"All of them." Xu Chang'an explained to Zhu Pingniang that he had been practicing the zither recently.

Zhu Pingniang nodded, thinking it was a good thing, and asked, "Did you notice... the state of the girls while I was performing on stage?"

Xu Chang'an thought for a moment and said, "They were all learning very seriously."

Besides listening attentively to the music, those women were focused on Zhu Pingniang's hand movements and her mental state, hoping to learn something from her.

"Indeed, they are all eager learners." Zhu Pingniang spoke with a gentle sigh, "Chang'an, you only see them studying diligently, but among those girls, some do not like the zither at all, some even hate it—it's clearly just a means to earn a living."

Xu Chang'an said nothing.

He could understand.

Zhu Pingniang assumed Xu Chang'an couldn't understand, so she explained, "There's no choice. You think practicing the zither is cultivating one's character, whereas the girls are striving to please others. The Seven-Stringed Zither is merely a tool to please people."

Dreams of the brothel are pleasant, but hard to infuse with deep emotions.

"Some of those girls who can't wrap their heads around it, how could they like something that's merely a tool to please men." Zhu Pingniang thought, Liu Qingluo was a typical example.

Liu Qingluo climbed her way from Wanzhi Building to Flower Moon Building, using her zither skill as a shield so she wouldn't have to sell her body. Her zither music was famous throughout Beisang City.

But after she redeemed herself, she abandoned the Seven Strings, never touching it again.

To be clear, Artiste-Courtesans, after redeeming themselves, generally do not touch the zither again unless necessary, because it brings back memories of the past.

But Liu Qingluo is different.

She could cultivate her zither skill to a level that even she was impressed by, which means she did it for more than just a living.

Liu Qingluo truly liked the zither.

Unless something unexpected happens, she wouldn't abandon her cultivation in the Seven Strings even after redeeming herself.

Zhu Pingniang understood well that Liu Qingluo stopped touching the zither after redeeming herself only because she found someone she loved.

Having someone she loved made her feel inferior about her identity as an Artiste-Courtesan, thus she distanced herself from the Seven Strings, which reminded her of that identity.

But...

Why lower oneself to the earthly dust.

That girl, gazing at the dusty Seven Strings in her chamber at midnight, would she feel discontent for not being able to practice?

Of course, she would be unwilling.

The girl is genuinely a good one, she ought to have her own pursuits. As an elder, sister, and even as the "Mother" to the courtesans of the brothel, Zhu Pingniang should do something.

When Liu Qingluo couldn't see clearly, she needed her help.

"Chang'an." Zhu Pingniang spoke softly, "Qingluo is always a beat slow when things happen, if you have time... forget it, it has nothing to do with you."

Xu Chang'an: "...?"

Zhu Pingniang rolled her eyes at him.

She initially wanted Xu Chang'an to find Liu Qingluo and inquire about her zither skill when he had the chance, as Liu Qingluo was much better at zither than that fake woman, Wen Li.

But after thinking it through, though she indeed wanted to give Liu Qingluo some trouble, this was too much trouble for Liu Qingluo to handle.

That girl wouldn't want to get close to Xu Chang'an. Doing such a thing would put Zhu Pingniang in a bad position, and Liu Qingluo would hold a grudge against her.

So in the end, was she afraid even when seeking a benefit for the girl?

"Stubborn girl, I truly owe her."

Zhu Pingniang spat and then said, "Qingluo not only is a beat slow but also forgetful. In her rush to go up the mountain earlier, she left her zither in Beisang City. When you go back to the mountain this time… please bring back her zither for me. After all, it's a personal item of a young lady, I can't trust it with anyone else."

This is the trouble Zhu Pingniang prepared for Liu Qingluo.

"Sure." Xu Chang'an naturally didn't mind, it was just an incidental task, he didn't think much of it.

"Foolish." Zhu Pingniang looked at Xu Chang'an.

Why is this child so unintelligent? It's really easy for her to manipulate him a little.

'...' Xu Chang'an chose to ignore it, for every ten sentences with Zhu Pingniang, he couldn't understand eight of them, so he might as well lie flat.

"Tricking someone as simple-minded as you does give me some guilt." Zhu Pingniang said helplessly.

"Ms. Zhu, just following your instructions to deliver Miss Liu's zither from the city to the mountain is also considered trickery?" Xu Chang'an smiled gently.

"Indeed, just following my instructions you go and do it, your clean approach is why I can trust you to do this." Zhu Pingniang clicked her tongue then spread her hands, saying, "I just want that foolish Qingluo to pick up her beloved zither skills again and not waste her many years of cultivation."

Thus, she asked Xu Chang'an to deliver the zither.

To let her know that those years of learning to please men, weren't devoid of purpose.

Xu Chang'an would give Liu Qingluo a reason to pick up the zither again.

"That stubborn girl... without a zither around these days, must have been restless to death." Zhu Pingniang thought of Liu Qingluo, a look of heartache flashed in her eyes.

"Chang'an, it's a personal request from your sister." Zhu Pingniang said warmly, "When you meet Qingluo, speak to her about the zither, say you like the zither… talk about the Immortal Sect's view on the zither, and don't let the brothel's musk block her fingers from playing."

"Miss Liu…" Xu Chang'an thought for a moment and nodded, "Okay."

"You agreed so fast, is it because you like the zither or because it's your sister's personal request?" Zhu Pingniang blinked.

"It's naturally because of Ms. Zhu." Xu Chang'an responded without hesitation.

"You just say what your sister likes to hear." Zhu Pingniang shook her head, "Alright then, just tell her… it's because I asked you to go, it's good to be clear."

She knew Xu Chang'an wouldn't leave any ambiguities while handling matters, so she couldn't expect him to retain ambiguities.

After all, she had asked Xu Chang'an earlier if he had any plans to take concubines.

The answer was also no.

"Such an Immortal Talent, skilled in zither, where in the world couldn't she go, hopeless child." Zhu Pingniang tilted her head, clicked her tongue, and said to Xu Chang'an, "What your sister can help her with is only this much..."

"Chang'an." Zhu Pingniang turned to Xu Chang'an, speaking a bit confusedly, "Do you think I should… view them as beggars on the roadside, might be better."

She was referring to Flower Moon Building.

Xu Chang'an could understand.

Previously when speaking with the Female Shopkeeper, Zhu Pingniang asked if they resented her for clearly being from the Immortal Sect and yet not helping them leave the "Sea of Suffering"… The Female Shopkeeper replied to Zhu Pingniang, Flower Moon Building's ladies are not roadside beggars.

But now, with Liu Qingluo ahead.

Zhu Pingniang felt it wouldn't be bad to let these girls be beggars. After all, both are low to the ground, a beggar's body can be cleaner.

Hearing this, Xu Chang'an's dark eyes appeared exceptionally calm within their sockets.

He didn't agree with Zhu Pingniang, he only said calmly, "That is also your matter."

"Right." Zhu Pingniang awakened, "These are the girls' own matters, unrelated to me."

She tilted her head, frustratingly tapped her head.

"It's all Qingluo's hopelessness, she made me follow along in confusion… Now under my management Flower Moon Building is different from the path she took through Wanzhi Building, even Artiste-Courtesans in Wanzhi Building had to live cautiously, fearing their bodies would be taken."

In her Flower Moon Building, anyone daring to touch Artiste-Courtesans would have their hands and feet removed by her.

At least, Flower Moon Building provides the security that Wanzhi Building couldn't provide for Liu Qingluo.

So, having been at Flower Moon Building, and yet this awkward girl, there should only be Liu Qingluo.

"Chang'an." Zhu Pingniang pursed her lips stained with rouge, her lips turned up slightly, "That girl Qingluo used to be terribly timid, threatened by a man, she dared not resist, nearly losing her body."

She was uncovering Liu Qingluo's embarrassing history.

"All is past, Ms. Zhu, why not give the girl some face." Xu Chang'an said helplessly.

He thought Liu Qingluo was a very strong person, after all, he had seen her personally.

"What I mean is," Zhu Pingniang shook her head, "Qian Cheng is brainless, Qingluo always takes things a beat slow. Help me keep an eye out, if anyone bullies Qingluo, tell me, I'll teach them a lesson."

Keeping an eye, this is also a spy's job.

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