Angelic Crux wrote:Mounting the steps to the palace, Meifeng couldn't help but feel a bit uneasy. It wasn't that she was worried about being in such an utterly unfamiliar setting as the imperial palace. That was actually pretty exciting, in and of itself. She was more worried about whether she'd be able to pull of acting like someone who belonged in the palace. At least her father had given her some nice clothes to wear when she presented herself.
Coming up to the guards, she hesitated for a moment, unable to remember whether she was supposed to bow to them or not. A little bow was given, just in case. "My name is Meifeng. I was sent by my father, Li Peng. The Emperor asked for my Dad's eldest son, but he doesn't have any sons, so he sent me. Hopefully that's close enough?" She smirked a bit, loosening up with the guards, since she was a bit more used to people on their level than officials.
"Of course, I'm just a bit better looking than a son would have been. Is this the part where you search me before I go in?" She lifted up her arms for them. She didn't even have any weapons she could have declared if she'd wanted to!
The guards were about to step forward to search the girl when a carriage pulled up at the gate. They immediately fell back and stood at attention as the Prime Minister of Qin was escorted towards the door by his personal guard. "What is this?" Li Si noted the young girl standing by herself, submitting to a search.
"This is the daughter of Li Peng, your excellency," replied the guard, who now looked embarrassed. "Our most glorious Emperor demanded his eldest son. But Li Meifeng has come, since the governor has no sons. We were about to search her, until you arrived." The man thought for a moment, and then bowed his head in shame as he realized he was digging himself a deeper hole.
The fire in the eyes of the Prime Minister seemed to burn a spot into the commander's forehead, and he had to stop and take a deep breath before he turned to look at the girl. "Your father is a great fool. A loyal fool, mind you. But a fool nonetheless." The Prime Minister sighed and shook his head. Looking back to the guards, Li Si resumed his hard glare. "The eldest son of Li Peng, the young Master, Li Meng, has come to join us at court. Is that understood?"
The guards looked puzzled, and one seemed like he was about to question, when the commander spoke up. "Of course your excellency. Our mistake. We apparently do not understand the fashions in Sai. A strong young man he is, your excellency. Obviously a filial son of Qin." He glanced at the others to make sure they understood.
Turning back to the woman, Li Si folded his arms in front of him. "Until we reach my office, you keep your head down, and your mouth quiet. Is that clear?"
Rebel wrote:He pondered over the question a bit. Though he knew it'd come up he hadn't given much thought on how to respond. Praising himself was not something Zhong was good at.
"That is something that I too am trying to find out, Minister Li."
"I have gained some knowledge in administering a town, perhaps even a small city Specially when it comes to recruiting men for an army I am one of the better administrators around, if not the best.... as I have been told."
He paused and looked over at the pen and ledger wondering if the minister intended to write down his skills. He thought it would be a pretty short list..and the thought flustered him.
"Err..I also have some knowledge in logistics and leading ranged units within the army during a battle. Particularly when it comes to the supply lines...though I wouldn't want to boast but I am quite good at keeping them running smoothly."
He listened to the man drinking his cup of tea. He shifted his weight feeling a little uneasy.
"Some men respect power or glory, others respect gold or riches. I myself am inspired by wisdom and knowledge. The reason I came to offer service was because of all the people in the kingdom, you are one of the wisest and best in making a sound judgment. Atleast according to rumors."
"I thought, if you felt it was good enough to serve the emperor..than it's good enough for me too."
Li Si chuckled to himself. "Rumors! Rumors are the killing blow to the crowns of good men. You should be careful in what you believe, espescially if you have only heard and not seen. It will be a rumor that sends me to the Nine Springs, no doubt."
The Prime Minister motioned for the man to sit. "However. In the present, we shall deal with your proposition. Where in our kingdom are you from? We have able men all over, but if I decide to employ you, I will do my best to keep you relatively close to your family and home."
