"I think I can see one of our lanterns," called Meili.
They were climbing back down the mountain. It was a steep rocky section of the walk, so they were single file. Meili stretched to pull the lantern from where it was lodged in a crevice on a stone ledge.
"Careful Meili," called Bai Li, looking back up at her.
As she grasped the lantern's handle, her foot slipped, and she started to tumble. She cried out in fear and Tricky barked, scrambling back up towards her.
She slid backwards a few feet before Bai Li managed to catch her. He shook his head in despair at her, looking down at her pretty face, now a few inches from his.
"I'm recalling some statement about 'I can look after myself' and 'Confucian fantasies harboured by men'?"
"It's not the time to make fun of me Bai Li, I've twisted my ankle," she said sadly.
"You haven't, have you? Let me take look."
He set her down gently on a nearby flat rock and pulled off her sock and shoe. Her elegant dancer's foot and tiny ankle distracted him momentarily, before he took her ankle and turned it gently.
"Ouch," she cried out. "That hurts Bai Li!"
"Sorry, sorry, I just needed to check that it's not broken. It's just a sprain but you won't be walking down the mountain on it."
Tan Bowen and the prince had arrived on the scene. They all looked at her ankle and then peered down the steep mountain, where they still had quite a climb to go before they would reach the inn.
"Hop on my back then," Bai Li sighed, turning around for her to climb on.
"You're not going to manage the whole way down like that Bai Li," said the prince. "We can take turns carrying her down. Let us know when you need a break," he said deceptively lightly.
It was a sensible statement, but Bai Li avoided the prince's eye. He really didn't want to hand her over to either of those two to carry. He knew exactly what crude fantasies would be playing out in their minds while they carried her, and he really didn't want to put himself through that pain.
Tan Bowen lifted Meili onto Bai Li's back, and the man started to pick his way carefully down the steep rock face with her.
"I'm sorry Bai Li," she whispered into his ear, so only he could hear.
He looked into her face, tucked onto his left shoulder.
"I'll give you two hints Mei Meili. First, try not to have to be carried by any young men…" He thought about it further. "Or middle-aged men … or old men. Just any men … or boys. That would be for the best," he nodded to himself. "Remember how men and women don't touch? Being carried is lots of touching for a prolonged period. It's not allowed," he shook his head firmly.
"I would never allow a man to carry me except in an emergency Bai Li!" she protested.
"You have too many emergencies. You need to slow down and take more care, young lady," he admonished her.
"I am very careful, but I have to make up for lost time after being locked up in the inner courtyards for so long. I have a lot to do before my parents make me get married and I lose my freedom."
"I'm sure your husband won't be as extreme as your parents were," he said mildly.
"But you can't be sure Bai Li, you can't be sure," she shook her head in concern. "Just in case, I really have a lot of things I want to do first."
"Hmm," he said sceptically. "Can you make sure I'm around when you try them?"
"If you have time to follow around after me Bai Li. I'm sure you have more important things to do."
"I do, but I'll lie awake worrying if I know you're getting yourself into more trouble without me there to rescue you."
"You don't need to worry so much about me Bai Li, though I do thank you for caring," she said warmly. "I'd really like to return the favour someday," she said wistfully.
He turned to look at her again, raising his eyebrows. "I've told you there's a way you can repay me for everything you owe me in one fell swoop, and even come out ahead on the ledger."
"What is it Bai Li?" He had mentioned this cryptically before, she recalled.
"The same reason I first came to your house and met with you. Marry me," he said, looking steadily straight ahead now.
"Bai Li! We've talked about this before."
"No, we haven't."
"I wonder whose lantern this is?" she said, clumsily changing the subject.
She had held onto it despite the tumble, wanting to keep a memento of their time on Purple Mountain. She turned the lantern towards them. The scratchy charcoal characters were somewhat smudged and dirty, but still legible.
'I wish to be betrothed to Mei Meili and marry her after the concubine selections in the year of the dragon,' they both clearly read in Tan Bowen's handwriting.
Meili dropped the lantern in shock, and Bai Li strode past, leaving it in the dust where it belonged.
Tan Bowen who was walking behind them, leaned down and picked the lantern up.
"Mei Meili," he called. "You dropped the lantern after all of your efforts to get it. Do you want me to carry it for you?"
Meili's ears burned bright red. "No! No, Tan Bowen," she said in embarrassment. "Just throw it away. It's meant to float into the sky so heaven can answer your wishes, not be collected from the dirt."
Bai Li chuckled at her inadvertent insult.
Somewhere behind them, Tan Bowen turned the lantern and saw that it was his wish she had thrown away. He frowned grumpily.
"I would carry this lantern down for you Mei Meili, but it's my turn to carry you now," he called.
He smoothed the lantern into a flat piece of paper and tucked it superstitiously into his sleeve. Throwing it away felt hopelessly wrong, like giving up on his wish.