Lin Xin's Audience Hall - Panyu

[fireshade]

Wei Quan was clearly concerned by what he saw. What misfortunes had befallen the King during his captivity? He slowly moved forward to address the man who stood before him. He bowed and kept his gaze down as he spoke softly, attempting to keep this part of the conversation calm and quiet.

"Your Majesty... It is good to see you once more. We knew that you could not be lost to us. Have you endured well, sire? I must admit that I have been distraught with concern."

He did not want to overwhelm the other man by pouring out his thoughts all at once. He also did not want to rush the answer that was the reason he was here. He wanted to hear the man speak and confirm his conclusions.

[Kymvir Raemiz]

The inspector stared at Wei Quan, turning his head to look at him with one eye and squinting hard. "I am having trouble seeing you, good sir. Are you one of my father's ministers? This place does not look like Xianyang, either."

He paused for a moment, and then said in a shocked voice, "Wei Quan? Is that you?"

[fireshade]

Wei Quan's brow was creased with concern. Not only was the man before him weakened in stature, but his words suggested that something might be weakening his mind as well.

"It is I, your majesty... but I fear that this is not at all Xianyang. It is Panyu in the lands of Lin Xin, who is called the 'Duke of Yue.' He wrote to us upon your arrival here and asked that someone come to tell if it were you or an imposter."

[Kymvir Raemiz]

Ying Fusu turned towards Lin Xin and squinted at him briefly. "Yes. I have met the Duke of Yue. Did my father name him Duke while I was at the wall? I cannot remember what Meng Yi told me about this region."

He turned back to Wei Quan, and it was obvious that something had seriously damaged his eyesight during his captivity as he closed one eye entirely and studied Wei with his good eye. "I remember you. You are Wei Quan. Why do you bother me? I . . . you and Meng Tian . . . you betrayed me."

He shuddered for a moment, and then fell silent.

[fireshade]

.... "You betrayed me."

Those words cut Wei Quan to the core. In them, he felt stinging slap of rebuke and the heart-rending shame of his own failure. Of course, the King could not know of just how much he had tried to do... but that didn't matter. It had not been enough. It had taken the hand of an outsider to find the King's freedom.

"Please, my King... say all that you will about my failures... for General Wang is a capable man and did all that he could to try an save you... thus the fault must rest somewhere in my own orders to him. But please, do not call me a traitor. My loyalty has always been to you and the charge that you gave me to care for Han."

[Cao Chao]

Guan Ying observed the captured former King of Qin with a close eye. Fusu was different from what he had imagined, but that was to be expected, weak and broken by the ordeal of his prior captivity. There was great pity in the eyes of the former silk merchant. The man who was meant to succeed the First Emperor had been exiled first to the cold, forbidding northern borderlands, then found his inheritance cruelly wrenched from him by the machinations of disloyal and treacherous vassals, and now undergone a period of captivity. How could he be the same after all that he had to undergo?

The general could only shake his head when the former King spoke, pointed words meant to cut to the core. While there was perhaps a sliver of truth in them, the harsh reality was that the harsh condemnation they embodied was unwarranted. But it was not his place to speak. Guan Ying did not doubt for a moment that the Supreme Commander would have choice words of his own when he was reunited with the former King of Qin.

[Freefall]

A elderly man made his way to teh audience hall of Lin Xin. A small detachment of men was with him as he approached the guards of teh audience hall. His coatry bore the character of Haihu, on a field of blue and grey. He bore now weapons walked one alean wodden walking stick. He paused a moment before the assembled guard and sat down on a nearby platform. His eyes were freidnly and he placed his walking cane to his side while setting his hands on his knees.

Shan Shi: Well know, these old joints of mine are getting stiffer and stiffer...Pardon me sorry...Hello my friends, I am Shan Shi, Chief Aide of Jiang Sei of Huainan. I seek an audience with the Duke if he is available.

[Zhudi]

FreeFall

Upon seeing a detachment of soldiers approach the compound's gates, and hearing the message of the elderly gentlement, the guards sent a messenger running into the mansion. In a few minutes, a messenger returned and said, "Duke Lin is currently resting in his quarters recovering from an illness. Marquis Daisuke Aramaki of Changsha will see you in the audience hall."

The gates were opened and the envoy and his escorts were led into the courtyard outside of the mansion. The messenger then turned and said, "Master Shan Shi, we request that you surrender your weapons and that you bring in no more than two escorts into the audience hall. The Marquis is waiting inside."

If Shan Shi agrees to this conditions, the party is led into the main hall where another elderly gentlemen is standing. He looks at his guests and says, "Greetings, Shan Shi, envoy of Huainan. I am Marquis Aramaki. For what do we owe the pleasure of this visit?"

[Freefall]

The old warrior consents to the searchs, leaving behind his guard and his wares. Following his escort he bows before the Marqius as introductions are made.

Shan Shi: Marqius Aramaki, I bring greetings from my Master in Huainan. I had hoped to meet with the Duke as there are sensitive matters my Lord wished me to inpart with him. However if he is not available perhaps you can address a few questions for me?

[Zhudi]

Daisuke politely returns the bow, and says, "Of course. We have not forgotten the old friendships between our people and yours. What would you like to ask me?"