From the high tower of the Flower Moon Building, one could overlook most of the scenery in Beisang City.
Zhu Pingniang, dressed in a thin skirt, mimicked Yun Qian's posture as she lay on the bamboo chair in the center of the high platform, a red embroidered shoe hanging from her fair toes, swaying lightly in the wind.
She picked up a Beauty Fruit and took a bite before noticing Xu Chang'an looking her way, then pursed her lips into a smile.
"Have I been discovered?" Zhu Pingniang swallowed the fruit: "This child is as clever as ever."
No way around it.
As the Class Leader of the Flower Moon Building, she had many girls to care for, and countless worries on her mind daily.
Even though the Wine Lady, whose real name was Liu Qingluo, had already redeemed herself and opened a tavern with her help... she still cared about her.
Xu Chang'an lived in Beisang City and had seen her help the girls with their troubles many times.
Quite strange indeed.
Just as the weather suddenly cleared, she wandered out a bit puzzled to take a look. She didn't discover anything out of the ordinary and was about to return when she unexpectedly found out that Xu Chang'an took his wife out.
So she secretly watched them here for a while.
Zhu Pingniang recalled the scene in the pavilion where Yun Qian, imitating the boating couple, took the initiative to kiss Xu Chang'an and couldn't help but curl up her lips.
Though a bit surprised, she would not retract her evaluation of Yun Qian. Zhu Pingniang still considered Yun Qian to be dull, rigid, and merely quick to act.
If this Miss Yun were only to this extent, she couldn't hold her husband's heart.
Out of curiosity, she didn't help Liu Qingluo resolve the issue but let it play out.
Zhu Pingniang wore a smile at the corner of her mouth. She was eager to see how Xu Chang'an, rarely out with his wife... would react when a girl who had feelings for him was in distress.
In front of his wife, would he be the hero to rescue the beauty or not?
As for Liu Qingluo currently being frightened... Zhu Pingniang thought Xu Chang'an should rescue her, and Liu Qingluo should feel grateful for it.
Besides.
The artistes-courtesans she had under her were not that weak.
...
In front of the tavern.
Xu Chang'an withdrew his gaze; with his vision, he couldn't possibly see as far as the Flower Moon Building; it was merely an instinctive feeling that Steward Zhu must be watching him.
What did she mean?
Xu Chang'an couldn't fathom Zhu Pingniang's intentions.
Could it be that Steward Zhu was too lazy to act and left it to him by chance?
Xu Chang'an thought it was quite possible.
Steward Zhu had done him great favors, so it was only right he helped her resolve some problems.
"...Not quite." Xu Chang'an's mind flashed with Liu Qingluo's face.
The girl who always wore a smile should now be uneasy.
At this moment, he couldn't say that Liu Qingluo had nothing to do with him, so Xu Chang'an and Zhu Pingniang thought differently; he never even considered that he was playing the hero rescuing the beauty in front of his wife.
An encounter on life's narrow paths; to meet is a destiny.
What does Chang'an mean?
Xu Chang'an found this to be a very intriguing question. For him, if those around him could be safe, then it aligned with the meaning of peace and prosperity.
...
Not far away, in front of the tavern, a guard who saw the young man slowly walking over, startled, then shouted aggressively: "Stop..."
But before the sound was out of his mouth, it got stuck in his throat because the person who was moments ago far away suddenly appeared before him, and he immediately felt a wave of sleepiness engulf him, collapsing to the ground.
The silver glow in Xu Chang'an's hand left a silver light dot on the man's neck.
With a clang sound, the team of guards collapsed to the ground like that. Xu Chang'an activated the True Yuan, stacking the guards and throwing them to the roadside.
Afterward, he wrapped himself entirely with Spiritual Power, isolating all traces, and quietly walked into the tavern, standing silently in a dark corner, observing the silent Liu Qingluo and the brocade-clad youth ahead.
He didn't know what had happened, so he first took care of the "mad dogs" blocking the door. As for why he hadn't directly stepped in to help Liu Qingluo resolve the problem, Xu Chang'an was imitating Zhu Pingniang's style.
He had seen Zhu Pingniang helping girls resolve issues, generally observing first, only stepping in when things completely went beyond their capabilities.
Hmm.
Since he was to observe first, there was no need to deal with that team of guards, yet there were a few reasons for his decisive action.
One, if he followed his own impulses, he would rush forward and knock out the brocade-clad youth in front of Liu Qingluo and throw him out, rather than standing here, holding in a nameless rage, so he vented a little.
Two, this group of guards had shoved the Rowing Maiden, and when he visited Zhu Pingniang, he didn't miss hitching rides on that maid's boat, so he was avenging her.
Three...
Xu Chang'an thought this was one of the few opportunities to demonstrate his Martial Power in front of Yun Qian, and of course, he wouldn't miss such a good chance.
So after knocking out the guards, he was eager to look back and say to Yun Qian, "See, your husband is quite formidable."
But when he did turn and saw Yun Qian's indifferent gaze, he suddenly felt life was dull.
"..."
Speaking of which.
Xu Chang'an found the tavern eerily quiet, feeling a bit at a loss.
He came to resolve issues, but neither Liu Qingluo nor the young man opposite her said a word. They just sat there in silence.
Had Liu Qingluo's face not turned slightly pale, he would have thought they were friends enjoying a drink together.
His gaze swept over the Yellow Contract on the table, and Xu Chang'an shook his head.
He could somewhat guess.
This man must have taken a liking to Liu Qingluo and wanted her to sign the contract.
"..."
Outside the tavern.
Yun Qian thought of the faintly proud look Xu Chang'an gave her back, curling up her lips.
Her gaze slightly slanted towards the direction of the Flower Moon Building, then shifted back.
To Yun Qian, Zhu Pingniang's gaze was no different from that of others on the street.
Next to her, the Rowing Maiden, seeing Xu Chang'an swiftly handle the guards, exhaled a breath of relief and then gradually sank to the ground, panting heavily.
Since Young Master Xu took action, Sister Liu should be safe now.
Just thinking this, she suddenly saw someone walking up to her, and with just a glance... she felt ashamed.
Miss Yun!
Young Master Xu's wife.
Although wearing a veil, she recognized Yun Qian.
"Ms. Yun... No, Miss Yun, sorry for the trouble for you and Young Master," the Rowing Maiden, thinking about her earlier performance, was overwhelmed with unease, instantly understanding what it meant for Xu Chang'an to intervene in the girls' affairs while out with his wife.
Any woman would be jealous.
But to the Rowing Maiden's surprise, Yun Qian casually said, "As long as he doesn't find it troublesome, it's fine."
"..."
"Oh yes," Yun Qian remembered something, asking, "What do you think of him?"
Though not naming him, the Rowing Maiden replied without a thought, "Answering Miss, Young Master is a good man."
A good man?
At this point, Xu Chang'an didn't know he was arbitrarily issued a card.
"Then..." Yun Qian lightly lifted the hem of her skirt, crouching slightly as she looked into the trembling eyes of the girl before her and asked, "Do you like him?"