Ningguang leaned her head gently against Ryen's shoulder.
Behind them, the clinking of glasses and the roaring celebrations of the citizens in Liyue Harbor drifted up on the gentle night breeze, soothing their souls.
A heavy, warm flush crept up Ningguang's neck. While she hadn't consumed nearly as much alcohol as Zhongli and the Adepti, she had still partaken. Under the caress of the night wind, illuminated by the brilliant fireworks and a sea of Xiao Lanterns, the atmosphere was intoxicating enough on its own.
"This is the Liyue of my dreams," Ningguang murmured, her eyelids drooping slightly. "The people living in peace, humanity striving forward endlessly. Liyue Harbor no longer requires the protection of Rex Lapis and the Adepti. We stand at the absolute apex of Teyvat. We can even reverse our roles and shelter the gods."
"The Liyue of today truly possesses the arrogant splendor of the human era."
She paused, her bright eyes shifting to lock onto Ryen's face. Her voice softened into a whisper. "And... I have you by my side. Ryen, the grand ambition of my early life has been fulfilled."
Ryen chuckled, his hand reaching up to gently stroke her hair.
The other women exchanged knowing smiles. Thinking back, their own deepest desires had also materialized over these past six months. A prosperous nation, reunited friends, and a perfect partner. Everything had been achieved in half a year. Instinctively, they pressed their bodies closer to him.
The Jade Chamber sat high in the heavens. Between the pale moonlight and the extreme altitude, a distinct chill permeated the air. Ryen reached into his inventory and pulled out a massive, thick blanket. With a sweeping motion, he draped it over the entire group, bundling them together.
They sat shoulder to shoulder, feeling the steady rhythm of each other's heartbeats.
Klee and the other three little girls had already curled up into a tight ball and fallen fast asleep, tucked securely against Ryen's chest. Their small bodies looked like four delicate porcelain dolls.
Fitting so many people under a single blanket was undeniably cramped. Yet, no one made a move to ask for a second one.
"Dreams must always evolve," Ryen said softly.
Ningguang's lips curved upward. "That is why I specified the ambition of my early life."
"And the rest of it?" Ryen asked, indulging her.
Ningguang turned fully toward him. The look in her eyes was searing, practically hot enough to consume him whole.
"I want... to have a child with you. I want a daughter of my own flesh and blood who will tug at my dress and call me Mother."
"For Liyue, I have done everything in my power. The people are secure. I have honored my oath. I am not young anymore. With the nation at peace, it is time I considered my own affairs. I want a complete family. A husband, and children..."
Hearing this, Ganyu and the others immediately straightened their postures. Their eyes darted to Ryen, shining with intense, unified intent.
"That is my dream as well," Ganyu murmured, her hands gripping the edge of the blanket tightly.
Yae Miko traced a slow circle on Ryen's chest with her fingertip, a sultry, lazy smile on her lips. "I wouldn't mind giving you a little fox."
Ryen let out a bewildered laugh. "All of you are still young. Why the sudden rush?"
"Young?" Ningguang shot him a sharp glare. "An ordinary girl in Liyue Harbor at my age would already be discussing marriage, or perhaps already holding a child. Ganyu, Guizhong, Miko, and Lumine are already over a thousand years old! Do you truly intend for us to be geriatric mothers? While Klee and the others are adorable, they do not belong to us."
Ryen laughed. "You could just ask Klee and the girls to change how they address you. Besides, Ganyu and the others are long-life species. Relative to their lifespans, they are ridiculously young."
Ryen wasn't joking. Ganyu was thousands of years old, but proportionally, she was roughly Ningguang's age. Miko, at a mere thousand years, had barely reached adulthood. Guizhong had a gap of several millennia in her existence. And Lumine... from absolutely any angle, she did not resemble an elder. Without a trace of erosion, how could they be considered old?
"That is not how it works," Lisa chuckled, brushing a strand of hair behind her ear. "The desire to become a mother takes root the moment a woman reaches adulthood. With the nations prospering, we have no heavy burdens left. Since we intend to be with you forever, we naturally need children to expand our massive family."
Hu Tao, pressing her face firmly against Ryen's back, rubbed her cheek against his shoulder blades and grumbled. "I told you this before! The Wangsheng Funeral Parlor needs an heir! Put your back into it! You can't just play with us every day, do some actual work!"
Ryen's mouth twitched. Only Director Hu could deliver such an outrageous demand without batting an eye.
"Tell the truth!" Hu Tao poked Ryen's shoulder, her tone highly suspicious. "Your constitution is like a god's, yet none of us are showing any signs. Are you secretly using some kind of preventative measure? Seriously! We never asked you to hold back!"
"What measures?" Ryen sighed, massaging his temples. "I hate those things, you all know that. It's likely an issue with my constitution. You can't rush these things, just let nature take its course. Children aren't cabbages you can just buy at the market."
Hu Tao refused to accept that excuse. She grabbed his shoulders and shook him. "This Director doesn't care! You need to work harder!"
Seeing the other women preparing to join the barrage, Ryen raised his hands in surrender, forcing a bitter smile and nodding repeatedly.
He never expected that even after crossing the sea of stars, descending upon Teyvat, and wielding the authority of a world, he still couldn't escape the pressure to have kids. And the ones pressuring him were his own wives.
With Ryen's concession, the women ceased their coordinated assault. They leaned against him quietly, gazing down at Liyue Harbor.
The streets were bathed in brilliant light. Open-air banquets organized by the Ministry of Civil Affairs stretched endlessly. Citizens, familiar or stranger, exchanged knowing smiles the moment their eyes met, raising their bowls to drink together.
The joy of today needed to be transmitted into every heart.
The Millelith soldiers on leave were naturally the primary targets of the celebrations. The citizens now understood exactly what they had been doing for the past six months. Genuine reverence fueled a ceaseless tide of toasts.
Even when the soldiers could drink no more, attendants rushed over with Minecraft Milk and Regeneration potions, purging the alcohol so the drinking could resume.
Dashi, in particular, had no idea how much wine he had consumed. He only knew he had downed Milk and Regeneration potions thirteen times.
Shaking his heavy head, Dashi's vision was still somewhat blurry. Another massive crowd of citizens swarmed toward him.
His wife gripped his arm, her brow creased with worry. "If you can't handle it, just stop. You'll ruin your health."
Dashi smiled, patting her hand. "It's fine. Everyone in Liyue is happy today. I can't spoil the mood. With the Milk and potions, my body is perfectly safe."
Hearing this, the surrounding citizens burst into hearty laughter.
"Commander Dashi is truly straightforward! No wonder the leadership entrusted you with the Dragon Riders!"
"Thank you for fighting in that world, Commander. You gave us the good lives we have today."
"Commander Dashi, don't force yourself. Drink at your own pace! We'll down ours!"
The citizens tilted their heads back, downing their bowls. Dashi smiled and matched them.
Though the potions prevented physical damage, his stomach was still churning from the sheer volume of liquid. He didn't want to completely ruin his taste for alcohol today. He still wanted to enjoy a quiet drink when he finally retired.
After exchanging a few more words of profound gratitude, the crowd swayed away to find their next target.
Seeing another group immediately forming to take their place, Dashi let out a wry chuckle. It seemed he wouldn't be allowed to leave until he shared a cup with every single person in Liyue.
"Pour the wine! Let's go!" Dashi straightened his spine, letting out a booming laugh, and strode forward to meet them.
The Lantern Rite atmosphere reached a fever pitch.
Iron Tongue Tian and the other storytellers, fueled by liquid courage, pushed their tables aside and drew their wooden clappers. A fierce, impromptu storytelling competition erupted in the streets.
Cheers and applause shook the harbor. A prosperous golden age.
Up on the Jade Chamber.
Ningguang's eyes crinkled with warmth as she surveyed every alleyway of Liyue Harbor.
"When I think about it... this transformation happened in a mere six months. Half a year is nothing compared to Liyue's three thousand seven hundred years of history. Yet the achievements of these six months far surpass the accumulation of those millennia. It is unimaginable what Liyue Harbor will look like in a few years, decades, or centuries with the backing of your world."
Ryen chuckled softly. "Leave the future to the future. What seems like shocking progress now might just be considered ordinary later. Maintaining anticipation and facing the unknown with a sense of wonder is a good way to live. Living in the moment... that cliché is the most profound philosophy in the world."
Ningguang nodded with a soft smile. The group fell silent, listening to the distant clamor, savoring the tranquility of the moment.
A short distance away, Makoto had led Ei and the Shogun away from the tables. They stood at the railing, letting the night wind clear their heads.
Ei's gaze swept over every corner of the harbor below, studying the faces of the people. Different features, yet possessing an identical, radiant joy.
That pure, unadulterated happiness struck a deep chord within her.
"Do you see it now, Ei?" Makoto asked softly, noticing the shift in her sister's demeanor.
"True eternity can exist in a fleeting moment of joy. No matter how magnificent Liyue becomes in the future, today's Lantern Rite will forever remain the most brilliant day carved into Liyue's river of time. As Archons, as rulers... debating between eternity and transience was never truly our purpose. Our only duty is to ensure our people live well. The quality of our people's lives is the absolute pinnacle we should strive for."
If Makoto had said this in the past, Ei would have memorized the words, but she wouldn't have truly understood them.
But now, watching the visceral, genuine smiles of the Liyue citizens... she finally understood.
Whether eternity or transience, it all paled in comparison to a people's happiness. No matter how fiercely she pursued eternity, Inazuma could not compare to the sheer bliss radiating from Liyue today.
Absolute eternity did not exist. But the happiness of the people was tangibly real.
Why chase an illusory concept when you could secure real, substantial joy?
"I understand, Sister!" Ei's eyes blazed with sudden, piercing clarity. She gripped the railing, her voice steady and resolute. "I will dedicate everything I have. I will ensure that every citizen of Inazuma can feel this same profound happiness, and feel absolute pride in their nation."
Makoto closed her eyes, a deeply contented smile spreading across her face. She nodded firmly.
After so long, Ei finally grasped the truth.
The sole pursuit of a true ruler was never an abstract philosophical concept. It was the tangible prosperity of their people.