"Could the rumor that consultant Zhongli is the director's illegitimate son actually be true?"
"The director's only seventeen. How could she have an illegitimate son that old?"
"Could the old director have adopted a son on his granddaughter's behalf?"
"I've heard of taking in a disciple on a master's behalf, but never adopting a son on a granddaughter's behalf."
Seeing the conversation veer further and further off course, Hu Tao hurriedly cut in. "Stop, stop, stop. Everyone, disperse. The Wangsheng Funeral Parlor isn't changing its family register today."
"Ye Xuan, Ronava, you two are going to stay at the Wangsheng Funeral Parlor, right? I'll show you to your rooms."
Hu Tao led them down the corridor, talking all the way. "My grandpa used to take his afternoon naps in this room, but it's been empty since. The bed isn't big, but it's sturdy. I jumped on it when I was little, and it didn't collapse."
Ye Xuan went in and pressed down on the bed frame. "Pretty good. Firm enough."
Hu Tao leaned against the doorframe. "Then Miss Ronava can stay next door. That room's empty too-"
"No need." Ye Xuan tossed his bundle onto the bed. "She's staying in this room with me."
Hu Tao froze. "Huh?"
"She's my maid. It's convenient for us to sleep together."
Hu Tao looked at him, then at Ronava. Ronava stood in the doorway, her face expressionless. She simply nodded. "Whatever master says."
"Hold on." Hu Tao raised a hand. "You're a master and a maid, and you're staying in one room? If word gets out, what will that make my Wangsheng Funeral Parlor look like?"
"I don't mind."
Of course Ronava didn't mind. If she did, she wouldn't have been resented for hundreds of years over not serving someone with a smile.
Hu Tao opened her mouth, then swallowed whatever she had been about to say. Finally, she waved a hand. "Fine, fine, fine. You two work it out yourselves. I'll go get the bedding."
She turned and left, muttering under her breath, "One's bold enough to suggest it, and the other's bold enough to agree. Both master and maid are pretty strange."
The room fell quiet. Ronava rummaged through the bundle, pulled out two cleaning rags, and tossed one to Ye Xuan. They began cleaning, Ye Xuan wiping the windows while Ronava wiped the table.
By the time Hu Tao returned carrying two quilts, they had nearly finished tidying the room.
She reached the door, then turned back. "Don't wander around the corridor at night. We've had a lot of guests in the viewing room lately, and they're shy around strangers. The kitchen is the third room on the left. There's tea on the stove, and snacks on the second shelf of the cupboard-but don't touch the box on the top shelf. That's mine."
Ye Xuan nodded. "Thank you, Director Hu."
After Hu Tao left, Ye Xuan put one set of bedding at the foot of the bed and the other in the wardrobe.
"Let's go out for a walk. I studied as a child and worked when I grew up, so I never got to enjoy myself properly. Let's ask the director for an advance on our wages and go have a look around. We can't wear the same clothes all the time, can we?"
"...My clothes don't get dirty."
Divine attire really was more convenient.
"You still have to change. That's an order from your master."
"Yes."
Meanwhile, at the Jade Chamber.
"Oh? Two mysterious employees have joined the Wangsheng Funeral Parlor. They said Rex Lapis has no Mora, and that the seventy-eighth director of the Wangsheng Funeral Parlor will be that Mr. Zhongli."
Ningguang, the Tianquan, leaned back in her chair, looking over the intelligence her subordinate had brought her.
Baishi asked, "Lady Ningguang, those two spoke disrespectfully of Rex Lapis. Should we inform the Millelith-"
"No." Ningguang shook her head. "The white-haired woman who can ferry souls of the dead first addressed someone as 'Mr. Mo,' and the man followed that with 'Morax.' Afterward, both of them went so far as to call Rex Lapis by his divine name."
She paused, then continued, "That suggests they may be old acquaintances of Rex Lapis. 'Mr. Mo' is also a name he goes by, so we can't judge those two's ages by their appearances. The adepti wouldn't address Rex Lapis directly by his divine name, so the most likely possibility is that they're two gods."
"Yelan."
A blue-haired woman appeared in the Jade Chamber and answered without hesitation. "No."
Of course she wouldn't. Those were two gods, and Ningguang wanted her to sound them out? She still wanted to live.
What made Yelan most unwilling was that, according to the intelligence, the man claimed to possess speed surpassing that of the gods.
That meant she might not even have a chance to escape.
"I didn't ask you to go." Ningguang put down the intelligence in her hand. "I only want you to find Ganyu and ask whether she knows anything about those two. As for them, I'll go in person."
She rose to her feet. "'Robbing me, Ningguang, is easier than robbing the Golden House.' Then I'll deliver it to their doorstep and let them rob me as they please. Baishi, prepare some money and send it to the Wangsheng Funeral Parlor."
Baishi hesitated. "My lady, how much should I prepare?"
"Ten million Mora." Ningguang sat back down and picked up her teacup. "If there's one thing I don't lack, it's money."
At the Wangsheng Funeral Parlor, Ye Xuan leaned by the window, staring at the panel before him that only he could see. He sighed.
The chat group was searching for group members.
This wish power was growing painfully slowly.
At this rate, it would only increase by one percent a day. It would take a hundred days to fill it once.
Ye Xuan ran the numbers in his head and made up his mind: once the blondie reached Inazuma, he'd make a big move.
When the blondie finally fought Raiden Ei, she would need to gather the wish power of all Inazuma. Otherwise, she wouldn't stand a chance.
When the time came, he would intercept that wish power. If the blondie used it, it would only be a temporary buff, gone once it was spent. If he used it, he would become permanently stronger.
As for whether anything would happen to the blondie-that was impossible. She was the protagonist, after all.
"I've brought the money. This is your first month's wages."
Hu Tao handed Ye Xuan a bag containing two hundred thousand Mora. He casually tossed it to Ronava. "Come on, let's go have a look around."
Liyue Harbor, the center of Teyvat's wealth.
Its streets were broad and lined with shops. Millelith soldiers, merchants, and workers moved among them, while vendors' cries rang out without pause.
The two walked along Feiyun Slope's main street toward Chihu Rock.
Bolts of cloth were piled outside Second Life. Ye Xuan went in and picked out two indigo short outfits for himself, then turned and asked the shopkeeper to bring out some women's clothes for Ronava to look at.
The shopkeeper brought out a moon-white, narrow-sleeved blouse and a lotus-pink long skirt. The fabric was plain and clean, and the stitching was fine.
Ronava took them into the back room and changed. When she came out, Ye Xuan looked her up and down. "They fit. Get two more sets to change into."
Outside the clothing shop, Mingxing Jewelry was right next door.
Ye Xuan went in, looked around, and pointed at a hairpin shaped like a Glaze Lily on the counter. "Let me see that one."
The shopkeeper smiled and handed it over.
Ye Xuan examined it, then raised a hand and slipped it into Ronava's hair.
Ronava froze and raised a hand to touch it, but Ye Xuan stopped her. "Don't move. I'm looking."
He tilted his head and studied it for two seconds. "All right, this one. And bring me a pair of simpler earrings."
Ronava lowered her eyes. "Master, I don't need these."
"I think you do." Ye Xuan had already paid. "Come on, next shop."
After they left Mingxing Jewelry, Ronava raised a hand and touched the hairpin in her hair, but said nothing more.
Ye Xuan turned into a general store on the corner, bought a bag of roasted chestnuts, and pressed it into her hand. "Eat while we walk."
The two peeled chestnuts as they headed toward the docks.
When they reached the docks, the sea breeze blew into their faces. Ronava stood by the stone steps, her hands slowing as she peeled a chestnut, and gazed absentmindedly out at the sea for a while.
"What are you thinking about?" Ye Xuan asked.
"Inazuma is over there." Ronava lifted her chin.
"No rush. We'll set off for Mondstadt in a couple of days." Ye Xuan tossed the last chestnut into his mouth. "The blondie is probably still running around looking for the Anemo Archon."
"Head back?"
"Let's go back."
The two walked back along the sloping road.
The Wangsheng Funeral Parlor's lanterns were already lit at the end of the slope. Hu Tao was crouching at the entrance, playing with a white cat. When she saw them return, she stood and clapped her hands. "Oh, new clothes? And a new hairpin too? Let me see, let me see-"
She reached for the hairpin in Ronava's hair, but Ye Xuan moved Ronava behind him. "Director, Ronava is mine."
"Stingy." Hu Tao pouted, though her eyes were smiling. "All right, wear the new clothes out tomorrow and let me have a look. Appearance is important for Wangsheng Funeral Parlor employees too."
Ronava poked half her head out from behind Ye Xuan. "Director, could I have another small advance on my wages tomorrow?"
Hu Tao froze.
Ye Xuan paused too, then turned his face away, his shoulders trembling slightly.