He changed Tiwat

Qin couldn't help but ask, "So, is it true that... Deputy Minister Han, you and Yura are engaged?"

“Oh, that was fake.” Han Fulai calmly revealed the truth. “You two should also be familiar with the ways of the old noble family, the Lawrence family. Miss Yura’s uncle, Schubert, wanted to force her to marry into a noble family. Since I have some background in Fontainebleau, Miss Yura commissioned me to impersonate a Fontainebleau nobleman, pretend to be her marriage partner, and at the same time lure Schubert into revealing information.”

"And I would like to make Yura the 'Badminton Festival Princess'... as a way of making it up to her. I have seen all the sacrifices Yura has made for Mondstadt these past few days, and I have also seen the misunderstandings and grievances she has suffered. I think the people of Mondstadt should be given a chance to get to know Yura again."

Jean nodded repeatedly at his words. As a friend who had encouraged and supported Yola along the way, Jean had always hoped that Yola could gain people's understanding. Unfortunately, the Lawrence family's bad reputation was deeply rooted in Mondstadt, and people's stereotypes could not be easily changed.

This time, Yura has already made a great contribution by sacrificing her own family, and now she has the opportunity to become the "Badminton Festival Princess," allowing people to see another side of her. Why not take advantage of it?

Seeing that Qin nodded, Han Fulai knew that he had achieved his goal and did not linger any longer. He made an appointment with Kaiya to register for the competition together when Amber returned, and then said goodbye and left.

After Han Fulai left, Kaiya once again revealed his signature wicked smile.

He took a gleaming gold Mora coin out of his pocket and fiddled with it between his fingers.

"Qin, are you interested in making a bet with me? I'll bet on whether Vice Minister Han and Yura will take their 'fake relationship' seriously."

The Mora was bounced up by Kaeya and tumbled in the air.

"I bet this marriage proposal will come true."

“Kaeya, as a Knight of Favonius, you shouldn’t keep talking about gambling.” Jean frowned slightly. “Besides, this bet is invalid.”

"Huh? It can't be established?" Kaya was stunned.

At that moment, Qin suddenly intervened and confiscated the Mora.

"Because I'm also betting that this engagement will come true."

"Huh? Why are you so sure?" Kaiya was curious now. He had personally witnessed the two's "performance" in front of Schubert in the "Gate of the Eagle"—and he didn't think it was acting.

But Qin wasn't there at the time, was she?

"Well... would you believe that there is a planet beyond the sea of ​​stars, where there is a god who can answer all prayers and wishes, and people with wishes flock there to make pilgrimages? Would you believe that somewhere in the universe there is a world fighting against the apocalypse, where the noble and beautiful souls of fourteen Valkyries burn briefly and brilliantly?"

"Huh?" Kaiya realized he couldn't understand what Qin was saying.

“But I think Yura would believe it. Because she dared to come to Mondstadt alone, a city where everyone was her enemy, and she wanted to change the Lawrence family, which was rooted in Mondstadt’s history, with her own strength. She’s brave, isn’t she?”

"Uh...?" Kaeya tilted his head, not understanding what Jean was trying to say.

"The distance is a symbol, a metaphor for the unknown and the new. A brave bird will never build a nest in its lifetime, but will only drift in the wind of longing. A brave person will believe in the guidance of the wind and go after the distance."

The zither's tone even carried a hint of a bard's epic.

This made Kaiya even more confused.

"The past cannot rewrite the future, and Lawrence in history will not change, so no matter how hard Yura tries now, she cannot rewrite the impressions engraved in people's minds."

"But... a future full of infinite possibilities can save the world! And that Deputy Minister Han was described by Ningguang of Tianquan in Liyue as someone with 'infinite possibilities'."

Qin's eyes sparkled with genuine joy for her friend.

“When he said he wanted to make the people of Mondstadt rediscover Yura, I knew he was Yura’s ‘distant future’!”

“So…” Jean stared at Kaeya very seriously, holding up the Mora in her hand, “This is the acting captain’s order: you must win the ‘Breakfast Showdown’! Losing will result in a fine.”

"Yes, Commander! I guarantee the mission will be completed!" Kaeya stood with his legs together and saluted the Commander.

Although Kaeya didn't understand most of what Jean said, he did grasp her core idea—Jean said she shipped this couple and even wrote an impromptu essay about it.

The ensemble leader has a little secret.

Despite being well-versed in historical texts, despite bearing the name "Dandelion Knight," despite becoming a trusted acting Grand Master, and despite prioritizing Mondstadt and the Knights of Favonius above all else...

But... like a certain Seven Star next door who is about the same age as her, Qin appears serious and earnest, but in private she has some unknown, very "girlish" hobbies—for example, she yearns for the mutual affection depicted in girls' novels, and for emotions as delicate and fragile as spider silk.

Even as the Knights' intelligence chief, Kaeya would never know that Jean always carried a copy of "The Melancholy of Vera the Young Girl" with her, and had even memorized it.

Sick note

The north wind blows, the daytime is mostly cloudy, and at dusk, the yellow leaves gather deep on the steps.

Weary magpies circle the branches, their shadows frozen; wild geese skim the moon, their lonely cries echoing.

Sorrow cannot be dispelled, yet I seek you out; old age seems to have no end in sight, and it slowly creeps in.

I, a minor official in my youth, have been preoccupied with my affairs; now that I am ill, how can I possibly be distracted?

—Translation: The weather has been cold lately, and the flu is recurring. Although the author has the ambition to attend every class, he is unable to do so due to a lack of energy and has decided to take another day off.

Chapter 230 Badminton or Embroidered Ball?

The following morning, Han Fulai was having breakfast in the hotel restaurant when a red figure rushed in and came to an abrupt halt in front of him.

"Scout Knight Amber reporting for duty! Good morning!"

The fatigue of the journey from the snowy mountains to Mondstadt showed no trace on Amber; this enthusiastic scout knight was still full of energy.

"I greet you with the morning dew, dear Miss Amber. Please, take a seat." Han Fulai specially used the aristocratic etiquette he had learned from Yura to invite Amber to sit down, and ordered an extra cup of morning tea from the waiter.

He looked quite presentable sitting in the magnificent restaurant of the Goethe Hotel, dressed in a formal suit, and this time the sash and medals on his shoulders were genuine "Knights of Honor".

Amber chuckled: "Pfft, it's only been a few days, but you sound just like Yura!"

Han Fulai also laughed: "This is all thanks to Miss Yura's special training."

He spent over a million Mora at the Goethe Hotel to learn this trick—and Yura hasn't reimbursed him yet…

Amber was not polite at all; after sitting down, she even ordered a small cake.

"I've heard everything. Mr. Han, you want to give Yura a surprise, right? Yura's business is my business. I'm determined to win this championship!"

The mere mention of Yura instantly ignited Amber's fighting spirit, making her wish she could fly to the arena immediately.

She had just returned to the Knights this morning when she ran into Kaeya, who told her about Han Fulai's invitation to form a team to compete. Amber readily agreed and immediately went to find her teammate to register for the competition.

"Then we'll have to rely entirely on you." Han Fulai leisurely picked up his teacup.

As he had expected, Amber was more enthusiastic than anyone else about anything that would benefit Yura.

For Amber, Yura was not only a colleague and a friend, but also a fellow student who had trained under her grandfather. Since her grandfather's disappearance, Yura had become Amber's only family.

Before Han's return, who else was dedicated to getting the people of Mondstadt to know Yura again? It was Amber, who would set up a stage in the fountain square to "promote" Yura's exemplary deeds to passersby.

When Yura first arrived in Mondstadt, even the Deer Hunter restaurant refused to sell to the descendants of the Lawrence family—now, the restaurant's owner, Sarah, is so familiar with Yura that she can remember her favorite recipes, all thanks to Amber.

"By the way..." Amber lowered her voice mysteriously, "Mr. Han, are you... planning to propose to Yura in public after winning the championship?"

Han Fulai, who was drinking tea, choked on the spot and almost sprayed the tea onto Amber's face.

"I didn't...cough...I didn't..."

Amber chuckled and shook her head: "Mr. Han, don't be shy. I heard from Kaiya that even Captain Qin supports you! Don't worry, I'll definitely get you the badminton shuttlecock for the proposal!"

"Huh? What kind of badminton shuttlecock is this for a marriage proposal?" Han Fulai was completely dumbfounded.

Amber looked puzzled: "Don't you know? The shuttlecock used in the 'Flying Champion' competition is a special item; it's actually a 'bouquet' given to a loved one. Every year during the 'Badminton Festival,' many boys sign up for the 'Flying Champion' competition, all to present that shuttlecock to their sweethearts. I remember Liyue has a similar custom, right?"

Amber, who defeated all the young men in Mondstadt for three consecutive years to win the "Flying Champion" title, is the most qualified to speak on this matter. To this day, many young men whose marriage proposal plans were thwarted by Amber are still gritting their teeth and wanting to get revenge in the competition.

For example, there is a message like this on the message board of "Cat's Tail Tavern":

"Listen up, you red-clad guy! And everyone else too! This is my challenge! At the next 'Badminton Festival,' I'll claim the 'Flying Champion' title! Anyone who tries to stop me will be crushed on the court! Just you wait!"

The proprietress, Margaret, responded: "Cat's Tail Tavern wishes you the best of luck in your next flying competition, and hopes you'll dedicate the badminton to the woman you admire. We look forward to your continued presence and patronage."

Amber snatched the badminton shuttlecock, so the men who wanted to use it to propose to their lovers naturally had to ask her to transfer it to them. The transfer was up to the highest bidder—for Amber, this was her legal prize money as the "Flying Champion." Before her salary increased, the money she earned from playing at all the festival stalls during the annual "Badminton Festival" was donated by her defeated opponents.

According to Kaeya, who loves a good show, "Everyone knows that you and Yura are the closest, Amber. If Yura were to be chosen as the 'princess,' you would definitely agree. There's no need to invite you to join the team, so..."

So Han Fulai was afraid that Amber would give the badminton shuttlecock to someone else, so he specially invited Amber to team up with him to ensure that the championship shuttlecock could be in his hands as a teammate.

Amber thought Kaiya's statement made a lot of sense.

Upon hearing Amber's question, "Liyue has similar customs, right?", Han Fulai's face turned pale.

He remembered that Liyue really did have this custom.

In Liyue, during the wedding ceremony, the bride throws a bouquet of embroidered flowers to the wedding guests. Whoever catches it is said to receive good fortune for the entire year: merchants will prosper, the poor will have their luck turn around, unmarried men and women will find a good match, and married couples will treat each other with sincerity and no longer argue or quarrel over life's challenges.

Hydrangeas come in various materials; sometimes they are bouquets made of fresh flowers, sometimes they are silk embroidered with exquisite floral fabrics, and some simple families make them from colored paper or cloth. In Liyue, this custom is enjoyed by both the poor and the wealthy.

Regarding the origin of this custom, some believe it was influenced by the "Badminton Festival" custom of the neighboring country of Mondstadt, while others believe it originated from Heureia, the gentle "Salt Demon" in the Demon War.

According to ancient legends, Heureia once distributed flower balls to her people as a blessing... or perhaps a small comfort in a cruel and chaotic world. When the "Salt Demon" returned to the elemental cycle, her remaining people passed this tradition down to the people of Liyue.

The people of Liyue, who are competitive and love excitement, also changed the form of this folk custom according to their own personality, creating the custom of "snatching the embroidered ball".

Although the custom was originally intended to be kind and joyful, according to the accident report Han Fulai saw at Yuehai Pavilion, there were quite a few injuries caused by the scrambling for embroidered balls every year, almost on par with the number of cases of people being injured by mountain spirits. In response, the General Affairs Department even issued a special document strictly prohibiting the throwing of embroidered balls in busy urban areas to prevent traffic congestion and injuries.

The reason why the Knights of the Knights need to deploy a large number of people to maintain order during Mondstadt's "Badminton Festival" is mainly to prevent stampedes during the scramble for the shuttlecocks.

So... the climax of Mondstadt's "Badminton Festival," where the "princess" throws out a shuttlecock for people to scramble for, is actually quite similar to the "ball-grabbing" game at the Liyue wedding?

The bride throws the embroidered ball in Liyue, so who is the "princess" who throws the shuttlecock in Mondstadt...?

Han Fulai's forehead instantly broke out in a bead of sweat: "Amber, your Mondstadt's 'Badminton Festival Princess,' could it be... that they're all brides?"

Chapter 231 Now I Can't Clear My Name

"Hmm...they're mostly couples getting married." Amber blinked her big eyes, her bunny ears bobbing on her head.

"According to our Mondstadt custom, holding a wedding during the 'Badminton Festival' will receive the blessing of the wind god, making it arguably the most romantic wedding. The competition is just part of the festival atmosphere; the champion receives a prize, and the champions usually generously give the power to designate a 'princess' to anyone who needs it, to help bring the couple together. When I won the 'Flying Champion' title a couple of years ago, I also transferred the badminton shuttlecock to my fiancé, and there was a thank-you gift too."

"Uh...aren't there any exceptions? For example, having a girl who isn't planning on getting married be the 'Badminton Festival Princess' or something?"

Han Fulai forced himself to remain calm.

Amber gave him a thumbs up, "Of course, there are also those who confess their feelings to their crushes on the spot after winning the 'Badminton Festival Championship.' For Mondstadt girls, this is like a hero returning home and dedicating both honor and love to them—no girl would refuse! Good luck!"

Han Fulai could no longer remain calm.

He silently covered his face.

Mondstadt's current "Badminton Festival" customs... seem to be a little different from what he knew from history.

According to the records he and Mona found in "The Tower of Mondstadt", in the aristocratic era, those who threw embroidered balls from the tower were usually beautiful young women who could sing and dance, and it had nothing to do with marriage or anything like that - the "princess" at that time was more like the "winner of the Mondstadt beauty pageant".

The book describes the chosen "princess" as follows:

[During that year's badminton festival, a beautiful foreign maiden appeared atop the tower. Her name was Inas, a wandering singer from a distant nomadic tribe. In an instant, everyone in the square was captivated by her beauty. Nobles and slaves alike, the old and children alike, all eagerly watched her toss the shuttlecock and listened to her sing exotic poems.]

Historically, the "Badminton Festival Princess" of that era was essentially similar to an idol star performing on stage, with the badminton shuttlecock acting as a prop or souvenir held by the singer during a performance. It's quite normal for stars to toss props to the audience as souvenirs during their performances.

Han Fulai's intention to nominate Yura as the "Badminton Festival Princess" was truly pure of heart—basically, he wanted to emulate the beauty pageants of later generations and have Yura become the "Badminton Festival Princess," thus gaining a title similar to "Miss Mondstadt."

Many well-known film and television stars in China debuted and became famous through beauty pageants, such as Michelle Reis and Anita Yuen. Although there is no such profession as film and television star in Teyvat, there are idol singers. Isn't Miss Barbara, the "Mondstadt Idol," a star who became famous in this way?

His first thought after reading the book was Yura: beautiful appearance, elegant temperament, received artistic training from childhood, able to play moving music with a bone whistle, and possessed the "ritual dance" that attracted everyone's attention, no less than Inas in the book.

If Yura could just dance in public, Han Fulai was sure most people would be completely captivated by her—back then, when she danced in a PV, how many players instantly lost 648 yuan? If Han Fulai hadn't been poor back then, he would have lost 648 yuan too.

Given Yura's own qualities, she should have no problem becoming a "Mondstadt idol" or "Miss Mondstadt," right?

He previously helped Shenhe become the hero who defeated Bazha and protected Liyue, and helped Keqing implement the "Grand Blueprint of Yuheng Star," giving a lot of credit to Keqing. In fact, all of these were for similar purposes.

Shen He used to be an "outcast" who didn't fit into human society, and Ke Qing used to be a "workaholic" who was cursed behind her back for proposing "one hour of free overtime"... But since Han Fulai helped them establish a good reputation, they are now very popular and loved by the people of Liyue.

Ningguang also told him that when she was investing in the past, even though she offered better terms, it still led to the other party's distrust.

"That Ningguang must be plotting something. We can't let her succeed."

That's what people usually think.

After the battles of Oser and Barchak, Ningguang twice prepared to sacrifice her home to protect Liyue Harbor, which greatly changed the people of Liyue's opinion of her, and her business also ran better as a result.

Popular people find it easy to get anything done.

The same applies to Yura—because her surname is Lawrence, everything she does is wrong, perhaps even breathing is wrong.

Becoming the "Badminton Festival Princess" was his first step in helping Yura win over the hearts of Mondstadt people.

Using the beautiful name of "Miss Mond" to dilute the infamy of "descendant of the Lawrence family sinners" will create a new "memory point" for the public. In this way, when people mention Yura in the future, they will not always emphasize "the sinner of the Lawrence family", but will think of the beautiful "Badminton Festival Princess".

With the halo of being the "Badminton Festival Princess," Yura's actions will be less likely to be misunderstood by the public. People naturally tend to affirm the achievements of those they like. Modern celebrities and politicians create a "persona" on screen and "show up" on various TV programs before elections, all to make the public like them.

Han Fulai genuinely believed that making Yura the "Badminton Festival Princess" would help her realize her ideal of vindicating the Lawrence family.

Moreover, the plan had the support of Kaiya and Captain Jean, which gave him even more confidence.

But after hearing what Amber said today... it seems everyone thinks he wants to propose to Yura during the "Badminton Festival"?

Yes, the "Badminton Festival" custom that Mona found in the Lawrence family history is a custom from a thousand years ago. Now that a thousand years have passed, of course it has changed.

But Mona was a newcomer to Mondstadt, and he was also a newcomer to the "Badminton Festival." He had no idea about this... It's all because of Rampage's laziness in skipping the "Badminton Festival" activities! Who knew Mondstadt people liked to propose during the "Badminton Festival"?! Even we transmigrators don't understand this kind of thing!

This is a mess!