"Sister?" The young girl noticed Ah Qing was in a daze and asked curiously, "Whatâs wrong with you?"
"...Nothing." Ah Qing shook her head.
Let the young master... go cook?
With such a violent rainstorm outside, the Lingyu covering all of Beisang City, instead of taking the opportunity to find any clues on Young Master Xu, Zhu Pingniang let that young master wield a knife to... chop vegetables?
What on earth is in Zhu Pingniangâs head.
"I originally thought that someone like me would take the stage, already... didnât expect..." Ah Qing covered her forehead with one hand.
"?"
Ah Qing couldnât help but sigh.
Who is Young Master Xu?
In her mind, now, whether itâs the Lingyu, Celestial Tribulation, or Great Sun phenomena, none have anything to do with Shi Qingjun; all are pinned on Xu Changâan.
Such a man who can bring peace through the ages now dealing with mundane affairs, and not long ago... was blocked outside by a group of brothel girls?
There must be something wrong with this world.
Forget it.
She thought that her going on stage to dance was already absurd enough, but she didnât expect even Xu Changâan to be driven to the kitchen to cook...
In comparison, Ah Qing suddenly felt that her going up to perform a dance was not such a big deal.
While Ah Qingâs thoughts were drifting, the young girlâs tone became much more excited: "Sister, I just saw Miss Yun, sheâs... so beautiful."
Indeed very beautiful.
Ah Qing nodded.
If only... Yun Qian wouldnât stare at her waist and hips, it would be even better.
Why was that girl looking at her all the time?
Ah Qing felt that when it came to figure, she was still inferior to Yun Qian...
"Now I can understand why when you came back, Sister Qing, you were so absent-minded when you mentioned Miss Yun... Sister, Pingniang is really kind to you. She actually persuaded Miss Yun to use your ribbon."
Ah Qing: "....?"
Ribbon?
Wasnât it Young Master Xu who got off the carriage to ask her for it? What does it have to do with Zhu Pingniang?
It seems the girls here misunderstood something.
But after Ah Qing saw the sparkle in the young girlâs eyes, those things no longer mattered.
Ah Qing was actually very curious about Yun Qian, a woman with "great causality" and "great fortune".
After all, thatâs Young Master Xu.
Breaking his... she couldnât even imagine how much causality was involved in that.
In Ah Qing, a cultivatorâs eyes, Yun Qian was already beautiful beyond the earthly realm, as if... no matter what she looked like, just standing there she would be inherently "beautiful," as if touching upon the level of rules.
But she is a cultivator, so her viewpoint doesnât replace that of ordinary girls.
"I know Miss Yun is very beautiful... but do you think Pingniang is more beautiful, or Miss Yun?" Ah Qing asked softly.
This time, Ah Qing didnât ask if she was more beautiful or Zhu Pingniang, because she knew very well how high Zhu Pingniang stood in these girlsâ hearts.
"Miss Yun more beautiful, or Pingniang? Sister Qing... how could you ask such a question." The young girl looked at Ah Qing like she was an odd person, then shook her head and said:
"How can the fireflyâs glow compare to the brilliance of the moon."
Oh, Ah Qing remembered, the girl in front of her had attended school for a few years. She asked, "Then who is the firefly..."
"Pingniang."
Without a momentâs hesitation, the young girl firmly pinned Zhu Pingniang among the "corpses".
"Pingniang is pretty, but she wore all black today, looking like a slippery eel in front of Miss Yun." The young girl said discontentedly, "Couldnât she dress a bit better?"
Ah Qing: "..."
At this moment, Ah Qing gained another layer of understanding about the personality of Flower Moon Buildingâs girls. That is, no matter how important a person is, they canât hold a candle against beauty. Just a while ago, wasnât this girl saying decisively that she liked Zhu Pingniang the most?
Speaking of which.
Ah Qing touched her cheek.
If she wasnât such a delicate girl, would the young girl not approach her?
After glancing at the utterly genuine young girl before her, Ah Qing got her answer and thus didnât voice the question.
She suddenly felt, if Shi Qingjun appeared, this girl would instantly side with her.
After all, her appearance still couldnât match Shi Qingjunâs.
"...Tsk."
Prepare for the dance.
ââ
Atop the high mountains of the Chaoyun Sect, Shi Qingjun stood on the summit, her clothes fluttering, her gaze resting on the overcast clouds above Beisang City.
Shi Qingjunâs long hair was tied in a ponytail, and she sat down at the edge of the cliff, her expression serious.
The rain... she knew it was because of Xu Changâan.
But she didnât know why, since sometime earlier, there had been a sense of unease in her heart.
Though she couldnât exactly call it unease, it was somewhat... of an anxiety.
In the past, she would only feel anxious about the path of cultivation ahead, but now, despite her mind being stable and even though her strength has declined by 20%, her mental realm had not regressed but advanced instead.
Under such circumstances, if she felt uneasy, something must be happening in Beisang City.
But with Tong Jun keeping watch, she swept her divine sense around and found nothing amiss.
Besides, with Xu Changâan there, what could possibly go wrong?
Shi Qingjun couldnât quite understand, even wondering if her restlessness was because she wanted to secretly observe Xu Changâan, but had been holding back, which caused her heart to race.
Shi Qingjun: "..."
She slowly closed her eyes, took out a fruit, gently bit it, and forced herself to be at ease.
ââ
On the surface of the Inner Lake, the green waters flowed gently.
Outside the painted boat, four or five decorated boats were brightly lit, gathered around Zhu Pingniangâs large boat, lively girls had taken to the deck, drinking and laughing.
Elsewhere everything was joyful.
But at this moment, Zhu Pingniang... was on pins and needles.
Zhu Pingniang secretly glanced at Yun Qian, who was sitting quietly beside her, nibbling on candied fruits.
"Ahem." Zhu Pingniang gently loosened her collar, exposing her fair neck, and pretended to relax as she said, "Ms. Yun, just tell me if thereâs anything you want to eat, there are many new and novel pastries today, even Changâan might not make them."
"Mm." Yun Qian nodded calmly, took a piece of pastry from the table, and took a bite.
Seeing this, Zhu Pingniang refrained from saying the words she had initially prepared to greet.
She was just like a girl wanting to make friends, full of words stuck in her throat.
Precisely speaking, Zhu Pingniang only realized after Xu Changâanâs departure what kind of situation she had taken on...
Only at close range could one feel how beautiful the girl in front of her was, whether it was her attire or makeup, both made Zhu Pingniang deeply aware of the vast difference between people.
Of course, what left Zhu Pingniang at a loss was clearly not the appearance, but the gaze.
She didnât know how the girl in front of her... managed to maintain such serenity.
It was like she didnât care at all about the matters around her.
But being indifferent would have been fine!
After all, Zhu Pingniang had known from the beginning that Yun Qian wasnât good at communication and had a cold nature, so she was already prepared for an awkward atmosphere and Yun Qian ignoring her.
But the problem lay in this.
Yun Qian was obviously indifferent; she should have remained that way... but Zhu Pingniang found that occasionally Yun Qianâs gaze upon her wasnât cold at all.
Not only was it not cold, but it actually carried some gentleness and interest.
That feeling... was like a cold and secluded pool meant to turn into eternal ice suddenly melted, with the rippling clear water reflecting her shadow.
Zhu Pingniang saw her own reflection in Yun Qianâs eyes...
And then she suddenly panicked a little for no reason.
What on earth was going on?
Why... did Yun Qian look at her so kindly?
Zhu Pingniang was bewildered, knowing that she had prepared for being ignored before Xu Changâan arrived... but didnât expect Yun Qianâs gaze to be so soft.
It was just like... looking at a younger sister.
Strange.
How could this be.
Realizing she was completely overshadowed by Miss Yun, Zhu Pingniang was stunned.
She completely couldnât understand, wasnât she supposed to be a bad woman?
Zhu Pingniang couldnât believe Xu Changâan wouldnât tell Yun Qian some of her deeds... or rather, on the carriage, Yun Qian had already learned of her "glorious" deeds.
Under multiple blows, Zhu Pingniangâs mental realm was disturbed.
Because she vaguely saw the shadow of Li Zhibai on Yun Qian.
Fortunately, this Miss Yun wasnât like her, wouldnât take advantage while a girl was confused and at a loss, so she just sat quietly, snacked, and thought about something.
Only occasionally would she look at Zhu Pingniang when something struck her, then fall into thought.
"..."
Zhu Pingniang breathed a sigh of relief.
What to say.
Luckily, it was Yun Qian.
She didnât have to speak.
Indeed.
No more speaking.
Wait for Changâan to arrive.