Earthly Desires *Yandere Genshin Impact*

Albite And No Bark

Hao-Yu was determined to find evidence against Mei Lin.

The eldest member of the council remembered the day he saw her ruin the late empress' tapestry in a display of pure vexation. He noticed the way her eye twitched whenever someone compared her good deeds to that of Guizhong. The way she spoke silky smooth to avoid the topic of marriage with the emperor. Everything about the woman was shady and duplicitous.

And there was always something she was hiding from everyone else.

Elder Hao-Yu crept around the palace, trying his best to be inconspicuous. He used his walking stick as both a crutch and a weapon. The maids and servants would only see him as an old man, not much of a threat. However, he was gathering some evidence against this woman that was trying to steal the heart off the Emperor. Something that he could use to get her kicked out.

Now, as the moon was high in the sky, he found himself in the Empress' chamber. He smiled fondly, remembering how the late Empress would smile and greet him warmly. While he would never enter her room alone, for fear of the wrathful Emperor, they did enjoy wonderful tea parties and walks around the grounds. He loved Guizhong so much that he considered her his own daughter. Her death was traumatic to him on the level of the Emperor. The older male peered inside the room to catch a glimpse of her portrait.

His blood ran cold.

It wasn't there. The once smiling face of the beautiful woman was gone.

He gasped, but covered his mouth to prevent himself from being heard. There, standing in the shadows, was Mei Lin. The portrait of the Empress was on the floor as she had candles surrounding it. There was a bowl of water next to her and the Empress' golden hairpiece on the other side. Mei Ling wore black robes, concealing her visage. Her inky black locks were pulled up in a ponytail as she pricked her finger with a dagger. Golden drops of inchor dripped onto the painting as the candles glowed brightly.

"Are you certain that this will work? I don't want to lose what I have here." She whispered, holding her hand in slight pain.

"Do not despair, my love. Once we have brought down Morax, I shall take over the region and you will be my Empress." A smooth, deep voice rung out from the bowl of water. "Do you not trust that I have your needs in mind? All I do is for the sake of you."

"It's not that I don't trust you, but I wish you would tell me the reason why we needed to do this part."

"Quite simple. The Empress was the Goddess of Dust and her essence is everywhere in this room. If we have the slightest bit of her here, we can siphon her power for you to use. Then, all you have to do is take on her likeness and kill him!"

Elder Hao-Yu backed up from the door, shaking in fear and anger. Fear that his country was in danger of regicide and anger that he was right about her being evil. He had to do something to stop her plans of wickedness and-

"My love, would you be a dear and tend to our guest at the door?" The watery man spoke softly, causing the woman to growl loudly.

"I do despise the pose who do not know their place. Perhaps they need an example."

Elder Hao-Yu hobbled away from the door, making sudden turns and hiding out in various rooms to get away from the chasing shards of jade. He dodged the spikes of black onyx, ducked under some feldspar, and was nearly beheaded by a jagged piece of crystal. His heart raced before he closed the door that lead to the throne room. He had to warn them, he had to warn them good. At this point in the evening, he would be in the study, looking over the paperwork! All he had to do was head over to the office and plead his case.