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Post by Lu Dun on Aug 12, 2011 22:14:33 GMT
You're on! Dun laughed as he took off after Xingji, his longer legs not counting for much as the two of them dodged in and out of foot traffic, as Xingji's smaller frame allowed her to avoid collisions easier. Dun had to slow down to keep from running anybody over.
A few short minutes later, they were outside Xingji's estate, impressive even amongst this affluent neighborhood. Xingji truly deserved to be called a merchant queen, if the story her father had told him about her was true. He even said so:
You sure have an impressive place, even for this neighborhood. A palace befitting a queen such as yourself. Dun flashed another charming smile Xingji's way as he waited to be invited in.
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Post by Li Wang on Aug 13, 2011 23:08:46 GMT
Xingji found herself laughing like a girl as they raced for her estate. She was making better ground at first, her smaller frame allowing her to weave through her fellow citizens on the street without real danger of knocking anybody over. Dun, on the other hand, was forced to slow down in order to get through traffic so his muscular bulk would not knock anybody over. His long legs made up for it though, as his greater stride length made up lost ground in open patches, such as the 30 meter long one when they turned the corner. Xingji had had a good headstart, but Dun's longer legs allowed him to catch up and make the contest a draw.
You sure have an impressive place, even for this neighborhood. A palace befitting a queen such as yourself.
And there was that damned smile again. Xingji knew what he wanted it to do to her, and damn him it was working. For Heaven's sake her heart fluttered just at the sight of him, never mind the musk being secreted in his sweat... damn him!
You flatter me, Dun. I'm no queen, simply the sister of a man whose business deals have brought him, and by extension, myself, good fortune. And even before Wang our father (may his soul rest lightly) left him a sizable fortune to invest. But it is a rather fancy place, even for Jian Ye's merchants. There's a reason nobody fucks with me! Xingji giggled, then gasped when she realized the crudeness she'd used with him.
Ah I mean to say, my family's reputation as profitable merchants comes well earned. I never will understand why my brother chose a military career... but I digress. Please, Dun, come on in; I'm sure we have much to discuss after I read Xian's message.
Xingji waited for him to open the door as she was sure he would, then proceeded to enter her estate.
The Li estate was a grand place, radiating elegance and status from the poshness of it's decorum. Paintings, furniture, books, decorations... if you could name it, it was there. But none of this stood out to Xingji's practiced eye, as right now she was headed towards the study, which she normally used to review books and ledgers. Within, there would be a polished mahoggany throne, with cushions galore, a matching table closer to the base, and again, posh decorum. What she wanted, however, was the letter opener stashed in a compartment beneath the table. Normally, she would not reveal that the table even had a secret compartment (as did most of the furniture in her house; you never knew when you might need to defend yourself against an assassin, so each compartment had some sort of weapon, ranging from daggers to poison darts and even swords in a couple of the walls), but she felt she could trust Dun not to tell. After all, Xian had entrusted him with whatever scheme he was involved in, which meant Dun must be too. She'd made certain to make enough of a scene that people would remember both her and Dun, hopefully enough to put two and two together if something untoward were to happen to her in the next few hours.
Yes... What?... really?!
Xingji snapped her head up to look at Dun once she finished reading the message, her expression betraying her alarm.
Is he certain of this? What he implies... and what he asks... one wrong move and all our heads will end up on spikes!
Xingji's earlier coyness was completely gone now, replaced with the Xingji Jian Ye's merchants saw: calculating, ruthless, confident of her trade... yet tinged with a hint of fear at the potential ramifications of the actions this message would lead to.
We need to find him, and interrogate him somehow. But first... we need to develop a strong cover; I get the feeling we're going to be seeing each other alot because of this. Suggestions?
Xingji's honey-brown eyes, once laced with innocence, now portrayed a more serious woman, intent on fulfilling her mission.
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Post by Lu Dun on Aug 19, 2011 22:55:46 GMT
You're too humble, Xingji. Everybody knows your brother would only be some minor officer in the army if he didn't have the business you built to fall back on. Dun was only half paying attention to Xingji as he followed her through her place; it was nearly as beautiful as she was.
If we weren't sure, do you think I'd be here? Give me a little more credit than that.
If it was up to me, I'd suggest going with what I said before, about joining your brother in the army. Until he comes back, or takes He Fei, I'll serve as your bodyguard; we've already done a pretty good job of making sure people believe I'm fucking you right now, it'll be believable. We just have to make sure we get the chance to interrogate the man before I leave.
Dun was more serious now as well, thinking entirely with the head between his shoulders now.
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Post by Li Wang on Aug 20, 2011 0:09:24 GMT
If we weren't sure, do you think I'd be here? Give me a little more credit than that. The words stung; Xingji had revealed herself to be a viper, slinking through the grass looking for someone to bite, and Dun had come right back and showed himself to be a scorpion, hiding beneath the sands waiting to sting the first unwary foot to trod upon him.
If it was up to me, I'd suggest going with what I said before, about joining your brother in the army. Until he comes back, or takes He Fei, I'll serve as your bodyguard; we've already done a pretty good job of making sure people believe I'm fucking you right now, it'll be believable. We just have to make sure we get the chance to interrogate the man before I leave.
Xingji frowned as Dun laid out this plan, trying not to think of all the ways this could go wrong... and failing when the image of her head on a spike flashed before her eyes. She was terrified.
But that's when a viper is most dangerous she mused as Dun finished talking.
That seems like a good plan to me. But make no mistake, Dun, we can't afford to make any mistakes, or we're dead. You, me, your father, my nephew, even my brother: dead. So answer me truly; do you want to go through with this? You could still back out, but if you're going to go through with this, I need to be certain I can trust you not to fuck it up. Do you understand me?
Xingji's expression was all business, her voice unadulterated authority, though unbeknownst to herself her palms were quaking ever so slightly with fear, and her lips were pursed just a little too hard.
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Post by Lu Dun on Aug 20, 2011 5:42:46 GMT
Dun barely even noticed the signs of fear evident on Xingji; instead he was thinking about what would happen if he should muck this up and die. But could he really let a drop-dead gorgeous woman like Xingji go and get herself killed?
I, ah... I won't lie, I'm scared shitless too. But as my father told me, it's our duty to the state to bring sinister operations to light; I'll help you in this, at the least. After, I think I'll be of more use on the front lines with your lord brother.
Dun was in a cold sweat; he obviously didn't want to do this, but do it he would. He'd do it for his father, so he could be proud of his son. He'd do it for his friends Xian and Xingji, so they might live to see a new day. He'd do it for the state, so that no evil plot might bring it crashing down. He'd do it, but he would not be happy about it.
"I... need to sleep. If I'm to serve as your bodyguard, then I should stay here. So if you don't mind, I'm going to go find a room to crash in...
Dun's mind was a maelstrom of emotions; honor, courage, lust, despair, fear, horror... it was giving him a migraine so fierce he wanted nothing better than to forget the troubles of the world, if only for a few hours. It was too much to hope for a dreamless sleep, but at least he wouldn't feel the pain.
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Post by Li Wang on Aug 20, 2011 15:10:28 GMT
I thank you, Dun. Up the stairs, first room on the left is a guest room, you can use that.
Xingji could not blame him for the headache he was obviously suffering from; if she'd been in the same bind at his age, she would have been on the ground crying, never mind her reputation as a hard hitting business woman. She actually admired the strength he was exhibiting by agreeing to this.
Just pull the bell if you need anything, a servant will come right up. Oh, and it might help the headache if you'd stop imagining how I look naked. Just a suggestion! Xingji giggled at Dun's back, imagining the look on his face at that. Mean, to be sure, but she was only trying to help ease the man's pain.
Of course, he may not always have to imagine... but I guess we'll wait and see.
Xingji had her coy smile back before she left the room a few minutes later, all obvious signs of fear removed from her visage. She'd received the message, and now she would brace herself for the trials ahead. Not a sound could be heard from her bedroom except for the crackling of a fire as Xian's message was incinerated, allowing Dun and Xingji a backdoor should they change their minds in the next few days...
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