Thanks for Exalted, Gallerhad and Michael Thunder for becoming as Supporters!
===BREAK===
Inside Ningguang's bedroom, faint light from the horizon filtered through the window lattice, lending the room a hazy glow.
Ningguang lay asleep on her exquisite bed, dressed in a soft silk nightgown. Her breathing was steady and deep.
At this moment, Baishi approached the bedside almost without making a sound.
Though she hated to disturb Ningguang's rest, Shao Yun had pressed her urgently, so she spoke in a low but anxious voice. "Lady Ningguang, I'm terribly sorry to interrupt your rest, but there's an urgent matter that requires your attention."
Ningguang frowned slightly. With a tired motion, she raised an arm pale as polished jade and gently pinched the bridge of her nose, asking drowsily, "What is it?"
There was a hint of tension in Baishi's voice as she reminded her, "Mr. Shao Yun has arrived. He's waiting by your desk right now, and he said that if you don't get up soon, he'll leave."
Ningguang didn't seem fully awake yet and repeated absentmindedly, "Oh… Shao Yun is here…"
Two seconds later, she snapped fully alert. Her eyes flew open as she shouted, all sleep gone, "WAIT—who did you say came?!"
Seeing her reaction, Baishi quickly repeated, "It's Mr. Shao Yun, Lady Ningguang."
Waiting day after day, night after night—Ningguang had finally gotten what she'd been hoping for. Shao Yun was here at last.
"I'll go see him immediately!" she exclaimed.
Before Baishi could respond, Ningguang had already leapt out of bed, flung aside the covers, and rushed forward without even putting on her shoes.
She wore nothing but a loose nightgown, her hair unbound and draped over her shoulders. Barefoot on the cold floor, she was about to dash straight out of the bedroom to greet Shao Yun.
Baishi hurriedly stepped in front of her, flustered as she pleaded, "Please wait, Lady Ningguang! You should bathe and change first—wash your hands and burn incense! Going out like this is really not appropriate…"
Ningguang lowered her head slightly, carefully examining the nightgown she was wearing.
Then she lifted a hand and gently brushed her fingers through her slightly messy, uncombed hair.
After a moment of calm reflection, she nodded slowly. "You're right. Meeting him in such a disheveled state really wouldn't do."
No sooner had she finished speaking than she slipped out of her nightgown with ease, revealing skin as pale as jade, made even more delicate by the soft light.
She then sat down in the wooden bathing tub in the corner of the room, preparing to wash up properly before meeting Shao Yun.
"Baishi," Ningguang called softly, "prepare some hot water."
At once, Baishi sprang into action. She drew the folding screen to separate the bathing area from the rest of the room, then turned to prepare the water.
...
Half an hour later, Shao Yun sat on a wooden chair in Ningguang's office area. Leaning back slightly, he gazed around with unfocused eyes, muttering in boredom.
"Ah, this is so dull… If I'd known, I wouldn't have come so early."
Thanks to an excess of coffee, he was wide awake—and extremely bored.
Just as he was complaining, Ningguang finished bathing and emerged wearing her luxurious Gold Leaf and Pearly Jade qipao.
The tailoring perfectly traced her graceful figure, while the intricate embroidery radiated elegance and opulence.
As Ningguang walked toward Shao Yun, a faint scent of perfume drifted into his nose.
When she stopped before him, she offered a gentle smile, then gracefully bowed and spoke with courtesy.
"For Mr. Shao Yun to visit my humble abode is truly an honor. I only regret that my reception has been lacking—please forgive me."
Seeing Ningguang perform such a formal bow, Shao Yun felt the hairs on his body stand on end. Goosebumps spread across his arms instantly.
He jumped to his feet, waving his hands repeatedly. "No need for that, really! You're making me uncomfortable—look, I've got goosebumps all over!"
Yet Ningguang calmly maintained her respectful posture and continued, "Before you, how could Ningguang dare show even the slightest disrespect?"
Helplessly, Shao Yun shook his head and gave up trying to dissuade her.
He sat back down, shrugged, and said, "Fine, do whatever you like. Anyway—Yelan told me you wanted to see me, so here I am."
At that moment, Baishi arrived carrying a refined wooden tray. On it sat a freshly brewed pot of tea and two exquisite porcelain cups, specially delivered from Scent of Spring.
Seeing the tea was ready, Ningguang personally lifted the teapot and poured Shao Yun a full cup.
Smiling softly, she offered it to him with both hands. "This is a fine adeptea brewed from premium leaves purchased at Qiaoying Village. Please enjoy."
Shao Yun looked at the cup, forced a faint smile, and replied, "Oh…"
Inside, however, he was groaning.
Coffee yesterday, tea today… At this rate, I won't be sleeping tonight either…
Ningguang noticed the unnatural change in his expression. Combined with the intelligence Yelan had gathered about his preferences, she mistakenly assumed he disliked tea.
"I'm terribly sorry," she said apologetically. "I was careless—Mr. Shao Yun doesn't seem to enjoy tea, and I forgot…"
Shao Yun didn't dislike tea—he just didn't care for it. Besides, that wasn't even what he'd been thinking about.
He quickly took the cup from her.
Tilting his head back, he drained it in one go, then set the empty cup down with a smile. "That's not what I meant."
"I don't really know how to drink tea. To me, it tastes just like hot water."
He placed the delicate cup gently on the table, then looked straight at Ningguang.
"Yelan mentioned that Cloud Retainer came to audit the accounts during the Lantern Rite?"
Instead of answering, Ningguang gestured for Baishi to withdraw.
She then took a seat on the wooden chair beside Shao Yun.
"That's right," she nodded.
She lifted the teapot again and refilled his cup.
Watching her careful, meticulous movements, Shao Yun raised an eyebrow and teased, "Judging by how cautious you're being, did you actually do something shady? Afraid the adepti will find something during the audit?"
"Or maybe you've been running some under-the-table business and you're worried an adeptus might toss you off the Jade Chamber for a little free fall?"
Faced with his teasing, Ningguang merely smiled calmly.
"You're overthinking it. Every single mora I earn has a clear and legitimate source."
As for whether Ningguang had any gray income, Shao Yun honestly didn't care at all.
After all, he himself had made his fortune robbing banks—so the legitimacy of money was hardly something he worried about.
He waved his hand dismissively. "It's fine, I was just asking. My own money isn't exactly clean either—I can't be bothered with that stuff."
"Since I still have some time, what do you need help with?"
Seeing how straightforward he was, Ningguang didn't bother being polite anymore.
"Mr. Shao Yun truly is decisive. Then I won't mince words."
She began explaining Liyue's current situation in refined, formal terms.
"Since the passing of the Geo Archon, Liyue has entered an era of human governance. However, due to the matter of authority oversight, it now resembles a system of human rule under adeptal supervision."
"This isn't necessarily a bad thing. The adepti care deeply about Liyue's future, and I understand that. It's just that… Cloud Retainer, in particular…"
She deliberately paused.
Growing impatient, Shao Yun urged, "In particular what?"
Ningguang continued calmly, "Cloud Retainer's concern for the people of Liyue is admirable. However, when it comes to commerce, the adepti truly understand only the bare basics."
After hearing all that, Shao Yun chuckled. "Oh, so she's getting in the way of you making money?"
Ningguang's expression stiffened slightly. The corner of her eye twitched, and she forced a thin smile. "Well… that's not entirely accurate."
"Though the adepti possess profound arts and wisdom, their understanding of economic planning is… limited."
"Some of their proposals sound impressive on the surface, but in practice, they lack feasibility."
Finally, Ningguang stopped circling the issue and spoke plainly. "Mr. Shao Yun, considering the goodwill I once showed you—could you help me this time?"
Seeing the expectation in her eyes, and remembering those one hundred billion mora, Shao Yun nodded.
"Alright. For the sake of that hundred billion—how do you want me to help?"
Ningguang immediately felt relieved. Lowering her voice, she explained gently, "I'd like you to persuade Cloud Retainer."
"I'm not opposed to her supervising the Liyue Qixing. She's simply… a bit too enthusiastic, which puts a lot of pressure on everyone."
"So, I'd appreciate it if you could ask her to tone it down just a little."
Shao Yun understood at once and said bluntly, "Ah, so you want me to act as a mediator. No problem. Where is Cloud Retainer now?"
"At the summit of Mt. Tianheng," Ningguang replied promptly.
With his answer in hand, Shao Yun didn't ask anything else. He lifted the tea cup and drank it dry in one gulp.
Then he stood and headed toward the exit of the Jade Chamber.
Seeing him agree, Ningguang quickly thanked him. "Many thanks for your help, Mr. Shao Yun. Ningguang will remember this favor."
"Once the matter is resolved, as long as you ask, I will fulfill any request." She deliberately emphasized the words "any request."
Hearing this, Shao Yun recalled how Ningguang had wracked her brains to give him one hundred billion mora before.
Turning back slowly, he said helplessly, "Using the same trick twice is boring. Just transfer the mora directly to Lumine's Adventurers' Guild account. Set the amount yourself."
Seeing her little ploy exposed so easily, Ningguang felt no embarrassment at all. Instead, she smiled in satisfaction.
"It can't be helped. There has to be a proper excuse, after all."
Shao Yun muttered, "This is the first time I've realized just how bored you are…"
===BREAK===
Like the story and want more chapters?
Join and support me by joining my Patreon!
[email protected]/SiRoasa