[Suggested song for this chapter – Delibes, Lakmé, Act 1: Duo des fleurs]
Bai Li lifted Meili onto Tufei's back.
"It wouldn't do for me to get you in trouble with the Emperor for arriving back late," he said regretfully, "but we can walk the horses for at least some of the way and still make it back on time".
"It's fine Bai Li," she smiled down at him from the saddle, "I know you'll be missed at the camp every minute you're absent".
He appreciated her understanding, though part of him wanted her to beg him to stay with her a bit longer… It wouldn't take much coaxing at all for him to agree…
He guided Rishi alongside Tufei and reached out to take her hand as they walked their horses side-by-side.
He watched her cheeks turn adorably pink as he did so, and she glanced shyly across at him, melting him completely.
