Doted By The Regent King-Chapter 580 - 579: Slippery Hands

This meeting wasn’t particularly joyous, but no face-losing incidents occurred either; nonetheless, after sitting for two hours, Madam Yu excused herself and left due to the busyness of year-end affairs.

Madam Zhou and Wufu saw her out, and once they returned to the main hall, Madam Zhou couldn’t wait to ask Wufu what Madam Yu’s words meant, as they felt particularly unsettling.

With a raise of her eyebrow, Wufu realized that she had also caught on, and after some thought, she explained the whole story of how she had taken over that shop.

"So she thinks you have an affair with Lord Wen?" Madam Zhou’s face darkened with a frown, dismayed that she had initially thought the visit from The Magistrate’s Wife was for some significant matter, only to discover she harbored such sordid thoughts.

Wufu soothed her, saying, "Mother, it’s all a misunderstanding, which will be cleared up once explained. If you don’t like her, it’s best to lessen your interactions with her on ordinary days."

Madam Zhou sighed softly, saying, "I am but a woman from a deep household, with a rural background, where do I get the face to associate with such a Lady Official?"

That meant she intended to discontinue their relationship in the future.

Wufu didn’t persuade her otherwise, because people like Madam Yu were sharp-tongued and loved to scheme, and with Madam Zhou’s temperament, she could inadvertently fall victim to manipulation if they kept in touch. It was better this way.

"Wufu, even though the business with Lord Wen was a misunderstanding, there is a saying ’rumors are frightening,’ and one cannot stand against others’ wild imaginations," Madam Zhou pondered before tentatively adding, "In a couple of months you will be reaching the age of marriage, shall I invite a good matchmaker to our home after that?"

The hair on the back of Wufu’s neck stood up, and she laughed, saying, "Mother, I am still young and need to accompany you for a few more years; there’s no need to speak of marriage yet."

Madam Zhou chuckled: "I know you are filial, but a daughter cannot stay forever, she becomes a burden; girls your age are usually already married." ƒreeωebnovel.ƈom

Wufu laughed awkwardly a few times and, using her wood-carving work as an excuse, quickly excused herself.

Watching Wufu’s retreating back as she fled, Madam Zhou sighed and thought that her daughter was too decisive, which sometimes wasn’t so good.

Upon returning home, Madam Yu found her husband waiting. Seeing her arrive, he inquired about how the meeting went.

"Don’t even mention it," Madam Yu took a sip of cold tea to quench the irritation in her heart and said with restraint, "Though she is young, she isn’t easy to deal with, her way of speaking and acting is quite slippery, and her thoughts very deep. I tried several times to catch Madam Zhou off guard, but that girl deflected every attempt."

Yu Tian was somewhat surprised but soon reasoned, "If she weren’t clever, she wouldn’t have given us an advantage, letting you intervene to help her get that shop without offending me."

"What did she say about giving advantage?" Madam Yu grew curious.

Yu Tian sighed and relayed how Wufu suggested giving them a share of the profit, saying, "If she really came up with that herself, at such a young age, it’s quite impressive."

He and his steward had also analyzed the situation; such a share was irresistible to anyone, after all, it’s a matter that enhances one’s reputation.

And such an idea coming from the mouth of a young lady, wasn’t that remarkable? Reflecting on his own daughters, he mused, what did they know at that age? Weren’t they only concerned with jewelry, dresses, and other womanly trappings?

"That’s why I say, this girl is extremely cunning, not someone to be casually associated with," Madam Yu concluded, feeling even more convinced of Wufu’s craftiness after hearing her husband’s words.

Yu Tian laughed it off: "Well, the shop has been bought by them, and we have no conflicting interests now. In the future, even if we don’t become close, we just need to ensure we don’t offend them."

Madam Yu’s face soured, murmuring under her breath, "That’s really something, I, a Lady Official, should actively seek the favor of and dare not offend a country lass."

Knowing that she was not satisfied, Yu Tian coldly reminded her that this rural girl was even praised by the Prefect. Clearly, he had also heard about the grand event in the city, and that served as a subtle hint to her.