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

Xiao Yiheng dismounted, his silver armor clashing, shaking off the frost and dust covering his body.

"No need for formalities. I'm just passing by and would like a bowl of water if that would be convenient?"

"Yes, Your Highness, please come in."

Liu Wenying stepped aside to make way and led the person to the front hall.

She personally brewed the tea, using the best tea leaves from the estate.

Boiling water is poured into a celadon cup, and the tea leaves unfurl, releasing a delicate fragrance.

Liu Wenying brought in a tea tray. Xiao Yiheng sat in a round-backed chair, pressing his Jingming acupoint with one hand, his brows showing signs of weariness.

"Your Highness, please have some tea."

Liu Wenying placed the teacup beside him and asked hesitantly, "Is Your Highness going to lead troops out of the capital?"

Xiao Yiheng didn't hide anything from her, "Yes, there were some problems with the transport of the grain supplies. My father ordered me to personally supervise the transport and visit the front lines to reassure the troops."

Liu Wenying nodded, her gaze falling on the spot he had just pressed.

"Is Your Highness's eye ailment not fully recovered yet?"

Xiao Yiheng was slightly taken aback, then chuckled, "You're quite observant."

"I've been reading a lot of documents lately, and I often see double vision. The imperial physician said it's nothing serious and prescribed me some eye-brightening pills. I just need to take them regularly."

"That's good."

Xiao Yiheng looked around. "Now that you've received this favor, why are you still living here? Are you dissatisfied with the house in the city?"

The gifts they received back then were more than enough for the mother and daughter to live comfortably for the rest of their lives.

The story of Liu Wenying's friendship with the First Madam is long and complicated, and she was unwilling to elaborate.

"It will be soon. Thank you very much, Your Majesty."

Both of them are intelligent people; there's no need to spell things out.

At that time, she saved the princess and her son, and His Majesty would surely reward her.

There are specific rules about what to appreciate.

She doesn't mind having too much gold and silver jewelry, but she doesn't necessarily need it.

In the end, what she got were the land deed to the mansion and the imperial gold medal, which gave her the confidence to leave the mansion, and were better than gold and silver.

Without Xiao Yiheng's advice, things would not have gone so smoothly.

"I'm glad you like it. It's getting late, so I should be going."

Xiao Yiheng said calmly, putting the teacup back.

"Your Highness, please wait a moment!"

Xiao Yiheng stopped.

"This humble woman has a request."

"Speak."

Fortunately, the front hall and the living quarters were not far apart. Liu Wenying retrieved a stack of letters from inside the house and presented them with both hands.

"Your Highness, on your journey to the northern border, could you please help me find the whereabouts of Third Master Pei? If you find him, please deliver these letters to him, would that be alright?"

Xiao Yiheng looked at the letters. "So the rumors that Young Master Pei left the capital to join the army are true."

He tucked the letter into the inner layer of his armor, then mounted his horse.

"I agree, but you'd better think carefully about how you will thank me when I return."

Liu Wenying looked up, the snow reflecting off her delicate features.

She smiled, a genuine smile.

"This humble woman will prepare the finest welcome banquet to await Your Highness's triumphant return."

Xiao Yiheng's lips twitched slightly, and he smiled brightly.

He said no more, raised his whip, and led his men out of the manor gate to join the ranks.

……

The almshouse has been completed for half a month.

Several newly built houses stand side by side, with blue bricks and gray tiles. In the corner of the small courtyard enclosed by a fence, there are a few hardy holly bushes. They are not any precious flowers or trees, but they are lush and green and look quite vibrant.

When the sun is shining, the elderly bring out chairs to bask in the sun, while children run and chase each other in the yard.

Chickens were scratching for food at the base of the wall, while a cat was dozing by the stove.

The family, young and old, had somehow taken on a resemblance to a real family.

Liu Wenying came to deliver winter clothes, and as soon as she entered the courtyard, she heard a noisy chatter.

"He stole my steamed bun again!"

"Grandma, An'an spilled the soup all over me!"

Several children surrounded Grandma Li and complained to her.

Grandma Chen sat under the eaves basking in the sun. Hearing this, she shook her head and sighed, "An'an needs to be obedient and get along well with everyone..."

Liu Wenying put down her bundle and asked gently, "What's wrong?"

"Aunt Liu! Aunt Liu!"

When the children saw her, they started talking all at once.

"An'an is disobedient and picky about food! Yesterday, Granny Wang steamed vegetable dumplings, but he complained that the wild vegetables inside were bitter and secretly threw them to the chickens!"

This morning, he complained that the porridge was bland and insisted on adding sugar!

Liu Wenying was both amused and exasperated. She looked up and saw a small figure squatting under the crooked tree in the corner of the yard.

The child, with his back to everyone, was scratching something in the snow with a twig.

"An'an." Liu Wenying walked over and squatted down beside him.

He turned his head. He looked about four years old, his face was red from the cold, and his pupils were dark, like black pebbles soaked in water.

He was wearing a gray cotton-padded jacket issued by the village, the cuffs of which were a little dirty.

"How old is An'an this year?" Liu Wenying asked softly.

The child pouted, "Four years old."

"I heard you bully other kids?"

An'an threw the branch aside, stood up, and patted the snow off her hands.

"How can that be called bullying? I just dislike that they eat with their hands, it's so dirty."

A five- or six-year-old child immediately shouted, "You grab it with your hands too!"

"I was just starving."

An An rolled her eyes, her expression surprisingly mature.

"I'm not very hungry now, so I won't use my hands to eat. You should all learn to use chopsticks."

Liu Wenying couldn't help but chuckle and reached out to brush the snow off his shoulder.

"Since you're not hungry anymore, you should be more considerate. The old ladies here are elderly, and the children are young. If we all understand each other, we can live a good life."

An An tilted her head to look at her, her dark eyes darting around: "Your words are more agreeable than theirs."

"You're quite the little adult," Liu Wenying chuckled and shook her head. "Then can you promise me you won't be picky about food or bully others from now on?"

"Okay," An An readily agreed, but then added, "But they also need to learn the rules; they can't always eat with their hands."

"Okay, I promise to teach them."

On second thought, An'an's manner of speaking and her refined manners were not like those of someone spoiled by an ordinary family.

She asked tentatively, "An'an, where did you come from?"

The quick-witted child suddenly pursed his lips.

He withdrew his hand, lowered his head, and stared at the tips of his shoes.

"I..." He opened his mouth, then abruptly closed it again.

No matter how gently Liu Wenying spoke, he refused to utter another word, only shaking his head.

Liu Wenying did not press the matter further.

In chaotic times, which child who is displaced doesn't have some unspeakable past stories hidden in their heart?

She patted An'an's head and said softly, "If you don't want to talk about it, then don't. But since you're here, just treat this place as your home, okay?"

An An looked up at her, and the sharp edge that had been in her eyes had quietly diminished.

"Alright..."

It was a bit of a stretch, but at least she obeyed.

But Liu Wenying's doubts remained.

Upon returning from the almshouse, she summoned Granny Wang and whispered instructions to her.

"When you have a spare moment, go to the county government office in the capital and quietly inquire whether any families have lost children recently, especially those whose names contain the character 'An' or whose nickname is 'An'an'."

Granny Wang was taken aback. "The head of the estate thinks that child..."

"It's just a guess. I worked in the Duke's mansion, and the child's speech and behavior were unlike those of an ordinary family."

"He was very particular about his eating and living habits. Ordinary refugees wouldn't care about such things."

Wang Mama understood, and the next day she hitched up a cart and went into the city.

Three days later, a procession of carriages arrived outside the village.

…………