Chapter Text
The Yuheng’s day in the Pavilion starts with the sousing sound of the brush pen roaming around the scroll while the birds are energetically chirping outside the window. Not to mention the mountains of paperwork on her desk, her new brush pen on her right hand and a teacup on her left, Keqing could not have been more motivated.
Usually, a ton of paperwork on their desks by the morning would probably make ordinary workers cry in agony, but not Keqing. In fact, it motivated her. After all, this month have been dedicated more to the Yuheng’s scheduled expeditions, land inspections and surveys. Keqing seemed to be like she was anywhere but the Liyue Harbor, and the result was the mountainous backlog of untouched paperworks. Now that Keqing is back to the Harbor again, her untouched paperworks will be her priority, of course.
And so, the mere thought of accomplishing her paperworks as soon as she can would mean catching up with a month’s worth (and probably next month’s worth too) of documents and, of course, more free time for her self later. If the work’s already done, maybe the Yuheng might want to take a stroll too.
Yes. Work-life balance. As Keqing would usually say.
Suddenly, Keqing’s morning routine was interrupted by a series of light but slightly hurried knocks on her office’s door.
“L-lady Yuheng. This is your assistant, Xinyi. May I come in?”
“Yes. Come in.”
Xinyi, the Yuheng’s (third) current assistant of the year…so far. After firing the first one on their first month of service and the second one resigned on their second month, Xinyi has been the most enduring assistant of Keqing so far. Managing to remain being employed under Keqing’s wing for roughly three months—that is for sure a good sign…or maybe not?
As Assistant Xinyi opened the door, visible fidgeting can be easily observed. Xinyi might just be too nervous for Keqing’s liking.
Just what is there to be so nervous about? Keqing could only internally sigh.
“So? What is it Xinyi?” Keqing’s right eyebrow arched as if to remind the assistant that she did not have an entire day waiting for the assistant to calm down.
The assistant, on the other hand, steeled her nerves. Time is of essence to her uptight and intimidating employer afterall.
To show respect, Xinyi slightly bowed and said, “G-good day Lady Yuheng. I am very sorry to interrupt you on your work, but Secretary Baiwen asked of me to pass to you, Your Eminence, the message that the Lady Tianquan needed your urgent presence at the Jade Chamber.”
“What?” Keqing’s eyes slightly widened at the news.
Urgent…you say? Fatui, Osial, treasure hoarders, Abyss, Chasm incident, fraudulence, and so on. A list of possible reasons instantly flashes through Keqing’s mind at a speed of lightning.
But wait—if its really that urgent, wouldn’t it be more of an appropriate action to assemble all Qixings in the Pavilion instead? Maybe it was not really that much of a worst-case scenario. Whatever. Keqing thought. I must still make haste.
Then, Keqing unceremoniously and snappily stood making her poor assistant flinched at the abruptness and the intensity of the Yuheng.
“Very well then. I will leave these documents and data regarding the land survey of both the Mingyun and Qingce Village. What is needed of you here is to create a comparative analysis of the boundary lines in this data here…with this data in this document. Discrepancies are inevitable. Best to keep them in mind and if there is, be sure to mark them, recalculate if necessary and don’t forget to inform me of your every progress. Although this is not as urgent as my other projects, I will be considering that I have just given it to you. So I will give you…six days to accomplish this and that is the deadline. Any questions? If none, then I will now go and meet the Tianquan.”
“N-no questions at the moment, Lady Yuheng. Take care, Your Eminence.” Even carrying a handful of documents, Assistant Xinyi did not forget to show her respect to her superior as she bowed.
Dedication and respect—not bad. Indeed they are good qualities to possess for an assistant. Unlike her snappy and lightning fast movements, however, Xinyi is a little too fidgety and slow-paced for Keqing’s liking still. But even so, Xinyi does a decent job.
She is even surprised that Xinyi dutifully finished all her assignments Keqing had given her before her expeditions. At first, Keqing thought that it might be too difficult for her new assistant but alas, she proved Keqing wrong. Though Keqing already received countless remonstrations urging her to be less impatient with her assistants, but Xinyi here is already doing a better job compared to her predecessors. She might be able to make it past the three-month mark if this keeps going.
More importantly, Keqing cannot really afford becoming assistant-less in these coming months since they will be the busiest months of the year for the Liyue Qixing.
Lantern Rite is fast approaching. This is why Liyue Qixing will have to double their workloads for these months to give themselves more time to concentrate their efforts preparing for the Lantern Rite when the time is nigh. Lantern Rite is a major event that one cannot miss after all.
“Good. I will be on my way then.” And with that, Keqing leaves her office and to the Jade Chamber she goes.
***
“Liyue Qixing might not survive in the next few months to come." The Tianquan said as she puffs a smoke from her antique long-stemmed smoking pipe.
Fatui, Osial, treasure hoarders, Abyss, Chasm incident, fraudulence, and so on. A list of possible reasons instantly flashes through Keqing’s mind at a speed of lightning (again).
Wait—scratch that! Keqing, becoming slightly irritated, she politely requested, “May the Tianquan be so kind to elaborate? Also please…be more straightforward with your wording. I need answers, not riddles, Lady Tianquan.”
Unfazed by the sharpness of Keqing’s dark amethyst eyes, Ningguang could only chuckle. She indeed has a habit of being indirect especially if its teasing a certain someone.
Such an impatient person….can’t even humor me for a while. The Tianquan mumbled to no one, but her inner self. Hmmm. Although the matter is not really that life-threatening but still —
“I had a talk with Ganyu yesterday.”
Upon hearing this from the Tianquan in a serious tone, Keqing tensed up. Her serious eyes looking at the Tianquan’s, urging the latter to continue speaking.
“It seems that Ganyu wanted to…resign as the general secretary.”
“What?!” Keqing exclaimed, abruptly slamming the table which separates the two dignified ladies in Ningguang’s office.
“Come now…” Ningguang, with her soothing voice said. “…I also had the same question but there’s no need trying to break my table. Why won’t you let me finish first?” Then, the Tianquan’s red eyes glared at the now embarrassed Yuheng.
Keqing didn’t know what got her so worked up. Its just…
Ganyu resigning? Their most competent, diligent and dedicated secretary is…RESIGNING?…at the most critical period for the Qixing?
Unbelievable. Keqing thought.
“Please continue.”
Lifting and twirling her smoking pipe, Ningguang explained, “Well first of all, now that Rex Lapis had stepped down as our archon, Ganyu has no contractual obligation to the Liyue Harbor. Thus, technically speaking, she is free to do whatever she pleases.”
Keqing could only grumble. That is true but the thought of Ganyu being anywhere but the Harbor doesn’t sound quite good for Keqing.
“However…” Ningguang continued, “…that is already a long time ago about two years to be exact. Meaning, Ganyu could have resign within that period of time, but why now?”
The Yuheng, on the other side of the table, racked her brain for a clue. Just what could it be?
Racking her brain resulted in flashes of her memories with the secretary in question. Their lunchtimes together, their shopping times together and even the simple things like working together. She can’t really find within those memories any answer as to what could go wrong with the half-adeptus secretary.
“What did Ganyu said? What are her reasons?” Keqing inquired.
Before Ningguang could reply, she brought first her smoking pipe closer and took a quick puff. As she breathe out the smoke, she then flatly replied, “I don’t know.”
WHAT DO YOU—Apparently, it took all of Keqing’s will to not say that out loud. Shouting in front of her colleague—twice—would be utterly disrespectful.
The Yuheng, to her disbelief, could only bring her palm to her face—facepalm, as others call it.
“W-would the Tianquan be so kind…to elaborate on what she meant…again?” Was all the dispirited Yuheng managed to retort despite having formulated a handful of questions and complaints regarding Ningguang’s indirectness.
Noticing the Yuheng’s dismay and impatience, Ningguang sighed as she put her smoking pipe down on the table. “When I asked Ganyu her reasons…she…Well, she refused to give her answers as she was embarrassed to do so. Maybe a very personal reason? I just have no idea. But seeing how flushed as a ripe tomato Ganyu was, I believe it was best to not force her to state her reasons since I’m afraid she might run off somewhere again.”
Massaging her temples, Keqing thought, Something too personal? If its something personal then for sure it must have been a really sensitive topic for Ganyu.
Keqing recalls that time when Cloud Retainer started to reminisce about Ganyu’s childhood which made Ganyu wanting to be anywhere but within close proximity with Cloud Retainer. Or when that time Ganyu is very particular if whether Cloud Retainer started spilling “juicy gossip”, as Paimon would refer, about Ganyu during her absence.
If that’s the case then, it will be difficult to know the reason unless…
“Is this another case of misunderstanding on the part of Ganyu? Like that time when Ganyu run away to Jueyun Karst…should I ask the Traveller for help?”
“That would be unnecessary.” Ningguang interjected. “I don’t believe that this is a case of misunderstanding. Also, I believe that this matter should be best up to us, Qixing, to address—not the Traveller.”
“Have you informed the other Qixing?”
“No, and I have no plans to do so as of the moment. The fact that Ganyu spoke of this matter only to me means she wishes to keep the matter between us.”
“But…you just told me.”
“That’s because there is something I need you to do. Besides, its not like Ganyu’s resignation is set in stone or that Ganyu wanted to resign immediately. We have come into an agreement to wait until the Lantern Rite has passed before deciding if she really wanted to resign or not.”
Keqing is utterly baffled. Usually she always has a say about a thing or two but she just chose to be silent for a while but still presses on the matters at hand shortly.
Breaking the momentary silence, Keqing said, “You…could have told me that earlier.”
Ignoring the Yuheng’s knitted eyebrows, Ningguang mischievously replied, “That would be very anti-climatic, don’t you think? And also, this is where you play your part, Keqing.”
Ugh. Speaking like I’m a chess piece or something.
“Let me guess…” Keqing responded. “…you want me to know what could have been the reason as to why Ganyu is thinking of resignation without Ganyu knowing what I’m doing. Am I correct?”
“Precisely, as expected of the Yuheng.” Ningguang confirmed. “And while you are at it, please don’t forget to do something about it. If you know what I mean. But knowing you, I’m sure you would take the initiative of doing so.”
Keqing audibly sighed. She didn’t know if it’s a genuine compliment but whatever. She has to look for a certain half-adeptus. Keqing already lost enough of her time humouring the Tianquan.
“If that is all then I shall take my leave, Ningguang. I still have other work left behind.” As calm as she could be, Keqing stood from where she was seated.
Ningguang, ever so understanding, nod. “Of course. I will no longer keep the Yuheng away from her precious time.”
The gesture is reciprocated although the sarcasm did not reached the Yuheng.
Just before Keqing could exit from the Tianquan’s office, Ningguang still has some add-on remarks.
“Keqing, take good care of her, will you?”
Confused, Keqing could only think of it in a general sense. “Ahhh. Well…yes?? What is that even about?”
Hiding her smirk behind her fan, muffling her laughter, Ningguang replied. “Nothing. Are you familiar with the one of the rarest metals in Teyvat? Its hardly ever found in Liyue even. It’s a lustrous, bluish white platinum metal that resist corrosion…”
Keqing turning back to the Tianquan, internally groaning, but respectfully replied, “You mean Osmium?”
“Yes, that one. You certainly reminded me of that one. Do you know what are your similarities?”
I certainly don’t have enough time for this. “Look, Ningguang…I really need to go back to my office at this moment.” And I need to check up on Ganyu too. “How about we pick this up later after I have cleared my schedule, yes?”
“Alright then.” Before Ningguang could utter another word, the sound of Keqing’s heels, roaring like Inazuma’s thunder as she took her every step, can be heard across the Chamber…until the sound becomes fainter further…
…and further away.
Alone in her office, Ningguang stared at an expensive-looking fountain pen gifted to her from a gentleman from Fontaine. As what the gentleman explained to her, it seemed that the pen tips of this thing are made from Osmium. Resistant to corrosion, it is used to coat the nib tip preventing the pen tip to wear. There is another thing that she learned…
Do you know your similarities with Osmium, Keqing?
She stole one last glance from the fountain pen and put it back to its expensive-looking case. Ningguang chuckles at the thought. Well, Osmium and Keqing are…
…highly dense.