**Chapter 40: Staying in the Serenitea Pot for Now**
Columbina placed Jingchen's Serenitea Pot beside her.
Yoimiya leaned forward, her eyes sparkling with a vibrant, firework-like curiosity.
"Can we really go inside and look around? The Serenitea Pot—that's Jingchen-gege's home, right?!"
Columbina nodded slightly, and Yoimiya turned around, her energy renewed.
"Great! Ayaka, let's go check out Jingchen-gege's Serenitea Pot!"
Yoimiya grabbed Ayaka's hand and, before Ayaka could react, pulled her into the Serenitea Pot.
As Columbina entered, Jingchen took her hand.
She tilted her head, looking at him with confusion.
"What's wrong, A'Chen?"
"A'Ya, I've watched them grow up. They might have some... admiration for me. Please explain things to them properly during this time. Don't treat them with that detached, indifferent attitude."
"Don't worry, A'Ya understands. I won't scare them."
Columbina hugged Jingchen one last time, whispering an ancient fairy song in his ear before entering the Serenitea Pot.
Jingchen turned slightly and walked toward Ritou.
Inside the Serenitea Pot, Yoimiya, like a child, was filled with anticipation. Every blade of grass and every tree seemed to radiate a mystical aura.
Ethereal mists, intricate mechanisms, and a Liyue mansion steeped in ancient charm.
Lotus blossoms floated in the pond, while peach and cherry blossoms bloomed alongside osmanthus flowers along the shore.
"Wow! Sister Columbina, this place is so beautiful! It's like a dreamlike paradise!" Yoimiya exclaimed.
Columbina smiled faintly, her heart warming at being called "Sister Columbina."
"Yoimiya's description of this place as a paradise isn't an exaggeration."
"Could this have something to do with Brother Jingchen's master?!"
"Indeed. Every blade of grass, every drop of water, every mountain peak, and all the intricate mechanisms and seasonal flowers were personally arranged by Cloud Retainer."
"Immortals truly surpass us mortals in vision and every other aspect. Ayaka, what do you think of this place?"
Standing beside them, Ayaka gazed up at the ice crystal butterflies and snow crystal butterflies, momentarily stunned.
"Ah... This place feels so warm and poetic, like a living painting. If I could, I... I would want to live here forever."
As she spoke, Ayaka's voice grew softer, lacking its usual conviction.
"Then why don't you two stay here for a while?" Yoimiya suggested, her face beaming with delight.
"Really?! Ayaka, did you hear that? Sister Columbina said we can stay here for a while!"
"Ah?! But... we can't intrude on your and Jingchen's private life."
"Hmm? Don't worry, you'll just be staying in other rooms. Make yourselves at home."
Ayaka's heart pounded wildly.
*Could it be... could Columbina finally be willing to let me...?*
*No, no! Calm down, Ayaka. You need to stay composed, stay steady.*
*This is just your own wishful thinking. You're being confined here, your freedom restricted.*
*What exactly does Columbina want?!*
*Is she trying to stop me from exposing the Fatui's secret plot on Narukami Island? Or is she using me as leverage for Jingchen to negotiate with my brother?*
*To force the Tri-Commission to submit to him?!*
*No, no... Jingchen isn't that kind of person.*
*Could there be another motive? Lady Yae Miko, the Great Shogun, or something else entirely?*
As Ayaka's mind raced, Columbina quietly approached from behind.
She whispered softly into Ayaka's ear, "Little Ayaka, don't worry. I won't harm you, nor will I harm your Yashiro Commission."
Ayaka flinched. *Why does Columbina move so silently?!*
"You two, go pick out your rooms first. You'll be staying here for a while. As for the reason...
Hmm, I should explain properly. For example, why you have to give up on Jingchen.
Of course, if you want to be just ordinary stepsisters and stepbrothers, or even just friends, I'll support you either way."
"As for you two wanting to cross that line, to overstep the boundaries... well, you'll have to bear the consequences yourselves."
Yoimiya and Ayaka froze in place, momentarily at a loss for words.
Columbina smiled faintly and led them into the mansion to choose their rooms.
***
Inside Yae Publishing House, a fox leisurely sipped sake while savoring fried tofu and reading a light novel.
*Eiri's Paradise of Past Memories* was indeed a remarkable light novel, despite having only three volumes published so far.
The author had vividly portrayed the protagonist Eri's personality and character, making it easy for readers to fall in love with this spirited, genuine, and flawless girl.
Yae Miko couldn't shake the feeling that the ending might be too perfect. If possible, she wanted to use any means necessary to persuade Jingchen to alter Eri's potentially tragic fate.
"Is this just the third volume?"
"Ah?! Editor-in-Chief Yae, Jingchen only gave me this third volume and asked me to deliver a message to you."
"Hmm? A message? What is it?"
"Lord Jingchen said: 'I won't stay in Inazuma for long, Yae Miko. Handle things yourself.'"
In an instant, the air grew heavy, and the entire room fell silent.
The female assistant editor knelt on the floor, daring not to raise her head to gaze upon the current Yae Miko.
*Ah... this message... could it be Editor-in-Chief Yae's sore spot? If I remember correctly, ten years ago, Jingchen went to Watatsumi Island at Editor-in-Chief Yae's request to take on a key position at Mouun Shrine.*
Without a word, he fled north, back to Liyue.
Behind the screen, Yae Miko burst into laughter.
"Let me handle it?!"
*Oh my, five hundred years! In all that time, no one has ever dared to speak to me like that before.*
This Jingchen is truly growing more intriguing by the day.
I had planned to give him a "three strikes" warning to put him in his place.
*Never mind. Tonight, I, the Great Priestess, will personally visit him on Ritou.*
Yae Miko rose abruptly, tossing the light novel to the female assistant editor.
"Print three thousand copies of Volume 3. Use this illustration for the cover."
The assistant editor caught the illustration, startled.
She was about to ask Yae Miko to reconsider when she realized the editor-in-chief had vanished completely, leaving no trace.
The assistant editor sighed softly.
"Ah... what am I going to do? Won't Editor-in-Chief Yae offend Jingchen with this?"
The cover featured a girl with silver-blue hair tied in a high ponytail, crimson eyes, and a bright, captivating gaze.
Unexpectedly, the girl bore an uncanny resemblance to Jingchen—at least nine-tenths identical.
*Is this Lord Jingchen in drag? Or perhaps his elder or younger sister?*
*How did Lady Yae Miko even obtain this illustration?*
....
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(End of Chapter)