High atop Yujing Terrace, inside the Moon-Sea Pavilion, a full Qixing council meeting was underway.
Ningguang sat at the head of the long table, posture regal and unmoving, while the rest of the Qixing took their seats in order along both sides. At the moment, they were passing around a sheet of paper.
Soon, everyone had finished reading—yet their reactions differed wildly.
Keqing's lips curved into a subtle, satisfied smile, her mood visibly lifted.
Uncle Tian remained calm and unreadable, as though the document had little to do with him.
But Kaiyang, Yaoguang, and the others looked grim, brows tightly furrowed under a shadow of dread.
Ningguang observed their expressions one by one, then spoke in a tone that brooked no dissent.
"This is the Geo Lord's command. Liyue will reform its predatory lending system. No one is permitted to oppose it."
The moment she finished, Keqing spoke up immediately.
"My recommendation is full abolition. High-interest lending must be eradicated, completely, before it destroys more lives."
Kaiyang shot back at once.
"High interest exists because the risk is high. Risk and return are always linked. If we abolish high-interest loans outright, we cripple a major economic function. That is reckless and shortsighted."
Keqing let out a cold laugh.
"Kaiyang, your chamber's biggest business is predatory lending. Your monthly rate is 'nine for thirteen'—worse than the Northland Bank's infamous blood-stained rates. Truly shameful."
"Y-you—!"
Kaiyang trembled with rage, unable to form a complete sentence.
Yaoguang hurried to defend him.
"High-interest lending is mutually consensual. No one forces anyone. It's a voluntary exchange."
Keqing's expression sharpened.
"Borrowing may be voluntary. But repaying?"
She leaned forward, voice icy.
"Half of them can't repay at all. And what do you do with them then?"
Yaoguang faltered instantly. She couldn't answer.
But Keqing wasn't finished.
"Men you send to the Chasm, to mine in darkness until their bodies break."
"Women with beauty you sell to the Pearl Galley."
"Women without beauty become servants—if they're lucky."
Her voice cracked like lightning across the chamber.
"As Qixing, we are meant to protect our people. Instead, you exploit them. What right do you have to speak of 'freedom'?"
Yaoguang flushed red with humiliation and fury. She shot to her feet.
"Yuheng! Don't pretend your chamber is clean!"
Keqing remained perfectly calm.
"Yesterday, I abolished all high-interest rates under my family's name. And the past ten years of interest revenue has already been refunded to the borrowers."
The room fell utterly silent.
Other than Ningguang—who remained impassive—the faces of every Qixing member contorted as though they had swallowed a handful of sand.
Keqing… was brutal.
Seeing the tension rise, Ningguang declared:
"The Jade Chamber will do the same. Interest forgiven. Past interest refunded. From today onward, the Jade Chamber will no longer engage in high-interest lending."
Kaiyang and the rest looked like grieving widows, but one by one they were forced to follow suit.
Only then did the meeting proceed more smoothly—until it reached the final issue: forcing the Northland Bank to hand over the murderer.
Uncle Tian and several others protested.
"Snezhnaya is too powerful. To offend them over an ordinary civilian is unwise. We must not endanger Liyue."
Keqing erupted again.
She battered their arguments mercilessly, like a storm pounding the coast, until five Qixing lowered their heads in shame, unable to meet her eyes.
No one had expected the traditionally reserved Keqing to be so fierce.
Thanks to her overwhelming pressure—and Ningguang's obvious support—a concrete plan was finalized by midday.
When the meeting adjourned and everyone dispersed, Ningguang personally stopped Keqing.
She genuinely admired Keqing's thunderous decisiveness and wanted a private conversation.
But she regretted it immediately.
Keqing began with no mercy:
"Tianquan, as head of the Qixing you should devote yourself to your duties—not drown yourself in profits all day long. The Ministry of Civil Affairs under you is absurdly inefficient, and its case-solving rate is abysmal."
Ningguang's expression stiffened.
She forced a polite smile.
"I understand. I will improve."
Keqing frowned, clearly dissatisfied—yet she held back. Compared to the others, Ningguang was still leagues ahead in competence.
Ningguang cleared her throat gently.
"Yuheng, why were you so… different today?"
Keqing sighed softly.
"I personally investigated the death of Lily. I saw her absurd, tragic life with my own eyes. The poor, their limited knowledge… they are always the easiest targets to exploit."
"I acted harshly today because I refuse to see such tragedies repeat on this land."
Ningguang fell silent.
She, too, had risen from nothing—once a barefoot girl selling wares on the streets, now Tianquan of Liyue. She had forgotten much of her past struggle.
But Keqing's words struck her deeply.
Ningguang inhaled slowly, then bowed deeply.
"Yuheng, your criticism is right. After we finish this reform, I will shift my focus back to governance."
Keqing nodded.
"I believe you'll guide Liyue toward a better future."
Ningguang stepped forward, gently taking Keqing's hand.
"Then come with me to pressure the Northland Bank—shall we?"
"Mm."
Keqing agreed instantly.
Together, the two walked straight to the Liyue branch of the Northland Bank.
The outcome was… immediate.
Snezhnaya might be powerful, but Liyue was only a step behind—and certainly not afraid.
The moment Ningguang suggested expelling the entire bank from Liyue, the branch manager collapsed to his knees, trembling, and ordered his men to bring forward the debt enforcer who had strangled Lily.
The Ministry of Civil Affairs soon arrested Flower and Jace as well, catching them during a leisurely stroll.
Even without proper evidence, under overwhelming political pressure—
Lily's justice was finally delivered.
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