Sharing a Pavilion With You
Chapter 26: Useless Cobwebs & Girlish Daydreams

Chapter 26: Useless Cobwebs & Girlish Daydreams

As Meili gradually found her confidence again, Fourth left to join the other two men, while she and Tricky trotted about together making poultice’s for Tufei’s bites. He had two very large welts on his hindquarters.

"They must be very itchy Tuufy," she said to him soothingly, stroking his ears. "This will help them to feel better," she gently applied the mixture thickly across his wounds, blowing on them just like Bai Li had done for her.

She looked shyly across at the man who had saved her. He was deep in conversation with her brothers. Cold-faced and serious as always, but she’d seen another side to him now, and she knew him to be a gentle and kind man.

She blushed and blinked rapidly when she remembered that he had removed her top. Bai Li felt her stare and looked across at her, taking in her red cheeks with a flash of understanding.

He had wondered how long it would take her to feel this way about what had happened between them.

He raised his eyebrows slightly at her, his gaze deepening, and a predatory glint appeared in his stare.

Her eyes widened and she covered her mouth, quickly turning from him.

He allowed himself the satisfaction of a small smirk before returning to the plans he and the two Mei brothers were settling.

"Come over here Miss Mei," he called, as the men finished up their tense conversation.

"When we return to the royal camp," Bai Li spoke seriously to her, "stay as close to the truth as possible. There’ll be less chance for slip-ups that way. You can speak of everything that happened, except that you and I were alone for hours."

She looked down quickly, flushing.

"The story is that your third and fourth brothers turned up just behind me. It was Mei Renjun that treated your wound, not me," he indicated her third brother.

Her blush deepened and she stared hesitantly at her feet.

"Mei Meili, are you paying attention?" he asked. "This is important. It concerns your reputation."

"Yes, Commander Bai," she said formally. She took a deep breath and looked up at him watchfully. "It was my Third Brother who treated me, not you," she held his gaze.

"Good," he nodded in approval, "and your brothers were also here with you all night, until daybreak".

"Yes, we were never alone," she said coolly now.

"Don’t slip up," he warned her, "not with anyone".

"Understood, Commander Bai."

Hmmph, he thought, back to that again and being standoffish, after what they’d just been through!

Meili suspected that the man was more concerned for his own reputation than hers. If the truth were to come out, he would definitely have to marry her.

She supposed, truth be told, that would be bad for both of them. For him, who would have to relegate his love to the status of a concubine, and for her who would be the unloved wife of a future general.

Thinking of it hurt more than she had expected.

She straightened her shoulders and lifted her chin. A man like this was not for her, she thought resolutely. She mustn’t allow herself to feel anything for him beyond friendship, if he even had any interest in friendship with a girl like her.

Now that she thought on it, that was an impossibility also. The man was an army commander for goodness sake, the son and heir of General Bai. His friends were her tactician brothers and the second prince of the realm. What could he possibly share in common with her, a girl raised in the inner courtyards. Guqin? Dancing? Hah!

She’d better let go of that notion as soon as possible. Such a man of duty would be kind to her as a sign of respect to the Mei family. The last thing she wanted was to be a burden to him.

She shook her head, trying to clear it of useless cobwebs and girlish daydreams. She must stay grounded to reality!

Bai Li watched the girl’s thoughts flash across her artless face. What they were he had absolutely no idea, but he was sure that they were both beyond him, and misguided.

Before they mounted their horses, Third Brother took his hairpin from his top knot and placed it in Meili’s hair, handing Bai Li back his own hairpin and taking the freshly whittled one for himself.

"There," he said, "we’re all set. Let’s head back to the royal camp."

Before the rescue party had made it all the way back to camp, the other Mei brothers spotted them and joined them some distance out.

After a joyful reunion with their sister and a briefing from Commander Bai, First Brother pushed Meili to return home immediately.

"I’m fine First Brother. Please don’t make me go home early. I’ll see the doctor back at camp. Let’s not decide before we see what he says?"

"Alright," agreed First reluctantly. He couldn’t bear to add to her unhappiness after what she’d just been through.

Fifth was dispatched to walk alongside Meili up ahead, leaving the other four brothers free for serious discussions with Bai Li.

Fifth made sure they were far enough ahead of the group so they couldn’t be overheard. None of them wanted their meimei to be more frightened than she had already been.

Manni was waiting anxiously at the edge of camp, and she came running out to meet her mistress. She burst into tears when she saw her looking pale but healthy, practically dragging her off Tufei’s back.

She hustled her away from the men, shepherding her back to her tent, helped by Tricky who wanted the same thing.

"Make sure she’s checked by a physician Manni," called First before they disappeared.

"Yes, Young Master. I’ll report to you as soon as he’s visited."

First nodded seriously. "Any issues and you’re going home meimei," he muttered.

Meili overheard him. "Yes gege. I’m fine now though, don’t worry. The worst is over," she shouted cheerfully, waving back at him.

First’s eyes crinkled to see her bouncing back to her usual sunny self.