The sun shone brightly over Liyue, casting a golden glow over the bustling streets. Today, the Yuheng Court was filled with people, each waiting for their disputes to be heard and settled. Among them, Yanfei stood confidently, her legal cap on and her arms crossed over her chest. She looked as enthusiastic as ever, ready to tackle the legal issues of the day.
Beside her was her trusty Pokémon partner, Bellsprout, who swayed gently in the morning breeze. Bellsprout seemed as focused as Yanfei, its eyes scanning the crowd, occasionally nodding as if it understood the seriousness of the day. Yanfei had found that having Bellsprout by her side not only lightened her workload but also lightened the mood of the people she interacted with.
"Alright, Bellsprout!" Yanfei clapped her hands together, her expression brightening. "Today, we've got a couple of cases involving property disputes and some disagreements between merchants. Let's do our best to ensure fairness and keep things civil, alright?"
Bellsprout nodded, letting out a small, cheerful chirp. It seemed eager to assist, and Yanfei couldn't help but smile down at her partner. "That's the spirit," she said warmly.
As the first case began, a disagreement between two merchants over a shared storage space, Yanfei stood at the center of the room, mediating the conversation. Bellsprout stayed by her side, seemingly paying close attention. One of the merchants, an older man with a grumpy expression, glared at his younger counterpart.
"He's been taking up more than his fair share of space! It's not right!" the older merchant complained, his voice rising.
Yanfei held up her hands in a calming gesture. "Alright, let's not get too heated here. Bellsprout, can you help me demonstrate something?"
Bellsprout stepped forward, its vine-like arms extending towards a small chalkboard that Yanfei had brought along for the proceedings. Yanfei had learned that sometimes a visual demonstration could help people understand concepts better, especially when emotions were running high.
"You see, fair division is all about balance," Yanfei said, using Bellsprout's vine to draw two equal halves on the chalkboard. Bellsprout moved smoothly, its vine acting as an extension of Yanfei's explanation.
The younger merchant watched, his expression softening as Bellsprout drew a simple diagram illustrating how they could split the storage space equally. The older merchant huffed but seemed to be listening more attentively.
"See? If we use a fair division, both parties can have equal access without conflict," Yanfei said, her tone patient yet firm. "Bellsprout here makes it look easy, doesn't it?"
Bellsprout nodded eagerly, and even the older merchant couldn't help but let out a small chuckle at the sight. The tension in the room visibly eased, and soon both merchants were nodding in agreement.
"Alright, I think we can come to an arrangement," the older merchant finally said, his voice losing some of its earlier edge.
Yanfei smiled, nodding approvingly. "Great! That's what I like to hear. Bellsprout, thank you for your help." Bellsprout gave a little bow, much to the amusement of the gathered crowd.
---
After the case was resolved, Yanfei decided to take a short break. She led Bellsprout outside, where the fresh air and the distant sound of Liyue Harbor's activity filled the courtyard. She found a quiet bench to sit on, Bellsprout resting beside her.
"You did great today, Bellsprout," Yanfei said, her voice softening. "These kinds of disputes can get pretty heated, but you always help bring a sense of calm."
Bellsprout looked up at Yanfei, its eyes sparkling with happiness. It let out a soft chirp, leaning against her leg affectionately. Yanfei patted Bellsprout's head, a warm smile on her lips. "It's funny how something as simple as having you by my side can make everything feel easier."
As they sat there, Hu Tao came skipping by, her Shuppet trailing behind her in its usual ghostly manner. "Hey, Yanfei! Taking a break from all that legal mumbo-jumbo?" Hu Tao called out, her tone playful.
Yanfei looked up, her smile widening. "Hu Tao! Yes, just taking a breather. Court cases can get a bit intense. What brings you here?"
Hu Tao grinned, plopping herself down next to Yanfei. "Oh, you know, just spreading a little joy and chaos. Shuppet and I were thinking of heading down to the harbor to see if we could spook some unsuspecting sailors—harmless fun, of course!" She winked, and Shuppet let out a giggle, swirling around in the air.
Yanfei chuckled, shaking her head. "You and your idea of 'harmless fun,' Hu Tao. Just don't cause too much trouble, alright?"
Hu Tao laughed, leaning back on the bench. "No promises! Hey, Bellsprout! Want to join us in our quest for some fun?"
Bellsprout tilted its head, looking at Yanfei as if asking for permission. Yanfei smiled, shaking her head gently. "I think Bellsprout deserves a bit of rest. We've been working hard all morning. But maybe later."
Hu Tao pouted playfully. "Aww, alright. But if you change your mind, you know where to find us!" She stood up, giving Shuppet a playful nudge. "Come on, Shuppet, let's go see what kind of trouble we can find!"
As Hu Tao and Shuppet floated away, Yanfei watched them go, shaking her head with amusement. "She never changes," Yanfei murmured, looking down at Bellsprout. "But I suppose that's what makes her Hu Tao."
Bellsprout chirped in agreement, leaning against Yanfei once more. Yanfei closed her eyes for a moment, taking in the peacefulness of the courtyard. It wasn't often that she got moments like this—quiet, uninterrupted time with her Pokémon partner. She was determined to savor it.
---
After their break, Yanfei returned to the courtroom for her next case. This one involved a complaint from a local shopkeeper about someone blocking the entrance to her store with crates of imported goods. The accused was a young merchant who seemed nervous as he stood before Yanfei, wringing his hands.
"It wasn't intentional, I swear," the young merchant said, his voice shaky. "I just didn't realize how much space the crates were taking up."
Yanfei nodded, her expression softening. "I understand. It sounds like this was more of a misunderstanding than anything else." She looked down at Bellsprout, then back at the young merchant. "Bellsprout, could you help us move some of those crates so we can see how much space we're dealing with?"
Bellsprout stepped forward, extending its vines. The young merchant watched, wide-eyed, as Bellsprout effortlessly moved an imaginary crate, demonstrating how it could be done without obstructing the entrance. The shopkeeper, who had been frowning, seemed to relax as she watched Bellsprout's demonstration.
"See? It's all about being mindful of our surroundings," Yanfei explained, her voice calm. "If we make sure to keep things tidy and organized, we can avoid these kinds of issues in the future."
The young merchant nodded eagerly. "Yes, yes, of course! I promise to be more careful from now on."
The shopkeeper sighed, then nodded as well. "Alright, I suppose we can let this go. Just be more considerate next time."
Yanfei smiled, her eyes twinkling. "That's the spirit! Bellsprout, thank you for helping out." Bellsprout gave a happy chirp, retracting its vines and swaying back and forth.
The crowd that had gathered to watch began to disperse, many of them smiling and murmuring about how charming Bellsprout was. Yanfei felt a sense of pride as she looked down at her partner. Pokémon truly had a way of bringing people together, even in situations that could have turned sour.
---
As the day drew to a close, Yanfei decided to head to Liyue Harbor for a well-deserved treat. She and Bellsprout made their way to one of the food stalls, the smell of freshly cooked dumplings filling the air. Yanfei ordered a plate, and she and Bellsprout found a spot by the water to sit and enjoy their meal.
"You've worked really hard today, Bellsprout," Yanfei said, offering her partner a small dumpling. Bellsprout took it eagerly, its eyes closing in delight as it chewed. Yanfei smiled, her heart feeling light. "I don't know what I'd do without you. You make even the toughest days bearable."
Bellsprout looked up at Yanfei, its eyes filled with warmth. It leaned against her, and Yanfei chuckled softly, wrapping an arm around her partner. Together, they watched the boats bobbing gently in the harbor, the sun beginning to set in the distance.
"You know," Yanfei said, her voice thoughtful, "I think we're making a real difference here. Not just in court, but in how people see Pokémon. They're not just creatures—they're friends, partners. And I'm so glad you're mine."
Bellsprout chirped softly, and Yanfei smiled, her eyes reflecting the golden glow of the sunset. Today had been a long day, but it was moments like this that made all the hard work worthwhile.