"Keqing, I've got your outfit ready. Let's go." Ryou pulled her close—and in his other hand, he was already holding a purple evening gown.
"I—" Keqing didn't even get the word out before Ryou wrapped an arm around her and vanished with her from the room.
This night was never going to be quiet.
[Ding! Keqing received an enhancement (random body part).]
Ryou froze. Keqing was already asleep, and he couldn't exactly start checking. Still, he suddenly felt his arm tighten—like it had gotten a little… fuller.
He glanced down.
Ryou's eyes lit up. This had to be at least a whole tier up—noticeably bigger, like it had gone up a full size.
He lowered his head, kissed Keqing on the forehead, and finally drifted off to sleep.
As the night deepened, the three of them slipped out together:
[Hand]
[Eyes]
[Ears]
[Eyes] noticed the Jade Chamber was still lit and immediately got excited.
[Eyes]: Someone in the Jade Chamber is still awake. Wanna go take a look?
[Hand]: Look at what? I don't even have eyes. I'm going out—there's a shop I want to hit.
[Ears]: I can hear people talking at Bubu Pharmacy. If we go now, we'll catch it. Careful—someone's coming this way from Yujing Terrace.
[Eyes]: Whoa—her again! Hide, hide!
…
A shadow flashed past. The figure slowed only long enough to sweep a glance around, then stopped at the steps.
Frowning, she muttered, "What is this…? This one felt that aura again.
That strange hand… Was this one mistaken? Hmph. Forget it. This one will go see Ganyu and Shenhe first."
The moment Cloud Retainer thought of those two, her temper flared. Ganyu was kind enough in every way, but she'd gotten herself tangled up in feelings—and somehow fell for a married man.
Then she actually came to Cloud Retainer's doorstep and asked her for advice!
And after Shenhe came down from the mountains, she did the same thing—also fell for a married man. If Cloud Retainer hadn't been worried enough to divine the truth, she would've been kept in the dark as well.
When she arrived at Ganyu's residence—
"Cloud Retainer…? Why are you in Liyue Harbor?" Ganyu blinked in surprise when she saw her. In her memory, Cloud Retainer rarely came down here.
"Hmph. If this one didn't come, something would go wrong. Shenhe—come out here!"
"Master!" Shenhe stepped forward.
This one told you to integrate into Liyue Harbor, and instead you set your sights on a married man. What am I supposed to say to you?
Ganyu already fell for Keqing's husband, and you… you too—" The more Cloud Retainer spoke, the angrier she got.
"Wait. Sensei said Ganyu fell for Keqing's husband?" Shenhe's eyes sharpened as she turned to Ganyu. "Ganyu, why didn't you tell me we like the same person?"
Ganyu flushed, her voice dropping to a mumble. "You didn't ask."
"You—You two are going to drive this one to an early grave!" Cloud Retainer sputtered. "You even fell for the same man!"
"Master, I know what I'm doing." Shenhe's tone was calm, almost matter-of-fact. "He's with Keqing right now, but once I find the right opening, I'll take him back to the mountain."
If he won't behave, I'll straighten him out for the righteous path while I'm at it!
"You—" Cloud Retainer went blank for a second.
He's already a married man, and you still want to snatch him away and hold a wedding ceremony? Do you want your teacher to lose face entirely?
"Cloud Retainer, please calm down." Ganyu hurried over and supported her.
"And you're no better," Cloud Retainer snapped, glaring at Ganyu. After a long moment, she let out a heavy sigh.
"Enough. If you both insist you have your own plans, then handle it yourselves."
Even this adeptus can't manage you two anymore.
Ganyu didn't dare press the subject. Instead, she forced a change of topic. "The Rite of Descension is supposed to begin tomorrow. Please stay and watch it."
"Watch what? The Rite's been postponed," Cloud Retainer said, shaking her head. "This one already met with Rex Lapis. He said certain plans have changed. As for when it'll be held… no one knows."
"Ah! Right." Ganyu scratched her head. "I nearly forgot."
"Ganyu," Cloud Retainer said sharply, "at this point, this one truly wonders if you've spent so long thinking about men that you've forgotten your duties entirely."
Ganyu went red.
"Tomorrow, I'll go down in human form and see him myself." Cloud Retainer narrowed her eyes. "I want to know what he's got that made the two of you fall for him."
Ganyu's face burned hotter. Ryou really was outstanding, but… wait—Cloud Retainer isn't going to end up liking him too, is she?
Shenhe nodded. "Master should meet him. If you can… help me take him back to Mt. Aocang."
She said it with the same seriousness as discussing the weather.
"After that, I won't leave the mountain again. And Master likes children, doesn't she? I'll have a whole bunch—enough for you to raise."
"Hm?" Cloud Retainer gave Shenhe a long look. "A… whole bunch is a bit much, isn't it? With your build, you probably could have quite a few, yes… Hm…"
"Cloud Retainer!" Ganyu blurted out, panicked, trying to snap her back to her senses.
"Ahem." Cloud Retainer coughed and straightened. "We will discuss that later. This one will decide when the time comes."
She didn't leave. Instead, she stayed.
…
The next morning.
Beidou brought a gift and arrived at Keqing's home.
"You're Captain Beidou, yes?" The butler didn't look surprised at all. "Ryou-sama already told us to expect you. Please wait in the hall for a moment."
As the tea was served, Beidou nodded. "Thanks. Are they still asleep?"
"Um… not yet," the butler said awkwardly. "Keqing-sama usually doesn't get up until the afternoon. Ryou-sama' normally an early riser, but he heads to the Ministry first thing—he's not going in today, though, so you may have to wait a little."
"I see." Beidou paused, then narrowed her eyes. "Wait—if that's true, doesn't that mean Keqing-san hasn't been to the Ministry for days?"
The butler cleared his throat. "Seven days."
Beidou wasn't exactly inexperienced, and she'd sailed enough seas to hear enough stories. One look at the man's expression told her plenty.
Seven days without showing up at the Ministry… Keqing had really been put through it.
Beidou couldn't help glancing at the image in her head of Ryou's lean frame. She hadn't expected him to be that capable. For a moment, she couldn't decide whether to feel sorry for Keqing—or envy her.
"If you need anything, just give the word," the butler said, then withdrew.
Beidou had assumed that since she'd mentioned visiting yesterday, they'd at least be up early.
Instead, she arrived at dawn… and waited until noon.
She'd been nursing tea all morning.
Just as she was about to say something, voices drifted closer from down the corridor.
"Keqing, I told you, didn't I? I'm only picking on you for your own good. Look how fast you're recovering now. Normally, you can't even get up this early."
Ryou's tone was shamelessly pleased.
"And haven't you noticed you've gotten a little… more dramatic, too?"
"Don't talk nonsense!" Keqing snapped, mortified. "What do you mean 'more dramatic'?!
"…Anyway, you're coming with me later to buy new clothes. Getting bigger is such a pain."
Nothing fits anymore.
"That's because I've been putting in the effort," Ryou said, smug as ever. "Hey—did you just hit me? Keep that up and tonight I'll—"
"Ryou, I won't! I won't!" Keqing caved instantly. "Tonight… not again, okay?
And that evening gown… I was so embarrassed I couldn't even let the servants wash it. It's all your fault! I told you to stop—over and over!"
…
Beidou sat in the hall in dead silence, her mind filling in a few extremely unwanted images.
That was… a lot of information in just a few lines.
An evening gown? Too embarrassed to let the staff wash it?
Aren't evening dresses for parties?
What exactly did you two do to an evening gown?
Are you really that wild?]
Before she could spiral any further, Ryou and Keqing appeared.
"Eh? Captain Beidou?" Keqing blinked, genuinely startled. "Why are you here? Is something wrong?"
…
Ryou saw Beidou and went stiff. He covered his forehead. "Oh no. I forgot you said you'd be visiting today…"
"Ah—!" Keqing jolted, suddenly realizing what Beidou had probably heard.
"I came at dawn and drank tea by myself all the way to noon," Beidou said, irritation creeping into her voice.
"Sorry," Ryou said with an awkward smile. "Work kept me held up."
"You…" Beidou exhaled. "Forget it. It's not a big deal. I came with a gift for the two of you."
She had a pretty good idea what they'd been doing, especially after that hallway conversation. And Keqing's slightly stiff posture wasn't exactly subtle either.
"Thank you," Keqing said, accepting it.
Ryou turned to the butler. "Have the kitchen prepare lunch. Captain Beidou, let's talk over a meal."
"Yes."
Understood!
The butler bowed and went to make arrangements.
Soon, the three of them sat down together.
"Keqing-san, you two really get along," Beidou said with a grin. "I used to think you'd just been pushed into a political marriage with some other clan."
"Hm!" Keqing laughed as she ate. "That's not exactly wrong. But I don't regret it. He's awful—really awful—but he treats me well."
"You're my wife. Who else am I supposed to spoil?" Ryou said, putting food in Keqing's bowl. Then he looked back at Beidou. "Captain Beidou, seriously—sorry for making you wait."
"It's fine." Beidou waved it off.
"But you and Keqing haven't been going to the Ministry of Civil Affairs at all," Beidou said, frowning. "Is that really okay?"
"Relax. They can handle it," Ryou said easily. "If they can't manage something that small, what good are they?
"Relax. Managing the Ministry doesn't mean you personally do every task," Ryou said. "You delegate, keep an eye on the big picture, and make sure nothing goes wrong. Work needs balance too—I'm not slacking. I'll deal with the paperwork later."
"If Ningguang heard you talking like that, she'd definitely lecture you," Beidou said, amused. "And from what I know, Keqing used to be unbelievably diligent. Now you're…"
She glanced at Keqing meaningfully.
Keqing's ears turned pink. "My husband can handle the important stuff. Taking a break isn't a big deal.
And he's not wrong. Work needs balance.
I worked nonstop for so long—resting a little is normal!"
Beidou's expression turned a little odd.
That didn't sound like Keqing at all. She used to be the type to say, "If I don't do it now, it'll be too late," and "You improve by doing it every single day." And now she was the one talking about taking it easy?
"Captain Beidou," Ryou said, neatly steering the conversation elsewhere, "how long are you staying in Liyue Harbor this time?"
"For a while," Beidou replied. "You're asking because you've got a suspicion, don't you?"
Ryou gave a small nod.
"What are you two talking about?" Keqing asked, baffled.
"The last time I came back to Liyue Harbor," Beidou said, "I felt the sea itself shift—like the currents were being churned up. It was coming from the direction of Guyun Stone Forest. I'm worried the old gods sealed down there are starting to stir again. And I saw damage out there too—one of the rock formations had been blown apart like something tore through it. Whatever's there, its presence is heavy. It's hanging over that whole area."
Guyun Stone Forest is seriously dangerous right now.
"I reported it to Ningguang straight away," Beidou went on. "She asked me to stay in the harbor and back her up.
Neither of us knows when it'll flare up, so for now, I'm not going anywhere."
"The gods under Guyun…" Keqing's expression hardened. "That's bad."
Those things were monsters—sealed away ages ago. If they were waking up now, they wouldn't be coming back quietly.
[End of chapter]
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