Chapter 85 I Thought You Were Merely Naive

Chapter 85 I Thought You Were Merely Naive

With a series of neither subservient nor overbearing words, the magistrate's wife couldn't help but regard Lu Mingchao even more highly.

Lu Mingchao, pragmatic and clear-headed.

And being pragmatic and clear-headed is never a bad thing.

As she was about to step out of the flower hall, Lu Mingchao's eyes sparkled, she paused, half-turned, and the pearl hairpin in her bun swayed gently with her movement. "Madam Sun, our meeting is fate, not to mention such an entangled and intricate fate, it's only right to offer a good gift."

"The Sun family is rolling in wealth, surely they wouldn't care for the modest offerings of a hunter's wife like me, and I wouldn't dare to show off in front of Guan Gong. Before parting, let me gift Madam Sun a couplet."

"Simply to express my sentiments."

"One two three four five six seven"

"Filial piety, brotherly love, loyalty, trust, propriety, righteousness, integrity"

"I offer this sincerely, no thanks necessary."

After speaking, Lu Mingchao pulled her cloak tighter and stepped down the stone steps outside the flower hall.

On a snowy day, no matter how diligently the servants clean, the steps are always more slippery than usual, and Xie Yan carefully shielded her from the side.

Following behind Lu Mingchao, Lu Yao's eyes gleamed with mischief.

Mingchao, your words are truly formidable.

With Madam Sun's intelligence and learning, she would definitely not guess the subtle implications, and would most likely take it to the so-called Jade String Gentleman for clarification.

This is no different from directly insulting the Jade String Gentleman.

In winter, the temperature drops sharply at the hour of Shen.

Outside the Xu residence.

There was a carriage more luxurious, spacious, and brighter than the one they came in, the wood used for the carriage was of excellent quality, and in the biting wind, it seemed to emit a faint, subtle fragrance, which was the natural scent of the wood, not from any incense. It was also carved with exquisite patterns, showcasing the craftsman's exceptional skill. In front of the carriage hung a crystal lantern, shining brightly. The horses pulling the carriage had glossy coats, tall and strong, full of vigor.

Lu Mingchao slightly furrowed her brows, the flattery was particularly obvious.

This level of carriage was unique even in the magistrate's residence.

"Mr. Xu, what does this mean?" Lu Mingchao slightly raised the corner of her eye, looking at Xu Qingxing standing beside her, pretending not to understand.

Xu Qingxing's gaze was somewhat flickering "Changxi Village is remote and hard to travel, especially in the snow, this carriage is more suitable."

Lu Mingchao remained calm, suddenly a flash of insight came to her "Was that maid's statement your idea?"

No wonder she always felt a sense of dissonance and discomfort.

That statement was clever, but it had a feeling of running out of steam, not enough to showcase the Jade String Gentleman's strength.

"Is this Mr. Xu's compensation?" Lu Mingchao asked knowingly.

Having her true intentions exposed by Lu Mingchao, Xu Qingxing felt embarrassed, and unconsciously, his head hung even lower.

Stunned for a moment, he stammered, "I don't know what you're talking about."

Lu Mingchao's lips curled up in a silent smile, glancing at Xu Qingxing again and again.

Xie Yan and Lu Yao, standing on either side, had an even worse impression of Xu Qingxing. At first glance, their expressions seemed unchanged, but a closer look revealed a noticeable chill in their demeanor.

"Xu Qingxing, pardon my oversight."

"Back then, I thought you were merely naive, yet still kind-hearted."

Lu Yao's tone was calm and detached, seemingly devoid of any emotion.

To Xu Qingxing, it sounded like nothing but endless mockery and disdain.

Given his temperament, he would have normally been furious and stomping about, but who could blame him for feeling guilty? He simply turned his face away, feigning ignorance of Lu Yao's words.

Lu Mingchao sighed softly, "Does Sun Zhiye know what you've done?"

Xu Qingxing shook his head, then froze as he realized he had just confessed without being prompted.

Lu Mingchao immediately understood.

If Sun Zhiye knew, he would handle the matter more thoroughly and properly.

Even if he couldn't save Qu Ying, he could at least minimize the impact on the Sun family.

Would Sun Zhiye be grateful to Xu Qingxing? Outwardly, yes. But inwardly, he would only resent Xu Qingxing for being more of a liability than an asset.

Distant relatives are not as close as immediate family, and new friends cannot replace old ones. Lu Mingchao had no intention of lecturing Xu Qingxing on the deceptive nature of appearances.

If Sun Zhiye could keep Xu Qingxing in the dark indefinitely, that would be a testament to Sun Zhiye's skill.

Conversely, if Xu Qingxing, after enough setbacks and encounters, could eventually distinguish friend from foe, that would be a testament to Xu Qingxing's skill.

"Xu Qingxing, may I ask where Sun Zhiye is?"

Xu Qingxing murmured, "My father invited him to the study to introduce him to some old friends."

So, Sun Zhiye was unaware of the news about Lu Mingchao and Qu Ying falling into the water.

Lu Mingchao nodded slightly, "I see."

"Xu Qingxing, when your mother introduced you in the flower hall, I recalled the saying: 'True sincerity within, pure conduct without, cleansing all impurities, pure as snow inside and out.'"

"I accept your kindness. But this only means I won't dwell on your petty schemes, not that I forgive the Sun family for their actions against me."

"I understand your loyalty to your friends, Xu Qingxing, and I hope you can also understand my fear and anger in the face of mortal danger."

What a lesson to learn—loyalty to the point of self-sacrifice.

In later generations, middle school textbooks clearly outline the principles of friendship.

Discern right from wrong, distinguish between correct and incorrect, choose friends carefully, seek beneficial friendships, avoid harmful ones, and even in loyalty to friends, one must adhere to principles.

Xu Qingxing hung his head in silence, offering no reply to Lu Mingchao.

Lu Mingchao seemed indifferent. She stepped onto the footstool, took Xie Yan's hand, and climbed into the carriage.

The exterior of the carriage was luxurious, and the interior was even more meticulously designed.

Lu Mingchao couldn't help but feel a slight sense of surprise.

"Lu Yao."

Just as Lu Yao was about to step into the carriage, Xu Qingxing suddenly spoke.

Lu Yao's expression remained unchanged, and he continued walking, directly entering the carriage.

Despite Xu Qingxing's internal struggles and conflicts, his actions still hurt Lu Mingchao.

He once told Lu Mingchao that deeds matter more than thoughts, and one should always be consistent.

Xu Qingxing felt even more embarrassed, his face turning red. "Lu Yao, next year's autumn imperial exams, I will definitely not lose to you."

Xu Qingxing received no response, not even a single word in return.

The carriage moved forward slowly, fading into the distance until it disappeared from view.

Xu Qingxing felt a surge of complex, bitter emotions filling his chest, making it hard to breathe, while also feeling awkward, angry, and ashamed all at once.

Once again, he felt inferior in front of Lu Yao.

Perhaps, it wasn't just Lu Yao.

Xu Qingxing gasped for air, but the gazes of those three people kept flashing through his mind.

One pair of eyes was as bright and clear as a spring, pure and transparent.

Another gaze was as cold as frost, utterly unruffled.

The third pair of eyes was as sharp as a blade, cutting straight to his heart.

Under such gazes, his actions felt like a joke.

He just wanted to clean up Brother Sun's mess, to smooth Brother Sun's path to achieving his lifelong ambitions.

How could someone as upright and gentle as Brother Sun be dragged down by those from the Sun family?

"Young master, what are you doing here? I've been searching for you for a while."

"Madam has summoned you."

Just as Xu Qingxing's mind was in chaos, Chunxing's voice came from behind.

Lu Mingchao was up to no good.