Sharing a Pavilion With You
Chapter 131: Farewell Parade

Chapter 131: Farewell Parade

"Where did you get that rabbit hairpin?" asked the Emperor with narrowed eyes.

She reached up and felt the dangling bunny and he watched her eyes soften.

"Commander Bai gifted it to me this evening as a farewell present."

"Did he now?"

The Emperor’s mind was ticking. The young man was definitely in deep over Meili. Whether it was deep enough for what he had planned for him, only time would tell.

"May I join the farewell parade tomorrow, My Lord?"

"It depends how well you play Tiger Roaring & Dragon Howling for me tonight. And I want you to make me some pineapple cakes tomorrow."

"I would do both of those things to the very best of my abilities for you anyway, Lord, but thank you," she looked down at her wrist that he still held firmly, looking back into his eyes in question.

What he saw there were only two deep pools of gentle care and admiration for him, without a hint of flirtation or desire to attract him.

He dropped her wrist with annoyance, his ego smarting.

Not only was she not developing any feelings for him as a young woman might be expected to, but she clearly had no ambition to secure his affections and all of the power and material wealth that would be hers if she did.

He didn’t know whether to be pleased by this or upset by it.

He supposed this was the result of the way her parents had raised her. She was very pure and incorruptible. Both qualities he valued in his aides, he thought sourly.

There would be time enough for affection to grow depending on what happened in the northern campaign.

Meili started to play a lilting tune on the guqin that spoke of sadness and partings.

He registered with resentment that the song was about young master Bai, but before he could complain to her, he was swept away by the emotion of the song, remembering his own parting from his beloved wife.

Soon enough, the Emperor was lost in dreams of his departed wife as the music swirled through his head and became the soundtrack to his dreams.

When Meili was sure he was asleep she looked over at Feng Bao, and he nodded to her that she could stop playing for the evening.

She retired to her bed and picked up her sewing basket, working steadily by the light of a single candle so as not to disturb the Emperor’s slumber.

She was sewing Li a helmet liner to keep his head warm and protected in the north. She had made the inside from a soft brushed cotton and lined it with goose feather to provide both padding and insulation.

It was almost dawn when she finally changed into her sleeping gown and blew out the candle.

A scant few hours later, she rose to attend the Emperor as he prepared for court.

When his clothing and hair were perfect she reminded him, "don’t forget I will be seeing off Commander Bai at the farewell parade while you are in court this morning".

"Yes, yes," he grumped. "I’ll be standing on the walls of the Palace to see the troops off myself. Why don’t you just join me there?"

"I’d prefer to be in the crowd on the street, Lord. I’m hoping to hand him something I made to keep him warm in the north."

"An intimate gift. Aren’t you getting ahead of yourself? I haven’t agreed to your betrothal to Commander Bai, Meili," he chided.

"I know Lord. It’s not a gift that would be exchanged between an engaged couple. It’s simply a gift from a friend to a friend who’s leaving for war," she reminded him of the danger that lay ahead for the Commander, knowing it would play to her Lord’s admiration for military men who were going into battle, just as he himself had participated in many campaigns.

He relented, admiring her little ploy. "Remember, there is no such thing as a simple friendship between you and a young unmarried man, Meili."

"Yes, Lord," she said noncommittally.

He rolled his eyes at her stubbornness.

"Off you go then."

She didn’t wait for him to change his mind, scampering out of the bedchamber, Tricky on her heels.

"Fickle-hearted girl," he pouted, "and she’s taken my dog with her".

Feng Bao’s lips curled up in a small smile, knowing his Lord would never have let the girl go if it didn’t further his plans.

Commander Bai stood directly under the palace walls on Rishi, waiting for the Emperor to appear and farewell the troops.

By the time His Majesty had made his way to the gatehouse, the crowd along their route out of the capital had swelled to huge numbers, and not much could be heard over the roar of people.

Finally the Emperor stood above them. He raised his hands for quiet, and the people hushed as their sovereign shouted his words of farewell to the troops.

"You bear the fate of the People and this Kingdom on your shoulders. Go with our thanks and do your utmost to bring us honour and glory on the battlefield. Fight with everything you have, do not give up your life lightly, follow your leaders’ orders unquestioningly, if you do all of these things you will have brought honour to yourself, your family and your kingdom. Farewell, and may the fates smile upon you all and bring us a great victory."

Commander Bai stood serious and unsmiling. He nodded his thanks to his Lord.

The Emperor looked him straight in the eye and nodded back, a reminder to the man of the promise he had made to follow every order that arrived at the front for him, whatever it might be.

The Commander and his lieutenants turned their horses, and the drummers and trumpeters commenced playing a rousing marching beat for the troops’ exit from the city.

The crowd started to roar and surge in response to the inspirational music and the mighty sight of their army.

The Emperor watched the heaving mass with some concern. That looked dangerous for women and children, and Meili was probably in that knot of people somewhere.

He motioned to his Captain of the Palace Guards. "Send some more guards to stand along the route and manage the crowds. It’s getting out-of-control."

"Yes, Majesty," the man bowed and ran off.

Meanwhile, Bai Li had had the same thought as the Emperor. Seeing as Meili wasn’t on the ramparts with the Emperor, she was likely to be in this unruly crowd somewhere.

His eyes roamed through the teaming mass of people with concern, hunting for her familiar beautiful face.

He saw Tricky before he saw Meili.