Sharing a Pavilion With You
Chapter 148: The Crown Prince is Mobbed

Chapter 148: The Crown Prince is Mobbed

"Mei Meili," the Crown Prince called to her as the carriage finally came to a halt.

She pulled the curtain aside and peered out of the carriage window.

Finally! Purple Cloud Temple.

It felt like such a long time since she had last visited. So much had happened since that young, veiled girl had been here, accompanied by all five of her brothers. Back then it had felt like the most exciting trip ever, being allowed out of the house to go somewhere, anywhere was wonderful!

She climbed out of the carriage box, Tricky touching his nose to her calf, gently letting her know he was there and coming too.

The Crown Prince waited to help her down, offering her his hand once again.

She nodded her thanks, climbing down from the platform and releasing the Prince’s hand as soon as she politely could.

If she thought releasing his hand quickly would deter him, she was vastly underestimating his determination, he thought with amusement.

The Prince stuck close by her side as he chaperoned her up the temple steps and into the complex.

They were only halfway up the steep staircase when Meili heard the comments and whispers start.

"Oh Lord! There’s the Crown Prince!"

"Is that him? Look how handsome he is!"

"I hear he only has the one wife so far. He’s yet to take any concubines."

"Really? Tee hee hee," a slip of a girl tittered from behind her hand.

Meili watched the girl’s cheeks turn pink at the thought of becoming the Crown Prince’s concubine.

"Let’s hurry back so mother can make an introduction for us," called a tall girl with a narrow face.

"Who’s that girl by his side? Is that his wife?" a chubby faced girl pointed at her, not bothering to keep her voice down.

"No it can’t be, she’s wearing a court uniform. She probably works for him," her friend said dismissively.

Meili wondered if these young girls were aware that the Prince could hear every word they spoke.

Their voices carried in the still mountain air without the usual bustle of the capital to shield them. Then again, perhaps they didn’t care if he could hear them, she reflected.

She should have remembered that this temple was always filled with young noblewomen from the capital. There was a shrine to Yuelao here, and unmarried girls would come to pray to him for a happy marriage.

Meili looked across at the Crown Prince, a little smile curving her lips mischievously.

"It appears you’re very popular with the young unmarried women of the capital, Crown Prince," she teased him.

He lowered his brow in response, looking grumpy.

As they reached the top of the stairs and walked through the temple gates into the large front courtyard, the Crown Prince was suddenly flocked by a huge group of young women who appeared from every doorway and entry point into the courtyard.

Word of his visit had obviously spread quickly...

Meili gave a wicked giggle from behind her hand and took the opportunity to become part of the crowd, weaving her way through the clamouring young women until she managed to push her way right through them and out the other side into the open space.

She didn’t look back at the Prince where he was trapped by the girls, instead, she hurried into the shrine to Guan Yu where she intended to pray for the safe return of Bai Li and her brothers.

As she tripped quickly away with Tricky at her side, she could hear the Crown Prince struggling with the crowd. His men were trying to step in front of him to protect him, but he was shouting orders for them to step back.

It would be most unfitting if word reached the capital that he had his guards push and jostle these rich young daughters.

"Crown Prince, Crown Prince, what brings you here today?"

"Crown Prince, may I introduce my daughter, Chu Chun Hua."

"Crown Prince, congratulations on your investiture, please accept this amulet as a token of goodwill from the Ji family."

It would take him at least an hour to free himself from that crowd of adoring women, Meili thought with secret happiness.

She sighed with relief. This would give her a chance to pray in peace, without him watching over her like a hawk.

She hastened straight into the shrine for the God of War.

It was quiet and echoey inside the dark room of the temple, there was only one other worshiper.

In the vast space, only the statue of the God himself was well-lit, with everything else shrouded in shadows.

The statue was of a fierce-looking man with a long beard, seated with an attendant on each side. His green robes over his armour were bright, decorated in all the colours of the rainbow. His face and hands were red, and he carried a huge guandao blade on his back.

The god looked very dignified and majestic, she decided. Just right to help her brothers and Li prevail over their enemies.

She took some incense sticks and lit them, before bowing three times before the statue, then kneeling on a flat pillow to pray.

After quite some time immersed in silent prayer, she noticed the soft murmur of whispered prayer from the person kneeling beside her, and she looked across surreptitiously.

A young girl of around her age was bent over praying fervently.

She must have sensed Meili’s gaze, because she stopped praying and turned to look curiously back at Meili.

Meili flushed to be caught staring so rudely.

"My apologies, Miss," she said to the girl. "I didn’t mean to interrupt your prayers."

The girl smiled shyly at her. "That’s quite alright. I was just about to finish praying and visit the monks for some amulets."

"Oh. I plan to do exactly the same. Shall we go together?"

The girl nodded, looking up at Meili through long lashes, her head ducked timidly.

Meili thought how softly pretty she was, with round doe-like black eyes and creamy white skin.

Both of the girls stood up stiffly after so long kneeling. A maidservant ran forward to assist her young mistress to her feet.

The girl looked around curiously for Meili’s chaperone. She was clearly a young noble woman dressed in palace clothing, so she wouldn’t be here unattended, she knew.

"My chaperone got caught up in the first courtyard," Meili explained with a happy smile. "It seems he still hasn’t managed to extricate himself."

Her new friend smile conspiratorially at her.

"And you don’t seem too unhappy about it."

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