Palace

[Sun Quan]

(You don't control my guards or anything in Jian Ye, don't do that again)

Outside the city the capital army began to from up, they were ready within moments to strike down the army that had appeared, in fact they wanted to, the weeks after Cao Cao's attack had been so empty.

Further in the capital, Sun Quan was surprised by a new guest slowly walking up to him. The man drew his blades and threw them on the ground, and Quan threw his arm off to the side, holding it high in the air. A hundred arrows that so begged to be used were held off.

Quan, a bit amused by all of this, spoke once more, an army of veteran soldiers filing into the room. [red]"You may, as long as you never do that again. "[/red] Quan was torn, he felt like the man should die for causing his army to be mobilized and surely scaring the populace. Besides, he was from Shu. Alas, he must take this one, a stronger feeling coming from his gut. [red]"...Head to Ru Nan, leave half your army here. I will make use of your courage there."[/red] Zhongmou smiled.

[Sarugaku Jouten]

{Yeah, I know that but I wanted to save two posts of me entering and going to you then getting stopped every five minutes. =.=}

"Yes, Mi lord." The male quickly stood and turned around. Fingers wrapped around the twin blades that laid inside of the ground. Lifting them upward he placed them onto his back and ran outside of the capital building toward his forces.

"Welcome men, to you Wu army! Right now I need 100 Gliders, 500 Veteran Bowman, 490 Veteran Swordsman, and 10 commando's all to follow me!"The males that were listed quickly snapped to attention. Once all of them were ready they quickly stormed out of the building. Heading toward Ru Nan.

[Zhuge Cheng]

Zhuge Cheng intently watched as a man who introduced himself as Sarugaku Jouten politely entered his liege's palace and offered his services to him. Critical as he was, Cheng eyed the man up and down who seemed like a child that just came to play a game. He motioned him leaving the palace just as quickly as he came and then he turned to his Emperor, politely bowing his head to him.

"My Lord, with all do respect, but is it wise to employ a man that has served a rival empire as easy as that? I humbly suggest that you consider your decision, Lord Quan."

Slowly he rose his head to see the reaction of Sun Quan.

[Sun Quan]

Sun Quan's bemused smile faded, Zhuge Cheng's words bringing back the true pain of the situation. Idly, Quan thought what would've happened had he not set his hand so high, and saved the young warrior... Folly.

[red]"Indeed. But in a way I have turned him away- for now, he heads in Cao Cao's direction. That is one more officer of Shu that we expected to aid us in the conflict... Never the less, I trust you well Zhang Cheng to watch over him, as you have watched over me."[/red]

[Liu Feng]

As soon as Feng had rolled open the scroll and read the task ahead, his excitement faded and his face dropped. To say he was confused and frankly dismayed at it would be an understatement and at that very time it felt like someone had stuck a knife through his heart. He had wanted to fight, not go on some envoy mission, if you could even call it that, it was more like a friendly visit.

His travels had taken some time, and of course in that time he had calmed down. He had come to the conclusion that even if this was a pointless, at least to him, task, he should still try and complete it the best he could. So as he neared Jian Ye, he thought long and hard on what he would say to the lord of Wu, how he should act and what he should not under any circumstances say or do.

"State your name and business."

The palace guards had stopped Liu Feng from entering, the young officer realising his idiocy straight away and removed his weaponry, both his sword from his belt and the spear on his back were both brought forward and given to the guards as a show of friendship.

"I am Liu Feng of Shu, son of Liu Bei. I come only in the friendliest of circumstances and wish an audience with your honourable lord Sun Quan."

"Very well, we'll search you quickly and then you can go ahead, escorted of course.

Liu Feng nodded and allowed the guards to check for any concealed weaponry, which of course he had none of and was then escorted within the palace. He posed no threat, his youth showing and his good manners all lead to the conclusion that if he wasn't who he said he was, he was the finest spy or assassin in the world.

After much time spent waiting for his turn, Liu Feng was granted entry into the main chamber where the lord of Wu spent most of his time. He took some steps forward, not too little, not too many, before as courtesy permitted, he shifted to a single knee, and locking a fisted right hand into his left palm, he saluted, head down.

"Lord Sun Quan, I am Liu Feng of Shu, son of Liu Bei. I come not to spin you webs of friendship or war, but instead, my father has sent me to help build bridges."

He had asked for his escort to bring in the gift his father had brought him and presenting Liu Feng the object, the young man then proceeded to do the same to Lord Sun Quan.

"Not much indeed, but the roots of this plant are said to prolong life and aid in good health."

He waited for the response, returning his head down in a bow. He had hoped to make a good first impression, after all this being his first diplomatic task he had been given. With little in the way of knowledge or training, Liu Feng had to rely on his instincts and charisma. The good looking Shu officer could only pray and hope he had not done anything to upset the Wu lord.

[Zhuge Cheng]

Zhuge Cheng nodded in sign that he understood his words. However, Cheng's eyebrow raised on hearing his lord's somewhat surprising request. Sure, Cheng had great skills and he was proud of them, but he would be amazed if Sarugaku would accept his aid in anything.

Taking a deep breath, he bowed once more sighing.
"My knowledge is limited, but my desire to help is tremendous. Your wish is my command. Now I shall take my leave, is there anything that I could....

He stopped when noticing a strange newcomer interfering in their conversation, his stature, look, and even the way he spoke were quite similar to the person Zhuge Cheng knew better than people assumed, Cheng's eyes met with his, and indeed, he could see the same expression in his eyes, it was none other than the son of the Shu ruler Liu Bei, Liu Feng.

Is your father that short on personnel so he had to send his own son as an envoy? inquired Cheng with a slightly amused expression on his face.

((yeah, I know, lame post))

[Sun Quan]

Sun Quan smiled at Zhuge Cheng's willingness to help, but then spotted a young warrior heading their way. The boy presented himself as an envoy from Shu, and more importantly, Xuande's son. Liu Feng provided Quan a plant that seemed to be quite wild and in fair condition. Nice of Shu to send him something like that instead of the usual mess of things; Quan ushered a guard to take the plant from him and bring it to a cabinet next to his throne where it would be stored for safe keeping. Quan watched the act, his ears listening to his officer's remarks to Liu Feng. Around the court people slowly began to stir, surprised at the unorthodox way Shu showed it's appreciation..

As he turned back around he hopped from the clutches of his throne, snaking around Zhuge Cheng and smiling at Liu Feng. Would one day Liu Feng be to Shu what Quan was to Wu? If so, it would be Quan's duty to aid him in his journey and hope that the seeds of friendship would one way sprout.

[red]"I am glad that he has sent his son, for dear Liu Feng is young and unchained like his father. It has been too long since I've heard from Shu, how has your father been?"[/red]

[Jia Zhilan]

Zhilan was not all that sure if she could of said no in that particular moment or really to the offer because even if she hated to admit it she actually did want to do that, for herself. Taking a chance really could not hurt anything, though she knew her father was not going to be the happiest, at the time though she was not exactly thinking about it. For once she had done something even if was not that big of a deal, for herself which felt a bit weird when she really thought about it. In those moments though something in her felt like it was a little less restrained, that it actually had some room to breath for once. Her intentions for coming here were now far different then what things had played out to be, everything was going to be different now though.

Smiling lightly Zhilan nodded when he heard him say he would help her "I think I'd like that very much" lightly she tilted her head and ran a hand threw her hair. Watching the sky and how it fell upon the city, Zhilan smiled lightly, her dark eyes gleaming in the moonlight. Everything about this day had been so unexpected, somehow it kept taking Zhilan back, and sometimes she even had to think if this was all real. Now she focused herself on the night sky and her eyes seemed to stare out into the stars, something about this…she felt like it was a trick. At any moment she was going to open her eyes and then…all of it would be gone and she would soon discover that she had dreamt this wonderful situation.

Though when her father found out about it, that might end the dream pretty quickly…yet again he now knew that his daughter was looked at in good eyes by a ruler. Her father would most likely not pass down that nice little add to his stature though he would make sure not to give her up that easily, he was a bargaining sort of man, always had been. If you played your cards right with him though you always got what you wanted, and he walked away just a little happier. Naturally though if someone tried to pull the higher power thing, her father was not the happiest man about that simply because there was no benefit for him. Anything that did not benefit him he would imply was probably not a good idea, after all what use was it for him if he got nothing from it and giving in easily he knew that you didn’t get the best of deals.

“I’m not sure if you really want to…” pausing she looked at him for a minute, sighing deeply she shut her eyes and looked at him again, her relationship with her father was rather complicated. “I don’t think he’s going to be happy by any means especially since he didn’t get to make this decision” brushing her hair behind her ear she thought of how it may disappoint him. It crushed her a little bit but yet another part of her kept telling her that it would be worth it in the end she was making steps towards being herself at least for now. Still though she was scared, something in her wanted to just forget about it and really she had to fight that part of her, it kept wanting to dominate. “I don’t know if that’s really the safest of bets...” putting her hair behind her ear she looked at him and gave out a deep breath.

Most of what she had said was in a soft whisper before someone approached him, that naturally gave her time to think of what was happening, running a hand threw her hair very lightly. Shuffling her shoes a little bit, which only made her white dress sway slightly with her gracefully, her hair around her face. Dark eyes seem to finally fall upon whoever had walked in to the room and something in it surprised her, it was a young male. Even if he looked about her age she was surprised that he was involved in all of this, something in her had somehow believed that the men fighting this battle were ever really that young. Zhilan could not speak though after all, he probably knew how to handle himself in battle situations, Zhilan had little to no clue as her father tried to keep her away from that sort of thing.

Her finger tips where lightly linked and rested against her as the other man in the room spoke up finally, and he seemed to find the fact that lord Liu Bei had sent his son as a sort of disrespect. Zhilan shook her head lightly to herself, looking at the young son for a moment she realized how much rested on his shoulder at least from what she could see on his face. He seemed so determined to do this, even if it was not as big of a task as leading some sort of army it was a task his father had sent him to do and he planned to do it without the smallest of flaws. Somehow though she knew how it felt to want to impress your father, how you could do anything just to hear or even seen him play out the honored father role. Most of what she did to her father was hardly anything notable, he tried to teach her to be a girl who judged all and gave no sympathy, yet…Zhilan did not judge anyone and had faith in even the worst of people.

[Sun Quan]

((Holly Liu Feng was supposed to be coming in a new setting other than the party that we're both still attending.. This thread is so confusing. Just going to reply to what you said and then head to the party with Jia to encounter her father..))

It was easy to tell Jia's relationship with her father by the way she was referring to him constantly, and thinking of how he'd act, instead of the way she or the Wu leader would. Alas, Quan thought, girls often fell into such roles in their families- maybe he could break this spell for at least one. To do that, see someone truly become their own and become something would bring a great feeling to Zhongmou, so he would try. [red]"Nonsense, if this is what you truly desire, then no longer can your father control you."[/red] Quan turned, facing the direction of the party; he nodded to Jia. [red]"Come, I shall help you with this task."[/red] The two walked back the distance, their conversation never fading as Quan tried to encourage her more.

[red]"Trust me, your father will respect your wishes, especially if I am here to respect them as well. Things will work out for you yet, Zhilan."[/red]

After a few moments they made their way back into the party, Quan immediately surprised that things had already died down. The lot of his men seemed to either be too drunk to keep at it or too tired, yet some of the visitors were still corralled by the banquet table. It being 'his' party, Quan had no problem walking up to the men, and waiting for the man to find his daughter, whom was just off to his side. [red]"So, where is he?"[/red]

[Liu Feng]

Of course Liu Feng was many things, amoung them he was nervous, worried and having a great sense of being out his depth, but on the plus side he was hiding it all brilliantly, he was composed and holding onto his near-always high confidence. What flaws he had, the boy was sure hiding them behind a blanket of his greater traits.

"Is your father that short on personnel so he had to send his own son as an envoy?"

Liu Feng met his gaze, under other circumstances perhaps he would have retorted in similar fashion. His face did change from concentrated and respectful towards Sun Quan however, and as such his face rose in a smirk, a show the possibly petty insult had no impact on him and that indeed, he found it amusing one would speak so out of turn in presence of an envoy of an Ally.

"I am glad that he has sent his son, for dear Liu Feng is young and unchained like his father. It has been too long since I've heard from Shu, how has your father been?"

Liu Feng had done the hard part so far, by which entering, speaking up and now even holding back his tongue from one of Wu's own officers and he was now greeted by Wu's own Lord Sun Quan.

"My father is well, I thank you for asking." He started followed by a respectful nod of the head. "My father sends his best wishes, and would care to know how the lands of Wu fare, and even more so your majesty?"

He remained on his knee, either show great respect, or his obvious inexperience in such circumstances. He could feel his throat dry and the realisation he would have to make further conversation, unless he was to draw the visit to a premature closure. His eyes shifted from the lord of Wu for a moment as he tried frantically in his head to come up with future questions and conversation starters if he needed any, whilst keeping his usual calm outer shell.

[Sun Quan]

Sun Quan, realizing he'd left the young lad resting on the floor drew him up, his hand pulling the young boy up as he surveyed his appearance. He seemed to be the next 'Liu Bei,' but did he have what was most important, that courage his father held so deep inside?

[red]"Wu does fine, too fine. Cao Cao cannot stand to our masses, and our army grows everyday, just as our expanding borders."[/red] Quan took the young lad in the crook of his arm, walking forward and showing him the view outside the chamber doors. It viewed the rest of the palace and the city before it, truly breathtaking. [red]"This palace is new, you are the first of Shu to set foot in it. You see, my people built it after Chi Bi was won, and now I have a palace befit the man who sent back Cao Cao.. But alas, I have not beaten the tyrant yet, and I think I am far too preoccupied by this palace.."[/red] Quan let the boy go, then turned back, [red]"A magnificent time this is, no Zhuge Cheng? We share company with our friends in Shu in this young lad Liu Feng.. it's something to be admired, the times when you're not fighting."[/red]

Walking to the edge of the palace entrance, he viewed over the land again. [red]"Alas, I cannot see Shu from here.. how has your father's forces been, after taking to Jing?"[/red]

[Zhuge Cheng]

Zhuge Cheng scanned the lad, as he watched him in his mind he started wondering over the future of the two kingdoms, what fate expected them, and most importantly how all of this will at last end.... Unfortunately he couldn't think of everything clear, the states of the three kingdoms were very even despite the last grand success, thus the future was still very cloudy. Men of great wisdom and courage would be needed to depose of the current evenness. Peace was still far away.

On his Lords question Zhuge Cheng nodded, he tried to hide as best as possible his anxiety at the state of the land, and what was the snake of the north Cao Cao up to in the moment they were talking.

"That is true. These could be our final days of peace before the storm. We should enjoy in it as best as we can. He sighed as he finished the line, hoping he sounded convincing enough.

[Liu Feng]

Slowly to the young Prince of Shu, it would seem things got easier as they progressed. As he was lifted from the floor by the hand of the Wu lord, he felt a sudden sense of belief and inspiration in himself on the task at hand. Whether this was planned all from the beginning by his father, it was still strange how things often click into place, and from being nervous and apprehensive, he found himself... well sort of enjoying it.

"This palace is new, you are the first of Shu to set foot in it. You see, my people built it after Chi Bi was won, and now I have a palace befit the man who sent back Cao Cao.. But alas, I have not beaten the tyrant yet, and I think I am far too preoccupied by this palace..

He begun to speak, before taking the conversation to the Wu officer Zhuge Cheng, the only person thus far to begin impressions on a less than grand note, though in all truth Liu Feng never minded banta, it was all part of his own self.

"Alas, I cannot see Shu from here.. how has your father's forces been, after taking to Jing?"

The conversation was once more brought to Liu Feng and he happily obliged the invitation, clearing his throat to make sure he spoke fluently and clearly.

"Jing has been kind to us, the people enjoy his rulership, no doubt partially due to the family ties in the region. We're not as strong as Cao Cao, nor indeed your own superb forces, which so valiantly repelled the tyrant Mengde, but we make do with what we have got, and grow by the day. I think my father thanks the heavens each day for the support he has been given thus far."

He had been very honest, and as respectful as he could on the subject of Jing, a place many would have seen as a target for Wu in the future, if not now for the growing friendly forces of Liu Bei laying their claim there.

"So what news from the north? Alas we in Shu do fear Cao Cao plans his second move against the south soon."

He kept the conversation moving, seeming to take a personal interest, rather than merely being sent here with orders.

[Huo Long (Richard)]

"All too easy" Huo Long thought to himself, dressed a servant of the household (All be it a female servant, lets not go in to how he obtained it too much shall we) it was easy to infiltrate the Palace of Jian Ye, add to this the current repair work and some could even say it had been too easy but still if life gives you lemons, ask for apples cause no one likes Lemons

Still, Huo Long walked toward what he had pinpointed as the main throne room and no doubt enough gold to make him a gold hat to wear, after all who wouldn't want a gold hat. Plus it beat this Wig he was wearing and this make up to disguise himself as a woman

"The things i do for gold"

As Huo Long carried on he started to notice a lot more guards and a lot more looks in his direction. Either his Mascara was running or he was being eyed up. Either way it was a bit creepy. Still, he spotted the door he wanted and entered the main throne room. All the while keeping his head down and shuffling along at the edge of the room and heading toward his prize of a golden hat. Still, there was a long way to go yet.

First he would need to deal with the pain in his heel. Why did he have to chat up and steal the lady who wears High Heels. Still who knows, all he knows is his prize was close and a golden hat was all most his

[Sun Quan]

Quan smiled at the boy as he replied- even through his questions of coming war. Such things were unsettling, but Quan knew he should quell such thoughts now. His voice casually filtered through the air..

[red]"Wei is something I do not entirely fear, young Liu Feng. Aswell, if the reports are to be believed, they do not seek war with us, but war with the rest of China."[/red] Quan smiled at the boy, drew up his arm and called a servant who was nearby. [red]Besides, if I am to fight Cao Cao again, it shall be on my own conditions.. now, I must bid you farewell for the moment Liu Feng, there are things I must attend to. I offer you a room in my palace, maybe later after all has quieted we shall talk more."[/red]



Shou Shi was walking through the palace, looking for Sun Quan when he noticed several guards staring at a figure passing by. His curiosity got the best of him, so he had a look himself. Utter shock hit him though as he noticed the figure was a woman, or what at least looked like one. She seemed to be wandering about, not knowing her duties. Thinking the situation seemed very peculiar, Shi walked up to the girl and halted her.

[white]"What's the hurry?"[/white]