She had something on her mind.
Xu Changâan quickly realized this.
He held the ribbon, tugging at the girlâs coat hem.
"Whatâs wrong?"
"Thinking about things."
"I know." Xu Changâan said with great patience, "Thinking about what? Still thinking about God?"
"No." Yun Qian followed her husbandâs lead, entangled in what was more worth her pondering, like...
"You said Iâm the star in the sky." Yun Qian slightly raised her chin, her eyes falling into the shadow of her hair.
Xu Changâanâs gaze slid over the girlâs fair ankles below her bent knees, cleared his throat, and shook the ribbon in front of her, saying, "Yes, Miss is not only a star, but also the moon."
Yun Qian tilted her head, her eyes clear like crystals looking at Xu Changâan, her brows knitted.
"Whatâs wrong?" Xu Changâan still didnât understand where he had misspoken.
At this moment, the Cloud Boat had already descended to the edge of the cliff in Beisang City. After docking completely, Yun Qian still had no intention of getting up, she curled up there, staring at him blankly.
Xu Changâan had no choice but to leap gently off the Cloud Boat, walk to below Yun Qian, and extend his arms.
"Puff."
After a slight tearing sound, the once sturdy Cloud Boat shattered and was absorbed by the array drawn at Xu Changâanâs feet.
The girl still on the Cloud Boat then fell completely, descending into his arms.
It was also his most practiced princess carry.
The girl in his arms had excellent skin, clear and beautiful eyes, a straight and delicate nose, lips naturally red, and her unbraided long hair fell, the ink-black strands dancing along the wind on the cliff.
A princess carry, naturally for a princess.
As a princess, she should be fragile, needing good care.
"Alright," Xu Changâan said, holding Yun Qianâs ribbon and shaking his head, "Whatâs the matter? Did I say something that upset Miss?"
"No." Yun Qian was actually not unhappy anymore after falling from the Cloud Boat into his arms.
"I was thinking." Yun Qian patted his chest, signaling him to put her down.
Once she stood steadily, she softly said, "You just said... youâre not a kid anymore and donât like the stars in the sky that much."
He no longer liked stars, yet he said she was a star.
Of course, Miss Yun would be unhappy.
Xu Changâan: "..."
Ah.
Understood.
Just because of this?
He wondered why the girl suddenly became unhappy.
"Miss, I misspoke." Xu Changâan stood behind her, carefully braiding her hair and said, "Miss is Miss, not a star in the sky. Besides, what I like is you, not some stars."
"I know." Yun Qian felt the warmth of her husband behind her and nodded gently.
She wasnât stupid and naturally understood that these were two different things, not to be compared together. So she wasnât angry, just a little bit unhappy â after all, it was all because of what he said.
Now, that unhappiness dissipated.
"So... donât say Iâm some star or moon in the sky." Yun Qian said seriously.
She is who she is, his wife, not a star, and doesnât want to be some God.
The distance to God is too far; being a wife is enough.
This was what Yun Qian thought about after her earlier struggle.
Actually, it was still those memories that troubled her, causing her to worry over little things.
Awakening from a big dream, it naturally was so.
ââ
Xu Changâan finished braiding her hair and blinked.
Miss Yun, oh Miss Yun, was somewhat unromantic.
Even a hard-thought-out romantic line could make her uneasy, Xu Changâan really didnât know what to say.
But...
If he doesnât pamper his wife, who will?
"As you say." He walked to the front, putting the veil back on Miss Yun.
Now, itâs time to let her think about something new.
"Miss."
Xu Changâan pointed a finger toward the distant path down the mountain; from here, Beisang City could be seen below the tall mountain. He asked, "Choose, should I carry you down, hold you down, or will you..."
"I canât walk down." Yun Qian quickly interrupted him.
"Then I..." Xu Changâan looked at the girlâs exquisite figure and said seriously, "carry you down?"
"Mm."
With Yun Qian leaning on his back, feeling Yun Qianâs steady heartbeat, Xu Changâan thought about similar situations occurring when they were climbing the mountain.
Using this method to divert her attention indeed quickly reset her mood.
He understood Yun Qian too well.
Alright, letâs head to Beisang City.
ââ
ââ
At this time, twilight was approaching.
In the Flower Moon Building.
After finishing the last chores of the building, Zhu Pingniang stretched long and lay lazily by the counter, displaying her feminine charm to the fullest.
"See you tomorrow, Ms. Zhu."
"See you tomorrow." Zhu Pingniang weakly waved at her girl.
As the last girl left, Zhu Pingniang sighed long, got up, locked the door, picked up pen and ink to casually jot down a few notes in the ledger, and then tired of it, flung the pen.
"Calculate it tomorrow morning."
Zhu Pingniang touched her belly, feeling a bit hungry; there was food left by the girls in her room.
Returning to her room, she brightened up at the sight of the food box inside, took the dishes, ate half, and then remembered something, looking towards the direction of the Chaoyun Sect.
Xiaochangâan... down the mountain?
She had received the news early on, and just a moment ago, sensed his presence unmistakably.
Zhu Pingniang only knew that Xu Changâan had brought Yun Qian down the mountain. What exactly he intended, she actually did not know.
After all, asking her about Yin Yang Dual Cultivation affairs between husband and wife with his wife present was not dignified. Naturally, Li Zhibai would not inform outsiders, so before obtaining the Jade Scroll from Li Zhibai, she did not know Xu Changâanâs purpose.
"Hmm..." Zhu Pingniang blinked. She had many things she wanted to ask Xu Changâan.
For example, she gave the jar of Jade Dew Wine to Li Zhibai, and it had been opened.
Damn it, which undisciplined person coaxed her Miss Li into drinking the wine while she was away?
Could it be this Xu the kid?
Zhu Pingniangâs eyes glinted dangerously. When she next saw Xu Changâan... sheâd definitely give him a thorough grilling about matters concerning her Miss Li, which could not be taken lightly.
Unlike Xu Changâan, who could leave Yun Qian in Beisang City with ease, a womanâs mind was most prone to worry.
Even Yun Qian would overthink from just one comment about not liking stars, let alone her.
At this moment, Zhu Pingniang gently stirred the rice in her bowl with her incredibly beautiful hands, having lost interest in eating.
She truly had many questions, such as Liu Qingluoâs sudden Immortal Talent, and a letter sent by an informant she had received today.
Zhu Pingniang turned to look at the opened letter on the table.
It contained information from not long ago, stating that her little girl had taken a liking to Xu Changâan and asking her to think of a way.
"...?"
Even after receiving this news, Zhu Pingniang was still bewildered.
Like Xu Changâan?
Who?
Confirming that it referred to Gu Qiancheng, not Liu Qingluo?
Although that GuâEr was slightly precocious, her mind should be full of finding a woman to be her mom, how could she know about liking a man?
Or perhaps because Xu Changâanâs cooking was too delicious, Gu Qiancheng got captivated after just one meal.
Zhu Pingniang still couldnât understand why her little girl would like a man, so she felt that Gu Qiancheng was merely "tempted" by Xu Changâanâs cuisine.
Yes.
In some sense, given Gu Qianchengâs personality, rather than admiring Xu Changâan, itâs more likely Gu Qiancheng wanted a male mom.
The latter was even more probable.
After all, hearing Gu Qiancheng say so, Xu Changâanâs cooking was indeed delicious, better than her Second Ladyâs and Miss Zhuâs own culinary skills.
Thinking about it, Zhu Pingniang realized why she was just stirring with chopsticks instead of eating.
After a busy day, she wanted something good to eat.
Zhu Pingniang stood up and opened the window looking towards the direction of the Guiding Cloud Boat.
Hmm...
Bringing his family suddenly down the mountain, itâs likely heâs looking for her help with something.
Busy, sheâd naturally help.
Then demanding a good meal, shouldnât be too much?
Iâm quite accomplished.
She thought so.