After leaving the pocket realm, Ryou noticed Keqing practicing her sword in the courtyard. The moment she saw him, she stopped.
"Why'd you stop?" Ryou asked, looking her over.
"I'm only practicing because I have time right now," Keqing said. "Who knows if I'll even get the chance later. Oh—your mother invited me to spar with her again."
She shot him a look, the kind that clearly meant, I'll keep her company while I'm at it… and I'll do a little digging too.
Ryou, however, didn't seem to catch it at all.
Keqing stared at him for two seconds, then glared. "Let's eat."
"Sure," Ryou said, still looking confused about what he'd done wrong, and followed her toward the dining room.
Once they sat down, he noticed the table was filled with dishes. He tried one, nodded in approval, then picked up a piece and put it in Keqing's bowl.
"Try this."
"Mhm." Keqing ate, and the small gesture warmed her all the way through.
But after a while, something felt off.
Ryou barely touched his own food. He just kept feeding her, piece after piece.
Keqing put some food into his bowl. "Stop only serving me. You should eat too. You're making me feel awkward."
"What's there to be awkward about?" Ryou said with a grin. "Of course I spoil my wife. I'll eat after you're full."
"After I'm full…?" Keqing's face flushed even harder.
This guy's sweet talk really came in waves. If she didn't know him so well, she'd honestly start suspecting he was some smooth-talking scoundrel.
About half an hour later, Keqing set her chopsticks down.
"I'm basically done. You barely ate anything—are you not hungry?"
"How could I not be?" Ryou said. "Did you forget what I told you at the Ministry?"
He pulled her into his arms. "I'm waiting for you to be full. And then I'm eating the real delicacy."
"W-What…!" Keqing's cheeks turned blazing red as she pushed at him, weakly. "You're awful. It's not even dark yet!"
She should've known he had something in mind. She just realized it too late.
"D-Don't touch— I'll… I'll go take a bath first…" she mumbled, face burning.
"No rush." Ryou chuckled and held her tighter. "I'm taking you somewhere nice."
"Somewhere—? I don't—" Keqing started to refuse, but then the world around them shifted.
"Huh? W-Wait… what's happening?"
One moment she'd been at home, and the next—
A small building stood in the middle of an unfamiliar space. Trees had been planted around it, and to the left of the house was a hot spring, stonework stacked neatly to form a pool. Mist drifted over the area, wrapping everything in a warm haze.
Keqing's eyes lit up. "A hot spring!"
She'd once seen a natural hot spring at the foot of a mountain while traveling. The feeling had been so good she'd never forgotten it.
Places like that were rare within Liyue's borders. She hadn't expected Ryou to bring her to one.
For a moment, she was genuinely moved.
This man could be so bad sometimes… but he could also be so thoughtful.
Then she glanced to the side and spotted a small table with several outfits laid out on it.
The fabric was so minimal it barely counted as clothing. There were two sets in particular—one of them made her cheeks heat up just looking at it.
…Right.
She'd been moved too early.
Of course he didn't bring her here just to be nice.
…
Outside Keqing's residence.
"Is Keqing in?" Ningguang arrived with Baiwen.
"Ningguang-sama, please wait a moment," the butler said hurriedly as he opened the door. "I'll go inform Keqing-sama at once."
He rushed inside, but his expression quickly turned odd.
Because ever since Ryou and Keqing returned earlier, they hadn't gone out again.
So why couldn't he find them anywhere in the estate?
"What is it?" Ningguang asked, noticing his strange look.
She glanced at the night sky on instinct. It had gotten dark, sure… but it wasn't exactly that late.
It wasn't like the two of them would be… busy at this hour.
…Was she here at the wrong time?
"Ningguang-sama, it's strange," the butler admitted, scratching his head. "Keqing-sama and Ryou-sama returned and never went out again, but I've searched the entire residence. They're nowhere to be found."
"Hm?" Ningguang's eyes narrowed. "They vanished?"
She waved a hand. "It's fine. I'll wait here. You may go."
Not long ago, she'd spoken with Rex Lapis, and the conversation had left her with even more to think about.
Rex Lapis wanted her to release La Signora.
That alone was unexpected.
Even after she reported everything honestly, he still insisted the Rite of Descension proceed as planned.
By all logic, she should obey.
Yet something felt wrong.
She'd already set too many things in motion. Notices had been posted. Preparations were underway. If she changed course now, the backlash would only grow worse than it already was.
So she wanted to talk it over with Ryou.
Time slipped by—nearly two hours.
"Ningguang-sama," Baiwen said softly, glancing at the late hour, "should we return first?"
"No," Ningguang said, calmly blowing on her tea. "If I leave without a clear answer, I won't be able to rest. I'm waiting until they come back."
She lifted the cup. "I refuse to believe they'll stay away all night."
The instant the tea touched her lips, two figures appeared out of nowhere in the middle of the hall.
Ningguang froze.
Her cup hit the table with a dull clatter, tea splashing onto her clothes—yet she didn't even react.
What…?
For a moment, she honestly wondered if she was dreaming.
Ryou and Keqing were both dressed far too lightly.
Ryou's bare skin showed in all the wrong places, and his physique was—unfairly eye-catching.
But Keqing—
What was Keqing wearing?
It was downright shameless. The fabric was minimal, only barely covering what it absolutely had to. One wrong movement and everything would be on display.
And Keqing actually wore it?
Was this really the Keqing she knew?
"You—" Ningguang started.
"What do you mean, 'you'?" Ryou blurted, equally stunned. "Wait—why are you in my house?"
His first instinct was to tighten his hold on Keqing.
He could feel how hot she'd gone against him.
No question about it—she'd recognized Ningguang's voice, and now she was mortified.
"You two stay here," Ryou said quickly. "I'm going to the bedroom for a moment!"
He carried Keqing straight into the room.
…
Back in the bedroom.
"This is all your fault!" Keqing pounded his chest, face burning. "You insisted I wear that and bully me, and now Ningguang saw everything!"
She looked like she wanted to sink into the floor.
"Keqing," Ryou said softly, stroking her hair. "I'm sorry. Just rest in here, okay?"
As he soothed her, he activated the [Hand] special effect.
[System: Keqing gained the special effect — Calming Sleep!]
[Calming Sleep!]
[Effect: While asleep, recovery speed increases, and sleep quality improves!]
Ryou didn't expect it to work that well.
He kept gently calming her down. After everything he'd put her through earlier, her body finally gave in. Before she even realized it, she'd drifted off.
He carefully laid her on the bed, kissed her forehead, and whispered, "With Calming Sleep, you'll have a good dream. Rest well."
He pulled the blanket over her, put out the light, and quietly slipped out of the room.
…
Ryou changed into proper clothes and returned to the main hall, looking straight at Ningguang.
"Why are you at my place?"
"Ahem." Ningguang composed herself. "I came because I have something to discuss with you. Baiwen, go stand guard outside."
Baiwen left at once.
Only then did Ningguang lay everything out.
Ryou frowned.
So Zhongli had already been to the Ministry.
And Rex Lapis still wanted things to proceed according to the original plan.
Still… Ryou was surprised Ningguang hadn't simply followed Zhongli's instructions. Instead, she'd come to consult him.
Ningguang could tell what he was thinking.
"Even if I'm expected to follow Rex Lapis's arrangements, I still have my own judgment," she said. "The Ministry has already issued an official notice. If we reverse course now, the fallout will only expand."
She continued, steady and clear. "More importantly, I've already made extensive preparations. If we do it Rex Lapis's way, it's the same as throwing away everything we've set up so far."
She paused. "I'm hesitating. That's why I came to ask you."
Ryou had no intention of agreeing.
He'd worked too hard to find an excuse to postpone the Rite of Descension. He'd even arrested the Northland Bank staff. Letting them go now would be a total waste.
He took a slow sip of tea. "This is difficult. Rex Lapis has already set it in place. If we don't follow his will, what happens when the blame comes down?"
He lowered the cup. "But since things are already in motion, we can only deal with it as it comes."
Then he looked at her directly.
"When the time comes, you say you wanted to release them, but I refused. You say my father is backing me, and Keqing is backing me, so you couldn't override it."
"And the Rite of Descension is the same. Push as much of it onto me as you can."
Ryou leaned forward slightly. "Can you hold the line?"
"I… can," Ningguang said, though the word came with a sigh.
She'd always wanted Liyue to truly enter an era of human rule.
But at this point, standing against Rex Lapis still left her with no confidence at all.
Ningguang studied Ryou for a long time. Then, quietly, she nodded.
"Fine. I'll do as you say," she said. "Because I believe you can bring change to Liyue Harbor."
She met his eyes. "For you… I'm willing to offend Rex Lapis."
That made Ryou blink.
For a second, he didn't even know how to respond.
"For me?" he said, then coughed and forced a laugh. "Ningguang, that's a dangerous way to phrase it."
He tilted his head. "For me, you'll offend Rex Lapis… so for me, you'll offend the whole world? What's that supposed to mean—have you fallen for me?"
Ningguang's cheeks colored.
She'd always had feelings for him. She'd even regretted not bringing up marriage to his father back then.
And because she didn't, he ended up in Keqing's hands.
Then she remembered the way Keqing had taunted her before.
Keqing—didn't you say I had no man?
Fine.
Then I'll take your man.
The thought made something sharp and satisfied rise in her chest.
Ningguang's lips curved into a soft, alluring smile as she stared straight at him.
"Yes," she said. "I like you."
"Not only because you're gifted," she added, voice low, "but because I can see how much more you can become."
Her gaze flicked toward the hallway. "Keqing should be asleep by now."
She stepped closer. "It's late. You don't mind if I stay the night, do you?"
[End of chapter]
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