Chapter Text
“Lady Beidou is here…”
The mere announcement left Ningguang annoyed, yet glad she is here. The boring silence with the afternoon glow illuminating the Jade Chamber’s spacious windows of sunlight, as Ningguang rose from her chair to go greet Beidou from the entrance of her main room, who was carrying a box.
“Get on with it before I ask you to leave,” says Ningguang.
“Why, hello there, princess.” Beidou sure does have a fondness of calling Ningguang that.
Beidou made a little bow, mocking considering she didn’t bend herself low enough.
“Beidou.” Ningguang wasn’t having any of it.
“Alright, alright, to the point I go. It’d be poor to come here empty-handed, considering it’s your time I might be wasting. So here it is.”
Beidou placed a box down, opening it before Ningguang to reveal an exquisite vase, porcelain and gave off quite the iridescent shine. It appears gaudy, yet the value sure must be very high. The white-haired woman would have smiled, pleased in the gift until she realized the gifting person is Beidou.
Whatever she did to procure this present, it sure just sends alarm bells.
“Don’t tell me…” she trailed off, ready to say “You got this in one of your illegal deals. I’m certainly sure of that.”
Beidou cocked a brow, breathing confidence. “I see you never trust where and how I got this?”
“...with you, yes, I truly am skeptical of your gifts— especially , on the source.”
The brunette huffed, carefully carrying the object in her hands.
“Oh, how can you assume that sort of thing? I figured this gift can pay the fines I’ve incurred. Thought it’d look great in your Jade Chamber.”
You’ve totally gotten used to your rule-breaking.
No doubt since Beidou had set sail, she was so fine breaking rules, and paying the fines she incurred with it. Maybe to mess with Ningguang, whose morality is rigid like the pillars at Cuijue Slope. Liyue’s land must be pure, and that meant there would never be any tolerance towards the kind of business Beidou does.
But even then…
...the evil Beidou does, has kindness within, does it? Isn’t that why she fears none? Isn’t that why the children consider her a good pirate?
“And hey, what better way to express my thanks than to give you something that matches the air of your palace, huh?”
Beidou, despite Ningguang’s wordless objections, placed the base in the wooden pedestal, where a few rays of sunshine spoiled to give it a better shine.
Hands on her hips, Beidou adores the displayed antique. “See, now it looks so better here. Anyways, that’s where my stay ends, right? You sure took your time making me stay here longer than usual.” she glances over, still smiling at the white-haired woman.
Beidou, you’re just going to make me want you to leave the moment you step on that stone platform.
“It’s appalling.”
You're lying.
“Aw, really? I had a hard time getting this, if you’d like, I have more you can choose from my ship—”
“—it’s appalling you’re having a good eye on such extravagant items,” Ningguang finally completed.
“Oh, is that so? Have I already made you fancy this gift of mine?”
“I’m afraid you did.”
Decency just barred Ningguang from making wild moves. Her lips pressed to a line, but her mood was already softened. The silence between them mellowed to a sort of private closeness.
Stay here, even if I sound I wouldn't like it.
The tense pain came.
Beidou, please. Why won't you say anything? This silence is killing me.
Beidou pats her shoulder. “Gotta get going, princess. I’ve got to sail, some things just came up.”
Then she left.
The warmth, like an ember to her shoulder, felt relieved. Ningguang closed her eyes, just thinking her cowardice and these bottled up feelings were to test her. If only Beidou stayed, and she wouldn't have any better company...
Ningguang’s hand raised to the direction of the vase, ready to grab and toss it out using the powers of her Vision. Slowly, if not tenderly, she held its curves and murmured words of admiration, looking left and right if anyone such as her, would even be adoring the vase gifted by a pirate.
Maybe Beidou can be my new provider of luxurious items.
...given I can verify these won’t make invaders come to Liyue just because she confiscated their treasure and lied returning it to them…
...this antique is so lovely to look at...
Perhaps Ningguang found a tiny bit of happiness, something to be reminded of Beidou each day she continues her duties in her Jade Chamber.
✥✥✥
If only she can keep the very treasure belonging to her, before it comes falling to seal the god.
If it was divine punishment that forced her hand, to have Ningguang plummet her beloved magnum opus for she had no choice, then it felt too much.
I never kept Beidou's gift in the box it came with before I drove it to the storm...
The simmering guilt and realization everything with it is gone, probably broken in the process.
Including the exquisite vase Beidou gifted her.
With her symbol of wealth gone, Ningguang just lamented if there were alternatives, but in the long run, she secured the future of Liyue’s growth and progression towards independence and self-sustenance.
The divine-like structure’s demise would’ve never fazed her, knowing even in the image of hardwork manifested as an accumulation of her everyday efforts, it’d all be gone in the blink of an eye.
As usual, the plans to build a new Jade Chamber were set. It won’t be the last time, the death of her chamber can awaken a more beautiful form.
“My life’s work could never have more value than the people of Liyue.” That was Ningguang’s only reply when she was asked about the Jade Chamber’s death.
Construction is just the ambition of reviving it, the materials becoming more difficult to find…
And there, Ningguang would longingly gaze to the sea by the harbor, appearing to only enjoy the view.
If only, if only she could embrace Beidou again…
...surely that would’ve been enough comfort to know everything Beidou had been there, gifts included, could also never replace the woman she so loved in her heart.