New Faces? (Open)

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Nan Pi. Spring, 185 AD.

The great city of Nan Pi, under rule by none other than the lord of the northern lands, Yuan Shao himself. Holding quite a lot of power as many say, though there were some rumors that he might have incapable traits as a ruler. But it was considered a general statement that he did hold power and of course connections. Lots and lots of connections through the Imperial court, which would in turn lead to more power, whether by honest means or not. After all, who was truly honest?

Riding alone again. It became a sort of custom, or he was just used to it, as Han Dang travelled without support or protection of any kind. Pulling the reins on his horse, as the animal halted before the high, sturdy walls of the city, Han Yigong looked up at the guards upon the walls. The sun nearly blinded him temporarily as he tried to look up; spring had arrived in the new year, and weather was getting warmer than expected.

"Open the gates! A messenger from Lord Sun Jian of Wu has arrived to speak with Lord Yuan Shao!"

Of course, Yigong would delay his travel a bit, maybe hang around for a while in the city before he actually moved to meet Yuan Shao. The latter would never know, and neither would Sun Jian; it would just be Han Dang having fun, maybe meet a few new faces. He carefully adjusted the long sturdy pike on his back as well as his helmet as he waited for a response from the guards and the gates. Surely they wouldn¡¯t refuse his request?

[Yuan Ji]

The guards looked at Han Dang but did not trust him. They do not believe he was there to give a message to lord Yuan Shao. They knew if it was true that she was there to give a message to Yuan Shao and they did not let him past they will not make there lord to happy with them. They signal him to past but they did watch you like a hawk.

Before you can even enter Yuan Ji was at the door and saw you. She was supposed to make sure you were going to give the message to Yuan Shao and not to start trouble. She was standing there a bit scared of you but she was mostly shy at the fact she did not know if you were a friend or a foe. She had two royal guards that were following her and she also had her warrior equipment on her just in case they wanted to fight them. She had her bow out in front to make sure she would be able to make the first attack.

The Villagers did not seem to care that you were there or that they were two guard there ready with there weapon at the door. The salesmen were still selling there merchandise like there were no tomorrow like normal even some were coming low in stocks. The other guards were looking at Han Dang and the princess of Yuan Shao Yuan Ji.

The guards at the gates knell down to her. "Miss Ji, this gentlemen is looking for a audience with your farther." She looked at him once more and smiled. "Very well, I will make sure that he gets it but first he needs to give up his weapon's to the Royal Guards for safety reason." The Royal guard went beside you and waits there for your weapons.

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Hmm, a princess? Very brave for a royal one, most princesses tended to cower in their personal chambers whenever there was a visitor. Han Dang respected bravery, courage, and of course the power to stand different from others. It was basically what made up the man's character, aside from enthusiasm, of course. And she was equipped with a bow. A female warrior? Han Dang bowed his head slightly as a sign of respect; a new face indeed, but she was nonetheless a princess.

"Very well, you can hold my pike for me. Thanks, it was a load anyway."

Han Dang reached behind him and quickly unstrapped the weapon from his back before he handed the long polearm to a guard waiting to keep the item on hold until Yigong's return to the gates upon exit. Stretching his arms and back as he got the weight off of himself, Yigong smiled at the princess and guards (yes, the guards) and pointed to the palace up ahead with his head.

"So, you guys are escorting me in? Come on then, I've got a message to deliver."

Such a casual tone... Yet Han Dang can be a deadly warrior.

[Yuan Ji]

Yuan Ji lowers her bow and looks toward the Palace wondering why is he being so joking around all of the sudden. She knew that he was a warrior of the kingdom of Sun Jian and he was there to give a sort of message. She then started to escort her toward the palace. She was not going to fast since she believe they should not rush anything and she should try to figure out what was the message about.

"May I ask, what is the sort of message you were going to tell my farther?" The Royal Guards were leaving toward the Palace to tell Yuan Shao to make sure they are ready for the discussion. It was only Han Dang and Yuan Ji left together. She had her weapon close to her making sure he did not do anything stupid. She looked toward the sun quickly seeing that it was going to be a good day.

She was close to Han Dang to make sure that he does not do anything stupid. She was not used to be alone with a real warrior like him. " I am Yuan Ji and I am wondering what is your name sir?" She was nervous about the man cause even do that Sun Jian and Yuan Shao are allies for the battle against the Yellow Turban she did not know if he would do a secret attack trying to get rid one of there enemy before the Yellow Scarves were destroyed.

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"Greetings, Yuan Ji. I'm Han Dang, an officer of Sun Jian, as you should have noticed."

They were walking together, only the two of them in fact. The guards had scurried off ahead for some reason, leaving the two alone. Pacing as they walked toward the palace far up ahead, trudging along the long main road, Han Yigong watched Yuan Ji holding her bow... She was apparently always ready for combat, cautious for any signs of hostility from Yigong. Well, of course, Yigong wouldn't do such a thing, not as long as they were on politically allied terms.

"My message is simple. I'm just here to reassure Lord Yuan of our relations and to tell him that we should stay so, as good allies, as we fight a common enemy in the form of the vile bastards known as the Yellow Turbans.

"This might be an odd question, but may I ask... How is life as a royal family member? I mean, I've never even been close to anything like that, and I've been wondering."

[Yuan Ji]

Yuan Ji was walking with him side by side there were around halfway to the palace. She was confused for the reason that he would ask such a question. Everybody knows that royalty life has more money and treated different but they are really like the others. They have both ups and downs every day of there life. She was not sure how to answer the question that he asked.

She then turn toward him and decide to answer him a way to make sure he understands. "Life as a royalty is not really that different from being a normal peasant." She then stopped for a instance not knowing how to explain what she is trying to tell him. " Peasant might not have money and all that and believe that since we have money we have all but it is not really true. We need to make sure that everybody in the kingdom is alright and healthy for the war that might come and it is hard for us to see people hurting."

A merchant rushed to them asking for help. He was upset because that he was attacked outside the wall and the guards were not doing anything to help them. She was not impress with her own guards and shook her head. "Wait here for a sec I need to talk to the guards." she went to the guards and they ran outside the wall to help the merchant. She return toward you and the merchant. "Thank you my lady" the merchant said while leaving.

She walked with Han Dang once more and looked at him. "As you can see, royalty always need to make sure every little problem are fix." It was obvious that she did not know what to do about royalty since she was scared that she will need to replace her farther at the throne if he falls in battle. She was not known by anyone except of the village of Nan Pi.

There were two guards coming toward them from behind. It was the same to that she send to help the merchant with the problem of the merchant. "My lady , we have killed the bandit and return the possession to the merchants. Here are there belonging as you requested." She nodded to them before speaking. "Good job, now I want you to burn these and also the bandits corpse." She returned to the walk.

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"Why don't you see what the bandits have other than the merchant's possessions and keep them for yourself or something?" Han Dang asked, a question primarily directed at Yuan Ji but also an option to the guards as well. "Instead of, you know, just having the dead dude burnt upon sight..."

Shrugging his shoulders, Han Dang continued to move on as he awaited for a response. He noticed that the main street up to the palace was longer than he had expected. Hmm, such a large city of Nan Pi, it would most likely only be the start of Yuan Shao's personal conquest of parts of the land. But once Shao died, who would take over? His trusted generals Yan Liang and Wen Chou? No, they were just... beastly generals.

Of course... Shao had a daughter. But she was a daughter, not a son. Would such a man well-known of formalities appoint a female as his heir? But wait, Shao was most known for his obsession with royalty, with noble blood. It was obvious that he would have no choice but to pass the throne of Nan Pi onto his daughter, unless his wife gave birth to a son quicker than later. How interesting...

"So I assume you are... inheriting the throne in years to come?"

[Yuan Ji]

Yuan Ji looked at the man with a smile and a bit of a giggle before she answer. She nodded after wards basically saying that she will become the new lord of the land if her farther would come to his tragic day. "I do not really like to talk about it since we are talking about my father's death and that is not something I like to discuss with random travelers as yourself."

She then continue looking toward the palace but it was obvious that she did not like to talk about death to much. Another guard came beside her and they seem to be talking but she stopped to talk to the guard. They were talking a lot to each other and all the sudden you just herd her scream at him. The other guards ran straight to them and the guard began to beg for mercy but of course Yuan Ji does not like to kill people or even hurt them without a reason she decided to let the guard pass.

"My apologies I do not like failure from my guards and he failed on of his assignment then insulted me." Her anger was so obvious that she was not one to get on her bad side to often. She then look at Han Dang and holds her dagger thinking that he wanted to betray her father. "Stop right there!" She was obviously ready to explode at Han Dang.

"Are you really here to give my father a message or are you here to kill him" The guards took you and throw you next to a wall. She places her dagger next to his neck. She then lowered it and ask the guard to let you go. "I am sorry I should of ask for the reason of the questions before it is just were are being careful during these time of war." Her apology was really real and nowhere near to a lie.

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"Woah, what the hell?!" Han Dang shouted as the guards suddenly bashed him against the nearest wall.

Yes, he could easily have done whatever to free himself from the guards and just maybe escape the dagger, but... He wasn't here to start a fight. Unless he was actually assaulted first, he wouldn't make an offensive move. And thankfully enough, things went out quite smoothly, as the princess soon withdrew her blade and apologized for her sudden move. Well... She did need to apologize for her actions... heh.

"Uh, no, I'm not here to murder anyone. Unless they, um, try to murder me first. Which would be... very unfortunate."

Dusting his armor as a casual sign, showing that he was fine with the "mistake" that Yuan Ji had made, Han Dang pointed toward the palace again.

"Want to move on?"

[Yuan Ji]

She started once more walking toward the palace. She did not say a word and her feet were starting to hurt from traveling all day. The guards were all working hard to keep the silence and the piece in the town and it was really well guarded more you go toward the palace. Most of the shop keep had armor like the guards or even better if they made it them self they might have the next upgrade armor of the guards.

They pass by the barrack were you can see the warriors training for the war against the yellow turban's. The Militia were being trained to work with different weapon in the right side to make them chose the weapon they battle the best with. The other types of warriors were learning skill's and tactics that they should learn to be more of a dangerous present in the battle field.

They keep on walking and soon reach the stairs just in front of the palace. There were ten guards on the right side and ten on the left side. There were one guards on each two step of the stair armed with long spears and a sword and also a shield. There was another guard at the top of the stairs with a different armor then the other because he was one of the guard captains in the city.

Finally she decided to open her mouth to say a word but re closed it not long after without saying the words that she had in her mind. The Guard Captain was coming down the stair were he saw both of them standing. "Is this the officer that wanted to speak with Yuan Shao?" The Captain of the guards asked with such a angry voice that even Yuan Ji was not used to hearing it from him. She nodded to the guard.

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Such firm guard of the palace... Surely Yuan Shao wouldn't be raided any time soon from inner forces, with all that protection to cover him. Though sometimes problems occurred further into the palace, as was the current situation with the corrupt court and the vile officials, especially those recent regents and eunuchs. Ugh. They disgusted everyone for sure. But then, one or two of these types of people were expected to exist in every court.

Han Dang grinned and nodded silently to the guard captain as they passed, a sign to calm down a bit instead of being too stern and angry for some unknown reason. Jesus, life wasn't supposed to be all too full of fury and anger; it could be enjoyed, just like what Yigong preferred. Stepping past all the courtyard security, the two walked silently into the palace; and Yigong noticed that they hadn't spoken a single word since the threatening. Oh well.

Finally, the palace.

"At last we're here," Han Dang said with a yawn. "Man, that's a long way to the palace. Anyway, we should get moving quick if we're to meet Lord Yuan. Don't want to delay this meeting."

[Yuan Ji]

Yuan Ji was also tired from the long walk they had to do and the people asking for help along the way did not really help in there journey from the entrance gate to the palace. The Guards were letting them pass like they were nothing and they are entering the palace. The silence inside the palace gives her the creeps. The guards were at every door two per door with a long spear and better armor then them from outside in the village.

"This is the palace of my father." The first words that came out of her mouth from the accident of the treat she did to Han Dang. "I am sorry I been quiet" She stopped talking for a few moments trying to think the right way to say that she was scared to battle him since they were in alliance for both kingdom and that would destroy the alliance made between them.

One of the guards that were with them earlier outside and he kneel down in front of Yi. "My lady, lord Yuan Shao is ready to see him when he is ready" She looked at Han Dang and then the guard. "I believe it will be better doing it now for two reasons one he is a bit tired from the trip and two the quicker the better." She looked at him and then nodded knowing that Hand Dang will be in the spare bedroom this night.

Yuan Ji was walking ahead of Han Dang and opened the door before them. There were a few guards in a stretch on there knees and seem like they praying or something with the priest in front of them. They were in the chapel and they were still walking to reach the throne room of her farther and she walked until they reach the stairs. She kneel down like a true warrior in front of her father. "Lord Yuan Shao, this man Han Dang has a message from lord Sun Jian."

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At last, Yuan Shao himself. Standing in the presence of one of the mightiest lords of the land at the current time didn't really affect Han Dang's posture all that much, nor did it waver his mind as some men claimed to have received effect on. Hmm. But nonetheless, he had to admit that the man had an appearance and a stance that was like none other. Maybe a hint of arrogance or pride? But after all, seeing his power in both the court and in the north, he might deserve to hold that pride.

"Greetings, Lord Yuan Shao."

Yigong bowed low before Yuan Shao while he stood, as a sign of respect toward the other lord. After all, he was on a diplomatic mission for Sun Jian. And maybe this was why Jian had sent him and not Cheng Pu; his ability to keep his heart firm wherever he went. Ignorance, maybe? Most likely. But it came in handy often, though it sometimes turned out to be as stubborn.

"I bring news to you from my lord Sun Jian of Wu."

[Cao Pi]

Yuan Shao was in the throne room waiting for his daughter and a messenger, who had requested a meeting with himself. He sat, waiting for the man, he was growing increasingly annoyed. He was an impatient man and hated to be kept waiting especially when he had his kingdom to run and an empire to forge.

Finally the man had arrived, he greeted Yuan Shao with a bow. Yuan Shao bowed back but it was the type of bow that screamed "I can't be arsed". The man the declared he had a message from Sun Jian the leader of the Wu forces downsouth.
" Well, what is this news then?"
He replied to the man, he wanted to hear the news right away and didn't really want to be engaged in boring and useless chit chat.

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An impatient man, by the looks and sounds of it. Hmm. He was disappointed. Han Dang had honestly expected more from Yuan Shao... or had he? Maybe those rumors were true; maybe Shao had a part of noble vainness in him... One never knew yet. Grinning as he looked up to Shao, Han Dang delayed not to deliver his short, quick message, of importance, yes.

"My lord Sun Jian wishes for our two lands to be in a state of peace, a continued situation of no war. I ask of you to accept our offer of friendship, a possible alliance. Will you not?"