"Commander Bai works for me," the prince said after a lengthy pause. "He will give her to me on my request."
"He might," said Lord Mei carefully, "but you shouldn't ask it of him; he has an Imperial order. Also, highness, my wife and I have long been troubled by the idea of Meili entering the palace harem. We've already seen what a dangerous place it is for her, swimming with sharks well beyond her political capabilities. We raised her in the inner courtyards," Lord Mei shrugged. "She never developed those skills. She never needed them."
"Highness, you'll be obliged to build out your harem to secure alliances and produce sufficient heirs. It's not a life her mother or I want for her. If you truly care for Meili, your highness, you'll eventually come to the same conclusion. She deserves a husband who loves her and her alone, and a life filled with family and happiness, not a life of competition, back-biting, danger and confinement."
