Ye Xi breathed in the faint, delicate fragrance on Ningguang's body, wrapped his arm around her slender waist, and asked, "Go on, then — what's this about?"
Hearing this, Ningguang first took a moment to compose herself.
To be honest, she felt like she was about to lose her self-restraint.
It was just that this was Yuehai Pavilion, not the Jade Chamber.
Otherwise, she would surely have dragged Ye Xi off into a room.
After taking a few slow, deep breaths, the blush on her dainty face faded somewhat.
She began to explain, "This afternoon, I intend to announce our infrastructure project to all the people of Liyue Harbor."
"A matter this big — the people ought to know about it too."
"When the time comes, how about you show your face in front of everyone as well?"
As of now, the Qixing and the Eight Trades had already completed the preparatory work for the upcoming project.
From ore extraction, to material allocation, to personnel deployment, every aspect had been arranged sufficiently.
The initial phase of the project could be completed.
Before construction officially began, a decision this significant naturally had to be conveyed to every single person residing in Liyue Harbor.
In the future, once the new city was built, there would surely be plenty of people moving there to live.
Liyue Harbor may be vast, but it was also showing a trend toward overcrowding.
With the new district over by Wangshu Inn to share the pressure, the population density of Liyue Harbor would improve considerably.
And so, holding a formal announcement directed at all of Liyue Harbor was extremely important.
"Just for that?"
"Mm."
A playful glint in his eyes, Ye Xi teased, "Why do I get the feeling you're using official business for personal ends?"
"Using the pretext of official affairs, looking to pull off some little scheme of your own?"
Ningguang's pretty face instantly flushed red, and she gave a soft "Hmph," saying, "That's nothing but your own subjective conjecture, and has absolutely nothing to do with me."
Ye Xi laughed.
He nodded and said, "It's fine, it can be done — only, I'm not very good at things like making declarations."
"Mm, don't worry, I haven't prepared any long-winded speech — it's just a notification ceremony, that's all."
Seeing that Ye Xi had agreed, Ningguang rose reluctantly to her feet, pulling herself from his embrace.
She came over to the desk and began drafting the official notice.
The way she held the brush and wrote was exceptionally earnest.
In no time at all, a document had already been written up.
"I'll go hand it down."
With that, she took the official document and opened the study door.
Seeing several secretaries waiting at the door at the ready, she passed the document over to them.
"Deliver this document to the General Affairs Office, and have them send out the notice as soon as possible."
"Yes! Lady Ningguang."
The few little secretaries hurriedly took the document and left the doorway.
As they walked, they secretly whispered among themselves.
"Did you all see that? Lady Ningguang's little face was all flushed!"
"She and Master Ye Xi couldn't really have been in there..."
"Shh! That can't be right! Lady Ningguang is so dignified and elegant — no matter what, she wouldn't do something so bold, would she?"
"That's not necessarily so! A girl who's fallen in love has no sense left at all!"
"Right! Don't forget, that's Master Ye Xi we're talking about!"
"Exactly! So good-looking, and rich too! If it were me, never mind an office — I'd dare to do it anywhere!"
"Pfft, you usually seem so quiet and demure — who'd have thought you had this much nerve inside. Quite the wild one, aren't you~"
"Oh, get out of here — that's just you talking tough. If you really did get to be Master Ye Xi's concubine, you'd probably already be letting yourself be played with in every which way!"
"..."
The few little secretaries scampered off at a trot, leaving Yuehai Pavilion.
Not long after.
Outside the gates of the General Affairs Office, the Millelith had put up the notice.
Passersby, seeing it, gathered around, all wanting to see what was written on it.
A nearby private-school teacher read it aloud: "This afternoon, the esteemed Qixing will deliver an important address atop the Jade Chamber. Let all be informed!"
Upon hearing this news, people instantly grew curious.
"An important address? Could it be some major affair?"
"This is the first time the esteemed Qixing have announced something with such ceremony, isn't it?"
"Feels like there'll be some big developments this afternoon!"
"Maybe it's some kind of business opportunity!?"
"It must have something to do with that giant ship from this morning! That ship was so big, and it moved so fast — it'll surely make everyone's future trade and travel a lot more convenient!"
"My guess is that a lot of goods on the market are going to drop in price!"
"Now that really would be wonderful news!"
"..."
People immediately began chattering away with all sorts of opinions, full of anticipation for the afternoon's address.
Before long, the crowd of onlookers grew larger and larger.
Word spread from mouth to mouth — one told ten, ten told a hundred.
It wasn't long before, in every nook and cranny of Liyue Harbor, big and small, people were discussing the afternoon's harbor-wide announcement.
The wealthy merchants within the harbor had all gathered together as well.
They had arranged their spots well in advance, preparing to go listen together to the General Affairs Office's latest report shortly.
At this moment, Baiwen came into Ningguang's office and began to report.
"Lady Ningguang, the amplification equipment atop the Jade Chamber is all ready!"
Ningguang nodded — with that, everything was fully prepared.
She then spoke up, "Let's set off, to the Jade Chamber!"
...
At the entry checkpoint of Liyue Harbor, two figures who had come from afar appeared.
The Millelith guarding the checkpoint stopped the two of them in their tracks.
"Hello, madam, welcome to Liyue Harbor."
"This is a routine inspection — please cooperate!"
"May I ask, what are your and your child's names, where are you from, and what business have you come to Liyue Harbor to do?"
The Millelith soldier held paper and pen, ready to make a record.
However, no reply came for a long while.
He raised his head in confusion, and upon seeing the strikingly beautiful woman before him, asked once more, "Madam..."
Just as he was about to speak, the soldier felt a terrifying aura.
That feeling was just like being fixed in the gaze of the Vortex Demon God, Osial!
How utterly terrifying!
He jumped in fright and hastily changed his words: "M-miss!"
"Mm~ that title's more like it."
The little girl beside her burst out laughing with a snort: "Lisa, oh... Big Sister Lisa, you've scared this Millelith uncle half to death!"
"Lisa, is it? Miss, is that your name?"
"I've registered it for you!"
"Now then, little one, what's your name?"
The Millelith soldier knew Lisa was not one to be trifled with, and hurriedly bent down, all smiles, as he asked the little girl.
To be honest, that one look from Lisa just now had nearly scared the pee out of him.
Her face was all smiles, yet what was with that killing intent she couldn't hide in her eyes!?
"I'm the Spark Knight of the Knights of Favonius, Klee! ...Uh, what was I supposed to say next? Klee forgot!"
Little Klee opened up her backpack, rummaging around for her notebook.
"Knight?"
The Millelith soldier was taken aback for a moment. Looking at the tiny, adorable girl before him, he couldn't make any connection between her and a knight at all.
"So, little Klee, did you two come from Mondstadt?"
"That's right! Klee and Big Sister Lisa came to find a big brother named Ye Xi!"
....
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