Xin Ye - Be it shelter or prison[Task]

[Cai Yinqiu]

Summary:
The twins seek employment in Shu and are on the way to the capital city.

"Well, you better know what you're doing sis," Jiaoxia looked at her companion and showed the least mistrust in her eyes as the other glanced at her with a questioning look.

It seems Jiaoxia does not trust the Liu Bei as I do. But I just know if he would discover all of our past he can't just turn us in and demand our punishment, or actually only myself. I would take full responsibility of course, but what would come of sis?

"So, it isn't far anymore, right? I'm feeling exhausted and really sis, don't you agree it is time for a break?" Jiaoxia leaned against the neck of the horse they had received from their father. Yingqi was walking next to them and patted the horse, as if she was encouraging the animal to be strong with such a whining person on it. Plus he had to pull the small cart which carried their clothing and other small belongings.

Cai Yinqiu grabbed the feather and some small paper from her bag and pulled it into her selfmade sort of ink. Really, it was not ink at all, she had to save that bit for official matters. She had used some special rocks and a bit of water to mix which barely was good enough to write with, but decent enough to make her sister understand the few characters she wrote with it.
No..Break..Far..For..You..

Seeing the reply made Jiaoxia pout and she looked behind, the followers being some people who used to be in service of the Cai clan as well though they never met them. She was annoyed by them, since they followed and seemed to protect them if it would be necessary but she and her sister had no money to pay them.

Yinqiu noticed it. She may not realize it, but I can safely assume they work for father. Soon as we are accepted into service somewhere, they may leave. After all, would they not be fathers help, they would want something and had taken it already.

They reached the exit of the small forest, and the road became more crowded with travelers. After a while they would see the city walls, and they would be there within the hour.

We should first rest and find a place to stay the night, we can't show up like this, and we may have to make an arrangement before we can have an audience. She grabbed the brush from Jiaoxia and gestured to her the shape of a house, then the expression to sleep, and then start brushing her own hair.

"Yea, yea got it. I'm gonna run ahead and ask around for a place, give me some gold pieces already." She dismounted rather quick and held her hands up.

Yinqiu stopped her. Now suddenly she is all refreshed with energy? Chaotically she wrote down something, grabbed some money and then ran off herself. Jiaoxia read the note she left.
I..can..do..it

Cai Jiaoxia shrugged and looked at her younger twin who was at the same speed sprinting toward Xin Ye.
"You don't have to prove that to me, I only wanted to do something for a change.."

Will continue.

[Cai Yinqiu]

Summary:
Cai Yinqiu has gone ahead and seeks a place to stay. She interferes in a fight, her personal mission fails. Her sister rejoins her and they go desperately looking for Liu Bei.

Yingqi soon reached the gates of the city, and as there was peace here at the moment, she passed and went inside looking for a decent, and payable inn. While slowly walking now to catch her breath, she felt stares and looked around, though she only saw other common folks who looked annoyed when she looked them into the eyes. Probably getting a little paranoid as I don't know this area..

At the market square of the town many were selling their goods with a loud voice, as it was like who would scream the hardest would have the cheapest merchandise. Passing a trader with pieces of armor she observed his store, as the veteran noticed and laughed.

"Looking for a present for your husband? Nahh I doubt it, you look as if you'd wear it yourself. Well sorry but the latest fashion is quite different, better move on, as others may start to spread the rumor I'm selling dresses as well, haha."

Yingqi looked sharp in his eyes but did not respond and continued her way. She began to write on another small piece of paper and overlooked it after she finished. it read 'please, can you tell me the best inn for low money?'
Whereupon she went up and see an elder sitting on a bench watching the children play a fight, some with bare hands while others used a stick. She joined him and watched as well, then asked his attention by patting his right upper arm. Without looking at her he began to speak.
"It is not wise of their parents to let them play like that, though perhaps it is better for them to make the mistake now rather then they fight for real."

Cai Yinqiu agreed in her thoughts with him. the elder is quite right there, yet I don't know would he mean the mistake of the parents or the children? The parents should encourage them though to be able to defend that what they care for, which is no mistake, no matter how much pain they must go through.

The old man turned his head and watched his companion, then observing the note he was given. He smiled friendly.
"Ah dear lady, you are not from around here? I would like to know what would bring you here, even though I have my own conclusions. Anyway, you are not waiting to have a conversation with someone like me who spend his days sitting on benches."

He pointed toward a way which led in a bow to the left. With a nod as if he agreed with himself he continued: "Yes, you should head that direction. I do not recall the name of the place, but if you ask around for Huang Xishou you will be fine, he owns the place I recommend."

She wrote the name on the back of the note which he had given back. Rising from her seat, she turned and bowed to him as a thank you for offering his help, but he shook his head.
"Don't thank me for something like that, anyone who helps someone should do it not by expecting any reward, though your thank you is appreciated, it was not worth to thank for."

She was startled, that even a bow was not needed for the man. But Yingqi had to get on with her job, and was about to follow the way the man had pointed, when one of the children began to cry and as the old man had gone away suddenly, she noticed one man figure, supposedly the father had taken the crying child beside him, while he was yelling at one of the other kids who dropped it's stick and was about to run away when his father arrived at the scene and not started to yell or talk but jumped right on the other father and started a fight. The crowd gathered around but did not interfere, which made Yingqi move into action.

Pulling away the spectators she swiftly grabbed the attacker's neck, who suddenly stood up to get a hold of his other opponent, angered by this cowardice action, shouting "Know who I am, know who I am!" However he was unbalanced, and after a small kick into the backside of his knee which made him sit down. The other quickly came into his feet and stood puzzled, not knowing why this girl had come to his aid.

The surprise made the anger of the attacker subside, and he stopped resisting and was allowed to stand back up. The note of the name Huang Xishou had fallen on the ground and the man stared at it. Yingqi remained alert and was ready to defend herself any time, but kept one hand in front of her, making the common sign of 'stop'. These guys are but children themselves she thought with a sigh, but remained her view on the two men. Then one started to speak.

"If you seek Huang Xishou, you have succeeded Miss. And whatever you may have wanted from me, you are not getting it. You withhold me from taking my vengeance on that man whose son harassed my own, hitting with a stick on his whole body. Everyone is on my side, the man is a criminal, he himself spends money from smugglers and thugs, spoiling his kid who now thinks he may do whatever he pleases."

The other made no defense but held the boy back who was confused, but cried he did not do anything. I can not judge this, I have no authority here and have no clue of their backgrounds, but now I have waisted my chance of shelter for the night at the place the old man recommended..not to forget how am I going to explain myself for this rush? Cai Yinqiu led down her shoulders, sighed and bowed low before them both, then wrote 2 quick notes, leaving everyone puzzled. She handed one to each of the two, before being on her way again. To Xishou she wrote 'I apologize, but please have mercy with your enemy' while the other one read 'Take care of your son, and try to regain your honor among the community.. Fairly.

She hastened then back, and bumped into someone carrying some expensive looking clothing which fell into the mud. Highly frustrated he demanded her to pay him for this act of crime with all she carried with her, but Yinqiu had no time for him and so ran off instead.
Out of the city she found her sister at the gate who impatiently asked where they had to go to rest. Yingqiu sadly shook her head, and beckoned to come with her.

"You shake your head meaning we don't have a place to rest, but you still want us to follow you. To where? Please I have no interest in following you blindly having no clue sis! I trust you but I need to know anyway, will I otherwise be able to give my opinion?"

Can't she imagine a thing? There are only two things to do here. Ugh.. Vaguely she gave a ruffled note, something she had written before obviously. Jiaoxia read it and threw it then away and 'hmpfd'.

"Just.. great."
Avoiding the market square, which would only distract Jiaoxia anyway, Yinqiu thought, they moved along another road in the city, ending up to some better developed buildings with more people looking like officials walking around. Jiaoxia couldn't stand wandering along in the city while they were so close so she started asking around where they had to go to find Liu Bei. Surely one of them must know a thing was her thought. Yinqiu tried to stop her, wanting to let her know they must not act desperately, but it was no use.

[Guan Yu]

(Sorry for late reply, PM me if your still active and want a response for this. I noticed you've been offline for ten days. Apologies)