Sharing a Pavilion With You
Chapter 112: Approval to Visit the Training Camp

Chapter 112: Approval to Visit the Training Camp

The Emperor watched with amusement as he read the struggle written on Meili’s face like the pages of a book.

The girl knew she should tell him what had just taken place, but she was torn by her loyalty to his son.

He decided to put her out of her misery.

"No matter, you don’t need to tell me. I believe I have a pretty fulsome understanding already."

Her pale face was suddenly suffused with pink, and he couldn’t help smiling at her.

"Come, come. I don’t like to see you downcast. That doesn’t lighten my day. Why don’t you plan something fun to lift your mood? What would you like to do to cheer you up, hm? You can ask something of me."

The Chief Eunuch watched with interest to see the Emperor try and coax the girl, whose mood should be an irrelevance to him, and who, frankly, shouldn’t be bringing her moods into their Lord’s study to bother him with.

"Really, Your Majesty?" her face brightened considerably. "Then may I visit the training camp to take some home cooked food and health supplements to Commander Bai? I’ve been feeling neglectful of my good friend."

"Yes, yes, why not visit your ’good friend’?" that suited his purposes perfectly well also... "And why don’t you plan to perform a dance for me tomorrow as well?"

He had been sorry to miss Mei Meili’s famous performance in the Empress’s garden and had been meaning to ask her to perform for him for some time now.

This would kill two birds with one stone, by taking her mind off his son’s clumsy actions at the same time.

--------------

On this occasion, Mei Meili was ushered straight through the gates of the training camp as though she was a princess, the guards practically falling over each other to roll out the red carpet for her.

"Miss Mei, Miss Mei, let me take you to the Commander’s tent."

"I’m fine thank you for the offer," she smiled at the man, "I know the way now".

"Miss Mei, can I carry those food boxes for you? They look heavy."

"Manni and I can manage, thank you for your kind offer though. I would hate to take any of you from your posts."

"The Commander won’t mind if it’s for you, Miss Mei," called one of the guards, his fellow guard kicking him behind the knee. "Oah! What was that for?"

"Shut up, man. You’ll get us in trouble," he hissed. "Just keep your trap shut! Didn’t you do enough damage last time she came here?"

"I was only trying to be helpful," the fellow muttered.

"Stop it! The only thing you’ll ’help us’ into, is a beating!"

Meili and Manni continued on their way, very happy to have some stolen time together. Meili had been home in the morning to prepare the food for Bai Li, and she was still basking in the warmth of her family’s love.

By the time she reached the Commander’s tent, Bai Li was already striding out to greet her, the news having travelled there faster than she, Manni and Tricky could walk.

The dog gave a bark of delight and rushed up to the man, jumping up on him in his excitement to see his friend after too long.

Bai Li’s eyes softened, and he picked the large dog up in his arm’s briefly, his men laughing at the sight.

"I’ve missed you too big fella," he told the dog, letting him give him a quick lick on the chin. "Alright, off you go, keep your dignity about you," he let the dog jump down from his arms, and as though Tricky understood that he’d lapsed in public, he rushed back to Meili’s side and walked at her heel with the bearing of a king, not a lolling tongue in sight.

"Miss Mei!" called the Commander with obvious pleasure, and his men all looked at each other, rolling their eyes knowingly.

With not much society at camp, the rumour mill was always in overdrive, and the men knew very well that this was the woman their Commander fancied. And who wouldn’t? She was a worthy partner for their beloved leader.

It was also a commonly known fact that both the Tan family and the Bai family had attempted betrothal discussions with the Mei’s, but that the girl hadn’t yet been through the concubine selections and had now been called to the palace to serve the Emperor himself. There seemed little likelihood that the Emperor would not take her into his harem, or gift her to one of his sons, so the whole affair had the makings of a dramatic tale of star-crossed lovers separated by fate.

Bai Li knew that the bards were singing of them in inns and restaurants across the capital, and even beyond, but there was nothing that could be done, so he let the stories roll off him like raindrops in a passing shower.

"Commander Bai," Mei Meili smiled at him shyly, well aware she was being watched by many pairs of soldiers’ eyes.

He took the boxes she was carrying from her and ushered her towards his tent.

Once inside, she laid out all of the boxes and took the lids off one by one.

"These are sesame cakes, they’re very nutritious but limit yourself to one or two a day, these stuffed buns should be eaten today while they’re fresh, these are fresh fruits for you to snack on every day..."

Bai Li hardly paid attention to her words as he watched her lovely face that he had missed since she entered the palace and he was always at the camp, though he would not be at camp for much longer, as they were due to head north soon...

He smiled gently at her when she had finished telling him all of the foods she had brought for him, and how he ought to consume them for his health.

"Mei Meili, thank you for caring for me once again. You’re very good to me," he looked at her tenderly.

She blushed at the compliment. "It’s no more than you deserve Bai Li, you work so hard serving the People and our country."

"And yet, only you think to care for me like this," he teased her gently.

"Really?" she looked at him with concern. "What of your mother, Madam Bing? Surely, she must be worried, and sending you food parcels and clothing?"

"Oh," he said airily, "my mother cares for me of course, but after all, she’s married to a General, so she’s well used to the men in her family being at training camps or at war, so she doesn’t let a trifling thing like me being nearby in a military camp concern her. She reserves that for campaigns."

This didn’t set Meili’s heart at ease, and she put a finger to her lips in concern, wishing she was still living at home so she could come by more often.

He chuckled now, "don’t be too concerned for me, Mei Meili. I am a grown man after all."

"Even grown men must have someone to care of them while they’re working so hard as you are, Bai Li," she admonished him.

"Yes ma’am," he pretended to be chastened by her until she had to laugh too.

He thought he detected a hint of sadness in her eyes.

"Sit down, Mei Meili," he said gently, motioning for his manservant to serve them tea.

Search the lightnovelworld.cc website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.