The weather outside is terrible, overcast with clouds obscuring the stars and moon. Only the lanterns on the colorful boats across the lake illuminate this desolate world.
Zhu Pingniang’s eyelashes trembled as she opened her eyes, gazing at the banquet hall below that was once lively but now empty. Her clear eyes were like a pool with ripples, gradually tinted with the lancholy of the outside world.
A dream, an incredibly realistic dream.
’I must be dreaming.’
If it weren’t a dream, why had all the girls disappeared from the lively banquet without her noticing?
If it weren’t a dream, how could she have gently caressed Yun Qian’s hand like she did just now?
If it weren’t a dream, how could Xu Chang’an destroy her clone with one punch, forcing her to be here in her true form?
If it weren’t a dream, why would the Sect Leader abandon the Dao Rhy she pursued?
"If it weren’t a dream..."
Then how could she hear Yun Qian utter the earthshaking term "Ms. Li"?
After all, even she had never addressed Ah Bai with such intimacy before.
Not to ntion that Yun Qian never called her Ms. Zhu, so...
In this dream, Yun Qian and Li Zhibai’s relationship was unexpectedly good, truly a strange thing.
——
At this mont, Yun Qian didn’t stop talking. She uncharacteristically began recounting the process of eting Li Zhibai and the events that transpired — right in front of Zhu Pingniang.
This was at Xu Chang’an’s request, so Yun Qian was more detailed in her explanation.
Thus, they spoke of how they t, their first conversation in the courtyard, being asked to call her sister, Li Zhibai’s willingness to teach her makeup...
Everything slowly unfolded from Yun Qian’s mouth, like a scroll gradually unfurling.
Zhu Pingniang was forced to listen to this, her dark eyes quivering, chaos reigning in her gaze.
For Miss Zhu, when her clone was destroyed and her glazed body shattered, she didn’t feel like she was dreaming.
When the Sect Leader abandoned Dao Rhy, she didn’t feel she was dreaming.
But the single "Ms. Li" from Yun Qian’s mouth made her unwilling to accept.
Ah...
As Yun Qian spoke about Li Zhibai personally managing her hair, seriously teaching her makeup, carefully and gently behaving unlike the Ah Bai she knew.
Li Zhibai’s hands, weren’t they supposed to be only for alchemy?
Zhu Pingniang remained silent, gazing at the sky.
At this mont, the sky was gloomy... she seed to sll the scent of heavy rain, the wind that brushed against her body robbed it of warmth, leaving threads of chill soaking into her.
Such a realistic dream is indeed interesting.
Zhu Pingniang looked at Yun Qian in her turquoise clothing, thinking... she had just imagined Yun Qian’s head might be adorned vibrantly.
...Turns out, she herself is the one most suited to wear green.
Luckily, it’s only a dream.
Every unreasonable aspect in the dream will fade away like the tide when she wakes up, leaving no mory behind.
Void of spirit, Zhu Pingniang slumped on the chair, quietly waiting for the dream to end.
’It’s a dream.’
’It should be a dream...’
’It’ll be fine once the dream ends.’
Then Zhu Pingniang’s dream ended.
Because Zhu Tongjun never dreams.
She knows better than anyone that this is no dream.
Most importantly... she can’t bear Yun Qian "showing off love" in front of her.
Zhu Tongjun — her defense already broken.
The story Yun Qian was recounting beca the last straw to crush Zhu Tongjun’s delusion — she spoke of her and Li Zhibai chatting while having tea in her boudoir —
That day, Li Zhibai deliberately bathed, burned premium sandalwood, and removed her Daoist robe, changing into a soft ho gown, transforming from a solemn Daoist nun to a sister-next-door.
"No... stop saying it..."
Zhu Pingniang widened her eyes, disbelief tinged with bitterness, her voice trembling, almost pitifully staring at Yun Qian.
"Ms. Yun, you... you shouldn’t say it anymore..."
At this mont, Zhu Pingniang was like an abandoned Li Hua, lightly resting on the table, her voice trembling like a windy colored garnt.
She knows she’s not dreaming, so please stop saying it.
Ah Bai’s little dress, she had seen it, she liked it, had imagined countless tis how Ah Bai would look wearing it.
But despite Zhu Pingniang’s persistence, she never managed to see Li Zhibai wear it, after all, Li Zhibai kept the dress because Zhu Tongjun gave it to her, and having long lost her girlish heart, naturally wouldn’t wear it.
But to entertain Yun Qian... she... she wore it.
For what?
To dress beautifully?
That was the little dress she gave Ah Bai.
"Stop saying it." Zhu Pingniang covered her ears, more like a pathetic Li Hua, if earlier upon hearing the "Ms. Li," she was rely an abandoned Li Hua, now abandoned amidst downpour.
Zhu Tongjun was at her limit.
"..."
Yun Qian looked sideways, blinked.
Did she say sothing excessive?
She shouldn’t have, these were rely events that happened, only Li Zhibai hadn’t shared them with Zhu Pingniang, and she was rely recounting them as her husband instructed.
So, Zhu girl with reddened eyes before her must be unrelated to her.
"..."
Finally, Yun Qian stopped talking, preventing Zhu Pingniang from hearing the words "Ms. Li" from her mouth.
[Feeling Life’s Dissatisfaction.]
These four words could barely describe a tenth of Zhu Pingniang’s complex emotions at the mont.
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