The garden party had a freer atmosphere than the Throne above, or at least she felt it so away from the leviathan's of cultivation. Here, it was mostly third and fourthrealms, walking amidst the ethereal lights of living fairies drifting about on the wind, between rows of tables filled drinks and refreshment. The flowerbeds were riots of exotic shape and color, filled with plants Ling Qi had only seen when scouting the highest mountaintops of the wall, alien fronds and motile petals which twitched and turned, following potent sources of qi like curious animals.
It was in one of the many scattered pavilions in the inner palace garden that she was able to present herself to her liege and her new betrothed, alongside her fellow retainers.
"Baroness Ling Qi of the South Emerald Seas Ling clan respectfully greets the exalted Mu Wuye," Ling Qi bowed very low, hands clasped before her chest, the long hair hanging off her shoulder very nearly sweeping the ground.
"Mu Wuye greets the loyal retainer of his fiancee."
His. Not quite a lie. That was what her senses said.
"Really bothering you innit?" Sixiang wondered.
She supposed it was. If only because she was scrutinizing them so much more closely because of what they now were to Renxiang.
The others rattled off their own greetings in turn as she stepped back. This whole formal greeting would be lessoned in more familiar settings, but for their introductions, taking things to their maximum level was simply polite. As amember of the Imperial family, even without position or title, Mu Wuye's person demanded an elevated level of respect.
"It pleases me to see that you have such worthies around you, Cai Renxiang" Mu Wuye said, directing their attention to Cai Renxiang, who stood beside them up at the top of the pavilion steps. It was a rote statement, spoken with even formality.
Awkward. Her senses whispered, sticking to formulae for guidance on unfamiliar terrain.
Mu Wuye's eyes twitched toward her. She restrained her perception much more firmly.
"Each of them has shown the character and loyalty well. I am pleased to have them beside me," Mu Wuye."
In fairness, Cai Renxiang was about the same, an almost perceptible pause before the name was spoken in place of 'Sir Mu'.
"I am certain you have your own," her liege continued, after a brief hanging pause. "You were simply not given leave for their attendance. I shall hope to greet them as well."
"Yes, as I am but a humble attendant to my exalted grandmother here, I was not granted leave for such," Mu Wuye said. "Though, not so many as an heiress. My martial brother Kang Yuze follows me in all things. I shall introduce him when my move is complete."
"You will be coming south then?" Cai Renxiang asked slowly.
"...That is my Exalted Grandmother's intent."
Cai Renxiang nodded thoughtfully, turned her eyes toward them, and gestured for them to rise.
"Martial Brother… You are an attendant of one of the Great Sects then, Sir Mu?" Meng Dan asked politely as he straightened up.
"No, though I understand your error. Kang Yuze and I are both merely disciples in the arts of war under my Uncle Imperial Marshal Mu Yun," they replied. "An honor I am proud of."
"I was told you were a disciple of the sword arts. It is somewhat surprising that your training would be paused at this point in your cultivation," Cai Renxiang said.
The sixth stage of the green realm, one step before one would need to establish their 'Name' and finalize the form of their domain before their cyan breakthrough.
"The needs of the Mu clan must come before my own," Mu Wuye said, affecting a small shrug. "And my uncle believes I require a time of sharpening and refinement, out from under his eyes. I trust my instructors judgement. I judge he may have known my Exalted Grandmother's plans… there is conflict a plenty in the south."
There it was again, that quiet niggling, not quite lie.
It took Ling Qi a long moments pondering to interrogate it, to try and decipher what her senses were trying to tell her.
"Hoh? Sir Mu shall be involving himself so heroically? I would expect nothing less from the disciple of such a hero," Gan Guangli boomed.
"Indeed. Though I am hardly of a match for my great grandfather, even at that time, there shall be no scheming vermin blocking the imperial house from showing our valor against the enemies of our people," Mu Wuye said, shoulders straightening. "I well know that you are expected to walk the front line as well, Cai Renxiang. Admirable."
"My Mother will never allow her children to rest easy upon their laurels, no," Cai Renxiang agreed quietly.
Self-Deception. There was something, bound up in their presentation, the Mu Wuye was torn on. They neither fully believed nor disbelieved it. A liminal thing, both truth and lie, existing at the edge of both.
But it was an intensely personal thing, buried deep down. That was the other partial lie. She had a feeling their teacher understood they had something to work through before seeking a Name…
Well, that was their business, and… perhaps Renxiang's?
No their or his, if that was the preference, business. She wasn't poking her nose into that any further without invitation.
"You have a piercing gaze, Baroness."
She smiled. "And you have sharp eyes, Sir Mu. Please forgive me. I am often my lady's eyes and ears. It is my nature to be curious."
Mu Wuye examined her with narrowed eyes.
"It is only an excessive protectiveness," Cai Renxiang said, giving her a flat look. "A good trait… if sometimes troublesome."
"Hm, I suppose my junior brother is sometimes the same way. I shall not chide you further, if you restrain yourself, Baroness," Mu Wuye said.
Ling Qi bowed as low as she could, hands sweeping back to clasp in front of her chest. "My deepest apologies, Sir Mu. I shall show more temperance in the future."
Xia Lin dropped a hand on her shoulder bowed as well. "Yes, Sir Mu , please forgive this nosy woman."
Mu Wuye shook t-his head slowly, stiff expression cracking in amusement. "It is nothing. I reiterate my compliments, Cai Renxiang. You have chosen good followers."
"I like to believe so as well," her liege said. "But sometimes I wonder. You are all dismissed for now. Enjoy the merrymaking while it lasts, but do not indulge too much."
"Touring all of the temples, giving and receiving blessings from the smaller gods of the city," Meng Dan sighed. "I suppose we will need a bit of drinking capacity for that as well."
"I think you are the last person to need to worry about that," Ling Qi said wryly.
"Oh, some of the temple liquors hit quite hard you know," Meng Dan chuckled.
"Well if THAT isn't frightening coming from you," Ling Qi said.
"I shall trust all of my companions to be temperate," Gan Guangli said gravely. "That said, if I may ask, Sir Mu. When you say you are to come south, do you mean merely here to Xiangmen, or to our little outpost in the south?"
Ling Qi didn't quite know what they would do if so. Accommodating an imperial grandchild, even one willing to to deal with austere conditions…
"That is under debate. I believe the wilderness may be helpful in polishing away the imperfections in my cultivation, but there is some resistance," Mu Wuye sounded genuinely unhappy here. "I will likely house myself at the Argent Peak Sect for now, until those in my guard can surveil things."
"Well, you will be most welcome, I am sure!" Gan Guangli said brightly.
"I have heard good things of fiancee's dedication to drill and proper form, so I shall look forward to seeing those abilities in the field," Mu Wuye agreed.
"There is little immediate danger in Shenglu, most is contained easily by my house guard and the soldiers drawn in by land grants," Cai Renxiang replied. "But especially now, we do drill often. You will be impressed."
Mu Wuye raised an eyebrow. "I do not doubt you. Perhaps I shall test the saber style of the Cai myself as well?"
That was probably the most unaffected thing Mu Wuye had said all night, a hint of actual energy rising in the back of their voice.
"...I do not see why not." Cai renxiang had caught it too, and seemed bemused.
Ling Qi wondered as Mu Wuye seemed to catch themself, drawing back and resetting their expression to a more neutral one, should she…
[ ] Ask Mu Wuye about their own blade style, its insipirations and themes.
[ ] Ask Mu Wuye about their thoughts of the Cai Style, as they know it.
AN: Little bit of a shorty this time due to the way the split work, but I've not found anywhere to squeeze more words without it being clearly padding. Still should be about on track for updates and votes now.
