Chapter 320 - 0205 Sailing against the current, only progress without retreat (2-in-1)

In the clean mirror, two figures were reflected: Li Zhibai and Yun Qian.

Li Zhibai admired Yun Qian’s appearance in the mirror, thinking she was truly a good wife.

Yun Qian looked at Li Zhibai in the mirror, and thought that Li Zhibai would indeed make a good wife.

"Chang’an will appreciate a girl who cares deeply for him but conceals it, who trusts him unconditionally and without defense—preferably a girl who is governed by traditions but hides a warmth beneath her cold demeanor. Ultimately, he would like someone who dedicates attention solely to him," Li Zhibai said.

Yun Qian nodded and asked, "Are you that kind of girl?"

Li Zhibai was supposed to be Xu Chang’an’s wife, so in answering this question, using Xu Chang’an’s words, it should be called professional compatibility?

"Ms. Yun, what does this have to do with me?" Li Zhibai couldn’t help but sigh, "I was referring to you."

Does it really need to be spelled out so clearly?

Yun Qian liked him so much that she had to borrow a longsword to mask her feelings. Her trust was naturally implicit, and she valued reciprocity, being traditional and unaware of rouge or earrings... Usually, she had a frosty demeanor, but once approached, one could feel Yun Qian’s passionate emotions.

It perfectly matched the conditions that Xu Chang’an would appreciate.

No, it wasn’t that Yun Qian fit the description. Rather, these words were crafted based on Yun Qian.

One must not confuse cause and effect.

"I think I’ve made myself quite clear," Li Zhibai believed that she was one step away from saying Yun Qian’s name outright.

"That’s not it." Yun Qian gently shook her head.

She heard Li Zhibai’s description and didn’t associate it with herself at all.

Clearly, Li Zhibai seemed more like a suitable wife.

She said Xu Chang’an would like someone with hidden concern, absolute trust, and no defense, and Li Zhibai was exactly this, concealing her care for Xu Chang’an amidst her ruler and strict demands.

A girl with traditional habits? That also described Miss Li.

For instance, even though Li Zhibai had some cultivation, she always wore a shabby Daoist robe, paid Xu Chang’an for voluntarily cleaning the courtyard... If that’s not being traditional and adhering to the rules, then what is?

As for the warmth beneath the cold surface... after "Xu Chang’an’s" apprenticeship, she never agreed to meet him, despite him cleaning the Sword Hall for a year. That was the coldness.

Then, the moment she heard Xu Chang’an was in trouble, she immediately dropped everything at hand to help him, bringing an indescribable warmth to his heart.

Yun Qian nodded gently, looking at Li Zhibai with an increasingly gentle gaze. Her eyelashes quivered slightly.

Wait a moment.

It seems...

Not only Li Zhibai, but Wen Li also fits the profile of a qualified wife?

Wen Li’s emotions were hidden so deeply that even she was unaware. Back then, she punished herself just to deliver a Source Opening Pill to Xu Chang’an... Wen Li was recognized as noble and aloof, the epitome of aloofness at Muyu Peak, yet this same Wen Li preserved the Qingluo planted by Xu Chang’an, which was the warmth beneath her cold exterior.

Something seemed amiss.

Compared to Li Zhibai, Wen Li fell slightly short. She had hidden emotions, passionate warmth beneath the cold, and trust, but her rebellious short hair and experiences indicated Wen Li wasn’t exactly traditional or rule-abiding.

Thus, if Li Zhibai scored a perfect hundred as a qualified wife, Wen Li would only score ninety.

Consequently, Yun Qian naturally thought of Liu Qingluo.

This girl, who Yun Qian held in the highest regard, was even less fitting than Wen Li.

Liu Qingluo hid her feelings well, but she wasn’t a cold person. As for being rule-abiding... ever since her redemption, she wasn’t someone traditional.

Therefore, in terms of wife candidates—

Li Zhibai > Wen Li > Liu Qingluo?

"That fits." Yun Qian gently nodded, thinking that’s why Li Zhibai might become the main wife, while the other girls would be a step behind.

More and more, she felt there was a reason Li Zhibai had the chance to become the main wife because her words truly made sense.

"Fit with what?" Li Zhibai felt a chill down her spine under Yun Qian’s inexplicable gaze.

"Nothing." Yun Qian surprisingly smiled, although she soon withdrew it, saying, "Elder sister’s reasoning is quite sound. Satisfying those conditions... they indeed would be someone he would like, only a pity."

"I don’t understand, pity what?" Li Zhibai blinked.

"A pity that this time, I’m here."

Yun Qian furrowed her brows.

Because she had arrived, the conditions no longer fit, so... regarding the cultivation of a wife could not be used as a reference anymore, she still needed to cultivate diligently herself.

"Because... you are?" Li Zhibai was completely baffled, but she decided to be more explicit: "Ms. Yun, you already are a good, qualified wife, so there’s no need to overthink, no need to worry about cultivation; he already likes you a lot."

"Is that so?"

Yun Qian remained noncommittal, just looking out the window.

The night was dark, and it was pouring rain.

In recent days, the rain was incessant, the raindrops gently drumming on the ground and eaves, the misty vapor blurred the view.

In the pitch-black North Garden, not a glimmer of light penetrated, only two large red lanterns at the door illuminated the puddles forming "small streams" on the ground. Yun Qian watched the grass swaying with the brisk wind, pondering how the river of time flowed similarly.

She used to wonder about the meaning of time, why she perpetually indulged its existence and flow, why she bound herself to those rising waves.