Genshin Impact: A Guide to the Unofficial History of Teyvat — Chapter 53

Chapter 53: Rumors End with the Wise

Secret Tales of Feiyun: Hidden Beauty in the Inner Chambers, the Second Miss’s Sword Shadow and Book Fragrance spread like wildfire through the bustling streets of Liyue Harbor, playing out exactly as Lovia had anticipated.

Sanyu Bookstore ran multiple emergency reprints, yet the freshly bound copies vanished from the shelves faster than the ink could dry. During post-meal tea sessions and evening strolls, nine out of ten conversations inevitably drifted toward the scandalous ‘Second Miss’ of the prestigious Feiyun Commerce Guild.

Naturally, this tempest of gossip blew straight through the grand gates of the Feiyun Commerce Guild itself.

At first, it manifested as subtle ripples. Maidservants and estate hands gathered in hushed clusters, their whispers cutting off the instant Xingqiu or the head butler strolled past. Their eyes darted toward the young master—a potent mixture of burning curiosity, intense scrutiny, and the giddy thrill of sharing a monumental secret.

Gazes that once held nothing but polite reverence for the Second Young Master now lingered, tracing the lines of his silhouette with newfound suspicion.

“Hey, don’t you think… the Second Young Master’s skin is a bit too flawless for a normal man?”

“His voice does carry a rather bright, melodic cadence. I used to brush it off as the lingering tone of youth, but now that I really listen…”

“And that figure! I always assumed he was just slender from spending too much time hunched over his books. But after reading that chapter… looking at those voluminous silk robes, they really do seem tailored to hide something…”

“Do you think chest binding… is actually more exhausting than his daily sword practice?”

“Shh! Keep your voice down! Do you have a death wish?”

The rumors drifted through the estate like spring willow catkins, catching on every corner. Even the seasoned, gray-haired managers of the guild found themselves staring at Xingqiu with indescribably complex expressions. They did not necessarily swallow the absurd fiction whole, but the sheer bizarre entertainment value of the tale was impossible to resist, prompting them to mutter speculative theories under their breath.

As for Xingqiu himself? True to his personal philosophy that ‘rumors end with the wise,’ he maintained an immaculate composure. He carried himself as though the sensational novel depicting him as a resentful, cross-dressing lady of the inner chambers had absolutely nothing to do with him.

He continued his daily routine without missing a beat—reading in the pavilion, practicing his Guhua sword arts, and venturing out to meet his friends. He even had the audacity to bring a copy of the scandalous book along, enthusiastically dissecting its narrative plot holes with Chongyun. It was a relentless academic exercise that frequently left the young exorcist flushed crimson with sheer embarrassment.

This utterly extraordinary, unbothered attitude actually caused the skeptics to waver. The Second Young Master was so open and shameless about it. Surely, it had to be pure nonsense.

Besides, the author’s note at the very end of the manuscript explicitly stated that the characters and settings were entirely fictitious and not to be taken seriously.

And yet, a staggering number of people chose to believe it anyway.

The internal whispers were one thing, but the external unrest surrounding the guild was entirely impossible to ignore.

First came the inexplicable surge in daily visitors. Merchants who usually only maintained a passing, superficial acquaintance with the Feiyun Commerce Guild suddenly arrived in droves. Even unrelated literati and traveling scholars found flimsy excuses to drop by. Under the guise of discussing lucrative trade routes or exchanging poetry, their eyes would involuntarily drift toward Xingqiu, their polite chatter laced with heavy, probing implications.

“Young Master Xingqiu is truly a prodigy of both the pen and the sword. Such an elegant temperament and refined style… it is a rarity even among the most cultured women of the city!” one visiting merchant flattered, his eyes locked onto Xingqiu to catch any slip in his facade.

Xingqiu merely offered a serene smile. Unfurling his fan with a crisp snap, he replied, “You flatter me too much. I am entirely unworthy of such high praise; my studies have only just begun.”

His defense was absolutely airtight, leaving the nosy prober thoroughly derailed and confused.

The situation escalated to true absurdity when professional matchmakers began crossing the threshold. They did not come to propose marriage for the ‘Second Young Master.’Instead, they danced around the subject, indirectly inquiring if the guild was hiding a’Second Miss’who had reached marrying age. A few even boldly hinted that certain prominent families did not mind the scandalous rumors of’fate’ and were more than willing to send betrothal gifts.

This left Xingqiu’s parents trapped between hysterical laughter and genuine tears. They were forced to politely decline the matchmakers, exhaustingly reiterating that the novel was pure fiction, all while viciously cursing the name ‘Li Xin’ in the privacy of their own minds.

Then, one afternoon, the guild welcomed a particularly boisterous guest—Captain Beidou, flanked by a handful of seasoned sailors from the Alcor.

Beidou, renowned for her brash personality and long-standing maritime trade with the Feiyun Commerce Guild, had arrived to settle the final payment for a massive shipment of goods.

In the grand reception hall, once the mora had changed hands and the ledgers were closed, Beidou kicked back with a cup of premium tea. Her sharp, predatory gaze swept over Xingqiu, who was dutifully keeping her company. Suddenly, the captain threw her head back and barked out a roaring laugh, slamming her heavy hand down onto Xingqiu’s shoulder with enough force to make the boy stumble forward.

“Xingqiu, you little rascal! Not bad at all! I never expected you to make a bigger splash in Liyue Harbor than my entire Crux Fleet! Everyone down at the docks is running their mouths, swearing up and down that the Second Young Master I do business with is actually a delicate little Second Miss! Hahahaha!”

Xingqiu winced, rubbing his aching shoulder, and managed a helpless, strained smile. “Captain Beidou, please, you must be joking. It is nothing more than idle street gossip. It shouldn’t be taken seriously.”

“Not to be taken seriously?” Beidou arched a bold eyebrow. She leaned in closer, dropping her voice to a conspiratorial rumble that carried the rough edge of the sea breeze. “To be completely honest with you, I never really paid much attention before. But looking at you now… you are a pretty handsome kid. Hell, you’re a lot more delicate than the rough-and-tumble brutes I keep on my ship. Why don’t you come out to sea with me and see the real world? I guarantee no one out on the open water will mistake you for a lady!”

The burly crew members lingering nearby immediately joined in on the merciless teasing. “She’s right! Come on, Second Miss… oh, wait, my apologies! Second Young Master, come play on the Alcor!”

Xingqiu remained utterly silent.

For the first time, he found his silver tongue failing him against such overwhelmingly blunt, piratical teasing.

Even within the safe confines of his own home, a wave of suffocating care began to drown him.

The head kitchen matron started secretly lacing Xingqiu’s afternoon pastries with expensive medicinal herbs meant to replenish qi and enrich the blood. She would hover near the dining table, muttering under her breath, “The master… oh, the poor child is still growing. We absolutely cannot let him overexert himself.”

When the laundry maids delivered his freshly washed clothes, they would lean in and whisper with utmost gravity, “Second Young Master, we made sure your inner garments are tailored from the absolute softest silk in the storehouse. If anything feels… restrictive or uncomfortable, you only need to give the word.”

Even the shop assistant responsible for the guild’s private purchasing pulled Xingqiu’s personal servant aside, asking in a hushed, frantic tone, “Does the Second Young Master… require… you know… some specially customized, breathable linings for his chest?”

Faced with this suffocating tide of well-meaning kindness, Xingqiu was entirely at a loss. He could neither accept the bizarre accommodations nor aggressively decline them without raising further suspicion. He was reduced to maintaining a stiff, painfully awkward smile, finally grasping the true, horrifying depth of Chongyun’s warning about destroying his reputation.

‘This really is…’ Xingqiu let out a long, exhausted sigh.

Later that afternoon, Xingqiu sought refuge in the quiet sanctuary of his study, diligently sorting through a stack of guild manifests. The heavy wooden doors suddenly creaked open, and his elder brother stepped inside. The older man’s face was etched with unmistakable weariness and deep helplessness.

“A-Qiu,” his brother sighed heavily, dropping a thick stack of gilded envelopes onto the mahogany desk. “This makes over a dozen ‘noted scholars’just this month who have formally requested an audience to’witness the Second Miss’s peerless grace.’ Father is about to lose his mind. Several of his oldest business partners have been pestering him relentlessly about it.”

Xingqiu set his calligraphy brush down on its jade rest and pinched the bridge of his nose. “I have brought unnecessary trouble to our family.”

“The trouble is a secondary concern.” His brother looked down at him, his expression hardening into genuine familial worry. “I am worried about you. These rumors are completely absurd, yes, but gossip is a terrifying, corrosive thing. If left unchecked, it will permanently stain your reputation. Should the guild step forward and issue a formal clarification? Or… perhaps we should mobilize our network to hunt down this ‘Li Xin’ who started this mess?”

Xingqiu remained silent for a long moment, the ambient light of the study catching the gold foil of the letters. Slowly, he shook his head.

“Brother, the truth will always speak for itself. If we make a grand, solemn spectacle out of clarifying the matter, it will only make us look defensive—as if we harbor a guilty conscience. That would only pour oil on the fire.” He reached across the desk, his slender fingers lightly brushing the colorful cover of Secret Tales of Feiyun. “As for hunting down Mr. Li Xin… This author possesses a truly brilliant literary talent and a wildly extraordinary imagination. I actually consider him to be a rare genius. Besides, his little novel has, in its own strange way, provided a massive boon to the Feiyun Commerce Guild.”

His brother froze, staring at him in sheer disbelief. “A boon? Helped us? Where in Teyvat did you get that idea?”