The old madam's voice grew increasingly gentle, "Xuanxuan, don't be afraid. Grandmother is here. Speak your mind, and Grandmother will see justice done. By the way, your second sister mentioned yesterday that she sent you a kingfisher hairpin, which you adored. Why aren't you wearing it today?"
Green Leaf's heart tightened. This second young lady was truly meddlesome, saying such things to the old madam. She quickly interjected, "Old Madam, Third Young Miss cherishes the hairpin sent by Second Young Miss immensely and is reluctant to wear it. She has already instructed this servant to put it away."
"The maid by your side is quite clever. She's also pretty and dressed nicely. This garment you're wearing, the fabric looks so familiar to me," the old madam remarked indifferently, glancing over.
"It is because Third Young Miss is kind to this servant and bestowed it upon me to wear," Green Leaf replied hastily.
The old madam let out a cold laugh. "You are Third Young Miss's servant, so it's not wrong for you to be dressed a bit more presentably; it even reflects well on her. But why is your Third Young Miss dressed so shabbily? Could it be that the household is mistreating Third Young Miss? Granny Fang, go and investigate. Find out where things have gone wrong. A young lady of this esteemed household is living worse than two servants."
Granny Fang acknowledged the order and turned to leave, while fine beads of sweat broke out on Green Leaf's forehead.
The household had never mistreated anyone. It was just that all the things belonging to the young miss had ended up in her own purse. If this were to be investigated...
Green Leaf was flustered. "Old Madam misunderstands. It's just that our Third Young Miss has always been frugal, so she dresses very simply. As for fine clothes and jewelry, this servant has kept them safely for the young miss."
"Oh? Is that so?"
"This servant dares not deceive you."
The old madam called out to Granny Fang, "Since that is the case, there's no need to investigate."
Qi Xuanxuan, lying on the couch, felt her brief moment of elation vanish. Indeed, she was like a transparent person in the household. How could her grandmother truly care about her? What was she even hoping for? If it weren't for someone from her second sister's side coming over today, where would she be now? She would likely just be waiting in her courtyard for the wound on her face to heal.
Qi Zhenzhen had been watching Qi Xuanxuan. Seeing the despair in her eyes, she guessed her thoughts and felt even more heartache.
But she couldn't speak. It wasn't the right time yet. The old madam was not easily fooled.
Just wait a little longer, just a little longer.
Soon, Imperial Physician Li arrived. After paying his respects to the old madam, he began to clean the wound on Qi Xuanxuan's face.
Once the blood was wiped away, the wound became visible. It was a gash on her forehead, with the flesh slightly everted, appearing quite severe.
Imperial Physician Li skillfully applied medicine and bandaged the wound. He then prescribed a medicinal decoction. "This is a soup to aid wound healing. Take it three times a day for three days. You must drink it, otherwise, the wound might become swollen and red."
"Will it leave a scar?" the old madam asked anxiously. Her daughter's appearance was of utmost importance. If it left a scar, how would she ever get married?
Imperial Physician Li pondered for a moment. "That's difficult to say. The wound is rather deep, and it will depend on how it heals. Moreover, the medicinal soup must be taken consistently, and the diet must also be carefully managed. With good care, it will heal quickly. If not cared for properly, even a wound that wouldn't normally scar could do so. I will come every two days to change the dressing for Third Young Miss, and we can assess the situation then."
"Thank you, Imperial Physician Li. Since you are here, please also take my granddaughter's pulse. This little one's height seems to be growing very slowly, and she doesn't seem to be gaining weight," the old madam added.
Imperial Physician Li followed her instructions and took Qi Xuanxuan's pulse. His brow furrowed deeply, and after a long while, he withdrew his hand, his mouth opening and closing, unable to speak.
"Is there some illness?" the old madam asked, growing anxious.
"Malnutrition. Third Young Miss is at an age where she should be growing, and her body requires a good amount of nourishment. It's likely that her appetite is large, but she's not consuming enough," Imperial Physician Li said, though he was inwardly astonished. He had visited many wealthy and noble families, but this was the first time he had encountered such a situation. A young lady of a marquis's mansion suffering from malnutrition was akin to starving to death while sitting on a mountain of gold and silver.
The old madam's expression shifted from one hue to another, becoming extremely displeased.
For a young lady of the marquis's mansion to not have enough to eat would be enough to make everyone laugh their teeth out if it got out.
"Thank you, Imperial Physician Li. Granny Fang, please escort Imperial Physician Li out," the old madam said, suppressing her anger.
Imperial Physician Li calmly picked up his medical kit and left Chaohui Hall with Granny Fang.
The old madam looked at the timid Qi Xuanxuan, then at Green Leaf kneeling beside her, and anger surged within her. "A young lady of the marquis's mansion not having enough to eat! Tell me, what is going on here?"
"I, I..." Green Leaf stammered.
"You, on the other hand, are plump and fair. Has Third Young Miss's daily allowance been going to you?" the old madam's voice grew even more stern.
Qi Zhenzhen sat down on the couch and took Qi Xuanxuan's hand, her voice neither too loud nor too soft. "It's truly pitiful. Yesterday, when I saw Green Leaf acting so presumptuously, I wanted to ask you what was going on, but Green Leaf kept insisting that she was assigned by Mother to take care of you. Your sister thought that someone assigned by Mother wouldn't make a mistake, perhaps she just had a bit of a temper. I never expected her to be withholding your rations..."
"It's not like that, it's not like that! I didn't, I didn't!" Green Leaf exclaimed agitatedly upon hearing Qi Zhenzhen directly accuse her of her actions.
"Grandmother is absolutely right. You are plump and fair, clearly well-fed and cared for. Look at Xuanxuan, so thin, even a country child wouldn't be this way. There are only the two of you in your courtyard, so if it's not like that, what is it?" Qi Zhenzhen asked with a look of confusion.
"Yes, yes, yes..." Green Leaf wiped the sweat from her forehead, completely at a loss for words.
The old madam let out a cold snort and walked to the couch, sitting down. "Xuanxuan, tell Grandmother."
Qi Xuanxuan looked at the old madam, then at Qi Zhenzhen. Receiving an encouraging glance from her, she sniffled and choked out, "Grandmother, Green Leaf gives the meals she gets from the kitchen to her own family every day. I eat the hard, dry biscuits she brings back from outside. They're very unpalatable. She also makes me do embroidery, which she sells. She also snatched the kingfisher hairpin that my second sister gave me, preventing me from wearing new clothes, not letting me sleep in my own bed, and making me wash her clothes and fetch her foot-washing water..."
The old madam's face grew darker and darker. Qi Zhenzhen also looked astonished. She had only suspected that Green Leaf was mistreating Qi Xuanxuan, but she hadn't expected it to be so excessive. In this light, it was clear that Green Leaf was the master, wasn't she?
"Who gave you the audacity?" The old madam's eyes seemed ready to spew fire. "A mere servant dares to bully her mistress! Zisu, go and invite the Marquis here. Let him see what has become of his own daughter. Also, invite the Madam, and let her see what kind of household management she's doing!"