Madam Xu was feeling particurly pleased with herself. No matter how sharp Qin Shuying’s tongue was, in such a setting, she had to maintain some level of decorum. Besides, nothing she had said was outright wrong. No matter how Qin Shuying tried to counter, there was nothing she could do.

  Her goal was simple—to stir up resentment among the young dies toward Qin Shuying and vent some of her own frustrations.

  Sure enough, Lu Changju scoffed, “Seventh Miss, since you are a daughter of the Qin family, why would you stoop so low as to sell red sugar? That is the work of merchant women. You are not from a merchant family, are you?”

  Qin Shuying swept her gaze across the room. As expected, everyone, including Madam Zhao, was now looking at her.

  She merely smiled lightly and replied, “First Madam never mentioned that I was selling red sugar. Sister Lu, did you mishear?”

  The moment they spoke, the difference between them became apparent.

  Madam Zhao secretly shook her head.

  She had heard bits and pieces about Qin Shuying’s story. After all, a talent like Qin Yongzhou was rare, and his early death made his only daughter a frequent topic of discussion.

  From the moment Qin Shuying had entered, she had been poised and composed, embodying the grace of a noble dy. Lu Changju’s words had been sharp, but Qin Shuying had easily deflected them with a few words, all while referring to her as "Sister Lu"—a subtle yet undeniable dispy of superiority.

  Lu Changju immediately realized she had been outmatched. Humiliated, she blurted out the words she had been holding back all along:

  “Seventh Miss, mind your words! I do not have a younger sister as extravagant as you, dressing even your maids in jade accessories worth a fortune! How is that any different from a vulgar nouveau riche?”

  Madam Zhao pressed her handkerchief lightly to her lips, while Madam Zhong did the same, exchanging helpless gnces.

  Lu Changxuan was such a capable young man—how had he allowed his sister to grow up so unchecked?

  What they didn’t know was that both Lu Changxuan and Qin Yaoyao had been too busy in their youth to pay attention to Lu Changju’s upbringing. Raised under Old Madam Lu’s influence, she had naturally inherited her temperament.

  But Lu Changju’s remark greatly pleased both Old Madam Lu and Madam Xu.

  Madam Xu, priding herself on her status, was satisfied now that her objective had been achieved and chose to remain silent. Meanwhile, Old Madam Lu, already in a foul mood due to her dwindling wealth and unfulfilled cravings, grew even more displeased upon learning that Qin Shuying’s fiancé was on par with Lu Changxuan.

  She sneered, “Seventh Miss, I am still an elder. Let me give you some advice—your maid clearly cks discipline. You should sell her off and buy a more well-mannered one.”

  Qin Shuying merely smiled, unfazed and unbothered.

  The room fell silent, the atmosphere turning strangely tense.

  Madam Zhao and Madam Zhong found Old Madam Lu’s remarks uncalled for, but since Madam Xu remained quiet, they could not intervene.

  Madam Xu, of course, was content to let Qin Shuying suffer at the hands of Old Madam Lu and Lu Changju.

  From Lu Changju’s perspective, Qin Shuying’s indifference was nothing short of btant disrespect toward Old Madam Lu—an insult she could not tolerate.

  Raising her voice, she snapped, “What’s this? My mother is your Third Sister’s mother-in-w! Does she not have the right to reprimand you? What kind of manners are these? Perhaps I should tell my sisters about this—let’s see how you dare show your face in society after this!”

  Qin Shuying smiled coolly, showing neither urgency nor anger.

  “May I ask, dear in-w, what exactly is proper etiquette?”

  Lu Changju scoffed, “You don’t even know what etiquette is? How ridiculous!”

  Qin Shuying’s expression remained unchanged, but her gaze was icy as she spoke in an unhurried tone, “I came as a guest, bearing gifts, yet I was inexplicably questioned by Miss Lu. Is this etiquette?

  “And now, First Madam is instructing me on the virtues of noblewomen. Even Consort Lian, who was personally taught by First Madam, has never accused me of cking etiquette. But you cim I have no manners?

  “Does this mean you are questioning whether Consort Lian herself cks etiquette? Or that there are no proper rules in the pace?

  “If that’s the case, I suppose it won’t be long before an imperial censor takes this matter to court, questioning how Lord Lu governs his household! How can a Minister of Personnel be entrusted with his duties when he cannot even discipline his own mother and sister?”

  Qin Shuying’s words came swiftly and sharply, leaving everyone stunned before they even had time to react.

  —Who had ever seen such an outspoken young dy?

  And she was only a teenager!

  Madam Zhao’s heart nearly leapt out of her chest, but before she could interject, Old Madam Lu smmed the table.

  “Outrageous! How dare you talk about court officials so recklessly? Do you not respect the w?”

  Madam Zhao was startled—did Old Madam Lu truly not understand the implications of the current situation?

  Qin Shuying had already dragged the pace into the conversation. The court was a battlefield of endless power struggles, and the women of official families were all too aware of it. They all avoided unnecessary entanglements, yet Old Madam Lu was still clinging to outdated notions of propriety.

  Madam Zhao’s eyelid twitched.

  Before she could find an excuse to change the subject, Qin Shuying swiftly continued,

  “Old Madam, how am I being unruly? You asked me about etiquette, and I am simply expining the rules to you.

  “If you dislike my maid so much, and believe it is your right to dictate household matters in the Qin family—perhaps I should inform my uncle that you wish to take over his responsibilities and manage the Qin household in his stead?”

  Her words instantly struck a nerve with Old Madam Lu, whose expression turned even frostier.

  “You mean to say I can’t even offer a word of advice?”

  Qin Shuying, still composed, replied, “If Old Madam wishes to manage my uncle’s household, that is not impossible. First Madam is present—if she has no objections, then I suppose my uncle wouldn’t either.

  “But there is something else that puzzles me greatly.

  “That jade hairpin on your head—it is my mother’s keepsake. May I ask why it is in your possession?

  “Could it be that in overseeing our household affairs, Old Madam has also taken my mother’s relics for herself?”

  Her eyes lingered meaningfully on Madam Xu before nding on Old Madam Lu’s hairpin with an enigmatic smile.

  That smile…

  Madam Xu had been on the verge of speaking earlier, but Qin Shuying had spoken too quickly, and Old Madam Lu had refused to back down, leaving her with no opportunity to intervene. Now, she seized the chance and snapped,

  “Seventh Girl, do you even realize what you are saying? Go to your Third Sister’s pce at once! Stop making a fool of yourself… Stop spouting nonsense!”

  Qin Shuying’s lips curled into a graceful smile.

  “First Madam, Old Madam Lu has repeatedly tried to discipline me, and you have remained silent all this time. I assumed this meant you approved.”

  “You—”

  Madam Xu was so furious that she nearly fainted.

  When had she ever suffered such humiliation in someone else’s household?

  With gritted teeth, she barked, “Just now, I praised you for being filial. If your poor mother knew of your behavior today, she would not be able to rest in peace! To defy your elders, to be so disrespectful, to speak without proof—Seventh Girl, you have truly disappointed me!”

  Again?

  Could she not come up with a new tactic?