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

"I will do my best."

Yunmeng said something and then bent down to check on Liu Wenying's condition.

Liu Wenying, nestled under the brocade quilt, trembled restlessly with her long eyelashes fluttering, and soft murmurs escaped her lips.

She seemed trapped in a nightmare, unable to wake up no matter what she did.

"It's a side effect of the 'Heart-Clearing Tea'."

Yunmeng took a small celadon bottle, uncorked it, and a bitter medicinal fragrance wafted out. She brought it to Liu Wenying's nose.

Liu Wenying's breathing gradually calmed down, but her brows were still furrowed.

Yunmeng massaged several acupoints on her head. After about half a cup of tea's time, Liu Wenying's tightly furrowed brows relaxed, and the unease on her face disappeared.

After finishing everything, Yunmeng stood up and said to Pei Dingxuan, "The Zhaoxin Tea is mainly used to create dreams, but you insisted that I change the recipe to use it to erase memories. Her headache and fainting today are signs of that."

Even if it's not a real illusion, it can make people forget their past and start over, which is itself a fleeting dream.

Pei Dingxuan remained silent, staring only at the person sleeping peacefully on the bed.

Yunmeng sighed. The person before her was truly unfathomable. He had managed to slip away from the Prince's case and escape from the capital.

Unexpectedly, he was still personally arrested and brought to justice. While waiting for his fate in prison, he was surprised to find that the world outside had changed.

When the new emperor ascended the throne, he granted a general amnesty and was released from prison.

Yunmeng originally planned to retire and return to her old profession several years later, waiting for an opportunity to rise again.

But he hid himself well, while Pei Dingxuan dug even deeper.

Several months ago, they found his hiding place and arrested him.

"My lord, if she remembers again, I have no other way. The improved Heart-Illuminating Tea can only be used once; using it again will damage her mind."

"I know."

Yunmeng said no more, and as Zhu'er left, the clanging of the chains gradually faded into the distance.

Pei Dingxuan sat down beside the bed and held Liu Wenying's soft hand in his palm.

He lowered his head and placed the back of her hand against his lips.

"Yingniang, hurry up and fall in love with me, please hurry up!"

Fall in love with him before his fabricated illusions crumble.

Pei Dingxuan gently pressed his lips to the back of her hand, lingering there for a long time, as if only in this way could he keep her forever.

……

"what……"

Liu Wenying suddenly woke up.

She looked as if she had been pulled out of deep water, gasping for breath.

My vision was blurry, and dusk was falling outside the window, casting a hazy, dark orange hue over the furnishings inside.

My palms, back of my head, and forehead were covered in cold sweat and felt very sticky.

She heard a rustling sound beside her, and then she was pulled into an embrace.

Pei Dingxuan propped himself up, and his gesture of putting his arm around the person was very natural.

"What's wrong?"

"I have no idea."

Fragmented images surged through my mind, but they were all blurry and unclear.

She tried to grasp the fragments, but they slipped through her fingers like quicksand.

In the end, all I could do was blink blankly.

A series of reassuring words came from behind, "Are you having a nightmare?"

Liu Wenying nodded blankly, "It should be."

"What did you dream about? Tell me about it, it will make you feel better."

He pressed Liu Wenying's head into his arms as she tried to recall.

"In my dream, I was working for a wealthy family. I think I was a maid? I also had to take care of children or the elderly. I was quite tired every day, but it was fulfilling and I felt at peace."

"Later, I think I killed someone. My hands were covered in blood, and I couldn't wash it off. There was someone lying on the ground, but I couldn't see her face..."

She became increasingly frightened as she spoke, and her body began to tremble.

Pei Dingxuan tightened his arms around him. "Don't be afraid, it's all a dream. Dreams are the opposite of reality."

His hand gently stroked the long hair behind her back.

Liu Wenying should have relaxed, but her heart felt like it was being held up by an invisible thread, suspended in mid-air, unable to settle down.

I can't let others worry...

Liu Wenying adjusted her breathing, forced herself to calm down, and stopped thinking about it.

After a while, Pei Dingxuan asked, "Are you feeling better?"

"I'm...much better."

For the next two days, Pei Dingxuan stayed in the villa without leaving its side.

He accompanied her to meals, walks, and reading.

Although Liu Wenying couldn't concentrate on reading a single word, some of the late-blooming crabapple blossoms in the garden had opened up again.

Pearl picked a few branches and put them in a vase by the window, which should have been a pleasing sight.

But Liu Wenying couldn't muster any interest in anything.

Pei Dingxuan saw it all.

"Yingniang, tonight is the Harvest Festival. The city will be very lively, and there will be fireworks tonight. Would you like to go out and watch?"

Go out? Liu Wenying almost thought she had misheard.

Since arriving at this villa, she has not stepped outside the gate except when riding horses with Pei Dingxuan.

Every time they approached that vermilion door, Pearl would nervously follow.

Pei Dingxuan would also appear at the right time, using gentle words to guide her back into the courtyard.

But now, he says it's okay to go out?

"Really?"

"Of course it's true."

"Then you can't lie to me."

Pei Dingxuan paused, his breath coming in short gasps.

Liu Wenying's eyes lit up, oblivious to his strange behavior, and she said cheerfully, "I want to go, I want to see the fireworks and join in the fun."

Night in the capital.

The ten-mile-long street was brightly lit, like a galaxy pulled down from the sky and winding its way across the earth.

Liu Wenying was led by Pei Dingxuan as they walked through the crowd.

Today she wore a smoky white gauze dress with begonia patterns, her black hair was tied up high, and a kingfisher feather hairpin with pearls was worn at her temples. She looked elegant and noble.

That was a color she rarely wore.

Pei Dingxuan wore a dark-colored brocade robe with dark patterns and gold trim, his hair was tied up with a jade crown, and the place where he would wear a jade pendant at his waist was empty, which added to his cold and lonely demeanor.

He held her hand tightly the whole time, as if afraid she would get lost.

The two walked slowly along the long street.

At the sugar painting stall, Pei Dingxuan asked the old craftsman to paint a golden butterfly, which he then held to her lips.

Liu Wenying lowered her head and took a small bite. The sweetness of the candy melted on her tongue, and she couldn't help but squint and smile.

"There's more ahead..."

Before Pei Dingxuan could finish speaking, fireworks exploded in the night sky.

Golden and red specks of light scattered and fell, followed by countless colorful fireworks bursting forth, layer upon layer, turning the inky sky into a magnificent painting.

The crowd gasped in amazement.

The two walked hand in hand to the arched bridge, the best spot to watch the fireworks.

Liu Wenying tilted her head back, her eyes wide open, staring intently.

The light of the fireworks flickered in her eyes, blossoming into another dazzling world.

Pei Dingxuan wrapped his arms around her from behind, resting his chin on the top of her head.

"Is it pretty?"

"nice!"

Liu Wenying leaned back and nestled into his embrace.

She was still holding the bamboo stick from the sugar painting in her hand, and Pei Dingxuan seemed to taste the honey as well, so sweet it was unreal.

If only things could stay like this forever...

"The Nuo opera is starting!"

As the fireworks were about to end, someone shouted, and the crowd stirred. The throng of onlookers surged forward like waves being pushed.

Just as Pei Dingxuan was about to grab Liu Wenying, a tremendous force slammed into him from the side.

If we continue to hold on, we may hurt her.

Pei Dingxuan released his grip, and the surging crowd, like a burst dam, forcefully separated the two.

Liu Wenying stood close to the stone wall of the arched bridge, barely managing to steady herself.

When she came to her senses, she realized that Pei Dingxuan had already disappeared.

"Pei Dingxuan!"

She called out, but her voice was drowned out by the noise.

I wanted to go find it, but I couldn't squeeze out against the flow of people.

The crowds were like a maze, and she was trapped inside.

Liu Wenying had no choice but to stand there and wait for the crowd to disperse.

Suddenly, a short figure bumped into her leg.

A little girl, about four or five years old, wearing a red jacket, was rubbing her sore forehead, her eyes brimming with tears.

Liu Wenying held her shoulder, "Are you alright? Are you hurt anywhere?"

"Niu Niu!"

A woman hurriedly squeezed through the crowd, grabbed the girl and pulled her into her arms, checking her over from head to toe.

"I told you to hold your mother's hand tightly, why are you running off again!"

After speaking, the woman looked up at Liu Wenying and said, "Madam, my child is ignorant and offended you. I'm so sorry... Sister Liu?!"

Liu Wenying was stunned. Who was she?

"It's me, Cuihua!"

…………