Faced with Ningguang's warm invitation, Su Xuan had no reason to refuse.
When he agreed to go to the Jade Chamber, Ningguang blinked, then lit up. "I'll lead the way—Su… Su Xuan, please."
"Just use my name," he said mildly. " 'Su Boss' is what Paimon and Lumine call me for fun."
"Understood." For someone long used to standing above the crowd, her mood felt oddly like those early days—humble, focused, hungry to learn.
"Then this way, Su Xuan…" She stepped half a pace behind and to his side, a proper host.
They boarded the Jade Chamber by a route only Ningguang could arrange.
"Lady Ningguang—" Her three confidantes, Baishi, Baiwen, and Baixiao, moved to ask about the Archon's "passing," but she raised a hand.
"Issue the order. Today, all personnel are to return to Liyue Harbor. No one returns to the Chamber until I say."
The trio traded looks—at such a critical moment, to clear the floating palace for a private guest? But Ningguang was not one to act without purpose.
"As you wish." They dispersed at once.
She led Su Xuan to her private office, slipped the lock with a quiet click, and smiled. "Now we won't be interrupted."
Tea—her best—was set before him. "It's an office, so I keep no wine. Please forgive the simplicity."
"No need," Su Xuan said. "I already had more than enough at Liuli Pavilion. Tea is perfect."
"And there's no need to be so tense," he added. "Say what you mean. Too much formality feels… unnatural."
Ningguang's lips curved. Considering who I'm facing… Even as Tianquan, she hadn't asked for anything in a very long time. Usually she bought it—or outmaneuvered it. None of that worked on him.
She would have to be—properly—humble.
She sat opposite, eyes clear. "You can guess why I came. I won't circle around it.
"I want you as the power behind me. With your strength—and your novelties—I intend to climb higher. In Liyue's Human Rule era, I will build beyond 'fame in Liyue.' I want neighboring nations to know my capability. If possible, I want my hands on the economic arteries of Teyvat."
Su Xuan set down his cup. "That's very you."
"And everything I have," she said without flinching, "is yours to command. I'll manage it for you."
She understood perfectly: if he wished to take, no one could hold. Better to be the steward of his will than a rival to it.
He chuckled. "So you'd be working yourself to the bone… for me?"
"If you chose to seize, none could guard," she answered evenly. "Better I manage it for you. Besides, I know you don't care for these enterprises, nor for 'power.' What I can truly give you is emotional value: in public, I shine as Tianquan Ningguang; in truth, I'm simply a tool at your call. You disdain grand projects—and yet you can command the high and mighty in the shadows. It's another form of status, isn't it?"
Su Xuan blinked. For someone famed as composed and elegant, she could… talk.
He sipped again, then said, "I know what you want: immortality to complete your life's work—and, more than anything, my Workshop."
He paused. "Only…"
That single word hauled her heart to her throat.
"Only, must we be so solemn?" he added dryly. "As you said, things I want—no one can keep from me. 'Status' means nothing to me. If anyone tries to press me with it, I might indulge them—or I might kill them. Simple."
"As for what you want—also simple. Lie down and let me explore."
Ningguang: "…"
Su Xuan: "…"
Silence. A faint flush rose on her cheeks.
"…So the reason Yelan received what she did…" she ventured.
He gave her a look. "Two people alone for a night—what do you think happened? Share our dreams?"
Good work, Yelan, Ningguang exhaled. The woman had obfuscated on purpose. Still… Ningguang's instincts said Su Xuan wasn't irresponsible. "Exploration" meant being taken in—kept. A terrifying man from beyond the world, and he chose you.
That was more than most could dream of.
"Seems Yelan wanted me to misplay," Ningguang murmured.
"Don't brood," Su Xuan said lightly. "Even if you resist, the 'worst' is I lock you up and educate you until the resistance wears off."
She almost laughed—because it was true. Killing was too easy for him; conquest was harder, and therefore more interesting.
He clapped softly, breaking her thoughts. "If you want what I can give, then wash up. The Jade Chamber is office, leisure, and residence. Once you're ready, we'll go to your—"
"No need," Ningguang said, a hand to her lips, voice trembling despite her resolve. "There's a better place."
Su Xuan paused. "Oh?"
"Here," she said, moving to the desk. "Since its birth, this has been where I rule the Jade Chamber. If we must begin, let it be here."
She pointed—not to the room at large, but to the desk facing the office door.
"In public, I am Tianquan, radiant and untouchable. In private, before you, I'm someone who knows how to submit."
Su Xuan stared. He'd thought Lisa was bold. Ningguang was… not far behind.
She straightened, a hint of apology in her eyes. "I have no experience. I only overheard staff chatter—something about 'a bit of edge makes it better.' I'm no Yelan, but this is the best I can think of to give you the best experience."
He lifted a hand. "Let's table the on-the-desk idea. I'm partial to… under the desk."
—
Dusk gathered over Liyue.
Elsewhere, Keqing, Lumine, and Paimon shadowed a Fatui squad.
"They're buying the Send-Off Rite supplies," Paimon whispered.
Keqing, of course, knew the name Tartaglia. They had staked out the Northland Bank and finally saw him return, issuing orders before his agents fanned out with procurement lists.
"It still cracks me up—the Fatui paying for Rex Lapis's funeral," Lumine muttered.
Keqing's face stayed tight. If they knew Tartaglia would release Osial, shouldn't they seize him now? It would break the test—but Osial was a god once sealed by Morax. Even if the end result would be victory with the Jade Chamber's sacrifice, what of the Thousand Rock soldiers who'd die on the way? What of civilians?
She sighed. "Better to remove him now than gamble with a god's 'what-ifs'."
Lumine and Paimon had no easy answer. Keqing wasn't wrong. The test might strengthen Liyue—but every life lost was a life lost.
"Even so," Lumine said quietly, "if you can't cross a hurdle like this, how does Liyue step into Human Rule? Besides—Osial isn't the real problem. Su Xuan is."
"Su Boss?" Keqing blinked.
"My boss who turns his employees into spoiled freeloaders," Lumine said proudly, hands on hips. "Don't think small. Use this moment to secure the future—the value he brings is far beyond fixing one crisis."
Keqing fell silent—then her eyes widened. "So that's why Ningguang went alone. She has… other goals."
Before Lumine could reply, both her diary and Keqing's fluttered open:
[After drinks with the old man and the poet, I went to the Jade Chamber at Ningguang's invitation.]
[First thing she did was clear everyone out—looked ready to die together with Osial if needed.]
[Before Osial surfaces, she gave me a masterclass in persuasion.]
[Somewhere between 'impressive' and 'I lost the thread,' I agreed to handle Osial.]
[Fine. I'll use Osial as a test stone for my sword.]
A collective, wordless "…?"
So, yes—her "silver tongue" had worked. And Liyue might just save a Jade Chamber today.
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