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Post by Cao Cao on Jul 27, 2008 21:11:40 GMT -5
Hidden away in the grand palace of Xu Chang were a variety of rooms, each with their own individual purpose and person to deal with the respective matters. Many were offices, located towards the front of the palace itself, their doors open to allow for the intermingling members of the court to discuss important issues of Wei’s future. Further into the palace were the servants chambers, the men and women who attended to the needs of all, from the lowest official, to Cao Cao himself. Their rooms were lightly decorated, their doors also always open, to let the rushing sounds of their masters beckons to call them out to work. Situated in the deepest corners of this magnificent building, draped in the regal colours of gold and purple, were the private chambers of the Cao family, and their respective concubines. Gold decorated each doorway, and guards hovered around the corridor that lead to each of the rooms, letting none enter. Here was where lord Mengde spent the majority of his private time.
The lords private room was lavish and grand, though no bigger than the average chamber. A large bed with dark purple silken sheets occupied the majority of one side of the room, whilst a desk and endless piles of books and parchments littered the opposite section. Despite this it was regularly empty, Cao often opting to visit his concubines chambers to engage in his more carnal affairs. This room, his private study, seemed purely for the advancement of his own knowledge.
Sat at his desk, a piece of parchment on the table before him, and a thin writing tool dipped in ink curled delicately up in his right hand, Cao Cao seemed to be writing a manual on political skill and diplomacy. His face was one of pure concentration, his brows knitted together studiously, as his hands weaved and flowed across the paper below, creating and storing down his numerous ideas. After finishing the page, he stored away the writing tool, and then added the parchment to the growing stacks, before standing up slowly and walking towards his doorway. He was adorned in his regal robes once more, purely out of comfort in this instance; he rolled his sleeves up as he peered out of the doorway, and called for a servant.
“You, fetch me the Wu girl, I have matters to discuss with her.” Cao was brief and succinct, quickly falling back into his chambers before a response could be given. The servant nodded dutifully, and rushed off to find the woman. Now waited for Sun Shang Xiang, where his deadly intentions would perhaps finally be revealed.
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Post by Sun Shang Xiang on Jul 27, 2008 21:24:16 GMT -5
Sun Shang Xiang was relaxing in her room, kneeling on her bed and looking out of a window out into the city. She was however brought away from her "sight seeing" as a servant told her to go and see Lord Cao Cao. Her brows furrowed in annoyance at how she was ordered by some lowly servant... but she had to expect this now...
Xiang took her time, casually turning and standing up, stretching and yawning as slowly as she could in a conscious effort to prove a point she wasn't going to be running around for the Wei lord, nor his slaves. She was the Princess of Wu, she couldn't be ordered about and get away with it all togther. She was determined to put Cao Cao in his place when she saw him...
She walked into his room, it had taken her slightly longer than he probably would have appreciated, but with her arms crossed and a stern look on her face, he was bound to know she didn't care what he thought or felt about the situation. If it was anyone else she would probably get a slap or some kind of punishment for showing such disrespect, but she was confident he wouldn't harm her, she was too great a value for him to abuse.... right?
"You asked for me?" She enthusized the asked to try in another subtle rebellion against Cao Cao. She walked beside his desk, leaning against the backwall as she looked at him. Again she was showing her fearless, Sun Family nature as she stared the man in the eyes, showing her annoyance with him for what he did at the feast. "Surely you don't actually think you can order me about?" She laughed a little, trying to assert her dominance like she had failed to do previously.
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Post by Cao Cao on Jul 27, 2008 21:40:17 GMT -5
As Sun Shang Xiang walked through the door into Cao Cao’s private study, a room that very few living souls had graced, she was met with a familiar sinister grin. It crossed Mengde’s visage only momentarily, as if he was anticipating the sass that he was given upon her entry. His scanning eyes watched her closely, and he expected no less of the woman and her late arrival.
Rolling his sleeves up further, he stepped closer to Wu’s princess as she asked her question, and tried to assert her position to Wei’s lord, hoping that this motion towards her showed how unfazed he was, but rather, still further intrigued by her actions. He stroked his chin lightly, the bristles of his beard grazing across his fingertips, before giving a calm, simplistic reply.
“I don’t think anything of ordering you around, young Wu girl, your presence here now affirms my own control over you.” He smirked, narrowing his eyes slightly, before walking across to his desk to organise a few more of his parchments, despite the fact they were all completely anarchic in their pile. Was he stalling for time, or just letting the truth of his statement settle in with the woman? He broke his brief silence with a different tone, one that was again familiar to Xiang.
“What would your father think of our encounter, my lady? What would he think of his own daughter if he thought of her in the arms of a man like myself?” He did his best to withhold a sinister smirk, instead tilting his head in sly curiosity, awaiting for a response, or even a violent backlash.
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Post by Sun Shang Xiang on Jul 27, 2008 21:54:36 GMT -5
SSX felt her jaw instinctively clench shut and tense as Cao Cao said he had control over her. It had only been for a brief moment, not even a second, but it was pretty obvious that the comment had gotten under Xiang's skin, yet somehow she managed to hold on to her self, making sure she didn't do anything stupid.
Then Cao Cao spoke about her father, her eyes widened slightly and then she looked down, thinking. She wasn't thinking of the answer, more so at what Cao Cao's reasoning for asking such a question was, then she saw it. Her eyes met his, her mouth slightly open. "Y-you said you were going to help my family!" She snarled in anger upon realising Cao Cao's intentions. "You told me you'd protect me!"
She had well and truly underestimated Cao Cao's capabilities. She had fallen in perhaps the most obvious of traps, but now she was cornered into a hole she couldn't possibly get out of by herself. For one Cao Cao had power over her physically, she couldn't leave without his express permission, and then even if she did escape, the path from Xu Chang to Jian Ye was unknown to her...
His smirk and expression was too much for her to handle, and she found her hand already heading for his face. A fast, sharp slap heading his way was sure to startle the Wei Lord if only for a brief moment. She didn't dare do more, knowing that with each outburst he would gain more and more emotional and physical control over her and punching him, or even worse could lead to her death and her family name being ruined...
She backed away though after the attempted slap, her eyes widening again, she found the words move out of her lips. "I-I'm sorry!" She knew it was playing into his hands to fall for his tricks and traps, so she tried her best to seem noble and in charge of her own emotions as she could.
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Post by Mr Nor on Jul 28, 2008 0:57:32 GMT -5
As Zei Fang walked into Audience hall, he looked at a guard immediately to his left. He spoke with deadly effeciency and seemed to peirce the guards skin with his words.
" I am Zei Fang. I am the ambassador of Wu. Where is Cao Cao?"
The guard looked flustered. "Uh... n-not he-"
"Then where is he?"
"Uh, I'm not su-"
"TELL ME!" he roared as he reached for his blade.
"AH!" the guard yelped as he pointed up a flight of stairs pased the audience hall.
Zei Fang didn't even thank the man as he walked briskly passed the rest of the guards, practically daring them to stop him. Finally, after about 2 minutes of walking, he found a chamber with a lavish door, much more decorated than the rest. This must be his. As he slammed his fist on the door with force and aggrivation,, he really hoped he was interupting something.
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Post by Cao Cao on Jul 28, 2008 6:13:31 GMT -5
The taunting, devious words of Cao Cao were never meant as a truthful question; he wanted to incite a reaction from the feisty young Wu girl. His sly grin was met by a swift slap from Xiang, the sound echoing throughout Cao’s chambers. Cao’s head was turned from the force of the swing, though as he returned back to facing Wu’s princess, he still had that wicked grin plastered across his visage. Gently he rubbed his cheek, and began to walk forward once again, pouncing open the girls frail and apologetic manner.
“Your apology makes the pain all the more enjoyable, Wu princess.” A soft cackle escaped from his lips, as he stared glaringly into the wide eyes of the woman before him. Mengde could always sense such weakness, and, standing but a few inches from the woman, his daunting demeanour would attempt to make her feel even more fearful. Yet, he did not react with violence. He never even raised a hand to Xiang. Instead, his words would continue to be the barrage he needed.
“I will protect you Xiang, your family’s safety is also promised, for I am a man of my word. My question is a pry into what you think of your father.. And what he thinks of you.” He smirked once more, still caressing his own cheek, which now had begun to turn red from the angry slap. He was preparing to continue, before a loud commotion began stirring outside, and a thundering noise rattled against his door.
Zei Fang had managed to storm past the guards throughout the city, and his swiftness in movement was probably key. As the many guards who had encountered him were on their own felt fear strike the heart from the man’s roars, they had already begun to inform the more powerful soldiers of his presence. In seconds, some 15 guards had stormed through the corridors, hunting Wu’s ambassador down. Mengde himself frowned at the disturbance, reaching for his sword which lay delicately across his bed. Blade in hand, he slowly approached the door, and opened it, roaring at the man who dare think he could force himself in upon the private chambers of Wei’s lord.
“And who is this vile man who think the heavens favour him so to get this far!? Guards!” By now the numerous guards had approached Zei Fang, some armed with spears, others swords, and a few with bows. Their deadly weapons were poised directly at the intruder, including the archers, his sharpened arrow tips were ready for release in an instant. Cao had to admit, he was impressed by the man getting so far - he gave the man a final warning.
“Be escorted out by the guards with your life, soldier, or be dragged out as a bloody carcass!”
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Post by Sun Shang Xiang on Jul 28, 2008 6:36:35 GMT -5
She felt the slap hit, her eyes blinked at the loud noise and then watched as the Wei lord's head turned from impact. He didn't look mad... he looked the same as he did before, a big wide grin on his face... It seemed even a physical attack couldn't stop his devilish expressions and actions.
Approching, Cao Cao held his face, but still as ever that grin was upon it, staring the Wu Princess in the eye. Xiang took a step back, walking into the wall, her head hitting it lightly, enough for her to feel cornered once more as Cao Cao came within inches of her. She felt unbelievably vulnerable right then, unable to get away from the Wei Lord, and being asked questions so well spoken that anger did not come into her mind, just a slight feeling of hopelessness at knowing the answer.
SSX was saved all of a sudden as the door banged with an unusual sound for these halls. Cao Cao grabbed his sword allowing Xiang some much needed air. God knows what Cao Cao would have said, or done and what the Wu Princess would have done, she wasn't feeling too brave at that moment, a sitting duck once more, but fate seemed to like her this time.
It was Zei Fang! She could see his face and hear his voice. She so wanted to run and try and get them both out, but what good would that do? If she ran away it would make her look like some kind of penny pinching whore, that would seriously hurt her family's name, and that was the big weakness with SSX, she didn't want her family being hurt because of her actions.
She ran up to Zei Fang, brushing past Cao Cao and gave the Wu Ambassador a smile. "Master Zei Fang... please withdraw, it is not worth Wu losing such a valuable man. I appreciate the offer... really I do, but I can't leave." She took a gulp, trying to compose herself for the next parts, she wanted Zei Fang to be unharmed, and for that she had to convice him she was fine. "I don't want to leave, I like it here and Lord Cao Cao treats me well. If you have any loyalty to my family's name you will sheath your blade and leave..."
The last part may have just gave it away, but what Sun Shang Xiang said should still make Zei Fang leave, she had used her family's name, and whilst he might be in control right now, she was the rightful heir in her Father's and Brother's absence, in some ways she had more power than he did and he should respect what she says... but stranger things have happened recently.
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Post by Mr Nor on Jul 28, 2008 10:55:18 GMT -5
Zei Fang looked at Cao Cao, and then to SSX, and then back to Cao Cao. "All I do is follow order. I'm not sure if you know this, but your father has disappeared and there will be a service in his honor. Zhou Tai did not want you getting lost, and wished for me to escort you back. Again, all I do is follow orders. However, if you do not wish to pay your final respects to Sun Jian, then by all means, stay in Wei. HOwver, Zhou Tai, as the current leader of Wu, has ordered you, a citizen and officer in the WU army, to return for the service. What you do afterwards is up to you." He said as he looked at the nearest guard.
"Honestly, do you think it wise to point that at a warrior of my stature? You might hrut yourself." he said as he hand danced dangerously close to the spear on his back.
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Post by Cao Cao on Jul 28, 2008 11:21:48 GMT -5
The guards in the palace were careful in their approach of Zei Fang; the man had reached this far already, undoubtedly he had skill to his name. Many had their spears pointed keenly towards the mans chest, yet kept their distance, awaiting for the call of their master to make that first deadly thrust. The premier guard was unaltered by Zei Fang’s bold comment, and kept his stalwart nature in the face of a stronger opponent, fearing Cao Cao’s wrath more than this warriors. They had left a small space for Zei Fang to leave, and would follow the man out with increasing wariness should he decide to depart peacefully. The reluctant tone of his words at Sun Shang Xiang’s refusal to go with him seemed to suggest he would indeed keep his life today.
The lord of Wei was surprised however. He had his sword poised, ready to strike, but his eyebrow was quirked in intrigue, pondering on Xiang’s will to stay with him. Why would she do this? To save her fellow Wu soldiers life? Or perhaps her own? It was then that all was enlightened; the tiger had arrived in the conversation.
Quick to hide his smirk, and capitalise on the situation, Cao lowered his sword, and slid a hand along the Wu princesses shoulder, a gentle squeeze acting as a comfort. He flashed a glare towards Zei Fang, and then began to let his words pour out and mix into the situation, acting as the catalyst for it turning in his favour. Once again they were subtle whispers, ringing the tune that Xiang would want to hear.
“My lady, I have told you twice now that I assure you of your father’s safety; for a third time I assure you he is fine, for I am always a man of my word. I have heard good things from him recently.. He misses you, and is proud of you. He loves you..” He then turned his attention back to Zei Fang, making his voice louder, more charismatic and reverent. Mengde gave a brief nod to the man.
“I understand that your lords absence is troubling, it is to us all, but creating more turmoil in this young woman by commanding her to attend some “memorial” helps not her traumatised mind. I assure you, she will be.. Safe.” The last word seemed to linger in the air slightly, Cao giving Xiang’s shoulder another assuring squeeze. His eyes were now fixated on the warrior before him, cold and unending, as if the gaze could burn a hole right through the mans visage.
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Post by Sun Shang Xiang on Jul 28, 2008 11:36:18 GMT -5
At the mention of a service in honour of her father she thought the worst. Was he dead after all? Cao Cao had told her not, but now she was in two minds. She realised even Zhou Tai did not know the true status of their lord, and after a short moment of her face being filled with shock and grief, it turned to slight annoyance. Her brows furrowed as she looked towards the warrior, she knew it wasn't his fault, but it was still wrong to do.
She was going to speak but then she heard whispers in her ear. It was so calm and gentle she nearly forgot who it was who was talking, and at the mention of her father being proud and loving her a smile rose on her face. She back and upwards, her smile showing to Cao Cao, the first honest smile she had shown the Wei ruler since they met.
Again she was going to speak but the Wei lord beat her as the Wu Princess looked again forwards. Her face turned back to normal, no longer annoyed but now curious more than anything to why Zhou Tai thought this plan would actually bring her back to Wu... if anything it had done more harm than good and as she felt another assuring squeeze to her shoulder she turned her body, much like at the feast, leaning into her new lord, showing her answer again rather than speaking it.
It was going to be an interesting time of her life, here in Wei, but she was beginning to see Cao Cao wasn't all bad... or maybe that was just his plan for her...
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Post by Mr Nor on Jul 28, 2008 12:36:49 GMT -5
Zei Fang looked at SSX with eyes of a schemer. "My lady... Zhou Tai wishes for you to return to pay respects to your father." he said. Only SSX had been around Zei Fang long enough to know what he meant. He was trying to give her a way to return home. Oh, well. If she really did not want to return to the land she loved, then so be it. "Look, I'm going to cut the shit, alright? This isn't getting us anywhere now, is it? Alright, so here's the deal," Zei Fang said, returning to his roots. It was the glar eCao Cao gave him that brought him back to the way Zhou Tai had found him; a cocky tone, an arrogant demeanor, and an ego that he would stroke if anyone provoked it. BEfore he had been calm and cool, but he was intent on bringing the Princess home. He had to follow orders, after all.
"I won't even pretend to know why the hell you're staying here, Sun Shang Xiang, but I can guarentee you... chances are, he just wants to have you here for leverage against us. You've been around Zhou Tai enough to know I don't bull-shit people, and this is my honest oppinion. And Cao Cao, that glare only makes you look like you're trying to scare me. Honestly, now... do you really think you intimidate me? Anyway... look, if you want to stay here, you will be dead to us. We can't have to worry about your well-being if you are voulentarily staying with Cao. But when I leave, I'm going to tell Zhou Tai that you refused to return. Sun Jian is not dead, but I can guarentee you Zhou Tai knows more about this than Cao Cao does. So, I'm going to leave now. you obviously like being his marionette, so if you want to stay, I'll understand. And if these guards so much as look at me funny when I'm leaving, I won't be held liable for the stains on your walls." he said as he turned to leave. He almost wanted one of the guards to try and usher him out.
He knew what he did was wrong, immature, and completely un-called for. But hey, if he could provoke Cao Cao into trying to kill him, at least SSx would see his true colors.
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Post by Cao Cao on Jul 28, 2008 13:01:36 GMT -5
With Cao’s soothing words caressing over the mind of Sun Shang Xiang, the Wei lord felt as if he had already won this battle. Her turning to him, leaning into him for comfort was all the sign he needed. It would seem Zei Fang however, would need more convincing of Cao’s domination over Wu’s princess. During the intruders long, rambling speech, filled with obscenities and comments that further made Mengde’s eyebrow quirk up, sometimes in disgust, others in amusement, the lord embraced Xiang closer, as if every word Fang spoke was just driving the Wu princess closer into his arms. His smirk was grand, eyes forming a sharp narrowing glare. He revelled in this tirade, and like the schemer he was, took full advantage of it once more.
“I expected nothing more than a violent outburst full of insults, spite, and malice, from a man who comes to strike fear into a woman’s heart. With your anarchic attitude boy, she would fall dead as soon as leave this palace! Remove him!” Cao was now deeply frowning, barking his orders at the guards, who encircled the man as he began to leave. A brief sinister thought crossed his mind. Indeed, should Xiang be aware of an assault on Zei Fang, she would be far harder to control. The possibility of striking down the man as he left the walls of the city still stirred in the darkest pits of Mengde’s mind however, but, looking down at the woman as his arms, he shook his head, and then re-fixed his glare back upon the intruder.
Cao was playing a dangerous game, but he held the cards here, and indeed, the queen was on his side, Zei Fang was surrounded, and soon made to look the joker.
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Post by Sun Shang Xiang on Jul 28, 2008 13:27:20 GMT -5
Xiang watched the Wu officer begin to leave, of course after he had tried as hard as he could to sway SSX's mind. Getting a warrior to do an envoy's job was like asking a pilgrim advise on the latest computer technology... it just didn't work as planned... He was blunt, but being blunt before Sun Shang Xiang, a woman who was brought up in nobility wasn't the best way to change her mind, and she felt someone disgusted at the cockiness and lack of respect he showed both her and her Lord.
Once he was out of sight she stormed back into the study, Cao Cao and she had been in moments earlier. She was furious, with clenched fists and an annoyed snarl, it was completely open for all to see. She knew Cao Cao would come back in, she knew he'd know she was angry at the whole situation and she would vent her frustration out for him to see... and probably use.
"Grr! I'm the daughter of Sun Jian for heaven's sake! Why do I still get treated like a little girl! If anything I should be in command! Not that fool Zhou Tai!" She would never have said anything bad about Zhou Tai who had worked with her family for some time now, but being ordered to go back? That was plain ridiculous even for a devious trickster like Xiang.
She was a little too annoyed to think about being a good little protectorate to Cao Cao, and instead of doing what most would do which is stand still and wait for him to come in, she sat on the desk he was sat at before, her head in her hands, not because she was crying, but because she was annoyed.
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Post by Cao Cao on Jul 28, 2008 13:47:54 GMT -5
So the Wu princess had abandoned her roots under the manipulation of the Wei lord. Despite the greatest, and somewhat chaotic attempts of Zei Fang to convince the woman to come back, Sun Shang Xiang stayed in the royal palace, embedding herself in its very core, sitting down at Cao Cao’s desk, and awaiting for the lord to return. A great shift had occurred in the dynamic of the country, all in the time it took one man to hurl insults. The Gods certainly found the drama of this Earth amusing.
Mengde gave a final scowl as Zei Fang left the scene, the guards pursuing him, yet keeping their distance from the dangerous man. Cao was furious, were Xiang not in his custody, he would’ve had the man beheaded, and made an example of, strewn across the gates of Xu Chang. Alas he did still have the princess with him, and this was a far greater reward from this encounter.
Composing himself, and rolling his sleeves back down the length of his forearms, Cao turned back into the study, enticed by the angry roars of his new princess. To this outburst he grinned briefly, before hiding it behind an empathetic smile, slowly approaching the woman sat at his desk. Again he extended an arm out to her, letting it rest on her shoulder, as his carefully plotted words curled out from his lips, and began to comfort the distraught Xiang.
“You speak the truth my lady, you hold great power in your kingdom.. And this is what Zhou Tai see’s; I fear he needs you in order to continue asserting his own dominance..” Cao let out a weak sigh, trying to express a shared despair at the situation. Behind his mask though, he continued to revel the situation. His hand gave her shoulder a third squeeze, reasserting his comforting demeanour. It was then that his cheek began to sting slightly, the red mark still visible from the earlier slap: it enticed Mengde to speak once more, switching to his alluring tone.
“You have strength within your beauty, Xiang, this I have felt.. Tai and his lackeys would only seek to diminish it. Continue to make your father proud.”
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Post by Sun Shang Xiang on Jul 28, 2008 14:06:10 GMT -5
The comforting atmosphere Cao Cao provided was unlike any other. Indeed Sun Shang Xiang found herself even more drawn to the Wei Lord, a slight attraction she had only really gotten this day when he spoke kindly of her and her father, and she was oblivious now to the game he still played, thinking they had both stopped it.
One thing coninued to confuse her though. That was how Cao Cao seemed to know her father so well, it was like they were best friends or something... but she had never heard Sun Jian speak of Cao Cao much, other than of his ambitions and intellect. She was willing to give Cao Cao the benefit of the doubt, after all even a father does not tell his children every detail of his life, and she was willing to believe he knew her father well.
If that was the case, and he was proud of her being here with Cao Cao, surely that was reason enough to stay if the head of her family wanted her there? Cao Cao had played her perfectly, he now knew her big flaw - family, and continuously it seemed he used it to either bring about anger, saddness, or pride in her for his own manipulation.
She looked at his cheek, red from her slap. He said she was strong and beautiful and again that her father was proud of her... "Again I apologise..." She said sounding truly sorry this time, rather than afraid as she brought her hand up to stroke his cheek.
Suddenly her conscious asked her what she was doing and her hand withdrew back to her side, her head lowered as she fought for the answers, and the dangerous thing for Cao Cao, that Xiang had shown her own manipulative abilities... she could well figure out the answers to the puzzles unless kept on a short leash.
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