"Cough—cough!"
The moment Uncle Tian heard that, he started coughing hard.
"Uncle Tian, don't panic," Ningguang said, moving fast. "I'll go to the Ministry of Civil Affairs right now and get to the bottom of it. It could be a misunderstanding."
Uncle Tian kept one hand over his chest. Tea had splashed onto the desk, and he stared at it like his brain hadn't caught up yet.
"I'm coming with you," he said, wiping at his robe. He set the cup down and pushed himself to his feet. "I'm going with you. I want to hear Ryou explain himself."
Ningguang and Uncle Tian rushed to the Ministry almost immediately.
The instant they walked in, the whole office went stiff. A middle-aged man shot up from his seat.
"Ningguang-sama!"
"Where are Keqing and Ryou?" Ningguang asked, brows drawn tight.
The man's forehead went damp. He swallowed and answered carefully, "Ningguang-sama… Ryou-sama left the Ministry not long ago."
"Then Keqing?" Ningguang pressed.
The man dipped his head lower. "Th-this… Keqing-sama hasn't come to the Ministry for two days."
Ningguang froze for a beat.
Keqing was the definition of diligent. The first time, fine—she'd just gotten married. But now?
"This is ridiculous," Ningguang snapped. "What is Keqing thinking? If she doesn't come in, who's handling the work she's sitting on?"
The man visibly flinched. "Ningguang-sama… Ryou-sama handles all the paperwork every day. He spends about half an hour, finishes everything, and leaves. Nothing's gone wrong, so…"
"Half an hour…" Ningguang's vision almost went dark.
It took her two hours to chew through those files. Sometimes longer. Yes, the Ministry handled less than Yujing Terrace—but half an hour for everything? And with no mistakes?
Heat climbed straight up her chest. Annoying didn't even begin to cover it.
"Half an hour to clear all the work…" Uncle Tian murmured behind her, still stunned. "That's… that's unbelievable."
The Ministry's workload might be lighter than Yujing Terrace, but it was messy—every trade, every shop, every neighborhood had its own headaches. Just sorting it out in your head took time, let alone finishing it cleanly.
He glanced at Ningguang. "Are his files actually correct?"
"They're not just correct," Ningguang said, voice tight. "They're excellent. Ganyu and the others all approve. Some of them even say they can't match him…"
The words scraped on the way out. She rubbed her forehead, then cut it off before she could stew in it any longer.
"Fine. Enough." She looked back at the man. "Tell me about Zhongli. What happened? Did you arrest him?"
"No?" The man blinked, then scratched his head. He pulled a file from the side and held it out with both hands. "Ningguang-sama, congratulations. Ryou-sama brought Zhongli-san into the Ministry to work. Look—these are his records."
Ningguang stared at the paperwork like it might evaporate.
She'd had people try to persuade Zhongli. She'd gone in person more than once. Still nothing.
And Ryou just… dragged him in?
Was Zhongli the type who refused a gentle invitation—but caved if you shoved?
…
By then, Ryou was already home.
Keqing was still curled up in bed. The sight of her hit him in the chest.
Yesterday's bath tub hadn't been big, but once things started—and with a bit of wine in him—he hadn't held back.
Keqing paid the price.
He'd tried to help afterward, tried to ease it for her, but it hadn't been enough. Otherwise she wouldn't still be sleeping it off now.
Ryou lay down beside her and slid an arm around her without a word, careful not to jostle her.
A second later, her eyes opened.
Keqing met his gaze and went hot all over.
Yesterday, this idiot had taught her all kinds of things. Shameless things. Worse—he'd even turned it into a little "scenario," like it was some ridiculous story playing out, and by the end she'd been too embarrassed to think straight.
And then—he still didn't let her off the hook.
Just remembering it made her burn even more.
Then her eyes drifted to the window.
Sunlight. Bright and clean.
Keqing's breath caught.
No—this is noon.
Ahhh—!
I told myself I was going to the Ministry today!
And I still didn't go!
It's been two days!
Two whole days of skipping work!!
[End of chapter]
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