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

Liu Wenying was checking the New Year's shopping list with Xue Bi in the accounting room when she suddenly heard a commotion outside.

Granny Wang hurriedly pushed open the door and came in, her expression somewhat strange: "Madam, someone outside has come looking for An'an."

"So fast?" Liu Wenying put down her pen.

"They say they're the child's family," Granny Wang said in a low voice. "Judging by their entourage, they're quite influential."

Liu Wenying said something to Xue Bi, then got up and walked outside.

A red-curtained carriage was parked in front of the manor gate, with bells hanging from its four corners. The two horses pulling the carriage were entirely black, with glossy and smooth fur.

Seven or eight maids and servants stood beside the carriage, dressed in fine clothes, their heads bowed in service.

The carriage curtain was lifted, and a woman stepped out.

She was in her early thirties, wearing a peacock blue brocade jacket with gold trim, and a fox fur cloak over it. Her hair was adorned with only a white jade hairpin, simple yet exuding an air of nobility.

She was holding a string of sandalwood prayer beads in her hand.

The woman hurried forward, her gaze sweeping anxiously over the crowd: "Where's An'er? Where is my An'er?"

Liu Wenying stepped forward: "And who is this lady?"

"I am the wife of the Marquis of Pingyang."

The woman spoke very quickly, and her eyes were already red.

"Half a month ago, I was returning to Beijing from my ancestral home outside the city when my carriage was scattered by refugees. That's when my child, my four-year-old An'er, was lost."

The Marquis of Pingyang's residence? The Marquis of Pingyang is a hereditary noble family. Although not as prominent as the Duke of Yu's residence, it is still a well-known family in the capital.

In such a prominent family, a child would surely be surrounded by servants when going out; how could they easily get lost?

She remained calm, only saying gently, "Madam, please don't worry. The house is heavily guarded, and there must be people watching the child closely. How could he have gotten lost so easily?"

The question was so blunt that it was almost offensive.

A maid behind the Lady Hou immediately frowned and was about to speak, but the Lady Hou raised her hand to stop her.

Lady Hou twirled the prayer beads between her fingers, trying to keep her voice steady.

"There were too many refugees that day, and the carriages and horses were frightened. It was my negligence as a mother, and I have no one to blame but myself."

She looked up at Liu Wenying, her eyes glistening with tears.

"These days I have been chanting sutras and praying day and night, only asking Buddha to protect An'er and keep her safe."

"Having heard that your estate has taken in homeless children, including my son An'er, I have taken the liberty of coming here."

"If the child is truly here, ask the head of the estate to return him; the Marquis's manor will surely offer a generous reward."

His words were sincere and his feelings were deep.

Liu Wenying believed it to seven-tenths, but three-tenths of doubt remained, like a fishbone stuck in her throat.

In chaotic times, child abduction is commonplace, and some criminals even impersonate relatives to claim children and then sell them into a living hell.

Because it concerned the child's safety, she had to be cautious.

She turned to Wang Mama and whispered a few words in her ear. Wang Mama nodded and left first.

"Please come with me, madam."

Liu Wenying turned around and led the way.

"The child is indeed in the village, but Madam needs to identify him in person."

Lady Hou hurriedly followed, her steps faltering, but her maidservant promptly assisted her, and the group crossed the mulberry field.

Almshouse.

Granny Wang led a boy out.

The child was about four years old, wearing a gray cotton-padded jacket, with a round face, and timidly clutching the hem of Granny Wang's clothes.

Lady Hou rushed over to identify them.

But after just one glance, her face gradually turned ashen.

"No, it's not my An'er..."

Lady Hou murmured, loosened her grip, and staggered back two steps.

The child was frightened and burst into tears, turning around and throwing himself into Granny Wang's arms.

Granny Wang picked him up and coaxed him softly.

Lady Hou stood there in the snow, stunned, as her prayer beads slipped from her hand and fell onto the snow with a thud.

She clasped her hands together, closed her eyes, and prayed, "Buddha, please bless my An'er so he may be safe and sound. If he can return to my side, I, the believer, am willing to fast, chant Buddhist scriptures, give away all my wealth, and do anything!"

His voice choked with emotion, each word uttered with the pain of tears.

Liu Wenying's last doubts dissipated.

If a human trafficker posing as a wealthy person comes to claim the child, they will surely recognize a child who looks similar and readily agree to the claim.

Even if the child doesn't recognize them, they will forcibly pull them.

But Lady Hou's reaction was unmistakable.

She stepped forward to help Lady Hou up and said gently, "Madam, please don't worry, the child... is indeed in the manor."

Lady Hou looked up abruptly, hope rekindling in her eyes.

Liu Wenying turned and called into the courtyard, "An'an, come out."

The courtyard fell silent for a moment.

A small figure slowly emerged from behind the jujube tree in the corner.

An'an pouted, put her hands behind her back, and shuffled over step by step.

He walked to Liu Wenying's side, glanced at Madam Hou, then quickly lowered his head, his toes scratching the snow.

Lady Hou froze completely.

She stared at that familiar little face, her lips trembling.

Suddenly, she tremblingly reached out her hand, about to touch the child's cheek, but then dared not actually touch it.

It was as if the illusion would shatter if touched.

"An, An'er?"

An'an raised her head, her dark eyes staring at her, her little mouth pursed tightly.

Lady Hou could no longer hold back and hugged the child tightly, tears welling up in her eyes.

"An'er, my An'er, I've finally found you..."

She hugged her very tightly, and An'an was initially quite awkward, clenching her little fists tightly.

Hearing his mother cry, his eyes gradually reddened, and he reached out his little hands to hug his mother's neck.

"Mother..."

Liu Wenying stood to the side, her eyes also feeling a little hot.

After the two had calmed down, she asked softly.

"An'an, why do you still look unhappy when you see your mother?"

An'an lifted her head from her mother's arms, her little face still wet with tears, but she still held her head high.

"It's because she wrongly accused me and wanted to hit me that I ran away."

Lady Hou quickly released him, cupped his face, and hurriedly explained.

"That day, I thought you had broken the inkstone that Grandfather left behind, and Mother got angry in a moment of anger..."

"Later, Granny said it was the cat that jumped onto the table and knocked it over, not you. Mother was wrong to blame you. Mother apologizes to you, okay?"

An'an pouted, and tears fell again.

"Will you still hit me in the future?"

"I'm not fighting anymore, I'll never fight again."

Lady Hou pulled him back into her arms, her voice choked with emotion.

"I swear, I will never lay a hand on you again."

The mother and son embraced and wept bitterly, and it took them a while to finally calm down.

Lady Hou held An'an tightly, refusing to let go, and only then did she have the mind to look around.

She frowned slightly as she looked at the few rooms that were incredibly simple compared to the main hall of the Marquis's mansion.

"Is this where An'er lives?"

"Yes, it's newly built; though simple, it provides shelter from the wind and rain."

"It's so dilapidated."

Lady Hou sighed softly, grasping and stroking the gray cotton-padded jacket on An'an's body.

"My son has never worn such clothes in the manor before..."

Liu Wenying nodded, "Naturally, it cannot compare to the splendor of the Marquis's mansion."

"In chaotic times, it is already a blessing for children to have a place to shelter from the wind and rain."

Lady Hou was startled and looked up at her.

An'an suddenly tugged at her mother's sleeve and whispered.

"It was Aunt Liu who brought me back. That day I was so hungry that I couldn't walk, and I was squatting by the roadside crying. Aunt Liu saw me, gave me steamed buns to eat, and brought me here."

Lady Hou looked down at her son, then looked up at Liu Wenying, her eyes filled with complex emotions.

After a long silence, she said slowly, "I made a vow to Buddha that I would do anything to find An'er."

"Since Buddha granted my wish, I should keep my promise."

"From now on, the Pingyang Marquis's Mansion will allocate one hundred taels of silver per month to support the almshouse, providing rice, winter clothing, and medicine. If there is any shortage, please inform the Marquis's Mansion."

Liu Wenying was startled and quickly curtsied, saying, "On behalf of the elderly and children in the courtyard, I thank you for your great kindness, Madam."

"I should be thanking you."

The Lady Hou helped her up, her eyes reddening again.

"If it weren't for your kind heart, An'er..."

She couldn't continue speaking, and only held Liu Wenying's hand tightly for a long time before letting go.

…………