Chapter 19
Ailin
Never had Ailin felt so much dread about traveling as when she sat near Meilin’s wardrobe, selecting items to bring on their trip. The fact that Enze was in Hangzhou weighed heavily on her mind.
“I wish you wouldn’t be so gloomy,” Meilin said as she took the sky-blue skirt Ailin handed her.
Ailin forced a smile. “Thank you for the reminder.”
Meilin stuffed the folded skirt into a travel chest. “I’m not talking about how you look; I’m talking about how you feel.”
Ailin sighed. Meilin was, again, fixated on feelings.
Ailin was doing her best by going on the trip at all.
The night before, she had thanked Grand-mother Jiang for her promise to connect her with more patrons of art, but how could her happiness be anything but feigned when going to Hangzhou meant Shen Lusi would be one step closer to formalizing her betrothal to Enze?
Not to mention Meilin’s embarrassingly obvious desire to chase down Master Wei.
Ailin grabbed a blouse the color of rice. “Maybe we should talk less and focus more on packing.”
“Have you considered reaching out to Enze while we’re in Hangzhou? Before Shen Lusi approaches him, I mean. I think we have a right to ask him for the truth.”
Ailin stifled the natural reflex to clench her fists. She didn’t want to wrinkle the clothing. “I thought we agreed not to bring this up anymore.”
Meilin clicked her tongue as she took the blouse.
Ailin glanced at the ceiling. She knew what her sister was thinking, and she didn’t think Meilin’s exasperation was warranted.
Shen Lusi had already told everyone about Enze’s alleged promise to marry her, so there was no way to resolve the situation without burdening the Jiang family.
Keeping quiet was the only way to preserve peace in the household.
Ming-ming strode into the room. “Do you have a minute to spare? Captain Bai wants to talk to Meilin. He is waiting outside.”
Meilin dropped the blouse. “Me? Why?”
“I don’t know. Maybe it’s about Hangzhou, since you insisted on joining the traveling party after he warned everyone about pirates.”
Ailin bent down to pick up the dropped blouse, bemused to see her sister react so strongly to the mention of Captain Bai.
Meilin crossed her arms. “I thought Grand-mother Jiang already talked enough about that to satisfy anyone who cared.”
Ming-ming shrugged. “Maybe he cares more than you think.”
Meilin glared at Ming-ming. “Will you stop saying things like that? People might think you’re being serious.”
Ming-ming smirked. “Maybe I am.”
Ailin could not believe how immature her sisters were acting at eighteen and fourteen suì. Neither of them should be speaking so thoughtlessly about such a matter.
“Will you two stop arguing?”
Meilin frowned as she took the dropped blouse from Ailin’s hands. “Will you come with me to talk to him, jiě?”
“What?” Ailin asked, surprised by the request. Meilin usually didn’t hesitate when speaking with Captain Bai, whether cordially or argumentatively.
“I want you to be with me.” Meilin’s voice and eyes showed desperation. Something must have changed between her and Captain Bai recently to make her suddenly apprehensive of him.
Though Ailin didn’t know why, she couldn’t refuse when Meilin asked for help. It had been a long time since her sister asked anything of her that she could give.
“Fine. I’ll go with you.”
Meilin’s shoulders relaxed visibly as she released a breath. “Thank you.”
Ailin followed Meilin and Ming-ming to the courtyard. Early blooming plum blossoms perfumed the air where Captain Bai paced back and forth. He paused when he noticed them and walked over.
The wrinkle in his brows signaled worry. “I apologize for disturbing you ladies.”
“Why are you here?” Meilin asked.
“I wish I could persuade you not to leave for Hangzhou,” he replied. “I worry about your well-being.”
His bluntness made Meilin defensive. “Thank you for your concern, Captain Bai, but the matter is already decided. Uncle Meng and Grand-mother Jiang are planning everything, and I trust them to keep us safe during travel.”
“It’s not only the danger of travel I’m worried about. It’s who you’re looking for.”
While Ailin raised her eyebrows, Meilin gasped audibly.
Ming-ming responded first. “Captain Bai, are you jealous of Master Wei?”
Ailin pulled Ming-ming back so she couldn’t embarrass them further, but the young girl’s words could not be pulled back as easily.
Captain Bai’s tan face reddened as he glanced between Ming-ming and Meilin, who was also turning red. “I—” His brows knitted together further. “I promise that what I feel . . . is not jealousy. Unfortunately, I can’t say more, but please take me seriously. I don’t want you to get hurt.”
Ailin cocked her head. This kind of warning was out of character for the taciturn Captain Bai, and she wondered how Meilin would respond.
“I’m not going to get hurt,” Meilin said firmly. Then she looked toward Ailin as if seeking help to end a confrontational conversation.
Ailin nodded in acknowledgment. It had been a while since she and Meilin had communicated silently like this, and she tried to couch her interruption as politely as possible, channeling all her authority as an eldest sister.
“Our whole family appreciates your concern, Captain Bai. We will definitely keep your advice in mind. Now, if you’ll excuse us, we still have much packing to complete before—”
“Is there really no way I can convince you two not to leave Suzhou, Miss Duan?” Captain Bai asked.
Ailin answered for them both. “I’m afraid our travel plans have already been set with our uncle and Grand-mother Jiang.”
Captain Bai sighed, then reached for an object from his belt. “Then would you be willing to take this with you, as a precaution?”
He held a sheathed dagger in his outstretched palm. Its lack of ornamentation made it strange for a gift to a lady, but it looked well-made and practical.
“What’s this for?” Ming-ming asked as she hovered over the item like a magpie looking at treasure.
Captain Bai answered solemnly without looking away from Meilin. “I know Master Meng is bringing Tian and his guards to protect your traveling party, but I want Miss Meilin to have this in case of danger.”
Ailin gave Meilin a look signaling for her to reply for herself, since Captain Bai seemed unlikely to leave otherwise.
Meilin pouted at Captain Bai. “I thought you said I’d be better off running than using a weapon.”
Ailin wondered if the captain would be offended by Meilin’s reference to one of their earlier arguments. Meilin’s relationships with both Master Wei and Captain Bai were so turbulent that Ailin didn’t know what to make of either of them.
To Ailin’s surprise, Captain Bai smiled grimly before responding to Meilin. “You might be better off running, but it never hurts to have more tools on hand when dangers are everywhere.”