Find Me Amongst the Glaze Lilies

1

Ningguang has always had strange dreams. Dreams of glaze lily fields and settlements of stone. Unfamiliar mountains and a forgotten technology. A much older Liyue. As she got older, the dreams only ever got more vivid. From mere flashes, she started to witness entire scenes and eventually recognise faces and names. It was strange, how connected she felt with those she 'saw'. It's almost as if… she knew them, despite never having met any of them at all. Not to mention, how strange the setting of her dreams always seemed to be.

Following the events of the Rite of Descension, the battle with Osial, and her dream from Rex Lapis, these dreams took on a whole new level of realism that left her gasping in the middle of the night. Corruption, poison, ever-consuming darkness, pain. Bloodshed-filled nightmares that would have her thrashing in her sleep. All her life, the dreams had been peaceful, if not a bit sad and melancholy. She'd never experienced anything remotely like this before. Carrying out her duties with only a few winks of sleep got increasingly difficult with each passing day, to the point that her secretaries, Ganyu, and Keqing convinced her (reluctantly) to take the day off early to get some rest.

This is what led her to Madame Ping.

Liyue is an old land full of culture and tradition. Fortune-telling and Astrology being one of them. While Ningguang herself was quite a fan of acupuncture, massages, and tea ceremonies, she'd never quite picked up on the spiritual side of Liyue culture. Even before her days of selling wares along Yaoguang Shoal, she'd learnt the hard way that only hard work, wit, and dedication would ever get her success. But with the recent events and her ever-consuming dreams, she'd felt as though she'd might as well try, having exhausted all her other possibilities.

With her newfound knowledge of Madame Ping's status as an elder adepti, Ningguang thought her to be a suitable candidate to ask for some advice. If Madame Ping couldn't provide any answers or at least point her in the proper direction, then maybe only Rex Lapis himself could help her.

"Good afternoon Lady Ningguang." Madame Ping greets at the site of the Qixing Tianquan.

"Please, no need for formalities, Ningguang is just fine. Good afternoon to you too, Madame Ping. May I request a moment of your time?" Ningguang asks calmly.

"Well of course, Ningguang. What can I help you with?" the old adepti smiles.

"If you'd allow me, I'd like to invite you to Heyu Tea House so that we may discuss the matter over tea." Ningguang offers.

"My, what an honour. I accept your invitation." Madame Ping laughed.

And with that, they began their small trip over to Feiyun Slope. As they passed, many stopped to greet the Tianquan, to which she responded in kind. Madame Ping, like Rex Lapis, took pride in the young woman. But upon seeing the lass when she approached her earlier, she couldn't help but want to inquire…

"Are you feeling well, Ningguang?"

The question was a surprise, and Ningguang was reminded of the prowess and supernatural capabilities of the adepti. Looking at her companion, she sees a knowing look in the old woman's eyes. Obviously, even flawless makeup did not fool her.

"Not as well as I would like to be, I must admit. Though this is related to the matter I'd like to discuss with you." The young woman responds in kind.

With a nod, the subject is put on hold. Soon after, they're in front of Heyu Tea House, and quickly guided to a table in a secluded corner of the restaurant.

Zhongli liked his current weekday routine. He'd start off his morning early with a light meal with a complementary tea as he'd read the news or a new book. From there, he'd take a stroll around Liyue Harbour before settling down at Wangsheng Funeral Parlour for work. At noon, he'd visit one of the restaurants he fancied and sit in with one of the story tellers. Some work would continue afterwards, interrupted by a tea break somewhere in-between. With that, he'd spend the late afternoon wandering Liyue before setting off for dinner somewhere in the city. Sometimes, he'd watch a play or opera or performer afterwards before settling in for the evening with yet more tea and a book.