The Beautiful Bird Gets Caged

Manni looked horrified at the intimate gesture, and Meili looked back at her, her eyes pleading, 'what do I do?'

The other young ladies watched them like hawks, and Meili could clearly hear their little whispered comments.

"Who is she?"

"Who does she think she is?"

"Why does she wear a veil, do you think she has a scar?"

"Isn't she the ugly Mei sister?"

"I thought she was simple?"

The Prince looked at her gently. "Don't mind them," he said, "they're just jealous".

"That's why I mustn't dominate your time," she said ruefully.

"That's why you must ignore them entirely. A tiger does not take insults from sheep."

She smiled at him thankfully, and his heart thumped like crazy.

A eunuch announced the arrival of the Emperor, who entered the garden with some of his consorts, and everyone dropped to the ground.

The prince and the princess bowed to their father as the Emperor approached his son.

"Emperor Father," said the Second Prince coolly, certain his appearance was not coincidental.

"Yicai. Lingling. A lovely gesture to your Empress Mother," he nodded at the proceedings.

He looked at Mei Meili who knelt beside the Second Prince, face turned to the ground.

"And who is this?" he asked lightly.

So that was his plan, the Prince thought. Did he really need to make the effort to meet Mei Meili? He could just summon her to the palace any time he wanted to.

"This is Miss Mei Meili, the youngest daughter of Lord Mei."

"Rise," he gestured for her to stand.

She stood and greeted the Emperor nervously. One look and he knew she was a beauty who had been hidden by the Mei family.

It's the beautiful bird that gets caged, he mused. This, was interesting... His strategic mind was already placing her in various positions on his complex chess board. She could be a wildcard, but she would definitely be useful.

"Miss Mei. You father has kept you very protected."

"He has your majesty. I've been raised in the inner courtyards like my mother was."

"I recall Yu Yan was a beauty too."

"She was and is your majesty. Unfortunately, I inherited the Mei face instead of the Yu's."

The consorts giggled behind their hands.

Interesting … the Emperor thought. It seemed they had kept her beauty a secret, even from her.

"A beautiful woman knows not her charms therefore she is more beautiful than the colours of the sea," he quoted poetically.

"That describes my mother well your majesty," she flushed with pleasure at the compliment for her lovely mother.

"Quite…" he chuckled. "I'll let you young people get on with your flower viewing. I have afternoon court now."

Everyone kowtowed as the Emperor and his entourage moved on.

"Come Miss Mei," said the Prince, taking her arm again. "Let me show you these double camellias my mother planted. They're rare, and especially beautiful," he said meaningfully, glancing at her.

"They sound very special your highness, I can't wait to see them," she replied cluelessly.

"Time for afternoon tea," called the Princess, and the young ladies flocked to the prettily decorated tables.

It was a beautiful scene with the tables set up amongst the early-spring plum blossoms, on the edge of an ornamental lake.

A group of musicians sat on a small stage playing gentle music with flutes and guqin.

The ladies buzzed around the tables, searching for their name cards.

Mei Meili was seated between the prince and the princess, like the guest of honour. She blushed when she saw this, steeling herself for more unkind comments.

The Prince pulled out her chair for her, and she sat down.

Bai Li was already seated at the same table, next to the princess's friend, Tan Wentian.

Tan Bowen came up behind Meili and bowed in greeting.

"Miss Mei, it's an honour to meet you. I'm Tan Bowen, your Fifth Brother's good friend."

She turned and gazed up at him.

Another beautiful young man stood before her, backlit by the setting sun.

He was nearly as tall as Bai Li, but slimmer, with an elegant profile. His face was finely chiselled but with a slight roundness and soft lips, making him look boyish and romantic. He wore his hair in the foppish slightly looser style currently favoured by bohemian young men.

"Tan Bowen!" she said with genuine delight, as she rose to meet him. "My Fifth Brother talks of you all the time. You two have had so many wonderful adventures together," she sighed with envy. "I've been longing to meet you. I've read all of your poetry. It's very beautiful," she spoke with awe. "Sorry, I'm prattling on too much," she blushed at the blunder.

Tan Bowen flushed with genuine pleasure. Normally he cared very little if people liked his work or not.

"Thank you, Miss Mei," he smiled with uncharacteristic shyness, letting his hair fall across his forehead. "That actually means a lot to me, coming from you."

What a polite young man, she thought. Of course he would be eloquent and gentlemanly.

Bai Li scowled. Who was this seemingly gentle fellow? He bore absolutely no resemblance to the brazen and rude Tan Bowen he knew. If she spent any time at all with him, she'd soon come to know the real man, he thought irritably.

"I look forward to appreciating the pearl, now that the fingers of your father's palm have finally loosened."

"Stop flirting, Tan Bowen," said the prince crankily.

Meili laughed happily, completely free of the careful airs and graces of girls who had been active in noble society.

Li Fengfeng sat down on the far-side of their table, the Princess's concession to her Emperor Father.

"Miss Mei, I'm Li Fengfeng, the Prime Minister's daughter," she said languidly, not bothering to come over and greet her.

"Miss Li, I'm pleased to meet you," said Meili warily.

Her brothers had also told her many stories of the Prime Minister's son, Li Pei, and occasionally they included this woman, his sister; none of them good...

"So, you've finally been allowed out into polite society. Your reputation precedes you, I must say. Your brothers have been very tight lipped. They only say she's virtuous and homely. Two characteristics that make for a very good wife. I'm sure you'll find a great match once the concubine selections are over."

Ever spiteful, Li Fengfeng had barely taken the time to look at the small girl, so convinced was she that the veil hid some terrible flaw.