In all fairness, she should have recognized him - but Wang Lingjiao had never been in the habit of paying attention she thought beneath her notice, not when she sneered at the hapless heirs while gloating at Wen Chao's side, and certainly not now that she believed herself to be talking to a servant. The thought that anyone of importance could be content to receive guests as important as her in such humble surroundings was preposterous anyway.

She sniffed and straightened, taking heart from how frightened he appeared. As he should. "Well, at least one of you brutes knows when he's in the company of his betters!" she exclaimed and shot the guards a withering look. Then she forced herself to gather her thoughts, she did have something more important to do here than complain, this being her first opportunity to speak to anyone at all.

"I demand an audience with Sect Leader Nie." Her chin rose, fake as her courage may have been. "I expect to discuss the terms of my release."