"I uh...yeah, I did."

Despite being far away and below Qiu, Chen's whole body hangs like someone who was about to open a door and just realized that somebody was on the other side and grabbed it as fast as they could so they didn't slam into anyone. She almost looks like she's going to fall over for an instant, before she manages to settle her weight back and keep her center of gravity over her feet. She just...she was ready for a lot of things. Like, surprise attacks from her supposed arch-nemesis! Or, or sudden hugs to create lots of confusing emotions! Or maybe...um...a big showy grand entrance with flaming pillars and stuff! But, you'll have to forgive her because she was not ready for the hot wet hair look and this weird sort of restrained tension where she knows Qiu wants to have a duel, but she's clearly being nice and it would be incredibly rude to push her when she's trying so hard and...and...eeep! Yes eeep! That's what she was not ready for!

Okay, deep breath, everybody is looking at Chen and she's got to say something more than just uh yeah to fill the silence. "I have, um, very technically, fulfilled exactly what you asked of me. I have found Yue and she is here, now, with me, in front of you. But...I don't think I should really collect on the prize because she only came here to tell you in person that she's not interested in being your handmaiden. Or anybody's handmaiden I think. A-Anyway, she's really special and I totally get why your demon advisor said she's special (reader: Chen has no idea why the demon said that) but I think she should get to choose what she wants, so I'm here to let you know that I promised to protect her whatever she chooses. Oh also, just like, please don't let Yin go looking for random innocent girls again. She is seriously a lot and I'm pretty sure she freaked out, like, everybody here with me."

Chen looked like her brain was just catching up to her mouth and, before her brain could manage too much thinking of how sideways [i]that[/i] had just gone, she turns to the group. "Well...um, anyway, you already know what she looks like, but this is Yue, just Yue. Yue, above you there in all her...glory is Princess Qiu Tian, the three shard-princess. And uh, the person whose weird old world demon advisor started this whole mess by saying you were the most valuable thing in Qiu's new kingdoms. You should introduce yourself."

Well, that was something at least. Both her parents would be horribly disappointed, and she still couldn't tell [i]why[/i] Qiu was being so nice about this, but she was very definitely putting a lot of effort into it and it was really throwing Chen off her game. But...maybe it meant this was all fine and there wouldn't be any big fights?