Chapter 53: Ganyu Brings an Invitation to the Jade Chamber

From the player's perspective:

The game's cutscene begins.

The narration is, of course, delivered by Tian Tiezi.

A scroll-like scene slowly unfolds.

As the clouds in the sky part, a magnificent palace comes into view.

The palace towers above Liyue Harbor, rivaling the sun and moon in height!

"Whenever Lady Ningguang has important matters to attend to, she always holds them in the Jade Chamber."

The perspective shifts inside the Jade Chamber, revealing even more extravagant decorations.

A woman holds a folding fan, half-covering her face—this is Ningguang.

Beside her are her three secretaries, each handling their respective duties.

"She dismisses all others, keeping only her three most trusted aides."

"But what does she need these three aides for?"

"Turns out, she has them organize intelligence and process documents beside her."

[Hahaha, so all three look the same?]

[I see, these 'trusted aides' are…]

[Work is for the secretaries.]

[Alright, enough, dump all that yellow waste out.]

"One summary after another is pasted onto the wall, growing more and more numerous."

"But before the white wall is completely covered, Lady Ningguang will undoubtedly reach a decision."

The curtains part, and the three secretaries paste documents one by one onto the white wall.

Ningguang then personally reviews and makes her decisions.

Once a matter is settled, she tears the documents to shreds.

"Once the decision is made, she crushes all the documents."

"Whoosh—those paper scraps scatter out the window."

[No littering from high altitudes!]

[Gotta admit, this storyteller really nails it.]

"My, my, fluttering and drifting, like a sudden flurry of snow!"

"The words on those paper scraps—in the eyes of Liyue's merchants—are like ink stains on snow."

"Blindingly obvious!"

The merchants all stare greedily at these scraps.

Because aside from the guidance of Rex Lapis, Ningguang's directives and movements are their greatest concern—

They determine how much money they can make next.

A poem praises:

"Fluttering and scattered, like snow falling from the clouds."

"Dense yet sparse, each word as precious as a rare treasure."

"In a single thought, she commands the land."

"All know that Tianquan reigns supreme."

Ningguang holds the Jade Chamber aloft with one hand, exuding overwhelming authority.

[So she's the rich lady—hungry, hungry, food please.]

[Bro, this is really beyond your league. Let Uncle handle it—Uncle isn't afraid of steel wool.]

[I love miHoYo's art style so much.]

[Lady Ningguang's gaze is killing me—absolutely stunning.]

The scene returns to reality in Teyvat.

Onstage, Iron Tongue Tian continues without pause.

"Just think—though these are mere scraps of paper, the 'logic' Lady Ningguang used to make her decisions must be incredibly valuable."

"If you can snatch an extra scrap or two, the benefits that trickle from Lady Ningguang's fingers will give you an edge over your competitors..."

After hearing this story, Lumine remarks, "Tianquan Ningguang—she's the one who presided over the Rite of Descension, right?"

Paimon nods. "That's the name we heard back then."

"The Fatui don't seem to like her very much… and she was the one who hid the Exuvia..."

Mu Yang is slightly surprised—he'd thought the little money-grubber would want to go collect paper scraps.

Lumine ponders, "I wonder what kind of person this Tianquan Ningguang really is?"

Just then, a soft, somewhat exhausted voice sounds from above.

Mu Yang knows immediately—it's none other than the ultimate workaholic, Ganyu.

Ganyu says, "Finally found you—'the one who returned from Jueyun'."

Lumine tenses slightly, about to react—

But then Ganyu adds, "...and Mu Yang."

Lumine and Paimon are stumped. Another adeptus?

They both turn to look at Mu Yang.

What can Mu Yang do but shake his head?

The motto here is: "Know nothing, say nothing."

Ganyu's expression visibly darkens.

She mutters under her breath, "Sigh… just as the Adeptus said..."

But now is not the time for personal feelings.

Ganyu pushes her private thoughts aside.

She is here on Ningguang's orders.

"I am Ganyu, an emissary of the Liyue Qixing—secretary of the Yuehai Pavilion, here to meet you."

"So, are you an emissary or a secretary?"

Ganyu, ever earnest, even explains this teasing remark.

"My primary role is secretary to the Qixing as a whole. For this occasion, I am serving as a special emissary for Lady Ningguang."

[Ah, Liyue's Humphrey.]

[Wow, she has horns!]

[I'm the Cocogoat you've been looking for.]

[I'm Jean, Acting Grand Master of the Knights of Favonius.]

[Oh-ho, if it isn't our dear Acting Grand Master Jean! Been a while—didn't expect you to fall so low, working as a secretary now.]

[Kao.jpg]

[Leaving a 'Kao' here.]

They'd just been talking about Ningguang, and now her emissary arrives.

This woman truly is something else, Lumine thinks.

"'The one who returned from Jueyun'… forgive my lack of decorum in this public setting."

"But this letter I bring is an official invitation drafted by Lady Ningguang in her capacity as Tianquan."

"Inviting you, as well as your 'guarding knight,' Mr. Mu Yang, to that 'palace in the sky'."

Ganyu sends the letter down with adeptal energy, delivering it into Lumine's hands.

Lumine takes it but doesn't open it yet.

Ganyu continues, relaying Ningguang's exact words:

"Bring her to me. I will see her. In the Jade Chamber, I will accompany her as we… snip, one by one, the tangled threads of hidden currents."

Before leaving, Ganyu glances at Mu Yang once more—only to find he isn't looking at her at all.

She departs with a faint air of dejection.

Lumine opens the letter, though its contents are already conveyed by Ganyu.

It's likely just a formality, a token of invitation.

Since it's a palace in the sky, there must be Millelith guards—she can just show this to them as proof.

Mu Yang isn't too surprised by Ningguang's invitation.

Wangshu Inn is her territory.

She's known all along that he was involved.

And now, with Cloud Retainer and the others already at the Jade Chamber, hiding his identity is pointless.

But this works out—he won't need to scheme his way to meet Ningguang.

Once Liyue's crisis is resolved, Mu Yang's next plan requires a small favor from Ningguang.

Having the Tianquan's support is far more convenient than going through bureaucratic procedures to secure a venue.

Paimon eyes the invitation, noting Mu Yang's name was clearly prepared in advance.

"She actually called Mu Yang a 'guarding knight'—does she already know?"

"Is this the Tianquan's power? Mu Yang's been with us all this time, yet even the Fatui and Zhongli never noticed..."

Mu Yang nearly chokes on his tea—

You absolute blabbermouth! You just spilled the beans! Weren't you saying it was a coincidence earlier?!

Sure enough, Zhongli immediately scrutinizes Mu Yang, wondering how he evaded detection.

Mu Yang quickly changes the subject.

"Rumors say the Tianquan's eyes are everywhere in Liyue."

"Wangshu Inn, where we stayed before coming to Liyue Harbor, is her property."

"Huh?!"

Lumine and Paimon are stunned.

Zhongli remarks, "Brother Mu remembers such details quite well."

"Work necessities."

Zhongli doesn't press further about how Mu Yang concealed himself.

Instead, he reminds Lumine:

"Few are fortunate enough to receive an invitation to the Jade Chamber. You should go—but do not forget the matter of the Rite of Parting."

"After you return from the Jade Chamber, our next meeting place will be Dihua Marsh."