When Wu Lihong walked into Madam Zhou’s room, she was still sitting dazed on the couch, lost in thought, and didn’t even notice his entrance.
"Ahem." Wu Lihong cleared his throat lightly. "i Niang."
Madam Zhou glanced over but quickly turned her gaze away. Wu Lihong felt sowhat awkward and guilty, walked over, and asked, "What’s the matter? Are you still angry with ?"
Hearing this, Madam Zhou let out a cold laugh: "Go ahead and tell , why would I be angry with you?"
"Well, Xiuxiu is your biological niece and naturally like my daughter. There’s nothing wrong with a father being close to his daughter; I was just teasing her," Wu Lihong hurriedly explained.
His words made Madam Zhou feel the fetus-preserving dicine she had just taken surge upwards, causing severe nausea. Her face changed slightly as she rushed to the side, grabbed a Xi Que-encrusted spittoon, and retched.
Wu Lihong’s expression changed drastically. He quickly moved behind her to support her back, anxiously exclaiming, "What’s going on, why such a big reaction all of a sudden?"
Madam Zhou’s face turned pale from vomiting. She avoided his hand, picked up a teacup, rinsed her mouth with a few gulps of water, and only then did she look at him after setting down the spittoon.
"Like a daughter?" Madam Zhou laughed in anger, mocking, "Do you usually play around like this with Madam Wang’s daughter? A big girl sitting on her father’s lap, chatting and laughing? Is this the rule of the great house? Fortunately, even though I’m from a humble background, Wufu knows propriety and integrity."
Her blatant sarcasm made Wu Lihong’s face change colors unpredictably, filled with an unspeakable embarrassnt. He never thought the usually gentle woman before him could be so sharp-tongued.
"i Niang!" Wu Lihong glared at her coldly.
Madam Zhou looked back without the slightest fear, eyes filled with stubbornness, as if saying, "I haven’t lied."
"You..." Wu Lihong saw her stroking her belly, his heart softened, and he sighed: "I was wrong, wasn’t I? It was just a montary lapse; don’t be angry, it’s bad for the child."
Madam Zhou scoffed, lowered her eyes, and said, "A montary lapse. Does Mr. Wu know what consequences your so-called montary lapse might have if it spreads?"
Wu Lihong furrowed his brow, clearly displeased with Madam Zhou’s relentless questioning. Can’t his admission of guilt suffice?
"If this gets out, Xiuxiu can forget about her reputation or marrying any respectable man. And what about ? People will wonder if I let my biological niece step in because I’m pregnant and can’t serve you?" Madam Zhou sneered: "And if this reaches the Wu family in Changan, what would your first wife do, and how would the Wu family view ?"
Wu Lihong’s brow furrowed tightly. He opened his mouth and, after a long pause, squeezed out, "Haven’t you always managed the household affairs? How could this leak out? The servants’ mouths are tightly sealed; anyone who dares to spread rumors will be beaten to death."
Madam Zhou felt a chill in her heart as she looked at him, saying: "Is this how great families operate?" Is that why they are so fearless?
Wu Lihong found her gaze baffling. What use is a gossiping servant if not loyal?
Seeing his self-righteous face, Madam Zhou felt a bit exhausted and said, "Enough, I’ll have soone send Xiuxiu back to my elder brother’s house. I hope Mr. Wu won’t ddle. She’s a grown girl about to discuss marriage; staying at her aunt’s house isn’t appropriate."
Willing to stop the conflict, Wu Lihong had no reason to refuse and replied, "Feel free to arrange as you see fit. I certainly won’t embarrass you." Then changed the topic, "Earlier, I saw an unfamiliar maid outside; Qiu Xiang said she’s from Wufu’s side. Where is she?"
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