Sharing a Pavilion With You
Chapter 151: Sofya’s Arranged Marriage

Chapter 151: Sofya’s Arranged Marriage

Meili sat at the scribe’s table in the Emperor’s chambers. She opened the scroll she had just received from Sofya, looking forward to reading the happy girl’s cheerful chatter, which always lifted her mood.

My dear Meili,

I am sending this note to you before I head off to join your brother at the military camp. Yes, you heard me right – I’m sneaking off to the frontline of this war.

I received some terrible news yesterday... my Khan Father plans to marry me off to a prince from a neighbouring tribe to build an alliance he needs. I told him absolutely not. I know Prince Dayan, and he’s an uncouth and beastly womaniser. Father and I had a big fight and now I’m heading off with Terbish, my maid. My childhood friend Esen (the one I’ve told you so much about), wanted to come with me but I wouldn’t let him. Father would punish him severely if he joined me and I couldn’t live with that!

Don’t worry about anything, we’re disguised as men and we’re both better fighters than most men! Though I wish I had a Tricky-Wu of my own, he’s the best bodyguard ever!

Wish me luck with your First Brother and keep my in your prayers.

Ever your friend,

Sofya.

Oh my God! Meili covered her mouth with her hand. What had the silly girl gone and done?

Tears sprang to Meili’s eyes. What if something awful happened to her friend on her dangerous journey to the frontline?

Oh Sofya... why? Couldn’t she just have held out and refused to marry the man? Whatever happened to the first line tactic of wheedling and crying to change your father’s mind?

And Sofya didn’t know First very well if she thought he would be convinced to go against the Khan for a flippant reason like romantic love...

Oh dear, oh dear! she wrung her hands helplessly. What could she do?

She must write to First and forewarn him! She checked the date on the letter. It was written four days ago; she saw with alarm. Sofya might already be there by now, assuming she hadn’t met with some difficulty on the way.

Nevertheless, she must try to help in some way.

Meili quickly ground some ink, penning a short note to her eldest brother.

Dear Gege,

I hope this letter finds you and my second brother and Bai Li all safe and well. Your first victory was wonderful news and very happily received by the Emperor.

I have some urgent and unfortunate news for you, which you might already know because the letter I received from Sofya is dated four days ago.

She is coming to look for you. Her Khan Father has mandated a marriage to a neighbouring tribe’s prince.

I suspect it won’t come as a surprise to you when I say that she has feelings for you.

I won’t dare to try and provide any advice to you gege, I simply wanted to forewarn you before her arrival, assuming she arrives safely, and to ask you to send out a search party for her if she hasn’t yet arrived safely.

I pray that it’s not the latter, for I know you care for her as much as I do, if not more, ge.

Your loving meimei.

Meili rushed to have her message to First added to the Emperor’s daily messages that went by pigeon to the frontline.

She suspected that the Emperor would read the letter, but that couldn’t be helped.

Knowing Sofya and her open nature, she may well already have told her Father who she had lost her heart to...

First would be mortified if Sofya had told the Khan about him. He took his duty to his family so seriously. Being accused of seducing the Grasslands’ Princess would be a black mark against his name and honour, which he valued so highly.

Meili found that she was silently crying.

There could be no winners in what was about to play out, and that was assuming that Sofya made it to Bai Li’s camp in one piece... The alternative didn’t bear thinking about...

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"A message for you by pigeon from the palace, Sir," an aide handed Mei Renlong a small bamboo tube, before bowing and marching off.

First unfolded the message from his sister, reading it quickly from top to bottom, then stopping to read it more slowly all over again.

His heart dropped. There was no sign of Sofya in the camp, and it seemed she had left her home at least four or five days ago. She should be here by now, shouldn’t she?

He dropped the message into the brazier and left to find Commander Bai immediately.

"Commander," First was breathless from running, "Princess Sofya has run away from home and is on her way here with just a maid to protect her. She left more than four days ago so she should be here by now. Permission to take a handful of men and check the roads for her? I’ll return within a day."

Bai Li cursed. "What was she thinking, the silly girl? Doesn’t she realise how dangerous it is in the vicinity of a war zone?"

"It seems not, Commander," said First ruefully.

"And why did she leave home in the first place?" Bai Li growled, upset to be losing his talented strategist, and worried for the princess.

"The Khan tried to force a marriage on her with a neighbouring prince."

"He has every right to do so. Disobedient girl," Bai Li’s brows were lowered. "I suppose she thinks you’ll save her? What’s she expecting? That you can elope while you’re on campaign? That you’ll offend the Khan and the Emperor by marrying her?"

"I know, I know. She hasn’t thought things through at all. Her head is probably filled with those stories she reads. But for now, I just need to make sure she’s safe."

"Yes. Go, go! I’ll send word to the Khan and ask him to send some of his men to collect her."

Mei Renlong nodded firmly at Bai Li, bowing before he turned and strode out of the tent.

"You and you!" he called to two soldiers walking past. "Come with me," he ordered. "You’re on an important assignment!"

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