Sharing a Pavilion With You
Chapter 142: Tan Bowen Leaves for Shanxi

Chapter 142: Tan Bowen Leaves for Shanxi

A maidservant took a lantern and opened the huge doors to Princess Lingling’s courtyard, peering out through the gap.

"The Emperor’s guards have arrived!" she called quickly, as a large number of armed guards swarmed into the courtyard, almost knocking her down in their hurry.

This was an unusual event. Normally only eunuchs were allowed in the inner courtyards.

The Crown Prince and his sister exchanged a concerned look. It seemed their Father was going to pull rank. And he hadn’t wasted any time finding out where Yicai had taken Meili...

"I’m sorry to interrupt, Crown Prince, Princess," said the Commander of the guards. "I have orders from the Emperor to find Court Lady Mei and return her to his chambers immediately."

"She needs a physician urgently, and we have one coming already," said the Crown Prince sternly.

"Crown Prince," his sister laid a calming hand on his arm. "I am certain our Emperor Father also plans to have Miss Mei treated straight away."

"But she will have to be taken all the way there first and the delay..."

"Gege," the Princess interrupted him, looking warningly into his eyes.

"I must carry her there then," he said stubbornly, making his way back into the bedroom to lift Mei Meili from the bed.

"I can walk! I can walk!" Meili cried out in alarm, as the Crown Prince approached her.

She had heard the conversation outside the room, and she was definitely not willing to be carried into the Emperor’s chambers by the married Crown Prince!

"Don’t be concerned, your Highness," called the Commander from outside the bedroom. "We have a palanquin waiting for Court Lady Mei. She won’t be walking anywhere."

"Bring the palanquin inside the courtyard, right to the bottom of the stairs," ordered the Prince peremptorily.

"Yes, your Highness," the Commander turned and instructed his men to carry the palanquin as close as possible to the bedroom the lady was in.

And so it was, that Meili found herself right back where she had started, before the evening had gone so awry.

The Prince had insisted on following the palanquin, while Tricky rode protectively on the seat beside her. The Princess had kindly leant Meili a veil, so she no longer needed to cover her cheek with her hand.

"Thank you Commander," she said, as the Crown Prince helped her off the palanquin, holding her by the elbow as he shepherded her inside his Father’s chambers.

"Court Lady Mei has returned, Lord," called Feng Bao, "along with the Crown Prince... and Tricky-Wu," he added, knowing how much his Lord loved that dog.

Feng Bao nodded at Meili and gave her a welcoming smile, "it’s good to see you back where you belong, Miss Mei. It looks as though your injuries are not too severe?"

"Thank you Chief Eunuch. I’m fine. Just a little shaken."

The Emperor strode towards them dressed in his night clothes.

"What are you doing here at this hour, son? Get back to your palace now, or people will talk. Meili, take off that veil and show me your face," he ordered.

"She needs a physician, Emperor Father."

"There’s one on the way already," he snapped.

"May I brief you before I leave," Yicai asked respectfully.

"Only if you have something new to tell me," the Emperor scowled. "We know Miss Mei was wrongfully apprehended by some of your elder brother’s men. He’s already been questioned, and he says he ’just wanted to have her come and dance for him’. The appropriateness of that request without her approval or mine, is a matter you can leave to the Jinyiwei to investigate, son."

Meili had removed her veil, and the Emperor moved closer to them both, peering down at her damaged cheek. His scowl deepened.

"I’m certain Haoran did not authorise his man to slap the very woman he apparently wished to dance for him. Crown Prince, I’ll leave the punishment of the four miscreants to you after the investigation concludes."

"Thank you, Emperor Father," said the Prince with barely suppressed delight.

"The Royal physician has arrived," called Feng Bao.

"Show him in," replied the Emperor. "Meili. Sit on your bed so he can attend to your face and reduce that swelling. Son, goodnight. We’ve got this from here, thank you."

Yicai bowed to his Father.

"Goodnight Miss Mei," he said, somewhat wistfully, watching as his Father shepherded the girl away, with the physician following behind the pair.

Meili stopped briefly and turned towards him.

"Goodnight, Crown Prince. Thank you for your assistance this evening," she curtsied, flashing him a sweet smile before she turned away.

He found himself nodding and smiling like a dill in return, with nobody there to be smiling at.

He shook himself to clear his head and turned on his heel, leaving his Father’s rooms. He could hear the man doting on Tricky as he left, praising the dog and offering him treats, while making sure Meili listened to the physician.

He felt a sudden hollowness inside, like the three of them were a small, close family, from which he was being excluded...

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Tan Bowen met Meili in the same pavilion where he had asked her to leave the palace with him.

It struck him that once again she had been endangered by staying here, just as he had warned her. He reached out towards her bruised cheek, dropping his hand just before he touched her.

He cleared his throat and plastered a bright smile onto his face. He didn’t want a repeat of his last disastrous conversation with her.

"This is a farewell gift from me, Mei Meili," he handed her a rolled-up scroll tied with a ribbon.

"What do you mean farewell, Tan Bowen?" she asked him with alarm, sensing that his smile was a little forced. "Where are you going? This is the first I’ve heard of you leaving the capital."

"I’m taking your advice, Mei Meili. I’ve offered up my services for the war to Bai Li, and he has accepted me. I can’t tell you what I’ll be doing, because it’s top secret. But it’s important work for the war effort."

"Tan Bowen!" she exclaimed. "I hope you’ve done this for yourself, not because of what I said. But it’s a brave and honourable step you’re taking. I’m proud of you. I wish you’d told me before you came here. I haven’t prepared a farewell gift for you," she said with regret.

"How could you? You didn’t know I was leaving."

She unfurled the scroll and gave a sigh of delight. It was a beautiful painting of a man and a woman on a boat in a lotus lake.

"Is that us, Tan Bowen?" she smiled dreamily, remembering that perfect summer day on the lake.

He seemed to have painted her as rather too beautiful, but she supposed some poetic licence must be allowed to the artiste.

He nodded, "it’s so you don’t forget me while I’m away in Pingyao."

He covered his mouth. "I don’t think I was meant to say where I’m going... Oh well, it’s only you Mei Meili, who I’d trust with my life. Don’t tell anyone my destination, will you?"

She shook her head with a knowing smile.

"I’m not off to a great start keeping my mouth shut, am I?" he looked upset with himself.

"Never mind, Tan Bowen, it’s a sign you’re not duplicitous. That’s a good thing."

"Generally, yes. But not so much for a man of mystery who’s meant to be carrying out daring feats of espionage."

A shadow passed over the sun and Meili felt a little sliver of fear.

She hoped that was not an omen for Tan Bowen’s grand undertaking. After all, the man was like a little slice of sunshine... He was not built to operate in the shadows.

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