IC Room

Stepping into the quiet courtyard, it took only a brief scan of the eyes for Duyi to decide it was alright to take a breath. There were not many around, and he would be cautious. The eyes of strangers would be something to worry about here.

In order to get familiar with his new field of vision and depth perception Mugi was roaming around the courtyard. Despite not sensing anyone, he still remained cautious as he continued on every still being preplanned.

Cuixia listened as he disagreed. Though... She couldn't help but agree with him. "You know... No... You're right... He is a brute... Unnecessary violence..." She hummed softly. She squints slightly as she thinks more. "Mmm... I can't believe anyone feels the need to be so unnecessarily violent. She puffed out her cheeks a bit, looking up at the man. "Oh? Is that so?" She reached into her bag and carefully wrote out their address before handing it to him and placing her hand on his arm once more. "Trade Bao seems to know exactly what I need. I still don't know what made them dislike me... They never told me."

He continues listening to her, taking in her words. It's an interesting perspective to hear it from someone who would be familiar with public opinion and Rui considers if perhaps he might have an advantage here. "I respectfully disagree, only brutes resort to violence to get what they want and the new emperor is clearly a brute." He nods affirmatively. "Please, stop by and visit me anytime." His eyes crinkle with mischief on his mind. "You're talking to him, if you give me their address I'll handle the rest. Trader Bao always knows what people want."

To say she was shocked to hear he didn't mind listening to her would be an understatement. She was beyond shocked, in all honesty. She followed his gesture, nodding. "Honestly... You'd think for people who took over a whole city.. They'd be smarter... And happier." She sighed. She perked up at the mention of tea. "Oh my gosh... That would be absolutely perfect." She took the piece of parchment, sticking it into the little bag attached to her wrist. "I took some... Enough to get me by... But not much... They are... Stingy. Yeah.. That." She looked up at him. "Honest? I might have to talk to your guy..."

He nods in agreement. "It's nice to hear your views, regardless. You're intelligent and that's rare around these parts." He gestures up to the palace with an added roll of his eyes. "You must be very tired, perhaps some tea would soothe your troubles? I have a teahouse just on the outskirts of the city, you're welcome to attend anytime." He hands her a small piece of parchment with the address noted. "Oh, I am sorry to hear that. What an ungrateful family. I hope you were able to take some money before they left you. If not..." He lowers his voice. "I happen to know a guy who would rob them blind."

Cuixia hummed softly, nodding a little bit. "I wouldn't be surprised. Not even a little. This wasn't their place... But... I never say anything. No one listens to my views anyways." She said, shrugging. She gave a small smile. "Me too. It's been steady recently, so that's nice... Kind of. Gets tiring after a while." She looked down as they walked with a small smile on her lips. "Ah... Yeah... That... Is because I came from a relatively wealthy family so I did a lot of learning... Until they decided I wasn't worth anything... That's how I ended up here."

He listens quietly, observing her mannerisms whilst she speaks. "I suppose that's what happens when you takeover by force." He shrugs, somewhat apathetically and glances around the garden. "I'm glad to hear you're earning well though." He echoes her laugh with a nod. "Oh no, the pleasure is all mine. Say, forgive me, but you don't strike me as a common brothel worker. You seem educated?"

Cuixia hummed softly, nodding. "Yeah..." She hummed. "Hard to miss all the frowns and blank faces... And business is always... Faster? Because yes... Sad people spend money. Even where I work." She let out a quiet laugh. "Trader Bao... Hmmm... Well it's nice to meet you too, sir." She couldn't help but laugh a little louder. "No, no. You were very accurate, sir. Too accurate for not knowing me at all~..."

Rui pauses in front of a swing and looks at it in amusement. "You can see that too? I thought perhaps it was just me. Trying to haggle a good price for wares is becoming increasingly easier, people love to spend their money when they're sad." He comments and gestures at the swing. "Would you like to take a seat? It's a pleasure to meet you Cuixia, I am trader Bao. So my lady of the shadows comment wasn't too far off? How wonderful."

Cuixia smiles softly, letting her hand rest on the inside of his arm, easily keeping pace since it was a nice slow walk. "Definitely has." She hummed softly. "Hmm... Yeah... I think we can say they're likely not happy. None of them are every smiling, honestly. It's kind of a bore." She paused at his question. "I'm Cuixia... I actually... Work at the brothel."

He places her hand in the crook of his elbow and begins to walk through the courtyard. "I should hope so, it would be unfortunate if it didn't." He playfully remarks. "Well, I assume that's what happens when the people aren't happy. But who might you be?" He his head to one side whilst he admires her clothes. "Are you a trader or crafter of some kind?"

She watched as he approached and reached her hand up to take his. "A lifetime of practice has done you much good." She mused. Standing as he helped her up. "Mmmm... I've noticed... The flute doesn't sound as... Mesmerizing as yours did." She decided she could stay and agreed. "I think I can stay for a while."

He steps closer towards her and offers out his hand. "Thank you, I enjoy playing and have for most of my life." He smiles warmly. "I'm unsure whether you will again, the palace performers aren't as inspired as they used to be. But what do I know about that, hm? Come, sit with me a while."

Cuixia jumps slightly at the sound of his voice, watching him put the flute away. "Oh-I... I did, actually... It was beautiful." She admitted. "Quite the performance, veiled one. I've never heard anyone play like that." She wasn't lying either. And 'lady of the shadows' had a funny ring to it, as well as being accurate.

Rui finishes playing the song and lowers his flute, aware of his audience from her shadow that is cast onto the ground before him. After slipping his flute back into his clothes he speaks with an eloquent soft tone. "I hope you enjoyed the performance, lady of the shadows."

The young woman watched in amazement. She'd never heard someone play the flute like that before and it was absolutely beautiful. It sent chills through her body and very few things can manage that. She did her best to remain quiet as she sat quite a ways away from the figure,

The disgraced prince continues to play, the veil shields his mouth as he continues. He closes his eyes, feeling the melody run through his veins. Playing the flute comes as naturally to him as breathing does, so he sways in time with the music.

Cuixia ran through the streets to get to the courtyard, away from the crowds. Skidding silently to a halt when she heard the sound of a flute playing. Causing her to walk slowly and peek around the corner, listening to the beautiful music.

He enters the courtyard, face veiled, and takes a seat on one of the benches. There doesn't appear to be anyone here so he takes out his flute and begins to play it.

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She smirks slightly, having only recently arrived in the city. The courtyard was somewhere that seemed to call to her, drawing her in as she glanced around, stretching her arms upwards before finding a seat, leaning backwards and staring up at the sky, her smirk turning into a grin as she watched the clouds.

He in a deep breath, keeping his calm composure. She's the first person to remember him, outside of the city the bandits and village idiots can hardly tell the difference. But she, who is a lot more intelligent, of course does and that makes Rui nervous. Perhaps coming inside the city was a mistake. "Are you?" He asks under a whisper. "Things are different now, Lady Gu. But enjoy your herbs. Trader Bao always knows what people want." He looks at her with a smile. "Take care of yourself."

She had overstepped. Her emotions had gotten ahead of her as she quickly stepped back. She was rude, how could she have stepped over the carefully erected boundaries that had separated the prince and the oracle. They weren't children anymore, it was within the midst of a coup and the two were left upon opposite sides. She was loyal to the throne and whoever sat upon it and he- he was the last reminder of the late Emperor Zhao. "of course--my apologies. do come back again."

Rui makes sure his veil is still fixed into position, his gaze remains empty and cold, a means of survival for the disgraced prince. He nods curtly, fingers curling tightly around the base of the fan. His muscles tense in a physical response to what he can't emotionally express. He withdraws from her as one of the guards stares in their direction. He lightly shoves the visible peony petals away from them with his foot. "It was nice meeting you. I should leave, but if you ever happen to find a hollowed tree by the lake you should take a moment to admire it."

Gu Xia's lips pulled into a gentle smile. However, the smile didn't quite reach her eyes as she looked up at him. There was an overwhelming sense of relief, fear, and everything mixed in between. She wanted to hug him, to go back to when the two were children with nothing but their imaginations and the fantasies of fairies and dragons. "It was both. I- I'm happy to see that you're still here. I feared that they had killed you and that-- that I'd be one of the last noble houses of the former empire."

Something is different in the Lady Gu when she stares at Rui, he follows her eyes over to the guards and lowers his fan from between them. When she comes too close Rui's throat constricts, he isn't expecting anyone to recognise him but of course he knew her, part of him still wanted to know her, and his grip turns white knuckled against his fan. "What blew my cover? The name or the flower trick?" He in a breath. "As well as a deadman can be."

Taking the pouch from the man--Gu Xia's fingers brushed against that of the prince, the oracle lifted her head and glanced toward the guards who stood watch from afar before she let out a soft breath to prevent the rush of emotions that threatened to make themselves known. Silent for a moment, the oracle stepped forward again to lean in. whispering as she lifted her sleeve to cover her lips from the guards and their sights. "Your Highness. It has been so long." The oracle breathed out, her eyes downcasted. "Are you well?"

"Of course, your trust in my deal is flattering. Since I'm a man of honour you may." He hands her the pouch then takes a few steps backwards. "They're all yours to do as you please with them, just remember that whatever you need Bao has it." He bows his head politely.

Eyes glimmering in a hint of glee, the Oracle lifted her head with a slight smile. "I asked you for what price you'd trade for the flower... Seeing as you took the flower. May I have your herbs?" The oracle purred, slender hands outstretched for the bag.