Chapter 296: 0190 Love (Two-in-One)
Has fate turned into destiny, is this a good thing or a bad thing?
Yun Qian wasn't sure, perhaps... it's a good thing?
After all, at least at this moment, in her husband's heart, Yun Qian believed her presence should be very important, more so than "Li Zhibai, Liu Qingluo, Wen Li, Xu Xiaohua" combined.
Even adding Gu Qiancheng and Zhu Pingniang wouldn't compare to her.
Oh, and there's Shi Qingjun, almost forgot about this somewhat enlightened person.
Although among these women, only Liu Qingluo is confirmed to admire Xu Chang'an, others like Wen Li haven't figured out their feelings towards him.
Miss Yun doesn't care about any of that.
As long as they're interested in Xu Chang'an, no matter the type of fondness, if it's a woman, she counts them in.
Xiaohua is also a girl.
But even so, Zhu Pingniang is still the most special among those women.
"Hmm, Zhu Pingniang..." Yun Qian was thoughtful.
She had always forgotten about this woman, but thinking about it carefully, she's the beginning of everything.
Without Zhu Pingniang, Xu Chang'an wouldn't have had the chance to join the Chaoyun Sect, nor would he have met Li Zhibai and Wen Li...
Including Liu Qingluo.
If it weren't for Zhu Pingniang recommending Liu Qingluo's wine to Xu Chang'an, giving them the chance to interact closely... although Liu Qingluo would still meet Xu Chang'an, she might even fancy him, but at most it would be a mere admiration like any other ordinary girl, not as resolute as it is now.
So, this woman called Zhu Tongjun, Zhu Pingniang, is more important than Yun Qian imagined...
Could it be that Li Zhibai is not the main wife, and this Miss Zhu is?
Moreover, Zhu Pingniang and Li Zhibai have some indescribable relationship.
Zhu Pingniang was also the first woman in the world to "seduce" and "tease" Xu Chang'an.
Yun Qian was pondering.
"?" A small question mark flew above Xu Chang'an's head, but this time he heard clearly. Gently holding Xiaohua, who was asleep in his arms, he whispered, "Miss, what's up with Steward Zhu?"
"We're supposed to look for her, right?" Yun Qian asked.
"It's all been arranged." Xu Chang'an shook his head, "It's a bit late to back out now."
"I didn't mean that." Yun Qian just felt that this time she could take a good look at that woman, thinking this, she asked, "You said before she's the Madam, what does that mean?"
"Cough." Xu Chang'an was choked by Yun Qian's words.
But he thought it was better to explain these things clearly to the young lady, otherwise, if he avoided talking, and the lady became more interested... that would be a big problem.
If it's explained, then there's no issue.
"Usually it refers to women who run brothels." Xu Chang'an extended a finger, "Most of the entertainment places in Beisang City, including the Flower Moon Building, are under Senior Zhu's management, so she calls herself the Madam. Of course, although that's what she's called, not many actually refer to her as such. Most often, I've heard people call her Ms. Zhu or Auntie."
Xu Chang'an reminded Yun Qian, "When we meet Senior, Miss, you can follow me and call her Senior, or Ms., but definitely not Madam."
Though Zhu Pingniang is improper, he was still very grateful to Senior Zhu, and since he learned that Senior Zhu is his teacher's only "friend," the familiarity in his heart grew even more.
Thinking carefully, Yun Qian could definitely do such a thing.
If Miss Yun really called her that, although Zhu Pingniang wouldn't get angry over such a small matter, Xu Chang'an was certain that he would be watched by Senior with an ambiguous look.
"I understand." Yun Qian nodded, then asked, "What is a Madam?"
"Miss, aren't you asking a bit much?" Xu Chang'an was helpless.
Yun Qian blinked, gently hugging Xu Chang'an's arm. Her gaze swept over the sleeping Mao'Er, and she said, "I'll read more books in the future."
"If I had copied more books like Ancient Rhymes back then, the Miss wouldn't be..." Xu Chang'an shook his head but still explained.
"...The madam bird has only females, no males. To reproduce, they can mate with any other kind of bird... so they're often called the wife of ten thousand birds, referring to women who run brothels and introduce girls." Xu Chang'an, one hand holding Xiaohua's head, listening to its soft purr, turned to whisper in Yun Qian's ear, "It's a derogatory term, so don't call Senior that."
"Like this?" Yun Qian glanced in the direction of Beisang City, as if her gaze passed through space and fell upon a certain brothel where a woman was sleeping with an account book, calculating even in her dreams.
Introducing girls?
Indeed, Li Zhibai and Liu Qingluo got the chance to know Xu Chang'an because of Zhu Pingniang.
She really is a Madam.
"Has she had many men?" Yun Qian suddenly asked.
She was very concerned about Hongxing.
Could Zhu Tongjun be the Hongxing?
"..." Xu Chang'an raised an eyebrow and immediately said, "How could that be?"
Although he used to think Zhu Pingniang was all about revelry, ever since he met Qinling, being recognized as a younger generation by her, he learned about some aspects of Zhu Pingniang's character and naturally knew she hadn't been with men.
"Senior Zhu, who knows what she's thinking, maybe she's looking to give those girls a home." Xu Chang'an spread his hands.
This sounded a bit ridiculous, who would consider a brothel a home.