- Location
- Washington
I believe the explanation at this point is supposed to be yes she's descended from THAT Li family but also the Li in her name is coincidental.
Threads Of Destiny(Eastern Fantasy, Sequel to Forge of Destiny)
- Thread starter yrsillar
- Start date
- Original Users' Choice!
Voted best in category in the Users' Choice awards.
- Location
- Colorado
Which is the thing I have a problem with. It's an overly complicated explanation. Just make her someone named Li who's descended from the famous Li family. KISS.
We've all heard horror stories of mothers who dote on their children so much they're determined to give them "every opportunity". Advanced school classes, most elite private schools, sports, music, dance, etc, their lives regimented to the nth degree and every need seen to except the emotional and spiritual.
Cai Shenhua strikes me as that, dialed up to white.
- Location
- Finland
Yep, it kinda depends on how we want to interpret doting, which is why i went only with possibly.
Shenhua is hyperfocused, but it could be argued that she genuinely wants the best for her children.
Even if the "best", and the means to acchieve it, are horrifying.
For reference, Lǐ 李 "plum" (but originally Lǐ 理 "judge") is the second-most-common surname in the modern world. It is not itself one of the "eight (actually 9) great surnames of antiquity", but is a very old branch of one of them. Its massive popularity came much later though, being given out for merit during the Tang dynasty.
There are several other variants of "Li" that are not too rare, but they all have different tones than these two characters.
There are several other variants of "Li" that are not too rare, but they all have different tones than these two characters.
- Location
- The Space Between
do you mean like, Ling Qi going a Sublime-route? Or attempting to get our spirits to Ascend? Or like, just doing our Sublime/Ascension stuff simultaneously?
- Pronouns
- They/Them
Simultaneously, is what I was thinking about, going onto whatever comes next--and debates on what it means to Ascend have already happened in thread about to what extent it's an apothesis-suicide or not--with company rather than alone. Company for the last steps, and company of some sort for whatever comes after.
Because those last steps really do seem like they'd be lonely, otherwise.
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In the case with Hanyi and Zhengui ascending is together with them is not possible. Even if Zhengui got the potential to reach White and become a sublime ancestor it wont happen within LQs life time, even if she stayed the full 1000 years she get. Spirit beast grows way slower then human cultivators does, even if they are bonded to humans all that time. For example the Han grandma tiger or the Living Isle himself.
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- Pronouns
- They/Them
Eh, we'll see there. We know that being bonded to humans speeds these things up, and we don't know how much. At the moment, Zhenghui isn't actually proving to be all that slow by... basically any standards? Obviously as the road ahead grows steeper, so too will the time it takes to climb it, but I think this is not sure... though neither is it guaranteed the other way around.
But yeah, at this point Zhenghui's rate of growth is still equal to human geniuses destinated for Sovereign status if nothing stops them. He probably won't enter the 4th Realm at the same time as Ling Qi, but I don't think he's going to be that far behind (that far being more than a few years at most.)
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Spirit beast gets a boost up to their natural limit. In Zhengui´s case we are kinda assuming it is kinda high due to being a Xuanwu. But after that it slows down, even if they are bonded.
- Pronouns
- They/Them
We'll see there. Ling Qi's Way frankly does seem like there's a pretty good chance that she'll find tricks to at least partially mitigate that sort of stuff as she goes along, so as to not leave others behind.[1] Or maybe not! Again, we can't know, but I don't think your "it's categorically impossible that Zhenghui could hit Sublime in a thousand years" statement is really, like, proven.
[1] Specifically, she's already increasing the power of her Spirit Companions faster than the Imperial Normal, from what I can tell, thanks to her specific Cultivator Art that allows her to have and nourish more spirits than most are able to.
I don't know about Sublime, but I don't expect it to take Zhengui that long, relatively speaking, to make it to Violet. Both because he will have a very diverse portfolio:
And because Yrs said that while spirit beasts with high innate potential grow slowly, bonds with humans can throw that out of whack. Ling Qi has a top-tier cultivation art that boosts the growth of her bonded spirits, and I don't expect her successor cultivation arts to be any worse in that regard.Yrsillar said:
Year 45, Month 7 arc 1-2
"I think it may be the best way to start though," Ling Qi said thoughtfully. "The watercourse style. Using the cliff as a near absolute defense from the southern direction expansion would take us into the way of the waterfall eventually. Best to start as we will continue and build up and in later."
"Lady Cai ultimately decided the same," Bao Qian said idly. "It has kept me running, fetching the materials, the resins and lacquers and paints made in the west. Well I'm sure I need not tell you that things are a little disorderly in the meng's fens these days."
LIng Qi lowered her head, not quite wincing. "It is understandable, her Grace was not… restrained in her arrival."
"Luckily the worst of the work was done," Bao Qian said. "Still it's rare for so many civil and military positions to be shuffled around so quickly. I think they are doing well with it, all things told. I'm sure the snarls in the county ministry will be worked out soon."
Cai Shenhua had mainly been there for the conspirators, but the Duchess in her full presence and panopoly had a tendency to overturn even small corruptions by her simple presence. "And… what is the disposition of the Meng themselves. My own contacts have been a little vague."
The barons and viscounts of the southern hills were nearly ecstatic with her and the official push of the border so far south. She had received many compliments for her work…. Oh and the deal with the foreigners was nice too. However, they did not speak much of their counts. Only offering assurances that they were not like the dreadful heretics and traitors that had been ruined out.
A little exasperating. Meng Dan hadn't written but she supposed he was very busy.
"They are outwardly highly unified in their repudiation of traitors," Bao Qian said, idly dipping the strip of pork in his chopsticks into the little sauce vessel by his plate.
"...As they should be, her grace was exceptionally merciful," Ling Qingge said quietly.
She supposed by the standards her mother had lived under with her own family and the Liu, what had happened was very merciful.
"A clan as ancient as the meng has built up much credit, a single blow would never fell them even if it empties their accounts," Bao Qian said. "Well, I am sure they are thanking their ancestors and spirits for their fortune."
"It was the active efforts of those loyal to the Emerald Seas, not merely good fortune," Ling Qi replied.
"That would explain some things," Bao Qian agreed. "Miss ling the best I can say is that the foundations are wavering. Things are… polarized, and I have seen open disagreement among the clan such as I have not known. There is a strong undercurrent of resentment and spite the central marshes, even more rejection of outsiders than usual."
"Unfortunate," Ling Qi said, frowning.
"But, spite runs both ways I think,'' Bao Qian continues. "I met several young Meng craftsfolk and reagent growers who seemed… very friendly, almost performatively so. It was a little awkward being loudly asked about news and fashions from the north while their relatives glowered at us in the distance."
"That sounds strange indeed," her Mother said. "Well youth is always a little rebellious."
"I suppose we are," Ling Qi said. It was amusing really her Mother felt herself old but among count clans she doubted most would see much difference between late teens and thirties. "But… it may simply be the way that things are manifesting there. Maybe I'm being too prideful, but I have noticed a general shift among those I write too."
"It is a fine thing to be proud of our Emerald Seas, isn't it?" Bao Qian said lightly. "Look at what we've done, it is a strange thing, but even the Xuan cannot say they have done as we have. A worthy accomplishment."
People came around to diplomacy in the strangest of ways, but yes. Perhaps it was the bias of her selected contacts-people that Meizhen's father had curated for their investment in the Cai and the Emerald Seas as a whole- but now that this whole business was signed and sealed by the Duchess, there seemed to be a digging in of support for it.
"It is good to be proud of your home, when it achieves something praiseworthy," Ling Qi agreed. "I am just glad that so many see it to be so. I suppose the expanded lines on the map quiet most of the complaints from the rest."
"That they do," Bao Qian agreed. "I would not be discouraged by that though."
"I take my accomplishments as they are," Ling Qi said.
"They are great accomplishments, even for their cost," Ling Qingge said, giving her a pointed look.
"I will do many things to see our future come to pass," Ling Qi said. It was fine that mother was still upset with her.
"That has lent you more than a little credit," Bao Qian said, glancing between the two of you. "This business with the traitor elder… I think the only thing that is said against you is doubt that it actually happened."
"It is a bit hard to believe," Ling Qi said wryly."
"Jerks, Big sis literally set herself on fire 'cause of that, how dare they not believe it," Hanyi huffed, puffing out her cheeks as she raised a cup to Ling Qi's lips.
"There's not too much of it, word is too consistent. 'Baroness Ling withstood the Heron General's flame to guide her blade to the traitor's heart' and all that," Bao Qian said. "'Lady Cai led the soldiers of the province to victory over a tide of nightmares, just as her mother did.' The symbolism is rather apt."
"The words of the courts may twist the truth, but it is difficult for them to conceal it whole," Ling Qingge said, eyes cast down. "That is a virtue of the Emerald Seas."
Cai Shenhua was not everywhere at once, but her effects on her court still rippled out into the culture of the Emerald Seas, many looked to her path of truth in the aftermath of her rise, whole cultivator generations. It was harder among them to be an outright liar.
Not everywhere, such changes only trickled down so far, when Xiangmen was far away.
"Hmph, still a bunch of jerks for doubting. Well, all the smart people in the South see it, so its fine, I have a lot more stops to make this year," Hanyi said proudly.
"You really are. I wonder if this will be my main business at this rate, managing and recording you," Bao Qian chuckled. "You are becoming quite a fashionable icon in the Foundations."
Hanyi beamed, and Ling Qi hummed to herself. "I'm glad, when do you think you'll start touring again this year?"
"Hm, it's the seventh month now? So four more months I would think, with a four month duration," Bao Qian said. "We want to hit the road as autumn is closing, to give the fortune of a mild winter. You will be busy, but do you think you might make an appearance? At one of the larger venues of course."
Ling Qi considered. It wasn't a terrible idea. She was… popular there, in the Foundations the hilly foot of the Wall, strange as it was to think. It could only do her good to solidify any connections with the small lords and ladies in the south. Hanyi deserved to have her come to a performance or two anyway. "I will see what time I can clear, but I think at least one is a good idea."
"Perhaps we all may go… it is a family affair," Ling Qingge said quietly.
Ling Qi blinked. "If you would like Mother."
"Well, its fine if Big Sis' Mom and the littler sis want to come too, they can see how amazing I am," Hanyi said with a sniff.
She was glad Hanyi was warming… well being more attached to the rest of the family.
…She'd probably approved at least a little when Mother yelled at her. She wondered if that had been what made Hanyi respect her Mother a little more.
The rest of dinner passed that way, in quiet conversation around the tentative plans for the trip. It was still stiff and formal in some ways, but it was better than the interviews. But mother had to excuse herself soon enough to attend to Biyu and her duties, and she was soon being wheeled alongside Bao Qian in the halls toward the garden by Hanyi.
"You know, it will sound trite," Bao Qian said idly. "But how are you Miss Ling? Truly?"
"Is it not obvious," she shot back wryly.
"You are exhausted, in pain, and not a little run rugged," Bao Qian replied. "Though you hide it well. Is it the work or the conditions?"
"Mostly I am very, very tired of this chair, no matter how comfortable it is," Ling Qi said. She felt Hanyi frown behind her.
"Big Sis should just let herself be pampered for awhile, hmph," the words were barely audible, but Ling Qi winced at them all the same.
"Understandable, you are an active woman… Enough so that you make a man feel lazy and unambitious at times," Bao Qian chuckled.
"Best work on that then," Ling Qi said idly. "But please I do not want to talk about work. How have you been doing?"
"It's busy, I enjoy the travel… running interference for Qingling's business while she has her fugue, is a bit challenging but…"
"What is wrong with Bao Qingling?" Ling Qi asked. Meizhen's paramour was an odd girl, but her friend seemed happy even as she set off back to the Thousand Lakes for a few months.
He raised his eyebrows looking down at her. She frowned defensively.
"...I haven't pried the details out but she's unhappy about her best 'customer' in some way or at least worked up. It can be hard to tell with her."
Once Ling Qi might have been able to ignore the particular tone the word 'customer' was spoken in. As she was he might as well have come right out and said it. "You know?"
"Qingling is not subtle when you know her well."
…That was probably fair. "Not many know her well, I think," Ling Qi replied warily.
"True," Bao Qian admitted freely. "I don't suppose you know any more detail?"
"Bai Meizhen was in a fine mood when she left."
"Not a conflict then, something in her own head, or simply missing her match," Bao Qian said. "...No, that doesn't quite match that exact sort of manic fugue. She does this when she's fixated on a goal."
"I suppose we'll have to wait for them to tell us," Ling Qi grumbled, a little upset with Meizhen now. She could think of a few things, but they all seemed very unlikely.
"Frustrating," Bao Qian agreed. "How are we to gossip when they leave us in the dark."
"Its rude," Ling Qi said with a frown, before she could catch herself.
"It's their business I suppose," Bao Qian said, amused.
"Don't turn away now, either walk the Way of the gossip-monger or don't, I have no use for ditherers," Ling Qi said turning up her nose. She smiled slightly. It felt good to get a laugh, even a small one.
"I mean it's some kinda kissy stuff, right?" Hanyi chirped head cocked to the side.
She coughed. "Secret things Hanyi, don't you feel the screening field? You don't say that outright."
"Oh, right," Hanyi agreed, looking nonplussed.
She sighed, that girl was absolutely going to get her in trouble one day.
"Hm, moving on from that, has Miss Hanyi mentioned the plan to expand the talent pool yet?" Bao Qian asked. The garden was close now.
"I haven't," hanyi huffed. "Look getting me minions is fine, but we don't need any other 'talents'!"
"Hanyi, minions is not what you should call your subordinates," Ling Qi chided. "Even if this is the first I am hearing of you having any."
"Oh, it is nothing so concrete, the young Miss has merely attracted or… subdued a few minor spirits during her tour," Bao Qian said dryly.
"They were gonna mess up my blessings! I made them stop," Hanyi complained.
"We'll talk about that later," Ling Qi said. "What do you mean Bao Qian?"
"It's… an odd thought of mine but I am getting very invested in this, and my current spirits contract is about up, and they are looking for more northern climes. I thought I might do a little roughing it and seek out another seasonal spirit, Spring or Harvest, maybe, one who could tour in Miss Hanyi's off seasons," Bao Qian said. "I can hardly recreate Miss Hanyi, but I am interested in trying something new. I wondered if you might be interested in assisting me."
"I might… I have limited time away.." A little time camping and communing with spirits did sound like a relief, it would certainly be after the tour, so she could even bring Hanyi and perhaps Zhengui.
"Big Sister!"
Twin voices called her from the garden as they came out onto the Veranda, booming in the night air.
Zhengui towered in the center of their garden taller than a big warhorse and much more broad, he rose with a faint rattle of falling stones and spreading dust from the patch of earth he had nestled himself in, the planters fit into the scaffolding on his back rattling and swaying with the motion.
"Zhengui, did you enjoy your dinner too?" she asked.
"Gui did, it was very good," he said, striding up the path, pushing his head past the railing, she put out a trembling hand and rested it on his snout.
Zhengui had taken it better than she feared. He had regarded her burned up state with stoic resolve and merely informed her that he was going wherever she went.
It did probably hold back development back at Snowblossom for him to be here, but she couldn;t look him in the eye and deny him.
"Is Hanyi making sure Big Sister takes all her medicines today?" Zhen asked, arching over his shell to peer at her.
"Of course!" Hanyi said, crossing her arms.
"I'm not going to forget myself," Ling Qi grumbled.
"Even the one that makes sisters qi fuzzy?" Gui asked.
She grimaced, she knew she wasn't supposed to be cycling her qi…
"She took it early, I made sure," Hanyi said.
She would have taken it without prompting.
"You are in good spirits, Sir Zhengui," Bao Qian said.
"Yes, I, Zhen have been doing well. I see Shiny man has become even shinier," Zhen said haughtily.
She let them trade their greetings, observing Zhengui. He really was growing well. While she had been at the Summit, he had been hard at work at Snowblossom with that little gaggle of scholars….
[ ] Developing the place where the veins of the earth boiled forth, infusing the waters there with his qi (Zhengui has improved his restorative capabilities and physical cultivation and begun developing the veins further with wood qi.)
[ ] Enriching the soil in the region with the heat and fertility of his ash, growing his domain over the earth of the valley (Zhengui has improved his fire capabilities and spiritual cultivation and begun developing the veins further with fire qi.)
AN: In addition the fief has been updated to its current state, though we are not quite done setting up for the next vote on it.
"Lady Cai ultimately decided the same," Bao Qian said idly. "It has kept me running, fetching the materials, the resins and lacquers and paints made in the west. Well I'm sure I need not tell you that things are a little disorderly in the meng's fens these days."
LIng Qi lowered her head, not quite wincing. "It is understandable, her Grace was not… restrained in her arrival."
"Luckily the worst of the work was done," Bao Qian said. "Still it's rare for so many civil and military positions to be shuffled around so quickly. I think they are doing well with it, all things told. I'm sure the snarls in the county ministry will be worked out soon."
Cai Shenhua had mainly been there for the conspirators, but the Duchess in her full presence and panopoly had a tendency to overturn even small corruptions by her simple presence. "And… what is the disposition of the Meng themselves. My own contacts have been a little vague."
The barons and viscounts of the southern hills were nearly ecstatic with her and the official push of the border so far south. She had received many compliments for her work…. Oh and the deal with the foreigners was nice too. However, they did not speak much of their counts. Only offering assurances that they were not like the dreadful heretics and traitors that had been ruined out.
A little exasperating. Meng Dan hadn't written but she supposed he was very busy.
"They are outwardly highly unified in their repudiation of traitors," Bao Qian said, idly dipping the strip of pork in his chopsticks into the little sauce vessel by his plate.
"...As they should be, her grace was exceptionally merciful," Ling Qingge said quietly.
She supposed by the standards her mother had lived under with her own family and the Liu, what had happened was very merciful.
"A clan as ancient as the meng has built up much credit, a single blow would never fell them even if it empties their accounts," Bao Qian said. "Well, I am sure they are thanking their ancestors and spirits for their fortune."
"It was the active efforts of those loyal to the Emerald Seas, not merely good fortune," Ling Qi replied.
"That would explain some things," Bao Qian agreed. "Miss ling the best I can say is that the foundations are wavering. Things are… polarized, and I have seen open disagreement among the clan such as I have not known. There is a strong undercurrent of resentment and spite the central marshes, even more rejection of outsiders than usual."
"Unfortunate," Ling Qi said, frowning.
"But, spite runs both ways I think,'' Bao Qian continues. "I met several young Meng craftsfolk and reagent growers who seemed… very friendly, almost performatively so. It was a little awkward being loudly asked about news and fashions from the north while their relatives glowered at us in the distance."
"That sounds strange indeed," her Mother said. "Well youth is always a little rebellious."
"I suppose we are," Ling Qi said. It was amusing really her Mother felt herself old but among count clans she doubted most would see much difference between late teens and thirties. "But… it may simply be the way that things are manifesting there. Maybe I'm being too prideful, but I have noticed a general shift among those I write too."
"It is a fine thing to be proud of our Emerald Seas, isn't it?" Bao Qian said lightly. "Look at what we've done, it is a strange thing, but even the Xuan cannot say they have done as we have. A worthy accomplishment."
People came around to diplomacy in the strangest of ways, but yes. Perhaps it was the bias of her selected contacts-people that Meizhen's father had curated for their investment in the Cai and the Emerald Seas as a whole- but now that this whole business was signed and sealed by the Duchess, there seemed to be a digging in of support for it.
Firstly adding a trait representing your injury, it will serve as a nice count down until full recovery. Mostly this is for updating you on the current reputation changes in the Emerald Seas
Crucible Charred: 8
The after effect of carrying the Sovereign of Steel and Flame into the dream to do battle. You are scorched down to the bone, meridians seared, qi tied up entirely in recovery, though you may tentatively use your hands, little else has recovered yet.
Cai Clan Rep +1
Lower Nobility
Foundations and Thundering Hills, Capital City, Xiangmen +1
Celestial Hills, Western Fens -1
Upper Nobility
-Luo Clan: 2
--Imperial Conservatives (20%): -3
--Imperial Moderates (20%): 1
--Weilu Moderates (50%): 3
--Old Tribes (5%): 4
–Emerald Seas Nationalists (5%): 4
-Wang Clan: 2
--Imperial Moderates(35%): 1
--Imperial Conservatives (10%): -3
--Weilu Moderates (40%): 3
–Emerald Seas Nationalists (15%): 4
-Meng Clan: 1
--Weilu Conservatives(45%): 0
--Weilu Isolationists(15%): -6
--Weilu Reformers(35%): 4
–Emerald Seas Nationalists (5%): 4
-Diao Clan -1
--Imperial Conservative(50%): -3
--Imperial Moderate(35%): 1
--Weilu Moderate(5%): 3
–Emerald Seas Nationalists (10%): 4
-Jia Clan: 1
--Imperial Moderate(20%): 1
--Imperial Conservative(30%): -3
--Cai Loyalist-(30%): 2
–Emerald Seas Nationalists (20%): 4
-Bao clan: 2
--Imperial Moderate(60%): 1
--Imperial Conservative(20%): -3
--Emerald Seas Nationalists (20%): 4
Crucible Charred: 8
The after effect of carrying the Sovereign of Steel and Flame into the dream to do battle. You are scorched down to the bone, meridians seared, qi tied up entirely in recovery, though you may tentatively use your hands, little else has recovered yet.
Cai Clan Rep +1
Lower Nobility
Foundations and Thundering Hills, Capital City, Xiangmen +1
Celestial Hills, Western Fens -1
Upper Nobility
-Luo Clan: 2
--Imperial Conservatives (20%): -3
--Imperial Moderates (20%): 1
--Weilu Moderates (50%): 3
--Old Tribes (5%): 4
–Emerald Seas Nationalists (5%): 4
-Wang Clan: 2
--Imperial Moderates(35%): 1
--Imperial Conservatives (10%): -3
--Weilu Moderates (40%): 3
–Emerald Seas Nationalists (15%): 4
-Meng Clan: 1
--Weilu Conservatives(45%): 0
--Weilu Isolationists(15%): -6
--Weilu Reformers(35%): 4
–Emerald Seas Nationalists (5%): 4
-Diao Clan -1
--Imperial Conservative(50%): -3
--Imperial Moderate(35%): 1
--Weilu Moderate(5%): 3
–Emerald Seas Nationalists (10%): 4
-Jia Clan: 1
--Imperial Moderate(20%): 1
--Imperial Conservative(30%): -3
--Cai Loyalist-(30%): 2
–Emerald Seas Nationalists (20%): 4
-Bao clan: 2
--Imperial Moderate(60%): 1
--Imperial Conservative(20%): -3
--Emerald Seas Nationalists (20%): 4
"It is good to be proud of your home, when it achieves something praiseworthy," Ling Qi agreed. "I am just glad that so many see it to be so. I suppose the expanded lines on the map quiet most of the complaints from the rest."
"That they do," Bao Qian agreed. "I would not be discouraged by that though."
"I take my accomplishments as they are," Ling Qi said.
"They are great accomplishments, even for their cost," Ling Qingge said, giving her a pointed look.
"I will do many things to see our future come to pass," Ling Qi said. It was fine that mother was still upset with her.
"That has lent you more than a little credit," Bao Qian said, glancing between the two of you. "This business with the traitor elder… I think the only thing that is said against you is doubt that it actually happened."
"It is a bit hard to believe," Ling Qi said wryly."
"Jerks, Big sis literally set herself on fire 'cause of that, how dare they not believe it," Hanyi huffed, puffing out her cheeks as she raised a cup to Ling Qi's lips.
"There's not too much of it, word is too consistent. 'Baroness Ling withstood the Heron General's flame to guide her blade to the traitor's heart' and all that," Bao Qian said. "'Lady Cai led the soldiers of the province to victory over a tide of nightmares, just as her mother did.' The symbolism is rather apt."
"The words of the courts may twist the truth, but it is difficult for them to conceal it whole," Ling Qingge said, eyes cast down. "That is a virtue of the Emerald Seas."
Cai Shenhua was not everywhere at once, but her effects on her court still rippled out into the culture of the Emerald Seas, many looked to her path of truth in the aftermath of her rise, whole cultivator generations. It was harder among them to be an outright liar.
Not everywhere, such changes only trickled down so far, when Xiangmen was far away.
"Hmph, still a bunch of jerks for doubting. Well, all the smart people in the South see it, so its fine, I have a lot more stops to make this year," Hanyi said proudly.
"You really are. I wonder if this will be my main business at this rate, managing and recording you," Bao Qian chuckled. "You are becoming quite a fashionable icon in the Foundations."
Hanyi beamed, and Ling Qi hummed to herself. "I'm glad, when do you think you'll start touring again this year?"
"Hm, it's the seventh month now? So four more months I would think, with a four month duration," Bao Qian said. "We want to hit the road as autumn is closing, to give the fortune of a mild winter. You will be busy, but do you think you might make an appearance? At one of the larger venues of course."
Ling Qi considered. It wasn't a terrible idea. She was… popular there, in the Foundations the hilly foot of the Wall, strange as it was to think. It could only do her good to solidify any connections with the small lords and ladies in the south. Hanyi deserved to have her come to a performance or two anyway. "I will see what time I can clear, but I think at least one is a good idea."
"Perhaps we all may go… it is a family affair," Ling Qingge said quietly.
Ling Qi blinked. "If you would like Mother."
"Well, its fine if Big Sis' Mom and the littler sis want to come too, they can see how amazing I am," Hanyi said with a sniff.
She was glad Hanyi was warming… well being more attached to the rest of the family.
…She'd probably approved at least a little when Mother yelled at her. She wondered if that had been what made Hanyi respect her Mother a little more.
The rest of dinner passed that way, in quiet conversation around the tentative plans for the trip. It was still stiff and formal in some ways, but it was better than the interviews. But mother had to excuse herself soon enough to attend to Biyu and her duties, and she was soon being wheeled alongside Bao Qian in the halls toward the garden by Hanyi.
"You know, it will sound trite," Bao Qian said idly. "But how are you Miss Ling? Truly?"
"Is it not obvious," she shot back wryly.
"You are exhausted, in pain, and not a little run rugged," Bao Qian replied. "Though you hide it well. Is it the work or the conditions?"
"Mostly I am very, very tired of this chair, no matter how comfortable it is," Ling Qi said. She felt Hanyi frown behind her.
"Big Sis should just let herself be pampered for awhile, hmph," the words were barely audible, but Ling Qi winced at them all the same.
"Understandable, you are an active woman… Enough so that you make a man feel lazy and unambitious at times," Bao Qian chuckled.
"Best work on that then," Ling Qi said idly. "But please I do not want to talk about work. How have you been doing?"
"It's busy, I enjoy the travel… running interference for Qingling's business while she has her fugue, is a bit challenging but…"
"What is wrong with Bao Qingling?" Ling Qi asked. Meizhen's paramour was an odd girl, but her friend seemed happy even as she set off back to the Thousand Lakes for a few months.
He raised his eyebrows looking down at her. She frowned defensively.
"...I haven't pried the details out but she's unhappy about her best 'customer' in some way or at least worked up. It can be hard to tell with her."
Once Ling Qi might have been able to ignore the particular tone the word 'customer' was spoken in. As she was he might as well have come right out and said it. "You know?"
"Qingling is not subtle when you know her well."
…That was probably fair. "Not many know her well, I think," Ling Qi replied warily.
"True," Bao Qian admitted freely. "I don't suppose you know any more detail?"
"Bai Meizhen was in a fine mood when she left."
"Not a conflict then, something in her own head, or simply missing her match," Bao Qian said. "...No, that doesn't quite match that exact sort of manic fugue. She does this when she's fixated on a goal."
"I suppose we'll have to wait for them to tell us," Ling Qi grumbled, a little upset with Meizhen now. She could think of a few things, but they all seemed very unlikely.
"Frustrating," Bao Qian agreed. "How are we to gossip when they leave us in the dark."
"Its rude," Ling Qi said with a frown, before she could catch herself.
"It's their business I suppose," Bao Qian said, amused.
"Don't turn away now, either walk the Way of the gossip-monger or don't, I have no use for ditherers," Ling Qi said turning up her nose. She smiled slightly. It felt good to get a laugh, even a small one.
"I mean it's some kinda kissy stuff, right?" Hanyi chirped head cocked to the side.
She coughed. "Secret things Hanyi, don't you feel the screening field? You don't say that outright."
"Oh, right," Hanyi agreed, looking nonplussed.
She sighed, that girl was absolutely going to get her in trouble one day.
"Hm, moving on from that, has Miss Hanyi mentioned the plan to expand the talent pool yet?" Bao Qian asked. The garden was close now.
"I haven't," hanyi huffed. "Look getting me minions is fine, but we don't need any other 'talents'!"
"Hanyi, minions is not what you should call your subordinates," Ling Qi chided. "Even if this is the first I am hearing of you having any."
"Oh, it is nothing so concrete, the young Miss has merely attracted or… subdued a few minor spirits during her tour," Bao Qian said dryly.
"They were gonna mess up my blessings! I made them stop," Hanyi complained.
"We'll talk about that later," Ling Qi said. "What do you mean Bao Qian?"
"It's… an odd thought of mine but I am getting very invested in this, and my current spirits contract is about up, and they are looking for more northern climes. I thought I might do a little roughing it and seek out another seasonal spirit, Spring or Harvest, maybe, one who could tour in Miss Hanyi's off seasons," Bao Qian said. "I can hardly recreate Miss Hanyi, but I am interested in trying something new. I wondered if you might be interested in assisting me."
"I might… I have limited time away.." A little time camping and communing with spirits did sound like a relief, it would certainly be after the tour, so she could even bring Hanyi and perhaps Zhengui.
"Big Sister!"
Twin voices called her from the garden as they came out onto the Veranda, booming in the night air.
Zhengui towered in the center of their garden taller than a big warhorse and much more broad, he rose with a faint rattle of falling stones and spreading dust from the patch of earth he had nestled himself in, the planters fit into the scaffolding on his back rattling and swaying with the motion.
"Zhengui, did you enjoy your dinner too?" she asked.
"Gui did, it was very good," he said, striding up the path, pushing his head past the railing, she put out a trembling hand and rested it on his snout.
Zhengui had taken it better than she feared. He had regarded her burned up state with stoic resolve and merely informed her that he was going wherever she went.
It did probably hold back development back at Snowblossom for him to be here, but she couldn;t look him in the eye and deny him.
"Is Hanyi making sure Big Sister takes all her medicines today?" Zhen asked, arching over his shell to peer at her.
"Of course!" Hanyi said, crossing her arms.
"I'm not going to forget myself," Ling Qi grumbled.
"Even the one that makes sisters qi fuzzy?" Gui asked.
She grimaced, she knew she wasn't supposed to be cycling her qi…
"She took it early, I made sure," Hanyi said.
She would have taken it without prompting.
"You are in good spirits, Sir Zhengui," Bao Qian said.
"Yes, I, Zhen have been doing well. I see Shiny man has become even shinier," Zhen said haughtily.
She let them trade their greetings, observing Zhengui. He really was growing well. While she had been at the Summit, he had been hard at work at Snowblossom with that little gaggle of scholars….
[ ] Developing the place where the veins of the earth boiled forth, infusing the waters there with his qi (Zhengui has improved his restorative capabilities and physical cultivation and begun developing the veins further with wood qi.)
[ ] Enriching the soil in the region with the heat and fertility of his ash, growing his domain over the earth of the valley (Zhengui has improved his fire capabilities and spiritual cultivation and begun developing the veins further with fire qi.)
AN: In addition the fief has been updated to its current state, though we are not quite done setting up for the next vote on it.
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The Emerald Sea Nationalists love Ling Qi which is great, it also makes sense given the success of the Summit and the heroic actions she took.
The Imperial Conservatives are united in their dislike for her, probably for the exact same reason the Nationalists like her.
The peakaboos will always be political enemies. The key will be to marginalize them with more splendid successes.
BagFullOfLizards
Some bag, mostly lizards
- Location
- A bag
I'm having trouble finding the previous reputation chart to compare. The nationalists are new, right? And do we have an idea of how much the population of Weilu Isolationists has shrunk after the purge?
The Peakaboos roundly hating Ling Qi isn't surprising at this stage, but the positive disposition of so many other forces and factions in the Emerald Seas outweighing them everywhere but the Diao is kind of surprising.
That's a really free hand Ling Qi's being afforded politically.
That's a really free hand Ling Qi's being afforded politically.
If memory serves the dipshits among the Meng were 25% before shit went down.
- Location
- United States
Good thing that they were neutered pretty hard in a way that made us smell like roses. Any hint that they want to hurt us will imply to the rest of society that they approve of the traitor's goals, which in turn means they disapprove of the Duchess's goals.Weilu Isolationists(15%): -6
Yep, they hate us forever. Fuck 'em.
They are going to be walking very softly for years to come.
Kek, the reactionaries rebranded.
Yrsillar said:
- Location
- California
Tasoli
Life is for Living
- Location
- Behind the Keyboard.
Weilu Isolationists(15%): -6
Should we be concerned?
I mean we saw how Meng stuff went with mere -4. -6 sounds way worse but I am not sure how it is going to manifest. Sureley there won'T be another Sovereign cool-aid man their way to our next project. We might not survive!
Should we be concerned?
I mean we saw how Meng stuff went with mere -4. -6 sounds way worse but I am not sure how it is going to manifest. Sureley there won'T be another Sovereign cool-aid man their way to our next project. We might not survive!
- Location
- California
They're going to oppose us basically forever, but they've also just been massively cowed.