"Ningguang-san. You don't need me to remind you how terrifying a Sigil of Permission is in large numbers."
Keqing kept her eyes on her. Delaying the Rite of Descension would cause backlash, but if it kept Liyue's people safe, it wasn't off the table.
Ningguang's brows drew together. She knew it was an option—she just hated the scale of the fallout. After a long pause, she spoke.
"Fine. I'll brief the other members of the Liyue Qixing. If we can use this chance to wipe out the Fatui in one sweep, even better. If we let it drag on, it'll only get harder to deal with."
Ryou nodded once. If the date got pushed back, he'd have time to set things up.
Zhongli wanted to retire?
Not that easily.
"There's something else," Ningguang added. "I plan to go in person and arrest Childe—and everyone at the Northland Bank."
"You're going to the Northland Bank to arrest people?" Keqing's voice sharpened. "Without a solid reason, that'll be a mess."
Ningguang's fingers tapped lightly against her arm. "The Northland Bank has been in Liyue Harbor for years. If this blows up, even I won't be able to keep a lid on it."
Keqing's voice tightened. "What are we using as the pretext to arrest them?"
Ryou took a slow sip of tea, set the cup down, and answered evenly.
"You forgot? I brought Zhongli and Hu Tao to the Ministry of Civil Affairs on the charge that Zhongli sold information to the Fatui. We can use that as our entry point."
He leaned back slightly. "Once we have them in custody, a lot of the complications shrink. As for the outside pressure—that's on you, Ningguang-san. This won't stay quiet, even if we want it to. And the Fatui definitely won't."
Keqing froze. "What? You arrested Zhongli and Hu Tao?"
He hadn't told her a word.
Zhongli had a serious reputation in Liyue Harbor. How did Ryou just drag him into the Ministry of Civil Affairs like that?
"Not just arrested," Ningguang said, and there was a sour edge in her tone. "Your husband did it for you—and he even got Zhongli to join Liyue Harbor."
Ryou bringing Zhongli into the Ministry of Civil Affairs wasn't subtle. Anyone could see who that was for.
Keqing blinked hard. "Zhongli-sensei joined the Ministry of Civil Affairs?"
It sounded unreal.
She'd invited him before. He'd refused. She'd even heard Ningguang tried as well—and also failed.
And now her husband had simply… brought him in.
"Yeah," Ryou said, brushing his thumb across the back of her hand. "From now on, let Zhongli handle the Ministry's paperwork."
His tone stayed casual. "He's capable. And I told him getting 'arrested' was his chance to make up for it, so he can do more work. A healthy young man acting like a slacker—what kind of look is that?"
Keqing's cheeks heated in an instant. She stared at him, eyes bright. "You're… really good to me."
She knew exactly why he'd done it.
Having a husband like this—she couldn't stop herself from smiling.
"For Keqing, it's nothing," Ryou said. "And work needs balance. I'm not letting you run yourself into the ground every day."
Ningguang cleared her throat—loudly.
Ryou and Keqing didn't miss the meaning.
Balance, sure. But his "balance" was Zhongli drowning in paperwork while Keqing got to rest.
Keqing's ears burned even hotter.
"Enough," Ningguang said, cutting in. "If you want to flirt, do it at home."
She fixed her gaze on Ryou. "I called you here for business. Your suggestion puts massive pressure on Liyue Harbor. I need your father and Uncle Tian backing me. Otherwise, the public pressure will be too much."
She didn't bother dressing it up. "If you're on my side, then three of the Liyue Qixing will stand together. That's the only way I'll have enough leverage to hold the line."
"No problem," Ryou said immediately. "When I get back, I'll speak to my father."
His voice dropped a notch. "The Fatui are acting this recklessly. We're not letting them off."
"Good." Ningguang nodded once. "We'll proceed as you said. I'll take the external pressure head-on."
Her thoughts moved fast, already lining up contingencies. "If things start spiraling, I'll announce the medical insurance plan publicly to soften the backlash. And beyond that—we'll open it to the citizens."
"I think that's the right play," Ryou said. "It'll cut down a lot of the resentment."
He lifted his gaze to meet hers. "And I want the Rite of Descension delayed as long as possible. I need time to deal with everything."
"Alright," Ningguang said, without hesitation.
This wouldn't be solved in a day or two. A delay would be troublesome, yes—but medical insurance could absorb a lot of the shock.
And delaying it didn't mean cancelling it.
[End of chapter]
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