CHAPTER 800: CHAPTER 799: FALLING SICK WITH SENTIMENTALITY

In the aristocratic families, much value is placed upon lineage, and Wu Lihong was no exception. In his heart, women were dispensable, but his own bloodline? How could he readily cast it aside?

It wasn’t that he valued this daughter he had never met so much; rather, he realized that Madam Zhou had been waiting for him with such earnestness over the years that he was moved and felt guilty, which sparked his intent to find her.

Or perhaps it could be said that after so many years had passed, his once cherished love, Ai, remained at the original place, waiting for him until he revisited his old haunts, and he then entertained the notion of mending the broken mirror, so to speak.

Was it guilt, selfishness, or perhaps vanity that drove him? A mix of all these feelings made Wu Lihong believe he couldn’t just pretend as though nothing had happened.

He had never returned and had remained ignorant, which was excusable, but now that he had come back and knew, could he still disregard it? Would he still be considered a man?

Wu Lihong also wanted to see what that gentle woman had become. Had she aged?

Fu Gui, seeing his master’s face filled with nostalgia, felt a bitter taste in his heart. Had his lord forgotten about the formidable lady at home?

"My lord," Fu Gui had to speak up to avoid a bad outcome.

"Why are you still standing there? Go and inquire," Wu Lihong reprimanded upon seeing him still standing there.

Fu Gui swallowed and said, "My lord, after so many years, Madam Zhou must surely assume that you..."

"You mean to say that she thinks I’m dead?"

"This servant wouldn’t dare," Fu Gui quickly knelt and said, "My lord, even if we find out where they are, mother and daughter, what then? Bring them back to the main family? The matriarch, she..."

At the mention of his wife, Wu Lihong’s expression changed.

This matriarch, Madam Wang, had been matched with him by his mother, arranged while he was away studying. He had never seen her before and had hazily gone through with the marriage upon his return.

He held no love for Madam Wang, marrying her simply to comply with his parent’s wishes, but he had been somewhat excited to see her beautiful and obedient appearance for a time.

However, over time, he came to realize that what was thought to be gentle obedience was all a facade; Madam Wang was a perpetual jealous woman, and her fiery temperament meant he had been deceived by her.

Now that more than a decade of marriage had passed, the novelty was long gone. Madam Wang and the concubines were constantly in conflict, and where was that little modesty from when they first wed? She had long since become a shrewish wife.

Therefore, with Fu Gui mentioning Madam Wang, Wu Lihong felt utterly disgusted and said displeasedly, "Why bring her up?"

"My lord, if the matriarch knew there was another woman outside and a daughter older than the young mistress at home, wouldn’t she tear the heavens apart? She might even tear you limb from limb," Fu Gui thought of his matriarch’s fierceness with trepidation.

"She wouldn’t dare!" Wu Lihong felt it was necessary to assert his authority in front of the servant and said coldly, "A man’s affairs are not for a woman to meddle in. How is it her place to interfere in my matters? Whoever I wish to take as a wife or concubine is my decision. As the matriarch, she should be virtuous and manage my household on my behalf, not dare to be willful. If she dares to say anything, she will have committed one of the seven grounds for divorce, and I will divorce her!"

Fu Gui muttered, "Do you not know about the matriarch murdering two concubines?"

"What did you say?" Wu Lihong narrowed his eyes.

"This servant said nothing, whatever my lord says, shall be," Fu Gui hurriedly responded.

Wu Lihong huffed and said, "Just go and check on it for now. Speaking of those things is premature. I just want to see how she has been faring, after all, she shared a part of my life."

Fu Gui knew that his lord’s amorousness had flared up again and couldn’t help but worry about facing his matriarch’s wrath.