Work Text:
It was another bright, sunny day at the Pearl Galley. The people of Liyue were roaming around, having small talks with their peers and enjoying the performances. The resounding voices of the opera performers gathered attention from many eyes, and earning a round of applause from the people. Even the Fatuis on duty were enjoying themselves.
A certain harbinger sat in the corner, sipping the hot tea recently served by the Pearl Galley's attendant, enjoying his evening tea in peace.
"Sir Childe." A Snezhnayan diplomat greeted the harbinger, bowing down. "Maksim, it has been a while. Enjoying your time here at Pearl Galley?"
"Yes sir, very much so."
In the midst of it all, Archeologists Hanxue and Yixuan debated loudly, seemingly uninterested in the performers and instead focusing on the topic that they were discussing. The two Liyuean archeologists huddled together, starting a debate which took the attention of the crowd from the performers.
"I'm telling you, Yixuan, now that the Geo Archon had passed, Celestia might choose another Geo Archon to bestow upon us!" The man shouted, flailing his arms around as to tell how big of a deal the problem at hand really is. "Look, i get where you are coming from, but it hasn't been a year since his passing! Why would Celestia and the Gods above choose another archon this quickly?"
The topic attracted the eyes and ears of most people on deck, even Qiu'ge, the opera performer herself.
"You have a point there, but my argument still stands. Liyue was prosperous under the able hands of Rex Lapis! If Celestia bestowed to us an Archon who is far less competent than the almighty Rex Lapis, then Liyue will fall!"
Whispers were heard all over the deck, all the customers talking to each other discussing the topic.
"But the Seven Archons were chosen by Celestia, and they can replace the Archons once they die, so we won't know at all who or when they'll choose one!" Someone from the crowd shouted.
Childe looked up from his tea and his conversation with Maksim, listening in to the ongoing debate. "Interesting.." Childe mused to himself.
Hanxue stood up abruptly, nearly knocking over the pot of tea on his table.
"Nobody, and i say nobody, can ever replace our Rex Lapis. But if the Gods of Celestia are going to bestow to us someone less competent than Rex Lapis, then I say we will choose our new Archon by ourself!"
Everyone cheered, raising their cups in agreement.
"Yes! We the people should choose who leads us!"
"We're the ones who knows what leader we need!"
"We'll search far and wide in Liyue for our new Archon!"
Childe laughed gleefully. "Liyue, the land of contracts, are going to choose their own Archon themselves! This is just simply amazing."
"But, Sir Childe, the Tsaritsa.."
"I know, i know, but what the people of Liyue doesn't know won't hurt them. If Liyue ended up getting a new Archon, then we would just simply dethrone them once more. For The Tsaritsa."
"For The Tsaritsa."
Childe walked out the Pearl Galley, mounting the boat that will take him back to Liyue Harbor. "This is a very interesting turn of events.. I must tell this to the others."
-----
Over at Wangsheng Funeral Parlor, Zhongli cleaned up his desk and put away his paperwork. Work has been tough from the load of Treasure Hoarder corpses they had taken in a while ago, and while the Ruin Hunter who supposedly killed them was being dealt with, Zhongli somewhat had a sense of nervousness.
"Oh? Zhongli! What's wrong?" Hu Tao peeked into his office, her signature grin plastered on her face. "Oh, nothing. I was just thinking a little bit."
"I hope it doesn't bother you as much, because we need to get to work soon!” Hu Tao cheered. "The 10% off discount got them taking our services, finally!"
The elder male smiled at the girl. "It's a first, isn't it?"
"It is! C'mon, let's get to transporting these people!!" Hu Tao cheered, weirdly upbeat considering that they were dealing with corpses and dead people. Zhongli simply nodded, and just about when he reached for the door handle, a disheveled Childe runs into the parlor.
"Zhongli Xiansheng!! Oh, and Miss Hu Tao too!" He greeted, a little out of breath. Zhongli pulled over a chair, and tells the younger man to sit down. "Childe, it's a pleasure to see you again. What brings you here?"
"I just heard the most amazing thing while i was on the Pearl Galley!" He said, which attracted Hu Tao's attention. "Eeh? What is it what is it? Is there a murder? A dead body?"
"Oh nono," Childe chuckled, "but some archeologists over there decided that since Rex Lapis's passing, they'd choose a new Geo Archon on their own with the rest of Liyue's inhabitants!"
Zhongli was more than shocked, of course.
"A.. new Geo Archon?"
"Yeah, a new Geo Archon. Apparently they're looking for a talented leader with a Geo vision that can lead Liyue."
The former archon simply sighed. "Oh well, if that's what the people of Liyue will do, then let them do it. Anyone chosen would have to be bound by a contract as well, so consent from both parties would prove to be quite a hassle."
Hu Tao laughed at that statement. "If i were given a chance to become an Archon, I'd take it! Who knows what you can do when you have a whole nation following you!" She said. "Ah, but i wouldn't qualify for that, my vision is a Pyro one."
"Neither would i. We are Fatuis, i doubt that Liyue's people would choose someone within our ranks with a Geo vision. Plus, I'm way more comfortable with my Hydro vision."
"Ooh but Zhongli, you have a Geo vision!!"
Zhongli chuckled softly. "I do wish they wouldn't choose me. I wouldn't qualify to lead Liyue." Childe squinted at him, and shrugged. "Well I'm pretty sure your name would be brought up either way soon, Xiansheng, because they're really doing a headhunt for Geo users!"
"I sure hope not."
-----
The next day, every single citizen of Liyue had heard about the news. There was a sense of excitement mixed in with worry throughout the people, as the news spread like wildfire.
The two archeologists who started it all, Hanxue and Yixuan, headed over to the Feiyun Commerce Guild's Headquarters to gather funds to make a voting event. What better way to choose an Archon than a fair and square vote by all of Liyue?
The Feiyun Commerce Guild's servant, Xu, led the two in to speak with the available higher-ups of the guild. "Excuse me." He said, while knocking the door.
"Come in." The voice of a young man replied.
"Master Xingqiu, you have guests."
Hanxue and Yixuan looked around, waiting to see the head of the guild- and were thoroughly disappointed to see a young man instead of the commerce guild's head.
"Um.. but we wanted to speak with the head of the commerce guild.." Yixuan spoke up.
"Oh, I'm terribly sorry, but my father is on a business trip to Sumeru along with my brother. Any concerns with Feiyun Commerce Guild will go through me instead." Xingqiu said, a thin, sweet smile on his face.
"R-right." The two guests decided to sit down and talk it out with the young man.
"So, you need our help to fund you so that Liyue can hold a voting event for the next Archon?" Xingqiu said, after listrning to the guests' needs. "Yes, exactly. Waiting around for Celestia to bestow upon us a new Archon would be too risky. I believe that we people should know who is the most fitting to lead."
The young man nodded his head. "I see where you are coming from, sir Hanxue. Feiyun Commerce Guild will put up a small pool of funding for your event, hopefully that's more than enough for the event to go on. But, we expect a return of our funds within the remaining of the year. I will write down your name in Father's notes so he can see what's happening."
"Yes, thank you very much for your kindness!"
Xingqiu smiled and reached for a notebook, and scribbled down a note. "Take this to the servant earlier, Xu. He'll help you get around."
The two stared at the... Poorly written piece of note and went out to do their business.
Xingqiu decided that he'll also go out, and see what happens next.
The young male jumped out the office window discreetly and did a small dash towards Wanmin restaurant, where he knows Xiangling and Chongyun are.
"Xingqiu!" Chongyun called out, in front of Wanmin's ordering window. "Chongyun! Xiangling!" He waved back. "How's business?"
Xiangling jumped gleefully. "Business is great as usual! Oh, but did you hear the news? They said they're going to choose a new Archon!"
Chongyun raised his eyebrow. "A new Archon? I thought that's not our choice to choose."
"Ah, the ones who started it all met me in the guild a bit earlier " Xingqiu chipped in. "Said that they want to choose their own leader rather than getting a new, incompetent Archon."
"Well it makes sense, but it's a bit peculiar."
"Well, I'm excited to see how it'll play out!"
"I wonder if Hu Tao knew about this.."
Just a few hours in talking and helping out in Wanmin, the New Archon Vote Committee (that was just built a few moments ago) came into the building.
"My fellow Liyueans! It is time for us to choose a new Archon! Please step up and write your nominee on a piece of paper, then submit them to us from the New Archon Vote Committee!"
"Looks like it's starting!" Xiangling exclaimed. "I wonder who'll be chosen... Maybe Lady Ningguang?"
"The Tianquan? That does sound like a good idea. A Geo user who protects the people." Chongyun replied.
"Ah, but on the contrary," Chef Mao appeared beside the three, joining their conversation. "I think Liyue would want to choose someone that doesn't hold as much power on the people like the Qixing. They'd want someone from the common folks to lead them, become a representative for the citizens."
"Chef Mao." Xingqiu greeted with a nod. "You do have a point there. Lady Ningguang is already too powerful in the Liyue Qixing."
"Yes indeed. Oh, Xiangling dear, can you help me at the back for a second?"
The restaurant's hustle and bustle was particularly wild that day. Xiangling said her goodbyes to Xingqiu and Chongyun as she worked on serving food, while the two boys sat together on the table outside to wait for her.
-----
It has been a long day in Liyue Harbor. The New Archon Vote Committee bad worked their bones off, collecting votes from eligible Liyueans from all over. The Committee sat down on the stage built for them in the town square, the location of Rex Lapis's Rite of Passing.
Zhongli and Childe, who had been out buying dinner, decided that they'd take a little look at how the headhunt for a new Archon went, taking a seat a little bit further from the crowd.
"Wow, they sure made this into a big deal." Childe mused. "Indeed they have.." Zhongli sighed in reply, shaking his head.
"Xiangsheng, what do you think of all this? I know no one would have a better opinion than Rex Lapis himself."
"If a new Archon is what the citizens want, then give them a new Archon. I believe Liyue will become prosperous under the watchful eye of a new Geo Archon."
"Even if they take your place?"
"I'm not the Geo Archon anymore, Childe. Let the citizen choose their new path to a prosperous future."
Childe nodded and decided to not push any further. He observed the area, seeing as many more people gathered around- including Xingqiu, Chongyun, Xiangling, and Hu Tao, who were chatting together in another corner.
Soon enough, the host of the event went on the stage and greeted the crowd waiting for the results.
"Ahem. Fellow Liyueans, after a long day of voting, we will now commence the vote count for our New Geo Archon!"
The crowd around them cheered, excited to hear the news.
"Uh, as you know, the voting campaign is for us to see who the people think would be the most suitable to lead Liyue. We have listened to many interesting thoughts, and have arrived on one conclusion."
The host opened a piece of paper and started reading through it. "The passing of our Rex Lapis has been a big news of sorrow for the whole Liyue. But as the times go by, we need a new leader! What Liyue needs is a figurehead to be declared an Archon! He who shall do the deeds Rex Lapis had done for us, by supporting our business of the trade without ruling over us excessively."
"He who was chosen must be knowledgeable of our History, someone full of elegance and someone who wouldn't do anything to embarrass our nation in front of other nations. A wise and reputable person who was bestowed a Geo vision by Rex Lapis, who we can point to with pride when one asks who our Archon is!"
The crowd's cheers had only gotten louder and louder, all in agreement with everything that was said. Zhongli chuckled in amusement, watching the whole thing as if it was a reality show.
"Now, without further ado- our New Geo Archon who the people has chosen!"
A drumroll starts playing, building up the tension between the crowd.
"MR. ZHONGLI OF THE WANGSHENG FUNERAL PARLOR!!!"
Zhongli choked on air. "WHAT?"
The ginger-haired Fatui beside him went into a seizure of laughter, uncontrollably rolling around with how hilarious the situation became. "X-Xiangsheng- New Geo Archon- AHAHAHAAHAHAHAHAH"
Zhongli facepalmed, shaking his head in disappointment.
Hu Tao ran over to Zhongli after she spotted him, and gave him a pat- or a smack- on the back.
"Zhongli! You're the Archon now, congrats!!"
"ABSOLUTELY NOT."
The crowd turned their head to Zhongli, and once the man realized that the crowd was running towards him- to either congratulate him or bombard him with questions- he made a mad dash towards a ledge and jumped off using his polearm.
"Aw, there he goes~ Poor Zhongli~" Hu Tao said in a sing-song voice. "We should get out of here before we get trampled to death, Mister Fatui! Wangsheng Funeral Parlor will take care of you~" She gleefully said, rolling the unconscious Fatui who laughed so hard until he passed out away from the crowd.