered his head and placed a light lip print on the blank space at the end of the letter.

It looks like a small plum blossom.

Liu Wenying looked at the mark, her cheeks slightly flushed.

She folded the letter, put it in a plain white envelope, and planned to have someone deliver it to the capital the next day.

I opened the dressing table drawer to put the letter down, but then I noticed a thick stack of letters lying deep inside.

The envelope was a bit old, with the corners slightly curled up.

That was a letter she wrote after hearing about the war in the north and worrying about Pei Yaojun's safety.

But with war raging and roads blocked, and with his whereabouts unknown, those letters were never sent.

Liu Wenying picked up the letter and murmured, "Third Master, I wonder if you are doing well in the Northern Frontier?"

On a winter morning, Zhiyun Manor was shrouded in a thin layer of frosty white.

A light snow fell last night, not heavy, but it covered the rooftops with a dense layer, giving them a clean and simple appearance.

Liu Wenying got up early in the morning and helped prepare breakfast in the kitchen.

Amidst the rising steam, the sound of horses' hooves echoed from outside, their orderly and well-trained formation clearly indicating they were no ordinary caravan.

Granny Wang rushed in, "Manager, a high-ranking official has come from outside, saying he wants to ask for a bowl of water."

Liu Wenying took off her apron and walked quickly toward the gate of the manor.

The morning light slanted in, making the snow dazzling.

More than ten riders stood outside the manor gate, all clad in silver armor, their horses exhaling white steam.

The leader reined in his horse and stood still, his silver armor gleaming coldly in the snow, his black cloak billowing in the wind.

Upon recognizing the visitor, Liu Wenying quickly led the villagers to bow in greeting.

"This humble woman greets Your Highness, Second Prince!"

…………