Qi Tianming had barely entered the house, not even having had time to change out of his official robes, when he was summoned to the Chaohui Hall.
"Mother, what's the rush?" Qi Tianming asked as soon as he entered.
"Look, do you recognize who this is?" the Old Madam asked, pointing to Qi Xuanxuan in her arms.
At first glance, he didn't recognize her. After a closer look, she seemed familiar. Finally, he saw the resemblance in Qi Xuanxuan's eyes. "Is this Xuanxuan?"
"You still recognize her as your daughter? I thought you had forgotten you had such a daughter," the Old Madam said angrily.
"I, I, it's just that Xuanxuan has a quiet nature and rarely leaves her courtyard. I'm also busy with official duties, so I've been negligent," Qi Tianming said awkwardly. "Why is she injured?"
Qi Zhenzhen lowered her head, a mocking smile playing on her lips. Negligent, really? He had the nerve to use such an excuse.
"You're negligent? You mean you don't even have this daughter in your eyes?" The Old Madam was furious today, her words somewhat aggressive. "I don't object to you taking concubines, but you should properly take a concubine after getting your wife's consent. You keep an outside mistress, and only bring her in when she's pregnant. What woman wouldn't accept this without any reservations? Your sordid affairs have directly led to my granddaughter becoming like this!"
Qi Tianming knew he was in the wrong and hung his head, letting the Old Madam vent.
He wasn't pedantic or foolish. He understood from the Old Madam's words that his younger daughter had a difficult life. The reason? It was all because his principal wife was narrow-minded and always looked down on Xiang'er. Consequently, she treated Xiang'er's child with such disdain.
Qi Tianming glanced sideways at his younger daughter. She was timid, frail, her large eyes misted over, like a startled fawn. If he remembered correctly, the little girl was eight years old this year. An eight-year-old girl of such a small stature, looking like a five or six-year-old, was truly pitiable.
"Mother, doesn't Xuanxuan have anyone to serve her? How could she have been treated so poorly?" Qi Tianming asked.
The Old Madam pointed to Lü Ye, who was kneeling. "There, that's the person serving in Xuanxuan's courtyard."
Only then did Qi Tianming notice the person kneeling on the ground.
Seeing this, he became even more enraged.
His daughter, a noble lady of the Marquis's mansion, was as frail as a beggar. Yet, the maid serving her was oily-faced, plump and fair like a steamed bun, and dressed in new clothes of excellent material. What did this signify? It meant that his daughter's provisions were not being used to nourish her, but this maid.
Qi Tianming kicked out, sending Lü Ye flying a considerable distance. She clutched her chest, yelping in pain.
"You insolent slave! You eat the food of my Marquis's mansion, yet you are ungrateful, and dare to bully your master. Come, drag her out and have her beaten to death!" Qi Tianming roared in exasperation.
Lü Ye was completely stunned. "Marquis, spare me! Marquis, spare me!"
"Wait, keep her for now. We'll wait for the Madam to arrive," the Old Madam intervened.
Lü Ye's eyes lit up. That's right! She was acting on the Madam's orders. The Madam had said that the little slut was not qualified to eat or dress well. She had done as the Madam instructed. As a maid, how could she disobey her master's orders?
"Marquis, spare me! Marquis, spare me! This servant was following the Madam's instructions. Otherwise, even if I had the courage of ten people, I wouldn't dare," Lü Ye cried, tears and snot streaming down her face. "The Madam manages the rear courtyard of the Marquis's mansion. I dare not disobey her words."
Qi Tianming's expression grew even more grim. He had entrusted the entire rear courtyard to Madam Qin, trusting her. Was this how she repaid his trust?
"Wipe that look off your face. Your wife hasn't arrived yet, how can you believe a maid and suspect her?" The Old Madam glared at Qi Tianming. "I see you're becoming more and more useless, losing your composure."
"Mother, if this maid is telling the truth, and no one instructed her, where would she get the audacity to mistreat a young lady of the Marquis's mansion? Mother, it's not wrong. She is simply jealous and narrow-minded, unable to tolerate others. Haven't I done enough? Since Xiang'er gave birth, I haven't stepped foot in her courtyard. I don't get close to the child either, only hoping she takes good care of her. When the child grows up, we can arrange a suitable marriage, which would be a fitting father-daughter relationship. And now? This is how she's taken care of?" Qi Tianming's face was filled with ferocity. He had three daughters and one son in total. One daughter and one son had lived a hard life in the countryside for several years. One daughter was being treated so poorly. Only the legitimate daughter was well, which was truly ironic.
"If you had more time to pay attention to the rear courtyard, would such a problem arise?" the Old Madam reprimanded.
As they spoke, Madam Qin arrived with Granny Qin.
Upon entering the room, she saw Lü Ye kneeling and Qi Xuanxuan in the Old Madam's arms. She thought to herself, this little one has always lived in the most remote courtyard and was being watched. How did she end up in front of the Old Madam?
"Mother, who are you holding?" Madam Qin asked with feigned confusion.
"You still have the face to ask?" Qi Tianming flicked his sleeve, saying angrily, "Look at the good job you've done. The dignified Madam of the Marquis's mansion is so petty, treating a庶女 (concubine's daughter) so poorly. If this gets out, you'll have disgraced the Marquis's mansion completely."
Madam Qin's face first showed bewilderment, then turned to grievance, her eyes instantly reddening.
This acting was truly of Oscar-winning caliber.
"My Lord, your words are a stab to the heart. I manage the vast rear courtyard of the Marquis's mansion and have always done so with utmost diligence, never daring to slack off in the slightest. From top to bottom, have I ever mistreated anyone? You say I mistreated a庶女. Zhenzhen is here. Tell me, has Mother mistreated you?"
"Naturally not. Mother treats me very well. I have never been shortchanged in terms of food, clothing, or daily necessities," Qi Zhenzhen quickly replied.
Madam Qin turned. "My Lord, have you heard? I have not. Setting aside Zhenzhen, let's talk about Xuanxuan. Although I don't favor her, her daily necessities have never been lacking. If my Lord doesn't believe me, you can check the household accounts and ask the grannies who distribute supplies. See if I have shortchanged anything?"
"My Lord, you are truly misunderstanding the Madam. When the Madam manages affairs, this old servant is always by her side. As for the third young lady's courtyard, the Madam has always been particularly attentive, occasionally even using her own money to send seasonal items," Granny Qin said.
The things that should have been given were never withheld. How could it be considered mistreatment?
What Madam Qin and Granny Qin said conveyed this meaning.
"My Lord, I have never hidden anything from you, nor have I pretended to be magnanimous. I simply dislike Concubine Xiang, and I dislike the children born to Concubine Xiang. I believe I have not shortchanged anyone in terms of food, clothing, or daily necessities. The only thing I haven't done is to inquire about her well-being," Madam Qin said, sobbing. "Is it because of this that my Lord is going to label me as mistreating a庶女?"
By taking the opposite approach, not pretending to be magnanimous, Qi Zhenzhen witnessed Madam Qin's methods. They were truly top-notch.
"This maid says that everything she did was at your command. Xuanxuan's food and clothing were not used for Xuanxuan, but all went to this maid. What do you say to that?" Qi Tianming asked.