Chapter 49
Chapter 49
Old Madam Xie drew a deep breath. If not for all the maids and matrons present — and her need to preserve Madam Lin’s dignity as mistress of the household — she would have called the woman a fool to her face.
Her eldest son was admirable in every respect. She had raised him from childhood to possess outstanding character and conduct, yet of all people, he had married a woman unfit for polite society.
Old Madam Xie had always been open-minded and cared little for matching family status. When her son had first told her he wished to marry Madam Lin, she had consented despite Madam Lin’s unremarkable family background and the fact that their household was supported by only one minor official.
She had believed that children and grandchildren had their own destinies and had not wanted her son to live with regret. Who would have thought that someone from such a modest family would prove to have such a narrow outlook after all?
What kind of status did the Shen Family possess?
The Shen Family now enjoyed a degree of prestige unmatched anywhere in the capital.
Former Chief Grand Secretary Shen had spent his entire life as an upright official devoted to the people. He neither played political games nor formed factions for personal gain. Her Majesty the Empress was likewise generous and even-tempered, treating worthy people with courtesy. Without all that, how could a family as powerful as the Shen Family continue to enjoy such profound trust and esteem from His Majesty the Emperor?
Former Chief Grand Secretary Shen had been His Majesty the Emperor’s teacher. Under His Majesty the Emperor’s rule, peace now prevailed throughout the realm, while the inner palace remained tranquil and free of intrigue or strife. He was undoubtedly a wise sovereign. Not only were the Shen Family’s principles beyond reproach, but every one of them was remarkably capable.
And who was First Madam Shen? She held an official noble title, had received boundless imperial favor, and was the birth mother of Her Majesty the Empress. She was an exalted lady whom everyone in the capital wished to curry favor with. Would someone like her stoop to framing a mere young cousin at the Xie Residence?
Even setting status aside, the Shen Family’s principles would never allow them to do such a thing.
Worse still, they had even spoken of taking the matter before the Censorate for investigation. Madam Lin’s dim mind entirely failed to understand what that meant.
It meant the Shen Family had taken charge of this matter and would continue following up on it!
And this was a disgrace within their own family!
Old Madam Xie shot Madam Lin an icy glance. She said nothing, but that single look left Madam Lin chilled to the bone.
Old Madam Xie then ignored her and turned straight to Shuangxi, who knelt below. She ordered one of the matrons at her side to slap Shuangxi across the mouth.
Crack! Crack!
The slaps echoed around the room, followed by Old Madam Xie’s commanding voice. “You’re nothing but a maid, a lowly servant, yet you dare implicate your mistress? Who gave you such nerve?”
Then Old Madam Xie looked at the steward. “Drag this filthy creature outside and have her beaten to death. I won’t have her fouling the peace of this place.”
The moment she gave the order, several male servants rushed forward, seized Shuangxi by the arms, and began dragging her out.
Terrified out of her wits, Shuangxi burst into tears, snot streaming from her nose. She screamed and sobbed, her words tumbling out incoherently. “Old Madam, spare me! I was only following my mistress’s orders! I didn’t know what she planned to do! Please, Old Madam, have mercy!”
Old Madam Xie did not so much as raise an eyelid. No one here was a fool. How could Shuangxi possibly have had the courage to do such a thing on her own?
It was already too late for her to confess now.
All her screaming would accomplish was to alert even more people.
Old Madam Xie wanted those responsible punished, but she had no desire to make the scandal public.
Frowning deeply, she ordered, “Gag that wretched maid. Don’t let her keep raving.”
The servants moved efficiently. Within moments, Shuangxi’s voice could no longer be heard.
Madam Lin bent forward and reached out to support Old Madam Xie, hoping to take her into the adjoining room for a private conversation. Old Madam Xie gave her a frosty look. “So even you know this is shameful?”
Madam Lin’s eyes reddened. “Old Madam, you’ve misunderstood! You’ve seen for yourself what Mingrou has been like since she came to the Xie Residence. Everyone here liked her. Who could have imagined that she would lose all sense and do something like this?”
Old Madam Xie watched Madam Lin dab at her tears. Though the sight irritated her, she rose to her feet, dismissed everyone in the hall, and went to the small heated sitting room in the side wing.
She did not do so because she was moved by Madam Lin’s crocodile tears. She did it because the matter was a family disgrace.
Old Madam Xie sat in a round chair padded with fox fur and leaned back. Looking at Madam Lin, who stood crying before her, she scolded impatiently, “Why are you crying? You failed to keep the person you brought here under control. What right do you have to cry now?”
“Hanyi is the one who has suffered most. Yet instead of showing concern for your daughter-in-law, you’re standing here weeping over the niece from your maiden family who harmed Hanyi. The very sight of you annoys me.”
Madam Lin could not help trembling under Old Madam Xie’s rebuke.
Li Mingrou was her own niece, after all. Although the girl had indeed done wrong this time, Madam Lin still hoped Old Madam would show her leniency. Besides, Madam Lin had been the one to bring her into the residence. If Old Madam punished her too severely, what would the rest of the household think of Madam Lin?
Her authority as mistress of the household would suffer as well.
She was still wiping away tears when Old Madam Xie’s stern voice sounded again. “That niece you brought here — how do you intend to punish her?”
Madam Lin hesitated, then looked cautiously at Old Madam Xie. “Mingrou certainly did wrong this time, but she’s due to become engaged after the New Year. What if word gets out and harms her marriage prospects?”
“Old Madam, please show mercy. She’s still an unmarried young lady. If her reputation is damaged, it will affect the rest of her life.”
Old Madam Xie sneered. “So now you understand how important a young woman’s reputation is?”
“When she set the Red Poison Bug on Hanyi, why didn’t you stop to think that Hanyi’s reputation could have been destroyed too?”
“Fortunately, Old Madam Shen helped us this time. If it had been anyone else, what would have happened to Hanyi? Who would have stood up for her?”
“If this old woman won’t stand up for her, then who will?”
Madam Lin’s face stiffened. She had just heard how potent the Red Poison Bug’s venom was. The scheme had clearly been intended to utterly ruin Ji Hanyi’s name and standing.
As Ji Hanyi’s mother-in-law, Madam Lin truly ought to seek justice for her. Yet Mingrou was also her own niece. How could she simply watch the girl’s reputation be destroyed?
Madam Lin bent closer and softly suggested, “Why don’t we hear what Hanyi has to say?”
Old Madam Xie gave a cold snort and met Madam Lin’s gaze.
She was growing more and more fed up with this daughter-in-law of hers.
The Xie Family had failed Hanyi over the years, and it also owed a debt to the Ji Family.
Back then, if Ji Hanyi’s father had not been an upright man unafraid of the darkness of officialdom, and if he had not cleared her son’s name, the First Branch would not be what it was today. Her son could never have remained a Prefect — he might even have been stripped of his post. And how could Madam Lin enjoy her present prestige as First Madam Xie?
Besides, Hanyi had already been thinking of seeking a divorce. If this matter was not handled properly, it would only chill her heart further.
And now, even the Shen Family had intervened.
Old Madam Xie looked coldly at Madam Lin. “I used to think that although you came from a humble family and were somewhat narrow-minded, it would be enough as long as you knew how to manage a household. But now I see that not only are your horizons and your heart narrow, even your character is lacking.
“Have you forgotten the Ji Family’s kindness after enjoying so many years of comfort?
“You know perfectly well how you’ve treated Hanyi all these years. Now Hanyi is asking for justice and wants you, her mother-in-law, to stand up for her. Yet what have you done?
“Your constant favoritism toward Li Mingrou is precisely what emboldened her to harm Hanyi.
“When you handle matters unfairly, you breed resentment and conflict. Sooner or later, this household will be thrown into turmoil.
“If you cannot deal with this properly, you need not manage the household any longer. I will have the Second Branch take charge.”
Old Madam Xie cast Madam Lin another glance. “Madam Lin, you do not have the ability. You are not fit to head this household!
“You must understand that members of the Xie Family are family, while Li Mingrou is not. You are a daughter-in-law of the Xie Family, yet you favor an outsider at the expense of the family. For that alone, no one could fault me if I ordered you to kneel in the ancestral hall.”
Madam Lin’s face turned deathly pale at Old Madam Xie’s words. She immediately dropped to her knees before her and sobbed, “Old Madam, I lost my head just now. I was only thinking that Mingrou is an unmarried young woman and would struggle to find a husband. But now that she has committed such a terrible wrong, I cannot tolerate her actions even though I am her aunt. Please punish her as you see fit. I will not utter a single word of protest.”
Old Madam Xie looked coldly at Madam Lin, who knelt on the floor with tears streaming down her face, as if she had suffered some monumental injustice.
Old Madam Xie had never made life difficult for her daughter-in-law. Who would have thought her leniency would indulge Madam Lin into becoming like this?
She said coldly, “Since you’ve asked for my decision, I will give it.
“Someone so twisted cannot be allowed to remain in the Xie Residence. The Xie Residence has supported her for all these years and has done more than enough for her. It owes her nothing.
“Now that she has done such a thing to Hanyi, she cannot be let off lightly.”
After a brief pause, Old Madam Xie continued, “First, beginning tomorrow, she will kneel in the ancestral hall for three days to reflect and atone for her wrongdoing. Afterward, she will receive twenty lashes. Second, the Xie Residence will no longer take responsibility for arranging her marriage. Third, the Xie Family will publicly announce that Li Mingrou no longer has the slightest connection to the Xie Family. After the New Year, she will leave on her own.
“If anyone questions the decision, the Xie Family will make her disgraceful deeds public. Her reputation is no concern of ours.
“As for where she goes, that will no longer be the Xie Family’s concern either. Even if she dies out there, it will have nothing to do with the Xie Family.
“As for her younger brother, he is only twelve and still studying at the academy, so this matter has nothing to do with him. The Xie Family can allow him to stay here for the time being, but once he turns twenty, he can no longer remain in the Xie Residence.
“Go and arrange for her to kneel in the ancestral hall now.”
Madam Lin listened blankly to Old Madam Xie’s merciless decree, almost believing she had misheard.
Li Mingrou was an unmarried young woman. Where could she possibly go?
She had such a substantial dowry, but without anyone to protect her, she would struggle to keep it no matter where she went.
Besides, without a powerful family behind her, how could she negotiate a marriage? How could anyone discuss wedding arrangements with her? She might be able to marry some ordinary man, but marrying into a family of any standing would be impossible.
In short, once she was expelled from the Xie Family and her reputation was ruined, Li Mingrou’s life would be over.
Madam Lin collapsed onto the floor, but before Old Madam Xie, she did not dare say another word.
Old Madam Xie did not care how Madam Lin reacted. She rose and walked out. Once outside, the prayer beads in her hand never stopped moving.
A cold wind swept through the doorway. Old Madam Xie raised her head to gaze at the bleak courtyard and sighed. “I only hope this turmoil passes quickly.”
The senior maid supporting Old Madam Xie said quietly, “It will, Old Madam.”
As she spoke, she draped a cloak over Old Madam Xie’s shoulders. “Miss Ming used to come here often to recite sutras and chant Buddhist prayers with Old Madam. She seemed deeply versed in them, so I thought she was devoted to Buddhism and kind at heart. Who could have imagined she would do such a thing?”
Old Madam Xie accepted the hand warmer offered by a servant and descended the steps with her eyes lowered. She sighed wistfully. “I’ve always been a good judge of character. That girl’s gaze was always shifty and evasive. How could it compare to Hanyi’s clear, guileless eyes?
“You can tell how many schemes a person carries in their heart just by looking into their eyes.
“But I used to understand Mingrou. With both her parents dead and her forced to live under another family’s roof, how could she not be more calculating and cautious?
“In truth, I once pitied the girl. She showed filial devotion to me because she wanted a secure place for herself in the Xie Family. Unfortunately, her heart went astray, and she chose the wrong path.
“My punishment may be harsh, but I am the Old Madam of this residence. If I do not set things right and instead let her off lightly, the Xie Residence’s values will only continue to deteriorate.
“Managing a household means setting the family in order. If its values are allowed to decay, weeds will soon pass themselves off as orchids.”