Qi Xuanxuan's eyes welled up with tears. She wanted to protect the hairpin, but seeing Lu Ye's fierce look, she dared not.
"You made me get beaten today, why aren't you quickly soaking a cloth in cold water to put on my face?" Lu Ye grabbed Qi Xuanxuan's waist. "I advise you to stop thinking of yourself as a mistress. The one managing the household is Madam. Your mother is not favored by Madam and doesn't know how to please the Marquis. You, you deserve to suffer."
Qi Xuanxuan stood like a wooden doll, carrying the bronze basin to fetch water. Lu Ye, meanwhile, crossed her legs and lay comfortably on the couch.
"Miss, if we leave like this, will Third Miss be bullied?" Fei Xu asked with some worry.
"No need to even think about it, she definitely will be bullied," Er Xi chimed in. "I really didn't expect that Third Miss, a dignified mistress, would be so miserable."
"If this kind of thing wasn't instructed, which servant would dare to act like this?" Qi Zhenzhen added.
"Third Miss is too pitiful," Fei Xu truly felt some pity for Qi Xuanxuan.
It was precisely her pity that would make things easier. The little maid looked so innocent. Qi Zhenzhen wanted to help her.
The next morning, Qi Zhenzhen went to pay her respects to the Old Madam as usual, bringing the hairpin with the character "Fu" on it.
"Old Madam, Second Miss's hands are truly skillful. I don't think she's any worse than those skilled craftsmen," Fang Momo praised while helping the Old Madam put on the hairpin.
"It's quite unique. Is this made from the beads I gave you?" the Old Madam asked.
Qi Zhenzhen nodded. "Replying to Grandmother, yes."
"Old Madam, our Miss has strung several. There's the 'Fu' character for you, the magnolia for Madam, the kingfisher for Eldest Miss and Second Miss, the iris for the concubines, and the hair comb for our Miss," Lian Bei, with her lively nature, couldn't help but praise.
Not hiding good things, this character is quite good.
The Old Madam glanced at the hair comb on Qi Zhenzhen's head. The few small flowers were simple yet unique, using the fewest beads. She was afraid that by the end, there wouldn't be enough beads left for the mistresses, otherwise, why would Mingzhu and Xuanxuan have kingfishers while she herself had small flowers?
Qi Zhenzhen shot Lian Bei a playful glare. Lian Bei stuck out her tongue and stood obediently to the side.
The Old Madam gave Fang Momo a look. Fang Momo quickly brought over a sandalwood box. Upon opening it, the beads were far superior to the previous box of gemstones. The colors were more vibrant, the sizes large and uniform, and they were very beautiful.
"Later, have a set of good jewelry made for yourself. You are a young lady of the Marquis's mansion; your attire and appearance cannot be too shabby," the Old Madam said.
"Your granddaughter will listen to Grandmother. Grandmother, may I give some to Third Sister?" Qi Zhenzhen inquired.
"What Grandmother gives you is yours to dispose of as you please. Give it to whomever you wish," the Old Madam said. "Zhenzhen, you don't need to be so cautious. You are my granddaughter, we are family."
Qi Zhenzhen's eyes were full of smiles. She affectionately nuzzled the Old Madam. "Grandmother is the best."
Zi Su entered the room. "Old Madam, Second Miss's maid has come. She looks anxious, as if there's something urgent."
Qi Zhenzhen looked puzzled. "Sister Zi Su, did Er Xi say what it was?"
Zi Su shook her head. "No."
"Grandmother, may I go out to see?"
"Just call the person in. Why do you need to go out?"
Er Xi entered and paid her respects to the Old Madam, her eyes constantly glancing at Qi Zhenzhen.
"Did something happen in your courtyard?" the Old Madam asked.
Er Xi looked at Qi Zhenzhen and did not reply immediately.
Qi Zhenzhen gave her a playful glare. "Grandmother is asking you. Say whatever you need to say."
Er Xi nodded repeatedly. "Replying to Old Madam, this morning I was following our Miss's orders to deliver flower patterns to Third Miss. I saw Third Miss's face covered in blood, which was very frightening..."
"What?" the Old Madam's voice rose. "What happened?"
"The servants in Third Miss's courtyard said that Third Miss accidentally fell and that it was not serious. But this servant did not think it was nothing. I originally wanted to ask the mansion's physician, but the servants in Third Miss's courtyard said this servant was not from their courtyard and had no right to manage their courtyard's affairs, and they chased me out. I thought that our Miss and Third Miss were getting along very well, so I figured this matter should be reported to our Miss." Er Xi said respectfully.
"Fang Momo, go and bring the people here. Also, bring the people from Xuanxuan's courtyard. Zi Su, take my token and tell the gatekeeper to invite an imperial physician, Imperial Physician Li, who is skilled in treating external injuries," the Old Madam instructed.
Fang Momo and Zi Su quickly left after receiving their orders.
Qi Zhenzhen looked worried. "Grandmother, won't Third Sister be alright? A woman's appearance is especially important..."
The Old Madam patted her hand. "Don't worry, we'll know once the imperial physician takes a look."
Fang Momo soon brought the people. Qi Xuanxuan was in Fang Momo's arms, with Lu Ye following behind.
When the people were placed on the couch, the Old Madam took one look and was filled with rage. Dressed in old clothes, looking dry and thin, she hardly looked like a young lady of the Marquis's mansion.
"Where are the servants? Why is only one here? Are they afraid because the young lady is injured and hiding, not daring to come?" the Old Madam's voice was very stern, her gaze cold as she stared at Lu Ye.
Lu Ye shivered and immediately knelt. "Replying to Old Madam, there is only this servant serving in the courtyard."
A young lady of the dignified Marquis's mansion having only one servant by her side, if this were to get out, wouldn't the Marquis's mansion become a laughingstock of the entire capital?
"Where have all the people gone?"
"The people... Third Miss has a peculiar temperament and does not get along with others. Those people were all driven away by Third Miss. This servant has always obeyed Third Miss's every word and has a very good relationship with Third Miss, so I was unwilling to leave." Lu Ye put on an act of loyalty.
"What happened to your face?" the Old Madam asked.
"I beg Old Madam to do justice for me. Yesterday, Second Miss brought people into our courtyard, acting arrogantly and mocking Third Miss for not being as favored as her. This servant couldn't stand it and retorted a few words, but then the maid by Third Miss's side was beaten. They had more people, and this servant could only take the beating," Lu Ye cried, snot and tears streaming down her face. "It is this servant's incompetence, this servant could not protect Third Miss. I beg Old Madam to punish me."
Qi Xuanxuan, lying on the couch, struggled to sit up. "Your granddaughter pays her respects to Grandmother. Grandmother, Second Sister... Lu Ye, Lu Ye is not speaking correctly."
The Old Madam softened her tone and sat on the couch. "How is she not speaking correctly? Xuanxuan, tell Grandmother."
"Lu Ye was beaten because she didn't recognize Second Sister and the people serving Second Sister, so there was a bit of conflict," Qi Xuanxuan said, biting her lip.
"Let's not talk about that for now. Grandmother asks you, how did you get the injuries on your face?" the Old Madam asked with a gentle and kind expression.
Qi Xuanxuan instinctively shrunk her neck. "It, it was Xuanxuan who accidentally fell. It has nothing to do with anyone."
Lu Ye felt smug. After she was injured, she had warned Third Miss. She had to consider what to say and what not to say. She was appointed by Madam, and everything she did was Madam's intention. If Third Miss said the wrong thing, it would implicate Concubine Xiang.