Sharing a Pavilion With You
Chapter 170: A Pretty Distraction

Chapter 170: A Pretty Distraction

[Suggested song for this Chapter - Selfless, The Strokes]

As the army rushed back towards the capital, Bai Li found himself completely and utterly distracted by Meili’s presence in the column of men.

When he turned back to look at her for the fifteenth time, Ju Rong couldn’t help himself.

"Commander, I’m worried about your neck. It must be getting sore with all that twisting to gaze at Miss Mei," he teased the man.

Bai Li glared at him.

"Are you looking for a demotion, Lieutenant? I can think of plenty of jobs you could get on with if you have nothing better to do than mocking others. Helping drag that siege engine free, for instance..."

The two men looked back at the cart carrying the siege engine. The huge wagon was some distance behind them. and it had become bogged. Men were shovelling mud from the base of the wheels trying to free it, covering themselves in mud in the process.

"Sorry, sorry Commander! I misspoke," Ju Rong swatted at his lips to show he was punishing himself for his careless words. "What I meant was, perhaps it would be a wise idea to bring Miss Mei and her fifth brother up here, closer to the front of the column and to us, so that we can keep an eye on our noble civilian guests and make sure they arrive back at the Mei Mansion safely?"

"Hm," Bai Li pretended to consider the suggestion for a moment before responding, "yes Lieutenant. That’s a sound suggestion. I’ll leave it with you to bring Miss Mei and her brother forwards to ride alongside us where we can ensure their safety."

Ju Rong nodded purposefully. The small smile tugging at the corners of his mouth was quickly suppressed when his Commander’s eagle eyes spotted it, and Bai Li’s frown deepened.

"Yaah!" Ju Rong kicked his stallion and galloped back down the winding column of men towards where Meili and her three youngest brothers were riding.

He immediately saw that the eyes of all of the surrounding soldiers were glued to Miss Mei, as she talked animatedly with her Third and Fourth Brothers, catching them up on everything that had happened.

The soldiers hadn’t seen a woman for quite some time now, and Miss Mei was such a beautiful woman... Ju Rong understood that it was a double whammy of eye candy. It had resulted in so many slack-jawed oglers that the scene reminded him of a mouse that had turned up at a cattery.

Mei Meili appeared to be completely oblivious to the fact that she was acting as the balm for so many sets of eyes.

Ju Rong didn’t have the heart to scold the men. They all knew she was the Commander’s woman, and their admiring looks lacked any malice or bad intent. In fact, he could see that her presence was cheering the men up after the unhappy news that there was more fighting ahead of them... so he let them be.

"Miss Mei," the Lieutenant addressed her respectfully. "The Commander requests you and your Fifth Brother join us up at the front of the column. As we approach the capital, the dangers we face will increase, and we must ensure you two civilians are returned unharmed."

"Thank you for your thoughtfulness, Lieutenant Ju," Meili smiled at the man who she knew was the right hand of her future husband.

Ju Rong was momentarily dazzled. He grinned like a simpleton for a few seconds, before shaking his head to clear the daze, collecting himself.

"May I bring Third and Fourth?" she requested of him.

"No Meili," replied Third quickly, before the Lieutenant could reply. "We’re serving in the army, and that wouldn’t be appropriate. Thank the Commander for looking after our sister for us, Lieutenant," said Third formally.

Ju Rong nodded at the military strategist, before turning his horse to lead the way back to the Commander.

When they reached Bai Li, Meili inclined her head prettily him; "Commander Bai, thank you for thinking of my brother and I. We appreciate your kindness while you’re preparing for such a huge undertaking."

He kept his face impassive, but his eyes twinkled at her.

"Miss Mei. Stay close to the Lieutenant and me. The situation will get highly dangerous and unpredictable from here on."

"Yes, Commander," she nodded, her eyes wide with concern, "we’ll be close on your heels. But don’t worry about us, we won’t bother you. We know how busy you are."

Meili was desperate not to distract Bai Li during this crisis. She was determined to keep a low profile and not to bother him and her eldest brother while they made their preparations for the attack on the palace.

Bai Li, meanwhile, was perfectly content now that his beloved was within arms’ reach. His heart, that he hadn’t realised was disquieted, was now beating steadily again.

He shifted his complete focus back to the discussions he was having with First and Rong as they rushed to finalise their scenario planning for the various possibilities that might confront them on their return to the capital.

When the column stopped for a short meal break at midday, Bai Li looked up to see that Mei Sunren and Meili had dismounted and were disappearing into the bamboo forest together.

He thought that perhaps her Fifth Brother was accompanying her to stand guard while she found somewhere private to answer the call of nature, but when they didn’t return within a few minutes, Bai Li’s anxiety levels spiked again. He dropped his rice bowl and chopsticks and strode off into the forest, following their tracks.

When he caught a flash of Meili’s blue dress up ahead, he stopped abruptly and turned his back, not wanting to surprise her engaged in anything private.

But then Bai Li heard the soft but unmistakeable sound of Meili sobbing, and he quickly turned back to face her, ducking behind a clump of bamboo and peering towards her through the thin trunks.

He could see Meili kneeling before a grave marked by a round cairn. It looked fresh and new. Mei Sunren stood behind her, a hand on her shoulder, patting her while she cried...