Sharing a Pavilion With You
Chapter 108: An Unholy Alliance

Chapter 108: An Unholy Alliance

*THE PRIME MINISTER’S MANSION*

"The Second Prince is here to see you, Master," the Prime Minister’s chief butler announced his arrival.

"Show him in, show him in, don’t keep his highness waiting," the Prime Minister said jovially. He had a good feeling about this visit.

The Prime Minister rose and gave his seat to the Second Prince, as the highest-ranking man in the room. The Second Prince inclined his head slightly in acknowledgement.

"Prime Minister, I trust you’re well?"

"Yes, yes, never better your highness, never better," he motioned for his servants to serve them tea, and the two men waited for them to withdraw before continuing.

"What brings you here this fine afternoon your highness? Have you had a chance to consider my offer? It has been some weeks, and I must admit I was becoming a little concerned that you might be planning to turn me down."

"That’s not the case Prime Minister," the Second Prince said gruffly. "I needed some time to make my own arrangements and fully consider the ramifications of our alliance. I’m sure you wouldn’t want me to rush such a significant decision," he drawled.

"Quite right, quite right," the older man smirked. "But now, you’ve come to a decision I take it?"

"I have, Prime Minister. I will take you up on the offer to marry your daughter, Li Fengfeng, and forge a close alliance between our interests in court."

"Capital! Capital!" the man clapped his hands together in delight. He called out for his butler. "Bring us some of the peach blossom wine from the cellar," he commanded the man. "I’ve been storing this particularly fine drop for a very long time in hope of just such an occasion," he told the Second Prince gleefully.

The prince nodded regally, "I thank you for the honour of sharing it with me then".

"Just as it should be," the man interwove his fingers and rested his chin on them.

The Prime Minister cracked open the vintage bottle, and poured a cup for the prince and one for himself, holding up the cup to toast the young man.

"To a lifetime of happy marriage between you and my daughter, and a prosperous and fruitful alliance between us."

The prince nodded, and the two men downed their cups.

The Prime Minister was more excited than he could recall being in a long time. Though there was a difficult path ahead... with the Second Prince on his side, it was certainly achievable.

The Crown Prince was uncontrollable and stupid to boot, and the position of his first wife was already taken, leaving the uncertainty of Fengfeng’s ability to climb to power within his harem.

Far superior to take the more certain bet, of being the Father-in-Law of the Second Prince’s through his legitimate wife and backing this young man to take the throne.

The Second Prince was more competent than the Crown Prince, and an excellent political player. Their alliance would be a formidable force to be reckoned with.

"I already have the Emperor in favour of this match," Prime Minister Li advised him proudly.

"Yes, I’m aware. My Emperor Father has asked me to accept your offer," he gave the cunning man a small smile.

You underestimated this old man at your peril. The prince knew that he had his work more than cut out for him from here on in.

The Prime Minister raised his eyebrows at his future son-in-law. "Let’s not waste any more time then. Shall we set the wedding date for as soon as late next week?"

"As soon as possible," agreed the prince with little enthusiasm. "I’m sure you can get some tame monks to provide us with some auspicious dates in the very near future... father-in-law," he addressed the man by his soon-to-be title.

"Yes, yes, son-in-law, I’ve certainly paid enough dues at Purple Cloud Temple to call in some easy favours like that."

"And how do you plan to keep me from being sent into exile in Gu, father-in-law?" the Second Prince asked him with more interest in this topic than the upcoming nuptials.

"Leave that to me, son-in-law. You might have to lead a little military campaign to earn your stripes with the Emperor."

"No problem. The sooner the better," he thumped his fist on the low table. "I won’t ask what your plans are for my elder brother."

"No, no, it’s better you don’t know. You of all people should know I won’t have to do much. The Crown Prince will be hoist by his own petard."

"Indeed. But you’ll have your work cut out for you with my Emperor Father. There’s no way he’s unaware of most of what my elder brother’s involved in, and yet he stands by and does nothing."

"That’s because he’s been able to with no one exposing the Crown Prince’s misdeeds. Once they come to light in a fashion that requires punishment, things will move very quickly, you’ll see."

The Second Prince nodded. He would leave this workstream to the old man. This is the stuff he excelled at after all.

The prince would never have agreed to this awful alliance of convenience if there were other more palatable choices.

*THE EMPEROR’S GARDEN*

The Emperor’s Garden was devoid of leaves, and covered in late-Winter snow not yet melted, bright red plum blossoms the only splash of colour.

The Second Prince waited alone for her in the pavilion on the bridge, his entourage arrayed on the far bank.

Usually Meili loved this time of year with its promise of spring just around the corner, but because of what the season signified for Bai Li and her brothers, this year the red flowers made her feel melancholy.

She wore a pale-pink winter cloak trimmed with white fur; her hair pinned with delicate gold flowers.

Looking for all the world, like the Moon Goddess Chang’e, thought the Second Prince, as she approached him.

Her long hair flowed loosely down her back. In the bright winter sunlight it had unusual warm tones that perfectly matched her eyes. She walked elegantly, with her hands clasped just below her pretty bust.

"Hers was a beauty that could bring down a kingdom," the prince muttered to himself.

"Second Prince," she curtsied with some trepidation, seeing the efforts he had gone to, to meet with her alone like this.

She noticed he was prominently wearing the dragon pouch she had embroidered for him.

Meili joined the prince at the railing, and they both gazed out across the lake.