**Chapter 21: Keqing, You Know Nothing**
Qiqi entered the Serenitea Pot to sleep soundly.
Ningguang returned alone to the Jade Chamber.
She closed her eyes, tilted her head back, and let the bitter autumn rain soak through her silver hair.
As Jingchen had said, there was no "regret medicine" in this world.
Back then, despite already harboring feelings for him, she had uttered those cruel words—that lie about seeing him as a younger brother. It had deceived not only herself but him as well.
Baiwen hurried out of the Jade Chamber with an oiled paper umbrella, intending to shield Ningguang from the rain.
Ningguang shook her head faintly.
"Leave me be, Baiwen. I wish to be alone with my thoughts."
"But, Lady Ningguang, this will harm your health! The autumn rain is bitterly cold; you'll catch a chill. Please come inside and we can discuss this further."
Ningguang continued to shake her head, her eyes still closed.
"Physical ailments can be cured. But the illness of the heart... its only remedy is worth more than a thousand million Mora. Enough, enough."
***
Inside Wanmin Restaurant, Jingchen was drying Columbina's hair with a towel.
Columbina looked content, but couldn't resist complaining about the sudden autumn rain.
"A'Chen, why does Liyue's autumn rain start so abruptly?!"
"Doesn't Snezhnaya's snow fall just as suddenly, Aya?"
"Hmm?! But Snezhnaya is under the Ice God's protection, while Liyue is under the Geo Archon's, right?"
"I don't think the gods have anything to do with it."
As soon as Jingchen said this, he remembered that Mondstadt was an exception.
Protected by Barbatos, Mondstadt remained calm and rain-free even when storms raged outside its walls.
Liyue, on the other hand, seemed to experience occasional rain, just like today.
*So, Zhongli's level of laziness and retirement even surpasses that of Barbatos?!*
Columbina immediately sensed Jingchen's thoughts and gripped his hand tightly.
"Enough about these ruling gods. A'Chen, Hu Tao has resolved her inner conflict, hasn't she?!"
"I think so. We can retrieve the God's Heart from the Archon and then set off for Inazuma."
As Jingchen and Columbina continued their conversation, Xiangling approached, carrying four large bowls of fragrant and colorful dishes.
"Big Brother Jingchen, here's your order: Wanmin Restaurant's Boiled Fish in Chili Oil, Bright Moon Egg, Lotus Pastry, and Golden Silk Shrimp Balls."
Xiangling carefully observed Jingchen and Columbina's interactions, quickly deducing their relationship.
Jingchen nodded slightly. "Thank you, Xiangling."
"You're welcome, Brother Jingchen! It's great to have you back in Liyue. Make sure to bring your sister-in-law to Wanmin Restaurant often. Don't worry, my dad said he'll give you a 30% discount whenever you come."
Hearing the term "sister-in-law," Columbina's cheeks flushed slightly, but she couldn't hide her delight. This girl Xiangling certainly knew how to make people feel good.
Columbina gently retrieved a white butterfly hairpin from her Spatial Backpack and placed it in Xiangling's hand.
"Thank you, Sister-in-Law! I won't disturb your meal any longer. Just call if you need anything—I'll be right here."
After Xiangling left, Columbina picked up a piece of sea bass and placed it in Jingchen's bowl.
"Xiangling is such a thoughtful girl."
"After all, Xiangling has worked at Wanmin Restaurant for a long time and loves to travel around to study and perfect her culinary skills. She's naturally outgoing and warm."
"Even so, Xiangling still fears Hu Tao's pranks, just as she always has since childhood."
"Xiangling sometimes retaliates with her own bizarre dishes."
Columbina pouted. *Why are we talking about Hu Tao again?!* Jealousy flared as she forcefully placed a piece of fish in Jingchen's bowl.
"Eat up! Eat plenty! *Hu*ge appetite!"
Columbina deliberately emphasized the "Hu" sound.
Jingchen immediately recognized the source of her jealousy and quickly reassured her.
"Aya, Hu Tao and Xiangling—I've watched them grow up. Mentioning Hu Tao because of Xiangling was purely unintentional."
Columbina huffed and turned her head away. Knowing her fondness for sweets, Jingchen promptly fed her a Lotus Pastry.
Columbina glanced around. Despite it being dinnertime, Wanmin Restaurant was strangely empty tonight.
*How odd.*
"A'Chen, is Wanmin Restaurant usually this quiet?"
Jingchen chewed on his fish and replied, "Maybe it's the off-season. Just relax and enjoy your meal, Aya."
***
As dinner concluded, the autumn rain continued to fall in a steady drizzle.
A crowd of Fatui stood outside Wanmin Restaurant.
Just as Jingchen led Columbina out of the restaurant, Nadia handed them an umbrella.
"Lord Columbina, Lord Jingchen, Lord Childe has instructed that you and the Maiden are to take full responsibility for all Fatui affairs in Liyue."
Jingchen glanced around at the Thunderhelm Lawachurls, Hydro Fatui, Cryo Fatui, Debt Collectors...
With such a menacing group of Fatui guarding the entrance, it was no wonder Wanmin Restaurant's business was so poor tonight.
Moreover, given the Fatui's concentration in one place, why hadn't the Millelith taken action yet?
Inside the General Affairs Bureau, Keqing and Ganyu were locked in a heated argument.
"Ganyu! Why are you stopping me? The Fatui are gathering in the streets—shouldn't I lead the Millelith to investigate?!"
"Keqing, our scouts report that the Fatui outside Wanmin Restaurant are merely standing there, doing nothing and saying nothing."
Keqing snatched back the document in her hand, her face set with determination.
"The Fatui's assembly in one location already poses a serious threat to public order."
"But they haven't done anything! They lack even the most basic motive, right?! Keqing, we must act in accordance with Liyue's laws."
Keqing huffed loudly.
"Move aside, Ganyu."
"We're still cooperating with the Fatui in the Chasm. Please calm down, Keqing."
At this point, Lumine had just resolved the dragon crisis in Mondstadt, and the Archon Quest in Liyue hadn't yet begun. The Fatui and Liyue were indeed cooperating in the Chasm.
"Calm down? Ganyu, the Fatui are gathering in Liyue's streets! What's there to be calm about?"
"Sigh... Keqing, what would you say if I told you the Fatui are acting under the orders of Harbinger Jingchen?"
The name "Jingchen" struck Keqing like a bolt from the blue.
Her resolute expression instantly crumbled, leaving her frozen in place, lost and helpless.
Years had passed without a single word about Jingchen.
And now, Ganyu was telling her he was Harbinger Jingchen?
Forcing a smile, she stammered, her voice trembling, "Ganyu, do you... do you even know what you're saying? Jingchen was your Junior Brother, our former colleague, Uncle Tian's most promising successor, and Cloud Retainer's disciple. How... how could he possibly become a Fatui Harbinger?!"
Ganyu waved her hand helplessly.
"Junior Brother's wife is the Third Seat of the Fatui Harbingers. It's understandable why he joined them, Keqing."
The fact that Jingchen had joined the Fatui Harbingers had already struck Keqing as utterly incomprehensible.
But hearing from Ganyu that Jingchen had a so-called wife sent Keqing staggering backward. Just as she was about to fall, Ganyu rushed forward to steady her.
Even the indomitable Keqing found herself repeatedly crying out, "Impossible! Absolutely impossible! Jingchen... Jingchen... He... he confessed to me. He was once the Acting Tianquan of Liyue, a disciple of Liyue's immortals. He—"
Keqing didn't understand why she was reacting so strongly. All she knew was that everything she had imagined had shattered the moment Ganyu spoke.
Her vision of the future—a daughter named Jingqing, a peaceful retirement spent raising grandchildren—vanished like smoke.
Trembling, Keqing tried to stand on her own, but found herself utterly incapable. Without Ganyu's support, each step would have felt like scaling the heavens.
Ganyu shook her head helplessly.
*Keqing, Keqing... My Junior Brother Jingchen has been back in Liyue for days, and you didn't even notice?!*
*All you do is work, work, work at Yuehai Pavilion. And you regret not pursuing him? You want to win him back?*
.....
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(End of Chapter)