Ms. Zhu, havenât you thought about how awkward it is for you to sit here...
You must have thought about it.
Sabotaging your daughter like this isnât quite right, is it?
Miss Lu tightly grasped the cushion beneath her.
Choosing to sit next to Zhu Pingniang while Li Zhibai is present... itâs downright torture, a harsh punishment!
Miss Lu envied Wen Li, who could stay far from the battlefieldâs center and rest her eyes.
Miss Wen is really amazing; she must have anticipated how troublesome Zhu Pingniang would be with Miss Li around.
Five fingers sunk into the soft cushion, and Miss Lu forced a smile.
âMaster... Master... why arenât you back yet? Canât you feel a little sympathy for Miss Yunâs future maid?â
The spot by Yun Qianâs side was reserved especially for Xu Changâan, or else she wouldnât be stuck suffering like this in the middle.
âSpeaking of which, Master used to be the ladyâs butler. If I become a maid, then... would I report to the butler, or to the lady?â
According to the rules, a maid who doesnât come with a dowry doesnât belong to the husband. However, Xu Changâan was the butler, and now he calls her âMissâ all the time. Itâs reasonable to say he still holds some responsibilities.
A bit shy.
"Peh."
Miss Lu spat at herself.
Why was she feeling shy in this situation?
âMaster, oh Master... do come back quickly.â
Miss Lu was being tortured by Zhu Pingniang, longing to see Xu Changâan more than ever, much more than in her past simple infatuations.
Sure enough, emotions crumble in the face of reality.
Miss Lu looked at the crowded hall below, suddenly paused, and her restless mood all but vanished, looking serious.
In the banquet hall below, because many shows had been performed, there had to be some intermission since the girls needed to go to the West Pavilion for a break.
Therefore, during the break, people were coming and going.
However, today it seemed like many girls went to gather flowers, chatting and spiraling, making the intermission much longer than usual.
Recalling something, Miss Lu couldnât help but frown.
"Ms. Zhu, something seems odd."
"Whatâs wrong?" Zhu Pingniang asked.
"The girls arenât sitting down." Miss Luâs face wasnât pleasant: "Aqing is opening the show after the break, and these pesky girls must be dragging out the time because they donât want to see Aqing perform."
Using such petty tactics...
She was genuinely a bit angry.
Could they really have turned a deaf ear to Ms. Zhuâs words?
"Oh, donât worry so much." Zhu Pingniang stretched and pinched Miss Luâs stiff face: "Itâs because you change your face so quickly when something small happens that theyâre so afraid of you, afraid to even say a word."
Just a second ago, she was shy and troubled; now she looked like she was going to eat someone. One had to admit, this Ni Zi was more suited to manage things than to be a maid.
"But..."
"Itâs not that they donât want to see Aqing perform that theyâre delaying. Rather, theyâre each running to see her." Zhu Pingniang spread her hands, her gaze passing through the barriers of the wood decorations, her eyes hiding their amazement: "Who wouldâve thought that with a bit of grooming, that girl Aqing would be so eye-catching. Tsk."
"...Eh?" Miss Lu was stunned.
What does that mean?
Does it mean the girls didnât go to the West Pavilion to gather flowers but took this break to sneak a peek at Aqing backstage instead?
"Really, what are they in such a rush for?" Zhu Pingniang waved her hand and said to Miss Lu, "Donât hurry yet; let them have a look for a bit. Itâll help push the atmosphere at the banquet."
Once people have a sense of anticipation and recognition for Aqingâs appearance, her dance will etch a deep impression in their minds, ensuring her popularity in the Flower Moon Building.
So, letâs push the atmosphere a bit more.
"...Mm." Miss Lu didnât quite understand but nodded anyway. Following Ms. Zhuâs arrangements is never wrong.
Zhu Pingniang thoughtfully glanced at Wen Li beside her.
At this moment, Wen Li was half-closing her eyes, looking into the distance, her almond eyes sparkling like glazed light, her hair cascading over her shoulders, rising and falling with each breath. Freed from the austere style of the Daoist robe, the elegance inadvertently displayed on her cool features could be described as breathtakingly beautiful.
Sheâs also a Half-Demon.
Also unexpected.
No one would have imagined this side of Wen Li before she was dressed up.
Aqing is the same.
In Zhu Pingniangâs eyes, Aqing, quietly waiting backstage, is in no way inferior to the current Wen Li, even slightly superior due to her more pronounced femininity.
"Ah Li," Zhu Pingniang called out.
"Here." Wen Li stood up, and with just the slightest of movements, the water sleeves of her long dress undulated with ripples, the hem of her skirt transitioning from white to red, reflecting silvery light under the lamps.
"...Let me take a look, I want to compare." Zhu Pingniang said.
"...?" Wen Li felt a sense of curiosity but didnât move further.
"Ah Bai, look at her." Zhu Pingniang marveled, "So beautiful indeed."
Li Zhibai followed her gaze.
Only to see the light green undergarment with the same dark green lapels fastened at the chest, revealing a fair neck. The warm light of the Fire Stone illuminated her profile, her fair skin glowing softly, projecting a sense of quiet warmthâwhat one might call serene beauty.
The most surprising aspect was that Wen Liâs outfit carried a slight sensuality due to being dressed in the brothel, an unavoidable outcome. So Wen Li simply standing there, the proud curves of a young womanâs figure hinted through her dress.
Graceful and poised, dignified and neat, yet not without a touch of charm.
"This outfit truly is excellent." Li Zhibai praised.
Listening to her teacherâs compliment, Wen Liâs eyes rarely flickered, and she stood a bit taller.
"Ah Li, do you think... are all Half-Demons as good-looking as you?" Zhu Pingniang asked.
"?" Wen Li responded calmly, "I havenât seen many other Half-Demons."
Thatâs the truth.
Zhu Pingniang was stared at reproachfully by Li Zhibai, coughed awkwardly, and realized she shouldnât ask that, so she said, "But youâve met Aqing, havenât you?"
"Aqing..." Wen Li pondered, then glanced down at her outfit.
She remembered.
Her current attire was chosen by the Half-Demon named Aqing, showcasing her taste.
"Sheâs really a good kid." The tone of the Senior from Muyu Peak softened considerably.
Zhu Pingniang reminded her, "Aqing is also a Half-Demon; youâre about the same age. Is it your place to call her a kid?"
"True." Wen Li did not argue, her cultivation time indeed was not long.
"Aqingâs sense of style is quite good." Zhu Pingniang squinted, "Itâs all the girlsâ aesthetics. It seems that during these days, sheâs been observing this Flower Moon Building carefully... quite meticulously."
Zhu Pingniangâs tone was peculiar.
Miss Lu tilted her head, "What do you mean, is she a spy from Wanzhi Building?"
Only a spy would observe so meticulously?
"Peh, what are you thinking?" Zhu Pingniang pinched the girlâs face, "I mean, she must really like it here to have learned how to dress herself up."
Just look at Wen Li.
Being able to make appropriate outfits based on othersâ temperament, Aqing is clearly a good prospect for a courtesan.
"Whatever you say." Miss Lu pouted.
But thereâs one thing you got right.
The Half-Demons sheâs seen, each has been astonishingly beautiful... sheâs a bit curious about Aqingâs appearance after being dressed up.
Zhu Pingniangâs gaze lingered for a while on Yun Qian, "Instead of the girls gathering flowers, Iâm more interested in... where Changâan has gone, did he also go to the West Pavilion?"
Zhu Pingniangâs Divine Sense is always ineffective on Xu Changâan, so she canât locate him if heâs not in sight.
"I wish the Master would come back sooner..." Miss Lu sat there, her face turning red under Zhu Pingniangâs surprised gaze, "I mean, the Master should come back to accompany Miss Yun."
"...Tsk."
What is Xu Changâan doing at this moment?
"..."
Xu Changâan stood in a corner, concealing his presence, watching the women coming and going.
And his gaze was fixed on the hall inside.