Kiyomi swallowed her anger and embarrassment down as she went to kneel next to the servants that Prince Aiguo sent before her.  Now she knew why they knelt looking at the floor.  They too had made the same mistake as she did and didn't know how to get out of the punishment unless Prince Aiguo comes in to get them.  

Knowing Prince Aiguo intimately for five years now, she knew it would take a lot for Prince Aiguo to come to the next tearoom to see what happened to his people. They all knelt in silence as Lady Lihua kept drinking her tea in silence.  

After awhile there was a knock on the door.  

"Come in."  Ethan said.  

When the sliding door opened, the people who knocked on the door stopped at the entry way, stunned.  

"Welcome Master Teacher Thorin.  Please come in."  Lihua said as she set her teacup down and stood up.  

Thorin looked at the Yukah people then looked at Lady Lihua with one of his eyebrow lifting up in questioning the situation he just walked in on.  However, Lady Lihua's voice sounded pleasant and welcoming.  

"Please, do not mind the Yukah dogs."  Lihua said as the rest of her grandchildren stepped through the door and held the same look as Thorin.  

More Winter Rain Tea House servants came in afterwards and held the chairs out for them to sit in.  Before they sat down, Thorin, his children and nephew bowed in greeting towards Lihua. 

"Please, do not stand on ceremony with me.  We, unlike some unmannerly dogs here, have been introduced properly and are acquainted with one another."  Lihua said telling them why the Yukah people knelt on the wooden floor.  

Thorin tried to hide his smile under his cough, while the others did the same, not wanting to cause more trouble for Lady Lihua.  

"Our time spent here would have to wait until their owner comes to get them."  Lihua said.  "Please don't mind this Lady for teaching these dogs some manners."  

"Of course not."  Thorin said as the servants poured them tea.  

"I hope you guys don't mind, but I have taken the liberty to order some food for us."  Lihua told them.  

A knock on the door interrupted them.  

"Come in."  Xin answered.  

The door slid open and another martial fighter from Yukah Kingdom was as at the door.  The situation before her also stopped her in her tracks before entering.  

"You are?"  Ethan asks.   

The martial fighter bows and starts on her introduction.  

"Greetings to Lady Lihua, this servant's name is Kazumi Reed.  Servant to Prince Aiguo of Yukah Kingdom.  This servant is charged with inviting Lady Lihua to drink tea and enjoy the afternoon with Prince Aiguo in the next tearoom."  

The smile on her face slowly faded as he guqin kept playing and the silence of the room expanded.  Thorin stared at the young woman in front of him and sat back in the silence.  His family, seeing his demeanor slightly relaxed as well as they drank the tea in front of them in silence.  

Kazumi curled her hands into fists as she waited in the silence.  However, she too did not have Lihua's patience and broke etiquette as she stood up without being dismissed.  She stared at Lihua hatefully and when she was about to speak, Xin was quick to speak first.  

"How dare you stare at Lady Lihua with those hateful eyes!"  Xin lectured.  "Who are you that you think you can look at her?  Who are you, that you think you can just come into this room to demand my Lady to come and go, just because your Prince wants her to?  My Lady does not know you.  Nor does she know your Prince. No proper introduction has been made by the two, so how can you be charged with inviting my Lady to go anywhere?!"  

"The people of Yukah Kingdom sure does not know any manner or etiquette." Ethan said.  "One would think the people who Prince Aiguo chooses to surround himself with would know such simple things, but to see that more than one servant knows absolutely nothing, is absolutely appalling."  

"Master Teacher Thorin,"  Lihua said slowly.  "Isn't there a saying that the actions of a servant are the actions of their master?  And the words of a servant are the words of their master?"  

Thorin smiled and drank down the tea with a satisfying gulp.  

"Yes, Lady Lihua you are correct."  Thorin said as he looked upon Kazumi.  

"For your transgression against me, what should your punishment be?"  Lihua said to Kazumi.  

Kazumi's eye twitched as she stared at Lihua.  

"Ah!  The people of Yukah really does want this Lady to dig their eyes out!"  Lihua said.  "Every single one of them are asking this Lady to build up this Lady's collection of eyes from Yukah Kingdom!"  

Kazumi looked down immediately.  

"Go kneel with the other dogs."  Lihua ordered.  "This Lady is only teaching you dogs some manners.  Do not blame this Lady for teaching you some manners, seeing the lot of you didn't even know the most simplest forms of etiquette."