Sharing a Pavilion With You
Chapter 179: Father-in-Law!

Chapter 179: Father-in-Law!

Bai Li leapt off his horse and strode up the steps of the Mei Mansion.

"Commander Bai," bowed a servant at the doors. "Who are you here to see, Sir?"

"Lord Mei. Please announce me."

"I’m afraid Lord Mei just left for the palace, Commander Sir. A palace eunuch came earlier and summoned him to an audience with the Crown Prince."

"What! When did he leave?" Bai Li half shouted, and the servant jumped.

"A...about ten minutes ago, S...Sir," the poor man stammered.

Without another word, Bai Li ran down the steps and leapt onto Rishi’s back, missing the last two steps entirely. Turning the horse on a dime, he kicked him into a fast gallop.

"Sir! Sir! Wait! Is anything wrong?" called the servant. "Quick! Run and tell the Madam what just happened!" he ordered a young boy sweeping the entry courtyard.

If Bai Li had cantered carefully through the streets on his way to the Mei Mansion, it could only be said that he galloped wildly as he left the mansion, following the most commonly used route back towards the palace.

"Move! Move!" he roared in warning as Rishi sped through the crowded streets. He leaned left and right and ducked his head as the horse dodged people, carts and market stalls.

Bai Li kept his eyes trained up ahead, looking for any sign of the yellow and white Mei livery. Nothing... Nothing... Nothing...

"Dammit!" he cursed.

Where was the man? He surely couldn’t have travelled this far already if he took a carriage. He should have asked that servant if their Lord left on horseback or not. What if he’d taken a different route? Maybe he was using the quieter backroads to avoid the crowds that were flooding out onto the streets with the news that the Rebellion had been crushed.

Bai Li reached the gates to the palace. Still so sign of Lord Mei!

Should he double-back and try another route, or head into the palace in case the man had already arrived?

This seemingly innocuous decision could have huge ramifications for his future, he knew.

He took a deep breath, calming himself. He would try the palace first, he decided. If Lord Mei hadn’t arrived yet he could still head back out and waylay him at the gates.

On seeing it was the Commander, the guards at the gates quickly stepped aside to let him through.

"Has Lord Mei arrived at the palace?" he called to them as he galloped past.

"Yes, Commander. He’s just up ahead," one of the guards called out to the Commander’s retreating back.

Thank God. It sounded like he hadn’t reached the throne room yet then...

Bai Li spotted Meili’s father up ahead, about to pass through the Dacheng Gate.

"Lord Mei!" he shouted loudly and flushed as he did so; most uncouth and very out of character.

Lord Mei thought he heard someone call his name. He hesitated and looked around.

Seconds later, the thundering hooves of Rishi announced Bai Li’s arrival at the Dacheng gate.

Commander Bai slid to the cobbles and walked coolly towards the man he hoped to call Father-in-Law, as though he hadn’t just been riding like a crazy man through the streets of the capital...

"Commander Bai," Lord Mei nodded politely at him. "Have you come to speak with the Crown Prince too?" the man tried to usher Bai Li through the side gate.

"No Lord, I went to your mansion to see you, and when I realised you were here, I came straight to the palace. I have something important I wish to discuss with you."

Lord Mei looked curiously at him. "Can it wait until after I speak to the Crown Prince? I’ve been formally summoned at this late hour, so it must be something important."

"It’s probably the same topic I want to speak to you about," Bai Li muttered to himself.

"What?"

"Nothing, Lord," Bai Li cleared his throat to cover his mutterings. "This can’t wait, I’m afraid, Lord Mei. It won’t take a minute, and you can carry straight on to the throne room. Here," without further ado and not giving Lord Mei the chance to refuse him, he thrust the scroll containing the Emperor’s marriage grant into Mei Tian Yun’s hands.

"What’s this?" the man asked him distractedly, urgently desiring to comply with the future Emperor’s summons.

"Please read it, Lord. It’s an Imperial Order, and it relates to Mei Meili."

On hearing his daughter’s name was in the Order, Lord Mei quickly opened the scroll. His eyes widened as he took in its contents. Bai Li watched the man’s expression intently, trying to read his reaction.

"When did the Emperor grant this marriage?" he asked.

"He drafted it and gave it to Mei Meili on the morning of the Rebellion," replied Bai Li.

"Is the Crown Prince aware of its existence?"

"Not yet, Lord. I wanted to inform you first. I was hoping to get the approval of you and Lady Yu. I know you wanted Mei Meili and I to take some time to get to know each other before the concubine selections. Well... the concubine selections are trumped by this, and Mei Meili and I have spent plenty of time together now. This is what we both want, Lord."

Lord Mei gave him a small smile, almost hidden by his beard. "Is that so? My wife thought Meili had chosen you. Woman’s intuition and all," he tapped the side of his nose.

He didn’t mention that his wife had also chosen Bai Li.

"She has, Lord."

"And she’s told you that herself, has she?"

"Yes, Lord. She has told me. Nothing improper, just a desire from both of us to be married, knowing it’s also what both of our parents want."

"It is! It is indeed, young Commander Bai. I’m very happy to hear this news!" he slapped the younger man on the shoulder heartily. "And I’m extremely happy to see the Emperor’s seal on a grant of marriage. What a relief," he exhaled heavily. "Yu Yan will be so happy when she hears this news. She has been very anxious about the palace harem. Good lad! Good lad!"

Now Lord Mei really beamed at him.

"Now, I really must go and see what the Crown Prince wants. Wait for me and we can discuss this in more detail on my way home," he handed Bai Li back the marriage grant.

"Yes, Father-in-Law," Bai Li’s heart soared as those long hoped for words finally crossed his lips. "I think you should be aware that the Crown Prince is likely to ask you for Mei Meili’s hand in marriage too. You should keep this on you. Show it to him."

"Oh ho! You want me to be the bearer of such bad news to our future Emperor, do you lad?"

"I’m happy to deliver the news myself, Father-in-Law. Just say the word. I’m also carrying the letter naming him as the heir."

"No, no. This is best left to me, as Mei Meili’s father. There’s not much he can do now though, even if he is the next Emperor. He can’t very well ignore the dying wish of his own Father now, can he?"

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