The Qin County Princess Consort outranked the Old Madam, but as the Old Madam was slightly older, it was usually the Qin County Princess Consort who paid her respects. However, today was different. A young lady from the County Prince's mansion had her face scratched, and the Qin County Princess Consort immediately adopted a stern demeanor.
The Old Madam, along with everyone in the room, paid their respects to the Qin County Princess Consort, then smiled and said, "I have already sent someone to invite Divine Doctor Luo from the Hundred Herbs Hall. Please do not worry, my dear relative. With Divine Doctor Luo's skills, the injury on your daughter-in-law's face will surely be no major issue."
The Qin County Princess Consort had heard of Divine Doctor Luo. It was said that the Imperial Hospital had invited Divine Doctor Luo to serve the royal family several times, but all invitations were refused. The head of the Imperial Hospital had even challenged Divine Doctor Luo to a contest of treating difficult cases, and Divine Doctor Luo had emerged victorious, causing a great sensation at the time. Later, Divine Doctor Luo founded the Hundred Herbs Hall, which was readily accepted by the public.
Divine Doctor Luo's whereabouts were unpredictable, and the physicians who usually saw patients at the clinic were the divine doctor's disciples, making them difficult to invite.
The Qin County Princess Consort had intended to leverage this matter to gain face with the Changping Marquis's mansion, but she hadn't expected the Old Madam to adopt such a humble attitude. If she were to make a scene now, even a just cause would turn into an unjust one.
"My daughter is gravely injured, and the imperial physicians are currently attending to her," the Qin County Princess Consort suppressed her anger and said with a cold face. "My daughter has suffered this undeserved calamity. She is kind-hearted and will not hold a grudge, but I cannot stand by and watch her suffer without taking action."
The meaning was clear: she would not let go of the person who had injured the younger Madam Qin.
Before coming, the Qin County Princess Consort had naturally learned everything she needed to know and was aware of who had scratched her.
"Someone, take away the person who injured the Second Miss!" the Qin County Princess Consort pointed at Li Qing, who was kneeling on the ground, and ordered the matrons she had brought with her.
The matrons were well-trained. Upon hearing the Qin County Princess Consort's words, they advanced towards Li Qing.
Compared to the burly matrons, Li Qing was slender and frail. She trembled and clung to Madam Lu, "Grandmother, save me, Grandmother, save me."
Madam Lu genuinely cherished Li Qing, who had been doted upon since childhood. However, facing so many matrons, Madam Lu could not resist. She was pushed aside in just a few moves, and could only watch helplessly as Li Qing's arms were twisted behind her back by several matrons, and she was slapped repeatedly.
Her tender young face swelled visibly.
Bruises appeared, making it a horrifying sight.
"Sister, please save Qing'er!" Madam Lu cried and rushed to the Old Madam. "They can't take her away, or she won't have a chance to live!"
"My sister-in-law is usually a reasonable person, and Qing'er will naturally have a way out," the Old Madam comforted her. "At worst, she will suffer the same fate as your daughter-in-law. Qing'er is, after all, a daughter of an official, and my sister-in-law would not deal with her casually."
To inflict the same suffering on Li Qing as Madam Qin had endured, wouldn't that mean scratching Li Qing's face as well? How would a young lady live with a scarred face?
"Hit me, hit me! It is my fault for not educating Qing'er properly, for teaching her to be arrogant and willful, which led her to commit such a mistake." Madam Lu knelt before the Qin County Princess Consort, speaking as she kowtowed.
Bang, bang, bang, each strike more forceful than the last.
The floor of the Old Madam's room was paved with polished bluestone slabs. With each kowtow, Madam Lu's forehead soon turned red.
Her actions stunned both the Old Madam and the Qin County Princess Consort.
In the Old Madam's memory, Madam Lu had always been selfish, always putting herself first in any matter. But now, it seemed that Li Qing held a significant place in her heart.
"Don't try any of your sob stories, they're useless!" the Qin County Princess Consort snorted. "Take her away."
Madam Lu could not stop them and could only watch as Li Qing was taken away.
She had thought coming to the capital would be a smooth path, but now, she couldn't even cross a single-plank bridge.
"I will send a letter to my elder brother to see how this matter can be resolved. I will try my best to have Tianming suppress things on the Marquis's side, and for the County Prince's mansion, we can only try to speak well of them. Not only for Qing'er, but the future careers of my elder and second brothers might also be affected," the Old Madam said.
Madam Lu was completely dejected. She had been focused on finding a good match for Li Qing, not only for Li Qing's future happiness but more importantly to elevate the Li family and move them from Yunnan to the capital. Now, it was all over.
"I will ask Granny Fang to pay more attention to the situation in Jinghua Courtyard. As long as your daughter-in-law's facial injuries can be completely healed, Qing'er will at most suffer some hardship, but her life will be out of danger. Even if the County Prince's mansion scratches her face in the same way, with Divine Doctor Luo present, she will surely recover completely," the Old Madam said after careful consideration. She guessed that as long as Madam Qin's face was fine, the County Prince's mansion would not go too far, after all, the Li family was her maiden family, and they would still show some respect.
Madam Lu left Chaohui Hall in a daze. At this moment, she could do nothing but wait obediently.
"Grandmother, tell us quickly, about what you said regarding Sister Nuan. Which family has taken a liking to Sister Nuan?" As soon as Madam Lu left, Qi Zhenzhen could not contain her curiosity and asked.
It wasn't just Qi Zhenzhen; Li Rou also looked at the Old Madam expectantly.
As for Li Nuan, she was shy and her face was already flushed red. She lowered her head, not even daring to look at the Old Madam.
"It's the Qian family. The Old Madam Qian has taken a liking to Nuan'er," the Old Madam said, looking at Zhenzhen and Li Nuan.
Both of them knew that the Old Madam Qian had previously taken a liking to Qi Zhenzhen, but later, due to reasons related to the Duke's mansion, the Qian family had given up.
At that time, Li Nuan had lamented that the Qian family was a good family and it was a pity. Now, in just a few days, there had been such a big reversal. The Old Madam Qian had taken a liking to her?
Li Nuan looked at Qi Zhenzhen nervously, "Zhenzhen, I, I don't know about this. Before this, I didn't know anything."
Qi Zhenzhen hummed. She didn't care whether Li Nuan knew or not. What she cared about was that Qian Yuanbao, like Gu Sinian, was not a good match. If Li Nuan married him, wouldn't her life be ruined?
"No, I disagree," Qi Zhenzhen said with some agitation.
The Old Madam thought Qi Zhenzhen was still holding a grudge about the previous matter, so she patted her hand. "Zhenzhen, this matter has already been settled between me and the Old Madam Qian. Now we are just waiting for the Li family's reply."
Qi Zhenzhen had always been sensible in front of the Old Madam. Occasionally, she would have a little temper, but it was usually in the form of acting spoiled. Not to mention that she had no romantic feelings for Qian Yuanbao of the Qian family back then, even if she did, given the current developments, even if she felt a little unhappy, she would not say it out loud. Moreover, she had always been on good terms with Nuan'er.
"Grandmother, Sister Nuan is a good girl, and she deserves a better marriage. Although the Old Madam Qian is friendly with Grandmother and has a good disposition, Sister Nuan will not be living with the Old Madam Qian after she marries into the Qian family; she will be living with Qian Yuanbao." Qi Zhenzhen said somewhat anxiously, "That Qian Yuanbao has a handsome appearance and a good family background, but..."