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Liyue Harbor was a captivating place with its harmony in structure and business. It was a large city settled between clear blue water and tall mountains. The people of Liyue were truly blessed by their Geo God, surrounded by great landscapes. The harbor itself was incredibly well-known and became second homes to many merchants across the land. Undoubtedly, the harbor was the most notable trading port in Teyvat with its prospering economy and commerce. It was bustling with not only Liyue locals but also with people from across the seven nations. The city was complex. Tall buildings stood with multiple layers and countless staircases led to banks, bookstores, and restaurants. One couldn’t miss a single business walking the paths of Liyue Harbor, passing by countless people selling Liyue cuisine, toys, jewelry, medicine, and minerals. Out near the docks, one could see the harbor’s esteemed seafaring trade blooming, spotting grand ships making their way to the harbor.
Compared to Mondstadt, one could say Liyue was more methodical. The city was organized in great detail which made the culture feel more intricate.
It wasn't often that Jean departed from Mondstadt, but she needed to attend to important business and Liyue Harbor happened to be the perfect place for that. A member of the Qixing had invited her to stay in the city to discuss matters more in-depth. She took up the offer. There was only so much you could communicate through letters.
It was Jean’s first time in Liyue. Though she knew enough about the nation as part of her duty, she never took the long journey. She was normally too busy to even take business trips. It was just pure luck that her schedule was emptier than usual this time, thanks to Lumine and Venti taking care of Dvalin. Jean ventured to the harbor alone, leaving Lisa and Kaeya in charge of maintaining Mondstadt while she was away. She never imagined herself apart from home, but here she was, in a city that was so different from what she was used to.
Being in the neighboring nation made her feel more foreign than expected. While Liyue followed clean practices of contracts, Mondstadt went with the flow of the wind. They had their distinct values and stability. Jean, of course, preferred the freedom granted in Mondstadt. She loved the individuality and expression there. It was Mondstadt’s key virtue, the characteristic that made it so loveable. That combined with the lovely smell of dandelion throughout the land was why Jean held pride in her titles of the Acting Grand Master and the Dandelion Knight.
Still, Liyue was charming. The city was grand and breathtaking. It felt more quaint, a suiting vibe for a trip outside home. If she wasn’t such a busy woman, Jean would consider traveling to the nation for enjoyment instead of business. Ah...if only.
After a long adventure, Jean arrived at the entrance to Liyue Harbor at noon, when the sun shone high above the city. She was surprised to see no one receiving her. The letter to her had instructed that a certain emissary would collect her once she reached the bridge. While Jean was someone who was acutely aware of time, she felt inclined to wait it out. Her role as Mondstadt’s overseer was simplified into a Liyue tourist in just a mere hour. She strolled the stone walkways without direction, following the flow as she was taught. Unbeknownst to her, she ended up in the far end of the harbor, observing the food at the Wanmin Restaurant. The variety on their menu was intriguing. There were some familiar dishes such as the Teyvat Fried Egg and the Chicken-Mushroom Skewer, but other foods were...interesting to look at, to say the least. She watched a young girl with dark hair braided into a bow set down a plate of spicy-looking slime on the counter. Jean looked at it curiously. It was certainly a unique dish that she never saw in Mondstadt—or anywhere.
"Miss Jean?"
A gentle voice called out from behind Jean, pulling her attention away from the mysterious food. She whipped her head to find an uncommon-looking woman standing politely. While this person was a stranger, Jean narrowed her eyes, recognizing something in the girl. Oh! In the invitation, the sender described their emissary: a young-looking woman with long blue hair, a Cryo vision on her waist, and a particular set of red patterned horns that you couldn’t miss. If this wasn’t the person responsible for collecting her, she couldn’t imagine anyone else.
"It's an honor to meet you, Acting Grand Master of Mondstadt," the emissary greeted with a bow. "I am Ganyu, secretary to the Liyue Qixing. I apologize for my late arrival. The errand I was running beforehand ran over-time."
Jean smiled, hoping to reassure Ganyu. For once in her life, she wasn’t so hurried to do things. "A pleasure to meet you too, Ganyu. No worries, I enjoyed the opportunity to look around."
Ganyu returned the smile. "I hope you'll enjoy Liyue. It's a wonderful place. I'm here to escort you to meet Ningguang. Are you ready?"
Ningguang. The Tianquan of the Lique Qixing. The person who insisted she come stay at Liyue for a moment to discuss matters. Jean wrote letters to her in the past, mostly discussing trade between the two cities, but never met her in-person. Jean’s image of Ningguang’s appearance was solely built on the description Lumine provided. A tall intimidating woman with red keen eyes, long thick white hair, a red bang in the middle of her forehead, and the appearance that truly embodied the word “wealthy.” Besides that, only rumors of the distinguished businesswoman filled in the gaps—but Jean wasn’t fond of gossip.
"Thank you for your assistance, let’s make haste, shall we?"
“Yes, follow me.”
Ganyu took off with Jean following closely behind. Jean observed the graceful secretary guiding them through the streets of Liyue Harbor. Ganyu made twists and turns with no hesitation as if she knew the paths like the back of her hand. Jean watched with quiet amazement, thinking back to how difficult it was to navigate through a city with so many layers.
“Have you heard of the Jade Chamber, Miss Jean?” Ganyu broke the silence.
The Jade Chamber. Ningguang had brought it up several times when they exchanged letters. It was obvious that the palace was the primary source of the Tianquan’s pride. When Jean had first read about it, she was puzzled. Though Mondstadt was indeed the land of the wind, it was hard to picture a large building floating in the air. It was even more of a mystery to Jean when Lumine expressed how luxurious and impressive it was. Before the Dandelion Knight left Mondstadt, the traveler told Jean to prepare for the view.
She nodded. “Ningguang spoke highly about it. Though, I’m still not sure what to expect.”
Ganyu laughed softly in response. “That’s pretty common, even for locals. While the people at the harbor can see the Jade Chamber in the sky, they cannot fully comprehend its greatness up close. Which reminds me, this is a good spot to see it.”
Slowing to a stop, Ganyu looked up. The Jade Chamber was easy to spot among the clouds.
From their position, the Jade Chamber appeared to be the same size as the sun. Jean took in the sight, wondering why she never bothered to look up when she explored the city. For some reason, looking at it from below made it even tougher to fathom. Nevertheless, she was still impressed. No wonder Ningguang wouldn’t stop bragging about it in her writing. If one built a glorious palace in the skies overlooking a city, why wouldn’t one show it off?
“A wonderful thing,” Ganyu mused, concluding their brief break. “And we’ll be on it quite soon.”
As they came closer to their destination, the proper size of the Jade Chamber became more clear. It wasn’t until Jean stepped onto the platform and lifted her head that she finally acknowledged how massive it was—and how real it was. She stood in front of the small moat with Ganyu. The palace….well, it was genuinely a palace. The center building stood tall, separated into layers, as Liyue architecture seemed to love, and was topped off with a bell-shaped roof. Two smaller towers stood beside it, connected to another tower just behind the main structure. Jean didn’t have an eye for construction, but she was wowed.
The true sight that took her breath away, however, was the spectacular view. When Jean turned around, she was surprised to see how little the city of Liyue Harbor appeared from the height. She could see the layout of the harbor, surrounded by great mountains. It was unbelievable. It was as if she was simply looking down at a map of Liyue. Lumine wasn’t wrong to warn her. As someone who relished the wind, being high in the sky awakened a sense of comfort within Jean. Unlike Liyue Harbor, the Jade Chamber offered something familiar: the fresh breeze in the air. If only it smelled like dandelions.
She heard Ganyu giggle at her side, likely enjoying Jean’s reaction. But how could she not appreciate the view? She couldn’t tear her eyes off from it. This even beaten gliding off Stormbearer Mountains.
“Marvelous, isn’t it?”
A new voice. Each word carried elegance and pride, stringing a graceful tone. Jean turned to greet the stranger. Her eyes met a pair of sharp red ones. Just from her eyes, Jean could tell Ningguang was amused.
“The Jade Chamber was just a room before, you see. At its current state, it clouds over Liyue Harbor. Soon, when the time comes, it will be seen by all seven nations.”
Jean couldn’t say she was shocked by Ningguang’s appearance. After all, Lumine did say she looked like the word “rich.” Ningguang rocked a clean color palette of white, brown, gold, and hints of red; a combination fitting for a Geo vision. Her luxurious look emitted an atmosphere of dignity and nobility. Though, the sharp details in it, from her eyes to the gold accessories on her fingers, also communicated a sense of sly power. It was interesting how much Ningguang’s appearance matched all the descriptions Jean heard, even the ones in rumors: an astute leader who liked everything under control, to know everything, and well, mora.
In respect, Jean bowed her head. Ningguang mirrored the gesture with a smug smile.
“It’s good to see you arrived here safely, Acting Grand Master of Mondstadt,” Ningguang announced. “Welcome to the Jade Chamber, the place where the Liyue Qixing monitors the region and my personal space, Jean.”
“Thank you for having me, Ningguang. I am looking forward to discussing business with you.”
Ningguang chuckled, beckoning for Jean to follow her. “Eager as ever. Even in your letters, you cut to the chase quickly. We can begin our meeting inside.”
The interior of the Jade Chamber was spacious, with a tall ceiling and wide walls with intricate designs etched into the wood. Ningguang clearly didn’t pass up the opportunity to decorate the inside to reflect her status. The first thing Jean saw when she walked through the doorway was the big chandelier hanging from the middle of the ceiling. Dainty decor sat at each wall, varying from patterned vases housing small sakura trees to wooden shelves full of antiques. Even though their first meeting was minutes ago, Jean understood how the Jade Chamber reflected Ningguang’s taste perfectly.
Ningguang took them down the curved staircase onto the lower floor and then into a room. From the layout, it appeared to be her workroom. Detailed wooden furniture decorated the exterior of the room. On the right, there was a large board cluttered with papers. Near it, there were scrolls piled on the floor neatly, in addition to the growing collection on top of the long desk at the far back of the room. Liyue kept Ningguang busy, huh. Behind the work desk, three wooden panels stood with jade-colored windows displaying elegant artwork. How befitting for the main room of the Jade Chamber.
“You may sit here,” Ningguang insisted as she sat in her chair, gesturing to a seat in front of the desk. They sat across from each other, the space in front of them clear from work clutter. Ningguang propped her head up with her hand, her gold accessories glinting in the pouring sunlight. Her eyes looked directly into Jean’s, unafraid of eye contact. She was truly a businesswoman. Jean folded her hands onto her lap, sitting straight up as she grew accustomed to.
“Oh, I have something for you,” Jean began, grabbing something out of her satchel. She brought out a big box and placed it on top of the desk. “The traveler told me about the tradition of greeting gifts. Inside, you will find a bag of dandelion seeds and a bottle of dandelion wine. These items are representative of Mondstadt, I hope you’ll enjoy them.”
Ningguang observed the bag, entertained. “Thank you for your thoughtful gift. I hear that dandelion wine is valuable, especially to those outside of Mondstadt. Actually, I also have a gift to deliver.”
Reaching into a drawer, Ningguang revealed a small bouquet of flowers. “Speaking of valuable, these are glaze lilies. They are native to Liyue and are now rare to find in the wild. Much history and legends are packed into these flowers. Do treasure them, especially since they usually adorn hefty price tags.”
Jean took the bouquet with a kind smile. Though this did confirm that Ningguang was someone with money on her mind, as rumors had it, the lilies were beautiful. “I will.”
They took a minute to store away their new possessions before resuming their positions.
“The Fatui are up to nothing good lately,” Jean started, unable to hold back her thoughts any longer. “Though they are laying low due to recent events, I have a feeling they’re plotting something.”
The smile Ningguang wore relaxed into a deadpan face. “The situation in Liyue appears to be the opposite of the one in Mondstadt. Fatui activity has heightened these days. They may have moved their focus from there to here.”
“There must be some golden opportunity here then. When Stormterror was threatening Mondstadt, Fatui diplomats in the city were trying to use the fear for their own gain. They want political power and they’ll do anything to take advantage of circumstances like that.”
“I cannot imagine a situation like that here in Liyue. Besides the Fatui, nothing is unordinary. There is a branch of the Northland Bank here in Liyue Harbor. I know that the Fatui have been masking their activities under the organization. Though they haven’t done anything significantly threatening yet, I do notice the increased presence of the Harbingers here.”
Jean’s eyebrows furrowed. “If the Harbingers are active, they’re on the move. How is your security?”
“We have many Millelith guards on patrol throughout the city for the safety of the people. Liyue is protected by the best. When it comes to obtaining inside information though, I have my methods. Surely you’ve heard the rumor that I can hear everything.”
Jean couldn’t deny it, especially since it was one of the most widespread rumors of her.
“While I don’t miss anything, I cannot totally predict the moves of the Fatui. While we both know they’re power-hungry, their specific goals are difficult to figure out. Recently, the Fatui are acting more outside of the harbor. They’re after something outside the city.”
“And we cannot simply close down their business,” Jean sighed, frustrated. “Appeasing them feels wrong.”
Ningguang’s eyes narrowed. “As the most powerful military power of all seven nations, the Fatui cannot be touched. Only their plots can be blocked, but even then, we still have to be careful around them. Snezhnaya and the ‘Tsaritsa’ are powerful whether we like it or not. I know you’re a woman of justice, Jean, but this is reality.”
“I’m aware of that but—”
“Ningguang!”
Before Jean could express her dissatisfaction, a familiar voice interrupted their conversation. She turned around to see Ganyu at the doorway with a concerned expression.
“What is it, Ganyu?” Ningguang questioned, raising a brow. Disturbing an exchange was a pet peeve of hers.
Ganyu walked into the room and located a map that was pinned onto the board at the side. She pointed to a specific location, one that Jean didn’t recognize. It was a spot close to Liyue Harbor.
“As I was working, I spotted Fatui activity at the Guizhong Ballista. They looked suspicious so I came back to report it.”
Jean’s attention perked at the mention of the Fatui. Speak of the devil.
Ningguang stood up from her seat and joined Ganyu at the board. Her expression became completely serious as she calculated the situation. She tapped her metal finger onto the location her emissary pointed out.
“Keqing and Millelith soldiers should be stationed there. They’re currently investigating the repair of the Guizhong Ballista.”
“Yes, the Yuheng reported her investigation a while ago. However, it seems that they were called to confront a group of treasure hoarders at Lingju Pass,” Ganyu informed, singling out another section of the map.
Ningguang didn’t respond. She held her chin in deep thought.
“Should we send soldiers over there?” Ganyu prompted.
After a moment of silence, Ningguang shook her head. “No need, I’ll go there myself. It’s about time that I get to the bottom of this before the Fatui truly harms Liyue.”
“Are you sure?”
Ningguang’s stride towards the door was enough confirmation. Though, before she exited the room, Jean stood up.
“I’ll assist you,” She said, determined. She came to Liyue to discuss the Fatui. If she could understand their intentions, even just a little bit, this would satisfy her.
The Tianquan paused. Her head turned to lock eyes with Jean. Afraid that Ningguang would deny her, Jean adopted a confident stance. To her surprise, Ningguang’s seriousness broke into a smirk. “Very well, if you insist.”
It was not a long walk to the Guizhong Ballista. The sun was still beaming in the sky, giving off an afternoon warmth. It was certainly a beautiful day...to strike the Fatui. Ningguang and Jean approached the stone ruins home to the ballista from behind. Both seemingly didn’t need any instruction, finding themselves in sync without a single word spoken. When they came close to the structure, they could hear a group of voices from above. Jean let Ningguang walk around the ruin silently. The only noise she made was the light brushing sound of her legs against grass, which could be easily mistaken as the wind. Ningguang looked up, squinting at the roof of the building. While Jean couldn’t see the top, she noticed Ningguang wrinkling her nose, presumably due to disgust. The Fatui was indeed at the Guizhong Ballista. Bingo.
The voices were too faint for them to make out the words. Ningguang snuck back to Jean. In a low voice, she whispered, “From my position, I saw four Fatui members. Three of them appeared to be armed.”
Jean’s head tilted. At least four enemies were present and were likely up to no good once again. She raised her head to assess the structure’s height. It wasn’t too tall. Climbing was nothing new in Mondstadt, and Jean would say she was even quite good at it. She signaled Ningguang, pointing up at the roof. The Tianquan followed the gesture. Her eyes dulled, displeased by Jean’s idea. Nonetheless, Jean grabbed onto the wall next to them, carefully stepping onto the stones with minimal noise. With a deep quiet breath, she started climbing, clinging onto the rocks. She slowly ascended the ruin wall, hoping Ningguang was following closely behind. The poor businesswoman wore heels.
It took a couple of minutes for Jean to reach the top. This was more of a challenge than she expected. She hauled herself onto the roof of the ruins and quickly hid behind a pillar. To her surprise, Ningguang reached the hiding spot in under a minute. Before Jean could question how she managed to climb the wall with non-ideal shoes, Ningguang knowingly pointed at her vision. Ah. There was no actual need to genuinely climb. Jean could feel her face warm at the realization, but she instantly shook her head, forcing herself to focus on the current plight.
The two stood there, listening in to the Faui members. There were five different voices not far from them.
“Hey, does this look legitimate to you?”
“That looks too sloppy. Redo it.”
“This is the ballista Childe was talking about?”
“Yeah, he said it would be a big obstacle in the plan.”
“So we should destroy it. Alright, I’ve been itching to do something cooler than just writing on paper.”
Ningguang and Jean exchanged looks. What were the Fatui up to? Were they duplicating something onto paper? Perhaps some documents? Sounds pretty illegal. But more importantly, the Guizhong Ballista was in danger and Ningguang wasn’t going to let it be tampered with, especially at the hands of the Fatui.
Before Jean could stop her, Ningguang ran out from their position and aimed at the first person she spotted. Her Geo vision gleaned under the sun. With the satisfying thwacks of rocks hitting their target, she confronted them. “You have no right to touch something that rightfully belongs to Liyue. Don’t even think about laying your hands on it.”
The masked members jolted at her voice. Two people, seemingly unarmed, sat on the floor with paper and ink scattered around them. Their panic in being caught was evident as their eyes widened and their mouths gaped. They scurried to hide the mess, stuffing the materials into their clothes. It was clear they had something to hide. The other three people were near the ballista. Once they spotted Ningguang, they readied themselves into battle positions, tightly gripping their weapons. After a minute of simple heavy tension, the one in the center swung back his hammer and started running with a yell. Those at his sides soon followed, commencing the fight.
As soon as they charged at Ningguang, Jean hurried to her side, unveiling herself. She unsheathed the sword at her waist and felt the wind around her, channeling its flow. With a sharp inhale, she charged her weapon with Anemo power, feeling the energy surging through her veins. Just as the enemies reached them, Jean let go, charging her sword into the lot. A force of wind blasted them from the edges of her weapon. The three Skirmishers were immediately knocked back, finding themselves crashing into the floor.
Now that they were off their feet, Jean took the opportunity to continue striking. She couldn’t waste a single second in battle. Rushing to the Skirmisher on her left, she slashed her blade fiercely. To her right, she could hear the pummeling of stone against the other Fatui fighters. Ningguang was not holding back either.
The big armored soldier scrambled to get onto their feet, jumping at Jean’s ambush. They struggled to search for the Hydro blaster that fell out of their grasp at the impact of her sword. Just as they felt the nozzle of the weapon, it was too late. With a mighty shout, Jean dealt the final blow, leaving them unable to move and powerless.
Before Jean could savor her win though, she heard a cry behind her. She sharply turned, expecting someone running at her, but was immediately faced with a fire burst coming for her head. Jean shielded her face with her arms, bracing for the burning impact, shutting her eyes instinctively. The warmth she felt from the incoming fire increased at an alarming speed. The building sensation was cut off instantly, however, and Jean didn’t feel any burns. She lowered her arms and saw Ningguang in front, protecting her. The sharp-witted Tianquan casted a wide window-pane-like screen of gold, shielding Jean from the fire. The enemy responsible for the surprise attack grunted and attempted to burn down the Jade Screen. To their dismay, the construct didn’t react. A second later, their body was hit by multiple glowing stones, throwing them far away from the pair.
Ningguang panted, her quick moves resulting in a wave of exhaustion. Jean opened her mouth to thank her but was cut off by a deep roar. Their attention switched to an approaching Skirmisher with an Electro hammer charged up. The fighter yelled as they swung the weapon down as hard as they could. Jean, with her light footing and reflexes, dodged the attack perfectly, sidestepping the cackling electricity. Ningguang, on the other hand, wasn’t so lucky. Although she stepped out of the hammer’s strike, she fell victim to the electric range. Her body pulsed as she was rendered paralyzed by the instant shock, sending her flying.
“Ningguang!” Jean cried, wincing as she saw the injured woman skid against the stone ground.
Something fiery suddenly fueled Jean. She could feel the air around her swirl intensely. The calming breeze of Liyue transformed into a powerful wind, almost equal to a tornado’s force, in Jean’s radius. The cool of Anemo energy differed from the hot boiling blood in her body. While Jean was never concerned about her own well-being, seeing other people hurt drove her into a protective rage. Once again, Jean infused the Anemo power circulating her into her blade and pointed the tip at the Fatui Skirmisher.
“Barbatos, guide me!” Jean let out. At that instant, she dashed towards the foe, the wind following her movement. As Jean attacked with her sword, the air in their vicinity cut at the masked opponent. In this state, one could call Jean the wind itself. She swiftly circled the soldier, hitting every side before they could react. One blink and she would be in a different position, striking another blow. Nobody was more suited for the protector of Mondstadt than her. Her speedy moves created a strong enough flow that it carried the large armored Skirmisher into the air and looped them around. Soon, the air harshly threw them out of the cycle, sending them to faceplant a pillar. At the sound of impact, she could hear the crack of the Fatui mask.
Seeing her enemies unable to attack, Jean hurried to Ningguang, who was pushing herself off the ground. Jean placed her hand protectively on Ningguang’s shoulder and held her hand to help her up. When they both rose, they caught the Fatui members escaping in desperation. The two unarmed figures supported the injured soldiers as they fled the scene. Ningguang attempted to follow them but faltered, her stability still shaken up. Jean held onto her, hoping she didn’t exert too much strength. Inside, she wished she could round up the culprits, but tending to Ningguang was her priority.
“Look there,” Ningguang directed, nodding her head towards the spot where the Fatui members sat.
Jean zeroed into the location. A small shaped piece of paper was left on the floor, likely dropped. It appeared that the Fatui didn’t leave without a trace.
Ningguang tried to step forward towards the mysterious clue, but Jean stopped her.
“You’re hurt,” Jean noted, observing the bleeding scrapes on Ningguan’s arms and legs. “Let me heal you first.”
Stepping back and letting go of her partner, Jean closed her eyes, calling upon the wind. The once hollering and whining air calmed into a soft soothing current. Ningguang quietly stared at her supposed healer, feeling the wind around them embrace her skin. It was an interesting experience. The wind kissed her wounds, renewing her skin, making her feel as fresh as the free will of Anemo energy. Who knew air could be so sweet? Ningguang even dared to think it smelled like dandelions...a scent unfamiliar to her. It smelled like Jean.
She looked down at her arms. The damage from the Electro power was no longer apparent, her skin just as smooth and pale as they always were.
Jean opened her eyes. Ningguang laughed lightly under her breath. “Thank you,” she said sincerely.
Relieved to see Ningguang healed, Jean let out a sigh. “No, thank you. It was because of me that you got injured. I should’ve been more on guar—”
Her words were interrupted by Ningguang’s finger on her lips. The sudden action shushed her, sending Jean into fluster. The intimacy of it was a bit embarrassing…
“Save it,” Ningguang assured. “I’m not a big fan of regrets.”
With that, she walked on, in the direction of the left-behind evidence. Jean, though still pink from the interaction, headed there as well. She watched as Ningguang picked up the piece of paper. From the appearance, Jean guessed it was a talisman of some sort. She wasn’t knowledgeable about these types of tokens. There was intricate ink writing on the paper.
Ningguang analyzed the talisman. “This is an incredibly messy duplication of a Sigil of Permission.”
Jean frowned, unable to comprehend the words.
“It is a talisman that holds some divine power connected to the adepti. It was used heavily in the Archon War by Rex Lapis,” Ningguang explained.
“So I’m assuming that the Fatui being interested in this is a concern?”
“It is definitely a topic I have to bring up to the other Qixing members,” Ningguang said, clutching the evidence. “But for now, I believe we should call it a day.”
Their time at the ruins ran longer than expected. Jean looked up to see a warm red sky glittered with orange clouds. The sun was setting, and she found herself a bit tired.
“Alright.”
They returned to the Jade Chamber, a sight to behold after their time at a plain stone structure. Ningguang treated Jean to a rich dinner of Liyue cuisine, a feast suited for royalty. Jean, as a non-picky eater, enjoyed the meal. Yet, she couldn’t spot any spicy slime dishes at the table. Must be a unique Liyue treat then? With a full stomach, Jean went to bed early, hoping to begin her journey home bright in the morning.
Thanks to the luxurious bed provided in the Jade Chamber, Jean slept well, feeling rejuvenated and energized early in the day. She woke up to see the sun just rising at the horizon. Considering the long journey ahead of her, she made haste, refreshing in the bathroom and then dressing in her clothes. Once she was prepared to take on the day, she exited the guest room.
She expected to see Ningguang up on the main floor of the palace, overlooking Liyue, so when she caught light spilling out from Ningguang’s workroom, she cocked her head. Jean peeked inside. At her desk, Ningguang held up her head with her hand tiredly, intensely staring at the fake Sigil of Permission in her hand. It was obvious that the Tianquan stayed up all night, processing the plans of the Fatui.
“Ningguang?”
At the sound of her name, Ningguang’s eyes flicked up to see Jean at the doorway. The tension in her features softened. She laid the talisman on her desk and stood up, making her way towards the Acting Grand Master.
“Good morning, Jean,” Ningguang greeted. “I hope you slept well.”
“I did, thank you. I am grateful for your hospitality.”
“Are you heading back now?”
“Yes. I can’t bear to be apart from Mondstadt for too long.”
Ningguang chuckled softly. “As expected from their loyal Acting Grand Master. They’re in great hands.”
The two started ascending the swiveling staircase, welcomed by the morning glow spilling in. Side by side, they walked out into the open, taking in the view. Jean took in a deep breath, happy to feel the crisp morning breeze on her face. The sight of Liyue from above is a memory she will not forget. What a beautiful image to cherish.
“I am saddened that you’re leaving so soon. I was looking forward to taking you out on a date through the city.”
Jean’s serene minute came to an end as Ningguang boldly expressed her feelings. Once again, the coolness of the air clashed with the heat Jean felt, this time being with the warmth in her cheeks. Jean hadn’t been on a date for so long, especially since her schedule was always full and hectic. She also had no intentions of pursuing any relationships. It was work first all the time, after all. The sudden consideration of a date threw a wrench into that, making Jean dumbfounded.
She let out an awkward laugh, scratching the back of her neck. “I am flattered, I really am. I wish I could spend more time here but duty calls.”
Ningguang smiled, not at all surprised by the reaction. It was as if she had Jean all figured out. “No harm. I’m sure we’ll cross paths once again. I hope you consider signing a contract with me the next time we’ll meet.”
Knitting her brows together, Jean questioned, “Another trade deal?”
The smile on Ningguang deepened into a grin. Somehow, seeing such a mischievous expression on someone known to be serious and professional was unnerving. “Not quite what I had in mind. I was thinking more like a partnership?”
Oh boy. Jean could only imagine how much redder her face became at that moment. She hated being shy, but how could she not feel flustered? She covered her mouth with her hand, saving face.
Ningguang let out another chuckle. “Keep thinking about it. We’ll depart ways for now.”
Leave it to Ningguang to save Jean from the situation she created herself. Wonderful. Jean nodded, feeling her natural color return. Right. It was finally time to say goodbye to Liyue. Though it was a really strange day to be her first in the nation, it will definitely stay memorable. With a bow of her head and a friendly wave, she started walking away from Ningguang. Though, just a second later, she turned around and called Ningguang’s name. The Tianquan responded with a curious head-tilt.
“Would you like to visit Mondstadt next time?”
“I would love the opportunity.”
“See you then.”
“Until next time, Jean.”