Chapter 474 - 0289 Stick to the Usual Norms (Two in One)_2

Overall, it’s not Xu Chang’an that’s worrying, but rather our own Ms. Zhu.

In fact, even now, Miss Lu is not sure if her own lady truly has no interest in the young man in that way.

"I see that you quite like him too," Zhu Pingniang squinted her eyes.

"There are many kinds of liking," Miss Lu coughed lightly.

In her eyes, the young man was quite pleasing to look at; his demeanor and speech were completely different from his ordinary peers, neither pretending to be mature nor overly immature. Sometimes he just stood there quietly, giving off an indescribable, elegant aura.

However, Miss Lu spoke openly, "The young master is youthful and handsome, gentle like jade, and he’s great at cooking... Who wouldn’t like him?"

"Cooking skills? Where did you hear that from?" Zhu Pingniang asked.

"That’s just what everyone says."

"Tsk," Zhu Pingniang didn’t say anything more.

Seeing this, Miss Lu had a sudden flash of insight in her mind and abruptly asked, "Ms. Zhu, why haven’t you eaten anything today?"

She had noticed it while tidying up the room, thinking that today’s food might not have suited her taste. But now it seemed that perhaps Ms. Zhu wanted to eat... something he made?

"You cunning girl, I usually don’t see you being this clever," Zhu Pingniang’s eyes flickered dangerously.

"Sister, don’t be angry. I won’t take this month’s break; I’ll help you keep accounts..." Miss Lu suddenly felt like her body was in pain as if from a whip, and she immediately gave a flattering smile to Zhu Pingniang, saying, "I’ll go prepare the ingredients for you and deliver them to the young master’s resting place later."

"You’re a steward now, but you’re acting like a child," Zhu Pingniang sighed helplessly.

She couldn’t do anything about her maid; after all, she doted on her.

"I’m only like this in front of you," Miss Lu curtsied, bowed to the guqin downstairs, then turned and left.

Zhu Pingniang watched her departing figure in silence for a while.

"..."

In front of her, she was a little girl, but in others’ eyes, a stern woman...

She thought of Qinling from the Chaoyun Sect.

However, after having brought up a Qinling, she had intentionally changed her attitude towards young girls... Although Lu’Er was also quite attached to her, at least Lu’Er still liked men.

As for Qinling...

Remembering that clingy little troublemaker, Zhu Pingniang felt a faint headache.

That Qin’Er... is beyond saving now.

Forget it, let’s not think about it.

Glancing in Xu Chang’an’s direction, Zhu Pingniang squinted her eyes, a black paper ornament at her waist gently swaying in the breeze.

I hope Xiaochang’an can understand her intentions.

——

Xu Chang’an did indeed notice something amiss.

For instance, he was obviously in the Flower Moon Building, yet the image of... Mr. Li kept flashing in his mind.

Li Zhibai.

Upon closer inspection, he would realize that the decor of this entire floor of the Flower Moon Building leaned towards dark, with black and white contrasts, and Zhu Pingniang’s pitch-black close-fitting dress also carried some of the designs from Li Zhibai’s Daoist robe.

The details and demeanor were similar to those of Li Zhibai.

The simplest example was a fine piece of calligraphy hanging on the wall of the elegant room where Xu Chang’an was.

Xu Chang’an looked over, noting an air of elegance hidden within the delicate brushstrokes.

[Zhibai shou ru, An chang shou gu.]

The eight elegant ink characters decorated the wall of the elegant room, hanging in the most conspicuous place as if afraid he wouldn’t see them.

Previously, even if Xu Chang’an saw them, he wouldn’t think much of it, instead praising the excellent calligraphy.

These words fit perfectly within the gray area of the brothel.

But now it’s different, because he knew Mrs. Li’s name and some secrets.

Under such circumstances, those characters by Zhu Pingniang felt out of place no matter how he looked at them.

Could it be that Senior Zhu has feelings for his teacher...

And Junior Master Qin...

Xu Chang’an soon realized that as someone junior, he shouldn’t be making such assumptions.

The world has passionate feelings beyond just romantic love, and at least from what he saw of his teacher, those feelings transcend love and even kinship, something far more radiant.

He didn’t know what kind of past there was between the teacher and Senior Zhu.

Xu Chang’an chuckled lightly, then picked up a snack from his side, biting into it and savored it slowly while contemplating whether Miss Yun had something to eat at the resting place as she mentioned being hungry not long ago...

While lost in thought, a sudden burst of bright light accompanied by the voices of the girls alerted Xu Chang’an to the start of the music performance.

He reined in his wandering thoughts and focused intently on watching.

The senior, no, elder was performing on stage specifically for him, and he dared not watch carelessly.

...

At this moment, the scent of peonies mixed with crabapple blossoms filled the Flower Moon Building, enveloping it in silence as all the girls’ eyes were fixed on the black-clad woman striding toward the guqin on the stage.

Bright lights from above reflected off her head ornament, shimmering dazzlingly, greatly drawing attention.

In truth, wearing silver ornaments during a performance at the Flower Moon Building was generally frowned upon, yet even from a distance, Zhu Pingniang’s hair glimmered brightly under the stage lights.

Interestingly, however, the shimmering light of Zhu Pingniang’s black dress and silver ornaments formed a strikingly harmonious and beautiful tableau.

The contrast of black and white etched deeply into Xu Chang’an’s psyche, making him reassess... he couldn’t have been overthinking just now.

Senior Zhu must be hinting at something.

Is it because he gained recognition from his teacher after ascending the mountain this time?

Probably... not.

Xu Chang’an didn’t like indulging in wishful thinking and consequently ceased to speculate.

...

Zhu Pingniang had already seated herself before the guqin, with lights pouring over her all-black ensemble, which absorbed them yet contrarily accentuated a few degrees of aloof coolness.

The Flower Moon Building and Zhu Pingniang.

These two together should’ve been the epitome of seduction, yet now they compelled everyone to hold their breath involuntarily, while the girls below the stage shone with admiration or longing as they gazed at the woman on stage.

Zhu Pingniang’s slender fingers plucked the guqin strings gently.

"Zheng——"

The metallic twang resonated, instantly shifting everyone’s attention from her face to the music.

Then, a touch of languor surfaced as leisurely music flowed along graceful curves throughout the Flower Moon Building, serenely provoking a sense out of quiet like floating gossamer.

Xu Chang’an listened intently.

He’d heard Zhu Pingniang’s music before, but back then the senior wasn’t so earnest; it was more like teasing him. Yet even then, listening to the music made Xu Chang’an feel refreshed, an exquisite enjoyment.

Now with the senior being serious, Xu Chang’an unconsciously closed his eyes, quietly experiencing the ebb and flow of the music.

The music was graceful and lingering, at times flowing like mountain springs meandering through secluded valleys, other times as if unpolished mountain stone, simple and natural.

Because it was performed for his family and Xu Chang’an, the choice of song held no need for deep significance as long as it sounded pleasant.

But the music was the voice of the heart, interpreting the emotional vicissitudes and internal journey of the player was also a reality.

Thus, with a subtle twitch at the corner of Zhu Pingniang’s mouth on stage, her fingertips imbued with Spiritual Qi, the music underwent slight transformations.

She knew Xu Chang’an’s Spirit Platform was sturdy, and that the Inner Realm was useless, but she could use simpler methods.

Under Zhu Pingniang’s manipulation,

A focused Xu Chang’an "saw" a picture.

——

In the picture, a younger Li Zhibai sat on the ground with a steaming cup of red tea in hand, turned aside while speaking to someone.

——

Xu Chang’an: "???"

He saw Li Zhibai again.

Xu Chang’an’s eyebrows twitched involuntarily with his eyes closed.

Listening to the music, Xu Chang’an suddenly realized that Miss Yun not being with him was a good thing.

Even though Miss Yun wouldn’t get jealous, if his wife were present...

Him loitering in a brothel listening to music was one thing, but having his mind preoccupied with Mr. Li?

Though it might have been suggestive influence, he would still question his sanity.

...

Hmm, Miss Yun doesn’t mind.

Even if it’s something that’s never happened, the Karma Line did exist before.

That’s the main wife, so what if he thinks of her like that.