Liu Jin's Audience Hall - Shou Yang

[RuffRydeR]

Here they were, thought Liangyu.

It was that same old procession of maids again, keeping to the pomp required of any duchess. Again a maid rode forth to announce her titles, and ask for entry, and impatiently, Lady Xia stepped out of her carriage, and waited, eagerly, addressing the guards,

"You know why I'm here. It's about time too. May I and my driver enter?"

[NightForever]

OOC: Uhm, the character is Xian Long Rui Situ..

Rui's face almost dropped to the floor and his heart became even more flustered. Still he had to comply, not wanting to risk the negotiations merely because of his emotionality. Casting one more look at his liege, he sighed heavily, and followed the attendants to where he was to meet General Weilong.

Xian Long Rui was lead to another hall where Wu Weilong was waiting for him. As the two met, Weilong smiled and bowed to the Silver Hand of Yan.

"Master Xian, we meet again. I apologize for having to separate you from Duke Fei. I know that you must be feeling worried as his bodyguard. Yet, I assure you that your lord's safety is our top priority."

The Wei general then offered a seat to the visitor while he himself sat on another side of the table.

"So, would you like some drink? I hope our wine would not taste much worse than wine in Yan."

[Phailak]

"Oh, you are too courteous, if you are merely seeking a neutral platform to host a diplomatic talk, I will be most obligued to handle that. But being a neutral host, I have to act like one, therefore I will suggest a no-weapons meeting in a secured room. I apologise in advance for any infringements on you, but given my responsibilities as a host, I will have to ask my security team to screen you of any items that may be used offensively.

My kingdom will provide a neutral secruity force to safeguard against 3rd party assasinations against either you or Princess Xia.

Would you like a armed general to be present in the talks, I will recommend my officer Jiang Bao for this appointment if both of you are agreeable to him. Or would you prefer a totally discrete environment that is only for both you and the princess?

Other than these, is there anything else that I can assist? "

Lak nodded and smiled.

"I hadn't thought that much ahead, I trust you with my life your highness, I leave all security measures, including searche of my peron, in your men's hands. Perhaps we can discuss the arrangements for privacy with the Princess since I do not know whom she is bringing."

[SituJinrong]

Ruff:

Jin met the princess at the city gates, fully flanked by his escorts. "Forgive my insolence today, princess. If you are paying a normal visit with me, I will be glad to audience you with you being unmolested by all the security prtocols. However today, I am playing the host and a neutral umpire.

Here are the terms of meeting Marquis Fei on my grounds, it applies to both you and Marquis Fei. On the assumption that both of you are meeting at the negotiatin room on equal footings, I have neglected any royalty lineage or ranks that each of you claim.

1. Both of you will not bring any weapons into the meeting room, and both of you will be subjected to a security search and any items deemed as a possible weapon will be removed. Yes this applies every to your heirloom bow, I am afriad.

2. Each of you may appoint a nominee, also unarmed, to be located at a hall close to the building where the meeting is to be conducted. The rest of your escorts will be quartered at a rest house outside the city gates. I have appoointed a separate rest house for your highness and Marquis Fei's entourage.

3. As for the security of the building where the meeting is being conducted, I have personally handpicked 500 of my best soldiers to cover the building. Some are hidden in vantage points covering approaches to the building. No one will be able to approach that building within a 1000 yards without being sighted. None of these soldiers will be able to hear anything being communicated within the meeting room, baring either of you shouting the words aloud.

4. If both of you are agreeable, I will station my officer Jiang Bao within the room as an observer. He will be positoined with direct line of sight of the meeting table, but far enough from it to not hear any communications between yourself and Marquis Fei so long as neither of you start shouting at each other. Jiang Bao's role here is to interrupt the meeting should he feel that the meeting will escalate into bloodshed, and this will be done at his discretion."

Jin paused, before asking princess Xia, "Are you agreeable to the terms? If you are, this lady will conduct a search on you, if you are not satisfied with her, I will get another lady aide."

Fei Lak:
A Lieutenant approached the Marquis, "Sire, King Liu has sent word that princess Xia is at the city gates. I am sorry to intrude on you, but I was given firm instructions to conduct a security search on you, before leading you to the meeting room."

Both Ruff/Fei Lak:
Please indicate if you want JiangBao present.

Assuming both of you submitted to and passed the checks, you are led into a spartan room with a square table in the middle. Except for 2 sets of cushions on either side of the table, there remains only a tea set on the table, and nothing else. A lady in waiting tested the tea water with a silver needle in front of both parties, and then poured a tiny cup of drink to both of them.

"Your highness princess, and marquis, King Liu has instructed utter secrecy for this meeting, I regret that I will not have the honour of serving both of you."

She bowed and retreated from the room, leaving both the marquis and the princess alone in the room. (OOC: And Jiangbao standing far far away near the entance, if both Ruff and Fei Lak wanted him present.)

[Phailak]

Lak nodded with the accomodations.

"Your majesty, I understand if you want to have a third party present. Also, if you would like to have one of your attendants, Rui is here and can step in a my own attendant or we can leave Master Jiang at the door."

Lak smirked.

"I would most likely need the protection more than you your highness from what Ru ihas told me of your martial abilities."

[RuffRydeR]

"Are you agreeable to the terms? If you are, this lady will conduct a search on you, if you are not satisfied with her, I will get another lady aide."

Liangyu frowned, not exactly happy at having to undergo all this strict procedure. Still, such was the right of kings. Maybe when she was made queen one of these days, she could choose to refuse, but that would not happen until she was married and prepared to rule...

"Well, such is your right, search away, and you can have my blades...I...I suppose the bow too... As for the accomodations, they sound satisfactory. And my nominee? Well, I do not know what you mean...I...uh, my accompaniment will be my driver Lan...but he cannot not be in the same room. Think of the scandal if he wasn't! Will you force an unmarried virgin to be in a room of whole men without a chaperone? 'Tis barbaric! And neglecting my rank? NOW...Why is that? I might as well send a maid inside to speak for me then, if her word will be as good as mine..."

Liangyu grimaced at the thought, knowing if she agreed to the current arrangements, she'd never live it down when her maids found out...They were always quite mad if she wasn't following proper etiquette and procedure...

But she proceeded to hand her weapons over, to her good mood had vanished, and she felt edgy and bare with out them. Hopefully, she could control herself for however long this meeting lasted...

[SituJinrong]

Ruff:
"Very good, now should I summon officer Jiangbao to the room, or will you prefer to conduct the talks with Marquis Fei alone?"

OOC: You may as well cut all the whining about chinese customs. Your PC is totally OOC of that era's thinking. So I very much doubt she will adhere to chinese customs at all even if she existed.

[RuffRydeR]

Ruff:
"Very good, now should I summon officer Jiangbao to the room, or will you prefer to conduct the talks with Marquis Fei alone?"

"I'm not sure I've been listened to, sire. I...cannot be alone with a whole man. I need a maid there with me, or Lan, or the scandal of a princess being alone like so will be the talk of the province before the day is out...And how could I face my father without shame, breaking my filial duties like so?"

She pouted,

"I don't have a care about secrecy or whoever is in the room...But I need a chaperone there, or all my maids will be fuming mad at this impropriety when I return to Yin."

[SituJinrong]

Ruff:

"Then very well, you will find another city and another neutral party to host the talks. Be gone my princess......"

Fei Lak:
"I am afraid the princess is pretty lofty and insists on dictating her terms to me as a neutral umpire and host of your talks with her. I therefore feel that I cannot discharge my duties as a neutral fully, my dear Marquis. I am sorry but it will be best you find another party to conduct the talks for you. One who is more tolerant of a headstrong (OOC: and impossible to exist) duchess come princess Xia"

Jin bowed apologetically. "Allow me to fetch your bodyguard general Rui...... I will send a small detachment along with your entourage to ensure smooth passage (via lands within my control) on your return to Yan. A thousand apologies for my failed duties as a host."

[RuffRydeR]

"What? This cannot be rescheduled again...There is no time! Are you mad? The entire North is in peril, and you insist on delaying our talks because you will not adhere to the customs of the civilized Huaxia? There has only been one man who has forced me ever to be alone without a chaperone...and he relented moments later when I informed him of his mistake."

Liangyu went wide eyed...What was this insanity? If she entered that room alone today, her honour would be disgraced...Unless she sought marriage right after...

But she did not even know this man, yet the talks had to happen!