Atop the lofty city walls, two figures stood amidst the cool morning breeze, gazing at the departing carriages in the distance.
"Diluc-senpai, they've left."
"Don't call me 'senpai'; I'm no longer part of the Favonius Knights."
"Then... Diluc-sama?"
"...Although we didn't uncover any sinister intentions, they're quite extraordinary individuals. Parting amicably isn't necessarily a bad thing. The only regret is that the specific terms for our trade partnership must await Bronya, the shopkeeper from distant Liyue Harbor, for her final decision. Unfortunately, this may delay selling this year's finest dandelion wine until its optimal flavor is lost."
Diluc watched the carriage disappear at the end of the road, his expression indifferent as he spoke. Then, he turned and descended from the city gate tower.
Jean shook her head with a gentle smile, placing one hand on the edge of the city wall. Overlooking the gently rolling hills bathed in the breeze, she sighed,
"Origin or strength doesn't matter; since they bear no ill intent, such generous guests... I truly hope they visit more often! Next time we meet, let's invite them to the Knights' headquarters. If we can persuade these influential patrons to invest, my workload might lighten up considerably."
Stretching her weary back after prolonged sitting, Jean's mature and graceful curves were fully illuminated by the sunlight. As the city's leader, her perspective differed slightly from Diluc's, her words carried in the wind reflecting both regret and anticipation for their next encounter.
Unbeknownst to her, as a diligent public servant—ahem, a dedicated acting captain—Zeke had already arranged a gift for their future meeting.
It was an appointment letter, sealed with the emperor's emblem, on gilded parchment.
Hopefully, Jean would appreciate it, because she really had no choice.
When they reunited again, Seele couldn't return the bottle of medicine to Bronya.
It had already been depleted by the time they departed Mondstadt.
But these were insignificant matters.
Now, Zeke sat at the center of the grand hall within the Qi Clan mansion. At the round table beside him were Fu Hua and Bronya, while the other girls occupied seats further away. However, Kiana—she hid just outside the door, cautiously peeking with one eye, too afraid to enter the hall.
"Sip—"
Zeke enjoyed his tea, engaging in a calm conversation with his two reunited wives.
After a moment, those icy-blue eyes shifted towards the doorway.
Instantly, Kiana shrank back, pressed herself against the wall, and silently began inching away.
Suddenly, countless laser dots illuminated her body.
"I surrender!"
Ten seconds later, Kiana knelt upright at the entrance, hands neatly placed on her knees like a well-behaved schoolgirl, facing Zeke with a solemn expression.
"Phew~"
Zeke blew gently on his tea, gaze fixed on its surface as he asked, "Where did you go wrong?"
"I shouldn't have run off without permission, nor should I have maliciously tarnished your reputation behind your back."
"What should my punishment be?"
"Um...how about...deducting two days—no, wait, make it two meals from me?"
"I dislike using food deprivation as punishment; it's unhealthy."
"Then, maybe ten smacks on the hand?"
"Hmm, that sounds reasonable," Zeke agreed with satisfaction.
At the same moment, a long white whip slowly swished through the air—it was composed of highly concentrated light and electricity, possessing enough energy to effortlessly slice through continents.
"Sorry! I was wrong! Please spare my life!" Kiana prostrated herself, openly admitting her mistake and pleading for mercy.
Though this scene had repeated countless times before, witnessing this troublemaker grovel yet again still elicited involuntary twitches at everyone's lips.
The only distinctions between the creature named Kiana and a husky were likely her strikingly beautiful face when silent and her voluptuous figure—nothing more.
"For now, let's put it on your tab. Since I erred first this time, I won't hold it against you."
"Great! Just like I said, considering I even wore my hat properly, nitpicking would've been too petty..."
Kiana sprang up instantly, hands on her hips, gloating triumphantly—only to catch Zeke's icy glare.
"Hmm?"
"I meant, thank you for your magnanimity, dear husband," Kiana softly replied, promptly assuming a demure posture with impeccable grace. "I will remember this lesson and earnestly repent." Her demeanor transformed entirely, devoid of any trace of her earlier exuberance within seconds.
At that moment, Fu Hua, who had been advocating for Kiana all along, suddenly furrowed her brow. After pondering quietly, she hesitantly spoke:
"Zeke, while it's true that Kiana has always been carefree and unconcerned about trivial matters, might there also be an element of your excessive indulgence contributing to this situation?"
"...I don't indulge her excessively."
Unaware of his own leniency, he even believed deep down that his discipline was quite strict—and simultaneously placed a serving of Mondstadt's specialty mint jelly in front of Kiana.
"Woo-hoo! Thanks, Zeke!"
"Mm-hm."
As Fu Hua watched Kiana devour the jelly like a little squirrel, alongside Zeke calmly nodding after feeding her, she covered her face with one hand and let out an expected sigh.
It's precisely this oblivious indulgence that keeps Kiana so delightfully naive and clueless!
Thanks to Zeke's magnanimity, Kiana's issue was swiftly resolved.
As for Wendy and Seele, they soon found themselves engrossed in their own private sisterly whispers. It seemed they touched upon some extraordinary topics, causing both of them to blush profusely while unconsciously glancing at their forearms... Ahem, regardless, after a deep and candid exchange, they seamlessly embraced their new roles, fostering a harmonious atmosphere.
Having witnessed ten years of plot development, as big sisters, Kiana and her friends were well-prepared; it was merely a matter of everything falling naturally into place.
Meanwhile, Zeke ventured deeper into the mansion, reaching a tranquil little courtyard.
Upon entering, he encountered Benares rushing from another direction with a glass of juice in hand.
"Ah... Master Zeke?"
"I'll take it inside. You wait here."
"But Your Majesty... Very well, Bella understands."
Years of interaction had made it clear to Benares who truly held sway, so she obediently handed the juice to Zeke and quietly stood outside the room.
Naturally, Benares had no intention of changing her allegiance; from the beginning, she served and protected only Lady Kiana and Queen Kiana. However, neither of her mistresses could stand up to Zeke, and blindly opposing him would only bring them unnecessary hardship. After experiencing this multiple times, Benares learned to comply to some extent, even addressing Zeke as "Master."
After all, isn't the husband of one's mistress considered their male master?
"Click!"
As Zeke pushed open the door, he found a hardcore otaku white-haired girl sprawled on the floor, hugging a pillow while flipping through a novel.
"Bella, hurry up with my juic—juice... At least knock before entering, geez!"
"Slap!"
A book aimed for Zeke's face but was caught effortlessly by his hand.
"'Tyrannical Emperor Falls for Me: The Rise of the Queen.' Is this your preferred genre?"
"Shut up! Put down my book and juice, then get out!"
"I heard you've been holed up here since arriving in Liyue... Just like at home, huh? Don't worry about growing mushrooms inside?"
"Huh? You asking for a fight?!"
Wearing a loose otaku shirt emblazoned with "Empress" and "Invincible," Sirin's face flushed red as she aggressively pointed at Zeke.
"Snap!"
Zeke clicked his fingers.
Instantly, scattered items like bed covers and pillows rearranged themselves neatly within the room, while Sirin's body floated uncontrollably, accompanied by a set of ancient-style clothing appearing beside her.
In no time, the Queen of the Void, now looking like a delicate young wife, was led out of the room hand-in-hand with Zeke.
Perhaps due to their intertwined hands, Sirin's face blushed not from anger but with a rosy glow, making her appear unusually docile.
As dusk approached and the sun slowly descended in the west, they had planned to explore Liyue Harbor's nightlife together.
When Zeke arrived at the entrance with a lively entourage, he found Senti and the Book of Fuxi, summoned remotely, already present.
Both wore sunglasses tailored to their sizes and carried noticeably bulging wallets. Under subtle gazes from the group, they aggressively pitched their wares to unsuspecting passersby.
"The key to success..." began the Book of Fuxi.
"...when venturing outside," continued Senti.
"Together:" "...is unquestionable integrity!"
"We offer priceless treasures..." said the Book of Fuxi.
"No deception for young or old..." added Senti.
Book of Fuxi & Senti: "We only conduct ethical business!"
The two girls, one tall and one small, energetically pitched their seemingly peculiar orbs to passersby like performers.
Book of Fuxi: "With twenty years of professional experience, we've forged connections with immortals, granting us access to these unparalleled, rare treasures. Each item possesses immense power—truly extraordinary!"
Senti: "That's right! Meeting us is your lucky day! Check this out—it's a sphere capable of capturing any demonic creature; even against Demon Gods, it's more than sufficient! Intrigued? Seeing as you're destined for greatness, today we'll let you have it for just 99,999 mora!"
Book of Fuxi: "Opportunities like this won't knock twice!"
Senti: "Plus, we offer lifetime warranties—any quality issues will be replaced or refunded without hassle. You've got nothing to lose. And by the way, we also provide services such as demon exorcism, solving complex problems, house repairs, tutoring children's homework, and much more—all high-quality at affordable prices. Whatever troubles you face, feel free to entrust them to us... Aiyo! What was that, Old Antique?!"
Fu Hua covered her face with one hand, clenching the other into a trembling fist, and through gritted teeth asked:
"What exactly are you two doing?"
Book of Fuxi: "Obviously conducting business, you blockhead. Can't you see that? No wonder you're so out of touch."
Senti: "Exactly! Just look at my versatile grab-all spheres—they're selling like hotcakes!"
"Whoosh!"
With a casual flick, Fu Hua sent one such dubious sphere soaring into the sky, transforming it into a fleeting meteor disappearing towards the horizon.
Then Senti shrieked, "My merchandise, noooo!"
In the end, the disheartened Senti and the guilt-ridden Book of Fuxi, realizing they'd set a bad example for children, were firmly dragged along by a stern-faced Fu Hua to catch up with the main group.
The imposing, aloof young man led a diverse ensemble of exceptionally beautiful girls through the twilight streets. Their lively, melodious chatter and captivating feminine fragrances naturally drew many curious gazes—interrupted briefly when Hu Tao summoned the law enforcement team for Kiana, only to be swiftly intercepted by the Qi Clan Trading Company's legal staff, narrowly avoiding spoiling the festive atmosphere.
Weaving through the bustling crowd and urban bustle, they reached the boundless ocean's edge. The golden sunset and vibrant evening skies hung majestically afar, painting a scene as poetic as a picture.
"Zeke, look! There are seagulls over there!"
"See those floating structures? That's the legendary Jade Pavilion!"
"So beautiful..."
"It's too bad it'll be over soon."
As the sea breeze blew gently, Zeke listened to the girls' exclamations of awe mixed with regret. Holding the Book of Fuxi in his palm, he couldn't help but smile.
Just as poetry often describes, the sunset swiftly descended into darkness, giving way to the starlit sky and the moon, painting a new scene of infinite beauty.
"Whooosh!"
"Poom! Poom! Poom!"
Suddenly, countless fireworks blossomed amidst the velvety blackness, their vibrant hues illuminating everyone's eyes.
"Bronya bought all the fireworks in town!"
"After such a long separation, how could we let this reunion end so abruptly? My husband and everyone else, I've prepared a grand tour of this kingdom for us to enjoy together!"
Standing before the group with radiant smiles, Bronya and Fu Hua extended their hands towards Zeke.
"Well then, what are we waiting for? Lead the way," said Zeke as he walked towards his two wives.
Dusk has never marked the end—there remain stars, moon, evolution, tomorrow's sunrise and sunset, and their story will continue on, forever and ever.