He changed Tiwat

The Grand Master began planning this expedition four years ago, with his destination being the borders of Teyvat... Jean witnessed firsthand how many sleepless nights the carefree Grand Master had spent preparing for this expedition, and how many plans he had secretly made... He embarked on this expedition with the resolve that he would never return.

After the Grand Master led the expedition, Jean assumed the position of acting Grand Master and has been considering how to reverse this passive situation ever since. Unfortunately, due to the limited manpower of the Knights, the Knights are currently at a clear disadvantage.

In fact, the Fatui had even plotted to help the Knights of Faith resolve the "Dragon Plague" in order to gain greater benefits in Mondstadt. If it weren't for the help of Lord Barbatos and the Knights of Honor... if the Fatui had actually resolved the "Dragon Plague," they might even have dared to propose stationing a large number of troops in Mondstadt.

If she were to completely break with Winter because of her own problems, leaving the Grand Master on the expedition vulnerable from both sides, Jean would never forgive herself.

...But if she were to lose her moral compass and allow the Fools to infringe upon Mondstadt's interests, Jean would also be unable to forgive herself.

If the Grand Master is a knight who conquers and creates legends, then she is a knight who protects peace and freedom.

What the harp needs to accomplish are the right things that the Grand Master failed to do.

"The Knights are now in your hands. After all, you've been doing the work of the leader all these years."

—The carefree North Wind Knight used just that one sentence to put the heavy burden on her shoulders.

Without hesitation, Jean gave the knight's promise: "Leave it to me, Grand Master."

She stood by the window like that, watching the commander-in-chief leave.

At that time, Jean made a vow in her heart in the name of her family, Gungnird: When you return, you will see a warmer, more prosperous, and more peaceful Mondstadt.

But now, standing by the window, Qin is thinking: Can I really do it?

Qin gently shook her head, trying to clear her mind of those troubling thoughts. She raised her hand and untied the black ribbon tied behind her head.

When troubled, Qin is used to organizing her thoughts by tying her hair up.

Just then, out of the corner of her eye, she caught a glimpse of a letter on the table.

The envelope had a mark that read "Jiheng Yizuo".

Chapter 158 Schubert Lawrence

The letter on the table was sent to her by her pen pal, Ningguang, the Tianquan Star of Liyue.

The Grimlight Merchant Guild and the Gunnhildr family have maintained a relationship for many years. Jean knew this wealthy businesswoman who dominated Teyvat when she was a young girl who had just inherited the title of "Dandelion Knight".

As a senior in her life, Ningguang would occasionally give Jean some advice and exchange stories about daily life and her experiences. Sometimes she would even ask Jean for a little "privilege," such as having the "Deer Hunter" send a chef to Jade Pavilion to cook for her when she wanted to eat authentic Mondstadt cuisine...

The letter arrived while Han Fulai was away in the snowy mountains. In it, he told her that Honorary Knight Ying had come to Liyue and that he had given her a good welcome. He also told her that Vice Minister Han of Moonsea Pavilion was going to Mondstadt to attend the "Badminton Festival" and asked her to take good care of him.

—Speaking of which, so far, only Liyue has been able to defeat the Fatui in diplomatic arenas.

Only Liyue expelled the Fatui diplomats and the "Northern Bank".

Moreover, Qin also knew that the key figure in accomplishing this feat was none other than Vice Minister Han. He had thwarted the plans of the Fools time and again, and even earned a very unpleasant nickname within the Fools—the Fools hated him to the core but were powerless against him, and could only vent their anger by cursing him.

Hmm... it seems that the relationship between that Deputy Minister Han and her pen pal, Sister Ningguang, is quite unusual.

If it were anyone else coming to Mondstadt, Ningguang probably wouldn't even mention it, let alone ask her to take care of them... So, for Ningguang's sake, could we ask this Deputy Minister Han for a favor in a private capacity?

Jean opened the office door and summoned the knight standing guard at the entrance to the confinement room: "Wood, please ask Vice Minister Han of Liyue to come here. Tell him I have something important to discuss with him."

In the "Deer Hunter" tavern, Yura saw her uncle, Schubert Lawrence, whom she hadn't seen for four years.

Short brown hair, a brown goatee, brown round-framed glasses—he looked exactly like the uncle she remembered.

He was still wearing the elaborate aristocratic attire he wore at home, with the "Ice Seal" symbolizing the Lawrence family embroidered on his tie and fitted vest.

Even in such a noisy restaurant, Schubert maintained an impeccable posture, his back ramrod straight and his chin held high, as if he were not there to eat, but rather waiting for an audience in a nobleman's mansion.

In fact, he wasn't eating anything; the table was completely empty, not even a glass of water.

His position seemed to be separated from the surrounding festive crowd by an invisible wall, and the cold expression on his face gave off a "keep away" vibe at first glance. Neither Sarah, the owner, nor the other patrons kept their distance from him; no one asked him if he needed to order, and no one wanted to share a table with him.

If you put sunglasses on his face, he could probably become a "cool, no chatting" meme.

Hmm, this behavior is truly befitting of the Lawrence family; they're disliked wherever they go.

Yura gave a self-deprecating smile.

She was very familiar with this scene; after all, she had gone through the same thing when she first arrived in Mondstadt.

Logically, on the eve of the lively "Badminton Festival," even foreigners newly arrived in Mondstadt should enjoy the warm hospitality of the locals. Even without a language barrier, after a few drinks, the Mondstadt locals, known for their love of good drinks, can easily become close drinking buddies with outsiders…

However, for the Lawrence family, being so close to commoners was nothing short of an insult.

Asking Schubert to shed his Lawrence persona, don commoner's clothes, and blend into the festive crowd? That would be worse than killing him.

Yura straightened her clothes, walked slowly to the table where Schubert was, and bowed slightly to greet him: "Greetings to you with the gentle breeze of the night, dear Uncle."

Upon seeing Yura, Schubert's usually stern face broke into a rare smile: "May the gentle breeze accompany you through a peaceful night, my dear niece."

When Sarah saw Yura, she put down her work and came over: "Hey, Yura, it's been a while. Happy holidays!"

Yura smiled and replied, "Happy holidays, Sarah. Same as always."

"The usual, right? Got it." Sarah quickly scribbled a few lines on the menu board, then glanced at the arrogant Schubert over there, and whispered, "Who's that over there...?"

“He’s my uncle.” Yura still smiled. “By the way, could you please order me an extra serving of ‘pickled vegetables and fried pork’?”

Upon hearing the name "pickled vegetables and fried meat," Sarah was taken aback, as this dish was not on the "Deer Hunter's" menu.

In fact, the "pickled vegetables and fried meat" is a hidden dish known only to the "Deer Hunter's" regular customers. The preparation of "pickled vegetables and fried meat" is extremely meticulous, and its method comes from the old nobles of Mondstadt. It has very high requirements for the degree of pickling of the pickled vegetables and the tenderness of the meat. Ordinary chefs cannot make this dish.

However, this elaborate dish was not very popular with the residents of Mondstadt because the pickles had a sour taste that most people were not used to, and gradually no one wanted to order it anymore.

—Just like caviar, another classic dish on the tables of the old aristocracy. Not only is it expensive, but the ingredients are also difficult to store and easily spoil. Moreover, caviar without other seasonings is actually quite fishy and salty, which is really hard for the average person to accept.

However, the old aristocracy liked to use this to show their difference from ordinary people. They spared no effort in praising this unpalatable stuff with all sorts of superlatives, exaggerating it into a rare delicacy. They even invented all sorts of strange "aristocratic dining standards"—for example, placing caviar on the back of the hand between the thumb and forefinger, letting the caviar get close to body temperature before eating it, well, eating it raw.

If you ask the old aristocracy why they don't steam the food before eating, they will usually give you a disdainful look that says "commoners are commoners"... Yura only realized how much good food was wasted by the so-called "aristocratic standards" after she left home.

“Okay, I got it. But it will take some time to prepare from scratch.” Sarah wrote it down, then leaned down and whispered in Yura’s ear, “I’m making this dish because of you, Yura.”

"Thank you." Yura nodded gently.

To put it bluntly, the reason "pickled vegetables and fried meat" is a "hidden dish" is not because it is particularly rare, but because few customers like to eat it, and the restaurant is naturally unwilling to put an unpopular dish on the menu. When Yura said she wanted to order this dish, the kitchen of "Deer Hunter" had to prepare the ingredients from scratch, which was indeed a "special service" for Yura.

After Sarah left, Schubert finally couldn't help but frown and complain, "Hmph, so rude and frivolous, just coming up to greet you like that, such casual and lazy words are simply unbearable to hear. And you, Yura, how could you be so friendly to commoners? Have you forgotten all the etiquette your family taught you?"

Chapter 159 Marriage Alliance

Yura pretended not to hear Schubert's complaints, but Schubert continued to ramble on.

"Hmph, in that era when everyone respected etiquette, neglecting the nobles in matters of manners would at least result in a flogging! Look at the world now, rules have been abandoned, etiquette has been forgotten, it's rotten to the point of being unbearable to look at..."

“That’s why Lawrence declined.” Yura calmly interrupted Schubert’s long-winded speech.

"What did you say? Have you forgotten who you are?"

Schubert was furious when he heard Yura's words, and he almost slammed his fist on the table—if only he hadn't done so, which would have been unbecoming of a nobleman.

"What is your mission, Yura? We, the descendants of Lawrence, have always been searching for an opportunity to regain our glory! The more lax the people around us become, the more we must uphold the elegance and manners of the nobility. We are different from birth! Remember, you are a nobleman with the blood of the Lawrence family flowing through your veins!"

"So what? You want me to be a nobleman here who can't even get a hot meal?" Yura's lips curled into a mocking smile. "Besides me, is there anyone else willing to cater to your tastes and order you a dish of 'pickled vegetables and fried meat'? My dear uncle."

Schubert stared wide-eyed, clenched and unclenched his fists repeatedly, until finally he lowered his proud head.

Before returning to Mondstadt, he hadn't expected that there wouldn't even be a place for him to stay. Department stores, restaurants, and hotels alike were all unwilling to offer services to the noble descendants of the Lawrence family.

Therefore, Schubert had to buy a tattered adventure tent from a passing foreign adventurer at a high price and condescend to live on the outskirts of Springvale.

While Yura was away on a mission, Schubert, unable to contact his niece, truly experienced the same pain that Yura had gone through.

“…In any case, don’t forget your mission, Yura.” Schubert finally managed to squeeze out a polite remark through gritted teeth. “Also…I’m glad you still remember your uncle’s tastes, which means you haven’t forgotten your roots as rumored.”

Yura gave a soft hum and changed the subject: "My uncle left me a letter before coming to Mondstadt and asked me to meet him here. What was the purpose of that meeting?"

Schubert coughed lightly, stroked his brown goatee, and said seriously, "Of course it's something important. Yura, you're almost twenty years old this year, aren't you?"

“…in another three months,” Yura replied.

“Hmm.” Schubert nodded. “Your brother still spoils you too much, letting you run around and cause trouble… But you’re almost twenty years old, it’s time for you to take on the responsibility of being the heir to the Lawrence family.”

“…” Yura remained silent.

Schubert continued, seemingly oblivious to the fact that "the marriage proposal has already been made. The noble bloodline of Winter, who now holds a high position among the Fools..."

“Enough.” Yura interrupted Schubert rather rudely. “I am a Knight of Favonius, not a puppet in the hands of my family, and I will not engage in any ‘marriage alliances’.”

Schubert shook his head: "...Stop being willful. You are not a Knight of Favonius, you are Yura Lawrence, a member of the Lawrence family. Everything you have is a gift from the family, and when the family needs you, you should give back to the family."

“Ha.” Yura sneered, “I believe my uncle has also realized what the surname Lawrence has given me these past few days.”

"Then return the 'Seal of Solid Ice'!" Schubert roared.

Yura was stunned.

Schubert, realizing his slip of the tongue, coughed again and said, "I'll repeat myself: you are not a Knight of Favonius, you are a descendant of our family, a nobleman with the blood of the Lawrence family flowing through your veins. You should obey the family's will and help the family regain its glory!"

Yura's gaze grew colder: "...But, from the past until now, when have I ever obeyed the will of my family?"

Schubert sighed deeply.

“Yura…the family really needs you now. The Fools have come after us, and we have only one choice: to completely side with Winter. After the outcasts of Mondstadt drove out our ancestors, it was the land of Winter that sheltered us for a thousand years. Don’t forget, your family, your homeland, are now in Winter.”

Yura pursed her lips.

Following the struggle a thousand years ago, the Lawrence family, who had long ruled Mondstadt, was overthrown. In the name of the newly established Knights of Valor, Vanessa did not delve too deeply into the Lawrence family's sins, but instead exiled the remaining members of the family to the outskirts of Mondstadt, never to return.

Most of the remaining members of the Lawrence family went to the neighboring country of Winter, while a small number chose to migrate to Fontaine—at that time, only these two countries had a long-standing aristocratic tradition and could provide shelter for the Lawrence family.

Having cultivated the land in Mondstadt for nearly two thousand years, the Lawrence family possessed a rich heritage and quickly established itself outside of Mondstadt. However, the past glory was ultimately gone, and those who lived under the roof of others had no right to speak of the pride of royalty. From a young age, Yura listened to her elders talk about how to eradicate the Knights and reclaim power in Mondstadt... but everyone knew that this was ultimately just wishful thinking.

But as Schubert said—if they completely side with Winter, using the Lawrence bloodline and the "Ice Seal" as bargaining chips to gain the support of the Fools, the Lawrence family does indeed have a chance to restore its former glory... although it is only a "hope".

“Uncle…you should have read that ancestral record.”

Yura lowered her eyelids and softly recited the records from her family history:

"On the road to exile, my father lamented the betrayal of men, the changing times, and the end of history. We watched as our people, who once belonged to us, sang and danced on the green fields, leaving their homeland..."

"Many years later, I finally understood that it was our Lawrence family that had betrayed and changed. Mondstadt was meant to be that way."

Yura understood perfectly well that Vanessa was merely the final touch that brought down the decaying edifice. Before Vanessa, the simmering rage had already begun to show its power.

Whether it's a righteous thief secretly praised in the alleys, a girl who can see death, a sword band intending to assassinate someone, or the traitors of the Lawrence family... the blood of Mondstadt people carries the spirit of rebellion.

Yura has always considered herself a member of Mondstadt.

Schubert opened his mouth, but no sound came out.

Yura continued, "The Lawrence family only acquired its infamy after its fall from grace. Before that, the name was full of glory, but it seems everyone has forgotten that history... But I haven't forgotten, Uncle."

This was the first time since they met that Yura had used the name she used to call Schubert when they were children.

“Uncle, I always remember how much you loved me when I was a child. I was so obsessed with learning the ‘Ritual Dance’ that I neglected my swordsmanship practice. When my father scolded me, it was you who pleaded with him for me. It was also you who sold the ancestral silver urn to find me the best dance teacher. After I obtained the ‘Ice Seal,’ it was you who secretly encouraged me to go out and make my way in the world… Where did that uncle go?”

As Yura spoke, her eyes welled up with tears.

She never imagined that the uncle who once doted on her like a daughter would one day yell at her, "Give back the Seal of Ice"—that was a death sentence.

The "Ice Seal," bound to bloodlines, can only be separated by death.

Chapter 160 The Smoking Nun

Faced with Yura's questioning, Schubert sighed again and took something out of his pocket.

The half-face mask is similar in design to the masks used by the Fools—but it is much more elaborate than the masks used by the Fools.

It was a silver mask inlaid with gold and gemstones, and engraved with exquisite patterns. The workmanship was superb and meticulous, showcasing the elegant etiquette of the ancient nobility in every detail.

In fact, the masks worn by the Fools were modified from masks used in aristocratic balls in the past.

The former nobles who once ruled Mondstadt were originally heroes who rose from the people. Great patriarchs and elegant princes, beautiful princesses and noble ladies, once shared food and joy with their people in banquets.

In that distant era, no nobleman ever hesitated to display his wisdom and elegance.

In that golden age, the nobility distributed knowledge and profits fairly among the people.

But later, the nobility gradually became decadent, and banquets degenerated into the frivolous pleasures of the powerful and wealthy.

This ball mask, which once belonged to the nobles of Mondstadt, now only has empty eye sockets that still gaze at the splendor of yesteryear.

Yura recognized the royal mask; it was worn by the ancestors of the Lawrence family when offering the "ritual dance" to the gods, symbolizing the family's heritage and glory.

Now, it represents the authority of the Lawrence family patriarch.

Even after being expelled, the Lawrence clan was able to stubbornly continue its lineage for a thousand years thanks to this internal unity. The authority of the patriarch was like that of a god to the members of the clan—and this was even more so when combined with the power of the "Ice Seal."

Schubert pushed the mask in front of Yura.

“Yura, this is your father’s order, and also the patriarch of the Lawrence family. You choose: either stop your ‘Knight’s Game’ and come home with me; or… you find a force for the family that can replace the Fools.”

He had something else he didn't say, but Yura knew what it was—if she didn't choose, the Lawrence family would use every means to take back her "Ice Seal".