1.12 AuYeung LaiSan - Correspondence

Late in the morning the next day…

While LaiSan was in the garden doing a bit of stretching and TaiChi, the letter arrived.

"Young Miss, a letter has arrived for you," said Jo-yi, as she slightly bowed and held out the letter with both hands.

"Thank you. I am a bit famished, if you can please ask the kitchen to prepare a light snack and tea for me? I'll wait for you over at that pavilion." Pointing over at the hexagon shaped pavilion along the path. The real reason was to get rid of her so that can read the letter without someone observing me. I'm still not used to that type of treatment.

"Yes, Miss." Then she bowed and walked away towards the kitchen.

Holding onto the letter, I slowly headed towards the pavilion in the middle of a grassy field. The cobble stone path leading to it ran parallel to a small man-made stream. It was narrow enough and shallow enough that if I had my full strength, I probably would have jumped back and forth across it. But at this moment just walking was a feat that took all my concentration and strength.

Exhausted after every few steps, I stopped frequently. Between rest periods I did not forget to take in the beauty and the feeling of tranquility that this home provided me.

Finally reaching it, I sat at the bench nearest to the opening, as my legs could not take another step without collapsing from under me. Oh I was really regretting sending Jo-yi away.

Finally, after my legs stopped shaking, I could turn my attention to the letter.

I opened it and found that it was from MeiMei. I excitedly started reading.

- ~ -

Dearest Sister LaiSan,

I hope you don't hate that reference, we have been through so much and know so much about each other that I feel even real sisters could not compare. Dearest sister.

I was so happy to hear that you have awoken. It had been a week and I had not heard from you, I was so scared that you would had disappeared that day. After the spark from our hands touching, I couldn't find you and even though I wanted to go back to see you the next day, I was summoned back to the palace. I didn't even have a chance to check on you before I left.

I had been punished by both the Emperor and Empress, and I cannot leave the palace for a month. So I won't be able to visit you for a while. I hope that all is going well with your own body and that the body had not suffered any illnesses due to the long period of inactivity.

I know by now you must have heard the rumors and all the tall tales of my running off with the General. The General and my brother both collaborated in a story to explain why I was there and in commoner's clothing but the tall tales still spread. Soon after, the General and his parents left to return to the south but the stories are still going strong. I just hope that by the time the General returns, it would have already boiled over.

So the day after I returned my brother was there to help me explain everything to Father Emperor and Mother Empress so my punishment was fairly light. Mainly my punishment was for putting myself in danger by not having the hidden guards follow me, not for what we did that day. So knowing you, I know you must be blaming yourself right now. Stop it! I did everything willingly and for a good sister. So don't give it a second thought.

- ~ -

An uncontrollable smile crossed my face as I read that sentence and I sit back, relaxed as if a weight had been lifted off my shoulders. I sigh in relief and continued reading.

- ~ -

Oh, a little more news, I heard from my brother that the night before the General left, my brother and him were drinking during dinner and the General asked that my brother help him keep abreast of your condition and to send word once you have awaken. So I am sure that a letter is already on its way to the General as we speak. I wonder what he would do once he gets word. My brother most likely sent the letter by hawk so it should arrive in the south in four days time.

You now know he cares for you, even though you haven't even met. And for sure I know you like him. Oh, I hope you guys can get married soon, I cannot wait for that news!

Oh, the other thing that my brother told me was that Mrs. SzeTo has already asked the MuiPo to search for other eligible girls, do you think that the General will agree to marry another, just to be filial? I think he does seem like the type and truly you two haven't even met, so there is no relationship per say. What would you do if that happens? Would you be willing to be a second wife or a concubine?

What am I saying, Imperial Tutor, your father would never allow you to suffer like that! He believes in the one wife rule, so he would never allow you to marry someone as a second wife, and never as a mere concubine.

The General will be back in three months time, just before summer, hopefully he will still keep his promise regarding the engagement.

Well, that is it for now. I'll write again soon. Please write back. You can have someone bring the letter to the Crown Prince's palace and his servants can help you deliver it to me.

With all my love,

MeiMei

- ~ -

"Oh." Was all I could muster after reading that last part. My mind was racing with all the questions that MeiMei asked. What would I do if he decided to marry another. In my book, I remember my story was that we were a couple, it did not mention that there was another. My heart ached a bit at the thought of him taking another wife. Then I thought if it changes history, would that constitute as a failure and I would have to do this all over? Damnit!

"Young Miss the snacks are ready," Jo-yi said happy from about five feet away.

I watched as she approached and placed everything on the table in the middle of the pavilion. After she was done, she helped me take a seat over by the table.

"Jo-yi, I need to trouble you to go get me some paper, an envelope and an ink and brush set so that I can write a reply. Once I am done please bring this letter to the Crown Prince's palace and ask to trouble them to bring it to Princess Mei," I instructed Jo-yi.

"Yes." She left without another word. I inspected the snacks that Jo-yi had brought and I found it was all my favorite sweet snacks. There was white snowball like mochi filled with a red bean paste, green tea flavored gelatin with a green bean filling and banana mochi roles filled with crushed peanuts and shredded coconut. I poured some tea before taking the first bite of the banana roll. "Oh… so yummy. It not only had the fragrance of bananas but the chef had added osmanthus into the water before making the mochi and it was a flavor burst in my mouth. The smooth and chewiness of the mochi and the crunchy sweetness of the peanut, coconut, sugar filling in the center. It was like heaven.

After I finished the first roll and was about to try another one, Jo-yi returned. I quickly grabbed the handkerchief and wiped my hands as she handed me the materials. Rearranging the plates, I gave myself about a foot of space and placed everything in order, prepared to write my response back to MeiMei.

I looked over to my right and saw that Jo-yi was just standing to the side, so I quickly asked her to take a seat, have some tea and enjoy some of the treats, while I started writing. She happily complied.

I poured all my feelings and doubts into my letter to MeiMei because there is no one else that would understand the situation that I am in.

- ~ -

Dearest Sister MeiMei,

I wanted to start off saying how much I appreciated everything that you have done for me, I know that I have caused you more trouble than you have ever experienced in your lifetime.

You are truly a sister to me. Dearest sister.

As for the General, I will just take it as it comes, there is nothing that I can do, if he does decide to take another as his wife. You are absolutely correct, I don't think mom and dad would ever allow me to marry into a family and be a lowly concubine. They would rather I stay with them for the rest of my life than to have me be reduced to live in such a humble status.

To be a concubine means I will not have much more of a status in a family than a mere maid, always kowtowing to the main wife. My children will be illegitimate, without documentation, and never will they recognized to be truly part of the SzeTo household, even though they will bear the family name. They will always come second to the children of the main wife and never be able to say a word loudly or raise their heads high. Why would I subject myself or my future children to that type of treatment? No, I never will.

So for now, I can only believe in fate. That if we are truly meant for each other, he will not forsake me for another.

But the human heart is fickle, who knows what beauties will be there to tempt him. After all he is a man of status, I am sure many beauties have had their eyes on him for a long time. If he does take another based on his mother's wishes then that is it. If that is the case, my mission would have failed. But let's not talk about that now, let's just wait and see.

When I am able to walk better, I will come to visit, until then, take care of yourself.

With all my love,

Your sis LaiSan

- ~ -

I folded up the letter and addressed the envelope. Sealed it with wax and my own insignia. Then instructed Jo-yi to bring the letter over to the Crown Prince's palace.

Not long after Jo-yi had left with the letter, the housekeeper came to say that I had a guest.