Chapter 1311: Chapter 1309: The So-Called Well-Intentioned Efforts
Wu Lihong returned to the Wu Residence with a heavy heart, only to be summoned by his mother to the main hall. Upon entering, he saw his wife sitting below, dabbing her eyes with a handkerchief.
When Wu Lihong came in, Madam Wang looked up slightly, glared at him, and then turned her head away.
Such a heartless and unfaithful man is not worth it!
"Mother." Wu Lihong paid his respects to Old Madam Wu and then sat down.
"Where have you been?" Old Madam Wu asked, staring at him.
Wu Lihong was startled, furrowing his brows as he looked at Madam Wang.
"Donât look at your wife." Old Madam Wu slapped the table and said coldly, "You went to Cypress Lane, didnât you?"
Wu Lihong looked a bit embarrassed and said, "Mother, well, I heard Meiniang was brought back by that child, so I thought of going to take a look."
"You are truly foolish, rushing over there. Arenât you afraid that the Imperial Censor will find out you have a concubine? Are you not concerned about your career anymore?" Old Madam Wu was somewhat angry.
Previously, when the eldest said there was no hope of promotion due to the Wang familyâs affairs, it had already made her heartache immensely. Yet, there was nothing she could do. Whether the Emperor favored you or disliked you depended on his own mood.
The Wu Family, having only risen to prominence in the past two generations, had no foundation to earn the Emperorâs esteem.
"Mother, I was worried about her health. Meiniangâs belly is already visible; she might give birth by the end of the year," Wu Lihong said anxiously. "I canât let mother and child give birth outside!"
Hearing this, Old Madam Wuâs stern face softened. Nothing was more important than her grandson. For these past years, the eldest only had Yuyu, which had already made her quite displeased.
She glanced at Madam Wangâs angry face, coughed, and said, "But you have to discuss this with your wife; I will not allow you to bypass her and make your own decisions."
Wu Lihong muttered to himself that she wished he would only be with her.
"What did you say?"
Wu Lihong quickly raised his head and said, "Mother, I didnât say anything, but this person certainly has to be brought back."
"If the master wishes to bring someone back, fine, but as a concubine, surely thereâs an ample chamber to settle her in the back courtyard," Madam Wang said sarcastically. "But as for that girl named Wufu, she cannot be brought back openly; it must be as what I mentioned before, entering as a maid under Madam Zhou."
These words made Wu Lihong and Old Madam Wu both frown.
What Wu Lihong thought was of Wufuâs firm attitude; she probably didnât even want to acknowledge him, let alone enter the house as a maid.
Is that even possible?
Old Madam Wu, however, was thinking of Wufuâs connections. After hesitating for a while, she said, "Madam Wang, isnât that girl also on good terms with the Commandery Princess Changping? If she enters as a maid, how could she continue connecting with the princess later!"
Madam Wang thought, if she truly connected as a concubine-born daughter with nobles, wouldnât she trample over her daughters?
A plebeian, wanting to outshine her daughters, in her dreams!
"Mother probably forgot; that girlâs courage is larger than the sky, daring to bypass her birth mother, following a man by herself all the way to Changan," Madam Wang sneered, "This kind of improper action only a wild girl whoâs unaware of propriety and discretion would dare to do. Which respectable daughter in a noble family in Changan City would dare act like this?"
Old Madam Wu furrowed her brows.
"I suppose the Commandery Princess Changping was deceived by her because she wasnât aware of her background. If she knew where she came from, would the Princess Consort who values propriety still allow them to associate? Not afraid of her daughterâs reputation being implicated?" Madam Wang said coldly. "I am considering the reputation of the Wu familyâs daughters; Old Madam may ponder my well-intentioned concerns."