Xu Shi felt a surge of satisfaction. With so many people present, no matter how sharp Qin Shuying’s tongue might be, she would have to show some restraint. Moreover, there were no errors in her words, so there was nothing Qin Shuying could do about it.

She merely wanted to stir up the young ladies’ hostility toward Qin Shuying to vent her anger.

Sure enough, Lu Changju snorted and said: “Seventh Miss, since you’re a daughter of the Qin residence, why would you degrade yourself by selling brown sugar? That’s what merchant women do—Seventh Miss isn’t from a merchant background.”

Qin Shuying’s eyes swept the room, and indeed, whether it was Zhao Shi or the others, they were all watching her.

Qin Shuying smiled faintly and said: “Just now, the First Madam didn’t say I sold brown sugar. Sister Lu, did you mishear?”

The moment the two spoke, the difference in their caliber was immediately apparent. Madam Zhao secretly shook her head.

She had heard some things about Qin Shuying’s affairs. After all, a genius like Qin Yongzhou was truly rare to see, and dying so young meant his only daughter would inevitably be mentioned by others.

From the moment Qin Shuying entered, she had been proper and composed, displaying the bearing of a true lady from a distinguished family. Though Lu Changju’s words were so sharp, Qin Shuying deflected the problem back with effortless skill, yet still addressed her as “Sister Lu” throughout, leaving no fault to be found.

Seeing Qin Shuying’s manner, Lu Changju realized she had fallen into a disadvantage. Filled with angry embarrassment, she blurted out words she had been holding back: “Seventh Miss, watch your words! I don’t have such a wealthy sister—even your maid’s hair ornaments and hand accessories are jade pieces worth thousands of gold. What’s the difference between you and nouveau riche!”

Zhao Shi gently pressed her handkerchief to the corner of her lips, while Zhong Shi also helplessly pressed hers.

Despite Lu Changxuan being young and promising, how could he fail to discipline his sister?

What they didn’t know was that Lu Changxuan and Qin Yaoyao had initially been as busy as spinning tops, with no time to discipline Lu Changju. With Lu Changju staying by Old Madam Lu’s side, naturally her temperament followed Old Madam Lu’s through constant exposure.

However, Lu Changju’s words were exactly to the taste of both Old Madam Lu and Xu Shi. Xu Shi, confident in her status and having achieved her goal, merely watched the show without speaking. Old Madam Lu, who had been extremely displeased these days from being unable to eat what she wanted or buy what she wished to use, and having learned that Qin Shuying’s fiancé was comparable to Lu Changxuan, became even more displeased. She said: “Seventh Miss, I’m also an elder, so let me advise you—this maid of yours is so lacking in propriety that she should be sold off, and you should buy one who understands the rules!”

Qin Shuying smiled faintly without saying a word, appearing completely indifferent.

The room immediately fell silent with an eerie atmosphere.

Zhao Shi and Zhong Shi thought Old Madam Lu was being unreasonable, but since Xu Shi wasn’t speaking up, they couldn’t say anything. Xu Shi had originally wanted Qin Shuying to suffer setbacks from Old Madam Lu and Lu Changju, so she was naturally pleased to see it happen.

In Lu Changju’s eyes, Qin Shuying’s expression naturally appeared as complete indifference to Old Madam Lu’s questioning, clearly showing disrespect for Old Madam Lu. How could Lu Changju tolerate this?

She raised her voice sharply and demanded: “What’s this? My mother is your Third Sister’s mother-in-law—can’t she speak to you? What kind of propriety is this? I should tell my friends about this, and see what face you’ll have to go out and meet guests in the future!”

Qin Shuying smiled faintly, neither hurried nor annoyed, and said: “May I ask, in-law madam, what constitutes propriety?”

Lu Changju snorted coldly: “Not even knowing what propriety is—how ridiculous!”

Qin Shuying continued smiling faintly, though her eyes held no warmth: “I came visiting as a guest and brought gifts, yet was inexplicably questioned by Miss Lu—is this propriety? Now it’s the First Madam instructing me in feminine virtue and etiquette. Lianpin’s rules were personally taught by the First Madam. Even the First Madam hasn’t said I lack propriety, yet you claim I do—are you questioning whether Lianpin lacks propriety, questioning whether the palace lacks propriety? If so, presumably tomorrow there will be censors memorializing the throne about how Physician Lu disciplines his family! As an official in the Ministry of Personnel, if Physician Lu cannot even discipline his own mother and sister properly, how can he be worthy of serving as a ministry physician?”

Qin Shuying’s words came rapid-fire, and before everyone could react, she had finished speaking, leaving everyone staring wide-eyed.

—Who had ever seen such a female guest? And she was just a teenage young lady!

Zhao Shi’s heart nearly jumped out of her chest, but before she could speak, Old Madam Lu slammed the table: “Outrageous! Court officials—how dare you discuss them recklessly? Is there no law left?!”

Zhao Shi was startled. Was Old Madam Lu truly ignorant or pretending to be? At this moment, she was still invoking the law?

Qin Shuying had brought up the palace, and everyone knew about the current power struggles in the palace. Official wives like Zhao Shi knew somewhat about it, and everyone was eager to avoid such topics. Zhao Shi’s eyelid began to twitch…

Before Zhao Shi could find an excuse to change the subject, Qin Shuying spoke rapidly: “Old Madam, where have I been wild? You asked me to discuss propriety, so I’m honestly discussing propriety with you, lest you find my maid displeasing and extend your arm into the Qin residence, trying to manage Qin family affairs by having my maid sold. When I return, I must certainly tell my eldest uncle that Old Madam thinks the Qin residence lacks propriety and wants to help eldest uncle manage things properly!”

Provoked by her, Old Madam Lu sneered even more coldly: “What? Can’t I say a few words?”

Qin Shuying replied unhurriedly: “Old Madam, if you want to manage Qin residence affairs for my eldest uncle, that’s not impossible. The First Madam is here, and if she has no objection, I suppose my eldest uncle wouldn’t object either. However, there’s one thing that greatly puzzles me. That jade hairpin on your head, Old Madam—isn’t that my mother’s relic? I wonder why it’s on Old Madam’s head? Could it be… that in managing our Qin family affairs, Old Madam hasn’t even spared my mother’s relics?”

Qin Shuying’s gaze circled Xu Shi several times, then she looked at Old Madam Lu’s head with a meaningful smile.

That smile…

Xu Shi had wanted to speak up during Qin Shuying’s counterattack, but unfortunately Qin Shuying spoke too quickly, and Old Madam Lu was also unwilling to back down, so she never had a chance to interrupt. She immediately said: “Seventh daughter, do you know what you’re saying? You go to your Third Sister immediately and stop embarrassing yourself… stop talking nonsense!”

Qin Shuying smiled gracefully: “First Madam, Old Madam Lu bypassed you to discipline your niece, and you remained silent throughout. I thought this was with the First Madam’s tacit approval.”

“You…” Xu Shi was so angry she nearly fainted. When had she ever made such a spectacle of herself in someone else’s home!

Xu Shi said sternly: “Just now I praised you for being filial, but if my poor third sister-in-law knew what you’ve done today from beneath the nine springs, she would never rest in peace! Contradicting elders, being completely disrespectful, making baseless accusations, talking nonsense—seventh daughter, you truly disappoint me!”

Here we go again?

Couldn’t she come up with some new tricks?