Zhongguang

Zhongguang is the het ship between Zhongli and Ningguang from the Genshin Impact fandom.

Canon
The two have never (personally) interacted in canon. However, after Traveler makes their way from the Jade Chamber, Zhongli gives a brief mention of Ningguang (she is the “Lady of the Jade Chamber). Additionally, from either character’s voicelines, it can be inferred that the two have known each other for a long while. In fact, Zhongli has stated (in his voicelines) that he considers Ningguang a “rare gem”, or quite special, and has memories of watching her (as Morax/Rex-Lapis) as she would walk, barefooted from Yaoguang Shoal to the south wharf as she tried to sell her wares.

Zhongli also appeared in Ningguang's dream as Rex Lapis. Ningguang stated that she has had many things to tell him in the dream, about Liyue nowadays, about the Qixing, about what humans have done to make the city become better and better,... but in the end, she could only gaze at him in silence until the moment she awoke. Later on, Zhongli stated that this is one of the adepti's ability known as "gifting dreams and visions." He appeared in Ningguang's dream to inform her and the Liyue Qixing that he, Rex Lapis, was not dead.

In game, the two can create what is dubbed as a “Geo Combo”(both Ningguang and Zhongli are Geo elements). According to fans, it’s a extraordinarily easy, even “braindead” method of playing while obtaining impressive damage numbers.

Voiceline
"Despite the multitude of affairs she deals with in a day, Ningguang always continues to press on. A rare gem indeed. I'm reminded of the time that she used to walk barefoot from Yaoguang Shoal to the south wharf, trying to sell her wares as she went. Time is cruel to humans."

- Zhongli's voiceline about Ningguang

"Zhongli... Of the Wangsheng Funeral Parlor. He's very versed in a great deal of affairs. Although... such excellent pawns are of no use to me until I know their weaknesses."

- Ningguang's voiceline about Zhongli

Storyline
"You can see Guyun Stone Forest from here, I trust? It is not natural rock formation — those are giant spears of rock, hurled by Rex Lapis during the war. Beneath the spears lie those cast down by Rex Lapis in those days: gods that failed to seize the title of Archon. Not only is it true that gods may die, but so too has the membership of the Seven changed over the last two millennia. Rex Lapis' passing is an unimaginable disaster for Liyue, but the order of The Seven will not collapse simply because of that."

- Ningguang about Rex Lapis in Chapter I: Act III - A New Star Approaches

"Another Lord of Geo will arise sooner or later, yet how are we to forget Rex Lapis? When that time comes, the relationship between the people of Liyue and the gods and adepti will surely be different from before. Even in the new era, the Liyue Qixing remain Rex Lapis' former subjects... Do you really think us capable of having played a part in his demise? Of lacking the foresight to see the certain repercussions?"

- Ningguang about Rex Lapis in Chapter I: Act III - A New Star Approaches

"Although she's friendly, there's no way of clearly discerning her true intentions."

- Zhongli about Ningguang in Chapter I: Act III - A New Star Approaches

"She has only relied on herself to rise to her current position. No ordinary person could ever achieve that. It's said that she's the one behind the constant expansion of the Jade Chamber it's the second most important thing to her. Even if she ever gave up the position of the Tianquan, she would never give up the Jade Chamber."

- Zhongli about Ningguang in Chapter I: Act III - A New Star Approaches

"In the dream, I yearned to tell him that we Qixing, though mortal, are equally bound to the contract. Each passing generation of the Qixing leaves many things of value to be inherited by the next generation. I also thought to tell him how the past generations of Qixing had strove under his rule to survive in our mortal world, establishing a network of contracts which has since come to be known as "trade.""

- Ningguang expressing about her dream in Chapter I: Act III - A New Star Approaches

"But I dared not speak. I could only gaze at him in silence until the moment I awoke."

- Ningguang expressing about her dream in Chapter I: Act III - A New Star Approaches

"That's not an ancient teacup. It's part of Ningguang's collection, it must have fallen here along with the Jade Chamber. So unless you want to mess with the Qixing..."

- Zhongli about Ningguang in Historia Antiqua Chapter: Act I, Zhongli's Story Quest: Sal Flore.

Fanon
Many theorists speculate that Ningguang may be a reincarnation of Guizhong, Zhongli's former ally and friend in the Archon War, and possibly a love interest as well. Many believe that Ningguang is the inheritor to Guizhong's will and spirit. As such, many believe that Zhongli and Ningguang are inherently connected by destiny due to this.

On the other hand, a lot of people make jokes and memes about Zhongli being the "Geo Daddy" and Ningguang being the "Geo Mommy". In this sense, Zhongli and Ningguang play the "parents" to other members of a player's team. Many Zhongguang shippers like to headcanon a full Geo team, with Noelle and Albedo as "kids" of Zhongli and Ningguang.

Through what Zhongli has said about Ningguang, it is possible that he could have observed her for a long time.

They also work well together as a team in combat.

On Ao3, there are currently 90+ fanfics about Zhongli and Ningguang. Zhongguang is known as the main rivalry ship to Beiguang. Those who don't ship Zhongguang will often ship Beiguang, ChiLi, or ZhongVen instead.

Fandom
FAN FICTION

PIXIV

Variations

 * ChiLiguang refers the ship between the two and Tartaglia.

Trivia

 * Zhongli is a five star Geo character, while Ningguang is four star Geo character.
 * They both appear in Genshin's Lunar New Year official art, along with Keqing, Paimon and Travelers.
 * Zhongli is originally a dragon while Ningguang's namecard is called phoenix. The Chinese considered the dragon-and-phoenix design symbolic of blissful relations between husband and wife, another common yang and yin metaphor.
 * Through Ningguang's words, it could be clearly seen that she has absolute faith in the former Geo Archon.
 * In Teyvat Chapter Storyline Preview: Travail, when Dainsleif was talking about how Rex Lapis will sign the contract to end all contracts, Ningguang's face is shown.
 * Zhongli and Ningguang both have ginkgo leaves on their official art.
 * They are in the first banner together in the beta version.
 * The music plays at Ningguang's storytelling cutscene is the same as the music plays at the cutscene where Zhongli first meets Azhdaha.