With their report delivered, the ruins investigation team's work was officially done.
"The information you've gathered is most valuable," Ningguang said with a gracious smile. "You've all worked hard. In addition to your agreed-upon commission, the Jade Chamber has prepared some small tokens of appreciation. I hope you won't find them beneath your notice."
Ji'an and Master Luban remained fairly calm, but the rest of the team couldn't hide their pleased surprise. A 'small gift' from Lady Ningguang was never actually small. Given her standing, even the slightest favor from her hands could set an ordinary person in Liyue Harbor up for life.
Watching their reactions, Ji'an couldn't help but admire Ningguang's skill with people. Calling it an 'additional reward'—she'd probably planned it from the start. Strictly speaking, it was likely part of the payment all along. But by splitting it, she made her people feel twice as appreciated. No wonder she'd risen from nothing to become the Tianquan of the Liyue Qixing, commanding a fortune few could fathom.
Ji'an shook his head. "The gifts won't be necessary, but there is something I'd like to ask the Jade Chamber for help with."
Ningguang's smile didn't waver. "Mr. Ji'an contributed significantly to this effort. If you need assistance, please speak freely. If it's within the Jade Chamber's means, how could we refuse?"
"It's not a major issue," Ji'an said, then explained his search for a specific ancient ruin. "I don't know much about the place. It could be hundreds, maybe even thousands of years old. But I'm certain it still exists, buried under permanent ice."
"Ruins under ice and snow... that's quite broad," Ningguang mused, shaking her head slightly. Ancient history wasn't her specialty. "There are countless such places across the continent. Snezhnaya alone has more than I could count."
She called out, "Baiwen!"
Baiwen stepped forward. "Lady Ningguang, are you thinking of that stranded scholar from Sumeru? To introduce him to Mr. Ji'an?"
Ningguang nodded. "Yes. Is he still in Liyue Harbor?"
"Per your instructions, we've provided Mr. Saimon with basic living support," Baiwen replied. "We also guided him to take up Liyue's history as a research topic. He doesn't seem inclined to leave anytime soon."
Listening, Ji'an quietly marveled. He'd heard rumors that Ningguang had a habit of 'collecting treasures'—investing minimally in people she found valuable, keeping them on hand for future use. It seemed the stories were true.
Ningguang smiled at Ji'an. "Mr. Saimon is a scholar from the Akademiya, specializing in ancient history. He should be able to help you."
"The Akademiya?" Ji'an asked. Another unfamiliar term.
Baiwen kindly explained, "The Akademiya is a scholarly institution in Sumeru, seen as a sanctuary for the learned—a hall of wisdom. Scholars who graduate from there travel the continent pursuing research. Mr. Saimon is one of them."
Ji'an nodded, feeling a flicker of hope that this scholar might hold the clue he needed.
With the main business wrapped up, Ji'an prepared to leave.
"Wait a moment, Mr. Ji'an."
Ningguang's voice stopped him.
Puzzled, he turned. "Is there something else, Lady Ningguang?"
Ningguang didn't answer right away. She simply looked at him, her expression unreadable. Ji'an began to feel slightly uneasy under her gaze before she finally offered a small smile and shook her head. "No, it's nothing. You may go."
"? " Scratching his head, Ji'an left the chamber, questions swirling in his mind.
Ningguang watched him leave. For reasons she couldn't quite articulate, she chose not to mention Shenhe. She was quiet for a moment before speaking again.
"Baiwen, what do you think of Ji'an as a person?"
Not quite following, Baiwen answered honestly based on what she'd seen. "Mr. Ji'an is very young, yet his skill in mechanics is extraordinary. Master Luban speaks highly of him. Given time, he'll undoubtedly become someone remarkable. I believe he's a talent worth cultivating."
"That's not what I meant," Ningguang said, shaking her head. "I mean as a man. How appealing do you find him to women?"
"...Huh?!" Baiwen was utterly stunned, completely unprepared for the question. Still, she didn't dare not answer. After a moment's thought, she replied carefully, "Mr. Ji'an is exceptionally handsome, with a gentle and cheerful nature, and remarkable abilities. In my opinion, for most women, he would be an ideal match."
"I see... You're probably right. A man like that certainly has his appeal." Ningguang smiled wryly and shook her head. "No wonder even someone like Shenhe isn't immune—her heart tied to him, even losing control of her inner turmoil because of him."
What she didn't say was that she'd asked because she herself felt nothing for Ji'an. Or rather, these days, she felt little toward most men. She couldn't fully understand Shenhe's feelings.
As she'd told Shenhe before, her heart had weathered too many storms to be what it was in her youth. Now, the wealth under her name was staggering—few in all of Teyvat could rival it. And a woman as charismatic and wealthy as herself never lacked for suitors: noble sons from Yujing Terrace, young tycoons, great sea captains... All were willing to go to great lengths for a chance at her smile. Yet Ningguang treated each with polite grace, keeping an elegant and proper distance.
What people didn't know was that Ningguang couldn't love anything 'finite,' nor did she wish to be bound by the 'finite.' What she loved most now was Mora, and second, this floating palace beneath her feet. Sometimes she wondered if she would ever, like in the operas, fall in love with someone more than anything else.
Her gaze grew distant as she remembered her girlhood—walking barefoot from Yaoguang Shoal to the southern docks just to survive, selling her wares through shame and pain... Back then, she still clung to a maiden's tender dreams, yearning for a noble gentleman on a white steed to come with the dawn, smiling gently, offering a hand to lift her from the dark, painful mire.
But that gentleman never came. Not until she'd pulled herself out by her own strength. And so, she no longer needed him.
Ningguang suddenly frowned slightly.
Come to think of it, how exactly had she climbed out of that mire to reach where she was now? That stretch of memory felt strangely blurred...
---
After leaving the Jade Chamber, Baiwen walked with Ji'an.
"Mr. Ji'an, Mr. Saimon isn't in the city at the moment. He's likely somewhere in one of the many ruins of Liyue, deep in his research," Baiwen said with a polite smile. "I'll have someone wait at his residence. As soon as he returns, we'll arrange a meeting. It should be within the next few days. Is that acceptable?"
"That's perfect. Thank you, Miss Baiwen."
Since he couldn't meet the scholar right away, Ji'an decided to go somewhere else first.
That's right—he needed to find Zhongli. How had the old fellow gotten that scale fragment? And why had he given it to Ji'an so mysteriously, asking him to pay respects to some departed friend? The fragment was useless after the simulation; Ji'an had buried it in the rocks somewhere. But the whole thing was full of unanswered questions. He was determined to get some answers this time.
However, after making the rounds through Liyue Harbor—checking the usual storytelling spots, Heyu Tea House, Wangsheng Funeral Parlor, and all the other places Zhongli frequented—Ji'an found no sign of him.
Baffled, he asked around and finally learned from a neighbor that Zhongli seemed to have business elsewhere and had left Liyue Harbor for a while.
-------
A/n: New content and Story posted on my patreon go check it out!
patreon.com/deadlygoober