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Liyue was a nation that was raised to glory on the contract the citizens had with Rex Lapis. Such a nation thus relies on the contracts between people as the binding tie for any kind of relationship. Of course, not all contracts can cover all holes and exploits, and some are cunning enough to find and exploit them. Yanfei knows this all too well, that even the law set in stone has cracks and fissures to render it useless. However, it is her duty to set straight the record and bring justice in cases the law cannot completely cover.
It was what she had learnt from Rex Lapis himself. As a half-Adeptus, she learnt about him first through the praises of her father, of the Archon that was the embodiment of the phrase “set in stone”. Growing up, she looked forward to helping his people with her Adepti skills and serving him. However, even stones aren’t immune to the ebb and flow of time, and Yanfei found herself without an Archon to serve.
Honouring the contract that he had with Liyue, yet not losing the kindness he had, he sealed his dear friend away to protect the harbour. It was from him that she learnt that the law was a weapon which one should use for justice. Even in his final “passing”, he still honoured his contract down to the letter, ensuring that the Tianquan and the Adepti continued their duty of protecting Liyue without his watchful eye. This had motivated her to do her duty to the fullest, realising that by serving his people, she was serving the Archon himself.
Yet, few knew that even with the Geo Archon absent, he still was among his people. Yanfei had worked with him unknowingly to help her with her cases. She was surprised at the depth of his knowledge, she had earlier brushed it off as him being an exceptionally intelligent man. Over time, she finally realised that the fine gentleman listening to Iron Tongue Tian was the true identity of Rex Lapis. Which was where he had invited her for dinner for that night. She found him at his usual table, listening to the tales of Liyue.
“Good evening, Zhong...li” Yanfei greeted him, the new name unfamiliar on her tongue.
“Ah good evening Yanfei, it has been a while since I’ve seen you… When was it? A few years ago?” Zhongli said, taking a sip of the tea in front of her.
“I would wager it’s more than a few years, however we, of course, have a different view on time.” Yanfei said, picking up the menu and deciding what to order. Her eyes gravitated towards the Crab Roe Tofu, something she was familiar with couldn’t go wrong after all.
“How has your day been going? I’ve seen you pass by the funeral parlor a lot. You seemed to be in a rush, so I didn’t call out to you.”
“Oh, just the usual!” Yanfei chimed, “Looking around for evidence to support my clients requires a lot of research and knowledge. You won’t BELIEVE how many cases your expertise helped in!”
“I see. It’s quite interesting to see the way you upheld contracts. Most people would look for physical evidence yet you find a more iron-clad way to deal with conflict.”
“Oh it’s nothing!” She said modestly, “I’m doing this as my duty to Liyue, I’m not someone like my father who can fight battles. Besides, in these times of peace, people require a different kind of guidance. Isn’t that why you stepped down?”
“Well yes, but also not quite. I just saw this as an opportunity for Liyue to finally be a nation of men, without the gaze of a god over them.”
“Huh… you’re different in person.” Yanfei took a sip of water, “You’re not completely the person my dad had described.”
“Is that so?” Zhongli drank the tea before placing the empty cup on the table without a sound. “What makes me so different?”
“Hmmm…” Yanfei pondered, “It is more like you are the same and you aren’t the same… You were once Rex Lapis, the Geo Archon, and now you are Zhongli, consultant at Wansheng Funeral Parlor. Two different titles, yet it’s the same person who carries out varying duties with the same dedication and attention to detail.”
“Would you say it is like comparing a man in his prime and his old age?”
“But of course! Change with time is inevitable! The only thing that can stop that is—” Yanfei stopped at her words, realising the weight of what she was about to say. Death is inevitable to all living beings, of course Zhongli with his lifespan would have been a witness to it multiple times. “But of course, you of all people would know, given how long you have been around.”
The air around them grew silent, heavy with the sadness that Zhongli felt. The waitress arrived and quickly took their orders, ignoring the grim expression on the two of them. Once the food had arrived, Yanfei quietly ate her Crab Roe Tofu, the taste not alleviating the guilt she felt on bringing up those memories. The atmosphere was suffocating her, and she spoke up to break it.
“However, change is not a bad thing. Even if a stone gets eroded with time, the core composition does not change. I believe that is the same with all of us, Rex… I mean Zhongli. At least, you won’t be alone in the city, with me around.”
“Are you sure about that? You seem like a rather busy individual, especially with the number of contracts set in place.”
Yanfei thought a bit, “If I cannot serve you as an Archon, the least I can do is be your equal and your friend. You don’t have to be alone even if you get eroded.”
Zhongli’s lips curled in a soft smile, brightening the handsome features of his face. “Then let’s toast to the new relationship between us.”
And thus, under the quiet moonlight of the night, a new bond blossomed.