Chen Yun's Audience Hall - Gaomi

[RuffRydeR]

A convoy of red and white, gilded and gold, had come rolling into Gaomi in the early morn. In its midst sat the princess in her wonderful carriage, sitting and sipping on some juice that had been purchased from one of the stores out in the suburbs. Just as she finished, the carriage came to an abrupt halt in the front of the hall of Gaomi, where she waited as a messenger introduced her.

Such pleasantries done with, she laid the cup down and gracefully headed out of the carriage, licking her lips out of view, before turning and sauntering up to the gate, asking,

"So, the Princess of Yin is here. She wishes to speak with a pair of old acquaintances. Lords Chen and Tian, if they be available, although the current rumours going about are worrisome indeed...So, I trust you won't keep me waiting out here any longer, huh?"

[Redbird]

-=Shanghu smiles at the guard, genuine seeming and cheerful.=- "Certainly sir, your do your master proud in your attention to duty. Here, a tael for your skill." -=Fishing into his robes, he extracts a single golden coin, flipping it to the guard with a casual snap of his finger. ((-1 gold to Shanghu)) He taps his cane quickly on the ground, calling his servants to attention.=- "To put to rest any fears you may harbor, Daiyu will leave her hammer with my palanquin, that you have little to fear from her might."

-=Knowing his instructions would be followed, Shanghu followed the guard inside, his slave and servant following close behind.=-

Daiyu, slightly impressed with the guards response to them, brought her hammer to the palanquin and then returned to Shanghu's side. She followed him into the court.

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"Good day Marshal Yun. I am glad to find you in fair health and of plain language. It makes negotiations smoother. To business then.

I would like to make one thing perfectly clear: I am not seeking a place within your administration. I already am employed full time in my commercial interests.

What I do offer, is contractual services. For a reasonable fee, I will place my services at your disposal. I hold no political motivations or allegiances, and you can be assured of my discretion in all things."

Daiyu stands quietly while Shanghu speaks to Marshal Yun. She hoped that these people understood what her master wanted and hoped that she'd be set to work soon.

[antlan87]

Xiao Gau and little Red Riding Hood (Wait, does this make me the wolf?

"Would you prefer a contract based on a specific time period, or a project based one? You aren't the first merchant who's services I've sought, so your employment requirements don't surprise me much. However, some of my plans will take longer then others, so knowing which type of contract you prefer, will let me know what I could have you do should you accept." Replies Chen Yun, already prioritizing his projects should Shanghu accept.

Ruff

The guards were a bit dumbfounded, their leaders knew a princess? When the hell did that happen? Nevertheless, a messenger was dispatched inside to inform them of the arrival of this 'Princess of Yin'. The guard captain also sent for some female guards who usually protected the wives and daughters of the high ranking officials. "Before you can enter, we would like you to surrender any weapons you may have and allow us to search for any concealed weapons, a requirement of anyone coming unexpectedly. In these turbulent times, you could very well be an impostor sent to slay our leaders, so such a thing is necessary. We have sent for some female guards to carry out the search, for if you are who you say you are, it would be improper for a man to search you."

[RuffRydeR]

"If I am who I say I am...It would be improper to search me, regardless of your rank. I am the heiress of Yin, and daughter of the King of Zhao and if you will not yield, I see I am not welcome in the lands of whom I deem friend. The lord of this realm is a good friend of mine and I am insulted that I would be treated this way. Where are the Masters Tian and Chen? I wouldst tell them of this insulting behaviour by their subordinates! What are you commoners to lay claim the heirlooms of the Xia clan, possessions owned for centuries before you walked the earth!?"

Liangyu stubbornly refused and glared at the female guards, quite angry. She decided this was some silly misunderstanding, just like when Master Loc once tried to get uncomfortably close to her in that tavern. Yeah...this must be some sort of silliness like that...

She took a couple of steps forward, then asked furiously,

"Who would dare touch the Xia Gongzhu, then?"

[Xiao Gau]

Xiao Gau and little Red Riding Hood (Wait, does this make me the wolf?

"Would you prefer a contract based on a specific time period, or a project based one? You aren't the first merchant who's services I've sought, so your employment requirements don't surprise me much. However, some of my plans will take longer then others, so knowing which type of contract you prefer, will let me know what I could have you do should you accept." Replies Chen Yun, already prioritizing his projects should Shanghu accept.

"I think our interests would be best served by a contract based on individual needs, rather than specific blocks of time. That way both parties are free to negotiate with other parties. I don't know if your information is up to date, but I have recently begun studying architecture and design, and I think you might be interested in knowing that I've received word that one of my associates has made progress in securing contacts with the Steppe barbarians and their endless supply of horses.

I am capable of providing a wide range of services to a kingdom, from headhunting and domestic planning, to construction of arms and armaments for the military. Additionally, I am a learned scholar of a wide range of topics and can provide those without such learned advice an insight unavailable to them. My servant Daiyu is a masterful smith and can craft legendary armor and weapons for men of war.

Further, as chaos grips the land, armies are often burdened with prisoners of war. Such prisoners are a drain upon the economy of a kingdom, and keeping such prisoners is often a stain on the page of public opinion. Executing the prisoners is such a chore, and even more likely to bring the wrath of comrades and allies alike. Instead, consider the advantages of selling those same bad-luck charms, fattening your coffers and keeping your hands clean of blood. Surely you can see the wisdom in such an arrangement."

[antlan87]

Xiao Gau

"Well, we do have plans to improve one of our towns into a fully functioning city as a means to generate greater wealth and increase the population, so such skills would indeed prove useful, as would your ability to find people of ability. As for your servants smithing abilities, we already have 2 able smiths, though I had been debating assigning one of them elsewhere, so that would be helpful as well. Unless you need time to consider other offers that you feel may be better suited to your needs, perhaps we could try and hammer out an agreement?"

Ruff

Not entirely sure what to do, the head guardsman made an attempt to avoid a scene and do his job at the same time. "Are you saying you don't trust your servants to keep it safe for you? I apologize if us merely carrying out our orders is a problem for you, but we have standing orders to disarm and search all guests who arrive without a letter from either Marshal Chen Yun or Marquis Tian Loc, or those whose arrival wasn't previously arranged. If it is really that important to you, we can send a messenger to obtain permission to skip the search and disarm part, though you may need to wait a few minutes longer then a search would take."

[RuffRydeR]

"No, you don't keep nobility waiting, nor do you inconvenience them with a search. It seems the rumours of your master's tail be true, if he be so terrified of publicity, he cannot even accept the gracious visit of a noblewoman. I shall be heading home then. Tell the Marquis he should know better than to presume to act like an Emperor towards the heir of a kingdom."

And with a huff, the princess strutted back towards her carriage, royally peeved...

[antlan87]

The guards, witnessing the Princess of Yin's tantrum and hear her words, immediately begin to talk among themselves.

Guard 1: Rumour about a tail? I haven't heard anything about that!

Guard 2: Me neither. I know that the Marquis has been really sick lately, just like his older brother did.

Guard 3: Yeah, it's the strangest thing. The Marshal and the servants tending to him haven't gotten sick, nor have those tending to the Marquis' brother. I hear it seems similar to how their mother got ill and died. Hopefully the Marquis and his brother recover, though the 'Princess' leaving in a huff because we were only doing as we were ordered doesn't push him over the edge with worry.

Guard Captain: Enough talking! While such rumours are indeed troubling, we're on duty, and as such, it's best to act like it! You can gossip later after your shift is over.

I wonder what the Marshal will do when the news about this rumour is brought before him, thought the Guard Captain, and about the 'princess' storming off despite their attempts to address her demands and requests. Maybe she'll return once her temper has cooled a bit, though perhaps she was a spoiled daddy's girl unused to people denying her anything.

[RuffRydeR]

But the princess had no intent of returning. Affronted at the gall of such commoners, she heads back to her home in Yin, quite miffed at the high mindedness of such folks. She never should've accepted their apology, that lousy pair. One never forgot how to be rude, after all...

[Phailak]

An escort of armed soldiers arrive to deliver a chest of gold for the forces under Tian Loc.

OOC: Agreed upoin gold is delivered, sorry if it's short but I'm pressed for time, noted in my own KT