"Here they come," said Bai Li, who had caught the faint sound of horses and men in the distance.
He looked pointedly at the prince's arm around Mei Meili, which the prince now removed, allowing her to continue sleeping, resting up against his back.
Tan Bowen and Meili didn't stir awake until the Mei brothers and a large contingent of guards arrived at the pavilion.
"Meimei!" shouted Third Brother, running over to her.
He picked her up in a princess carry and hurried off to the horses where he seated her in front of him on his mount.
"You must be freezing, here, I brought your warm cloak and gloves for you."
He wrapped his sister up in her warm clothes and blithely tossed Tan Bowen his own cloak back with a terse thanks.
Third and Fourth Brothers set off back for camp, without waiting for anyone else, chattering all the way.