"Stop it…"
Keqing clung to Ryou, heat rushing up her cheeks. Even her voice came out softer than usual, carrying a hint of spoiled sweetness.
"I'm just telling the truth." Ryou let out a quiet chuckle and wrapped an arm around her waist. "My wife's beautiful—am I not allowed to say it?"
With Keqing in his arms, he headed toward Feiyun Slope.
On the way, Ryou thought about how—after settling things with Zhongli—he'd bought a whole pile of stone and soil. Tonight, he planned to put them to use: build a hot spring area inside his inner world. Then, whenever he had time, he could take Keqing there.
"Oh? And here I was thinking—who could it be? Isn't this our Yuheng, Keqing?"
Ningguang stepped out of the Ministry of Civil Affairs, and happened to catch Ryou and Keqing walking by.
"Ningguang!"
Keqing's steps faltered for half a beat. She shot Ningguang a look—and her ears went red. After all, she hadn't shown her face at the Ministry for nearly three days.
Ryou, meanwhile, was a little surprised to see both Ningguang and Uncle Tian here.
As for Uncle Tian, Ryou always had a decent impression of him. He'd even visited Uncle Tian's home with his father before. Uncle Tian's daughter, Huixin, was gentle—and pretty. Back then, Uncle Tian had even floated the idea of marriage, hoping Ryou would become his son-in-law. Ryou hadn't agreed.
He'd married Keqing instead.
[Uncle Tian!]
[Status: Chronic Poisoning!]
A line of text suddenly appeared in front of Uncle Tian.
Ryou's gaze tightened.
In his memory, Uncle Tian had been poisoned—but that was after the battle against the god, when someone resorted to poison just to seize a seat among the Liyue Qixing.
He hadn't expected it to happen ahead of time.
Uncle Tian and his father were close. By every measure, Uncle Tian counted as an elder to him.
Ryou couldn't pretend he hadn't seen it.
"Uncle Tian." Ryou stepped forward.
"Uncle Tian," Keqing echoed.
Uncle Tian looked them over, eyes crinkling. "Mm. You two really are close. And you, kid—you're something else. I heard plenty about you in the Ministry just now. You gave me quite the surprise." He paused, then waved it off. "Forget it. Not the place for that. You young people chat—I'll be heading back."
He'd been about to bring up the matter of Ryou refusing to take a position among the Liyue Qixing, but this was the street. Some things weren't meant for public ears.
"Uncle Tian, wait." Ryou moved to block his path. "There's something I need to tell you."
"Oh?" Uncle Tian turned to him. "What is it?"
"Let's talk inside the Ministry. It's important." Ryou glanced at Ningguang. "You too, Ningguang."
"Alright." Ningguang didn't press, and followed them in.
Back in Keqing's office, Ryou guided her down into her chair.
Keqing hadn't expected to end up here today of all days, and the way he carefully settled her only made it look worse—like she'd been injured.
When she caught Uncle Tian and Ningguang's eyes flicking over, she nearly sank into the chair, cheeks burning all over again.
"Uncle Tian," Ryou said evenly, "you and my father are old friends. You're an elder to me as well."
"That's right." Uncle Tian nodded. "I've always treated you like my own. Smart, capable… honestly, I should've pushed harder back then. If I'd had the nerve to talk your father's ear off, maybe you would've married Huixin and become my son-in-law." He sighed, then glanced at Keqing and cleared his throat. "Instead, Keqing got the bargain. Ahem—Keqing, I'm not saying it like that. Just… nostalgia talking."
"It's fine." Keqing shook her head.
She hadn't known there was anything like that in the past. If Ryou had agreed to marry Huixin back then… wouldn't that mean she would've missed him entirely?
The thought left a bright, quiet warmth in her chest.
Meeting Ryou really was her luck.
Maybe it was fate, too—pulling them together.
…Mm. That's nice.
Catching the sweet curve of Keqing's smile, Ningguang felt something twist in her chest—something that looked a lot like envy. Then Keqing glanced her way, and Ningguang immediately smoothed her expression flat.
If Keqing noticed anything, she'd definitely fire off something sharp enough to sting.
"I heard from my father," Ryou continued, "that you've been considering retirement, Uncle Tian—and that you even hoped I'd take over."
He held Uncle Tian's gaze, voice turning more serious.
"But in my memory, you've always been in good health. The last time I saw you, you were still doing great. For problems to show up this fast—something's off."
Ryou spoke carefully, each word deliberate.
"I know a bit of medicine. I can tell you've been poisoned—slow-acting, chronic. And it's been in your system for a while."
The instant those words landed, everyone in the office went still.
Chronic poison.
Poisoned.
This wasn't random. Someone was targeting the Liyue Qixing.
[End of chapter]
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