Before the rescue party had made it back to camp, the other Mei brothers spotted them and joined them some distance out.
After a joyful reunion with their sister and hearing the full story, First pushed Meili to return home immediately.
"I'm fine First Brother. Please don't make me go home early. I'll see the doctor back at camp. Let's not decide before we see what he says?"
"Alright," agreed First reluctantly. He couldn't bear to add to her unhappiness after what she'd just been through.
Fifth was dispatched to walk alongside Meili up ahead, leaving the other four brothers free for serious discussions with Bai Li.
Fifth made sure they were far enough ahead of the group so they couldn't be overheard. None of them wanted their meimei to be more frightened than she had already been.
Manni was waiting anxiously at the edge of camp, and she came running out to meet her mistress. She burst into tears when she saw her looking pale but healthy, practically dragging her off Tufei.
She hustled her away back to her tent.
"Make sure she's checked by a physician Manni," called First.
"Yes, Young Master. I'll report to you as soon as he's been."
First nodded seriously. "Any issues and you're going home meimei," he muttered.
Meili heard him. "Yes gege. I'm fine now though, don't worry."
Bai Li went straight to the Emperor's tent to pass on the news of their return.
"Your majesty," he bowed. "I have good news. The young Miss Mei is fine. Her Third and Fourth Brothers and I were not far behind her when she was stung by a murder hornet. Her brothers were able to treat the hornet sting, but we couldn't move her last night."
They had decided not to share the details of the attack with anyone beyond the Mei's, Tan Bowen and the Second Prince at this time, given the likely involvement of the Prime Minister.
"Good, good," said the Emperor, his suspicions immediately aroused.
The players were moving in interesting, though not unexpected, directions. His second son had shown serious interest in this young lady, and the Prime Minister's daughter, Li Fengfeng, had designs on the Second Prince. It was very unlikely the two things were unrelated.
"It's good that she was with her brothers at the time, not just you, Commander Bai. I'll have to trouble you to call back the other search parties. My second son is leading one of them. I believe young Master Tan might be out searching too," he said wryly. "We've delayed today's hunt until tomorrow morning."
The Emperor allowed himself the smallest of eyebrow raises at Bai Li. More than enough for the younger man to understand that the Emperor was well-informed, as always.
"Your majesty," Bai Li bowed and withdrew from the tent.
"Commander Bai," called the Emperor. "Make sure all of the young people attend the banquet this evening. It wouldn't do for anyone to feel left out."
"Yes, your majesty, I'll be sure to have them informed."
Their Emperor had his own plans. What part they were all playing wasn't yet clear to Bai Li, nor was it his place to ask.
The royal doctor gave Meili a clean bill of health. He handed Manni a script for a salve to ease the itching.
By the time Manni returned with the ointment, her mistress was sleeping. Tricky lay flat out on the platform beside her. The maid gently applied the cream to her back. The young miss was so exhausted she didn't even stir.
"I've come to see Miss Mei," she heard voices outside the tent, and she rushed out to quiet them.
The Second Prince and Tan Bowen stood outside.
"Your highness, Master Tan, my young mistress is sleeping after her ordeal. Please come back later."
"How is she Manni?" asked Tan Bowen.
"She's fine Master Tan. The doctor said there'll be no lasting effects. We have some good medicine for the sting now."
Bai Li strode up to the tent and joined them.
Manni motioned for them all to step a bit further away, so as not to disturb her mistress.
"What did the doctor say?" asked Bai Li.
"No lasting effects. She's sleeping now Commander Bai. Thank you for your part in looking after her."
"I didn't do anything," he said gruffly. "It was all Mei Renjun and Mei Renbing."
"They said you stood guard all night, so thank you Commander. You must also be very tired."
"Nothing I haven't experienced many times before on night duty. His Majesty asked me to remind you both that your presence is required at the banquet this evening. Miss Mei also."
"Wouldn't miss it for the world," said Tan Bowen.
"I'm sure my young mistress won't be able to be kept away even if I try," said Manni ruefully.
"What were you doing hunting with Miss Mei, Bai Li?" asked the Second Prince haughtily.
"I kept company with my friends her Third and Fourth Brothers, Miss Mei tagged along," said Bai Li lightly.
"Is that so," said the Prince with mistrust. "I saw Miss Mei riding off into the distance all alone."
"Thankfully, the three of us ran into her later in the day."
The prince narrowed his eyes at his friend. It was most unlike Bai Li to tag along with friends at the royal hunt. Generally, he competed hard for the top tally for the day. With him absent from the scoreboard and the Crown Prince off at the border, the Second Prince had easily won the first day of hunting.
"Gentlemen, I'll leave you to talk while I tend to my young mistress," Manni left the three alone.
Bai Li informed the Second Prince and Tan Bowen of the attack by the Li family and his part shooting the archer from his position.
"Bloody mongrels!" swore Tan Bowen.
The prince kicked a nearby log in anger. His jealousy at Bai Li growing as he realised he had saved her life.
"That dreadful man is pushing his luck!" he growled, speaking of the Prime Minister. "Attacking Mei Meili is not even a covert attack on the Mei family. I might need to speak with Emperor Father. He'll want the balance of power maintained."
"I'm pretty sure he already knows," said Bai Li.
"Figures," said the Second Prince. "He misses very little that goes on at court. If he doesn't take action, I will!"
"Don't be rash your highness," cautioned Bai Li. "Only when you know why you've hit the target, can you truly say you've learned archery. We need to know who his target is."
"Li Fengfeng is angling to be my wife," snarled the Second Prince.
"The Prime Minister will only agree to that if it furthers his purpose. He would never attack the Mei family for his daughter's personal wishes. We need to pay the line out much further to catch this big fish."
The Second Prince knew he was right, but at this moment, he just wanted to vent his anger. He took a deep breath.
"You're right Bai Li. Let's keep our powder dry until we understand our enemy. In the meantime, Mei Meili should be safe for the immediate future. There's no way they'll try something again on the heels of that stuff-up."