Sharing a Pavilion With You
Chapter 71: A Deep Fate

Chapter 71: A Deep Fate

Meili was dressed in her birthday finery, awaiting the arrival of her friends at the Mei mansion to celebrate her seventeenth birthday dinner.

She was filled with nervous excitement. Of course she had always loved her birthdays. Being spoilt rotten by her five brothers and her mother and father, what was not to love? But this birthday was going to be particularly special; thanks to Sofya, all of her friends should be in attendance.

It would be entirely new for her to have her very own friends come by the mansion to help her celebrate turning a year older.

She suddenly hoped they could all make it, and that she wasn’t deceiving herself thinking they would turn up just for her.

Well, at least she could count on Sofya being there, she thought, and almost certainly Tan Bowen would make the effort. Just the two of them would already be more than enough for her. Meili’s happy excitement was instantly restored.

Just as Sofya had predicted, the grasslands princess had managed to extract her mother’s approval, and Sofya had been teaching her a grasslands dance for the evening’s celebrations.

She had been having such fun learning the new type of dancing. It wasn’t too dissimilar to the flower lantern dance she had done at the Palace; it just involved a bit more use of the stomach. She looked forward to performing it after dinner.

"Princess Sofya and Prince Nur," announced a servant in the front courtyard where Meili waited to greet her guests.

Meili’s prettily made-up eyebrows flew up in surprise. Prince Nur!? At her birthday! Really?

Sofya ran up to Meili, ignoring all etiquette and gave her a birthday hug.

"Happy seventeenth birthday, Mei Meili," she cried with delight.

"Thank you, your highness," Meili smiled gratefully at her.

"No ’your highness’ing’, just Sofya as usual."

"But your brother," whispered Meili, gesturing at the Prince.

"Oh, he doesn’t care for such things, do you ge?" she dragged her brother over to be properly introduced to her friend. "This is my dear friend, Mei Meili. Meili, this is my gege, Prince Nur."

"I believe we have seen each other on a number of occasions, Miss Mei, but never been formally introduced."

Meili curtseyed to the prince.

"It’s so lovely to meet you, your highness. Sofya has told me many stories about you and your brave exploits."

The prince looked affectionately at his younger sister, reaching out to wrap an arm around her.

Meili envied their lack of formality with one another.

"She’s full of tall tales, this girl, don’t believe everything she tells you."

"Oh but I do your highness," Meili said, her eyes wide. "Sofya is the most lovely person. She would never lie to me."

"Well we’re in agreement that she’s the most lovely person, anyway," he teased his meimei.

"Ge!" Sofya protested.

"Prince Nur, have you met my brothers?" Meili took the prince across to where her brothers stood and formally introduced them.

They had met in passing and of course he had played polo against her first and second brothers, but she felt it polite to make formal introductions.

First Brother took Prince Nur under his wing, whisking him away to the dining area.

"Hopefully they can all get over that polo match," Meili whispered to Sofya.

"Men just need to have a drink together and then do some silly things, and all is forgiven," said Sofya dismissively.

"The Second Prince, Prince Zhu Yicai, and Princess Lingling," announced the servant.

Sofya and Meili curtsied to the royal children.

"Princess," Meili clasped her hands in delight, "I had no idea you were coming! Thank you so much for making the effort to join my small celebration. I’m so glad you’re here."

"Thank you for hosting me," the princess said warmly. "Try and keep me away! I was desperate to be here, even if my brother tries to keep you all to himself," she said, eyeing her brother with faux petulance.

"Mei Meili," the Second Prince smiled, "happy birthday".

"Thank you for coming to my party your highness," she said politely. "Prince Nur is already here; he’s gone ahead with my First Brother. Second Brother," she called, "will you show the Princess and the Second Prince through to the dining area?"

Second appeared and whisked the pair away, taking Sofya along with him to keep the princess company.

"Tan Bowen and Tan Wentian," announced the servant.

Tan Wentian too, thought Meili with surprise. Thank goodness mother had had the foresight to massively over-cater.

"Tan Bowen, Tan Wentian," she greeted them happily.

"Many happy returns Mei Meili," said Tan Bowen, bowing to her.

"So formal, Master Tan," she laughed.

"What? It’s a formal occasion. You don’t think I can be formal?"

"Not for long."

"You know my brother well I see, Miss Mei," smiled Tan Wentian.

"You only need to know him a little to know that much, Miss Tan. Welcome to the Mei mansion. Thank you so much for coming to help me celebrate."

"Thank you for hosting us, Miss Mei. I’m very much looking forward to the evening."

"Princess Lingling is already inside with Princess Sofya, Miss Tan. My Fifth Brother will take you both through."

Meili guessed that Bai Li might not be able to make it. He was a commander in the military after all, a very busy man. She waited a few more minutes then turned to leave to join her guests.

"Commander Bai," announced the servant.

Meili flushed with pleasure and returned to her greeting spot.

"Bai Li," she nodded at him shyly.

The last time she had seen him had been on Purple Mountain when he had defended her virtue when the Second Prince was inappropriate.

"I’m not sure I’ve had a chance to properly thank you for protecting me on Purple Mountain. Thank you very much for you care. I felt like one of my brothers was there. It made me feel very safe and protected," she said sincerely.

"Happy Birthday Mei Meili, may all of your wishes come true," said Bai Li. "I hope you don’t view me like a brother," he teased, and she blushed, "and I do feel like I’m stuck on repeat, but I’ve told you how you can repay all of my good deeds".

Meili’s blush deepened, if that was possible, and he smiled a rare smile at her cute predicament.

"We clearly have a deep fate because fate puts us together again and again at just the right moments, Mei Meili."

She stopped blushing at that statement, and her mouth dropped open.

He reached over and gently closed her mouth with a finger under her chin.

"That’s the second time I’ve had to do that," he reminded her. "From memory the other time was when you almost ran into my chest after I’d been diving for your missing hairclip. Your mouth was hanging open then too," he mused.

"Bai Li!" she cried, outraged.

"I guess that makes us even... given what I saw of you in the cave," he whispered.

She covered her mouth with her hands and looked furtively from left to right in case anyone had overheard him.

"There’s no one here frightened little deer," he laughed. "I’m just reminding you of the deep fate we clearly share. Who knows in how many past lives you have tormented me, to be punishing me so in this one."

"I’ve done my best to set you free to marry for love, Bai Li," she whispered.

"Mei Meili," called Fourth Brother, "bring Commander Bai and hurry up now. We’re missing the guest of honour."