Chapter Fifty-Nine: Tears and Tantrums

“Mother, I wish to see Hemiao.”

Without waiting for Lady Yang to explode, Xu Ruoji cut straight to the point and mentioned Hemiao by name.

According to what Chuncao had said, with the current situation in Hemiao’s home, from every angle, it seemed nearly impossible for her to become a maid accompanying Ruoji in her marriage to the Zhang family.

Since that was the case, it was better to lay all the cards on the table and bring up Hemiao’s matter openly.

Though the Xu residence was not large, there were still dozens of servants attending to their masters; with so many eyes watching, Lady Yang, whether for the sake of her own reputation or to reassure the servants, would not dare to ignore Hemiao’s situation.

Besides, both she and Hongxing had concluded yesterday that Lady Yang must be aware of Hemiao’s hardships at home.

She was simply pretending blindness, feigning ignorance...

Since she chose to act blind, then Ruoji would ensure the matter was plain for her to see; if she pretended not to hear, then Ruoji would pursue her to the very ear and recount everything in detail.

Let’s see how she would respond!

For Hemiao’s sake, Xu Ruoji was prepared to clash with Lady Yang again. She had endured a sleepless night, her face already drawn with fatigue and worry, and with her intentionally disheveled appearance, Lady Yang would not dare dismiss her with just a few words.

After all, Hongxing had already found out that the master had spent last night in the madam’s quarters...

Lady Yang was taken aback for a moment, then furrowed her brows, lowering her voice to rebuke:

“That girl failed to serve you properly in the first place, so she was punished with a flogging and sent away. You now have five new maids attending you—aren’t you satisfied yet?”

“How could your daughter dare be ungrateful? Mother has always treated me well, and I remember it dearly in my heart. I knew Hemiao had been married off, so I tried not to think of her. But last night, I had a dreadful dream—Hemiao came to me in my sleep, saying she was leaving, departing for good. I awoke in terror and came to you immediately.”

Xu Ruoji put on a look of panic. “Could something have happened to her? Mother, please allow me to see her, just once, I beg you.”

“Nonsense!”

Lady Yang slammed the table, scolding loudly as soon as Xu Ruoji finished speaking: “Running here like a madwoman at the crack of dawn, all because of some ridiculous dream! Do you think everyone in this house has the leisure to indulge your whims? Get out!”

“Hemiao served me for many years. Even if she made mistakes, she was punished and paid the price. Now that I’ve dreamt of her, I only wish to see her once more—is that truly too much to ask?” Xu Ruoji showed no intention of leaving. “I beg you, Mother, grant me this.”

Lady Yang was so angry she felt her head would burst. “Which wretched little hussy gave you this idea, making you put on airs in front of me? I don’t believe I, your mother, can’t deal with you!” She glared at Chuncao, who knelt at Ruoji’s side, bewildered, not daring to lift her head.

Chuncao truly had no idea what Ruoji and Hongxing had plotted; she’d only accompanied Second Miss to see the lady in the morning, knowing nothing else, so her confusion was genuine.

“If I’ve done wrong, Mother may punish me as you see fit, but I must see Hemiao to set my mind at ease.” Xu Ruoji met Lady Yang’s gaze without flinching. “After all, she was married off from the Xu family as a maid. Is it wrong for me to show her a little concern?”

“Fine, you come here to make a show in front of the servants, as if the Second Miss even dreams of caring for her maids, while I am made out to be the villain!” Lady Yang gritted her teeth. “I’ll let you see her, but first, I’ll deal with your insolence!”

She gestured to her attendants. “Bring the paddle, give her twenty strokes on the hands! Let’s see if she dares show off in front of me again!”

“Madam, please calm yourself,” Nurse Huang interjected, sensing things were going awry. But Lady Yang, in her fury, paid no heed and snapped, “Too afraid to lay a hand on the Second Miss? If you won’t do it, I’ll do it myself!”

A deep, masculine cough sounded, making Lady Yang freeze mid-swing and lower her hand.

Turning toward the source of the sound, Xu Yaohui slowly emerged from the rear of the room.

Though his face was grave and displeased, everyone present knew that the Second Miss would not be receiving any punishment today.

“Master.”

“Father.”

Lady Yang and Xu Ruoji both bowed. Xu Yaohui glanced at them, frowning in irritation, “What’s all this commotion so early in the morning? Making such a scene over a servant girl—if word gets out, the Xu family will be a laughingstock. What sort of conduct is this?”

“You’re quite right, Master. I did not consider things thoroughly,” Lady Yang admitted fault, casting a sideways glance at Xu Ruoji before turning to Xu Yaohui, shaking her head with a sigh. “Second Miss startled me with her state this morning—I thought something terrible had happened. But it turns out she merely dreamt of a maid who no longer even serves here…”

She sighed heavily, expressing her infinite disappointment.

Xu Ruoji cared nothing for Lady Yang’s reaction. It was clear Lady Yang was targeting her, not Hemiao, in refusing her request.

From this, it seemed Lady Yang truly did not know the current state of Hemiao.

But Xu Ruoji noticed a shift in Nurse Huang’s expression.

Could it be that Nurse Huang had concealed the matter from Lady Yang?

With no time to ponder, Xu Ruoji squeezed her eyes to summon tears, looking at her father with brimming eyes:

“It was reckless of me, Father. But Hemiao served me for years—if not with merit, then with hard work. When she left, I was still ill in bed and unable even to give her a single trousseau item; it is a great regret in my heart. I thought she’d married well, but then I had that strange and troubling dream.”

“I was truly frightened, and only wish to see her once, Father...”

“That’s enough, enough. You only wish to see a servant girl—why make it such a tragedy? Tell someone to bring her to your quarters, and be done with it.” Xu Yaohui’s indifference left Lady Yang speechless.

To have Hemiao summoned directly to her quarters—did this not mean bypassing the mother entirely?

Xu Ruoji saw Lady Yang’s astonishment and deliberately feigned humility. “How could I act without permission? I had to come and inform you, Mother.” Glancing at her own disheveled attire, she bowed her head shyly. “Your daughter has lost her composure, coming to you in such a state and frightening you. I beg your forgiveness.”

After several bows, even with reason on her side, Lady Yang could not persist.

“Go, fetch that maid. Let the Second Miss see her here in this very courtyard. I want to see just what precious person could make you yearn day and night like this!”

Xu Ruoji breathed a sigh of relief, her face lighting up as she repeatedly gave thanks.

A servant was dispatched to fetch Hemiao from her home, while Xu Yaohui and Lady Yang went to have their breakfast.

After eating, Xu Yaohui returned to his study, and Xu Ruoji, having washed her face and tidied her hair, remained in Lady Yang’s courtyard to wait.

But after more than an hour, the servant sent to fetch Hemiao had yet to return.

This time, not only Xu Ruoji, but even Lady Yang, sensed that something was amiss...