Keqing was startled when she saw Ryou collapse drunk. He had still looked so steady earlier, drinking bottle after bottle, so how had he suddenly gone down right at the end?
She looked up and saw Ningguang's eyes light up.
Ningguang was staring straight at her husband, looking as if she wanted to devour him.
And it was not just Ningguang. Lumine, Shenhe, Xiangling, and the others all had burning looks in their eyes.
Keqing's expression darkened. During dinner, they had looked like normal guests. The moment her husband got drunk, they all turned into vixens.
Every last one of them looked ready to eat him alive!
No. I have to protect my husband. I absolutely can't give these vixens a chance!
Keqing raised a hand and called over the housekeeper, having him take Ryou away first.
Once that was arranged, she saw several people stand up one after another, each of them looking eager to move.
"Tabibito, we haven't even finished eating. Where are you going?"
Keqing turned to Lumine. "If you leave now, wouldn't that embarrass me as the hostess?"
When Keqing said "hostess," she emphasized the word heavily.
She wanted every woman present to understand that she was the mistress of this house. These vixens could forget about laying their hands on her husband.
"I just wanted to use the restroom," Lumine said.
"You don't look urgent to me. You're not planning to take this chance to do something, are you?"
"You already messed around in my house last time. Not this time. I added restrictions at the door in advance. None of you can get in."
"Sit down and keep eating." Keqing grabbed Lumine's arm.
"This… fine." Lumine sat back down.
Lumine glanced at Keqing, feeling deeply frustrated. She had wanted to seize the chance to go find Ryou.
But Keqing had stubbornly held her back and refused to let her leave, all while lecturing her with righteous logic.
Especially that gaze of hers. It was strange, fixed tightly on that door without blinking.
"Keqing, we're about done eating, so we'll head back first," Ryou's father said after glancing at the others and standing up.
"All right. Father, Mother, take care on your way back. Tomorrow, Ryou and I will visit and bring over more crayfish," Keqing said.
"Good." Ryou's father nodded.
Ryou's mother glanced at Ganyu and saw the faint blush on her face, immediately realizing she was drunk.
She gave Keqing a look, meaning that Keqing needed to keep a close eye on her now.
After leaving Ryou's house and walking a short distance, Ryou's father turned back to glance inside. "That child has far too much luck with women."
"If he weren't married, that would be one thing. But now that he is, what is this supposed to be?"
Ryou's mother said, "Our son is outstanding. Why are you unhappy that women like him?"
"If our son likes someone, it wouldn't matter even if he married a few more. I think Ganyu is quite good. She'd be perfect as a daughter-in-law."
"Ganyu…" Ryou's father looked at her and felt she must have lost her mind.
After all, every generation of the Liyue Qixing knew that Ganyu had served in Liyue Harbor for thousands of years.
That was no secret in Liyue Harbor. And she wanted an adeptus to become her daughter-in-law?
Wasn't that a daydream?
Thinking back to the scene at the dinner table, Ryou's father rolled his eyes.
He could see that Ningguang, Xiangling, Lumine, and Shenhe all clearly had feelings for Ryou. Their eyes had basically been fixed on him the entire time.
Hu Tao, Mona, Beidou, and the others were different. They were mostly focused on eating.
Ryou's father thought of how the family had passed down through the generations, almost always with one husband and one wife.
But when it came to his son, that rule might be broken.
Back at the dining table, the meal had basically come to an end. Keqing did not force everyone to keep eating.
She had the servants clean up, then forcibly brought everyone over to drink adeptal tea.
The quality +2 adeptal tea refreshed the mind and cleared the head. Slowly, everyone sobered up. They sat there quietly, not saying much.
"I recently gained some new insight, and I need to seize the chance. I'm going back to cultivate," Shenhe said.
"I saw you cultivating at home for half the day already, and you do it in shifts every day."
"Besides, Zhongli and Ganyu are both here. They can give you guidance," Keqing said, grabbing Shenhe and giving her no chance to leave.
Keqing knew that if she let Shenhe leave, Shenhe would definitely go find her husband.
So none of the women here could be allowed to leave.
Mm… Hu Tao could leave.
Because Keqing could not see any special connection between Ryou and Hu Tao. If anything, Xiangling was the one who seemed more questionable.
"Ningguang, Zhongli, since both of you are here, why don't you try getting to know each other? I think the two of you are very suitable."
Keqing found a topic, then looked at Lumine. "What do you think?"
"I'm watching," Lumine said.
"Hm?" Keqing looked at her.
"What are you glaring at me for? I said I'm sitting here watching!" Lumine crossed her arms, not backing down at all.
Keqing had forced her to stay just now. There was no way she was going to become a sacrifice.
Shenhe looked Ningguang up and down a few times, then said, "I think Ningguang is very beautiful. She's wealthy, elegant, and has a good figure. But…"
"She isn't worthy."
Keqing laughed when she heard that and watched Ningguang's face darken visibly.
Ningguang glared at Shenhe. "Do you even know how to speak properly? I am one of the Liyue Qixing, and you're saying I'm not worthy of Zhongli?"
"From the sound of that, you're interested. Why don't you two get together first? I'd like to see who is worthy of whom."
"No need. I already have someone I like," Ningguang said.
Keqing clenched her fists. "With your status, finding a few more would be normal."
"Haven't you always been pushing for a polygamy system? Perhaps it could benefit you."
"If you and Zhongli are interested in each other, I'll do you a favor and agree to that law."
Keqing brought up that law because Liyue did not currently allow polygamy.
She had noticed that Ganyu was drunk, and Ryou was drunk too. If nothing unexpected happened, tonight would definitely succeed.
Then the next problem would be the law, because that law still had issues.
Strictly speaking, it had not been put into effect.
The old law was monogamy, but because Ningguang advocated polygamy, quite a few people in Liyue Harbor had begun to stir.
If the law passed, then it would at least make things proper on the surface and preserve some dignity.
"Cough. About that…" Zhongli started to say.
"There's no need. I, Ningguang, have lived for so many years. I know perfectly well what self-respect means. I only like one man."
"As for what outsiders think of me, I don't care."
"Zhongli is overflowing with talent and virtue, but I can also tell that we are not meant for each other," Ningguang said.
Ningguang looked at Keqing. "I am still studying the law. It will be implemented by early spring next year."
"When the time comes, I will still advocate polygamy. As for which of us can truly push the law through…"
"You probably won't get the chance," Keqing said with a smile.
"Oh? Because of that person?" Ningguang said.
"You know about that?" Keqing frowned.
"That matter has not spread, but nothing at Yujing Terrace can be hidden from me."
"Besides, he may not necessarily step down, right?"
"As for Zhongli, I wouldn't mind him taking that seat, but… he refuses, doesn't he?" Ningguang said.
"What seat?" Hu Tao asked, holding her teacup.
"One of the Liyue Qixing," Ningguang said.
"Hm? Didn't my consultant say he was only working part-time at the Ministry of Civil Affairs? Now he's about to become one of the Liyue Qixing?" Hu Tao's eyes widened.
"Director Hu, it's not only that seat. Even the Tianquan side has someone recommending Zhongli," Ganyu said.
"Hiss, my consultant is that amazing?" Hu Tao drew in a sharp breath.
"Mm." Keqing nodded. "If Zhongli hadn't refused again and again, he probably would already be taking one of the Qixing seats."
When Ningguang heard that, she froze for a moment and looked at Zhongli.
"I'm quite content working at the Ministry of Civil Affairs. I have no intention of becoming one of the Liyue Qixing," Zhongli said.
Seeing all of them look at him gave Zhongli a slight headache.
When he had heard Keqing say that just now, he had almost thought his identity had been exposed.
Zhongli was about to say more when he saw Lumine trying to stand up. The next second, Keqing grabbed her hand and pulled her back down.
Zhongli felt that something was very wrong. "It's getting late. I should return to Wangsheng Funeral Parlor."
"Director."
"Oh, right. I should go back too," Hu Tao said.
"Keqing, I'll head back first as well," Ganyu said, standing up.
Everyone rose to leave, but Hu Tao noticed Xiangling still sitting there and tugged at her. "Xiangling, let's go."
"I…" Xiangling hesitated.
She knew today was an opportunity, but when she saw Keqing, Ningguang, Lumine, Ganyu, and the others all looking at her, her entire face heated up. She had no choice but to stand.
"All right. Then I won't disturb you any longer."
"Cough, cough. Then Kazuha and I won't disturb you either."
Beidou gave Kazuha a look, preparing to retire after a job well done.
After all, Beidou's mission this time had been to get Ryou drunk. Now that could be considered a complete success.
Kazuha nodded and left with her.
Seeing the group depart, Keqing breathed a sigh of relief.
She had dealt with Xiangling. Next were Ningguang, Shenhe, and Lumine.
"Ningguang, it's getting late. Aren't you going back to rest?"
"What, do you want to stay at my house?" Keqing looked at Ningguang.
"The Lantern Rite is coming in a while, and I happen to have some matters I want to discuss with you."
"Especially regarding the import of goods from Inazuma. We need to arrange people in advance to go there and purchase them. I'd like to discuss who we should send," Ningguang said.
Keqing knew Ningguang was only using that as an excuse.
Importing goods from Inazuma did require advance arrangements, but Beidou was already very experienced with this sort of thing. They could simply send her.
"The Lantern Rite is still nearly half a year away, and you're discussing this with me now?" Keqing looked at Ningguang, her tone unfriendly.
[End of chapter]
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