Sharing a Pavilion With You
Chapter 114: He Wants Me to be His Concubine

Chapter 114: He Wants Me to be His Concubine

[Suggested song for this Chapter: Soulmate by Andrea Vanzo]

"My status," said Mei Meili slowly, playing for time. "Well... that’s the trouble. The Second Prince has asked me to agree to become his concubine."

She checked for Bai Li’s reaction, but he had managed to school his face now; knowing he had to so that she would share the conversation with him more willingly.

"I would of course, be living underneath Li Fengfeng who will be his first wife. He has some far-fetched plan for me to live in a secret residence with guards to keep me safe. But..." her voice hitched, as even talking about this still upset her, "I told him how impossible that would be and how Li Fengfeng will still find a way to harm me, and how," she started to sob now, "t...that’s no way to raise children... and I just... I don’t want to live like that. Is that so wrong Bai Li?" tears were streaming down her cheeks now.

"He says why must he be the only one to sacrifice, and that I would be helping the People and our Country by helping him... and I’m sure I should be... but oh! Bai Li! I really don’t want to. Must I?" she pleaded with him as she cried.

"Must I live my life like that? A hidden mistress... My children unprotected. No status should he one day tire of me..." she covered her face with her hands.

Bai Li knelt in front of her and wrapped his arms around her, letting her cry against his shoulder as he lightly stroked her hair.

"Shh, shh, shh," he soothed her.

"Don’t worry about that silly request for even a minute. Of course you will never become a hidden mistress living locked away behind high walls with guards. That’s not the life for you, and when his highness comes to his right mind, he will agree that it’s not, and that he only asked you as his fate closes in on him and he’s flailing."

Bai Li did have sympathy for the prince, but it was utterly selfish of him to drag Mei Meili into this quagmire.

"We all agree that it’s an unfortunate match in which he has no real choice, but his highness will come to his senses shortly and agree that it doesn’t mean you should be punished too. You can’t fix this for him Mei Meili, nor should he have pressured you with talk of duty," Bai Li scoffed at the idea.

"This world is full of women well-suited to the role of his concubine. Women who would be both honoured and ecstatic to be asked to take a position which to them would be an exalted one. His highness knows this full well, and it’s very unfair of him to have suggested that that should be you. Lord Mei’s daughter, surely, can hope for much better marriage prospects."

He tilted her head so he could see her eyes and patted them dry with his handkerchief.

"It’s understandable that he would take some comfort in your presence, but is it your duty? Would you change his life sufficiently for the prince to change the country, Mei Meili?" he asked her, raising her chin with his finger and looking into her eyes to make sure she understood his logic.

She shook her head faintly, giving him a watery smile. That was patent nonsense, and she could see that.

"No," he affirmed, giving her a reassuring smile. "In fact, an arrangement like that would complicate his life far more than it would simplify it and support him in his endeavours. Mei Meili, you need not consider the request for another minute. Put it from your mind, as I’m sure he has done himself when he awoke this morning, no doubt full of regret."

She looked at this man who she had come to trust almost as much as her third brother.

"Are you really sure, Bai Li? Those were my exact thoughts, but then I couldn’t help but wonder if it was just wishful thinking on my part, and if in fact I should be doing my duty, as my brothers will be doing theirs in the north, by agreeing to his request."

"I assure you Mei Meili, it is not wishful thinking, but correct thinking. Don’t doubt yourself in this matter."

She nodded more resolutely than she felt, still sniffling from her tears.

She did feel a lot better now.

Having Bai Li confirm that it was both a bad idea and wouldn’t make a difference to the People, was a great comfort.

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Bai Li strode into the Second Prince’s study, having left camp that very afternoon to speak with him.

"Your highness," he nodded at the prince.

"Bai Li," the prince rose from his desk and motioned for Shi Lei to bring them tea at his low table. "What brings you here unexpectedly at this hour?" he said cooly, having a fair idea what the reason might be, and not liking it at all.

Bai Li waited politely until the tea had been served, and the prince had motioned for Shi Lei to leave them.

"Your highness, you’ve probably guessed why I’m here."

The prince narrowed his eyes at Bai Li, but didn’t respond.

"Mei Meili told me, after I insisted because I could see that she was upset, about your pressuring her to do her duty and become your concubine."

Bai Li’s voice started to shake with anger just in voicing those words.

"Your highness, you of all people should know the impossibility of your taking Mei Meili as a concubine now that you have agreed to marry Li Fengfeng," Bai Li growled.

"It was not a good idea to make her a concubine instead of a wife and remove her to Gu even before you planned to marry the Prime Minister’s daughter, and now it’s a really terrible idea! And you even stooped so low as to suggest she has a duty to support you by becoming your concubine? I’ve come to tell you to back off and leave her alone."

The prince’s eyes flashed dangerously, and his knuckles were white as his grip on his teacup threatened to shatter it.

"The minute you agreed to marry Li Fengfeng you lost the chance to be with Mei Meili," Bai Li finished.

The prince stared angrily at his friend.

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