The heavens know what might happen.
Qingluo, Wen Li... LuâEr, and even... myself.
Zhu Pingniang recalled her earlier fluttering feelings, and glanced sheepishly at Li Zhibai, only to use her affection for him to dispel that inexplicable stirring.
To be precise.
"Ni Zi." Zhu Pingniang tilted her head and said with lingering fear to Miss Lu, "Luckily we have Ms. Yun, fortunately we have Ms. Yun."
"...?" Miss Lu had a question mark over her head, helplessly saying, "Sister, what are you thinking about now? When will you be serious."
"Just listen to what I say. Any more nonsense, and youâll be the last to receive the Immortal Sectâs elixir next time." Zhu Pingniang glared.
"... Whatever you say is right." Miss Lu couldnât help but sigh, then whispered, "But sister, you were right about one thing... It seems that this table of dishes is indeed Miss Yunâs treasures."
"Of course... I wouldnât lie to you all." Zhu Pingniang said, blinking suspiciously.
Hmm?
What does Ni Zi mean?
Did something happen just now?
Did she miss something?
Never mind, it has nothing to do with Miss Zhu.
Zhu Pingniang felt the time was right, and continued to ask, "Giving us women your treasures for dinner, wouldnât you feel heartache?"
"No." Yun Qian said honestly.
"As expected." Zhu Pingniang smiled, her gaze sweeping over Li Zhibai, suddenly asking, "But is it because, for you, we women are not considered outsiders?"
Zhu Pingniang smiled, pushing the meaning of âadding fuel to the fireâ to the extreme, but to her surprise, Yun Qian just nodded gently.
She didnât feel any shame or embarrassment, merely stating seriously, "Thatâs right, not everyone can eat what he makes."
Because those present are all considered her own people, so they ate her treasures, Yun Qian didnât mind.
ââ
Not everyone can eat what he makes...?
Yun Qianâs assertive words left Zhu Pingniang stunned, her smile froze.
Her heart suddenly raced.
Not just her, all the ladies present understood Yun Qianâs meaning at that moment.
It turns out that in Yun Qianâs heart, they are close people.
"... Miss, you... never mind." Xu Changâan felt a bit happy that Yun Qian recognized the elders of his family, yet in his heart... it felt rather uncomfortable.
Although he had long been accustomed to Yun Qianâs habit of casually speaking âsweet wordsâ, it was apparent that others found it difficult to face such direct feelings from a lady.
Look at Steward Lu, blood might as well be dripping from her face.
Even the teacher was staring at her in a daze.
Only Senior Wen...
Xu Changâan blinked.
Wen Li continued to eat the food in front of her, as if Yun Qianâs words had no impact on her at all.
Swallowing the sweet shrimp dumpling in her mouth, Wen Li tilted her head.
Indeed, no impact, for she had heard it many times, and now Wen Li had become accustomed to interacting with Yun Qian.
In the past, during breaks while teaching Yun Qian about cultivation, Yun Qian would invite her to drink tea dried by Xu Changâan, or invite her to the study to read novels written by Xu Changâanâs own hand, and similar things were said then.
Because Yun Qian recognized and liked her, she was willing to share these things with her.
Upon hearing these things initially, Wen Li naturally felt a stir of emotion, but now as an experienced person, she just quietly ate her food.
"..."
With Yun Qianâs matter-of-fact words, the previously tense atmosphere at the table transformed with a spring breeze, quickly dissipating to allow everyone to feel pleasant and at ease.
"Ms. Yun... oh sister, you really did just say it outright." Zhu Pingniangâs ears were tinged with a blush.
Despite her fussing at the banquet, she didnât expect... Yun Qian had not a hint of disdain, dislike, or annoyance towards her actions.
Truth be told, as a woman, Zhu Pingniang herself felt a bit dislikeable acting this way.
"Alright, calm down." Li Zhibai recovered, pushing the teacup in front of her towards Zhu Pingniang, dispelling her inexplicable âawkwardnessâ, and gave a teasing glance.
"..." Zhu Pingniang, too embarrassed to speak, even relinquished the rare chance to use Li Zhibaiâs teacup.
She knew Li Zhibai was blaming her, blaming that Yun Qian regarded them as close, having shared her treasures with them... yet she attempted to ruin the atmosphere at the banquet.
"I didnât mean to." Zhu Pingniang sighed lightly.
Truly had no choice.
Zhu Pingniang realized she was not as good as the young girl playing the zither below, LanâEr, for the song "As Close As Kin" she composed for her beloved girl was deeply appreciated and listened to many times.
But as a mother, she feels inferior to her own daughter.
She wished she could perform such music for Li Zhibai but lacked the courage.
She also wanted, like Xu Changâan, to openly feed the one she loves, but given Li Zhibaiâs straightforward nature, she might disdain being fed and prefer eating by herself, so... she resorted to such means.
With a refreshing breath, Zhu Pingniang regained confidence and determination in her heart.
"Ah Bai, let me feed you."
Zhu Pingniang suddenly said earnestly and frankly.
"Hmm?"
Li Zhibai was taken aback, frowning, "I can do it myself."
"Do it yourself? Are you capable?" Zhu Pingniang eyed the scattered shrimp shells before Li Zhibai: "Eating like this, youâre clearly wasting Changâanâs craftsmanship. Ms. Yunâs treasures should not be treated like cattle grazing on peoniesâitâs sheer waste."
"You little girl, who are you calling cattle." Li Zhibai noticed Zhu Pingniang remained restless and glared at her.
"Regardless, eating like this wonât do, let me feed you." Zhu Pingniang smiled.
"Whatâs wrong with just eating?" Li Zhibai felt Xu Changâan and others were watching, finding it truly helpless and, well, impossible.
Even for her, she would not actually get angry at the banquet and spoil the mood.
"I know I made Ah Bai unhappy." Zhu Pingniang blinked, looking at the delicious dishes on the table, "Ah Bai, you ate the lotus leaf pancakes directly before, clearly thatâs not how they should be eaten, if not... let me serve you to dine."
"Serve... me to eat?" Li Zhibai asked, "Thereâs really something to say about just eating?"
"Naturally." Zhu Pingniang focused intently on the dishes, seriously stating, "Take this plate of sea crabs, for instance, do you know which parts are delicious, and in what order to eat them for the best taste?"
"Crabs... arenât they just eaten straight from the legs?" Li Zhibai instinctively replied.
"And what about the lotus duck?" Hong Yin pointed to the bone Li Zhibai had half-eaten: "Who eats like that?"
"Moreover, the meat that Changâan prepared, you just eat it directly without untying it first? The meat is already tender..."
"And this, Changâanâs fish steaks are so well-made, the tastiest part is this one... yet you mixed it with fish bones and tossed it aside?"
Zhu Pingniang continued her chatter incessantly, her maternal-like demeanor instinctively made Li Zhibai hunch down.
Could it be... Tong Jun was right?
Is her way of eating incorrect?
But having been raised as a lady, with meals always served, and later becoming indifferent to these, she truly did not know there were so many nuances to eating.
Li Zhibai instinctively glanced at Xu Changâan, seeing his resigned face... gently nodding to her.
Although he believed there was no need to be overly concerned about food, comfort was the priority, yet in the Flower Moon Building with its many rules, Zhu Pingniangâs sayings were indeed correct, he couldnât deny this.
At this moment, Xu Changâan suddenly understood what Zhu Pingniang wanted to do.
She... was intending to feed the teacher.
And Li Zhibai indeed adhered to principles the most.
Zhu Pingniang was leveraging Yun Qian, utilizing Yun Qianâs regard for food, and exploiting Li Zhibaiâs affection for Yun Qian.
After all, the lady did exhibit deep concern towards the dishes.
Zhu Pingniang deliberately struck at the teacherâs weakness.
Xu Changâanâs expression became peculiar, musing that when deciphering the teacherâs thoughts, it indeed still takes a senior like Zhu.
"Ms. Yun also said that this table of dishes is her treasure, and eating like this... Arenât you undervaluing Ms. Yunâs treasures? Humph, such waste." Zhu Pingniang earnestly proclaimed.
"Let me teach you how to eat, shall I?"
Li Zhibai: "..."