"Hm? You're one of us, so there's no harm telling you. The head of the Feiyun Commerce Guild is his uncle. Back then, his father and I talked it over. Our family has produced more than a few members of the Liyue Qixing, so we figured he should go into business instead. With the Feiyun Commerce Guild backing him, it would've been a much easier road. But because of you… he's choosing a different path now."
Ryou's mother sighed as she finished, then noticed a shift in Keqing's expression.
She continued, "And you don't need to blame yourself. This isn't something we could've stopped. If he likes it, then let him do it. Our family isn't lacking anything. As long as he's happy, that's enough."
"I…"
Keqing listened, and honestly didn't know what to say.
The family had power and money at the very top—especially in a place as prosperous as Liyue Harbor. You could call them overwhelmingly influential.
Keqing hadn't expected her husband's family to be this formidable…
…
Compared to Keqing and Ryou's mother, things between Ryou and his father were a bit more… complicated.
"You little punk," his father said, "I already heard about the Ministry of Civil Affairs from Ningguang-san. I told you to go into business before, but that really was a waste of your talent. I always thought you were better than your cousin. Your cousin does have a head for business, but he never liked the idea of taking over the family's operations. Now your uncle's the one who'll have the headache. So you just stay put in the Ministry of Civil Affairs. I'll talk to Uncle Tian on my end."
He took a sip of tea, calm as ever.
Ryou could only give a helpless look. "Father, I don't want to become part of the Liyue Qixing. Our family having two seats is already enough. If we pile on more, it'll backfire sooner or later. Besides, Liyue isn't a place where the Qixing can decide everything anymore. There are the adepti above us… and Rex Lapis."
As he said that, an idea suddenly clicked into place.
Uncle Tian was retiring. Later, that would stir up a whole mess of trouble.
But if Zhongli wanted to retire too…
Why not make Zhongli part of the Liyue Qixing?
"Father, if we're talking candidates for the Liyue Qixing, I do have someone in mind!"
"Who?"
Hearing that Ryou didn't want the seat himself, his father couldn't hide a hint of disappointment.
The Liyue Qixing was what everyone dreamed of. With their family, one seat was practically within arm's reach, and Uncle Tian's side was also all but guaranteed—yet Ryou still refused.
If other people heard this, they'd go insane with envy.
Still, the more he mulled over Ryou's reasoning, the more it held up. The family had been rooted in Liyue Harbor for generations, and while the Qixing didn't openly interfere with each other, their power struggles were never exactly rare.
When he looked back at his son, he felt a flicker of surprise.
This kid had thought it through far more clearly than he expected.
"Wangsheng Funeral Parlor. Zhongli," Ryou explained.
"He's well-known in Liyue Harbor—ridiculously well-read, and genuinely talented. If he joined the Liyue Qixing, it would be exactly what the public wants. Age, ability—he meets every requirement. He also has a Geo Vision, and that alone says the Geo Archon acknowledges him. He's the perfect fit.
To be honest, I'm planning to visit Zhongli-san today and try to convince him to come work at the Ministry of Civil Affairs."
Zhongli?
Ryou's father knew the name, but his understanding ran deeper than Ryou's.
The family had been in Liyue Harbor for multiple generations, and by the time it reached him, the family's Qixing legacy was already in its third generation. His own father had told him that Zhongli was no ordinary man—and had even tried recommending him to the Liyue Qixing before.
Zhongli had refused.
Ryou's father studied him for a moment, tea cup in hand. After a long sip, he set it down.
"Zhongli-san is very capable, but he doesn't seem willing to take the position. If you can persuade him… then I'll put him in that seat."
"Good. Then it's a deal," Ryou said.
"You really are putting your heart into helping someone else," his father snorted. "Your grandfather recommended that Zhongli before too, and he still said no. If you can talk him into it, I'll admit you've got the skill."
Then he added, "Your cousin is coming back from Inazuma tonight. He heard you got married and joined the Ministry of Civil Affairs, and he wants to celebrate for you. We're meeting at Liuli Pavilion. You young people can catch up. Your uncle and I won't be going."
"My cousin… huh?"
Ryou honestly didn't have much of an impression of him.
Still, he had to show up tonight. If he didn't, it would look bad—family was family, after all.
[End of chapter]
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