Genshin Impact: I, the Winter Prince, reign supreme.

"I will dedicate my life to this goal, Your Highness."

[The Rich] Pantalone made a vow and regained his former confidence.

Although opening up the Northern Bank across the Teyvat continent is a long and incredibly arduous task, full of challenges and risks, it is also what he is best at and most eager to do. Just thinking about it fills him with excitement, and he can't wait to start immediately.

People worship, revere, and believe in gods because gods can bring wisdom and protect peace. But for Pantalone, gods are not in the heavens, nor in ethereal legends.

The true God will stand before you at the winter solstice.

Seeing the renewed fervor in Pantalone's eyes, Su Yu knew that tonight's transformation of him had been relatively successful. Although correcting a person's distorted worldview takes time, the current situation undoubtedly indicated a good start.

"The evil within us can sometimes make us stronger, but it can also easily lead us astray. Compared to shaking the foundations of this world, wouldn't it be more meaningful to one day have your image printed on Mora?"

Su Yu tossed the replica Mora into the air.

"I spent some Mora at the Wanwenjishe auction, and the proprietress, Ji Fang, gifted me an ancient coin. Now, I'm giving it to you."

Pantalone reached out and caught it, only to find that the pattern on the surface of the Mora had turned into his own portrait!

A wonderful feeling he had never experienced before swept over him. He boldly imagined that all the Mora in the world would have his image carved on them. How cool that would be!

"Your Highness, your idea is even crazier than destroying the world. However, it would be better to have your portrait engraved."

"Alright, we've already blasphemed Mora. If we keep talking about it, Morax will probably get angry."

Su Yu turned around and returned to the table.

"Since your brother is here today, you two should have a good chat. Although you two brothers come from poor backgrounds, one of you has become the executive officer of the Winter Kingdom, while the other has become one of the Seven Stars, Tianxuan Star. This is a rare opportunity. After tonight's gathering, we and the Seven Stars of Liyue will not be able to sit together so peacefully for a meal and drinks."

[The Rich Man] Pantalone looked at the green-haired young man with a white snake wrapped around his neck and wearing glasses.

"elder brother……"

His calling out "brother" sounded somewhat awkward.

Chapter 73 Rule by Man

The green-haired man was Bai Shu, the owner of the Bubu Lu pharmacy.

"Little brother, you've finally grown up."

Bai Zhu smiled, her smile as gentle as ever.

He stepped forward, wanting to pat Pantalone's head like he did when they were children, but the latter deftly dodged away.

The meeting between the two brothers was not as pleasant as expected, and everyone could see that the younger brother seemed to harbor resentment towards the older brother.

This resentment is not without reason.

Over the past few years, the wealthy Pantarone has been traveling to Liyue on business almost every month, but he has never taken the initiative to visit Bubulu.

At first, he heard that his brother Bai Shu had taken control of the pharmaceutical industry and was vying for the position of Tianxuan Star in Liyue. As the executor of Winter Solstice, if he got too close to his brother, it would inevitably affect the public's support for his brother. Therefore, he never went to see him.

More than a year later, the older brother defeated several other competitors and successfully ascended to the position of Tianxuan Star.

That day, when he arrived in Liyue by boat, he thought that his successful brother would surely come to see him and share his joy.

However, what arrived was bad news.

On the very first day that his elder brother ascended to the position of Tianxuan Star, he led the Thousand Rock Army to capture many core members of the Fools.

This was clearly intended to make it clear that he was irreconcilably opposed to the Fools!

When he returned to Winter, Her Majesty the Queen was furious.

In front of numerous officials, he was reprimanded for his foolishness and warned not to act on emotion.

That was the first time he had been publicly rebuked by Her Majesty the Queen since becoming the executor.

From then on, he completely gave up the idea of ​​seeing his brother, and only tried to find out about him indirectly.

He was relieved to learn that his brother was alright.

However, the barriers and gaps had already sown the seeds of resentment deep within their hearts...

"Your brother, he really misses you."

At this moment, the little white snake named "Chang Sheng" that was wrapped around Bai Shu's neck said sadly.

“Every time you come to Liyue, he stands by the window looking down at the streets, just to catch a glimpse of you. He doesn't come to see you because…”

"Immortality".

Bai Shu interrupted her, and Chang Sheng had no choice but to obediently shut her mouth.

Finally, after a period of silence, the two sides found a rare common topic.

"Shall we go see Daddy and Mommy?"

Pantalone nodded in agreement.

The two bid farewell to the crowd and went to the public cemetery in Liyue, where their parents were buried.

Ningguang refilled Su Yu's empty wine glass, revealing her professional smile.

"Your Highness, you have quite the refined taste. You just finished reprimanding your subordinates, yet you can sit down and chat with us so amiably. It looks like our intelligence agents will have their pay docked this month; they had no idea you enjoyed drinking."

"I do like drinking tea, but I don't like drinking alcohol."

As he spoke, Su Yu downed another glass of baijiu.

Ningguang and Keqing were greatly puzzled. She clearly said she didn't like drinking, but then she drank it all in one gulp. Wasn't that just saying one thing and meaning another?

However, considering that the man before him was Prince Zhidong, there must be a deeper meaning behind his actions.

For some reason, the two women sensed a kind of loneliness from Prince Zhidong at that time.

Ningguang had seen a similar sense of loneliness in Zhongli.

A woman's intuition is always very accurate. In fact, Su Yu was indeed homesick. The white wine from Liyue reminded him of the pure grain liquor from his hometown.

The wines of the seven kingdoms of Teyvat each have their own unique flavor, but only the white wine of Liyue easily evokes feelings of homesickness.

Ningguang said, “Your Highness, you seem to be too strict with your subordinates. After all, he is the executor of Winterfall, and his position is equivalent to that of us Liyue Seven Stars. Making him reflect and repent in front of us old rivals, we all thought he would be discouraged by this. Of course, this is not my sympathy for him, but simply a feeling of regret.”

At their level, what they care about most is face and dignity; they would rather die than lose face.

But the "teachings" that Prince Winter had just given to the "rich man" Pantalone almost shattered all his pride and beliefs, and then reshaped his worldview in a very short time. Pantalone was practically dead and resurrected.

Su Yu said calmly, "Didn't I already say that I would let my subordinates set a good example for you? Please feel free to ask any questions, say anything, or ask anything you want to know. This should be the most pleasant night you'll spend with me in the coming period."

Everyone had a lot to say, but after witnessing the prince's strict treatment of his subordinates, they dared not speak freely.

Even if you are going to speak, you must think it through carefully.

The meaning behind Prince Zhidong's words was all too clear: everyone only had this one opportunity tonight to have an equal and friendly conversation with him.

“Yuheng Star Keqing, let’s start with you.”

Ke Qing was slightly surprised.

The prince, who was visiting Zhidong for the first time, was able to accurately state his own title and name.

Her beautiful eyes sparkled with a bright light. After pondering for a moment, she asked earnestly, "Your Highness, the Emperor doesn't mind your status as Prince Zhidong and has sent a message to us, intending to appoint you as Regent. Surely the Emperor believes that you can govern not only Zhidong well, but also Liyue well."

"Given that Your Highness has not explicitly stated your intention to assume the position of Regent, I would like to ask Your Highness today whether 'rule by man' in Liyue can ultimately replace 'rule by God'?"

The reason why Ke Qing, the star of Yuheng, was able to firmly hold one of the seven stars is inseparable from her pursuit of the concept of "rule by man," which is exactly what Zhong Li values.

However, Keqing's relationship with her other colleagues is strained as a result. Apart from Ningguang, who understands her, the other members of the Liyue Septate tend to favor "divine intervention."

In their eyes, Liyue cannot be separated from the Emperor; the Emperor is the ballast that stabilizes Liyue.

Without the Emperor, Li Yue is simply unimaginable.

The Liyue Seven Stars have argued about this issue many times. Later, Keqing was gradually labeled as "disrespectful to the Emperor." Keqing, being straightforward, initially tried to defend herself, but later simply let them mock her and didn't take it to heart.

But with Prince Zhidong present today, she raised this highly controversial topic among Liyue's upper echelons. If she could gain Prince Zhidong's approval, then it would prove who was right and who was wrong.

"Before answering this question, Miss Keqing, please answer one of my questions first."

"Your Highness, please speak."

"How did you manage to secure your positions among the 'Seven Stars'?"

Without hesitation, Ke Qing replied, "There is a complete selection system for advancing to the Seven Stars level, and anyone who meets the requirements can apply."

"I'm afraid not just anyone can apply. As far as I know, the first requirement for application is that the applicant's personal wealth must rank among the top fifty on the Liyue Rich List."

Ke Qing frowned.

She was born into a prestigious family in Liyue, practically born with a silver spoon in her mouth. To help her compete for the position of Yuheng Star, her family gifted her a large number of properties in prime locations in Liyue Harbor, which propelled her into the top fifty richest people in Liyue.

So for her, this rule doesn't seem to be a problem.

"Is there a problem with that, Your Highness? The selection criteria for the Liyue Seven Stars have always been the same, and no one has ever raised any objections."

"As you wealthy merchants of Liyue sit here drinking with me, there are still countless people in the impoverished areas of Liyue, like the small fishing villages that Captain Beidou took me to, who are yearning for your help."

Su Yu looked at Ke Qing, his eyes sharp as a hawk's.

"How could Liyue, managed by a group of wealthy merchants and gentry, possibly know the needs and suffering of the poor and needy? Their so-called 'rule by man' is nothing but self-deception!"

Chapter 74 Divine Healing

Ke Qing was taken aback.

She oversees infrastructure and real estate in Liyue and rarely leaves Liyue Harbor to visit impoverished and remote areas. She is only seen in places where real estate development is profitable.

Having grown up in luxury, she had virtually no concept of the lives of the poor.

The off-shoulder top and black tights she's wearing for work right now are the cheapest version available. Normally, when she lives in her big villa, she's decked out in gold and silver.

"You have a rather impatient temperament, and although you seem to be constantly busy every day, it's not for the sake of the people of Liyue, but only to monopolize the land and housing construction in Liyue."

After speaking, Su Yu turned his authoritative gaze to Ning Guang and the other people.

“Ningguang, although you were not born into wealth like Keqing and started from scratch, you still ascended to the position of Tianquan Star after becoming a great merchant and a wealthy man. You used laws and intelligence to exchange benefits with merchants all over the world.”

"The head of the Kaiyang Xingfeiyun Chamber of Commerce has monopolized the fabric and clothing industry in Liyue."

"Tianxuan Star Atractylodes macrocephala has monopolized the pharmaceutical industry."

"The Chief Steward of Tianji Star has monopolized shipbuilding and maritime transportation."