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

Pei Rongyue's words were like a blunt knife, stabbing hard into the heart of the Duke of Yu.

That day at the ancestral hall, Pei Yaojun knelt before the ancestral tablets, determined to sever ties with the Pei family. He was furious and even cursed him for being ungrateful.

It turns out that the child was protecting them in a resolute way.

Duke Yu choked up and couldn't speak.

He raised his hand and slapped himself hard. "I wronged Jun'er."

Madam Pei couldn't hold back either, and rushed to her husband's side, crying her heart out.

"I knew it, I knew Jun'er wouldn't be so heartless, my child..."

Madam Pei twirled the prayer beads faster and faster in her hands, her lips moved silently, and tears welled up in her eyes.

Pei Dingxuan and Pei Zeyu also lowered their eyes and sighed.

The hall was filled with weeping, and Liu Wenying felt an indescribable sorrow in her heart.

Now is not the time to cry. After comforting Madam Pei and the others, she said:

"The most urgent task is to find a way to rescue Third Master."

But colluding with foreign enemies was a capital offense punishable by the extermination of the entire family, and Pei Dingxuan knew this better than anyone.

Pei Yaojun was able to anticipate this and sever ties with the Pei family decisively, thus avoiding being implicated.

But getting him out would be even more difficult.

"I'll try to find some old colleagues, like Grand Secretary Zhang or Minister Li. Although they have retired, they still have some protégés and old friends in the court. If I pull some strings, maybe I can find a way."

Duke Yu was always very concerned about his reputation, but for the sake of his child, he had no choice but to go all out and take a gamble.

Pei Dingxuan and Pei Zeyu exchanged a glance, both seeing the same heaviness in each other's eyes.

"Father, I'm afraid this matter can't be resolved by simply using connections." Pei Dingxuan held onto the Duke of Yu's arm.

Pei Zeyu also stood up. "Father, don't be anxious. Let's discuss this further."

Since Xiao Chenlin dared to set up a scheme, he must have made the evidence flawless.

Those so-called secret letters are probably so flawless that even the handwriting imitation and seal forgery cannot be found.

The rest of the officials in the court are all old foxes; they are all shrewd and cunning.

Who would risk offending the emperor for the sake of someone who has no family or friends?

Duke Yu understood this perfectly well; he simply couldn't do nothing.

"I have to give it a try, I'm risking my old face..."

Duke Yu pushed away Pei Dingxuan and Pei Zeyu's hands and walked out shakily.

Madam Pei chased after them, crying, "I'll go too! I'll kowtow and beg them to save Jun'er!"

At the same time, Liu Wenying was also trying to find a solution.

Yinianzhuang became the top choice for high-ranking officials and nobles in Beijing to recuperate, not only because of its beautiful scenery, but also because of the connections that Liu Wenying had painstakingly cultivated.

Those elderly ladies and gentlemen who come here to recuperate, which one of them doesn't have a deeply entrenched power behind them?

She changed into a simple dress and, under the pretext of giving gifts, visited each of the elegant residences.

Liu Wenying smiled gently and spoke earnestly, even offering many preferential treatments, hoping they could do her a favor.

If the help is successful, the guest will have priority access to the hot springs and medicinal cuisine in the estate, with a 50% discount. Even if the help is unsuccessful, the guest will still receive a gift.

But those customers who used to be kind and gentle all looked troubled.

"Master Liu, it's not that I don't want to help, it's just that this matter is too complicated."

"Pei Yaojun has committed the heinous crime of treason; who would dare to lay a hand on him?"

"Yes, His Majesty might be in a fit of anger right now. To plead for him at this time would be like walking into a trap."

……

After walking around the circle, not a single person was willing to answer.

Liu Wenying returned to her residence as dusk approached.

Even retired senior officials dared not interfere, which shows that Xiao Chenlin was determined to take Pei Yaojun's life.

Since we can't get Third Master out in a short time, we should find other ways to make his life in prison a little easier.

Liu Wenying decided to use the old method. She summoned Granny Wang and said, "Granny, go and inquire whether it's possible to pay money to visit people in the Ministry of Justice prison like we did last time."

Granny Wang shook her head.

"I already inquired. He's imprisoned in the highest-ranking prison. Without His Majesty's decree, no one can see him. The prison guards even said..."

"What did you say?"

"They say this is a death row, and no one who's been in there has ever come out alive."

"...I understand."

She forced herself to calm down, her mind racing.

If Xiao Yiheng were still in the capital, could he have sought help from the Princess and asked for a solution?

Yes, and there's also the Eldest Princess. Regardless of the Eldest Princess's attitude, Liu Wenying intends to go and plead with her.

After packing up, Liu Wenying planned to go to the capital immediately to ask the Princess for help.

Suddenly, someone pushed the door open and entered.

"Second Master?"

Pei Zeyu's expression wasn't grave; on the contrary, he had a slight smile. "I just received news that the Duke of Zhenguo has raised an army in Yanzhou."

Liu Wenying was taken aback. "What?"

Pei Zeyu spoke very quickly and got to the point.

"The Duke of Zhenguo raised his banner and said that the cause of the late emperor's death was questionable, that Xiao Chenlin's accession to the throne was illegitimate, and that there was no imperial edict left by the late emperor."

"The Second Prince Xiao Yiheng has come back from the dead and appeared in the army, accusing Xiao Chenlin of colluding with the Northern Di and communicating with foreign enemies."

"The Yanzhou army has always been loyal to the Duke of Zhenguo, and now with the Second Prince's banner in hand, they are flocking to join them."

"In less than half a month, they had already advanced from Yanzhou to Chuzhou, which is 300 li away from the capital."

Three hundred li is just a few days' journey for a large army.

Liu Wenying slumped back into her chair, her heart filled with mixed emotions.

When the Yanzhou army attacks, the situation will be completely chaotic, but there is also hope in chaos.

Pei Zeyu thought the same thing as her.

"Xiao Chenlin must be in a terrible predicament right now, having to deal with the approaching army while also maintaining order in the court. There might be room for maneuver in Yao Jun's case."

Liu Wenying nodded and said with relief, "If it still doesn't work, I was even planning to ask the Princess for help."

I know you're worried, but some things can't be rushed.

Pei Zeyu pressed down on her shoulder and comforted her gently.

As autumn deepens in the mountain resort, the maple leaves have turned a deep red, layer upon layer like burning flames.

Liu Wenying stood outside the manor, checking the autumn harvest with the steward of the mulberry fields.

Since that day, she has forced herself to devote all her attention to these trivial matters.

Only by keeping busy can I temporarily suppress the anxiety in my heart.

Pei Yaojun has been imprisoned for more than a month. The Duke of Yu has been running around trying to find a way to meet him, but he has been met with setbacks. His old friends in the court either avoid him or politely decline to see him.

Liu Wenying and Pei Dingxuan and Pei Zeyu also made secret arrangements, but the Ministry of Justice prison was like an iron barrel, and not a single piece of information could be sent in.

She often woke up in the middle of the night, dreaming that Pei Yaojun was covered in blood and calling her Yingying.

After waking up, he couldn't fall back asleep. He got up, put on his clothes, and read books under the lamp until dawn.

"Madam, this batch of new fertilizer..." The steward stopped mid-sentence.

The sound of horses' hooves came from the north, ringing out loudly.

Liu Wenying was also drawn to the attention and turned around to look.

As the mountain road bends, a black horse emerges from the fog.

The Ferghana horse is entirely black with snow-white hooves, and its mane flies like an inky flame when it runs.

The person on horseback was covered by a dark gray cloak, with the hood pulled low, obscuring their face.

But his figure and the way he rode the horse were very similar to the person who left more than a month ago.

The booklet in his hand fell to the ground with a thud.

The black horse reined in at the edge of the field, raised its front hooves, and let out a long neigh.

The man nimbly rolled off the horse, raised his hand to lift his hood, and the autumn sun broke through the fog, its golden light falling on his face.

Her eyes droop slightly at the corners, her nose is high and straight, and there is always a faint smile on her lips.

Yes... Xiao Yiheng.

Liu Wenying stared at him blankly, her lips slightly parted, but no sound came out.

Xiao Yiheng strode over, his boots rustling softly on the muddy ground covered with fallen leaves.

He stopped in front of her, scrutinizing her from head to toe, as if to make sure she was alright.

Then he smiled.

That smile was faint, yet it instantly dispelled the weariness of life.

"Wenying, I'm back."

…………