On a pitch-black, stormy night, the Jade Chamber gleamed brilliantly.
Ningguang wore a gray long robe over her golden qipao-wrapped figure. She hadn't tied up her hair; her white tresses cascaded like a waterfall down her back, reaching her waist.
"Have some tea."
Seated behind a long table, she lifted her slender wrist slightly and set a cup of tea before Ken.
The fragrance of tea mingled with the scent of flowers and the damp smell of rain from outside, giving the room a peculiar freshness.
"Calling me over this late—what's the matter?"
Ken took a sip and looked at Ningguang across from him.
The Tianquan who stood above all of Liyue now appeared gentle, almost like an ordinary woman.
Only the shrewd light flickering in her eyes could not be ignored.
"I finished reading the books you brought from Blue Star over the past two days. I was inspired, but because the models differ, I want you to clear up some doubts for me."
Ningguang spoke frankly. In front of a smart person, it was better to be direct than to beat around the bush. She roughly laid out her plan to deal with the Northland Bank and asked Ken to point out right and wrong.
Under normal circumstances, with Ningguang's business mind, the decisions she made would not allow others to interfere.
Even the scraps of paper left over from her major decisions were feverishly sought after by the merchants of Liyue Harbor; even a few characters on a torn fragment could set Liyue's business world ablaze.
A storyteller once said:
Fluttering and drifting, as though snowy dust falling from the clouds.
Dense and sparse, each character priceless as a rare treasure.
With a single thought, one can swallow rivers and mountains.
All under heaven know Tianquan is supreme.
For someone with such an exceptional business mind, it truly was the first time Ningguang discussed matters like this with someone outside the Qixing.
Of course.
The main reason wasn't that Ningguang trusted Ken. Though she favored him, as Liyue's foremost businesswoman her thoughts were as deep as the sea; she wouldn't let personal feelings alter key decisions or cause her to leak trade secrets.
She asked Ken purely because she had learned this plan from the books he gave her.
But Liyue wasn't Blue Star; many systems were different. Though she had a sense of direction, she couldn't be sure it was fully sound.
Implementing the plan would cost a lot of Mora. She didn't want a pointless "experiment." Since the books were Ken's, he could likely see through her plan at a glance. In that case, better to sit down with this great "prophet" who knew both Blue Star and Teyvat, and refine her thinking.
"Your idea is solid. Snezhnaya's foothold ultimately relies on trade between the two nations. As long as Liyue Bank opens in Snezhnaya, it can naturally stand toe-to-toe with them."
Ken wasn't surprised by Ningguang's plan.
In fact, her thinking wasn't complicated: establish Liyue Bank in Liyue, but instead of squeezing other Liyue money houses, she would cooperate with them.
Turn the other money houses into part of "Liyue Bank."
That way, no matter which Liyue Bank one deposited Mora in, one could withdraw at any Liyue Bank within Liyue's borders.
Interest would vary depending on deposit duration.
Most importantly, each deposit would come with a gift; the larger the deposit, the better the gift.
While this model was common on Blue Star, Teyvat was different. People thought differently. To absorb and transform this into a "marketing model" so quickly was already quite astute.
She had even thought of a public-opinion offensive—on Blue Star she'd be a top-tier online marketing operator.
Regarding opening banks in other nations, Ken asked instinctively, "You never had this idea before?"
"I did." Ningguang tapped the table lightly with her finger, thoughtful. "But considering manpower and resources, and the many inconveniences in communication, I could never find a workable model."
That was the truth.
To establish itself, the Northland Bank spent far more than money. In an age of distant mountains, long roads, and no telephones, the Fatui burned enormous manpower ferrying messages between nations.
Sometimes, deposit slips issued by Northland Bank were forged by desperate people trying to get rich quick.
But for the Fatui, once they discovered a fake receipt, they would simply send people to eliminate the impostor and seize their property to recoup losses.
Liyue's Millelith naturally could not do such things.
Conversely, if they didn't, even if they caught the impostors, they probably wouldn't recover the funds; harsh punishment still wouldn't make up the loss.
Too many incidents like that are bad business.
Northland Bank didn't care for two reasons: first, they used any means necessary to achieve their ends and had ways to recoup losses; second, their purpose in opening banks wasn't profit.
They wanted to control the people's funds in Liyue Harbor, using the bank as a base—turning it into the Fatui's stronghold.
So they didn't weigh manpower and resources heavily.
But Ningguang was different; she was a thorough businesswoman and had to consider costs.
"If only Teyvat had Blue Star's internet."
She sighed softly. "That would solve many problems. Unfortunately, Teyvat currently lacks such conveniences, so I can only choose more traditional methods."
"On bank deposit slips, I'll add information that can't be forged, so if someone makes a fake certificate, it can be recognized on the spot."
As for what that unforgeable information was, Ningguang didn't say.
Ken didn't ask—that was a major trade secret.
Still, Ningguang's lament was on point.
If this were Blue Star, anyone daring to fudge a passbook would have their entire background exposed in minutes.
With that thought, Ken continued, "From what I see, your approach has no problem, but implementing it won't be easy. Still, given your resources, it shouldn't be too hard."
"If you say so, then it must be feasible." Ningguang mused. "It's just that I still lack a good pretext for the public-opinion battle… Attacking only the Fatui's reputation won't have much effect."
Everyone knew what kind of people the Fatui were.
If that mattered so much to the public, Northland Bank wouldn't be thriving.
"Northland Bank's security is poor. Money goes missing every day—likely due to break-ins." Ken said lightly. "People deposit in banks because they think it's safe. If the bank loses large sums daily… I don't need to spell it out."
Ningguang's eyes lit up. "Poor security… break-ins… How do you know this?"
From what she knew, Ken wouldn't spread baseless rumors.
If he proposed this angle, it likely had merit.
"Is it so hard for me to find out?" Ken countered casually. "If you can get bank employees to confirm it, even better. The Harbingers may be united, but that doesn't mean all Fatui are unassailable."
It takes all kinds to make a forest.
With Ningguang's methods, buying off low-level Fatui inside the bank would be quite simple.
Ningguang's beautiful eyes flowed as she studied him. "This missing money at Northland Bank—don't tell me it was you…"
"Stop. If I wanted Mora, wouldn't your Golden House be more cost-effective?" Ken said, speechless.
Though he had indeed done it, he absolutely couldn't admit it.
Ahem.
A man needs his pride.
"Hehehe…" Ningguang covered her lips and laughed softly. "Whatever the case, your information is a great help. To thank you… why not stay the night in the Jade Chamber?"
"If you're really sincere, wait until your endeavor succeeds and repay me with yourself." Ken didn't believe a word.
If this woman were that easy to win over, would it be his turn?
Her words seemed flirtatious, but she was just using them to invisibly draw them closer.
Even if he agreed to stay, Ningguang wouldn't accompany him.
"Sometimes being too smart makes you miss out on a lot of fun." Ningguang lifted her teacup and teased with a smile.
"With you, it's safer to be smart—otherwise who knows when I'd fall into a trap." Ken had never underestimated Ningguang.
To do business to such heights, she was the very model of versatility. Children and adults alike spoke highly of her, but few knew her true thoughts.
After finishing his tea, Ken rose to leave.
Just as he reached the door, noise sounded from outside.
…
Outside the Jade Chamber.
In the spacious, elegant courtyard, flowers and grass were flattened under the pouring rain.
Keqing stood at the door, her little face taut, frowning at the two secretaries. "Why won't you let me in? What is Ningguang doing inside? I need to ask her why she froze that plot of land in Liyue Harbor."
As the Yuheng who managed Liyue's land, Keqing had been busy with a new development area in the harbor. She intended to turn that plot into a new residential district.
But Ningguang suddenly put it on hold without notifying her beforehand. Annoyed, Keqing braved the rain to confront her, only to be blocked by two secretaries.
"Lady Yuheng, Lady Ningguang is receiving an honored guest inside. She ordered that no one be disturbed."
Baiwen, seeing the imposing Lady Yuheng, couldn't help muttering inwardly.
The more they didn't want Yuheng to come, the more she came.
Everyone knew the rumors about Lady Yuheng and Mr. Ken. If she saw Mr. Ken with Lady Ningguang in the middle of the night, who knew what she'd think?
Of course.
As Ningguang's secretaries, Keqing's feelings weren't their concern. They served Ningguang; naturally they'd align with her.
Their lady finally showed signs of romance—this mustn't be interrupted.
"Who could she be seeing at midnight?"
Annoyance flashed in Keqing's pink eyes. It was already the dead of night—Ningguang was still entertaining guests?
Baiwen smiled. "Isn't Lady Yuheng also still busy late at night? So is Lady Ningguang."
"In that case, I'll wait here." Keqing knew her limits. Though angry, she wouldn't force her way in and simply chose to wait.
Baiwen and Baishi exchanged awkward looks. Lady Yuheng was not easy to dismiss… It was so late; couldn't this wait until tomorrow?
The two secretaries stood by in silence.
The atmosphere suddenly turned awkward.
Just then, a delicate voice drifted from within the Jade Chamber: "Ken… wait…"
Even the storm couldn't drown out that soft, sultry tone.
Keqing: "???"
As a Vision holder, Keqing naturally caught the sound clearly.
Though she had no experience in matters of love, that didn't mean she didn't understand.
Hearing Ningguang's voice, Keqing froze briefly, then realized what was happening inside.
An "honored guest"… Could Ken be Ningguang's guest? Ningguang refused to see her because she was… inside… doing that with Ken?
Keqing's delicate body trembled. Her pale cheeks flushed scarlet. A nameless anger and agitation surged up, turning into a sour displeasure. She glared at the brilliantly lit Jade Chamber, clenched her teeth, and turned to leave.
How hateful!
Ken and Ningguang weren't even close—how did their relationship progress so quickly? Could it be, as Ningguang had said, she was going to seduce Ken?
Keqing's heart was in turmoil. Ningguang's words from before flashed through her mind.
Thinking of Ningguang's past words, then recalling that extremely suggestive cry, Keqing ground her teeth the more she thought about it, her inexplicable resentment finding no outlet. She hadn't expected Ningguang to be so shameless—to actually… actually do such a thing!
Keqing's chest heaved with anger, her face scrunching like a peeved kitten.
…
Inside the Jade Chamber.
Ken turned back and looked at Ningguang, speechless. "Are you alright?"
He had just been about to leave when he heard Keqing's voice outside.
Before he could make sense of it, Ningguang suddenly pitched her voice and cried out.
Staring at this elegant woman with such a mischievous streak, Ken could scarcely believe Ningguang would do something like that.
"Hehehe…" Ningguang covered her lips and laughed. "I think our Lady Yuheng is too reserved. I gave things between you two a little push. You'd better thank me later."