CHAPTER 569: 0336 MATTERS IN THE RAIN (COMBINED EDITION)_2

"?" A question mark appeared above Zhu Pingniang’s head.

"I always end up making you unhappy, Sister..."

Miss Lu gently clasped Zhu Pingniang’s shoulder and said seriously, "If in the future you distance yourself from me the way you’ve distanced yourself from Miss Qin... at that time, I can only hope your new daughter will say some good words for me."

Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.

So, she would do her best to help Qinling, to help her regain Zhu Pingniang’s favor, for it would not only help her but herself as well.

Zhu Pingniang felt Miss Lu’s gaze on her and after a long silence, she said.

"You’re quite sensible."

"It’s because you taught me well, Sister."

"Did I teach you to side with reason rather than family?"

"Well, Miss Qin... no, Ms. Qin sides with family over reason, and now isn’t she left in the Immortal Sect, crying her eyes out alone?"

"I see you’re itching for a beating." Zhu Pingniang’s gaze fell on the blood-marked whip scars on Miss Lu’s calf, feeling both heartache and a desire to give her another lash.

"Alright." Miss Lu shivered involuntarily under Zhu Pingniang’s terrible gaze, and she cleared her throat: "Ms. Zhu, you shouldn’t say I’m siding with reason rather than family."

"What do you mean?" Zhu Pingniang’s eyebrows raised: "You’re thinking about siding with Chang’an as if he’s family even before marrying him?"

At this, Zhu Pingniang felt a pang of jealousy.

"Of course not, it’s you who has your eyes set on the Young Master, don’t pin it on me."

Miss Lu shook her head: "You and Miss Bai are like family, the closest sisters in the world, and Young Master Xu is Miss Bai’s only student, also your junior, naturally making you all one family."

Miss Lu pointed in the direction of Xu Chang’an’s residence with her slender fingers: "Supporting the Young Master can’t be considered siding with reason rather than family."

"...Sharp-tongued." Zhu Pingniang’s face noticeably improved as she listened to Miss Lu, especially when she mentioned ’the closest sisters in the world.’

"I call her Ah Bai, not Miss Bai, so stop calling her Miss Bai all the time."

"Got it." Miss Lu nodded obediently, then, as if remembering something, a gleam of mischief flashed in her eyes as she said: "Ms. Zhu, do you still remember... what we just talked about?"

"We talked about so much, which part are you referring to?" Zhu Pingniang snorted coldly.

"It’s the part when you asked me how I view Young Master Xu."

"I remember, so what?"

"At that time, I said a Gentleman doesn’t gossip in front of others or speak ill behind their backs." Miss Lu’s tone softened, her lips curved as she said: "You said, we’re just a Madam and a clean official, not Gentlemen... so..."

So, they could gossip behind people’s backs, they could talk about others.

"What we love most is talking about others behind their backs." Miss Lu gave a dry cough, looked towards Zhu Pingniang, and said: "Ms. Zhu, just now... it was in my nature that I couldn’t help talking about you, you must understand."

"Understand what should I understand?"

Zhu Pingniang was actually amused by Miss Lu, but she didn’t show any anger; instead, she pointed to her own face and said:

"Earlier the rain washed away my makeup, and I wasn’t satisfied with reapplying it myself, you should help me with it when we get back, since I have to meet that Miss Yun tonight..."

If she got overshadowed by beauty, having already been spoken ill of, what face would she have left to talk with Miss Yun?

"Of course, I’ll make sure you look beautiful, Sister." Miss Lu breathed a sigh of relief: "Ms. Zhu, you’re not angry anymore?"

Zhu Pingniang nodded and said.

"Hmm... not really."

"That’s good... huh?" Miss Lu was taken aback, lifting her head quickly, only to see Zhu Pingniang’s beautiful eyes still carrying a cold glint.

"Girl, you wouldn’t think... Sister would let you off just like that, would you?"

Zhu Pingniang chuckled softly, and in Miss Lu’s stunned gaze, she said warmly: "Sister hasn’t even gotten to know Miss Yun well yet, and you’re already speaking ill of me in front of her..."

How could she let her off so easily?

"I was just seeing how you would defend yourself." Zhu Pingniang said with slight disappointment: "First show weakness, then use Qin’Er to gain sympathy, and then argue..."

Zhu Pingniang counted on her fingers and then clenched her fist with a sigh: "Compared to those girls at Mu Yu Peak, your schemes are still quite childish."

Zhu Pingniang’s sigh was long.

"Girl, if I were so easygoing, why would there be so many women afraid of me in the Immortal Sect? Use your pretty little head and think about it."

Miss Lu: "..."

Why?

Because Zhu Pingniang spoiled her, but now it seems, Sister was genuinely angry just now.

Seeing Zhu Pingniang with a smiling demeanor, she finally began to feel fear, as if she had returned to her teenage years. She crossed her hands behind her back protecting her hips, stepping back repeatedly.

Unable to keep her footing, she nearly stumbled into a puddle.

"Be careful." Zhu Pingniang appeared behind Miss Lu in a flash and caught her, frowning: "Which area is responsible for this street? They didn’t even bother to fix the uneven ground."

"Ms. Zhu, this is a drainage area, it’s supposed to be like this, I was careless." Miss Lu bit her lip.

"I see." Zhu Pingniang held Miss Lu from behind.

"Ms. Zhu, what... what can I do to make you not angry?" Miss Lu felt the softness behind her, felt Zhu Pingniang’s breath on her ear, but there was no flirtation, instead, her face turned pale with fear.

Gone was the earlier arrogance of being favored.

What does it mean to be subdued by bloodline, this is it.

It’s like the fear of loving parents when you’re a child, eased as you grow up, but in reality... if you truly err, and they really get angry... that fear is etched into your bones.

No reason for it.

Because she really would strike hard.

Feeling Miss Lu trembling in her arms, Zhu Pingniang buried her head in her neck, taking a deep breath as if inhaling a cat’s scent.

Then Zhu Pingniang, with an inexplicable emotion, said: "Girl has grown up, the sweet milky fragrance from before is no more."

"I’ll drink it when we get back." Miss Lu immediately said: "Ms. Zhu, I’ll drink whatever brings back that scent."

"Drinking animal milk, that’ll only stuff you and be of no use." Zhu Pingniang spat: "Might as well apply some rouge."

"Then I’ll wear rouge, whatever you say, Sister." Miss Lu said obediently.

"Now you know to be afraid?" Zhu Pingniang smiled.

"..."

Miss Lu thought, being a companion, how could she not be afraid of the main house’s sister?

But now she was very obedient, not uttering a word.

"Now acting cute, it’s too late." Zhu Pingniang nodded and then said: "At this point, shouldn’t you tell me—’Ms. Zhu, I really am different from Miss Qin, even if she were this excessive, you wouldn’t bear to be harsh on her.’"

Zhu Pingniang mimicked Miss Lu’s tone precisely.

Miss Lu: "..."

No words to say.

Because those are indeed the words she would say, after all, Zhu Pingniang herself said she rarely ever truly went hard on Qinling.

"It’s just that sister can’t bear to bully Qin’Er." Zhu Pingniang sighed, gently smoothing Miss Lu’s silky long hair: "After all, that girl is my eldest daughter, when she was little, she carried my zither while traveling, she was a true little darling, so I couldn’t lay a hand on her."

She pinched Miss Lu’s cheek: "You weren’t so obedient when you were little, got hit often, I’m quite used to it.

"

"..." Miss Lu didn’t dare to breathe loudly.

"Say something, am I that scary?" Zhu Pingniang’s eye twitched uncontrollably.

"Ms. Zhu." Miss Lu had no choice but to say: "I still have to manage Flower Moon Building on a daily basis, and I just promised Lv’Er to bring her to work tomorrow... if you make me roll all over like when we were kids and ruin my face, how will I manage things later?"

"I know, that’s why we handle our issues behind closed doors." Zhu Pingniang laughed as she looked Miss Lu up and down: "Good thing you don’t have gluttony, no one’s there to see, sister will hit only where others can’t see, rest assured."

Miss Lu: "..."

The rain fell on the umbrella, soaking the two girls.

"Want to reduce the punishment?" Zhu Pingniang whispered suddenly in the girl’s ear.

Miss Lu’s eyes lit up and she nodded vigorously.

Zhu Pingniang laughed: "Just now I came late, only seeing you silly smiling in front of Chang’an’s window, your face was red like you just came out of a bath, what did you see at that time? Tell me."

She was genuinely curious, as she didn’t see it.

"..."

Hearing this, Miss Lu took a deep breath, closed her eyes.

Lowered her head.

"Go ahead and hit me."