The moment she thought of the mishap about to unfold, Keqing felt a chill run through her heart.
"It's over, it's over—this surprise is going to fail!"
"How could I have forgotten to tell Xiangling to go to the hot spring on the right!"
After all the trouble of sneaking Xiangling in without Ye Xi noticing, who'd have thought something would go wrong at the very last moment!
Keqing said, a little dejected, "Ningguang, why don't you come with me over to the Master's side and take a look? Maybe there's still a chance!"
Hearing Keqing's words, Ningguang hurriedly shook her head, "I... I'm definitely not going... I really can't take it!"
"If I went over there with you, I probably wouldn't even be able to walk tomorrow."
"Not going, not going!"
Keqing couldn't help wanting to laugh.
She never expected that the usually dignified and haughty Ningguang would actually reveal this shrinking, little-girl side of herself.
She said with a smile, "Ningguang, we're [family] now!"
"Family should share hardships together, shouldn't they?"
Seeming to notice the playful glint in Keqing's eyes, Ningguang sighed, "Family or not, it's still a no. I can give you Mora, but this—no."
"At least, not today."
"Laugh at me if you like, but even the Tianquan Star needs a few days' rest."
"Unless you want to hear Baishi and the others announce tomorrow that [Lady Ningguang is indisposed and has handed the Tianquan Star's work over to the Yuheng Star]."
"Otherwise, you can go over by yourself!"
"Hey! Don't go dumping your work on me!"
Keqing, not knowing whether to laugh or cry, folded her arms and said, "If I went over there with you, I wouldn't be able to work tomorrow either!"
"So you'd hand both of our workloads over to Uncle Tian?"
"Uh..."
At Uncle Tian's age, juggling the work of the Tianquan Star, the Yuheng Star, and the Tianshu Star all at once—he'd probably be sent off to the Wangsheng Funeral Parlor within a day.
Seeing Ningguang's resistant look, Keqing sighed, "Fine, then I'll go take a look on my own. If you won't come, so be it."
With that, Keqing, wrapped in a thin white bath towel, left the women's hot spring.
...
On the other side.
In Ye Xi's exclusive hot spring.
Amid the drifting steam, a graceful figure sat in the hot spring, restlessly paddling about.
By now Xiangling had undone her little braids, her long hair hanging down over her shoulders, lending her a touch more of a beauty's grace and a touch less of her mischievous, playful look.
Wrapped up in the warm spring water, the feeling was both relaxing and wondrous.
Even the little wounds that had been faintly aching felt as if they were about to heal.
Just as she was savoring this moment of bliss, she suddenly heard footsteps coming from outside.
'Is it Keqing!?'
She hadn't expected Keqing to follow over so quickly.
Just as the person outside pushed open the door and came in, Xiangling waved with a smile, "Ke—"
Before she could even get the sound out, she realized the figure that appeared before her wasn't Keqing!
Because Keqing's figure wasn't this tall and imposing!
The only one with a build like this was Ye Xi!
Xiangling instantly caught on.
A moment ago she had actually lingered at the doors of the two hot springs, hesitating, unsure which one to enter.
It seemed her luck was bad—she'd chosen wrong!
Seeing Ye Xi about to come over, Xiangling hurriedly took a deep breath and dove under the water.
Earlier, while drifting around in the hot spring, she'd bumped her head on a rock.
That was when she'd discovered there was a large rock in the hot spring serving as a decorative feature.
So she hurriedly swam toward the back of the rock underwater.
When she poked her head back out, she was safely hidden behind the rock.
Ye Xi was at that moment rinsing off by the entrance, and because the steam in the courtyard was so thick, he noticed nothing at all.
Instead, he was muttering to himself inwardly.
'That Ningguang—she usually looks so solemn and dignified, who'd have thought she'd be like that just now...'
'Quite amusing, really.'
After rinsing off, he lay back into the hot spring and gazed up at the stars in the sky.
After a busy day, this was the only truly peaceful moment.
At a time like this, he could think over many things.
Such as his plans going forward, the things he had to do, and the difficulties he faced.
Just as he was lost in thought, footsteps suddenly came from outside the door.
He turned to look and saw Keqing poking her little cat-like head in, peering inside.
Ye Xi hadn't expected Keqing to come; his eyes lit up at once, and he invited her over, "Caught myself a peeping little thief—come here at once and accept your punishment."
Keqing was startled. She'd originally planned to secretly take a peek at the situation inside.
Who'd have thought she'd be caught before she even got in!
Still, seeing that Ye Xi appeared to be alone, Xiangling must have hidden herself.
She let out a sigh of relief, then trod across the bluestone path to the edge of the hot spring.
Through the steam, she saw the enormous decorative rock in the center of the pool.
And behind the rock, Xiangling was beaming and waving at her.
Clearly, Ye Xi hadn't noticed at all.
Now Keqing had a bit of a headache—had she known, she wouldn't have come over.
This way, once Ye Xi finished his soak, he'd have left without ever noticing.
Now that she'd come over, she was at a bit of a loss as to what to do.
Just as Keqing was hesitating, a pair of large hands suddenly grabbed hold of her ankle.
"Eh——!?"
Before she could react, the next moment she lost her balance and toppled into a firm embrace.
"What are you spacing out for?"
Ye Xi simply scooped her up in a princess carry and lowered Keqing into the hot spring, saying with a smile, "What sort of scheme are you cooking up, coming over to my side so eagerly?"
"Uh..."
Keqing stammered, "If I said I came to the wrong place... would you believe me, Master?"
Ye Xi shook his head.
If it were her first time here, going to the wrong place would be one thing.
This place, just like the Ye Family Compound before, had men on the left and women on the right.
With Keqing having been here so many times, how could she possibly go to the wrong one?
He pinched Keqing's little cheek, his eyes brimming with amusement, "Out with it—what scheme are you up to this time?"
"Nothing..."
Keqing's face was full of bashfulness as she avoided Ye Xi's gaze.
Wrapped in the warm spring water and held in Ye Xi's arms, Keqing felt as though every last bit of strength had drained from her body.
"Won't tell the truth, hm? Then this Master will have to discipline you with the family rules."
"Eh!? N-no, don't..."
Keqing covered her face, wishing she could find a crack in the ground to crawl into!
After all, Xiangling was right there beside them!
If it were just the two of them, she would have given in.
But right now it was just too mortifying!
"Will you talk or not?"
Ye Xi, his face full of amusement, held the soft, fragrant beauty in his arms, watching as Keqing's fair skin flushed scalding red like a lobster.
And yet, the girl still didn't speak up.
"Well now, looks like you're a treat delivered right to my lips—I'll have to take a bite before you can go."
Keqing's beautiful eyes brimmed with extreme shame.
She instinctively looked toward the giant decorative rock and found Xiangling's eyes opened wide, her little face flushed, yet her gaze full of wonder.
'This is so humiliating!'
At first, Keqing was still resolute.
But as time went on, her gaze grew more and more hazy.
Slowly, she gave up thinking, no longer concerning herself with the matter of Xiangling.
...
Next door.
This was the first time Ningguang had ever enjoyed a hot spring.
The moment she lay back into it, she couldn't help letting out a long, satisfied sigh and a murmur of admiration.
This was completely different from bathing in a tub at the Jade Chamber!
The water in a tub was scalding when you first got in, and slowly it turned cold.
And she'd have to have Baishi and the others help change the water.
But a hot spring was different.
The water here was warm all the time, with hot water constantly welling up beneath her feet—it felt absolutely wonderful!
Most importantly, a tub could only hold her alone, and she couldn't stretch out at all.
The hot spring was like a swimming pool—she could even paddle around in it a little.
Spacious, warm, and carrying the delicate fragrance of cherry blossom petals—it was simply marvelous.
She felt all the fatigue in her body sweep away completely.
Even the weariness she'd built up from being tormented by Ye Xi for so long just now had vanished without a trace.
She very much wanted to just soak in the hot spring like this and have a good sleep.
Just as she was soaking alone, a figure gradually approached from outside the door.
"Oh my~ so someone got here even earlier than me?"
Ningguang turned to look and saw Yae Miko at the doorway, wrapped in a thin bath towel, gazing over with a smile.
"Ah, it's Guuji Yae. You're quite early yourself."
Yae Miko nodded with a smile, "Just call me Miko."
"Back in Inazuma, I had the habit of going to soak in hot springs too, only they were far from my Grand Narukami Shrine, and it took quite a walk to get there."
"I never imagined that at Master Ye Xi's home, I could soak just by stepping out the door—how convenient~"
As she spoke, Yae Miko rinsed off her body and slipped into the hot spring.
The moment she got into the water, she couldn't help but exclaim, "Mm~ this is wonderful!"
She cupped some spring water in her hands, several cherry blossom petals drifting within it.
As the Guuji of the Grand Narukami Shrine, she was no stranger to this at all.
Because the Grand Narukami Shrine had the Sacred Sakura Tree, which bloomed throughout all four seasons.
So the courtyard of the Grand Narukami Shrine was strewn with fallen petals every day.
And now, soaking in the hot spring and seeing the petals gave her the very feeling of soaking in a hot spring beneath the cherry blossom tree at the Grand Narukami Shrine!
She couldn't help but sigh wistfully, "Once Master Ye Xi goes to Inazuma, I'll definitely have him make a door at my Grand Narukami Shrine too~"
Hearing Yae Miko's words, Ningguang grew a touch more serious and asked, "Miko, do you... want to become [family]?"
"Oh? By [family], you mean..."
Naturally, Yae Miko knew what it meant.
To become family was to become one of Ye Xi's little wives, blending into this big household.
Seeing how much Ningguang seemed to care, Yae Miko lightly covered her mouth and smiled, "Looks like you really mind the answer. If I told you what I'm thinking, would Lady Ningguang object?"
"How could I?"
Ningguang leaned against the edge and said calmly, "I know that in the future, even more girls will become [family], so getting jealous and vying for favor is out of the question."
"Ye Xi is very powerful; he won't confine himself to the present state of things."
"All I can do is serve, and accept his affection—that's all."
"Foolishly trying to fight over him would not be the wise move."
Yae Miko's beautiful eyes filled with admiration, "You see things so clearly. So then, why do you still care so much about my decision?"
Ningguang nodded, "Of course. If your answer is yes, then we'll be one family."
"That way, the cooperation between Liyue and Inazuma can be made perfect, with more conveniences granted on both sides."
"But if your answer is no, then naturally I won't pass up the chance to make a tidy sum of money."
Hearing this, Yae Miko sighed inwardly: Truly worthy of being the Tianquan Star—a decisive businesswoman indeed.
But speaking so plainly—wasn't she afraid that Miko might spin a few lies?
For instance, she could easily say she wanted to become family, and then wheedle some benefits out of Ningguang.
Then in the end, slip away unscathed, having gotten one over on Ningguang!
She was a fox, after all—very cunning!
However, Ningguang was perfectly clear about her own aim.
She only needed an answer.
As long as Yae Miko had the inclination, she wasn't afraid of Yae Miko spinning lies later on.
Even if she tried to weasel and cheat her way through, before long she'd be drawn to Ye Xi, and the act would turn into the real thing.
In Ye Xi's charm, she had absolute faith.
One slight slip, and a woman would fall for him completely.
Yae Miko gave a soft sigh, "Even if I wanted to, Master Ye Xi might not necessarily take a fancy to a little fox like me."
Though she didn't know how much of what Yae Miko said was true, Ningguang still smiled, "Miko, why sell yourself short?"
"With such a fine figure as yours, and looks like these on top of it, how could Ye Xi possibly not fancy you?"
"Oh?"
Yae Miko was secretly delighted, but she had no intention of telling the truth, and instead said, "I still can't tell you the answer."
"I'm a fox, after all—secrets like these have to be kept hidden."
In truth, she had a few little calculations of her own!
Becoming one of Ye Xi's little wives was a rare bit of good fortune for her as well.
Who wouldn't like a man more powerful than herself?
What's more, following Ye Xi brought only benefits—no drawbacks!
Inazuma could be changed because of Ye Xi, she could obtain another Eye of God, and she could even enhance her youkai power here in this Adepti's abode.
She could even enjoy the hot springs to her heart's content!
It was just that, before all this, she still had one very important thing to do!
And that was to drag her own dear best friend down into the water with her!
....
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