Chapter Text
“And here live today on DOL interviews, we are interviewing one of the beloved members of the Royal Family, Princess Gany—”
Keqing groaned exasperatedly, switching off the television instantly. An uninterested yawn escaped from her lips.
Keqing was an overachiever. Astute, independent, serious, and hardworking. Though, of course, she wasn’t some picture-perfect prodigy. Some might call her industrious and meticulous. Others call her overbearing and impatient. She, admittedly, has flaws. Not that it matters, however. Imperfections are what make people human after all.
Though there was one aspect of her that others just couldn't wrap their head around. She’s always harbored this contempt for the royals. Not necessarily the entire government as a whole, but moreover, the monarchic government.
In this particular nation, there were not one, but two governments established. One was, of course, the monarchic government. The other government was known as the Qixing.
In the most recent decades, the Qixing has actively worked on and accomplished tremendous projects and feats compared to the royals.
That does not indicate that the royals have done no good to this nation. Zhongli, the king, had guided this nation to prosperity and serenity. And of course, all of the royals have vowed to retain this peace.
However, ever since the Qixing had been formed, the royals were no longer needed.
Mortals are learning to be independent.
As time passes, the titles of each member of the Qixing get assigned to different people, only to then be given to another person once their term ends. Unlike the royals, as they are immortal. Though many do beg to differ that immortals have their fair share of burdens too.
Yet, even in the present, most citizens still honor and praise the royals even if it’s pretty clear that their time protecting has passed.
“What’s with the annoyed expression?”
Keqing jolted at the unexpected voice. She whipped her head around, finding a girl sitting at the side of the couch.
Dark long brown hair, scarlet eyes, with the signature black hat. No doubt, it was Hu Tao, a childhood friend of hers. Nevertheless, Keqing was quite familiar with the 77th director of the Wangsheng Funeral Parlor.
“I told you not to come into my apartment without permission! You nearly gave me a heart attack!” Keqing exclaimed, facepalming herself.
“Well, if you ever get one, you’ll get a discount from me!”
Of course, she’d say that.
“Though you still haven’t answered my first question.”
Keqing sighed, “If you want to know, then I suppose it would not harm to tell you then—”
She had nearly finished her explanation before Hu Tao interrupted, “Just spit it out already!”
Groaning in frustration, she continued. “The time of the Royal Family has long passed. The Liyue Qixing is enough to protect our nation in its entirety. The rules, principles, and traditions they’ve implemented barely work with the new society today! They have watched over us for a millennium. But what about the next millennium? What about the next ten or the next hundred millennia? How long are we expecting this status quo to last?”
Now Hu Tao was the one to groan in frustration. She shook her head in annoyance. “You’re obsessed with them at this point. You’ve talked about them every single fucking day.”
“First of all, use appropriate language. Secondly, I do not talk about that every day!” She retorted.
“Whatever you say.” She scoffed. “Anyway, had lunch?”
Keqing was confused. Grabbing her phone from the coffee table, she swiftly clicked the button on the side. The time, 12:30, flashed on her screen. “12:30? Wasn’t it 9 AM just a few minutes ago?”
“You’re hopeless at this point.” Hu Tao muttered, dragging Keqing straight out of the couch. Honestly, she never remembered her childhood friend being this strong. “Get ready. We’re leaving at one.”
————————♡————————
“I feel like a third wheel here,” Keqing commented.
Hu Tao fed Yanfei a spoonful of rice and then turned to look at her friend. “What do you mean by that?”
In all honesty, they needed to get a room at this point.
Keqing sighed. “Nevermind. Are you guys done already with the food? I’ll request the bill.”
The pair gave her a nod, giving Keqing a clear answer. She gestured to a waitress beside her and asked for the bill. The waitress nodded her head, walking away. Keqing took out a purple wallet from her purse, taking pouches of mora out. “I’ll pay this time. So we won't argue about the bill again.”
“How’d you even get so much money? I remember in college, you were living off Mcdonald’s burgers.” Hu Tao giggled.
The purple-haired girl facepalmed as she remembered one of the so-called darkest ages of her life. “Don’t remind me.” She frowned.
The waitress had gone to their table with the bill in her hands. “Your total is 595,988.”
Yanfei’s and Hu Tao’s mouths were agape as soon as they heard the price. Keqing seemed to remain unfazed, giving cash to the waitress. “Keqing, where the hell do you get your money from? That payment is the same as my monthly rent!” Hu Tao exclaimed.
“Connections.” She replied.
“How on earth do you know people that willingly give you money for free?!”
She shook her head in disbelief. “Do you seriously think I get money for free? I work for this. I just believe my ‘employer’ overly compensates me.”
“Never thought I would ever hear overly and compensate in the same sentence.”
Keqing scoffed. “Well, now you have.”
“It’s already 2 o'clock. We’ll be wasting our time if we keep staying in here.” Yanfei stated. Sure enough, that was enough to stop them. Keqing nodded in acknowledgment. “She’s right. Let’s get going.”
Hu Tao pouted. “Fine. But I’m asking about it later!”
The purple-haired girl rolled her eyes. “I’m looking forward to it.” She said sarcastically.
Hu Tao turned to Yanfei and shook her back and forth. “Yan-Yan! Is it just me, or did she just use sarcasm?”
Quite literally, the definition of PDA.
Keqing sighed, looked at her phone, and turned it on. A notification popped up immediately. Seemingly, the message had come from a number she was familiar with. Merely reading the words on the screen widened her eyes in shock and disbelief.
“What in the ever-loving fuck?!”
————————♡————————
Smoke escaped her lips, and a sly smirk formed as she turned towards a particular secretary that had barged into the room. “I assume you have heard the news?” Ningguang asked.
She panted, trying to catch her breath before making eye contact with the Tianquan. “Yes, of course. The news spread like wildfire.” Wiping the sweat from her forehead, she asked. “If I may ask, wouldn’t the loss of a Yuheng be a problem to you?”
Ningguang had been caught off guard by that question but quickly regained her composure. “Please, do you expect me to not have thought of this type of situation? I’ve carefully considered a befitting replacement for the previous Yuheng.”
“Which is?”
“Keqing. Yunlai Keqing. She may be a handful, but I’m confident she can manage the duties of a Yuheng. If not, better.” She continued. “I’ve already contacted her. She could be calling in three, two, and one.”
Just as the Tianquan had expected, a ringtone started playing from her phone. “I suggest you leave. Miss Keqing uses profane language.”
“A-Affirmative!” She stuttered before rushing out the door.
Ningguang had tapped on the call button, being met with shouting almost immediately. “Ningguang! What the hell did you do?!”
Ningguang snickered. “So feisty in the afternoon?”
“I’m not in the mood for idle banter! Now, tell me! What did you do?!”
She muffled a laugh with her palm. “Considering the very recent loss of one of our dear members, I’ve suggested you to the other Qixing members as a potential candidate for the position.” Before Keqing could even respond, Ningguang continued. “Just think about it. Your ramblings about the Royals could even come true. Especially since you have the endorsement of the Tianquan, you’re far more likely to be chosen as our new Yuheng.”
“WHAT?!”
With Keqing’s screeches, Ningguang moved the phone away from her ear. “Calm yourself. Then continue on.”
Keqing breathed out a sigh, calming herself down before speaking. “Ningguang, I’m not one to act in a governmental position for my personal benefit. You, of all people, should know that.”
Amused by her response, Ningguaang replied. “Do you seriously believe I’ve utilized all my time and energy for that ? Admittedly, your work is quite on par, if not better, compared to the previous Yuheng. I’m certain that your presence here in the Qixing will be of the utmost value for this nation’s continuing development.”
“Ningguang—”
“Ning? Are you there?” A familiar pirate’s voice said, followed by continuous knocking. “Ah. That’s my cue. I’ll speak with you later then, Keqing.” And with that, she hung up the call.
————————♡————————
She gritted her teeth, clenching her phone, resisting the urge to throw it to the ground. “What the hell is Ningguang thinking?” She angrily muttered under her breath.
She had been in an alleyway. The quickest place she could’ve gone to, where her phone call wouldn’t be heard by anyone else. She sighed in frustration, hitting the brick wall with her fist.
As much as she didn’t want to admit it, Ningguang was right. Keqing was deft in the knowledge of the duties of the Yuheng and does possess the ability to do them proficiently. However, one of the major factors being her own personal benefit goes against all of her principles.
She slumped back against the hard brick wall. One hand clutching her phone. The other hand ran through her hair. She pinched the bridge of her nose, sighing in defeat. “What a pain.”
Hearing footsteps, her head turned to the entryway of the alley. Finding her two companions standing there. Yanfei had her hands on her knees as she was panting. Presumably from running too much.
“Keqing! We were looking for you everywhere!” Hu Tao exclaimed. “Why’d you run off here?” She eyed Keqing curiously.
“Long story. You wouldn’t believe it.”
Hu Tao facepalmed. “Oh, please. I’ve seen ghosts and zombies before. I don’t think your story is as unbelievable as it sounds.”
After finally catching her breath, Yanfei added. “Hu Tao and I deserve an explanation. We pretty much ran around the entire earth searching for you.”
Keqing paused. Technically, those reasons were entirely justified. “Fine.” She gave in. “But don’t blame me if you find it unbelievable.”
She coughed into her fist. “Long story short, I personally know Ningguang, the Tianquan, so—”
“Is that why you got large sums of money?” Hu Tao interjected.
Keqing nodded. “Yes. Anyway, she suggested me to the other members of the Qixing as a candidate for the Yuheng’s position. Seemingly, the previous one quit.”
The dark brown-haired girl burst into laughter. “Funny joke! Seems that you do know how to crack a joke after all!” She giggled.
Keqing looked at her directly into her eyes. Taking a few moments of silence to realize it wasn’t a joke. Her laughing ceased instantly.
“If possible, I’d like both of your advice on the matter. Should I do it?”
Hu Tao giggled once more. “Ah… You haven’t changed since high school, hm?”
Keqing raised an eyebrow, crossing her arms. “What do you mean by that?”
“Nevermind.” She smiled. “As your childhood best friend, you should decide for yourself. This is your decision. Both of us here don’t know your feelings on the matter. Either way, if you’re destined to be the Yuheng, fate will lead you there anyway, right?”
Yanfei nodded in agreement. “I don’t usually agree with my girlfriend over here though she’s right in this case. This decision is of utmost importance. You should decide this for yourself rather than asking others.”
They were right, of course, but that answer didn’t help her.
That said, Ningguang didn’t leave any room for resistance. She did say that she had already suggested her to the other members of the Qixing.
“Ningguang can be such a pain,” Keqing muttered inaudibly.
————————♡————————
“I’ve drafted the schedule for the upcoming event. Should there be any changes, they shall be included if deemed necessary.”
Ganyu took a bow of respect, handing over a folder to the Tianquan. Causing Ningguang to stifle a laugh. Nevertheless, that action hadn’t gone unnoticed by Ganyu. She slightly tilted her head, a confused expression on her face. “Is there something wrong, Lady Ningguang?”
“Nothing at all, Miss Ganyu. I just believe we have no need to use such pretentious formalities. We have worked together for quite some time, have we not?”
She had been taken aback by her words, replying with a shake of her head. “I have no intention of being pretentious. I apologize if I come off that way. I had intended to show due respect.”
Ningguang let out a satisfied hum, letting Ganyu sigh in relief internally. “I shall take my leave then, Lady Ningguang. Unless you have any questions or clarifications on the matter?”
“None. Thank you.”
Walking to the door, she felt freedom as she inched closer and closer to the seemingly heavenly passageway. Not long after, moments of joy had been reduced to ash as she heard the Tianquan’s voice again. “Be considerate with Miss Keqing. She may be a handful. However, she’s certainly the best candidate to act as the Yuheng.”
She stopped dead in her tracks, immediately turning to Ningguang. “Of course, Lady Ningguang.” She bowed in respect before closing the door. And just like that, Ganyu’s composed demeanor vanished as if it was a potion losing its effects. “A handful?” She frowned, mumbling to herself. She had this slightly uneasy feeling, which she later shrugged off as she got lost in her work.
————————♡————————
Time passed quite quickly. Ganyu was relentlessly signing documents, scheduling appointments, and collating reports throughout most of it.
She was the general secretary of the Liyue Qixing. This is what was expected of her. Free time was slim to none. Not that Ganyu minded, of course.
It’s intriguing. Just why was a person of royalty working under the Liyue Qixing? There’s a simple answer. She intends to serve the people of Liyue. As far as anyone’s concerned, most of Liyue’s citizens treat the royals as deities. It’s not necessarily untrue. However, the only factor distinguishing mortals from the so-called ‘deities’ is their strength and immortality, which is considered a curse.
In Ganyu’s eyes, there was no need for ‘deities’ in this era anymore. There’s no point in protecting something that’s already protected. Naturally, the only other way to serve Liyue’s people is to assist the Qixing with the nation’s affairs.
By the time Ganyu finishes her work, it would usually be three or four in the morning. Perhaps, two when she skips her afternoon nap.
She stretched her arms out, sighing in relief at the end of it.
Overtime. As the secretary of the entirety of the Liyue Qixing, there was much to be done. So much that she’d have to work overtime practically every single day. Thank the heavens, immortal deities do not require rest compared to mortals. Though, sleep does give a sense of relaxation. Something that Ganyu does need during her work hours.
Ganyu peeked outside her window, seeing Ningguang’s office still lit. “Perhaps, she’s also working overtime?” The secretary gazed at the office cubicles next to Ningguang’s office. It was, in comparison, dimly lit. With only a few lights open just enough to visibly see.
She grabbed her cloak, wrapping it around herself, tucking in her hair inside the hood. She gripped her door handle and flicked the light switch off with her other hand. Closing the door quietly so as to not disturb the few others still in the building.
Being a person of royalty, concealing her identity in public is a must. Especially considering the fact that Ganyu worked under the Qixing. Needless to say, the Qixing and only the Qixing know about Ganyu’s identity. Usually, under all circumstances, a royal should not be working under the Qixing. However, they had decided to give an exception, given that Ganyu had extraordinary abilities that would assist them and Liyue as a whole.
Retreating footsteps could be heard as Ganyu walked briskly but cautiously toward the castle’s gates. One of the castle’s guards stared at Ganyu’s cloaked figure. He bowed down in respect, opening the gates.
Slowly but surely, the gates creak open, revealing a familiar, slightly shadowed silhouette in front of her. As he walked closer to the secretary, the cold, pale moonlight shone on him, revealing the identity of the unknown figure.
Xiao frowned, his arms crossed. “You’re late.” He clicked his tongue. “Again.”
Ganyu scratched the back of her neck, nervously trying to explain herself. “I… Well…”
“Forget it.” He sighed. “Yanfei is in your room. She visited the castle a few hours ago.”
Ganyu’s eyes shot open. “She visited?!”
“Yes. But—”
When Xiao said those words, Ganyu was already rushing towards the castle. Sprinting to her room, she halted when finally reaching the door. Opening it immediately, she found Yanfei sitting on the side of her bed.
Ganyu panted from exhaustion, brushing a loose hair strand behind her ear to make her look barely presentable. “W-Why the sudden visit?” Ganyu looked at her curiously.
“Is there anything wrong with visiting my favorite cousin?”
Yanfei may be of royal blood, but she identified as a mortal. Taking on a human form and working as a legal advisor. Similar to Ganyu in a way. Though compared to Ganyu, most did not know that Yanfei was a royal. With Ganyu’s half-deity self, she could easily sense she didn’t come to the castle for such a reason.
Ganyu stared at her, raising her eyebrow as she crossed her arms. She clearly wasn’t buying that excuse.
Yanfei chuckled, covering her mouth with her hand as she was doing so. “Fine. You caught me. I’ll get straight to the point. Have you heard of a girl named Keqing?”
Of course, Ganyu did. Ever since that name left the Tianquan’s mouth, she had done her fair share of research on her. Doing that did increase her already extended work hours. Although, she did gain valuable information. Perhaps, it was worth it after all.
“Yes? But I don’t see why you’re asking?”
“I’ll give you some advice. That’s all.”
“Legal advice?” Ganyu tilted her head slightly, confused as to what Yanfei meant.
Yanfei shook her head. “No. Not legal advice.”
The secretary was even more confused. “Then what advice do you want to give me?”
“Just avoid Keqing at all costs.”
Ganyu was startled by the sudden insinuation. “W-What do you mean by that? Is she that horrible?”
Considering the Tianquan’s and Yanfei’s statements on the matter, an unpleasant impression of Miss Keqing has already started to form in Ganyu’s mind even without meeting her personally.
“Not necessarily.”
“I’m confused. Isn’t that directly contradicting the point of your statement? Please reiterate.”
Yanfei walked up to the door, opening it before she turned around. Her eyes met Ganyu’s. “I advise you to avoid her when possible. It might seem unnecessary at first. When you meet her, you’d understand.”
After saying those words, she closed the door, leaving the room. “What does she mean by that?” Ganyu mumbled to herself, still not understanding what Yanfei meant. “Why didn’t she text me instead of coming to the castle just for that?”
Ganyu yawned exhaustedly, practically collapsing on her bed after changing into a white silk nightgown.
Her eyelids had become heavy, to which she responded by shutting them completely.
————————♡————————
Keqing woke up to a message notification. She opened her phone, groaning in annoyance after seeing the one who sent it. She pulled off the blanket wrapped around her body, sitting upright while leaning on the bedframe. She gazed at her phone, blinking twice and rubbing her eyes. Unfortunately, it wasn’t a dream. Keqing kept staring at her phone, trying to find the perfect response to this message.
————————————————————————————
(Qixing) Ningguang:
The Qixing would like to meet you at 3 in the afternoon sharp.
Head to our usual meeting spot at around 2:30.
Keqing:
What the fuck.
The Qixing??
(Qixing) Ningguang:
Questions and clarifications shall be answered during the meeting.
————————————————————————————
It took Keqing five deep breaths to get rid of the urge to throttle the Tianquan. After calming down, she turned to the clock hanging on the wall. “It’s 12 PM… 3 hours should be enough time to get ready.” She nodded, shaking her head to eliminate any drowsiness she had left.
Refusing the insatiable desire for rest, she felt groggy as she walked across her bedroom. Grabbing a towel before heading straight to the bathroom. She slammed the bathroom door, leaning on the wall. Her eyebrows furrowed as she buried her face in her hands. “This is precisely why I hate that person.” She grumbled.
————————♡————————
“Has the event been prepared yet?” Ningguang asked as her lips parted from the smoking pipe she used, smoke escaping once more from it.
Ganyu instinctively covered her nose with her hand from the fumes. “Please don’t smoke indoors. And yes, the event preparation has been finished. Though it might require a few final adjustments.”
Ningguang nodded. “I must say, this is quite impressive. The arrangement was last-minute. Yet, it was completed in a short duration.”
“No need to compliment me. This is what is expected of me. In addition, the preparation wasn’t arduous at all.”
That was a blatant lie. Considering the usual amount of workload Ganyu works with on a daily basis, imagine the addition of the preparation for the event of a newly appointed member of the Qixing? For the entire week of the project, Ganyu has not slept a wink.
One thing is clear, however.
Work-life balance has ceased to exist in Ganyu’s life.
“Much obliged for your hard work and humbleness.” Ningguang placed the smoking pipe on the nearest table. “That aside, have you seen The Crux’s captain? I’m sure she had arrived here early.”
“Down the hall, to the left. There should be a beige door.” She nonchalantly replied, her eyes not looking away from the clipboard.
Ningguang hummed in response, walking towards the hall.
As the Tianquan had left the area, Ganyu scanned the drafted schedule on the clipboard when she noticed a mistake. “Ah! This won’t do!” She hurriedly scribbled the word with her pen and wrote the supposed correct one beside the now-covered word.
In her franticness, she didn’t notice the door opening and the figure who walked inside.
“Excuse me? Is this the right address?” The person said, but the secretary was still busy checking for any error with the document.
To catch Ganyu’s attention, the person slightly nudged her. With the sudden movement, Ganyu jolted, turning her head immediately, meeting the eyes of a certain person.
Light purple hair, amethyst eyes. This mysterious figure exactly fit the description of the Keqing the Tianquan had been talking about. The person that she was supposed to avoid.
Both Keqing’s and Ganyu’s eyes widened in shock.
“Princess… Ganyu…?”