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Chapter Text

Now as godless as their neighbor in the north, Liyue was slouching towards a mortal-driven future. Keqing just wished the nation would stop lumbering about and move faster. And stand up straighter!

Ah, perhaps such a revelation at hand needed longer to sink in. Surely the gravity of finally being able to make their mark on the land of the Geo Archon will dawn upon its civilians? Yet even months after the Rite of Parting and the last of the overdramatic (and entirely unnecessary, not to mention wasteful) wails had been made by the professional mourners and their employers, the Yuheng Keqing finds that her dreams of a new Liyue—a reborn Liyue—were still as radical as the time she declared them in front of her God of Too Many Titles and he laughed in her face.

Just remembering how his hearty laughter was joined in by everyone who participated in last year’s Rite of Descension made Keqing’s spirit burn with righteous indignation. Who was laughing now after humanity’s leadership (and accountability for said leadership) had been stirred from its thirty-plus centuries of stony sleep? Even if she had misjudged the difficulty of changing the way of rock, Keqing was determined to chip away at it until she had sculpted it into something better.

Such work was a long undertaking. Such work was a tedious undertaking as Rex Lapis’ parting had made many of his people even more sentimental for his ancient decrees. As the Yuheng of the Liyue Qixing, Keqing oversaw the development of land in Liyue, which included all facets of real estate and construction. Just this morning she had an incredibly trying meeting dealing with architects who argued the following:

“We cannot build so close to the river that begins near Mt. Tianheng: its shape is pierced by an arrow and the turbulent waters sob in sorrow. Was it not Rex Lapis who said ‘One’s decline and prosperity are dependent upon the response of the form?’”

To which Keqing, who was just as familiar with the classics, impatiently replied, “According to the recent land surveys that I did myself, the water there is conducive for this effort. Where else are we going to build waterwheels to grind our imported grain? Besides, Rex Lapis said that in the times when only the gods were capable of terraforming. Therefore, ‘the lights of the sky descend, the virtues of the earth ascend.’ Our modern inventions can circumvent past misfortunes and turn them auspicious.”

The misty-eyed architects were not swayed by her argument. Keqing thus begrudgingly extended her personal 3-year development plan for Liyue into a 5-year one to accommodate this setback.

Along with these particular…difficulties (the tribulations she refuses to allow her principles to be affected by), the Liyue Qixing was stretched thin trying to fill the power vacuum left by Morax’s departure. This brought Keqing to her focus for the afternoon: assisting with brokering a new security agreement with Mondstadt’s representatives. While she usually didn’t concern herself with international affairs as they fell within the purview of the Tianquan and the Kaiyang respectfully, the Kaiyang had delegated her those responsibilities on the basis of “Oh, it’s just Mondstadt. You’re going to have to build us new roads and security towers anyway, so I’ll trust you’ll make the best tactical decisions. And Ningguang will do her thing so you girls will be fine.”

Normally such casual frivolity would invoke Keqing’s ire, but she had recently been studying the ways of the Warrior God and was eager to put her knowledge into practice. She would not waste this opportunity.

She was now at the entrance of the Yuehai Pavilion waiting to receive their foreign guests. This was secretarial work and, while Keqing wasn't afraid of getting her hands dirty, she didn't like wasting her time with, well, waiting around for other people. She had better things to do...was what she would usually say, however Keqing’s personal assistant had recently quit, and she found bothering Ganyu with something so trivial to be inhumane. Besides, she needed the fresh air to reset from the foul mood left from her morning meeting.

She waited until an official sedan chair was placed in front of her, of the type and styling reserved only for the Liyue Qixing’s use. From the wall-high lacquered doors, carved from large slabs of sandbearer wood and polished to perfection using resin enhanced with cor lapis flakes, emerged two women: one who was dressed mostly in blue and white; the other was wearing the largest purple hat Keqing’s ever seen. Both women seemed to be a little older than Keqing herself and carried themselves with the kind of confidence most Vision-wielders bore. Keqing immediately noted the Electro Vision on the purple clothed woman’s neck and the Anemo one on the other’s hip.

They seemed upstanding enough—Keqing immediately took a liking to the studious-looking blonde who was carrying in her arms an enormous bouquet of flowers. The purple-wearing brunette, however, made Keqing wary. She felt herself being sized up—she instinctively stood a little taller on top of the stone steps as she waited for them to reach her.

“Welcome to the Yuehai Pavilion. I hope your travels were pleasant,” Keqing greeted dutifully.

“Thank you for the hospitality,” the one in blue responded with equal graciousness.

“Thank you, cutie,” the other woman giggled.

Keqing’s stare grew long as she tried to determine if she had just been called “cutie”—or was it “kitty?” Either way, she brushed it aside. She’s been called much worse by rude merchants and she only heard playfulness in the woman’s voice. That was harmless enough…probably.  

“I am Keqing, Yuheng of the Liyue Qixing. I will be filling in for the Kaiyang in today’s meeting, who had been called away to attend to some urgent matters. You two must be the Acting Grand Master and the Witch of the Purple Rose.”

“Oh darling, please call me Lisa. My days in academia are long over. I’m just a humble librarian now.”

“Right,” Keqing replied skeptically, wondering to herself if Mondstadt was really so short-staffed to bring a librarian to the negotiation table. The Kaiyang’s notes for the meeting had been woefully short, mostly just noting the titles of who Keqing was supposed to meet and a few points about desired patrol routes and checkpoints.

“And you may call me Jean. It’s nice to finally meet you, Lady Keqing. Your reputation precedes you.”

“Just Keqing is fine. And you’ve heard of me?”

“I have—Lady Ningguang spoke highly of your accomplishments in her letters,” Jean replied with a fond smile, causing Keqing’s eyebrows to raise.

“That’s news to me. Come, let’s talk more inside. I understand we’re on a timetable.”

“We are. Lisa and I are technically out on patrol, so we need to return in a day or two.”

“I see,” Keqing replied as she led them deeper into the building to the wing currently being inhabited by the Tianquan.

Before the fall of the Jade Chamber, only minor bureaucrats and legal assistants could be found in this area. Now the wing was amongst the most active in the Qixing. Ningguang had even annexed some of the space normally reserved for the Tianshu’s people. How she accomplished this, Keqing didn’t care (or want) to know.

“Quite the hustle and bustle we have here,” Lisa noted with a sympathetic yawn.  

“Since Rex Lapis left us, we have been divvying up his responsibilities. Of all of us, I’d say the lawyers and lawmakers are especially busy since they have to codify all the changes. That reminds me, I’ve been researching the different archon’s styles of governance. I’m quite curious Mondstadt’s relationship with your god. He is still with you, is he not?”

“He is,” Jean noted with a small smile. “Lord Barbatos grants us the right to self-govern. It’s reassuring to know he is able to wander as freely as the wind around our nation. I want to work hard to make sure that remains always true.”

“Hmm. Is that so?” Keqing said with a thoughtful frown. In many of the books she had poured over, she had always felt a bit of Liyuean disdain for the lax ways of the Anemo Archon. Such cultural bias was something even she had difficulty surmounting. Yet the way Jean phrased her god’s philosophy made Keqing wonder if this was not the independence of her dreams.

“He could stand to do a little more to help, that prancing drunkard.”

“Lisa!”

Keqing made immediate note of two facts from that exchange: one, it seemed both women both knew and recently met Barbatos; two, the dark circles around Jean’s eyes. Instantly she understood the correlation and felt her stomach drop.

Was she…was she looking at her future? Would this be the future of a godless Liyue Harbor in a few centuries? Decades? Years? No, at least the people of Liyue had their mercantile pride, however…

Before she could ponder this too deeply, they reached the large hall leading up to Ningguang’s office. One of her secretaries—Baiwen—looked up from her papers.

“Ah. Lady Yuheng and Honored Guests. Lady Ningguang is still in her previous meeting. I will let her know you are here.”

“Thank you.”

“Please wait one moment,” the secretary said before standing up. The guards opened the large double doors for her and she disappeared inside.

Before Keqing could even think of being impatient, the doors were blown open and the poor unsuspecting Millelith were slammed into the wall.

“Jean! Lisa!” Beidou bellowed as she made her way across the room. She quickly had her arms around both women. “Imagine meeting you two here! How’s it going?”

“Hi Captain Beidou…”

“Rowdy as always. Hi honey,” Lisa giggled before giving the pirate a friendly peck on the cheek. “You need to visit more often.”

“I try, but you know how it is,” Beidou grinned.

“Captain,” Ningguang warned.

Keqing immediately turned to look at the Tianquan standing at the center of the doorway the dazed Millelith were holding open for her. While Ningguang’s Vision might be Geo, Keqing swore the temperature of the room dropped a few degrees from the threat in her voice alone.

Had Beidou noticed, she did a good job pretending she didn’t. She said loudly, “Hey Ning, you didn’t tell me that you were meeting with some of my best Mondstadt buddies!”

“My affairs are none of your concern.”

“Affairs, hmm?”

“Ahem,” Keqing interrupted. She could feel her morning’s irritation returning. She was starting to regret accepting the Kaiyang’s offer.

“Keqing! I almost didn’t see you! Hey there,” Beidou immediately turned to her. With the arm she had around Jean, she tried to stretch her hand out to ruffle her hair. Sensing the danger, Keqing immediately leaned back.

“We have a meeting with the Tianquan,” Keqing said as stoically as she could. Her efforts failed as she felt a little offended at not being immediately noticed. Her voice thus wavered and was more high-pitched than she would’ve preferred. Being around these tall women was—no, she wasn’t bothered by it! She was still growing (probably…hopefully).

“Oh, what about?”

“They are matters regarding the border. Nothing that requires your attention, boat captain,” Ningguang said.

“Oh, but borders include the oceans, and that’s my jurisdiction. Besides, any good businesswoman worth her salt can smell an opportunity, and I’m not gonna let it pass me by. I also can’t let my friends here get scammed by you, can I, Ningguang?”

The Tianquan sighed. Keqing sympathized with her annoyance. Ningguang then looked to her and to Beidou’s “Mondstadt buddies.”

“Do you permit allowing Captain Beidou to listen in on our negotiations?”

“Sounds delightful,” said Lisa, blissfully.

“I’m fine with it,” replied Jean, ever-respectful and polite.

Keqing weighed the pros-and-cons. On one hand, she could see Beidou prolonging the discussions and wasting more of her precious time. There was also the matter of the pirate announcing her sympathy with those in the opposing party of the negotiations and—as frustrating as it was to admit—Beidou’s tactical acumen was on par with the Qixing’s most capable. It was therefore not in Keqing’s best interest to allow Beidou to join the conversation…however, on the other hand, Keqing was still sore about the time Ningguang bought all the Lucent Crescent without warning. Three months of anticipation and excitement were completely ruined! Opportunities to ruffle Ningguang’s pristine feathers were few and far between—Keqing decided not to waste this opportunity (and alibi) to watch the Tianquan squirm.

“As our guests have made their decision and traveled all this way, I suppose it would be impolite to go against their wishes,” Keqing replied deferentially.

See, just because she normally didn’t act on it didn’t mean she was bereft of all proprieties. Having grown up in the well-to-do wealthy circles meant Keqing could play at social intrigue, even if she found it distasteful. 

Said good breeding allowed Keqing’s face to remain blank when Ningguang’s gaze bore into her. The Tianquan seemed to search for the reasoning behind the betrayal. If Ningguang found any, she did not reply. She instead dipped her head and acknowledged:

“So be it. Come, let us begin our discussions. Baiwen, Baixiao, please help us get ready.”

“Yes, Lady Ningguang!”

“Ah! One moment,” Jean interrupted as she slipped from Beidou’s grasps. She moved to Ningguang and offered her the bouquet of flowers she had been carrying. “Before we begin, I like to offer this to you as thanks for all your correspondences. I understand that greeting gifts are usually given in Liyue. I hope this suffices.”

To Keqing’s great astonishment, Ningguang chuckled and accepted the bouquet. She took care to not let her fingernail guards pierce the wrapping. “What a thoughtful gift to receive from you, Acting Grand Master. You have my thanks, especially considering that you and your companion came in the middle of the Windblume Festival. Let us use this opportunity to strengthen the ties between our two nations in the spirit of celebration.”

There was real amusement in Ningguang’s voice—the Tianquan was so used to getting lavish and extraordinary gifts that her reaction to receiving a simple bouquet of various Mondstadt flowers made Keqing immediately suspicious. Normally that woman would never let her gratitude veer from polite acknowledgment so Ningguang had an ulterior motive, Keqing just knew it. Before the meeting was over, she would find out what it was.

As she walked towards the meeting room, Keqing glanced back and overheard a little of the discussion being had by the other two Electro users:

“…been fretting about this all month, we even took a detour to get those cecilias.”

“Did you now? Let me tell you about how…hmm? You need something, Yuheng Keqing?” Beidou asked playfully.

“I-I hope you were here to pay your fines. The dock expansions aren’t going to pay for themselves,” Keqing replied swiftly, trying to cover up the fact she had been eavesdropping.

“Oh, don’t worry about that. The mora always shows up when it’s absolutely needed. Archons’ know Ningguang has enough for it,” Beidou dismissed carelessly.

“Nothing exists independently. Where you fail to pay means others will have to take up the slack.”

“Luckily there’re always people like you to cover for us slackers, eh?” Beidou grinned as she elbowed Lisa conspiratorially. The witch giggled and added:

“She does seem quite the hard worker, much like Jean.”

“This little lady already made quite the name of herself. Let me tell—

“Enough! You made your point!”

“And what is it?” Beidou teased.

“Hmph,” Keqing replied, abruptly ending the conversation. She picked up her pace and entered the room.

Ningguang’s assistants had arranged seating around her gold-inlaid desk. A large map of the Liyue- Mondstadt border had been placed over it. Baiwen had taken the gift bouquet and placed it in an expensive-looking porcelain vase. She was busy arranging it on the shelf behind the Tianquan.

“Please make yourself comfortable,” Ningguang offered, graciously extending her hands towards the seats.

Given the rectangular shape of the desk, one additional chair had been placed next to the Tianquan with three more on the opposing side. Keqing thus moved behind the desk and saw that Jean took the seat to her far left and Lisa chose the middle one. Ever the rebel, or perhaps to denote her own special interests, Beidou dragged hers away from her friends to the corner of the desk.

Keqing also didn’t fail to observe that this gave the captain a better view of both factions and the map. Beidou was the Uncrowned Lord of the Ocean, not the unnoticed one. Even dock workers knew the stories of the games she played with Ningguang—Keqing’s heard them firsthand. She also knew from experience what that meant: she had played one match—just one match—of Liyue Millennial (version 30.1) with Ningguang. Ugh, just remembering the elaborate plays and complex predictions made her head spin—not that it meant she had given up. One day, she’ll beat Ningguang at her own game!

Keqing was a major player at this negotiation table! She’ll ensure that Liyue got the best deal and limit Ningguang’s profit motives and mitigate whatever Beidou’s plans were.

“Now that we are all seated, let us begin,” Ningguang stated with a pleased smile. With the kind of grandiose showmanship Keqing’s come to expect from the white-haired woman, Ningguang turned her palms upwards and unfurled her clawed fingers towards the map. Instantly jade pieces began to materialize on the table: gold for Liyue; teal for Mondstadt. A darker set appeared off to each one of their sides. Beidou received nothing.

“These pieces represent our patrol units, while these are our guard towers,” Ningguang indicated to both the human-shaped pieces and the miniature towers. “Based on the information provided to me, I believe this is the current state of our border. Is this correct?”

Keqing scanned the Liyue pieces. They looked to be from the combined reports of both her and the Kaiyang. “I see no faults here,” she answered.

Jean leaned forward with a thoughtful look on her face. There were no guard towers in Mondstadt, Keqing noted. Just what were the knights even doing over there? Did they just wander around like vagabonds hoping to stumble into trouble?

“We recently had reports of increased activity from both the Abyss Order and the Treasure Hoarders around Wolvendom. Because of that, I’ve added more patrols here and here. The Captain of my Reconnaissance Company has also set up a base camp due north,” Jean noted, pointing her gauntleted finger to several sections on the map.

“We have heard similar accounts,” Ningguang acknowledged as she summoned more pieces to where Jean indicated.

“Thank you, Lady Ningguang.”

“It’s truly my pleasure, Acting Grand Master.”

With the pieces set and players assembled, the negotiation began.

Chapter Text

In a city where trade and commerce was greatly prized, and contracts flowed more abundantly than the rich ores mined and smelt within the Blackcliff Forge, it was only natural that most children learned how to negotiate by the time they were able to read. Even the poorest of Liyue mastered the language of business, well aware that a shrewd flick of the tongue or a careless turn of phrase could lead to their lives being bartered away. Keqing was no different than any other citizen of her city-state in this regard: in fact, some of her own…peculiarities…stemmed from her proud upbringing. After all, Keqing found it ridiculous that the strict virtues imparted to her by her family—all the knowledge, theory, and work they spent centuries developing and refining to improve their business—could be destroyed simply because Rex Lapis declared a new wave of policies that could sweep their monumental effort away as if they were made of sand.

Why spend so much effort on education if all the knowledge in the world could be destroyed by the words of a fallible god? Keqing found such a notion preposterous. For she had applied her studies and found none of the practiced wisdom suspect. She refused to believe that these foundations of her humanity could be challenged or found lacking.

Therefore, when Keqing heard Jean’s opening remark, she was left completely flabbergasted. Truly, it was a small miracle she was able to keep her mouth from hanging open. For the Acting Grand Master had said:

“Mondstadt can’t afford to have more than three patrols per week south of Dawn Winery. We also can’t commit more than 100,000 Mora in funding for joint upkeep this season.”

She had…that woman had…just flat out stated her position! Not only that, Jean had provided her bottom line thus giving away all her bargaining power! Was this how they did things in other city-states? Was this how humanity acted without the guidance of a god? Keqing stared hard at the blonde-haired knight, trying to discern if this was some kind of ploy because she was having a hard time believing someone with as high of a status as Jean could act without guile. No child of Liyue would ever act in this manner. No one would be ignorant enough.

Yet there sat Jean, her back ramrod straight, her head held high, shoulders squared, looking as immaculate as a ray of light through a temple window. To consider such a woman capable of dishonesty was unfathomable: Keqing knew nobility when she saw it, and clearly this woman’s status was comparable to hers. Was this the best that Mondstadt had to pit against Liyue? Especially against the Tianquan of the Liyue Qixing? Keqing had watched Ningguang fleece other merchants for smaller missteps than the one Jean just made. So her surprise was immense when the white-haired woman replied:

“That is completely understandable. Due to some disturbances in the Chasm, along with some other disputes, we also have complexities with our resource management. I had been hoping to improve the path towards Stone Gate, but our combined funding will be insufficient. If Mondstadt commits 65,000 Mora to bridge repair, Liyue will do the same.”

“Mondstadt agrees.”

“Very well. My secretary, Baishi, will make note of this agreement. Once the negotiations are over, we will review all our decisions and finalize the contract.”

“That sounds acceptable to me, Lady Ningguang. What about the guard towers? I remember you wanting to construct more. How may we provide assistance?”

“I believe the Yuheng has prepared the proposal from our end.”

“I have,” Keqing replied, immediately perking up. Her mind was still spinning from the exchange. So much had already happened that made no sense! Why was Jean offering aid without being prompted? Was she one of the fabled (and logically nonexistent) altruistic negotiators? The kind that employed a strategy that all teachers in Liyue scoffed at, noting how such actions would immediately leave one defenseless? Harmonious trade was the ideal as, in theory, business should be of equitable recompense…but wasn’t this too much?

And what was Ningguang doing? She had an easy opportunity to immediately wipe away all of Mondstadt’s funding and put them on credit, but the Tianquan left money on the table! Keqing had never known her to do something like that!

There was something else in play. That had to be it—that’s the only sensible conclusion Keqing could reach. Ningguang was playing for more than just joint funding. When Keqing glanced at Beidou, she could see that the pirate was frowning. That woman also caught onto these uncharacteristic discrepancies in Liyue’s most infamous businesswoman.

Ningguang’s gambit must be in its beginning stages. Keqing remembered how, in her only match of Liyue Millennial against the Tianquan, Ningguang had also made a rather gracious opening only to capitalize on Keqing’s aggressive tactics ten moves later. That must be it—Keqing needed to keep her eye on the Tianquan—she had to stay vigilant as she made her own plays. Even if the Liyue Qixing presented a united front, they were not without their internal fights for power. Keqing would live up to her station and ensure that her faction came out on top of this agreement.

She took three dark gold tower pieces and set them on the map. As she did, she explained:

“The Kaiyang and I discussed the need to increase the monitoring and patrol units on the path towards Stone Gate. There’re reports of Fatui wandering about in the ruins here,” Keqing said as she pointed toward the highest peak between Dawn Winery and Stone gate, “as well as some thieves using the river as an escape route. A shipment of rice to Springvale was lost in this way two weeks ago when bandits used rafts to ambush the Transport Balloons. They then escaped towards Dragonspine. This is only one report upon many, with seasonal trade losses averaging around a million Mora in lost goods from Liyue’s side. I imagine similar numbers from Mondstadt.”

“They are a little less on our side. Our wine exports usually arrive safely, but we have many reports of stolen lumber and other produce from our merchants,” Jean admitted.

“Right. Liyue thus proposes building three new towers: one on the highest peak to dissuade the Fatui; one on the beach closest to Wuwang Hill; and one overlooking Dawn Winery. Adding this along with the additional staff would leave us 270,000 Mora over budget per month. We could also offset the cost by requesting 9 Mondstadt knights or adventurers to guard these places and patrol while construction is under way.”

“How long will construction take?” Jean asked.

“Two months,” Keqing replied.

“Hmm,” Jean hummed thoughtfully as she studied the board. She really was earnestly trying to help, Keqing observed with raised eyebrows. Normally this was the point where the other side in the negotiation tried to narrow the scope of the agreement or shift responsibility, but Jean seemed like she was actively trying to make it work. How remarkable!

“Let’s wait one moment, dears,” Lisa said suddenly, causing Keqing to tilt her head to regard her. The librarian had been looking rather sleepy since they sat down, but apparently she had been following the conversation. “Sounds like there’s a few issues here to me. I think we can tackle them one-by-one. Leave the Fatui sneaking about to us. I can have them cleared without causing too much of an international commotion.”

Apparently as surprised as Keqing, Jean turned to her companion and asked, “You can?”

“Oh yes, I need more hunting areas for Razor. He’s been chewing through all the toys I give him,” Lisa said with dramatic sigh. “There’s also a pack in that area so we can take point on intelligence gathering. Do you girls mind a few more roaming puppies on your side of the lake? If so, you won’t need the tower.”

“Roaming puppies?” Keqing echoed skeptically.

“Razor will likely bring a few of his wolf friends to help with the scouting.”

That explanation was about as helpful to Keqing as the previous one. She had to wonder if the responsibilities of a librarian were so different between nations. Mondstadt was known for its forests and farmlands, so maybe their librarian’s responsibilities included taming wolves along with cataloging books?

Keqing looked to Ningguang for assistance. The Tianquan only smiled serenely at her, offering no help.

She’ll…she’ll remember this slight!

“I suppose that would be fine, as long as we receive a copy of the postmortem,” Keqing said as she reluctantly removed the guard tower from the map. At this point, she had no choice but to give up ground. She watched Lisa replaced the tower with a Mondstadt patrol piece.

“You have my word that it will be delivered,” replied Jean, continuing to live up to her image of an honorable knight. At least one of the woman at this table was forthright; Keqing’s impression of her continued to improve in spite of Jean’s poor negotiation tactics. To her surprise, Ningguang also came to Jean’s aid and said:

“I can assure you that the Acting Grand Master’s reports more than live up to our standards. They can easily be used to further any strategic planning in the region.”

“Ah, thank you, Lady Ningguang,” Jean said with a faint blush forming on her cheeks.

“It is my pleasure,” the Tianquan purred.

“Moving on,” Keqing said brusquely, trying her best to stay focused (and not think about that strange moment that just passed between the two nation-state leaders), “We still have two potential towers in play and 6 additional guards to consider.”

“That’s right, cutie. We’ll have to punish the naughty bandits for trying to steal what isn’t theirs. Good little girls don’t overstep their bounds, do they?”

“…the towers and guards would be more preventative than punitive,” Keqing stated blankly, not knowing what to make of Lisa’s strange comment or the way it seemed directed at Ningguang. The whole point of patrols were to act as a crime deterrent—didn’t everyone know that? Maybe Mondstadt didn’t given their aimlessly wandering knights. “Considering the cost of the lost goods, it makes sense to invest in more security.”

“I agree. The numbers support the proposal. If the Liyue-Mondstadt combined losses are over half a million Mora per month, spending half of that seems both reasonable and profitable,” Ningguang said.

“The main issue is staffing. We can’t spare the heads,” Keqing admitted begrudgingly. “The Millelith are overextended as is: we had a period of relative peace after the Rite of Parting, but crime is on an uptick. We even need them during trade disputes as merchants are getting more bloodthirsty now that they’re unafraid of divine retribution.”

“I am sorry to hear this. With Grand Master Varka’s expedition underway, Mondstadt’s forces are also stretched thin.”

“I know that. That’s why I included in my proposal enlisting through the Adventurer’s Guild. Instead of filling the ranks with our guards, we can have the adventurers report to our captains in the region.”

Jean appeared to take no offense (or perhaps she was too polite) to comment on the curtness of Keqing’s remark. She instead said:

“With 65,000 Mora dedicated to bridge repair, we only have 35,000 remaining for commissions. That wouldn’t be enough to fulfill our half of the contribution. I wouldn’t want for Liyue to unfairly take more of the bill.”

“Your kindness is gratefully noted. We also would not want our sister city-state to feel obliged to us. Perhaps a proposal may be offered here,” Ningguang said. “Through imposing additional taxes on the transport trade, we may be able to make up the remainder. I’m sure most traders would support the deduction as a means of safeguarding their goods. Liyue can either match the 35,000 Mora of Mondstadt while implementing a smaller tax, or we can have a larger one without the contributions from either nation.”

Ah, there was Ningguang’s ulterior motive. Keqing felt relief—this was the most natural part of the negotiation so far. All this talk of wolves and altruism was beyond her, but this was language she understood. The Tianquan was making a play for operational gains and not the capital being offered. That was characteristic of Ningguang as she tended to prefer decisions with long term profit realizations. Why go after 100,000 Mora when she could create a tax policy that could potentially last for years and make millions?

Even more, the work of construction and patrol would be done by Keqing and the Kaiyang’s people for a fraction of the cut. Ningguang would be able to reap the majority without even lifting a finger as lawmaking (thus tax collecting) fell under her jurisdiction. Hmph. This is why the only thing worse than a merchant was a politician. Ningguang as a merchant-politician was the worst of them all, profiting from both sides of her professions as she created policies that deepened her own pockets.

There was a reason most of the Qixing preferred to keep their identities hidden from the public, Keqing thought with a frown. While she didn’t try too hard to obfuscate her ranking, being relatively unknown allowed her to get her job done more efficiently. The ability to go on covert operations and not have to delegate made work much easier for Keqing. And that was just being the Yuheng—the Tianquan position was especially prone to specific job-related afflictions such as murder and backstabbing given its often antagonistic relationship with free trade. Yet Ningguang seemed to purposefully cultivate a certain kind of emotion in her dealings with people, a kind of respectful disdain that was equal parts fear and envy. Everyone could see her, yet no one could touch her. Along with her sacrifice of the Jade Chamber and the fall of Rex Lapis…while Liyue didn’t have a god, the city had a Ningguang. And that was more than enough. Even Keqing had to concede to the Tianquan’s efficacy as her power grabs have led to the Liyue Qixing expanded influence.

Regardless, the idea of a tax was rather tantalizing to Keqing. She could do a lot with that extra funding if she could claim a portion of it. At this point in the negotiation it was crucial to present a united front; it wasn’t in her best interest to start complicating the suggestions with specific details just yet. She had to wait until Mondstadt waded deeper into the idea.

Luckily for her, Jean appeared to also be heavily in thought as she considered the proposal. Before she could speak, however, Lisa addressed the white-haired merchant.

“Taxes are all well in good, but collecting can be quite the bother. There’s so much work involved with balancing the books and trusting people to collect the payment. We’re short staffed as it is. Not to mention, the idea of teaching junior knights accounting just leaves me cold.”

Keqing saw an opportunity so she took it. She stood up from her seat and pointed at the entrance to Stone Gate and said quickly, “We can set up a toll station at the start of Stone Gate right here. One of the members of the Qixing can be stationed here along while the Millelith can direct adventures either to guard the transport or patrol the perimeter. That can be mirrored on the Dawn Winery side as well with the Mondstadt counterparts.”

The gears in Keqing’s mind were already turning as she built up the logistics. This model might actually work by decreasing Ningguang’s influence since the trade numbers would be maintained by both nations, and Keqing could then take control over the operational costs to further fund constructions. She had been wanting to improve the passageway for years now and this was her best opportunity!

Jean immediately dashed her hopes. “That wouldn’t work for Mondstadt. The role is too similar to ones that existed during the Aristocracy. Even—

“You have tax collectors, don’t you?”

Jean leaned back in her chair. Ningguang immediately stepped in to soften the conversation, “The Yuheng means that there are opportunities for other businesses to form partnerships with the Knights.”

“I’m still not sure about the proposal.”

“Sorry dears, but I agree with Jean. Even if we prevent all the theft on the roads, that doesn’t mean bandits won’t plan ambushes before the checkpoints. We’re be adding a lot more overhead, plus if traders get attacked nearby, they’ll blame us too,” Lisa noted, adding to the complication.

Keqing frowned. When she turned to Ningguang, she saw that the Tianquan face remained courteously neutral. That was typical for the businesswoman: Ningguang rarely displayed any true fits of emotion. When it was clear that the white-haired woman wasn’t going to defend her position, Keqing curled her hands into fists in her lap. Fine. It’ll be up to her to fight for funding.

She readied herself. Just as the conversation and atmosphere was getting tenser, Beidou decided to chime in.

“Sounds like this is quite the situation,” she whistled appreciatively. The pirate stood up and walked to Jean’s side of the table. She swiped one of Mondstadt’s tower pieces and used it as a pointer on the map. “Let’s recap, shall we? Both sides want this part secured but you don’t have the Mora. You could get it through taxation, but that would take even more people to manage properly. So how ‘bout thinking a little of the box? Instead of securing trade using the roads, use the sea.”

With that said, purple electricity began to crackle in Beidou’s hand, resonating with the geo construct she was holding. Using the crystals that formed in the reaction, Beidou drew a line off the coast of Mondstadt to Liyue. She then explained proudly, “This route’s pretty easy to sail and it takes about the same time as going by foot from Mondstadt to Liyue. I already have a ship or two from my fleet make that route since it’s a good place to let my newcomers find their sea legs. If traders are that worried about their high value goods getting stolen, send them to me! I can increase the number of ships going back and forth if business is good.”

“The Liyue Qixing is not affiliated with the Crux Fleet. We will not advocate on your behalf,” Keqing replied scathingly.

“Oh, Liyue’s side isn’t a worry. Hahaha, I can just have my crew advertise for us. Most of us got a good set of pipes, you know,” Beidou chuckled heartily before thumping her chest in emphasis.

“There are six unresolved counts of the Crux Fleet violating the harbor noise ordinances. I will not condone this behavior,” Ningguang scolded.

“Sure, sure. I already know a few of the transports guys from Qingce Village and what not. It shouldn’t be too hard to work out something to lessen the foot traffic between borders. Anyway, I can deal with the fees with the traders directly. The governments don’t have to be involved.”

“I think this is an excellent idea,” Lisa chimed in. “We’ll recommend any worrywarts to you directly. You’re already quite popular with our dock leader.”

“That I am. Besides, there’s other shipping companies that could take up the business too if you don’t want to use my fleet exclusively. We’re still the best, so we can at least get the idea into more people’s heads. We’ll help grow the market and convince the traders that going by sea is safer than by foot.”

“I still believe that taxation would be the most beneficial choice,” Ningguang said with a nod towards Keqing. “While the initial starting cost would take some effort, both nations can use it to grow our influence and funding well into the future. It is a worthy investment. If education is a concern, we can offer our people in the spirit of collaboration.”

“We are sometimes short on Mora for governance,” Jean admitted with a sigh. “If we had more funding we could improve our knight’s training. I need more time to think this through.”

“You also wouldn’t have to help find as many missing cats,” Lisa added, causing Keqing to raise her eyebrow. Did Jean—the leader one of Teyvat’s illustrious nation-states—really chase after cats? Keqing then had to hide her laughter by clearing her throat as she tried to picture the Tianquan accepting such a request.

Just imagine! Ningguang climbing a tree! Heh.

After clearing away her laughter, Keqing’s attention returned back to the map. If things continued in this manner, Ningguang would get her way. While that was a good thing, Keqing began to wonder if that was her most optimal option. She already got a portion of what she wanted the most from the negotiation: she’ll have control over the bridge improvements and construction. She was less invested in the towers since those were for the Kaiyang’s request. Such creations didn’t really improve her ambitions for Liyue, and the Mora Keqing would get for the contracts was paltry in the grand scheme of things.

But now…the docks. As much as she found the Captain of the Crux Fleet’s personality grating, if she sided with Beidou again, she could shift the business to the docks. That meant the shipping business would grow. And with the growth, the docks would need to expand to keep up with demand. Instead of border taxes that would go to the Tianquan, Keqing could construct the future of the harbor.

…hmm. That idea was much more exciting than taxes. If Keqing did this, would it be considered a betrayal? Probably not…she wouldn’t be betraying the Kaiyang since the explicit agreement was to limit the additional head count as much as possible. Besides, if this was a matter close to the Kaiyang’s heart, Keqing wouldn’t be here as delegation—so what if she took advantage of this opportunity for her faction? It was the sensible action to take.

“Have we decided to go forward on the taxation?” Ningguang asked.

“Actually,” Keqing said, “now that I considered it more thoroughly, Captain Beidou’s suggestion has its merits.”

“It does?” Beidou asked, appearing surprised at this newfound alliance.

“I hate to admit it, but traveling by sea would be safer in the long run. We also have to consider what’s best for our nations’ future. If the government solved everything, our people would not have to work through the challenges they face on their own strength. We should offer more freedom of choice.”

Lisa whistled appreciatively. “Well said, cutie. Spoken almost like one of us. Say, would you like come and visit sometime?”

“…my schedule booked solid for the next six months.”

“Maybe month seven, then?”

Ningguang’s lips thinned in the barest hint of frown as she set her gaze directly on Keqing. “Is this what you will support, Yuheng?”

There was unspoken threat in the tone of the other woman’s voice. Undaunted, Keqing looked into Ningguang’s eyes and said, “I believe in my vision for Liyue.”

“For Mondstadt, as always,” Jean echoed approvingly.

Now that she was outnumbered four to one, Ningguang sighed. “So be it. We will proceed with this consensus.”

“Great!” Beidou cheered before walking back to her seat. She elbowed Lisa’s arm in victory as she sat down.

“Thank you,” Jean said with a knightly bow towards the Tianquan.

If she was bothered by the displays of celebration between Beidou and her allies, it did not show on Ningguang’s face even as her eyes tracked the pirate’s movements. She then smiled, leaning forward to rest her elbows on the desk. Ningguang laid her chin on her intertwined hands. If Keqing didn’t know her any better—though, to be honest, she really didn’t know the Tianquan—she’d say that Ningguang was pleased with the outcome so far despite not getting what she wanted.

“Before we finalize the contract, why don’t we take a brief break?” I believe Baiwen has prepared some refreshments,” Ningguang said with a small nod to one of her secretaries. Baiwen immediately stood up, bowed, and left the room.

“I’d appreciate that,” said Jean.

“I thought you would never ask,” Lisa replied gratefully. She stretched her arms over her head, “It was getting a little stuffy for my taste.”

“If they’re staying, I’m staying too,” Beidou insisted.

“I will…” Keqing began before she paused for a second, debating internally whether or not to remain at this meeting. She still had work to do and this kind of leisurely chit-chat and small talk wasn’t appealing to her. But she also knew that the decisions wouldn’t be finalized until the ink was signed. Verbal promises meant little in Liyue, not when its history was carved in stone. If she left, there was no guarantee Ningguang wouldn’t find a way to maneuver her way into getting what she wanted. “I suppose I can take a break too.”

“Wonderful,” Ningguang said approvingly. “Now that we have a momentary lull, I do want to admire my gift in more detail.”

Baishi immediately stood up but Ningguang raised her hand to stop her. Instead, the Tianquan moved to where the vase was situated behind the shelf and took careful hold of it: her right hand carefully wrapped around the slender neck of the vase where her left one balanced the base in her palm. With deftness Keqing had grown used to seeing Ningguang displaying in spite of her taste in gloves, the white-haired merchant placed the vase on her side of the desk where it wouldn’t obstruct her view of her Mondstadt guests.

“I’m glad you like it,” said Jean.

“I do. There’s such an admirable variation in this bouquet. Though our lands exist in close proximity, I find it fascinating just how our flora may differ. Tell me, Jean, in the spirit of the festival, what the Windblume is to you?”

“Oh,” Jean said with a light blush, looking a little sheepish. “It may seem a little…on-the-nose…but I always imagined it as the dandelion, in remembrance of Lady Vanessa.”

“I see.”

“I considered including it in the bouquet, but they wouldn’t look that appealing without their seeds. They’d all float away before I could finishing arranging them.”

“Having the Dandelion Knight herself before me more than suffices,” Ningguang purred as her index finger brushed lightly on one of the Cecilia’s petals. “Although, soon enough, you too will float away from me.”

 “No—ah,” Jean began to protest before she held herself back. She was saved from further discussion as Baiwen returned carrying their refreshments.

Keqing watched rather enviously as the secretary placed a generous tray of snacks on the guest’s side of the table, carefully positioning so that it didn’t touch the map. Good help was so hard to find—just how did Ningguang manage to retain her staff? The loyalty she inspired was unshakeable—it couldn’t just be Mora, could it? Keqing’s positions all paid above market rate, yet she still couldn’t find reliable assistants.

Urgh, right. She needed to put out another call for an assistant. Maybe she’ll get two this time to fill the slot. Or three? Ningguang had three and they seemed to work—

Wait…what was that she smelled?

All thoughts vacated Keqing’s mind as her attention became fixated on what Baiwen was placing between her and Ningguang. It couldn’t be—it definitely was—oh she’s sure it’s…

Yes! There’s Golden Shrimp Balls on that plate! She’d recognize that aroma anywhere!

The clink of the lacquered tray of food hitting the table was all it took for Keqing to immediately react. Her hand shot out to grab one by the tail and immediately popped it into her mouth.

Ah, the crispy skin cracked under her teeth, allowing for the fluffy potato to melt against her tongue. And the shrimp meat added more wonderful texture and flavor to the experience. All the accumulated stress and frustration Keqing gathered throughout the day were instantly forgotten upon tasting the flaky goodness of the snack. The sweetness of the marinade perfectly contrasted the fried potato flavors. She could cry at this beauty, at this poetry of deliciousness in her mouth, this symphony of texture and flavor…and did she mention the flavor? So harmonious was the mixing of all the ingredients—truly this dish was the pinnacle of human ingenuity and brilliance.

As Keqing savored the last bit of the snack in her mouth, pulling out the shrimp tail, she heard Beidou chuckle.

Right. She was in public.

When she opened her eyes, she saw that Beidou was still laughing while Jean and Lisa watched her with friendly amusement. Keqing didn’t dare look at Ningguang.

Ningguang helpfully provided the commentary anyway, “As our Yuheng has demonstrate, Liyue’s delicacies will not lose to other nations. Please help yourself to the snacks. In addition to the Golden Shrimp Balls, there are some Rice Buns and Lotus Flower Crisps for your enjoyment. If there is anything in particular you would like to try, I can procure it for you.”

“This all looks wonderful. We couldn’t possibly ask for more,” marveled Jean.

“Oh, I would also recommend using the offered utensils, so not to dirty your hands,” Ningguang said with a smile aimed directly at Keqing.

“Jean’s been practicing hard for weeks,” Lisa said with mirth as she watched the knight pick up her chopsticks.

“Lisa!”

“…not to ruin everyone’s fun, but I notice that I didn’t get anything,” Beidou interrupted. Indeed, the space around her was woefully empty.

“My apologies. Your inclusion was unexpected. In the excitement of the meeting, my order was not updated,” Ningguang said politely. Even Keqing could tell her excuse was insincere.

Beidou’s visible eye narrowed before she shrugged and said, “That’s fine. Mondstadt’ll feed me. Lisa, will you pass me a Rice Bun?”

“Sure thing, dear. Say aaah.”

The one-eyed pirate leaned close to Lisa with her mouth open. Once the steamed bread was delivered to her, Beidou took a triumphant bite and said with an open mouthful, “Thafnks.” She took the remainder into her hand so she could kiss the side of Lisa’s cheek.

The purple witch giggled.

Now it was Ningguang’s turn to narrow her eyes though the Tianquan caught herself quickly and transition her expression into a smile. She then said, “Before we get too comfortable, why don’t we decide on the drinks? Normally I would offer our finest teas, but one of our merchants has been experimenting with coffee beans and has a new product that might interest our Mondstadt companions.”

“A new kind of coffee?” Jean asked excitedly.

“That is correct: the beans are grown and roasted in Liyue. It seems the soil here brings out some rather aromatic notes that remind me a little of violetgrass. Would you like to try?”

“I would love to!”

“You wouldn’t happen to have oolong grown at Mt. Hulao, would you?” Lisa asked.

“I do. Would you like a cup?”

“If you please, I’ve been trying to get my hands on it for years.”

“You have quite discerning taste. The tea grown there is some of Liyue’s rarest, as well as most expensive given the complexity with harvesting the leaves.”

“I would like some as well,” Keqing said. Tea was a much better palate cleanser than coffee, and she was intent on eating as many shrimp balls as she could. She was also interested in the Mt. Hulao oolong as she had never drank it before. She had better uses for her Mora than spending on it on tea only the most brazen would try to harvest in Mountain Shaper’s territory.

“If I’m allowed any, I would like some coffee too please,” Beidou pleaded overdramatically.

“Of course, boat captain,” Ningguang replied before she waved her secretary off with the order.

The next few minutes passed in relative calm as they ate. Well, at least Keqing and the Mondstadt women ate. Ningguang made no move to bring any food to her plate. Instead, the white-haired woman’s attention seemed to be directed at the bouquet or, perhaps, the person sitting in front of the arrangement. And Beidou, despite the show she put on earlier, spent most of her time studying the Tianquan with a thoughtful expression.

Keqing didn’t care. More food for her.

Around the time she had polished off her fourth shrimp ball, Baiwen arrived with their freshly brewed drinks. Keqing took a break from her favorite fried foods to sip at the tea. It tasted...fine? While Keqing was hardly an adventurous gourmet (her palate was quite traditional), she wasn’t a picky eater. As long as things tasted like how she expected them to, she didn’t make much of a fuss. And this special tea tasted like oolong to her: it was sweet and mellow with bit of an earthy aftertaste. It honestly didn’t taste much different from the oolong grown on mountains near Liyue Harbor. Not being a tea expert, she couldn’t really judge if this was worth the entire month’s salary of a shipbuilder. Maybe the knowledge of a runner dodging and avoiding getting trapped inside amber was what gave this tea its famous “rock rhyme.” A lot of extraordinarily priced goods were priced based on the romance than it was on quality.

Then again, Keqing was never swayed by threats of the “wrath of rock” or acting sacrilegious to Rex Lapis’ will. Maybe that’s why this “charm of rock” didn’t appeal to her either.

As she contemplated her affinity to her land’s deity, Lisa and Ningguang made polite small talk. Jean had been happily sipping from her cup before she inquired about its origin. Ningguang helpfully provided the answer:

“There aren’t many places in Liyue that are suitable for growing coffee beans. Our climate is cooler than it is in Sumeru, however, I do think the flavor is quite unique.”

“It does have a bit of a spice kick to it. It’s delicious. You even remembered how I like my coffee.”

“Of course. It’s a ratio of one parts milk to three parts coffee with just enough sugar to soften the bitterness,” Ningguang recited with a smile. “I’m having mine the same way.”

“You are?”

“Yes. I admit, your recommendations have made me enjoy coffee much more. I always found it a little too strong for my taste.”

“I’m glad to help.”

“You have.”

“…mine is black,” Beidou muttered.

“Isn’t that how you prefer it, boat captain?”

“I know; I’m just feeling a little left out, that’s all. Hahaha! Gotta say, this stuff is good—could be a bit better with some alcohol. Maybe some brandy or rum. Hmm, this could become quite popular if marketed properly. Who makes it?”

“I have the sole distribution contract with the supplier. I will be happy to arrange something if you’re interested,” Ningguang said as sincerely as a shark smelling blood in the water.

“…I’ll think about it.”

Ningguang took a sip from her cup before she artfully changed the subject of the conversation. Looking to Jean and Lisa, she asked, “Do you have any plans while you’re in Liyue? I can happily offer a few recommendations.”

“We haven’t decided. We’ll planning to stay the night and leave early in the morning,” Lisa said.

“That’s right. We still need to return before the closing ceremony. I would like to spend more time here, but what we have is woefully short,” mentioned Jean, looking longingly at the bouquet.

Ningguang smiled before she recited, “‘As I've said, the past cannot change the future, for the predetermined rules of equilibrium are slightly more powerful than me. But the future, with its infinite possibilities, could save the world.’”

“That’s from Vera’s Melancholy! You read it!” Jean squealed with schoolgirl delight, clasping her hands together. The action seemed at odds with the solemn dignity she normally held herself with, and the smile on her face instantly made Keqing recognize the knight’s age. Jean couldn’t be much older than herself, and clearly the Acting Grand Master had been longing for a moment such as this.

Ningguang played into that yearning. She said kindly, “I have enjoyed your recommendation. I believe in the wisdom of these words: we should plan to enjoy the time we have, as well as those we have yet to experience.”

“You’re right, Lady Ningguang. I do spend most of my time worrying about different things. I should enjoy my time more. I…may I be so bold?”

“What is it?” Ningguang asked.

Instead of answering, Jean stood from her seat and approached the Tianquan. The knight plucked a Windwheel Aster from the bouquet and, when she was close enough, tucked it behind Ningguang’s ear. She then quoted, “‘I have witnessed every wonder in the universe for your sake, and that was how my childhood ended. I will never reach my youth without you by my side.’

Since I do not have the power to rewind time, it is up to me to experience as much as I can. I must enjoy what I can with the people I hold dear. Thank you for reminding me of this, Lady Ningguang. I vow to keep this notion close to my heart.”

“Of…Of course,” Ningguang said, looking uncharacteristically flustered. A faint blush colored her pale skin that was too honest to be faked. She slowly reached up to touch the flower now that adorned her hair. “Why this?”

“The Windwheel Aster grows only where the gentle winds blow, away from turbulent storms. I hope it will symbolize the relationship between our states as well as the friendship between us,” Jean said with a chivalrous bow. “It also brings out the color in your eyes.”

Keqing’s grip on her chopsticks slackened like her jaw as she watched the blonde-haired knight kiss the Tianquan’s hand. Even she couldn’t help but to be taken in by this scene that seemed to have been plucked straight out of a romance novel (not that she read any—well, not that many). To be fair, what girl’s heart wasn’t sent aflutter by the image of a dashing prince swearing fealty to a beautiful princess? To see something like that play out in front of her, even Keqing couldn’t help her heart from beating faster.

What snapped her out of her daze was feeling her half-eaten shrimp ball fall onto her lap and then roll onto the floor. Startling, Keqing swallowed the remains before they could fall from her lips and then reached down to pick up the dropped food. When she sat back up, she found no one had paid her any attention: all focus was still on Jean and Ningguang.

The Tianquan’s pink blush had fully bloom red. The woman known for her mastery of language was at a loss for words. Keqing squinted as she tried to process what she was seeing before she decided she rather not remember Ningguang’s face that way. They still needed to have a working relationship, after all.

Instead, Keqing turned to Lisa. The good humor on the witch’s face had fallen and the woman looked oddly concerned at the tender moment being shared by the two nation-state leaders.

“Jean…dear?” she asked.

And Beidou also looked on with the scene with a frown, her expression a perfect mirror of the confusion and disbelief Keqing felt.

“Jean?” Lisa repeated, louder and more insistent when her words had gone unanswered.

Hearing her name, the blonde-haired knight snapped out of her daze. “Ah,” she gasped. “Right.”

Sheepishly, the Acting Grand Master went back to her seat and sat down. She twirled her hair in embarrassment, looking more the fair maiden than the handsome knight she played earlier.

Lisa placed one hand on Jean’s arm and the other on her back, either to reassure or to anchor. She leaned in to whisper something in the knight’s ear that caused Jean to freeze and straighten her back.

Keqing’s nostrils flared; she swore she smelled faint traces of ozone, the telltale sign of an Electro-vision user calling upon her power. It definitely wasn’t Keqing who did that; she looked to the women on the other side of the table. One of Beidou’s hands was visible clenched into a fist so it could be her or…

On second thought, she really didn’t want to know.

Since no one else was making a move, Keqing decided to take charge.

“Let’s finish this quickly, shall we?” she said.

Ningguang nodded, looking like she had regained control of herself. Her face was now composed and she held herself with her usual picturesque grace. After a sidelong glance to Beidou, the Tianquan then smiled at her Mondstadt guests.

“Before we end our break, I have one more thing I would like to deliver,” she announced. She pulled something from her drawer, an ornate wooden box that had glaze lilies engraved onto its surface. Ningguang then walked towards Jean and presented the contents inside it. “It is only fair for me to return your greeting gift. I had this commissioned for you, Jean, to commemorate this occasion. This hairpin was made by one of Liyue’s most skilled artisans, inlaid with the highest quality jade and cor lapis.”

“It’s too beautiful; I can’t accept something so expensive,” Jean gasped.

“Nonsense. This is but a paltry token compared to the value of our friendship, Acting Grand Master Jean Gunnhildr. What you have gifted to me is priceless, so I must return it in kind. This is the way of Liyue. Please, allow me.”

Keqing watched as the Tianquan plucked the hairpin out of the box and move to place it into Jean’s hair. Her left hand carefully lifted the Mondstadt knight’s face by her chin as she gently, lovingly—and far too sensuously—brushed stray strands of hair from Jean’s face with the back of her index and middle finger on her right hand. It honestly looked far more like a lover’s caress than anything, and Keqing could feel the atmosphere between the two nation-state leaders again grow thicker.

Only this time, Ningguang was in clear control of the scene. The Tianquan’s eyes were sharp with intent as her fond gaze remained solely fixated on Jean’s. She gently released the bow that held Jean’s ponytail in place, causing blonde hair to spill down to the knight’s shoulders. She then began to swirl Jean’s hair around the hairpin with expert movement before swiftly piercing through the gathered tresses with the long rod.

The impact made Jean’s eyelids flutter and her mouth open in an unvocalized surprise. Ningguang’s hand on her chin helped to keep the knight steady. Indeed, the Tianquan brushed the flat of her clawed thumb across Jean’s lips in what (probably) was to be a reassuring gesture.

“There,” Ningguang said with a pleased hum as she made the final adjustments. She then withdrew, leaning back against the desk before forming a mirror-like construct from her element. “Our style suits you well, my proud lioness of Mondstadt.”

“Oh wow,” admired Jean. She peered at her reflection as she reached up to touch her hair with reverence.

“Perhaps we should go to my preferred tailor to have something designed for you to match the hairpin. I have some fine brocades that could—

The sound of a chair being urgently pushed back interrupted Ningguang; Lisa had stood up. The witch placed her hand on Jean’s shoulder, and positioned herself in front of her.

“We couldn’t possibly take advantage of your generosity like that,” Lisa said. Though her words were polite, her tone was pointed. “I’m sure you have other things to take care of, being the busy woman that you are.”

“I always have time for friends.”

“No. Really, we should be off, shouldn’t we, Jean?”

Jean was too busy admiring her reflection in the mirror to reply. Beidou stood up and said for her, “Yeah. I think they should see other parts of Liyue. We should go to the Wanmin Restaurant for dinner.”

“I have already arranged a reservation at the Xinyue Kiosk.”

“No, they definitely should go to the Wanmin Restaurant to see...”

Keqing’s eyes glazed over as the other women continued to bicker. She wasn’t invested in…whatever was going on. She frowned and rubbed her temples, feeling her headache from the morning returning in even greater force as she did her best not to process what was going on around her.

All right. What can she do now?

She should probably leave—it was clear this meeting had derailed. Keqing looked up and over to Baishi, who was supposed to be taking the meeting notes. The secretary briefly met her gaze before looking away in embarrassment. Keqing didn’t bother trying to understand that.

She really should just cut her losses and try to salvage the remainder of the afternoon. As Keqing began to sit up, she looked back at the map on the table and froze. A thought nagged her as she studied the pieces. Her gaze went to the purple crystals that were beginning to dissolve into the air and—oh.

Oh Morax’s bouncing rock hard ass!

Keqing swore internally, cursing her lack of foresight. She had been so caught in the negotiations that she hadn’t put two-and-two together. Ningguang had already approved of building three additional docks for The Crux Fleet and, at the time, Keqing had thought it was too much giving that they had already just completed another two, and the ship reports had indicated that The Crux hadn’t needed the space then…

…then what was this meeting for if Ningguang had already made and planned the decisions ahead of time? Why did she spend so much time pretending to be invested in taxes?

…unless Ningguang also wanted that and had already manipulated a win-win situation for herself even before the meeting started. So, if she got the tax, she would make more money and use those docks for something else. And since those docks would be used by the Crux now for trade between Mondstadt, Ningguang still profited.

Keqing groaned as she stared at the map longer, the pieces blurring as she pinched the bridge of her nose. When she turned to look at Ningguang, she could see the pleased almost-smirk on the Tianquan’s face as she continued to provoke Beidou and Lisa. That woman was clearly enjoying herself; this was the happiest Keqing had ever seen her.

Ok, she decided, it was a waste of her time to try to understand any of this or what Ningguang could possibly gain from this entire charade. It was better for Keqing to be unconcerned and unburdened by the complicated plan, especially since it came from the megalomaniac mind that devised the basically unplayable Liyue Millennial.  

Even the most meticulous can fall prey to happenstance, Keqing rationalized as she stood up. The most important thing was that she learned her lesson. That lesson was to never accept the Kaiyang’s invitation to a Ningguang meeting ever again.

Keqing decided as compensation for her time that she would take the tray of food on her side of the table. There was still a few shrimp balls and other snacks on it. She’ll take it back to her office to finish. She took the tray into her hands and began to walk away from the desk, away from the still squabbling women.

The food she was holding looked quite appetizing. Keqing then paused for a moment and looked past the squabbling women to the other tray of snacks.

You know what—she deserved it. They probably wouldn’t even notice her. Keqing set her tray on Baishi’s desk. She then moved swiftly, ducking under Beidou’s arm to take the other tray. Like she predicted, no one noticed. Well, the secretaries did but none of them made a move to stop her.

Balancing the trays on her hands, Keqing then left the room.

The most important thing was this:

Golden Shrimp Balls were very delicious.