The float, laden with fresh flowers, slowly drove into Sumeru City under the gaze of thousands.
Ye Xi, dressed as the Knight of Flowers, arrived in front of the float and stepped onto it.
"The Knight of Flowers, Farris, has arrived."
Upon hearing this, Nahida giggled and handed her hand to him.
This scene had appeared in her dreams countless times, but it had never been realized before.
In her dreams, on the day of her birth, the Knight of Flowers would come to welcome her. She would sit on a beautiful flower carriage, escorted by the Knight of Flowers, to participate in the Flower God's Birthday Festival, and then play happily with her people.
However, in reality, she was merely discovered by the Sages and then brought back to the Akademiya. Since then, she had been locked inside the Sanctuary of Surasthana and had never come out again.
Today, her dream has come true!
Ye Xi stepped forward and took Nahida's hand, then raised it high, waving to the onlookers in the city.
In that instant, the people of Sumeru gathered on the streets erupted in cheers.
"The Knight of Flowers has returned with the Dendro Archon—!"
"Wait a minute! Look! The Knight of Flowers is actually Master Ye Xi!?"
"That's right, that's right! I didn't expect the Akademiya's arrangement to be so appropriate! No one is more suitable to be the Knight of Flowers than Master Ye Xi!"
"Indeed, not only did he rescue the Dendro Archon who was locked up by Azar for five hundred years, but he also helped us get rid of the Fatui Harbinger and defeated that huge machine!"
"The Knight of Flowers, Farris, must be Master Ye Xi!"
"..."
Actually, this strange outfit made Ye Xi feel very awkward. Especially the fluffy fake beard and the strange pointy hat.
But Dehya and Collei both said it looked particularly good, so Ye Xi accepted it.
The carriage began to tour Sumeru City, following the streets and heading towards the Grand Bazaar.
Amidst the noise of the crowd, many children were already lining up on the roadside.
"Farris! Farris! Farris!"
They jumped up and down in excitement, shouting the name of the Knight of Flowers in unison, and then reached out their hands towards Ye Xi on the float.
Ye Xi scattered the candies that Ayexia had prepared for him.
"I got Yalda Candy!"
"Farris, Farris, I want candy too!"
"Me too, me too!"
The float moved very slowly, and Ye Xi stuffed the candies directly into the children's hands.
Afterward, the children ran away happily.
While smiling and waving to the people on the street, Nahida whispered softly, "Thank you for helping me celebrate my birthday. I am so happy."
"You saved Sumeru as promised, and I will also keep my promise to offer my everything to you, and conceive new life for you."
"So, today is both my birthday and my wedding."
Ye Xi nodded upon hearing this and said, "Then enjoy today properly."
Actually, his main purpose in acting as this Knight of Flowers was naturally to show his face in public.
The things he did today could be said to be extremely eye-catching.
He rescued the god imprisoned for 500 years from the hands of the Akademiya.
He crushed the conspiracy of the Great Sage Azar.
He killed the Fatui Harbinger [The Doctor] who invaded Sumeru.
He defeated the product of the [God-Making Plan]—The God of Righteousness.
He had already shown his powerful side to the people; next was to show his approachable side, eliminating the sense of distance with the populace.
He wanted everyone to think that he was a person who was both easy to get along with and powerful.
Dressed as the Knight of Flowers, Farris, guarding Nahida's side—one didn't need to think to know that the people of Sumeru would definitely engrave the name [Ye Xi] in their memories.
Moreover, whether young or old, men or women, mentioning the name [Ye Xi] would generate impressions of power, wisdom, and approachability in their hearts.
In this way, his status in Sumeru would be as high as the Dendro Archon.
In the future, he would become a highly respected existence in Sumeru.
The facts were just as Ye Xi had predicted; now, the name [Ye Xi] was known to everyone in Sumeru.
At the entrance of the Akademiya.
Since Azar's death, the Akademiya was facing a reshuffle.
At this moment, Sage Nafis and several scholars were at a high point of the Akademiya, looking towards the flower carriage on Treasures Street.
The scholars had tears in their eyes, their hearts incredibly moved.
"Wonderful! This scene is truly too wonderful! I never thought I would be lucky enough to see this scene in my lifetime!"
"I have never seen the Dendro Archon before; finally, I have the chance to take a look from such a distance!"
"Greater Lord Rukkhadevata has been gone for five hundred years! The Dendro Archon also disappeared for five hundred years! Now Sumeru finally has a god to guide it! Sumeru will definitely get better and better!"
"I think we must keep Master Ye Xi here!"
"Right! Master Ye Xi's power is comparable to a god! If Master Ye Xi stays in Sumeru, we will possess two gods!"
"Guided by the Lesser Lord Kusanali who is full of wisdom, and protected by Master Ye Xi who is full of power! Sumeru will definitely become better!"
"We have finally reached a turning point! Sumeru is going to become strong and prosperous again!"
"The only nation in Teyvat with two gods! Just thinking about it is exciting!"
"...."
The scholars of the Akademiya were all thinking this way.
Grand Bazaar.
As Ye Xi and Nahida entered the gate of the Grand Bazaar together, a loud shout came from inside.
"The Dendro Archon and Master Ye Xi are here—!"
For a moment, the Grand Bazaar boiled over.
Nahida held Ye Xi's hand and walked step by step to the front of the stage of the Zubayr Theater, slowly taking a seat.
"Fellow citizens, I am the manager of the Zubayr Theater, Sheikh Zubayr."
"Thank you all very much for coming to the Zubayr Theater to celebrate the birthday of the great god of Sumeru—Lesser Lord Kusanali!"
"Next, please welcome our Star of Zubayr, Nilou, to present the Dance of the Flower God for the Dendro Archon!"
On stage, Sheikh Zubayr's face was glowing, and he was extremely excited inside.
He didn't expect the Grand Bazaar to have such a day!
To actually have a god come personally to watch!
This was simply a supreme honor!
Below the stage, cheers had long been incessant; everyone was standing on tiptoes, wanting to see Nahida and Ye Xi.
Just then, a beautiful young dancer appeared on the stage.
She wore a sea-blue dancing dress and skirt, with a beautiful black twin-horned headdress on her head, her posture just like the Goddess of Flowers from back then.
Her appearance shifted everyone's gaze entirely to the stage.
"Wow, that gem on her clothes is so beautiful!"
"I heard from the vendors in the Grand Bazaar that the gem was a gift from Master Ye Xi to Miss Nilou!"
"What!? A gift? That gem must cost quite a lot of Mora, right!?"
"Master Ye Xi has been generous for more than just a day or two!"
"If nothing else, Master Ye Xi really has an eye for things; that gem matches Miss Nilou too perfectly!"
"...."
The people below the stage discussed among themselves.
Meanwhile, Nilou was very nervous inside.
She had danced the Dance of the Flower God many, many times, but this was the first time she was dancing it directly for the Dendro Archon.
She was very worried about whether the Dendro Archon would dislike her dance.
Suddenly, she abruptly remembered something!
Since this dance was for Nahida, her gaze should naturally be on Nahida the whole time.
However, she didn't dare to look directly at the god at all.
Just being watched made her nervous, let alone making eye contact with a god!
If this went on, she might not be able to finish the entire dance at all!
If her body became too stiff in the middle due to nervousness, she would be done for!
Just as she was at a loss, she suddenly saw Ye Xi beside Nahida.
'That's right! I just need to look at Master Ye Xi!'
Thinking of this, she shifted her gaze to Ye Xi.
Sure enough, her heart instantly became less nervous!
She breathed a sigh of relief and said with a smile:
"Sorry to keep you waiting, everyone!"
"Let me present the Dance of the Flower God for the deity!"
As her voice fell, the music for the dance slowly began to play.
Following the rhythm of the music, Nilou began to dance.
That graceful figure made the audience below exclaim in admiration repeatedly.
"What a beautiful dance!"
"It is said that when the Goddess of Flowers celebrated the birthday of Greater Lord Rukkhadevata back then, she also danced this dance!"
"Hmph, that bastard Azar said before that art and dance were frivolous and empty things in Sumeru; that was simply an insult to art!"
"That's right, if Azar hadn't forbidden it back then, I would definitely have come to the theater every day to watch performances!"
"Good heavens, such a dance is just too beautiful!"
"...."
There were sounds of praise all around.
However, watching the dance, Ye Xi increasingly felt that Nilou was looking at him.
He remembered clearly that when Nilou dedicated a dance to someone, her gaze would meet that person's.
And at this moment, his feeling was exactly the same as the last time he watched Nilou dance!
That soft waist, those snow-white legs, and that gaze which was sometimes bold and sometimes shy—it was simply soul-capturing.
How was this a dance dedicated to the Dendro Archon? It was clearly dedicated to him!
'What is this girl thinking?'
Although somewhat surprised, Ye Xi was quickly captivated by Nilou's immersed dancing.
He could see the starlight of happiness and joy twinkling in Nilou's eyes.
Such an expression appeared even more beautiful and moving.
Yes.
Nilou felt incredibly happy right now.
After her nervousness disappeared, she slowly noticed the audience below the stage.
There were really, really many people!
She had participated in the Flower God's Birthday Festival more than once.
In her memory, in the beginning, there were quite a few spectators in the Grand Bazaar.
But later, people gradually stopped coming.
Year after year passed, until the last time, when there were almost only one or two spectators left in the Grand Bazaar, and the rest were vendors from the Grand Bazaar coming to show support.
The originally grand performance had become like admiring a flower alone, watched only by their own people.
Not long ago, the stage in the Grand Bazaar had broken, and the ceiling looked like it was about to fall down at any moment. At that time, she really thought that this year's Flower God's Birthday Festival would fail completely.
Unexpectedly, at this time, Ye Xi appeared so miraculously, simply like a savior!
He paid ten million Mora in one breath, donating it to the Grand Bazaar, giving everyone in the theater a livelihood guarantee all of a sudden, and repairing the theater.
Then, Ye Xi rescued the Lesser Lord Kusanali and saved the entirety of Sumeru.
All of this was like a dream!
Looking at the unprecedented lively scene below the stage, Nilou's heart was filled with happiness.
At this moment, Dunyarzad, Alusha, Dehya...
Ye Xi's wives were all watching the dance from not far away.
Even Alhaitham and Cyno were secretly guarding the order of the venue while appreciating the beautiful Dance of the Flower God.
Gradually, the dance came to an end.
Nilou slowly bowed towards Nahida.
Nahida smiled and clapped her small hands, praising, "Nilou, you danced beautifully. I liked it very much!"
"Actually, when I was grounded in the Sanctuary of Surasthana, I would also use the Void to attach myself to others and leave the Sanctuary of Surasthana."
"So, I also came to watch the previous Flower God's Birthday Festivals~"
"I haven't missed a single one of your Dances of the Flower God. I am very happy!"
"Eh—!?"
As soon as these words came out, Nilou's little mind went blank.
She thought Nahida was watching her dance for the first time!
Hearing Nahida say she had never been absent instantly made her feel incredibly moved inside.
Her dance had actually been recognized by the god!
And the Dendro Archon had been silently paying attention to her all along!
"Thank you for your liking, Lord Dendro Archon!"
At this time, the audience was also in an uproar.
"Did you hear that? Even the Dendro Archon praised Nilou!"
"So, the Dendro Archon also came to watch the Flower God's Birthday Festivals in the past!"
"I've decided! In the future, whenever the Zubayr Theater performs, I will never be absent!"
"Miss Nilou is too beautiful! I want to come watch Miss Nilou dance every day!"
"...."
Hearing the cheers from the floor, Zubayr backstage was so excited he almost cried.
Just because of Nahida's one sentence of praise, the Grand Bazaar would definitely be very lively in the future!
As long as the stream of customers was continuous, the theater and the vendors of the Grand Bazaar would get better and better!
He felt that they had finally made it through the hard times!
Ye Xi and Nahida stayed in the Grand Bazaar for a long time, celebrating the Flower God's Birthday Festival together with the people of Sumeru.
Amidst everyone's laughter and joy, the Flower God's Birthday Festival came to an end.
The sky gradually darkened.
The sun setting in the west dyed the clouds in the sky red.
Nahida sat on the flower carriage and, under the gaze of the Sumeru people, slowly drove towards her residence—the Sanctuary of Surasthana.
The noisy streets gradually returned to their daily calm.
.....
Night.
Ye Family Compound.
Dunyarzad was arranging fruits on a table while explaining: "This is called the Seven Fresh Table; it is a custom of the Flower God's Birthday Festival."
"There are Rukkhashava Mushrooms, Nilotpala Lotus, Sumeru Roses, Sunsettias..."
Dehya listened very seriously from the side.
On the other side, several girls were chatting secretly.
"Who is serving in bed tonight?"
"Me! I can't wait! Master was really strong today! So exciting!"
"But Alusha, you already served last time, right? It should be Collei's turn!"
"Eh!?"
Collei's small face turned red, her face full of shyness.
Ayexia said with a mischievous smile, "How about Collei and I go together tonight~ I haven't pinched Little Collei for a long time~"
"No, no! I've been lurking in the Akademiya for so long, I haven't been with Master Ye Xi for a long time!"
"Oh? Speaking of which, I haven't served together with Senior Setaria yet!"
Ayexia's gaze looked towards Setaria's chest, instantly scaring Setaria into hiding behind Alusha.
Just as the girls were arguing, a petite figure suddenly appeared in the courtyard.
Her appearance instantly attracted everyone present!
"Lord Dendro Archon!? Why have you come!"
"Didn't you return to the Sanctuary of Surasthana!?"
"Is there something you need from Master Ye Xi? Master is currently bathing!"
The person in the courtyard was none other than Nahida.
Seeing her appearance, the girls were all shocked.
Especially Dunyarzad; she had always wanted to see Nahida!
When she was little, she suffered greatly from Eleazar. If not for the Lesser Lord Kusanali, she might have already given up on herself!
Unfortunately, today Ye Xi was worried about her safety and made her stay at the Homayani home with Dehya and the others.
It was only just now, when the Flower God's Birthday Festival was held, that she caught a glimpse of Nahida from afar in the Grand Bazaar.
She didn't expect that just after returning home, they would meet at such close quarters!
Nahida smiled gently: "I am here to fulfill my agreement with Ye Xi. You can just call me Nahida in private."
"Agreement?!"
Ayexia at the side couldn't help but let out a cry of surprise: "Could it be that the agreement between the Dendro Archon and Master is..."
"Mmh, yes, so from now on, I am also a member of the group."
"Eh—!?"
Hearing Nahida's answer, the girls were instantly stunned, mouths agape!
"No way! You are a god!"
"My heavens, Master is actually adding the Dendro Archon to his harem!"
"Does this mean the Dendro Archon and I will be family from now on!?"
"So sudden!"
"That guy Ye Xi, he won't even let a god off!"
Dehya rubbed her forehead helplessly, sighed, and continued, "That guy really is amazing....."
Ayexia, on the other hand, felt heartache for her good friend Layla; it seemed Layla would have to wait a few more days!
________________________________________
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