The meeting with Beidou was in the afternoon; there were no special arrangements for the morning, and Aether had originally planned for Ningguang to rest more, but Ningguang still chose to read some recently submitted documents in her reception hall.
Ningguang also said that for her, this already counted as rest.
Aether was a bit helpless; although he was responsible for arranging Ningguang's schedule, in reality, the so-called arrangement was merely a suggestion, and Ningguang herself made the final decisions.
Fortunately, Ningguang didn't need to go out at all today; the meeting with Beidou was also held here at Qunyu Pavilion.
So, it was still alright.
"Take this document to Yuheng Star." Ningguang handed a document to Aether.
"Okay." Aether nodded; after accompanying Ningguang here all morning, Aether was relatively familiar with the work procedures.
To deliver it to Yuheng Star didn't mean he had to personally hand it to Keqing; he just needed to step out of the room, find the relevant staff, and give instructions.
Because Ningguang didn't like too many people around her when she worked, generally, only a few trusted aides would accompany her during work.
Now that Aether had arrived, this "trusted aide" had become him.
"Ah, Miss Xing." As Xing was about to return to Ningguang's room after finishing her business, a maid suddenly approached her.
"Is something wrong?"
"Please inform Lady Ningguang that Yelan wishes to see her," the maid said cautiously.
"Yelan?" Xing's brow slightly arched. She knew Yelan worked for Ningguang, but she hadn't expected Yelan to come calling today.
Was there some work to report to Ningguang? Or was Yelan actually... here to see her??
"I understand. I'll tell Ningguang." Xing nodded, and the maid then excused herself.
Xing quickened her steps, walking back to Ningguang's reception hall.
Upon entering, smoke billowed. Ningguang had, at some point, taken out her pipe and was now leaning on her soft couch, puffing away.
"Ningguang, Yelan is here." Xing sniffed, saying to Ningguang.
She knew Teyvat had such a thing as tobacco, as Rosaria was also a smoker, but she wasn't quite sure what the ingredients of this world's tobacco were.
At least, she didn't smell any pungent nicotine from the smoke; instead, there was a faint herbal fragrance.
"Yelan?" Ningguang seemed surprised to hear Yelan's name.
Recently, besides Xing's matters, she hadn't given Yelan any other tasks.
Yelan had never come looking for her without a task before.
What was going on today...?
"I... never mind, you go and greet her first." Ningguang had intended to get up, but looking at the pipe in her hand, she decided to let Xing greet her first.
Although the tobacco's scent wasn't unpleasant, going to see Yelan smelling of smoke wasn't ideal. She'd wait a bit longer.
"I'll be there shortly. Ask her to wait a moment."
"Mm, alright." Xing nodded.
If she hadn't known Yelan before, she might have been nervous about greeting her like this, but with their current relationship, it wouldn't be an exaggeration to describe them as an old married couple. She was now completely at ease handling the situation.
However, just as she was about to turn and leave, Ningguang suddenly spoke, causing her steps to falter slightly.
"Speaking of which, how is your relationship with Yelan?"
"Uh, it's, it's fine, I guess. Why are you suddenly asking about that...?"
"When Yelan was mentioned, you seemed quite happy, didn't you?" Ningguang scrutinized Xing's cheek, asking with a half-smile.
"Is that so? Perhaps it's because it's rare for a friend I know to come to Qunyu Pavilion?" Xing found a plausible excuse.
She couldn't possibly tell Ningguang about her relationship with Yelan right now.
"Is that so..." Ningguang nodded.
She didn't seem to suspect much.
This made sense; after all, no matter what, Ningguang could never imagine that Xing and Yelan's relationship was already beyond just 'friends'.
---
In another room, Yelan stood alone in front of a decorative painting, silently waiting.
After a moment, the door opened, and Xing walked in.
"Yelan."
"Oh? Where's Ningguang?" Yelan turned around, seeing only Xing, and asked with some confusion.
"She'll be here shortly. Why did you come? Is it about work?" Xing closed the door and walked over to Yelan, asking.
"Yes, and no." Yelan smiled slightly, approaching Xing.
"Huh?" Xing was slightly startled, looking at Yelan so close, she had a bad feeling.
"It is about work, but that was just an excuse I made up. The real reason I came here... why don't you guess?" Yelan smiled, reaching out to caress Xing's cheek.
"Could it, could it be because of me...?" Xing gripped Yelan's wrist, asking hesitantly.
"To be precise, it's about your relationship with Ningguang. I wanted to see how it's progressing." Yelan leaned her head closer, their foreheads almost touching.
"Huh?" Xing's eyes widened, completely unprepared for Yelan's reason.
"Are you surprised? After all, your success or failure affects whether I can continue to cooperate smoothly with Ningguang in the future. Who told me that I'm completely yours now?"
"Don't, don't say such things. This is Qunyu Pavilion..." Xing quickly told Yelan.
Although there was no one else in the room, if walls had ears, it would be bad if their conversation was overheard.
"So what if it's Qunyu Pavilion?" As if to prove her words, Yelan directly pressed Xing's head and put her lips on hers.
"Mmm?!"
Xing wanted to struggle, but due to her physique, she couldn't break free. Gradually, she even went limp in Yelan's arms.
And at this very moment, not far from outside the room.
"Lady Ningguang." The maid bowed to Ningguang.
"Is Yelan inside?"
"Yes, Miss Xing is currently entertaining her." The maid nodded.
"I see. You may go now." Ningguang waved her hand at the maid. Generally, Yelan's work was clandestine, so Ningguang would not keep others around when she met Yelan.
"Yes."
The maid left, and Ningguang walked to the door of the room.
"Hmm?" Just as she was about to push open the door, Ningguang felt as if she heard a strange sound, like something merging together, a sticky, sensuous sound.
And it was coming from inside the room... Ningguang's eyes immediately sharpened, and she instantly pushed open the door.
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