Volume Two: Step by Step to Victory, Chapter Ten: Rules of the Inner Court
Two strong women pinned the maid to the ground in front of the madam. The maid remained silent, her face pale, her head hanging low, her double buns undone, her hair disheveled and hanging down, looking utterly wretched.
The First Madam leaned back in her chair, her hands clasped together on her knees, watching her with a leisurely air.
Granny He said coldly, "Liu Xu, you know the rules of our mansion. The inner courtyard is managed by the First Madam. Whether it's a master or a maid having a dispute, it must be reported to the Madam before it can be dealt with." She paused and said, "You tell the First Madam yourself, that day when the Fifth Miss and the Eldest Young Master had a fight, instead of reporting to the Madam, you went to report to the Master. Who instigated that?"
Liu Xu bowed her head to the ground and said, “Madam, no one instructed me. That day, I was doing needlework with the Fourth Miss in her room. When I came out, I heard a lot of noise in the east wing, so I went to take a look and saw the Fifth Miss and the Eldest Young Master fighting. I was so scared that my hands and feet trembled. I accidentally bumped into the Master on the way. When the Master saw that I looked flustered, he asked me what was wrong, and that’s when I told him. I really didn’t mean to complain. Please investigate, Madam.”
The First Madam asked unhurriedly, "You ran into them? Where did you run into them?"
Liu Xu whispered, "It's right at the entrance of Xiaozhu Garden."
Xiaozhu Garden was inhabited by Ruan Hong's two concubines.
The First Madam glanced at Granny He.
Granny He winked knowingly and said, "You shameless brat, still so stubborn. The master was clearly guarding the second gate. The guards saw you. Why are you still lying? Confess now or you'll be beaten to a pulp."
The maidservant was in tears. "It really was someone I met at the entrance of Xiaozhu Garden, Madam. I'm not lying."
Granny He sneered and said, "You brat, do you think Madam is so free to listen to your lies and tall tales? Come, drag her away, whip her with fifty thorns, and then throw her out."
Fifty thorns would leave a person barely alive, if not dead.
Ruan Bi felt the fourth girl beside her suddenly sway.
"No, no, Madam, spare me, Madam, spare me!" The maid kowtowed repeatedly, her forehead soon turning red, and blood flowed down her forehead to her nose, making her look quite terrifying.
The fourth sister looked away.
The First Madam glanced at her sideways and asked coolly, "What's wrong with Fourth Miss?"
The fourth daughter twisted her handkerchief and whispered, "Mother, I'm fine, it's just that I can't stand the sight of blood."
Liu Xu had been keeping her head down since she came in, unaware that the Fourth Miss was also there. Hearing the voice, she realized that the Fourth Miss was present, glanced up hurriedly, and scrambled a few steps toward her, saying, "Fourth Miss, save me! Fourth Miss, save me!"
The fourth young lady subconsciously took a step back and looked at the first madam.
The First Madam was also looking at her, her phoenix eyes half-closed.
Just then, a maid came in and reported, "Madam, Concubine Lin is outside requesting an audience."
Everyone who was supposed to come had arrived. The First Madam smiled slightly and said, "Please let her in."
A moment later, footsteps sounded, passing through the main hall and entering a side hall. Perhaps because she had arrived in a hurry, Aunt Lin was panting heavily, sweat beading on her forehead, and a lock of hair stuck to her cheek. She glanced around the room, and when she saw the Fourth Miss standing beside the First Madam, she visibly paused, then blinked rapidly.
Taking steady breaths, Aunt Lin bowed to the First Madam and said softly, "I just delivered the copied Buddhist scriptures to the Old Madam, and when I came back, the old woman guarding the gate told me that Granny He brought people here to tie up Liu Xu... Liu Xu is usually a bit clumsy, but she's not a bad person. I wonder what she did wrong this time to make Madam so angry?"
The First Madam said, "Mama He, go and tell Aunt Lin." She then said to the maid, "Prepare a seat for Aunt Lin."
Granny He said, "The Fifth Miss and the Eldest Young Master had a quarrel a few days ago. It was just a sibling conflict—very common, what family doesn't have one? It will subside once the anger passes. If there is to be any punishment, we must report to the First Madam. This is the rule of the inner quarters. Aunt Lin knows this, right?"
The maid brought over a brocade stool, and Aunt Lin thanked the First Madam and sat down, saying, "Of course, in this inner quarters, no matter how big or small, everything is decided by the Madam."
"It's these willow catkins that are being unruly; they went to the master to complain..."
"Huh?" Aunt Lin suddenly stood up, looking at Liu Xu kneeling on the ground with an expression of anger and disappointment. "Liu Xu, how can you be so insensible?"
The First Madam sneered inwardly.
"Auntie, I really didn't mean it. Madam, I didn't mean it."
Aunt Lin looked at the First Madam with difficulty for a while, then knelt down on both knees and said, "Madam, it was my fault for not teaching Liuxu well. Please forgive her this time. I will teach her properly in the future. If she makes a mistake again, I will be punished as well."
"Why are you kneeling down for no reason? Get up."
Aunt Lin stood up, but dared not sit down again.
The doctor said gently, “Madam Lin, Liu Xu is someone close to you. Logically speaking, I should give you face since you asked. However, the inner courtyard has its own rules. Without rules, wouldn't things get out of control? Perhaps I’ve been too polite to the servants lately, which has made some fools of themselves harbor treacherous ambitions. They take every little thing to the master and don’t respect Madam Lin at all… I think it’s time to re-establish the rules of the inner courtyard.”
"Madam, I didn't mean to disrespect you, really I didn't. I just ran into the master on the road, and he saw me in a panic and asked me what was wrong..."
The First Madam glanced at Liu Xu with disgust, but she also admired Lin Yiniang's ability to train people; even in this situation, she still refused to confess. She smirked and said, "Fine, I originally wanted to give you a chance—if you confessed yourself, I would keep you working in the courtyard. Since you are determined to be stubborn to the end, so be it... He Mama, go and find me the witness."
"Yes, Madam." As she spoke, Granny He walked to the door and instructed a maid to go and call someone.
Liu Xu was taken aback, turned her head slightly from the ground, and glanced at Aunt Lin.
Aunt Lin lowered her eyes, glancing at the water clock out of the corner of her eye. It was past the time when the yamen closed, so why hadn't Ruan Hong returned yet?
Every move she made was observed by the First Madam. She suddenly smiled and instructed Baozhen, "Oh dear, I'm so busy I'm dizzy. Baozhen, the Master has invited his colleagues to dinner at Changchun Restaurant today. Go and tell the kitchen to make fewer dishes."
"Yes, madam."
Aunt Lin's face paled, and her clasped hands tightened, causing her red nail polish to turn slightly white.
Liu Xu's face drained of color as she looked at Aunt Lin.
Aunt Lin, however, stopped looking at her.
When Granny He returned, she said, "The two servants guarding the second gate have been called over."
The First Madam gave her a wink, and Granny He winked knowingly, looking at Liu Xu kneeling on the ground, and said, "Liu Xu, I'll give you one more chance. I'll count to three, and if you still don't confess, I'll throw you out..."
Liu Xu tried desperately to recall that day. She clearly remembered that the master had stopped her after passing through the second gate, and she had clearly looked left and right to make sure there was no one around. How could a witness suddenly appear? She didn't even consider that with so many servants in the mansion, what difficulty would it be for the First Madam to find two witnesses?
"1..."
“2…”
Liu Xu's face turned pale and then flushed, and her body tensed up.
Aunt Lin stared intently at her, her hands clasped together.
The atmosphere in the room was unusually tense.
The fourth sister shuddered again.
“3…”
Liu Xu shouted, "I'll talk, I'll talk..."
“It was me.” Aunt Lin knelt down with a thud. “Madam, I asked Liu Xu to tell the master… I didn’t have any other intentions, I was just afraid that the eldest young master and the fifth young lady would have a bad falling out, really, Madam…”
The fourth young lady trembled and was about to rush forward when Ruan Bi grabbed her. She struggled but couldn't break free, and her forward momentum stopped. Before the First Madam's gaze swept over, Ruan Bi quickly released her grip.
"Alright, I know," the First Madam said with a double meaning. "You've served the Master with me for so many years, don't I know your character? I've always been fair in my rewards and punishments. Since you've taken the initiative to admit your mistake, I'll be lenient with you. Mama He, take Concubine Lin away and give her thirty strokes of the cane..."
The fourth sister swayed, but ultimately bit her lip and remained silent.
"...As for Liu Xu, take twenty thorny branches, and she will continue to serve Aunt Lin."
Ruan Bi couldn't help but sigh inwardly. What a shrewd move! Liu Xu had become disloyal, and Aunt Lin would no longer trust her. Liu Xu knew that Aunt Lin couldn't protect her, so how could she possibly be conscientious in her work? So simply, she turned a loyal servant into a nuisance by Aunt Lin's side. She couldn't deal with her, nor could she ignore her. From then on, she felt like she had a fishbone stuck in her throat.
Granny He and two strong women led Aunt Lin and Liu Xu downstairs.
The First Madam felt exceptionally pleased. For so many years, Concubine Lin had always been cautious in her words and actions, and now she had finally caught her in a mistake and punished her with a legitimate reason. Even if the Master returned, he wouldn't be able to find fault with her. The more she thought about it, the happier she became. If it weren't for the Fourth Miss and Ruan Bi being there, she would have burst out laughing.
The fourth sister's originally snow-white skin was now glowing blue. She looked down at the ground, her toes and hair taut with tension.
The First Madam was in a good mood and too lazy to nag her anymore. She glanced at the water clock and said, "Oh dear, it's already this late. Fourth Miss, Fifth Miss, you two should hurry up and pay your respects to the Old Madam."
No sooner had Ruan Bi and the Fourth Sister left than the Second Sister came out from the inner room and said, "Mother, why only thirty thorns? Why not just fifty?"
"Silly girl, if you really beat her badly, wouldn't your father come after me? Thirty strokes are enough to keep her in bed for ten days or half a month, and your father won't have anything to say. Let her learn a lesson, and don't think that just because she has a vixen-like appearance, or that the master likes her, I can't do anything to her."
The second girl pouted and said, "It wasn't her who ordered it."
"You think you're so clever?" the First Madam said patiently. "Silly girl, you should learn from her. Only by treating her mother will she know the pain, and only then will she have some scruples and restrain herself. Don't think you can act so arrogantly just because you have a little bit of cleverness."
As she stepped out of the First Madam's courtyard, the Fourth Miss burst into tears, tears she had been holding back for so long.
Qiulan quickly tugged at her arm and stood beside her, whispering, "Miss, don't cry. If someone sees you, there will be more gossip. Besides, you're going to see the old lady later. She'll look at you and ask you a few questions. What will you say then?"
The fourth sister was heartbroken and lost her usual composure, saying, "Is there a law now that forbids crying?"
Qiulan said anxiously, "Oh dear, my good girl, you know that in our household, the law is the family law, not the imperial law. What if people coming and going see this and report it to the Madam?"
The fourth sister said indignantly, "Let her punish me then, I'm the one who should be punished anyway..."
Qiulan quickly covered her mouth and turned around to look warily at Ruan Bi and Xiuzhi.
Ruan Bi pretended not to hear and quickened her pace with Xiuzhi, soon leaving them behind.
Upon arriving at the old lady's courtyard, the maidservant guarding the gate said that the old lady was not feeling well at the moment, so the morning greetings would be waived.
Ruan Bi guessed it was because of Man Hua, and without thinking much of it, turned to leave. Man Yun suddenly lifted the curtain and came out, paused when she saw her, didn't greet her, and then lowered the curtain and went back into the room.
Ruan Biwei was taken aback. What was wrong? There was clearly dissatisfaction and resentment in her eyes.
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