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

Liu Wenying was well aware of the principles Xiao Yiheng was talking about, but the words "to put one's mind at ease" were easier said than done.

The truth is cold, but the heart is warm. When cold and hot are mixed together, they become a pot of porridge that can never be cooked.

After returning to the capital, Pei Zeyu joined forces with Pei Dingxuan to engage in a power struggle with Xiao Chenlin, but ultimately they were outmaneuvered.

Pei Yaojun is far away in the northern border, and is probably unaware of the changes that have occurred in the manor.

Like the First Madam and Ye'er, they are now in a cold, dark prison.

And then there's Ling'er, Granny Tian, ​​Xiao Zhu... they're probably all in the official yamen, how could she not be worried?

Liu Wenying didn't want him to worry anymore. "I'm fine. Why aren't you asleep?"

Xiao Yiheng sighed, his unfocused eyes filled with unspoken words.

He didn't say it explicitly, but Liu Wenying understood immediately.

Her burden is heavy, but isn't his even heavier?

As someone living under someone else's roof, with his eye ailment still unhealed, he had to secretly plot and seize the opportunity to reclaim everything that belonged to him. The bitterness in his heart was no less than hers.

"Hearing the Oriole".

"Hmm? I'm here."

"You've always taken care of me, now it's my turn to take care of you."

He spoke softly, and the moonlight shifted, surging from behind him and casting a silvery outline.

"The spring chill is still in the air, and the night wind can be harmful. If you don't mind, my shoulders may not be very broad, but you can still lean on them."

She appreciated the offer, but Liu Wenying shook her head, "No need, I..."

Xiao Yiheng gently grasped her wrist and pulled her into his arms.

His chin rested gently on the top of her head, his arms wrapped around her shoulders and back, loosely holding her without using force, afraid of pressing down on her.

His chest was warm, radiating from within, so warm that it made you want to close your eyes.

Enveloped in that warmth, Liu Wenying suddenly felt like crying.

Tears come without warning, like the first rain of spring, arriving without a word, suddenly and overwhelmingly.

She adjusted her breathing, sniffled, and spoke with a sob in her voice.

"I... I'm just having mood swings during pregnancy, don't worry about me, I'll be fine on my own..."

"it is good."

Xiao Yiheng didn't expose her, but simply held her tightly, sheltering her from the storm.

Liu Wenying clutched his clothes, choking back tears, and said, "Xiao Yiheng, you must get better."

Xiao Yiheng was taken aback, then gently rubbed his chin against the top of her head. "Yes, I promise you, I will get better."

A small orange light suddenly appeared in the distance, swaying gently as it approached.

Upon seeing this, Liu Wenying, as if burned, struggled out of Xiao Yiheng's arms.

The moonlight fell between them, like a narrow, silvery-white river.

Granny Wang walked over carrying a lantern and saw Liu Wenying and Xiao Yiheng standing in the courtyard.

The air between them still held a lingering, warm, and ambiguous atmosphere that hadn't yet dissipated.

"Master, what are you doing here?"

From the head of the manor to Wenying, and then to the master of the manor, Granny Wang changed her address smoothly.

Liu Wenying dabbed at the corner of her eye with her sleeve. "Why isn't Granny asleep either?"

Granny Wang laughed and said, "I'm so happy that the village is back that I can't sleep."

She sighed with relief, "These days have been full of ups and downs. A few days ago I thought I was going to end up on the streets, since no one would hire an old woman like me to work."

"Who would have thought that I'd be standing here at Zhiyun Manor again today."

Granny Wang had lived to such an old age and seen all sorts of storms, but this time she was genuinely afraid.

"Master, thank you so much. If it weren't for you, I really wouldn't know where to put my old bones."

"Granny, what nonsense are you talking about..."

Liu Wenying comforted Granny Wang for a while, and Granny Wang smiled and patted her hand while glancing back and forth between Liu Wenying and Xiao Yiheng.

"The master hasn't answered his wife yet. Why aren't you asleep at this hour?"

Liu Wenying stammered, unsure how to answer.

Xiao Yiheng's voice rang out from beside him, "The moonlight is just right tonight. Wenying and I had nothing to do, so we came out for a walk and a chat. Please forgive us, Granny."

When Granny Wang saw the two clasped hands, her eyes narrowed with a smile. "Don't smile, don't smile."

"The night is cool, the mistress is six months pregnant, and her husband's eye ailment is not yet healed. You should all go back to your rooms and rest early. This old woman will not disturb you any longer."

Granny Wang carried the lantern and slowly walked away, thinking to herself.

The journey of the manor owner has been too difficult, and now that someone is there to accompany her and make her happy, that is the best thing.

She would fully support whoever the estate owner chose.

Even if she selects all of them, she will still be happy.

When people live to such an old age, all they want in the end is peace of mind and a comfortable life.

……

Bugles pierce the night sky, and beacon fires ignite the smoke of war.

Arrows rained down like locusts, striking the pass walls and sparking. Shentu stood on the watchtower, his face ashen as he gazed at the endless Northern Di cavalry beyond the pass.

The grain supplies were burned and the watchtowers were destroyed, likely due to the leak of the defense map of the pass.

Tonight's surprise attack by the Northern Barbarians was no ordinary sneak attack; it was a betrayal orchestrated from within and without.

"General! The East Gate has fallen!" The messenger, covered in blood, knelt on the ground.

Shen Tu drew his sword, "Burning Wind Army, heed my command, retreat!"

The golden bells signaled retreat, and the army withdrew into the pass like a receding tide.

Pei Yaojun, however, went against the flow of people and rushed to the front line.

He led his three hundred cavalrymen like a sharp knife into the vanguard of the Northern Di people, tearing a gap in their ranks.

"Captain Pei!" the soldier roared.

"You take your men and leave first!"

Without turning his head, Pei Yaojun swept his long sword horizontally, beheading a Northern Di man.

Blood splattered on his face, warm and salty.

He wiped his face and looked behind him. The wall had been breached, and the firelight illuminated half the sky, but there were still hundreds of wounded soldiers who had not yet been evacuated.

"Vanguard battalion! Follow me to the rear!"

More than three hundred riders responded in unison, turned their horses around, and faced the surging enemy troops.

They were the most elite squad of the Burning Wind Army, forming a wedge formation with Pei Yaojun at the forefront, repeatedly charging and fighting through the enemy lines to buy time for the main army to retreat.

General Shentu led his main force to retreat fifty miles and stopped to rest in a valley when dawn was breaking.

After counting the number of people, nearly 30% were lost, and countless others were injured.

He stood in front of the camp, looking at the Iron Horse Pass, where black smoke billowed not far away.

"Where is Military Advisor Pei? Hasn't he returned yet?" he asked.

The soldier bowed his head and replied, "I haven't seen them. The entire vanguard battalion... they've probably all perished at the pass."

General Shentu remained silent.

He took the wine flask from his waist, uncorked it, and slowly poured the strong liquor onto the ground.

The wine seeped into the scorched earth, a silent offering.

The surrounding soldiers watched silently, their silence forbearance palpable.

Some people lowered their heads, some turned their faces away, and many clenched their fists, digging their nails into their palms until they bled.

Shen Tu's expression was solemn, but he silently agreed in his heart.

There is a traitor within the Burning Wind Army. If you, Pei San, truly perish here, I will personally kill the traitor to comfort your heroic soul...

Meanwhile, in the Northern Barbarian camp.

Pei Yaojun was woken up by being splashed with cold water. When he woke up, he struggled, but his arms were tied behind his back with a rope.

After Tiema Pass was breached, he led the vanguard battalion to buy time for the main army and cover their retreat. When he tried to withdraw, it was too late, and he was captured by the enemy.

Pei Yaojun's eyes were covered in blood and then splashed with water, which dripped down his face, making it difficult for him to see clearly.

He must have been in the central command tent of the Northern Di people, where the air was thick with the stench of mutton and blood.

Suddenly, his scalp was grabbed, forcing him to tilt his face up.

"Your Highness, it's him! He killed hundreds, even thousands of our brothers! We should skin him alive as a sacrifice to our flag!"

On the main seat, Yelü Yuanjia was wiping a curved sword. Upon hearing this, he looked at the captured man and his eyes narrowed.

He slowly got up, walked to Pei Yaojun, and bent down to examine him closely.

His face was covered in blood, and a fresh wound on his forehead had the skin torn open, but the outline of his eyebrows and eyes gradually overlapped with the image of someone in his memory who had injured his beloved pet.

The tip of the scimitar lifted Pei Yaojun's chin, and Yelü Yuanjia grinned maliciously, "Pei Yaojun, we finally meet again."

…………