Liyue.
Once a nation under divine governance — three thousand seven hundred years of history walking side by side with the gods. Each year at the Rite of Descension, the Geo Archon would deliver his divine decree, guiding Liyue's development plans and commercial direction for the coming year, which the Qixing and the eight guilds would then carry out.
But as time moved forward, the presence of gods and adepti in Liyue grew increasingly rare.
The Geo Archon himself was glimpsed only once a year, at the Rite of Descension.
In truth, under the leadership of the Liyue Qixing, the Liyue of today had already freed itself from its dependence on the immortals.
Even the annual Rite of Descension had become, more than anything else, an expression of the people's faith — a spiritual anchor rather than a practical necessity.
Even without the Geo Archon, the people of Liyue believed that the Qixing would lead them toward a better tomorrow.
And that was exactly what Ningguang wanted to see.
The immortals could stay in their myths and legends.
Liyue should be governed by the people of Liyue.
Yet there was a worry that lived quietly in Ningguang's heart.
If the adepti disagreed with her vision — what then?
Would those ancient guardians, who had once protected Liyue at great cost, turn their fury upon her? Would it come to conflict? An irreparable rift between mortals and immortals — unnecessary trouble, or worse, open war between humans and gods?
If that happened, she, Ningguang, would become the sinner of Liyue.
The weight on her shoulders was immense.
And yet her position, her status — they demanded she never show the vulnerability of an ordinary woman.
Sometimes, she too wanted a shoulder to lean on.
But at her level, everything was magnified by others. Even the smallest gesture was read as carrying special meaning.
It made her careful. Cautious about every single thing.
Until Cao Zhong walked into her field of vision.
Ningguang looked at him steadily and spoke.
"Mr. Cao Zhong. I need you."
Hm?
Cao Zhong had been contentedly admiring the embroidery on the front of Ningguang's qipao when those words hit him out of nowhere.
"Hold on — Ningguang, what did you just say?"
He stared at her in disbelief.
First meeting. Already this exciting?
This woman— Ningguang pressed her teeth lightly against her lower lip.
It had been a very long time since anyone had dared address her simply as "Ningguang."
But none of that mattered against the larger plan.
If she could bring Cao Zhong into her camp, his strength alone would give even the adepti pause.
"I said — I need you."
Ningguang held his gaze, completely sincere.
Cao Zhong's heart soared.
They always said: women in their thirties are like wolves, their forties like tigers, and by fifty they're pulling energy straight from the earth itself.
Ningguang was no spring chicken, and she'd been on her own this whole time — that was genuinely a little pitiable.
But Cao Zhong, guided always by his principle of helping those in need and his particular talent for tending to flowers in bloom, had never once turned away from a worthy cause.
When there is demand, there is service.
"In that case... perhaps we could... why don't we..."
He began undoing his outer coat.
"I mean — if a conflict arises between me and the adepti in the future, I want you on my side."
Ningguang said this without even glancing at what his hands were doing.
Oh.
Cao Zhong felt very awkward.
Could someone please say things clearly before getting people worked up for nothing.
He calmly put his coat back on.
"Ningguang, I'm a man from Mondstadt — it would be a bit inappropriate for me to get involved in Liyue's internal affairs, wouldn't it?"
He already knew, of course, that the Geo Archon had long been preparing for his retirement. But that was Ningguang's own discovery to make.
"That's fine. I'll write to Captain Jean personally — after that, you'll be mine."
Ningguang made a sweeping gesture with the effortless authority of someone used to getting exactly what they wanted.
"Ah? I... I think I'd rather not..."
He still had to go back to Mondstadt eventually. Offending Jean too badly was not a good strategy.
He turned it over a moment more.
He was going to be staying in Liyue for a while. There was a decent chance he'd be around when something significant happened.
Agreeing to Ningguang's terms temporarily wasn't the worst idea — and if things went sideways, the old man was always there as a fallback.
"Alright. I can agree to stand on your side when the time comes. However..."
Before he could finish, Ningguang was already pressing a set of keys into his hand.
"This is a property in Liyue Harbor's most prestigious district. Stay there for now — if it doesn't suit you, I'll have someone arrange something else."
"Ah — what I was going to say was—"
"This is a black card from Liyue's largest bank. No spending limit. Use it freely."
Hss~~~
"What I meant was, I still have a loan at the bank—"
"I know about the loan. I've already paid it off."
Ningguang's casual extravagance genuinely stunned him.
Wasn't this exactly the life he'd always dreamed of?
Still, a question nagged at him.
"Do you even know which bank I owe money to?"
"Not specifically, no. Why?"
Ningguang looked at him with perfect sincerity.
"Then how exactly did you pay it off?"
Cao Zhong wasn't buying it. How do you pay off a debt when you don't know who it's owed to?
"Oh, that." A small smile. "I bought all the banks. Except the Bank of the North."
She said it the way someone might mention they'd picked up groceries on the way home.
Cao Zhong stared at her.
"...Jiejie. I give up trying in life."
Ningguang: ???
[Ding — a new video is now playing!]
[Hu Tao]: I've been waiting and waiting, longing and hoping for a new video to appear.
[Venti]: @Cao Zhong Say something!
[Kaeya]: I don't even need to guess — Cao Zhong is definitely in it.
[Cao Zhong]: Oh go to hell!
[Venti]: @Cao Zhong Swearing at people now, are you? Your mouth is absolutely filthy!
[Cao Zhong]: The only way to keep your mouth clean is to let the dirty words out. If you swallow them all down, your heart goes dirty instead.
[Hu Tao]: ?
[Keqing]: ??
[Eula]: ???
[Kaeya]: Ah. I see.
[Cao Zhong]: What do you see?
[Venti]: @Kaeya I understand you completely.
[Bennett]: I've come prepared.
[Cao Zhong]: ?
[Kaeya]: Cao Zhong, you ***, you ***.
[Venti]: Cao Zhong, you ***, I ***.
[Bennett]: Cao the Scoundrel, you and I are mortal enemies!!
[Cao Zhong]: ???
[Hu Tao]: I'm genuinely moved. So genuinely moved.
[Xiangling]: I don't understand — why are they suddenly swearing at Cao Zhong?
[Venti]: Let's just say my mouth is now essentially a sterile operating theatre.
[Jean]: !!!
[Barbara]: !!!
[Kamisato Ayaka]: !!!
[Hu Tao]: Oh I get it. I'm deceased.
[Cao Zhong]: That's it. Friendship over.
[Kaeya]: @Cao Zhong Excellent — does that mean I don't have to pay you back?
[Venti]: Let's go!!
[Bennett]: Let's go!!
[Cao Zhong]: You lot will never in your lives afford a four-course meal.
[Kaeya]: Who do you think you're looking down on? @Sara, Miss Sara — please bring four Teyvat Fried Eggs, all different flavours.
[Sara]: Huh???
[Xiangling]: I'm deceased!
[Venti]: Like you can afford more than one yourself!
[Cao Zhong]: WATCH THE VIDEO.
On screen.
Ningguang stood in an elegant dark blue gauze dress — dignified, with the quiet depth of someone fully grown into herself.
"Why don't we just be together? It's not like you have anyone."
[Keqing]: ?
[Beidou]: ??
[Yelan]: ???
[Xingqiu]: Who is it — who is it exactly?!
[Kaeya]: @Cao Zhong Please tell me it's not you.
[Venti]: I cannot process this.
[Hu Tao]: Lady Ningguang making the first move?! I want to see this!!
[Millelith Soldier A]: No~~~ no~~~
[Millelith Soldier B]: It hurts. It hurts so much!
...
[Millelith Soldier N]: Lady Ningguang, blink twice if you're being threatened — Lady Ningguang!!!
Back at Yujing Terrace, Cao Zhong looked toward Ningguang with barely concealed awkwardness.
He hadn't expected Ningguang to appear in the video.
This was the worst kind of timing. He needed to leave. Now.
"Right, so — Ningguang — Chongyun must be worried sick about me, I'd better—"
He made for the door.
Ningguang stepped into his path.
"No rush. I'd like to see who it is as well."
Her voice was perfectly composed.
"Aren't you curious?"
Ningguang sounded airy. Cao Zhong felt something distinctly dangerous underneath it.
The video continued.
Cao Zhong's figure appeared on screen.
"But Jiejie — I'm younger than you!"
[Kaeya]: @Cao Zhong It really IS you. I genuinely cannot accept this.
[Venti]: @Cao Zhong Scoundrel everywhere you go, huh?!
[Bennett]: @Everyone in Liyue — what are you waiting for?! Take up arms and deal with this man!!
[Xingqiu]: Kill the scoundrel, take the Tianquan seat! Kill the scoundrel, take the Tianquan seat!
[Cao Zhong]: @Xingqiu Exposed yourself, haven't you — harbouring ambitions for political power!
[Xingqiu]: I was wrong, bro, I was wrong — please stop!
[Keqing]: My, my — who would have thought our Lady Tianquan would be rejected for being too old?
[Beidou]: AHAHAHAHAHA~~~
[Kaedehara Kazuha]: Captain, perhaps laugh a little more quietly.
[Beidou]: Hm? Was I that loud?
[Hu Tao]: Not at all — just loud enough to hear in Liyue Harbor. 😆
[Kaeya]: Not at all — just loud enough to hear in Mondstadt. 😆
[Thoma]: Not at all — just loud enough to hear in Mondstadt. 😆
[Collei]: Not at all — just loud enough to hear in Sumeru. 😆
[Beidou]: Uwuwuwu~~ Ningguang, let me explain!!
[Ningguang]: Heh.
[Yae Miko]: @Cao Zhong The Shogun is that powerful and you still went for it. The boldest of the bold?
[Cao Zhong]: @Yae Miko Please. Stop. The child is traumatised.
[Ei]: #
[Yae Miko]: Don't strike — not THERE — everything's gone curly!!
[Kaeya]: ?
[Venti]: ??
Yujing Terrace. Ningguang's office.
Cao Zhong had stopped talking entirely.
How did a video like this even exist? Did no one know that the one thing you never bring up around a woman is her age?
Ningguang's Jade Parcels were gathering in her hand, one by one, as she fixed him with a predatory stare, her eyes flickering with a light that meant nothing good.
"So. You think I'm too old."
If Cao Zhong couldn't produce a satisfactory explanation, those Jade Parcels were going to make him look like swiss cheese.
"No — Ningguang, listen to me — the video is fake, it's all fake!"
"It's fake. Then why are you scared?"
She walked toward him slowly, each step landing as though directly on his heart.
"I'm not scared. Ningguang — you know me. I would never reject someone just because of age."
He tried to explain.
"You just said it again!!!"
"No — I meant — I'm the one who's not good enough! I couldn't possibly match up to you financially—"
The video continued.
On screen, Ningguang looked at him with complete seriousness.
"So what if you're younger? You're not financially independent — I'll give you fifty million a month for pocket money."
"Jiejie — I'm too much younger than you—"
Cao Zhong's on-screen self was still gently declining.
"So what if you're much younger? I know how to take care of someone — and I'll give you money!"
[Kaeya]: @Ningguang Lady Ningguang — I don't think you're old at all. Could I perhaps be considered?
[Venti]: @Ningguang I'm also quite mature, for what it's worth.
[Bennett]: @Ningguang Actually...
[Ningguang]: GET OUT!!!!
Yujing Terrace.
Ningguang pointed at the screen.
"Still going to tell me you weren't rejecting me for being too old? I offered you fifty million and you still said no?"
The Jade Parcels in her hand grew brighter.
Cao Zhong wore the expression of a man in profound intestinal distress.
Was that really him in the video? It couldn't be. There was no version of himself that would turn down something like that.
"Since you won't believe me, I suppose I'll just have to prove it."
Cao Zhong undid his top — and in the moment Ningguang's composure flickered, he swept her clean off her feet and into his arms.
Ah~
Ningguang's mind went completely blank.
How dare he.
How does he dare.
But his chest was so warm. She wanted to stay there.
She tried to summon the will to resist. Her body refused to cooperate, gone entirely soft.
"Lady Ningguang..."
At that exact moment, Ganyu pushed the door open.
She took one look at the scene in front of her.
And she, too, went blank.
From where she was standing, it looked very much as though Ningguang had her legs wrapped around Cao Zhong's waist.
"I'm sorry. I've clearly come at the wrong time."
A small, quiet pang moved through Ganyu's chest. He'd been calling her his wife not long ago. And now he was already—
Scoundrel.
She turned to leave.
"No — wait." Ningguang called out at once. "You've come at exactly the right time."
Ganyu turned back, staring at the two of them in complete disbelief.
A bold idea began to take shape in her mind.