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

Pei Dingxuan did not come today.

Zhu'er said that Lord Pei is busy with official duties and sometimes only has time to come over after one or two days, and sometimes after three or four days.

Liu Wenying could understand; the Minister of Justice was a high-ranking official, so it was normal for him to be busy.

But she actually had a kind of expectation for him in her heart, and even counted down the days.

He didn't come yesterday, but maybe he will come today?

She would think about him while eating, pay attention to the sounds at the door while taking a walk, and even think about him before going to sleep at night.

After all, he never came empty-handed.

Sometimes they would bring out newly released pastries from outside shops, which were soft, chewy, and sweet.

Sometimes it's a newly made hairpin from the shop, carved from yellow jade into the shape of frost chrysanthemums, exquisite and warm.

Sometimes it's just a single hibiscus flower, delicate and beautiful, which can live for several days when placed in a vase.

The little thing was worthless, but it made Liu Wenying hopeful every time he came.

Dinner tonight was another sumptuous affair, consisting of four dishes and a soup.

Especially the milky white fish soup, which is extremely delicious. The fish meat melts into the soup, leaving only tender shreds that melt in your mouth.

Liu Wenying didn't have much of an appetite, but after taking a sip of the soup, her eyes widened.

"This fish soup is delicious," she said, scooping up another spoonful.

Zhu'er was serving the dishes, and seeing that she liked them, she served her an extra half bowl.

"If you like it, Madam, please drink more. This soup has been simmering for three hours, so it's very nourishing."

Liu Wenying nodded. The soup was indeed delicious. It warmed her stomach and made her feel comfortable all over.

She drank two bowls without realizing it.

I only realized how full I was when I put the bowl down.

But I felt content, and even the desolate courtyard seemed more pleasing to the eye.

After washing up at night, Liu Wenying went to bed early.

In the middle of the night, I was awakened by a strange feeling in my chest.

She groggily reached out to rub it and touched something wet.

Liu Wenying opened her eyes and looked down, using the moonlight filtering through the window cracks.

A small patch of my nightgown was damp on the front and still warm from my body.

This is……

Liu Wenying was visibly shocked. Didn't they not have children?

She had never seen any trace of children in the courtyard, and Pearl had never mentioned it.

How could a woman who has never given birth be like this?

Liu Wenying unbuttoned her clothes and carefully examined her entire body.

This body has indeed given birth; although it has been well-maintained, traces are still visible.

She had a preconceived notion that the original owner of this body had only married someone.

The two had a deep bond, so how could they not have children?

But why didn't Pei Dingxuan tell her...?

Early in the morning, Liu Wenying had not slept all night.

When Zhu'er brought in the basin of water and lifted the bed curtains, she was startled by the woman's expression.

"Madam? You look terrible. Should we see a doctor?"

Liu Wenying had a faint bluish tint under her eyes and her lips were very pale.

"I need to see a doctor."

Pearl was even more surprised, because in the past, whenever the topic of seeing a doctor came up, the lady would always refuse.

She said, "Why would I see a doctor if I'm not sick or in pain?"

Today's straightforward answer is unsettling.

Pearl asked tentatively, "Madam, are you feeling unwell? Let me get you something first..."

"I said I wanted to see a doctor."

Liu Wenying interrupted her and stood up.

A wave of dizziness washed over her after a sleepless night, but thankfully she managed to grab onto the bedpost in time.

Zhu'er quickly replied, "Then, then this servant will go and ask the master..."

"Ask for permission? Do I even need a doctor's permission to see me?"

She approached Pearl step by step. "Are you my maid, or his?"

Pearl's face turned pale, and she hurriedly knelt down.

"Madam, please calm down! Of course, I'm here to serve you! But the master instructed me that your health is precious, and you must be careful in everything you do..."

"Be cautious." Liu Wenying repeated the word, finding it extremely ironic.

She walked past Pearl, who was kneeling on the ground, and headed straight for the door.

My steps were a little unsteady at first, but I walked faster and faster until I started jogging.

She wants to go out.

She wanted to leave this exquisite cage, even if it was just to go outside for a quick look and ask someone.

The corridors are winding and the courtyards are deep.

Liu Wenying remembered the way out: from the garden, she had to go around a rockery, then through a moon gate and a hanging flower gate.

Pearl chased after her, her voice trembling with tears, "Madam! Slow down! Watch your step!"

Liu Wenying paid no attention; she saw the tightly closed vermilion door.

Push it away, push it away quickly.

A voice kept clamoring in my heart.

However, before Liu Wenying's hand could touch the door knocker, the door was pushed open from the outside.

As the morning mist rolled in, a tall, slender figure stood outside the door.

Wearing a black brocade robe and a jade crown to bind his hair, it was none other than Pei Dingxuan.

He had clearly just arrived; his shoulders were still damp with dew.

Upon seeing Liu Wenying rushing out with her hair disheveled and clothes in disarray, Pei Dingxuan frowned slightly, then relaxed, revealing his usual gentle expression.

"Yingniang, where are we going?"

Pearl caught up, panting, and knelt down with a thud.

"Please forgive me, sir! Madam didn't sleep well last night, and she said she wanted to see a doctor this morning. Perhaps I said something wrong and upset her, which is why she came out..."

Pei Dingxuan didn't even look at him. "Since you've said something wrong, go and receive your punishment."

"don't want."

Liu Wenying stood in front of Zhu'er and stared directly at him.

"I came out of here on my own initiative. It has nothing to do with Zhu'er. I will take responsibility for my own actions. Please don't punish her."

The air fell silent for a moment.

Pei Dingxuan told Zhu'er to leave.

Pearl felt as if she had been granted a pardon and quickly withdrew.

Then, he took Liu Wenying's hand, held it tightly, and led her into the courtyard.

He turned his head to look at her, his expression full of concern.

"Didn't sleep well last night? Did you have nightmares? Or were you feeling unwell?"

Liu Wenying let him lead her, but couldn't help turning back.

The gate was slowly closing, and through the increasingly narrow gap, she saw a low-key blue-canopied carriage parked outside, its curtains drawn, obscuring the interior.

Two men dressed as guards stood beside the carriage. When they saw her looking over, they quickly looked away.

The carriage started moving, heading back the way it came, and soon disappeared into the morning mist.

The thorn of doubt in my heart pierced deeper and deeper.

"Yingniang?" Pei Dingxuan called to her.

Liu Wenying snapped out of her reverie and shook her head: "It's nothing."

The copper bells hanging under the corridor tinkled in the morning breeze.

What should have been a crisp and pleasant sound now sounded rather jarring.

Pei Dingxuan continued talking, rambling on and on, all words of concern.

He asked her what she wanted for breakfast and suggested they go for a walk by the river since the weather was nice.

They also mentioned that the bolt of brocade that was delivered a few days ago could be used to make a winter coat...

These words used to sound so thoughtful and considerate.

Today it sounds more like a fine, dense net.

Liu Wenying suddenly stopped in her tracks. "Pei Dingxuan."

The man paused and turned around.

"Have I...had a child?"

At the corner of the corridor, there is a clump of Xiangfei bamboo. The leaves are glistening with dew, reflecting the morning light and sparkling like broken diamonds.

At this moment, the dew that was about to fall seemed to freeze.

…………