Jiao-Jie glanced at Wu, a faint smile rewarded the feeble joke. "I too would prefer to keep the ogre waiting. Not for hopes of old age, but for reasons of urgency. We have promised to escort Madame Shu to safety." A small frown creased her brow. "I don't understand where this sudden desire to see ogres is coming from. What can be possibly more important than guarding Madame and this knowledge she might hold? I would be greatly distressed if our frolicking with this ogre would allow her pursuers to catch up with us, or delay her from reaching her noble friends. As we do not know exactly what has been found, we cannot know how urgent her presence is needed with the scribes." She smiled at Madame Shu. "If you forgive me for speaking as if you were not there, Madame. No disrespect was intended."