But the problem is...
Even if she wanted to, she doesnât have a way to give Ah Bai a child.
She doesnât have that capability.
Zhu Pingniang was stunned for a while, then thought if Li Zhibai cultivated many elixirs, some that had rich life energy, just to break through the Dao Rhyme blocking Yin and Yang, it might not be impossible.
At this moment, a cool breeze slipped through the window into Zhu Pingniangâs collar, causing her to shiver.
She could almost see Li Zhibaiâs face filled with disdain and vigilance once he learned of her thoughts.
Zhu Pingniang: "..."
Hiss.
What on earth am I thinking...
Zhu Pingniang felt a chill down her spine, her expression peculiar, feeling that the Yun Qian in front of her was dangerous, causing her to think of all these strange things.
"Well... whether itâs you who likes children or Changâan." Zhu Pingniang gave Yun Qian a heads-up, saying, "After cultivation, even if your health improves, you still canât have children..."
There was a sentence left unsaid.
Canât have children, but night affairs are not forbidden. So if Yun Qian wants better stamina, she can achieve that.
"You canât, why?" Yun Qian looked at Zhu Pingniang, her eyes very earnest.
For Miss Yun, not being able to conceive and being forbidden from having children are two different concepts.
Considering Yun Qianâs obsession with children, if not for Xu Changâanâs obstruction, she was planning to create one by hand, even if the result might look... indescribable and neither godly nor human.
But she was indeed moved.
Now, due to her husbandâs providence, she was told she couldnât have children?
"Sister... donât look at me like that." Zhu Pingniang, without realizing it, had fingers that slightly stiffened, but... she did feel somewhat uncomfortable, as if something were targeting her.
Of course, it wasnât Yun Qian staring at her.
The reason why villains can live well is that she is favored.
If she werenât cherished by Miss Yun, then...
It would still be fine.
Xu Changâan still favors her.
As the pressure gradually dissipated, Zhu Pingniang gently sighed, thinking she genuinely liked this Yun sister; just a little displeasure from her, and she would be tense to the point of breathlessness.
"Alright, Yun sister, calm down a bit." Zhu Pingniang said as she stood up to pour Yun Qian a cup of tea, simultaneously explaining, "Itâs not that Iâm forbidding you from having any children, but... after you start cultivating, you simply wonât be able to do it in the short term."
Seeing the puzzled look on Yun Qianâs face, Zhu Pingniang had no choice but to explain with resignation.
"Our girls, around the age of thirteen or fourteen, open the Ren Meridian, the Tai Chong Meridian flourishes, which means Gui Water comes, the menstrual blood..." Zhu Pingniang explained this quite familiar matter, as she was the mother of so many girls, of course, it fell to her to teach them these private matters.
As she spoke, she found it a bit odd.
Yun Qian appears to be a proper lady from a distinguished family; how come when she was young, no mother or nurse explained these things to her...
It can be understood, perhaps.
After all, if Yun Qian was a sickly child, who never experienced Gui Water, whatâs the point of explaining it to her?
Tell her she isnât a normal woman, and that she might be infertile in the future?
Such cruel things, if Zhu Pingniang thought of herself as Yun Qianâs mother, she wouldnât explain them to her either.
Thinking of this, Zhu Pingniang looked at Yun Qian with eyes full of pity and sympathy.
It wasnât necessarily maternal love overflowing, but itâs Zhu Pingniangâs inherent nature; otherwise, she wouldnât have taken in so many children to raise herself.
She brought the hot tea to Yun Qian, warming her hands, and said softly, "Sister, you were once so weak, losing the Gui Water. This does not only harm your health but also affects your cultivation..."
Zhu Pingniang chuckled lightly, "In this world, in our mundane world, our daughters are weak and have no status. Who let us have less strength than men and become weak every month, become vulnerable during pregnancy, unable to work... Therefore, the matters of womenâs weakness and low status, in such a world, no one can change them."
She paused for a moment, then said to Yun Qian with a sigh, "But... itâs undeniable that the Heavenly Dao is the fairest thing. The burdens of the mundane world, when viewed from the cultivation realm, become advantages."
Because they can nurture gods, they are naturally born with a Spirit Road, able to absorb Heaven and Earth Spiritual Qi better to nourish the soul.
Even the monthly burden, during Gui Water, allows them to surpass male cultivators significantly in the early stages.
Afterward, cultivation can keep a young girlâs body always in the desired age range. Though the age keeps growing, only the soul actually ages, even if the realm becomes higher, allowing for voluntary control of age, it only appears aging; as long as the soul does not perish, a womanâs body remains at its peak.
"Therefore... the Heavenly Dao is fair." Zhu Pingniang looked up to the sky, as if she could see stars hanging high in the sky through the clouds.
As a woman, she felt grateful for the Heavenly Daoâs favor.
Heavenly Dao: "..."
Little did Zhu Pingniang know, in the eyes of what she was thankful for, she appeared as a frightening, blue-faced fanged monster.
Pulling herself back to reality, Zhu Pingniang noticed Yun Qianâs thoughtful expression and shook her head lightly.
Her words werenât meaningless.
Instead, she wanted Yun Qian to know sheâs a lucky girl.
In the mundane world, she was spared from Gui Water, not experiencing any of the troubles and inconveniences it brings.
And now in the Immortal Sect... experiencing Gui Water again would only allow her to enjoy the favor bestowed by the Heavenly Gui.
At this time, donât dismiss it as a nuisance.
After all, being a woman herself, Zhu Pingniang understands that getting a girl who never had Gui Water to accept the regular monthly schedule... at first, requires some psychological counseling.
Yun Qian: "..."
Miss Yun held the warm teacup, watching the ripples in the water, and raised her head to look at Zhu Pingniang, who was full of gratitude but seemingly clueless.
"Alright, I know Yun sister, youâre completely lost now, but... Iâll slowly teach you later, didnât I teach Wen Li hand in hand back then?" Zhu Pingniang winked.
"Yun sister, Wen Li, Little Wen, is your guide; you should be very familiar with her, right?"
Yun Qian thought of Wen Liâs fondness for the tea she brewed for Xu Changâan, and nodded.
"I sent Wen Li up the mountain, and Ah Bai taught her the basics of cultivation..." Zhu Pingniang said, further explaining, "Ah Bai is Changâanâs teacher, you should often hear him mention it."
Yun Qian nodded, just about to speak when she was interrupted by Zhu Pingniang.
"Got sidetracked." Zhu Pingniang shook her head, saying to Yun Qian, "Yun sister, once your health is better and you open the Spirit Road... since youâre starting much later than others, the acceleration during Gui Water becomes especially important for cultivation."
Simply put, because Yun Qian is older, the speed enhancement of the Spirit Road through Gui Water is particularly vital for her.
At this time, how could she think of having kids?
With the Spirit Road blocked by a child for over a year, whatâs the point of Yun Qian cultivating?
Therefore, in the early stages of cultivation, Yun Qian should not have children; she should focus on her cultivation.
After explaining this reasoning to Yun Qian, Zhu Pingniang noticed Yun Qianâs calm demeanor, seemingly indifferent, and immediately realized she was talking in vain.
Because Yun Qian simply doesnât care about cultivation; sheâs cultivating for better health to have kids, so how could she abandon her wish for cultivation?
For Yun Qian, that would be putting the cart before the horse.
Thankfully... Zhu Pingniang curled her lips.
She was beginning to understand how to handle the young lady before her.
Getting Yun Qian to understand was too simple.
"Ahem."
Zhu Pingniang cleared her throat, smiling as she said.
"Yun sister, Changâan wants you to cultivate, and he knows the benefits of Gui Water for cultivation. With his character... how could he possibly let you have a child as soon as your health improves?"
Yun Qian: "..."
Seeing Yun Qian in a daze, Zhu Pingniang seized the moment: "Youâve said itâs him who likes children, not you. You know Changâan best; would Changâan delay your cultivation because of his own desires? So, by then, it wonât be me not allowing you to have children, but Changâan wonât allow it."