Chapter 71: Too Naïve

Murong Feixue had always been the type to bully the weak and bow to the strong, adept at reading people's social status from their demeanor, clothing, and mannerisms. To her, Jiang Huaiyu—dressed simply and exuding understated elegance—was someone she could belittle with impunity.

Even less significant in her eyes were Xu Nanny and the other servants, whom she considered nothing more than lowly subordinates.

After venting her frustration with a few sharp remarks, Murong Feixue finally felt her anger subside. She raised her chin and was about to turn away when the door to the guest room swung open. Jiang Huaiyu stood there, her gaze calm but tinged with irritation.

Startled by the sight, Murong Feixue's triumphant smile faded involuntarily, her confidence wavering like a soldier retreating before battle.

"What are you staring at?!" she snapped, though her voice faltered slightly. "This is the area reserved for distinguished guests at Qingxu Temple. How did you sneak in here?"

Jiang Huaiyu laughed softly, her tone dripping with irony. "Sneak in? I wonder what kind of upbringing fosters such hostility in a young lady. You act as though someone let their guard dog off its leash, barking incessantly at me every time we meet."

Murong Feixue flushed with anger, her poised demeanor cracking.

At that moment, the door of another guest room creaked open, and Li Qingruo emerged, her delicate features clouded with annoyance. She had been drawn by the commotion and frowned deeply when she saw Jiang Huaiyu.

"Feixue, this is a place of peace and quiet. Why are you causing such a stir?" Li Qingruo chided, her tone more restrained as her gaze shifted to Jiang Huaiyu. Her brows furrowed further, and she forced a polite smile. "Madam Jiang, what brings you here?"

Under the golden canopy of a flourishing ginkgo tree, three women stood in stark contrast to the serene surroundings. Their graceful appearances belied the tension hanging thick in the air.

Jiang Huaiyu's lips curled into a faint smirk. "Since when did you become an officer of the capital, Miss Li?"

Li Qingruo blinked in confusion. "What do you mean by that?"

"I mean," Jiang Huaiyu replied, her tone cool and unyielding, "that my presence here is none of your concern. Yet you and your so-called friend keep questioning me as if this temple were built with the Li family's money."

Her words cut sharply, leaving no room for pretense.

Li Qingruo's expression froze, her usual composure shattered. She prided herself on her gentle temperament and had never quarreled openly with anyone. Jiang Huaiyu's bluntness left her thoroughly unprepared.

"I was merely asking out of courtesy since we've met a few times," Li Qingruo said, her voice tinged with discomfort. "If you find my questions intrusive, there's no need for hostility."

Murong Feixue, sensing an opportunity, adopted a more contrite demeanor. "If I said anything that upset Madam Jiang, I apologize. Though I come from humble origins, I know right from wrong." Her hands clasped together demurely, her posture straight and unyielding like a righteous martyr.

Jiang Huaiyu's faint smile turned cold. "You approached me uninvited, said a string of unpleasant things, and now claim you don't know what upset me? Can't you figure it out yourself? If I entertain one such encounter, what about ten? A hundred? Should I spend my life teaching others basic manners?"

Murong Feixue's facade cracked. For once, she was left speechless, while Li Qingruo, equally stunned, struggled to maintain her composure.

Having grown accustomed to dealing with sheltered noblewomen, Murong Feixue had perfected the art of subtly mimicking their demeanor to gain the upper hand. Yet Jiang Huaiyu was an entirely different opponent. Her incisive words cut through pretensions, leaving no room for evasion.

The tension was broken by the creak of a door from the adjacent guest room. Out stepped Master Li, his usual air of ethereal detachment replaced by a faint urgency. Beside him was an elderly woman, leaning on a redwood cane, and a stately middle-aged woman assisting her.

The elderly lady, presumably the Li family matriarch, held Master Li in the highest regard. To her, his erudite discussions of Taoist principles, though incomprehensible, were proof of divine wisdom.

"Where is Qingruo?" the old lady asked abruptly, noticing her granddaughter's absence. She frowned, her displeasure evident.

A younger girl pointed toward the ginkgo courtyard. "She's over there, arguing with someone."

The matriarch's face darkened. "Arguing? Here?"

Li Qingruo's mother, the current head of the Li household, paled slightly. A public dispute involving her daughter in such a revered setting could tarnish the family's reputation.

"Qingruo!" she called, her tone sharp with reproach.

Before she could intervene, Master Li's robes fluttered as he strode purposefully toward the group.

The matriarch's eyes lit up. "Could it be that our Qingruo has impressed him with her wisdom?"

But her smile faltered when Master Li stopped in front of Jiang Huaiyu and bowed deeply, performing the gesture of a disciple to a master.

The matriarch's cane nearly slipped from her grasp, while Li Qingruo's mother struggled to maintain her composure.

"Madam Jiang," Master Li began, his tone respectful, "did the temple staff fail in their duties? I specifically instructed them to prepare a proper meal for you. Why are you still outside?"

Jiang Huaiyu raised a brow, her voice laced with mockery. "The temple's hospitality was fine, but I ran into a pair of young ladies who seemed determined to lecture me. After such an encounter, even reheated food has lost its appeal. I think I'd rather head home for a simple bowl of noodles."

Master Li's face darkened, his earlier reverence giving way to a solemn intensity. "Such behavior is unacceptable. A clear mind and serene heart are essential to the Tao. Miss Li, I recommend that your daughter spend some time in quiet reflection at home."

The matriarch's face hardened, her previous delight now replaced by disapproval. She struck her cane against the ground, signaling her displeasure.

Li Qingruo's mother stepped forward, her voice measured and contrite. "There must have been some misunderstanding. My daughter has always been gentle and well-mannered. Madam Jiang, if there's been any offense, please allow me to visit tomorrow to personally apologize."

Jiang Huaiyu smiled faintly, her tone light but cutting. "There's no need for dramatics, Madam Li. If there's any misunderstanding, your daughter and her friend can apologize now. A simple 'sorry' should suffice."

The matriarch's grip tightened on her cane, her embarrassment palpable. She glanced at her daughter-in-law, her displeasure unspoken but clear.

Sensing the pressure, Li Qingruo lowered her head. "I... If I said anything that offended you, Madam Jiang, I apologize."

Her voice was soft, but the humiliation was evident.