Chapter 946 - 523: The Girl Who Truly Knows How to Scheme (Double-Length) (Part 2)

Li Zhibai couldn’t say if the girl’s actions were foolish, but Qinling’s behavior, which can suppress her nature... the same thing again, if such behavior cannot attract Tongjun’s attention...

Then she can understand whatever Qinling does.

It’s none of her business.

"That Ni Zi has suffered quite a grievance on the mountain, a Tribulation Thunder directly booted Qinling out from the management of Celestial Bright Peak." Li Zhibai said.

"Talking about this matter angers me." Zhu Pingniang furrowed her brows and stomped her foot forcefully: "Never mind that those old women of Muyu Peak deliberately laugh at me, Ah Bai, you were clearly on the mountain, how could you let Qin’Er be bullied? Did she want you as her aunt just to deliver her wine?"

Li Zhibai twisted her lips slightly, remaining silent.

Thus, Zhu Pingniang’s momentum deflated quickly, revealing guilt: "...It’s my fault."

In the end, was it not her who avoided Qinling in every matter, letting others think that Qinling, the former Zither Girl, had been completely abandoned, reduced to an Outer Sect Steward?

Thinking of this, Zhu Pingniang wanted to slap herself.

She truly thought through everything thoroughly, arranging even Ah Qing, a new girl, clearly, yet hadn’t cared much for Qinling, her eldest daughter, letting others think she’d been completely abandoned. It’s not a lie to say she felt ashamed.

Perhaps those who bullied Qinling thought they were venting frustrations on her behalf, that they were pleasing her.

"You should go up the mountain to see her." Li Zhibai stated.

"I know." Zhu Pingniang took a deep breath and smiled bitterly: "But Ah Bai, you may not be aware, that Ni Zi is certainly not the meek, easily bullied type."

What a joke.

Qinling was raised by Zhu Tongjun, do I need to say what a lawless character Zhu Tongjun is?

If Qinling were truly a meek person, could she use seductive medicine?

So, being easily kicked out from management and ordered... even kneeling would tell Pingniang something’s amiss.

"Ah Bai, it’s a ruse of self-injury, you have to believe me." Zhu Pingniang pointed a finger towards Chaoyun Sect: "Chang’an said Qin’Er leisurely nurtured a Li Hua, she’s surely now hugging Li Hua, basking in moonlight, waiting for me to walk in."

"Ruse of self-injury?"

Li Zhibai couldn’t help but sigh.

These two... what are they up to.

"Ruse of self-injury, then?" Li Zhibai looked at her.

"Then... what’s with ’then’." Zhu Pingniang was a bit confused.

"Don’t you enjoy testing people?" Li Zhibai said slowly: "Why then, when it’s your own daughter, can’t you see it."

Zhu Pingniang: "..."

After silence, she shrank her neck.

Indeed, it’s Ah Bai who sees things clearly.

Her probing of Yun Qian’s status was something that couldn’t escape Li Zhibai’s eyes; she simply didn’t bother.

But what Ah Bai meant...

Does it mean Qinling also uses being kicked out as a way to test her status in her mom’s heart, wanting to see... whether, even if she knows she’s possibly bluffing, if she’d still worry?

"She’s not so young anymore, why do such things?" Zhu Pingniang, baffled: "It’s hard to tell who she’s taking after."

Li Zhibai glanced at Zhu Pingniang.

Taking after whom?

Besides taking after her mother, who else?

Zhu Pingniang seemed puzzled, then realized: "Something’s wrong."

Why did Li Zhibai suddenly show concern for Qinling?

When Qinling was by her side before, Li Zhibai never cared much for Qinling; once she herself distanced, Li Zhibai started paying attention?

First giving Qinling the wine which was meant for her, then... advising her here.

Zhu Pingniang instantly became alert.

"Ah Bai, what benefits did Qinling give you."

Li Zhibai shook her head, unfazed by Zhu Pingniang’s suspicion, merely repeating: "Tong Jun, I’m saying... Qinling has suffered quite a grievance."

"I know, isn’t it a ruse of self-injury?" Zhu Pingniang nodded: "She purposely didn’t resist."

"From which side did people take over Qinling’s share?" Li Zhibai asked.

"Chang’an previously told me, it’s Profound Sword Bureau..."

Zhu Pingniang said and suddenly froze, then linking Li Zhibai’s words, she was silent for a long time, then sighed: "So, that girl is giving face to you, withholding from arguing with Profound Sword Bureau people."

Zhu Pingniang forgot this matter.

Generally, people don’t know Li Zhibai’s ancestral ties with Profound Sword Bureau, but Qinling is aware.

Thus, when people from Profound Sword Bureau came to replace her, Qinling did not resist at all. As a junior, she tried not to clash with people from that senior side.

So, Ah Bai said Qinling suffered grievances.

So, Li Zhibai, unusually, was temporarily standing by Qinling, speaking for her.

Zhu Pingniang, in this moment, understood everything.

Her apprehension dissipated entirely, only heartache remained.

"Damn it, why didn’t Qin’Er straight speak this in her letter? I thought it was a ruse of self-injury..." Zhu Pingniang gritted her teeth: "What a broken Profound Sword Bureau, why care for that place? Ah Bai, stuff unworthy of your gaze, would a Ni Zi concern herself with it."

Why not reject outright?

When it caused a stir, she wouldn’t blame her Ni Zi’s wrongs.

Thinking so, Zhu Pingniang froze again.

She suddenly realized, Qinling perhaps didn’t want to clash with Profound Sword Bureau to avoid putting her mother in awkward positions.

After all, Qinling knew how much she loved Li Zhibai, and in some respect, Profound Sword Bureau had produced Li Zhibai as a ’Sect Leader.’

As long as she’s in position, she’s a Sect Leader.

Silence.

As Ah Bai said, indeed, Qinling has truly been wronged quite a bit.

"I know... I’ll visit her on the mountain in some days." Zhu Pingniang worriedly glanced toward Muyu Peak.

"...Mm." Li Zhibai responded, not speaking further, yet she understood clearly.

Wasn’t it a ruse of self-injury?

No doubt Qinling suffered, but whether she harbors such intentions, Li Zhibai remains skeptical.

Things are largely the same as Zhu Pingniang initially said, Qinling indeed cuddles her Mao’Er singing, waiting for her to visit.

Yet Li Zhibai did not intend to expose it.

After all, no matter what, Qinling is Tong Jun’s favorite girl, should truthfully call herself ’auntie’s Ni Zi.’

Her character mirrors Zhu Pingniang closely.

Does Zhu Pingniang enjoy using open schemes?

Qinling uses them much more smoothly, fearing to put Zhu Pingniang in difficulty, she makes deliberate concessions with Profound Sword Bureau.

However, borrowing Profound Sword Bureau... scheming against Zhu Pingniang is also true.

This mother and daughter’s confrontation.

In the end, Tong Jun lost.

What are open schemes?

Li Zhibai watched Zhu Pingniang take out the letter Qinling sent and reread it, she couldn’t help but smile.

True open schemes are, even without matters of Profound Sword Bureau, as long as Zhu Pingniang knows she truly withdrew from the core circle, even if it was truly a ruse of self-injury... Zhu Pingniang would still go see her.

Li Zhibai didn’t care whether Qinling was truly wronged, she only foresaw Zhu Pingniang wanting to return to the mountain and gave her a step down.

Another reason is, she asked Qinling about good swords in the Cultivation Realm when she descended, which counts as repaying a favor.

Women’s thoughts weave round and round but never forget the original intention.

Thus, if there’s anyone in this world who can truly outsmart Tong Jun... it would be none other than this Qin’Er.

"Tong Jun, Qinling and Xu Chang’an’s relationship seems quite good, is there your directive in this?" Li Zhibai asked.

"No, I haven’t spoken to her about such matters for a long time." Zhu Pingniang shook her head.

But as long as it’s someone she sends to the mountain, without directives, Qinling will take good care of them.

Zhu Pingniang pouted.

"Ah Bai, you’re interested in Yun Qian, right? Qinling indeed takes care of your Ms. Yun, but... Yun Qian calls her ’teacher uncle’ without pause."

Light snort.

These ties, truly a scattered mess.