Chapter Sixty-Three: Dignity

Old Madam Du was startled by Xu Ruojin's determination!
She had never imagined that the Second Miss would insist on fighting against the matron’s anger to the very end; nor did she expect the matron to yield in this matter, allowing the Second Miss to win a step.
Madam Huang had failed to intervene, so now everything fell upon herself.
But Old Madam Du truly dared not speak—for if she did, the matron would scold her to death, and Madam Huang would surely deal with her as well.
She knelt on the ground and began to kowtow, crying as she did so, “Madam, Second Miss, please leave some dignity for me and my son. If I must speak of this myself, it would be better to die!”
The sound of her head hitting the floor was loud and clear.
Old Madam Du was truly desperate; after only a few knocks, her forehead was already bleeding.
Madam Yang turned her head away, ignoring her, only watching to see what Xu Ruojin would do.
She cared nothing for Old Madam Du’s face; she wanted this maid to retreat in defeat. Her opponent was Xu Ruojin!
Madam Huang had received countless sharp glances from Yang, and now dared not step forward to mediate.
Thus, Xu Ruojin alone was left to deal with the matter, with Old Madam Du pleading at her feet.
Chuncao was so frightened she did not know what to do.
If Old Madam Du kept on with this, wouldn’t she die from it?
To defend her dignity with such desperation—surely the truth of the matter could not be doubted.
Moreover…
The man involved was Madam Huang’s son.
Whether by threats or temptation, Hemi might indeed be swayed.
This time, it seemed the Second Miss had lost.
Her trust in Hemi had been utterly shattered.
Not only Chuncao, but all the maids and matrons in Yang’s chambers thought the same.
They pitied Old Madam Du for her desperate plea for dignity, yet admired the Second Miss for so fiercely protecting a maid who had once served her.
There was no way to satisfy both sides; none knew whom to support.
Xu Ruojin was indeed startled by Old Madam Du’s move.
Her lips were nearly bitten through, and her fists clenched tightly. The situation had reached such a point—was there any retreat?

No!
Her trust in Hemi was something no one else could understand; even if the man was Madam Huang’s son, Hemi would never be swayed.
“If you die here, I’ll go straight to your son, to Hemi, to Madam Huang’s son and ask them directly.”
Xu Ruojin’s voice was soft, yet to others it sounded ruthlessly cold, “The truth will always come out. Your life is your own; whether you speak or not is up to you!”
Chuncao’s heart trembled.
The Second Miss was truly fighting to the end…
Old Madam Du’s movements suddenly halted. She looked at Xu Ruojin, “Second Miss, must you force me to die?”
Xu Ruojin did not answer directly, “I only want to know what you actually saw. You slander Hemi outside, claiming she shamed your son, yet you refuse to speak before Mother and me. I wonder what dignity you hope to preserve!”
Yang’s brows furrowed slightly, and Madam Huang was startled.
They had been frightened by Old Madam Du’s theatrics, yet had not considered this question.
Old Madam Du hesitated, mouth opening and closing, “I… I saw the two of them together in the room.”
Madam Huang immediately tried to stop her, “Enough, don’t say more.”
“No, speak!” Xu Ruojin pressed her hard, “Continue, what did you see them doing in the room?”
“I… I…” Old Madam Du stammered, “I saw them coming out of the same room.”
“And then?”
“Isn’t that enough?”
Old Madam Du raised her voice to cover her anxiety, “A man and a woman alone in a room—what good could come of it? Besides, Hemi was never a decent sort; she even flirted with the Eldest Young Master…”
“Slap her mouth!”
Yang suddenly ordered, and Madam Huang rushed forward, slapping her hard six or seven times, “How dare you slander the Eldest Young Master?”
Xu Ruojin pulled Madam Huang away. In truth, Madam Huang was just as eager to punish Old Madam Du herself, but since the matter was not yet resolved, she would not let her off so easily.
“Where did you hear about Hemi and my elder brother? If you don’t explain clearly, your whole family will be expelled from the Xu household. I mean what I say!”
“It was the Young Madam herself who said it.”
On this point, Old Madam Du was resolute; if the Young Madam said so herself, how could it be false?
Yang’s vision blurred, nearly fainting.
She had personally handled the matter of Xu Zilin teasing Hemi, and knew better than anyone what had truly happened.

That wretched Li Qiuping—how could she spread such rumors? She must have lost her mind!
“So you never actually saw Hemi and Madam Huang’s son do anything, yet you accuse her of being unchaste? You’re quite the mother-in-law, eager to disgrace your own son. Do you think that’s something to be proud of?”
“She is unchaste! A married woman alone in a room with another man—how could she be decent?”
Unable to win, Old Madam Du clung stubbornly to her accusation.
Xu Ruojin sneered, “You’re a widow, yet instead of plain attire, you wear a gaudy floral jacket, embroidered shoes, and even a bright flower in your hair. Who is it that lacks propriety? Who fails to observe the rules, hmm?”
Xu Ruojin’s sharp remarks stunned Old Madam Du.
She glanced at Yang and Madam Huang, whose faces seemed almost ready to devour her.
Frantic, Old Madam Du scrambled for an excuse, “I knew the Madam wished to see me, so I changed clothes before coming. I don’t usually dress like this.”
“Wasn’t there a death in your family just now? Yet you had time to dress up?”
Without warning, Xu Ruojin tore the flower from her hair. “Even looking at you disgusts me!”
“Ah!”
Old Madam Du thought Xu Ruojin meant to strike her, and with a scream she retreated, “What did I say wrong? If she were truly proper, why meet a man in private? She’s a married woman—if there was business, couldn’t she let my son deal with it? Why must she, a woman, intervene?”
“Even if you beat me to death, I won’t believe otherwise!”
Old Madam Du clung fiercely to her accusation, and Madam Huang, enraged, stepped forward and pointed at her, scolding:
“You wicked old woman, you tricked me into demanding an explanation. I was foolish enough not to ask clearly and fell into your trap. So your so-called witness was merely seeing them leave the same room? You deceived me terribly! I’ll fight you to the end!”
“If you don’t believe me, have your son come and say what happened himself. Dare you?”
Old Madam Du’s words made Madam Huang immediately withdraw her hand.
She did not trust her own son completely…
Xu Ruojin summoned the young servant waiting at the door, “Was Hemi awake when you returned?”
“She was already awake.”
“Bring her here, even if you must carry her. Madam Huang’s son as well—invite them both. Today everyone will be present, and we’ll sort this out clearly. I refuse to believe Hemi could do such a thing, nor that Madam Huang’s son would break the rules.”
Xu Ruojin looked to Yang, “I refuse to believe the servants my mother raised could be so twisted and dishonest. Now that someone dares smear the name of the Xu family, I will not tolerate it!”