[Can I settle in Liyue in the future?]
Columbia looked at the question, pondering for a moment, and gently nudged Achen.
"Achen, how do you want to answer this?"
"Whatever you think is best."
"I want to see all of Teyvat." Yelan suggested next.
"You can write 'provisional' for that one."
"Oh, okay."
After tentatively writing two words, she looked at the next line of questions.
[How do you view the great god of Liyue, Rex Lapis?]
Columbia looked at Achen again. In her eyes, this ruling god of Liyue…
Seemed to like retiring and slacking off.
Drinking tea, listening to stories, watching plays.
Achen also said he had a fake death and retirement plan. But Yelan said this was about my and Achen's wedding form, so it had to be serious.
Writing about Rex Lapis's retirement didn't seem right either.
Columbia handed the pen and form to Achen.
"Achen, why don't you write something?"
"Oh?"
Achen took the pen and the form, and roughly wrote down eighteen characters.
[Embracing all, contracts established, encompassing all directions, enjoying longevity]
"Hmm?! As expected of my Achen!! Your take on Rex Lapis is very concise."
Yelan was very in favor of the first twelve characters, but wasn't Rex Lapis already gone?! How could he be enjoying longevity?
Yelan pointed at the four characters "enjoying longevity" with a face full of confusion.
"Achen, Rex Lapis, how could he be enjoying longevity?! Could it be that at the Rite of Descension he was actually..."
Achen shook his head lightly.
Yelan didn't press the matter further.
"There are a few more, please continue to fill them out."
"Okay."
Columbia leaned over beside Achen, looking at the next question.
[Among the noble merchants of Liyue, there have always been some special rituals, such as one husband… If you wish to acknowledge it, please pay a fine of thirty million Mora. Below are the signatures of Tianquan and Yuheng, who are willing to pay the fine for both of you.]
Columbia was slightly stunned, and looked towards Achen.
"Achen, they've shown their true colors!"
"Huh?!"
Achen quickly wrote down the three words 'Not admitting it.'
Yelan sighed softly.
"Sigh, it seems those two's plans have completely failed."
Columbia pouted, saying with a bit of anger.
"I can get everything myself, so why share?! Right!! Achen!!"
Achen hastily nodded, he didn't want to be like Chen Shimei.
Columbia snatched the form.
"Yelan, go back and tell Ningguang and Keqing.
A lost cause is a lost cause. This world doesn't offer many chances for you to make amends, to be redeemed!!"
Yelan nodded helplessly, taking the completed form from Columbia.
Sigh, why is this lady taking her anger out on me?! I'm just running errands.
She vanished quickly into the night.
Achen, with a still slightly angry Columbia, returned to the Immortal Mansion to rest.
Columbia sat on the Ice Jade Immortal Chair, murmuring a complaint.
"Achen, we're already like this, yet they still won't give up?!
They even put aside their faces as the Seven Stars, saying they want to do that～, such unbelievable words, it truly makes me disbelieve it!!"
Achen, while making tea for Columbia, comforted her.
"Aya, don't worry, no matter what, I'll stand by your side. I won't have any ulterior motives."
As Yelan descended the mountain, she saw the trees around her cut down by lightning. She followed the traces and found Keqing.
At this moment, Keqing, holding The Black Sword, was continuously unleashing Celestial Parade.
The anger and lightning in her eyes were mixed with a terrifying overload reaction.
Yelan asked calmly.
"Yuheng, are you, are you alright?!"
Keqing put down her sword, calming herself slightly.
"Did they sign it?!"
"Well, how should I put it, they still didn't sign on the last question."
"Heh, I knew it. It's come to this. That Ningguang, she still comes up with such boring, bad ideas.
Let's go back to the Moonlight Pavilion first, and let Ningguang see as well."
"Okay."
...
After more than an hour, Ningguang clutched the document in her hand, the final "disagree" line practically burning her eyes.
She frowned slightly, the helplessness on her face becoming more apparent, and then she looked at the ceiling, defeated.
She muttered to herself.
"Even in this situation, Columbia won't budge?!"
Keqing let out a cold snort.
"Ningguang, isn't that to be expected? If I could have everything to myself, why would I share it?!
She's the butcher, and we're not even the fish on the chopping block."
"Because we have no interests that would make Columbia and Achen even glance at us."
"Sigh, Keqing, even if Columbia agrees, would Achen agree? He's not that kind of man."
Keqing fell silent for a moment, recalling Columbia's current situation.
"I don't know, I know nothing. Ningguang, give up, hand this form over to the General Affairs Department.
Let the General Affairs Department approve it, and then issue them a marriage certificate."
Ningguang clenched her teeth, the priceless pearls in her hand instantly crushed by her.
She spoke with the same madness as Yae Miko.
"Keqing, I'm still not reconciled, not at all reconciled, at the very least, a child hasn't been born yet."
"We… we should still have a chance, right, right, we still have a chance!"
Keqing sighed, arms crossed.
"Ningguang, the person Achen confessed to in the end, was it you?!"
"Yes."
"In other words, the one among us who ultimately failed to seize the opportunity… was also you, wasn't it?!"
Ningguang closed her eyes and nodded silently.
"Did you think there would be a day like this when you rejected Achen? Ningguang."
"I never anticipated such a day."
Just a casual glance back, and nothing remained. Only endless regret. Keqing, what about you?!"
"Me?! Aside from being filled with regret, and spending time with Achen in my dreams...
Nothing's left. Everything has turned into the smoke and clouds of the past, completely gone."
Ningguang, overcome with sorrow, smiled faintly as she spoke to Keqing.
"Sigh, Keqing, you turned your sorrow into strength recently.
You directly completed the entire ten-year plan for Liyue's future, didn't you?!"
"Huh?! What's wrong?"
"Those subordinates are really miserable. Many were forced to resign, and Ganyu suffered along with you."
"Ningguang, what are you trying to say?!"
"Hmm?! Nothing much, really. Let's just say we're not only colleagues, but also pitiful people with similar situations."
"You mean, the circumstances between the two of us are not so different."
"Indeed."
"Sigh, Ningguang, let me give you one last piece of advice. Don't try to force your way into their lives.
Learn to let go, learn to move on. You're a woman who understands reason."
...........
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(End of Chapter)