"In that case, then let Klee… let Klee go with you."
As she spoke these words, Jean felt all the strength leave her body.
She didn't know how to keep Klee here.
Su Han was right. Staying with her, Klee would only suffer. She didn't even know how to properly educate a child.
Watching Klee, who was now overjoyed because she had been given permission, Jean felt that her life was a complete failure.
The Grand Master had entrusted the Knights of Favonius to her, but she had made a complete mess of things.
The city was in chaos. The Fatui were even openly recruiting soldiers. If it weren't for Kaeya and Diluc joining forces to destroy their plot, it was uncertain who would even be in charge of Mondstadt right now.
Now, Liyue was strong and prosperous. Her own citizens were abandoning their homeland, yearning for a better life and leaving.
And now, even Klee felt that she had not been taught well.
An unprecedented sense of helplessness engulfed the elegant Acting Grand Master.
She didn't even know when Su Han and the others had left. It wasn't until Lisa's anxious voice appeared in her ear that Jean snapped back to her senses.
"Are you alright? Jean, wake up! Are you sick?"
"I… I'm fine."
Her voice was incomparably weary and weak. But how could she be fine, looking like this?
"Is it because of what happened during the day? I heard Kaeya challenged the Black Blade unit and was defeated in a single blow. The morale of the entire Knights is very low right now."
"It's not just because of that." Jean's face showed a bitter smile. "I've discovered that not only am I an unqualified Acting Grand Master, I don't even know how to raise Klee."
"Did you know? When I told Klee to stay, I actually saw fear in her eyes! In the past, I thought that if she made a mistake, I just had to lock her up and let her reflect on it. After all, that's how my father taught me. But now, I finally realize that I was completely wrong. And that my father's way was also wrong."
Looking at Jean in this state, Lisa put down the book in her hand and sighed. "This isn't entirely your fault. You can only blame fate. Jean, you've already done your best."
As a woman, for her to be able to support the entire Knights of Favonius was truly not easy. She had to deal with so many official duties every day and also guard against the Fatui's conspiracies. Where would she find the time to teach a child?
In contrast, Liyue was full of talented people. They could easily take turns looking after Klee.
Hearing her friend's comfort, Jean said bitterly, "I want to go out and clear my head. I'll have to leave things to you for these next two days."
"You're not thinking of doing anything rash, are you?"
"Of course not. I just want to go for a walk and clear my mind. Just consider it me being willful."
Jean rode her horse out of the city.
Under the beautiful, tragic sunset, she followed a small path forward.
That feeling of loneliness and helplessness weld up in her heart all at once. Slowly, crystalline teardrops began to flow down her cheeks.
She didn't know how long she had been riding. When she finally stopped, she found that she had arrived at Windrise.
Windwheel Asters were in full bloom beneath the great Anemo Archon statue.
Jean wiped away her tears, came before the statue, and gently knelt down, beginning to cry out her grievances.
"Great Anemo Archon, was it a mistake for the Grand Master to choose me? The once-prosperous Mondstadt is continuously decaying in my hands. A dragon disaster appeared, and we even had to rely on foreigners to solve it. Even my companions are abandoning me. Please tell me, what should I do?"
There was no one else around. Jean let down all of her defenses and began to sob.
She wasn't like Ningguang, who had many servants she could command. Nor did she possess Ningguang's supreme authority.
The strength she had maintained during the day completely collapsed in the night.
Su Han snatching Klee away in front of her had been the last straw that broke the camel's back.
As Jean cried bitterly, she didn't notice that on the large tree near the statue, a certain bard was silently watching everything.
Watching his believer cry her heart out, Venti felt that most of this was not her fault. A part of it was related to his own laziness.
In Liyue, that stubborn old man would give guidance to the merchants every year. And him? He spent every day playing and sleeping. This formed a sharp contrast.
Not to mention, Liyue now had that prodigy Su Han helping them. It would be strange if they didn't become strong.
"Huh? Wait. Why don't I just have Su Han help me manage Mondstadt? He's my brother! It's perfectly normal for him to come and help his big brother who's in trouble, right?"
Suddenly, Venti thought of a lazy way out.
Since Liyue could make Su Han a National Treasure, why couldn't Mondstadt?
The more Venti thought about it, the better it sounded. It's just that recruiting that guy probably wouldn't be so simple. After all, Su Han was the type who would only take advantages and never suffer a loss.
Although he didn't know what price Liyue had paid, when he had been secretly observing, that guy was a big womanizer. Today he was intimate with an adeptus disciple, tomorrow he was flirting with Ningguang, and he was even hugging that Qilin.
Suddenly, Venti had a realization.
"Don't tell me the Geo Archon is using this to tie Su Han down? No way. That old stubborn fool, would he really do such a thing? Hiss… it seems possible."
The more Venti thought about it, the more it felt wrong. Just in that grotto-heaven, how many women were living there? And how many had come to Mondstadt City to play today? They were probably all related to him.
Good heavens. I never thought that old man would do such a thing just to make Liyue strong.
Looking at the crying Acting Grand Master below, Venti felt he had to help her.
"My poor child, I have heard your plea. If you wish to change all of this, you must sacrifice yourself."
"Huh? Who is it? Is it the Lord Anemo Archon?"
Jean, her eyes red and swollen, looked up and found that the statue before her was actually glowing. A light and majestic voice came from within.
"Yes, I am the Anemo Archon, Barbatos. Mondstadt's recent situation is indeed not optimistic. But if you wish to change it, it will be extremely difficult. Right now, there is an opportunity. I wonder if you can seize it?"
"I am willing! As long as it can make Mondstadt strong again, I am willing to do anything!" Jean said, wiping away her tears, her expression incomparably serious.
"Mm, in that case, return to the Goth Grand Hotel now. While the Liyue delegation has not yet left, seize the opportunity I have given you. Think about why Liyue has become so strong in just over a month. Go, my child. May the wind protect you."
A gentle wind sent Jean back onto her horse.
On the way back to the city, Jean was extremely puzzled. Why has Liyue become so strong? It's all because of that Su Han. But even if I go and ask, he won't tell me his secrets, will he?
However, since it was a command from the Anemo Archon, she was willing to believe it.
At this moment, Su Han, Ningguang, and the others were enjoying the delicacies of Mondstadt.
"I didn't expect the food in Mondstadt to be so different from Liyue's."
"In short, it's not as exquisite as ours, but the wine is better than ours."
"That's true. Let's have a small drink, and then we'll head back. Although we have the train, if it's too late, it will affect our work tomorrow."
"Alright." Hearing Ningguang's arrangements, everyone nodded. After all, this rich woman was the one paying for this trip. Who would dare to say no?
Just then, a figure walked in from the door.
"Brother! I didn't expect you to come to Mondstadt! You're really too unkind, coming here without even telling me. Everyone, come and try the wine I've had buried for several hundred years!"
The Anemo Archon, Barbatos, took out the special wine he had prepared.
Beidou whispered to Ningguang, "Is that the Anemo Archon?"
The latter nodded and quickly invited him to sit down and dine with them. The other party was an Archon. If he came over to drink, they had to give him some face.
Beidou tasted a sip of the wine from Windrise, and her eyes lit up. "This really is good wine. The flavor is mellow, and there's a sweet aftertaste. It's truly a top-grade wine of the mortal world."
"Mm. It is indeed a delicacy that is hard to buy," Ningguang also praised after a small sip. As expected of the Anemo Archon. The wine he casually took out was already a top-grade item.
Venti chuckled. "Good wine is naturally for treating friends. Come, Su Han, let's have a cup, brother."
"This… I can't drink." He would get drunk as soon as he drank. Mondstadt was not Liyue. If La Signora were to launch a sneak attack, it would be no laughing matter.
But Venti said, "Ehe, I know. But I'm happy today. How can you not have a few cups with me? I have to thank you for healing Dvalin. This wine is specially made by me; it can even increase your strength!"
Since he had already said this, if Su Han didn't drink, he would really be disrespecting him. And he still had to "treat" Stormterror in the future.
"Alright then, three cups at most."
"Good, that's more like it!"
Hearing that he would only drink three cups, Ningguang, who had been frowning, didn't try to stop him. After all, it was only three cups. It was no big deal.
"Hey, Su Han, what do you think Mondstadt needs to do to become as prosperous as Liyue?"
After two cups of wine, Venti began to talk about the current state of Mondstadt.
Su Han hesitated for a moment, then sighed. "Changing Mondstadt is not something that can be done overnight. At the very least, you have to unite the hearts of all the residents! If even they don't recognize that their homeland needs their protection, then no matter how much effort others put in, it will be in vain. Think about it. Why is Liyue getting stronger and stronger now? It's because those residents all know that you can't rely on outsiders. Only by strengthening oneself is the true path to prosperity. The people are willing to join the army, and the merchants are willing to see the country become strong. With one heart and one mind, the Fatui and the Treasure Hoarders are just paper tigers."
"Mm-hm, what you've said is really good. It's too brilliant! What else? What else do we need to pay attention to?" Venti's eyes were shining, and he couldn't help but slam the table in approval.
As expected of the person chosen by that old man. He really has some skills.