The Princess looked surprised. "He asked me if he could come," she whispered. "I thought you'd want him here."
"Hmmph," he grunted, "you thought wrong. Tan Bowen," he nodded at him, squeezing his forearm in greeting. The squeeze was powerful, and Tan Bowen pried the Prince's fingers from his arm.
"Your highness," he grinned. "I'm sure you're surprised and happy to see me. Your sister sent me an invitation and I knew you'd be glad to have some male company to even out the numbers with all of these beautiful ladies. Bai Li's coming too," he added for good measure.
Right on cue, Bai Li joined the end of the line, coming up behind Meili.
"Miss Mei. You're lucky last I see," he bowed.
"Commander Bai," she said nervously, edging forward. "I...it's very nice to see you again. I didn't expect to see you at a flower viewing?"
"The Princess invited me," he said.
"Oh, well I hope you'll enjoy the flowers."
"I hope to enjoy your company too, Miss Mei."
She laughed, and it was the sweetest laugh he had ever heard.
"Commander Bai, I'm sure there are many beautiful young ladies here who'll be vying for your attention. Please don't feel you need to keep me company. I hope I was clear with you the other day. There are no obligations or promises between us."
Her words hit him like a face full of icy water. He really seemed to have got off on the wrong foot with her.
If he still harboured any misapprehensions about her feelings for him, he was well and truly disabused of them now. She just didn't like him, and he had no idea why.
"I thought you said you hoped we can become dear friends?"
"I do hope we can become friends Commander Bai, but this is an occasion for you to meet all of the eligible young ladies in the capital, so I won't take offence if you make use of the opportunity," she smiled behind her veil, her eyes crinkling conspiratorially at him.
Wow, another sucker punch to the face he thought. She really knew how to wield her power for evil.
"I have no interest in meeting other young ladies, Miss Mei," he said coolly to her. "I'm not sure what you take me for?"
Had she offended him? She was only trying to help him. The poor man must really be under pressure from General Bai to marry into the Mei family.
They had reached the Second Prince and the Princess.
"Your highnesses," Meili curtsied, hands crossed at her right hip.
The Princess reached out and grasped her hands. "You must be Mei Meili, am I right?"
"Yes, Princess," she said shyly.
"I have been so looking forward to meeting you," the Princess said warmly. "I know all of your brothers, and I've been to your Mansion many times."
"I know Princess. My Second Brother, Mei Renhu, has told me many stories of you. I feel like I know you."
"And I you! I've asked Mei Renhu so many times if I could meet you, but they've kept you wrapped up like a nightingale in a gilded cage."
"That's exactly it, Princess. Though I can't say I'm a nightingale. A sparrow perhaps," she smiled.
"Definitely not! If you're not a nightingale, you're a phoenix, or a golden pheasant."
Having seen her up-close, the Princess had already worked out that Meili was beautiful under that veil. No wonder her brother was besotted. She wondered where he had managed to lay eyes on her.
"Well yes, I am wearing gold, but those birds are beautiful and I'm not. I wear this veil for a reason Princess," Meili let her know.
The Princess looked puzzled. What was the reason? Did she have a scar on her face?
This again, Bai Li sighed loudly, and Meili looked back at him quizzically.
She really thought she could keep up this ugly façade, did she? It was getting ridiculous now that she was outside the protection of the inner courtyards and strangers could actually see her.
The Princess's second brother nudged her, and she realised she'd been neglecting him. "Oh my goodness, Mei Meili, please meet my dear gege, Prince Zhu Yicai."
Meili looked up at the Prince's handsome face. He was not as tall as Bai Li, but he was square jawed with brown hair rather than black, matching light tan skin and brown eyes. He was incredibly handsome in a clean-cut, storybook-prince kind-of way.
She felt her face flush, and she was suddenly very glad of the hated veil.
"Your highness it's a pleasure to meet you. My brothers have also told me many stories of you as well, including what a good polo player you are."
"Is that so? It's a real pleasure to meet you, Miss Mei. I keep asking your brothers when they'll let you out of that cage. And you're definitely a nightingale or a phoenix. 'Miss Mei' and 'sparrow,' do not belong in the same sentence," he said firmly.
Bai Li rolled his eyes at the cheesy line.
Meili touched her ear in embarrassment. This veil really was a bother actually. It gave people the wrong first impression of her.
"Thank you, your highness, I beg to differ, but I'm sure we'll come to know each other in time," she said diplomatically.
"Definitely," he said eagerly. "Please let me have the honour of escorting you around the gardens, Miss Mei?"
"Oh! Really your highness? I'm sure you must have other more important guests to attend to today."
"I do not," he said, leaving no room for argument. " You are the guest I've been most looking forward to meeting."
"Thank you for that compliment your highness, but please don't let me dominate your time at such a special gathering. There are many young ladies here who I'm sure would be very pleased to be able to spend some time with you."
"Are you saying you're not among them?"
"Of course not!" she exclaimed.
"Well then, although it may be the case that there are other young ladies who would like to spend time with me, you can ask my sister if I have any interest in spending time with them."
"It's true," the Princess agreed fondly. "He has no time at all for young ladies generally. You're special Miss Mei. I would fight him for some time with you, but he'd get too cross with me."
They must really like my brothers, thought Meili happily. It was very nice to be welcomed so warmly.
The Prince took her by the arm and lead her off into the garden.