They took the same carriage back to the inn they’d stayed at the night before and Yuelan went up the stairs to her room, her ire radiating off her. Upon opening the door, she found her purchases had arrived and Camphor and Laurel were sorting them and packing them in preparation to take them back to the library. The two servant girls paused to salute Yuelan, then went back to what they were doing.

Yuelan walked over to a large, wooden box and lifted the lid. Inside was the guzheng she had purchased, carefully wrapped in silk and surrounded by padding to keep it from being jostled while moved. She smiled a little and closed the lid again. Her memory of the elderly man eased her fury at the emperor. “Has everything arrived?” she asked.

“Yes, Miss,” Camphor answered immediately. She had already noticed her mistress wasn’t in a good mood. “We’ve already sorted through everything that was delivered and nothing is missing. We’re repacking it now so that it can be placed in a carriage and taken along when we leave.” The maid glanced over at Willow, who shook her head slightly.

“Good work.” Yuelan nodded her approval and walked over to sink into the chair in the room. She let out a sigh and rubbed her temple with two fingers.

Laurel noticed and quickly walked over to start massaging Yuelan’s shoulders and neck while Willow took Laurel’s place packing. “Does Miss have a headache?” Laurel asked, her voice concerned.

“It’s nothing,” Yuelan answered, letting out another sigh. “Things took an...unexpected turn when I met the emperor.” Laurel seemed quite skilled at massaging and the gentle kneading of her muscles helped her relax and finish calming down. “That feels good, Laurel, thank you.”

“Of course. Seeing to Miss’s comfort is one of our most important responsibilities,” Laruel assured her.

“Are you sure you weren’t sent here mostly to spoil me?” Yuelan teased, drawing smiles from her three servants.

“Spoiling Miss is, of course, one of our duties as well,” Camphor laughed. “After all, if we three servants don’t spoil Miss then who will? Lord Long doesn’t seem to know how to and Miss’s family is far away.” The servant girl grinned and winked at Yuelan. “And if Miss is sufficiently spoiled, we servants may get extra rewards.”

Yuelan laughed. “I think we’re going to get along very well, we four. There are some things that I’ll need you to teach me, like how to make pastries. I make them back home, but it’s very different here. I’m not used to it…”

“Laurel is skilled in cooking and making sweets and pastries. Willow is skilled in tea and martial arts, and I can assist Miss with practicing her etiquette,” Camphor explained.

“Camphor’s father was a wealthy merchant, but he was caught trading in illegal goods and the family was punished to become servants,” Laurel added softly. “She’s also skilled in management and accounting.”

Camphor’s cheeks turned a little red. “My mother and I had no idea what my father had been up to. Father was imprisoned and Mother and I became servants for His Highness the third prince. I hope Miss will not object to my being here…”

“I don’t object at all,” Yuelan assured Camphor. “Especially since I need someone skilled in managing money for me.”

The servant girl gave Yuelan a deep salute. “This servant thanks Miss for the grace.”

Just as Yuelan was about to reply a commotion started just outside the inn. She stood up and started for the window only to have someone knock on the door to the room. Laurel quickly went and opened it, spoke to the person outside, and turned to report. “Miss...Eunuch Tang has arrived with an imperial decree for Miss!”

Yuelan’s temper flared immediately and bit her bottom lip for a moment. “He said it wouldn’t be a decree!” she growled before taking a deep breath to calm herself as much as she could. “We should go and greet Eunuch Tang…” Under her breath, low enough the servants couldn’t quite hear, she muttered something not very complimentary about the emperor.

The innkeeper was standing just outside the door to Yuelan’s room and he quickly led the way with Yuelan following behind and the three servants bringing up the rear.

Eunuch Tang was waiting just outside the inn holding a scroll. A group of palace guards stood next to him. As soon as Yuelan stepped outside he unfolded the scroll. “An Imperial Decree for Miss Long Yuelan. Miss Long to receive the decree!”

Yuelan frowned at the head eunuch the entire time Camphor was whispering instructions in her ear. Grateful to have someone there to explain what to do, Yuelan stepped forward and continued to glare at Eunuch Tang. “This girl, Long Yuelan, will hear the decree before deciding if she accepts!”

Eunuch Tang nodded and started reading from the scroll without objection while several people around them gasped. “His Majesty the Emperor decrees that he is pleased with Miss Long Yuelan’s wit, intelligence, and status as daughter of a prime minister and ward to Lord Long He. He grants Miss Long Yuelan the privilege of choosing from among the princes who she will marry if she so chooses. He grants Miss Long Yuelan the Crystal Moon residence in the capital and the servants needed to run the residence. He grants Miss Long three million gold taels, two chests of high quality gems, three bolts each of moon water silk, fire brocade, and shimmer silk gauze, one chest of accessories, the deeds to six shops in the capital, totaling one shop from each of the six princes, a carriage with four horses, and a talisman to be used for entering the imperial palace whenever she chooses--so long as the gates are open.” The odd-sounding, high-pitched voice of the eunuch stopped and he looked at Yuelan.

Yuelan stared at the eunuch in shock for several seconds then knelt and raised her hands to accept the scroll, which the eunuch placed in her hands. “Long Yuelan receives the decree and thanks His Majesty for the grace,” she said calmly. The emperor had mentioned something about giving her ‘compensation.’ The gifts she had just received were far beyond her expectations, however, and she wasn’t sure what she was supposed to do with any of them. It wasn’t as though she was going to stay in this kingdom, after all. She was going home just as soon as she figured out how.

“All of the deeds are in here,” Eunuch Tang explained, gesturing for another palace servant to come forward with a small box. “As are the life contracts for the servants. The servants themselves and all of the other gifts except the carriage are waiting for you at Crystal Moon residence. The carriage and horses are here.” He gestured to a large carriage made of rosewood and gold. Four large, chestnut horses were tied to it and a driver held the reigns and seemed to be waiting patiently.

Yuelan slowly got to her feet with the help of Laurel and Willow while Camphor received the box from the palace servant. She swallowed as she looked at the carriage, and especially the horses, and then looked back at Eunuch Tang and gave him a salute. “Yuelan thanks Eunuch Tang for delivering the gifts from His Majesty.”

Camphor passed the box to Willow then pulled a small pouch from her sleeve and offered it to the eunuch, who smiled and took the pouch.

“This servant will assure His Majesty that Miss Long has received her gifts. Their Highnesses the princes should arrive this evening at Crystal Moon residence to properly greet Miss Long.”

Yuelan could feel a headache coming. She had intended to go back to the library, but now she had a new residence, several things to organize inside the capital city, and she had to greet the princes--one of whom she was supposed to select to be both her husband and the next emperor. Could she possibly try refusing again and give everything back? The emperor’s comment on her gender followed after her thoughts of refusing and her cheeks flushed with anger. Never mind. She’d keep everything and refuse to marry any of the princes. Serve him right!