Sharing a Pavilion With You
Chapter 83: Court Lady Mei

Chapter 83: Court Lady Mei

"The Prime Minister just took tea in the Second Prince’s chambers," Eunuch Feng reported to the Emperor when they were alone in his chamber.

"Did he now?" the Emperor mused, pulling on his goatee. "What did they discuss?"

"A closer alliance, Lord. Possibly through marriage."

The Emperor had been watching his second son grow more and more bold in court; turning up every day, stepping into political issues... It might be time to crush his aspirations before they turned dangerous, he thought.

With the reports he was receiving about young Bai Li’s training methods and the loyalty he was engendering from his soldiers; it might be time to put that wildcard he had been waiting to use into play.

Given the circumstances, Mei Meili would ’kill two birds with one stone’, so to speak, allowing him to pull both men into line at the same time.

He turned to his Chief Eunuch. "Take down this edict and deliver it to the Mei family this morning."

Lord Mei had not yet left for court for the day when the Emperor’s order arrived from the palace.

The men of the household and Yu Yan gathered and knelt to receive the Emperor’s order, which the Chief Eunuch had arrived to hand-deliver himself.

Lord Mei waited anxiously to hear the contents. Having Eunuch Feng here in person meant it was no small matter.

His eldest two sons were already committed to the campaign in the north. What more could it be? he wondered.

"Lord Mei and Lady Yu have produced five talented and handsome sons and one graceful, beautiful and talented daughter," intoned Eunuch Feng. "The Emperor has taken note of Mei Meili’s grace and beauty."

Yu Yan started to shake like a leaf and Lord Mei gripped her hand to steady and comfort her.

"In honour of her talents and her modest and chaste reputation, the Emperor has decided to honour Mei Meili by requesting her to serve him in the palace as a Court Lady. She shall commence the day after tomorrow. That is all."

Lord Mei raised his hands to receive the scroll and thank Eunuch Feng, before the family rose to their feet.

First brother saw out the palace eunuchs while Lord Mei and his wife read and re-read the scroll in dismay.

"What does this mean husband?" said Yu Yan tearfully. "A Court Lady? Won’t he just make her a concubine after she enters the palace?"

"Not necessarily," replied Lord Mei gravely. "It’s not good news, there’s no doubt about that, but she may still avoid the harem with any luck."

"But it’s so dangerous in the palace, husband," Yu Yan wrung her hands. "Meili will be in the firing line of the eunuchs and the consorts, serving so close to the Emperor!"

"It’s true," he sighed deeply, "and yet there’s a chance she may be rewarded a good marriage if she serves him well and doesn’t upset anyone powerful. We must spend every moment we have left with her educating her on how to keep her head down and survive there. Come my dear," he took his wife by the hand, "we don’t have long".

Meili’s parents sat her down at her pavilion table in her courtyard.

"We have some testing news for you, my dear," said her father tenderly.

Meili looked between her parents, taking in her mother’s pinched and anxious face.

"What is it, father?" she asked with alarm.

"We just received word that you are to enter the palace as a court lady, to serve the Emperor."

Meili looked between her parents, utterly stunned.

"W...what? Why? Why would the Emperor want me to serve him? I’m not even that good at the tea ceremony. Princess Lingling won that competition."

"It’s court politics my dear," said her father. "As the only daughter of the Mei family, you’ve been caught up in the machinations. The Emperor will be seeking to hold leverage over his second son and probably Commander Bai, as well as your two brothers who will be serving as strategists on the northern campaign. He knows that you are close to all of these young men, so by keeping you close to him, he reminds them not to do anything that puts you at risk. It allows him to control them."

Meili’s eyes filled with tears. "But I don’t want to be a bargaining chip! I don’t want to be used as a weakness for my brothers and my friends."

Her mother grabbed her hand and clasped it, her temporary estrangement from her daughter after the grasslands dance, long forgotten in the face of this crisis.

"Unfortunately this is a woman’s lot. My dear," Yu Yan’s eyes brimmed with tears also. "But don’t worry, your father and I will teach you everything we know about surviving in the palace and how to keep your head down so that you don’t become a target. That way hopefully you can avoid causing any danger to your brothers and Bai Li and the Second Prince."

Meili nodded tearfully. "Mother, I don’t want to leave home. Will I have to live at the palace?" she asked, her lip quivering.

Her mother nodded, rubbing her hand in comfort. "Yes, but we will be able to visit you, and your father is in the palace almost every day. And you’ll be allowed to come and visit us once a month too."

"Once a month!" she moaned. "What about Tricky?"

Her parents looked at one another.

"Let me see what I can do about Tricky, Meili," her father soothed. "I may be able to secure permission for you to keep him with you."

She nodded vigorously. "Father, if Tricky can come with me I’ll feel so much happier. I don’t know what I would do without Tricky and Manni."

"I’ll send a message to Eunuch Feng and see if I have enough brownie points to swing his agreement. The eunuchs hold a lot of power at the palace, Meili. You must make sure to keep them on side; particularly the Chief Eunuch."

She nodded again at her father, sniffling, but pulling her shoulders back with determination.

If her brothers could serve in the war against Aruqtai, then she could serve the Emperor in the palace.

She must pull her weight for the family and do her duty, too!

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