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

Pei Dingxuan's gentle expression was like a reflection on water shattered by a pebble, creating ripples that quickly subsided.

Why do you ask that?

"The changes in the body don't lie. Although I don't remember what happened before, this body does. Why are you hiding it from me?"

The morning light shone in from outside the corridor, illuminating half of his face while the other half remained hidden in shadow.

"I didn't mean to hide it from you, Jichuan is sick."

Liu Wenying's brow twitched: "Are you sick?"

"Well, it's not a serious illness, but I need to rest. I didn't tell you because I was afraid you would worry or be sad if you saw it."

He held her hand tightly; his palm was warm.

"Yingniang, I'm not trying to hide it from you, it's just... you're not feeling well either, I'm afraid you won't be able to handle it."

The weight that had been pressing on Liu Wenying's heart all night suddenly eased a little.

It wasn't what she thought.

She originally guessed that the child was gone, and the original owner fell and hit her head because of the pain of losing her child, which gave her the opportunity to transmigrate.

Thankfully, the child is alright.

"So he's still alive?"

"Of course, if you want to see him, I will bring him over tomorrow."

Pei Dingxuan gently stroked her wrist, his gesture conveying a sense of comfort.

Liu Wenying shook her head, "No need, it's good that he's alright. He should focus on getting better first. Don't let me see him delay his treatment."

As I finished speaking, an indescribable feeling welled up inside me.

She wanted to see the child, but in any case, the child's health was the most important thing.

She couldn't let a sick child go through all that trouble just because of her own selfish desires.

"Okay, whatever you say. I'll bring Jichuan to see you when he's feeling better."

He led her forward.

"But you also need to take care of your health."

I didn't sleep well last night, so I'll rest more today.

I had the kitchen prepare some bird's nest soup; you can have some later…”

In the afternoon, after lunch, the two played chess in the house.

A sandalwood chess table was set up in the middle, where Liu Wenying and Pei Dingxuan sat facing each other.

On the table was a jade chessboard, and two boxes of chess pieces, one black and one white, gleaming with a lustrous sheen.

"I don't know how to play chess."

Liu Wenying picked up a white piece, somewhat embarrassed.

"Shall I teach you?"

Liu Wenying tried listening to it, but as a beginner, she was completely overwhelmed.

So she said, "How about we play Connect Four?"

"Gomoku? What's that?"

Perhaps there is no game of Gomoku yet in this era, Liu Wenying thought to herself.

She smiled and explained the rules in detail: five pieces in a row, horizontally, vertically, or diagonally, wins.

"It's somewhat novel, though, and quite similar to the Lianzhu."

"A string of pearls?"

"Yes, the rules are similar to those of Gomoku (Five in a Row) that you mentioned."

"Shall we give it a try?"

In the first round, Pei Dingxuan either deliberately let him win or simply hadn't figured out the game yet.

He was always thinking about the overall strategy and tactics of Go when he made his moves, which allowed Liu Wenying to win easily.

He understood when the second game started.

White and black pieces were placed alternately, and the board gradually became covered with star-shaped dots.

Pei Dingxuan, playing black, made his moves slowly and deliberately, always managing to cut off her path just when she was about to gain momentum.

In less than half an incense stick's time, Liu Wenying had already lost three games in a row.

"I'm not playing anymore!"

She tossed the white pieces in her hand into the chess box, and the pieces collided and made a sound.

Pei Dingxuan chuckled: "Weren't you just smug?"

"Can't you just give in to me?"

Liu Wenying glared at him, then simply pushed the chess box away and leaned back.

"It's pointless to keep losing."

Whether he learned it on the spot or already knew the rules, Liu Wenying could not win.

Playing chess with someone as deep and thoughtful as him is just asking for trouble, isn't it?

He got up and walked around the chess table, then sat down beside her, brushing a stray strand of hair from her cheek.

"It's better if it doesn't rain. Do you want to sleep a little longer? Pearl said you didn't sleep well last night."

Perhaps it was the warm afternoon sun, or perhaps it was because she hadn't slept well the night before, but Liu Wenying was indeed feeling a bit sleepy.

Liu Wenying nodded and walked towards the canopy bed in the inner room, taking off her outer robe.

Pei Dingxuan also got up and went to the inner room to take off his outer robe.

He arrived in a hurry today, and the sash of his brocade robe was tied in a tight knot. He tried twice but couldn't untie it, and his brows furrowed slightly.

"I'll do it."

Liu Wenying leaned closer to him, her fingers deftly slipping into the knot and carefully untying it.

A faint, sweet fragrance wafted over from the woman, and Pei Dingxuan's breathing deepened as he looked down at her focused profile.

The knot was finally loosened, and she took the opportunity to help him remove his belt.

The black waistband fell to the ground, and the mutton-fat jade pendant almost slipped out.

Liu Wenying reacted quickly and caught it.

It feels warm to the touch, indicating that the jade is of excellent quality.

She held the jade pendant in her palm and examined it closely.

The jade pendant is round, with a single character carved in the center.

The characters are fluid and elegant, and the carving is exquisite, clearly the work of a master.

But as she looked at it, she suddenly felt something was wrong.

"The hollowed-out part in the middle of this jade pendant should be the character 'Jun,' so why is it the character 'Xuan'?"

Pei Dingxuan remained expressionless and said softly, "You've got it wrong."

"Really?" Liu Wenying frowned and gripped the jade pendant tightly.

Something was churning in my mind—fragmented images.

Scarlet robes fluttered in the wind, while someone in bright red clothes turned around with a smile in their peach blossom eyes.

His smile was flippant and unrestrained as he approached her step by step.

My head suddenly started to ache sharply, as if a needle was stabbing into my temple and twisting violently.

"Well……"

She groaned, nearly dropping the jade pendant from her hand.

Pei Dingxuan immediately helped her up: "Yingniang?"

The images became more numerous and clearer.

The man in scarlet leaned closer, his voice laced with mockery.

Look at you, cowering like a quail. What's wrong? Did you do something wrong?

Amidst a sky full of fireflies, he stood beside her, catching a firefly with a swift movement.

Fireflies have a very short lifespan, dying in no more than seven days. It really likes you.

In the dead of night, he climbed in through the window and held her tightly.

Yingying, my heart belongs to you...

"Ah!" Liu Wenying clutched her head, the intense pain making her vision go black, and she collapsed.

"Yingniang!"

Pei Dingxuan caught her. Her face was deathly pale, cold sweat beaded on her forehead, her long eyelashes trembled, and her lips instantly lost all color.

Liu Wenying struggled to lift her eyes in his arms, her vision blurred, but she could only see the man's anxious face.

"uncle……?"

Then, consciousness sank completely into darkness.

Pei Dingxuan called for someone outside, picked her up horizontally, and strode quickly towards the inner room.

Zhu'er entered in response to the call and was terrified to see Liu Wenying lying unconscious on the bed.

"Go and call Yunmeng over!" Pei Dingxuan shouted sternly.

"Yes, yes!"

Pearl turned and ran, her skirt tripping over the threshold, and she almost fell, but she didn't care.

After a couple of cups of tea, Yunmeng was urgently brought in.

He was still wearing that worn-out long gown, but his face looked much older than before, with frost at his temples and deeper lines around his eyes.

Yunmeng's feet were bound by iron shackles, the chains being neither too long nor too short, just enough to allow him to walk.

"Yunmeng, save her quickly!"

…………