"Right—make at least three or four clean, proper rooms. This trip, the Captain has a very important person sailing with the Alcor to Inazuma."
Beidou finished barking orders at her crew, then glanced at the girl beside her—Sangonomiya Kokomi. They shared a look; Kokomi nodded in understanding.
Both were diary holders. Kokomi already knew Su Xuan planned to reach Inazuma aboard the Alcor. She'd wanted to visit Su at his residence, but since he might be busy preparing to leave Liyue, she decided to wait for him on the ship instead.
"For now, stay aboard and rest. I still need to head back to the Jade Chamber—there's something I have to discuss with Ningguang," Beidou said. "When Su decides to depart for Inazuma, I'll bring him up to the ship myself."
"I thank Captain Beidou on behalf of the people of Watatsumi," Kokomi said with a shallow bow.
"Heh, no need." Beidou waved it off. "They say at home you rely on parents, out in the world you rely on friends. I'm only giving you a ride; that's hardly a favor worth all that thanks. Besides, no matter how frightening the Raiden Shogun is, she'll think twice once she remembers you carry a diary. And as a ruling Archon, she's got no reason to massacre Watatsumi's people. Don't worry yourself sick—get some sleep and save your strength."
"Su wrote he'd come hear what happened in Inazuma from your own mouth, didn't he?"
With Kokomi settled, Beidou strode for Yujing Terrace—straight at the Jade Chamber.
She boarded to find Ningguang's three secretaries running themselves ragged.
"Bai Shi, what's all this?" Beidou stopped the woman and asked.
Bai Shi caught her breath. "Captain, it's you. We're making preparations at Lady Ningguang's orders. She wants a large suite cleaned and set by dusk." She hurried off before Beidou could ask more.
From snatches she'd overheard, Bai Shi suspected Ningguang intended to host a "mysterious guest" aboard the Jade Chamber. She'd once seen Yelan land by Star-Skiff, so she guessed this mystery person might be the very creator of those flying boats—and perhaps the one behind the Work Bureau that had sprung up overnight. In other words: the "immortal benefactor" Ningguang hinted had granted her a fated encounter.
But as Ningguang's secretary, Bai Shi kept her lips sealed. She would never spell it out for Beidou.
"Tch." Beidou snorted at Bai Shi's retreating back. "Fine, keep your secrets. Like mistress, like secretaries."
No matter. She'd come for one reason: to wring a Star-Skiff out of Ningguang.
At Ningguang's office door, Beidou's hand froze on the latch—voices drifted from inside, conveniently loud.
"You really think this is a good idea?" That was Yelan. "Rex Lapis and the adepti invited Su, and he refused. If you invite him now, won't you make them look bad? I mean, it'll look like you're stealing their thunder."
"This has nothing to do with the Lord of Geo or the adepti," Ningguang replied. "I've learned he's leaving. A farewell reception is only proper. And I intend to run a trial for his ideal—by turning it into a game, a competition—before we make it public."
Beidou frowned. What was the woman up to now?
"Besides, this is the era of human governance," Ningguang continued. "I dare say the Lord of Geo would rather see we establish a deeper bond with Su than watch the adepti ply him with courtesy."
Beidou mulled it over. True—when Morax first invited Su, he'd brought Barbatos along and personally went to Su's door. Clearly he understood Su's value. With Liyue now entrusted to mortals, he'd want the Qixing to build bridges.
If Ningguang could host Su before he left, Morax would hardly be offended—he'd be pleased.
Silence. Then Yelan again: "So, what's your plan?"
"I'm outfitting a Jade Chamber for Su alone—you can think of it as his personal Pearlshell Barge," Ningguang said, voice smooth as tea. "Gleaming halls, soft laughter, silk-sleeved songs—everything inside to his taste, to choose and play as he wishes… A place where crystal cups are charming and the moonlight is tender."
"This reception will be the pilot program. I've already decided who's invited: Lumine, Ganyu, Keqing, you, and me. Sadly, his departure is too sudden to summon Mondstadt's Acting Grand Master and the others. As for Cloud Retainer—she returned to her abode to discuss matters with her disciple; I won't force an adeptus. That's for Su to decide. Oh—and that Fatui Executive? She never left Liyue. I'll send her an invitation as well."
Beidou's eyes widened. A personal Pearlshell Barge—for Su?
She'd never boarded the real thing, but every sailor knew what it was: the most extravagant pleasure-barge on the continent, where only your imagination set the limits. A honeytrap for nobles and tycoons; a crossroad of information—normally. For diary holders like them, intel didn't enter into it. That left pure, uncut luxury.
Rumor had it the Pearlshell Barge made even the Jade Chamber look dull.
"Of course she'd dare," Beidou muttered, a shiver running down her spine. Polite in daylight, steel behind the fan—that was Ningguang.
"And one more thing," Ningguang added. "The Star-Skiff must enter the public eye sooner or later. I'll make it the prize for tonight's games. Whoever displays the strongest will under Su's eye—wins a skiff, and becomes its public face."
Beidou didn't wait. She pushed the door open.
Ningguang and Yelan snapped shut, calmly paging through documents as if nothing had happened.
"Drop the act," Beidou said, sweeping them both with a flat stare. "I heard your scheming. Speak—what kind of contest wins the Star-Skiff?"
She knew Ningguang wouldn't sell skiffs like cabbages. Production was limited; more importantly, Su didn't care about the Work Bureau—so Ningguang held the keys. Which meant she could crash her own market whenever she pleased. Why panic?
Beidou had come prepared to hound Ningguang to the ends of Liyue for a single skiff if she had to. If not a gift, then a sale; if not a sale, then a contract.
She hadn't expected the woman to dangle one as a prize.
"What contest? What skiff?" Ningguang glanced at Yelan. "Understand a word she's saying?"
Yelan turned her face, lips pressed thin, clearly fighting a laugh.
"Spare me." Beidou slammed her palms on the desk. "Tell me what I have to win."
Ningguang rested her chin on her hands, eyes half-lidded. "All right. There is such an event. But, Beidou, it doesn't suit you. That's why your name isn't on my guest list."
Beidou almost laughed. Didn't suit her? The woman had just said the winner would be the one who showed the strongest will in Su's hands. What proved will better than a duel? This smelled like the Crux Clash, and Beidou thrived on those.
She snorted. "Don't think I don't know you, Ningguang. Tianquan of the Qixing, keeper of law… people like me who don't dance to your tune are a constant headache, aren't we? You're trying to edge me out of the running."
Yelan kept her composure by sheer habit.
Ningguang gave Beidou a look. "Oh? So you are aware that smuggling is illegal."
"Don't start," Beidou said, chopping the air. "It's not like that began yesterday. I'm asking why I'm not invited."
She flipped her diary open; the gilded cover gleamed. "I'm a diary holder too. If you were running a dance-off, maybe I'd pass. But none of your names are dancers. If it's a battle of will after the banquet—do you really think I lose to any of them?"
"A woman who shuffles papers in an office has no idea what storms are like on the open sea. I've ridden out waves you couldn't imagine."
After a long back-and-forth, Ningguang sighed as if conceding. "Very well, Captain Beidou. You may attend—on one condition. Sign a contract. You will not, under any circumstance, crash the mood with your… spirited temperament. This banquet concerns Liyue's future."
Beidou understood the subtext. She wanted the prize, yes—but she knew exactly how important Su was to the world at large.
"I'm not brainless," she said. "I won't ruin Su's night."
"Good. But words aren't enough." Ningguang's gaze sharpened. "Liyue is the nation of commerce—and of contracts. We should put it in writing."
"You may join the banquet, but if you cause a collapse of the atmosphere at any point…" Ningguang's smile was soft and terrifying. "You forfeit the entire Crux Fleet."
Beidou stared. Of course—the woman who held the Work Bureau in one hand could afford to bare fangs. There'd been jobs in the past that Ningguang discreetly funneled to Beidou; their relationship—like Yelan's—was a dance of cooperation. But now, with factories that spun miracles out of blueprints, trying to "burn the bridge" on Ningguang would be a joke.
"All this for a banquet? Maybe I fail to take first—that's all. You, on the other hand, plan to swallow my fleet whole?" Beidou's lips quirked. "So sure I'll make a scene?"
"You underestimate me." She thrust out a hand. "Paper. Pen."
The contract was drafted and signed in crisp strokes.
"I'll be there," Beidou said at the door. "And you'll honor your end. If I win, I don't care about being the face of your skiff—but you'll hand me one, no strings."
She left without looking back.
Yelan exhaled a laugh. Ningguang finally let her shoulders drop. "That woman is trouble."
"Trouble that just took the bait," Yelan said. "Still—was it right, roping her in with half-truths?"
Ningguang's smile never reached her eyes. "Under the false sky, the fates of diary holders are prewritten. Sooner or later, she'd end up here. With her temper… even Su might struggle where to begin. He can't exactly use force to solve it, can he? Better I hand him a lever."
She tapped the signed contract. "And now, no matter what happens at the banquet, she has to see it through. Su only needs to move a little. Our brave Captain will behave."
"And you know as well as I do," Ningguang added, voice turning silken, "once a taboo door swings open… there's no closing it again."
Read 50 chapters ahead on P@treon -> patreon.com/lucarioTL