Chapter Thirty: Insolence!

The closer they drew to the hour of departure, the more Captain Yongli was making everyone nervous.  He was bouncing between polishing his armor, sharpening his sword (forgetting that he would not even be allowed to carry it into the palace), trimming his beard, and nagging at his wife and children. 

Only MeiLan seemed unaffected by his rampant anxiety and excitement.  She was dressed in her green silks, with her usual collection of modest jewelry, her face devoid of makeup, her hair simply combed and pulled away from her earnest face.  While the others continued to primp and fight over a space in front of the big brass mirror, she had retired to the stone table with a book in hand and was calmly reading. 

Anak came to her when the rest of the family was ready.  MeiLan set aside her book reluctantly and joined the family which was assembling near the carriages.