Xiong Guangfeng sat in a seat in one of his favorite courtyards at Red Orchid Teahouse. It was the largest of the courtyards and where he often hosted gatherings. He had invited several of the spoiled, useless offspring of the wealthy and influential families and they lounged in various positions with their teacups as they talked and laughed among each other.

Mixed in with the useless were some of the most promising of the younger generation, including the son of Longuo’s most respected general, Chang Taikang. The son’s name was Chang Biming and, as a general in his own right, he was engaged to Xiong Liling. The privilege of marrying the eldest princess was given to him because of his efforts in quelling a rebellion near Longuo’s southern borders.

Instead of mingling with the lazy sons of the influential families, Chang Biming was seated next to Guangfeng and speaking in a low voice. “I’ve received reports recently from my men in the south that Lanzhou is building their defenses along the border,” the young general explained. “There are indications they intend to attack Longuo, possibly as soon as a month from now.”

Guangfeng sat lazily in his seat, one leg hanging over the arm of the chair as he sipped at his tea. It was a very improper position for a prince to be in, but Guangfeng found it useful. If any of his enemies managed to get into the party it would look like he was fooling around. A trusted maid from his palace sat beside him while pretending to look flustered. “See if you can have someone infiltrate their army and gather what information you can about their plans,” he instructed. And inform your deputy generals to begin preparations of our own covertly. We want them to think we’re being lazy. Try to begin evacuating the towns closest to the border discreetly as well so the citizens will be protected. Have the poorer ones sent to my lands to work and assure them they will have enough to eat when they return to their homes. Don’t report it to the court just yet. Wait as long as you can before you have to speak up to keep others from getting suspicious.”

Chang Biming nodded and glanced at the servant girl before raising his voice to a normal level. “Your Highness, do you think it’s wise to be playing around with a servant girl? What if Lady Long were to hear of your escapades? Aren’t all of the princes supposed to be trying to gain her favor?” he asked in a respectful but chiding tone.

The prince chuckled and sipped his tea, placing his hand on the maid’s back. “So what? I came here to have fun. Playing with the daughters of proper families is impossible without having to accept the consequences, but nobody will argue with me over a servant. Younger General Chang has been spending too much time with this prince’s younger sister. You’re starting to nag just like she does.”

Chang Biming sighed. “Her Highness the first princess often expresses distress at Your Highness’ antics,” he explained. “I only hope Your Highness will take her feelings into consideration more. After all, we will soon be family.”

Guangfeng swirled the tea in his cup and lifted it to his lips again. “Mm. Indeed we will. Perhaps Younger General would like to take the opportunity to enjoy himself before he is no longer permitted to look at other women?” he teased.

The muscular man frowned. “That won’t be necessary. I don’t wish to cause Her Highness any unnecessary stress. She has been busy with preparations for today’s cherry blossom viewing.”

The prince yawned and rubbed his chin with his free hand. “That was today, wasn’t it?” he drawled. “Perhaps this prince should go and intrude…”

Chang Biming gave Guangfeng a frown. “Your Highness…” he chided.

Guangfeng chuckled and waved his free hand. “This prince was poking fun. I know better than to intrude on a gathering of young ladies when my three younger sisters are there. Liling, Ainuan, and Ruzhen would all be upset with me for ruining their fun and who knows what punishments I would be forced to submit to. This prince is afraid of pain and suffering the most.”

The son of a wealthy merchant had somehow managed to get himself drunk from drinking tea in a place where alcohol was not served. He staggered over to Guangfeng and Biming and burped. “Your Highness the third prince! Someone suggested we should play a game! Would Your Highness care to join us in some gambling?”

“Of course. This prince loves to gamble,” Guangfeng replied. “Will Young General be joining as well?”

Chang Biming sighed and saluted Guangfeng. “I will have to pass,” he said respectfully. “I have a wedding to continue preparations for.”

Guangfeng waved lazily. “Go and do your boring preparations then. This prince will stay to have fun.” He turned to stop paying attention to Chang Biming and studied the son of the right prime minister with a glint in his eye. So far, he’d had little success getting someone into the right prime minister’s manor, but today he’d brought the servant girl along for a very special reason. The right prime minister’s son was known to have a weakness for beautiful girls, and this particular maid was just his type. Guangfeng had spent most of the gathering observing this particular young man’s reactions to the maid’s presence and had even had the young woman spend a little time wandering among the children of the elite so she could get close to the right prime minister’s oldest son and catch his attention a little more. Today he intended to get her placed as that particular person’s concubine.

The right prime minister’s son, Wang Zhong, was one of those who had been invited to the party who wasn’t completely useless. He had scored high in the imperial exams and already had a good position in the court of his own. At present, he didn’t have a wife or concubine. Guangfeng having one of his own people placed at this scion’s side would be a convenient asset in the battle over the throne and would allow him to keep a better eye on what that Wang Chunming was plotting as well. That girl was trouble, and Guangfeng knew it. If he could keep an eye on her on Yuelan’s behalf that would be best. Yuelan seemed too naive to survive the cutthroat politics of a harem while most girls in the well-off families had been raised and taught to handle the poison attempts, trickery, and other such things women got up to to gain attention from husbands and fathers.

The prince stood up and moved over to join the group of young men who had started up a game of mahjong to join them. He took his time and carefully planned his moves as he patiently waited for Wang Zhong to take the bait.

While Guangfeng played, the servant maid he’d brought with him made her way over to Wang Zhong and started subtly flirting. It wasn’t anything overt nor something to make the intelligent young man suspicious, only enough to get him to take the bait: a glance, a movement, a hint of her wrist peeking out from beneath her sleeve for just a moment….

After two hours of careful manipulation, Wang Zhong finally took the bait. He looked over at Guangfeng and smiled. “Perhaps Your Highness would care to wager his servant girl this time?” he suggested. It wasn’t the first time Guangfeng would have done something like put up a servant girl he’d brought with him as the prize for winning, though the prince tended to win more often than he lost when one of his maids was the prize.

Guangfeng pretended to frown. “This prince hasn’t tasted her yet,” he replied, making himself look unhappy while secretly feeling quite pleased. “What makes Younger Official Zhong interested?”

Wang Zhong smiled back at Guangfeng. “She interests me. I’d like to take her in as my concubine.”

The prince snorted and rubbed his chin, pretending to be irritated. “Wanting something that belongs to this prince...you certainly are brave.”

“Is Your Highness afraid of losing?” one of the other young men in the room asked, grinning.

“Very well, this prince accepts!” Guangfeng declared, pretending to glare at the person who had interrupted. “Little Camellia will be the prize for the winner this time, but the game will be only between this prince and Younger Official Wang.”

The maid, Camellia, let her expression turn mournful. “Your Highness,” she protested, making her eyes larger and more round and filling them with tears. “Please don’t send this servant away!”

“Where is there room for you to interrupt?” Guangfeng growled at her. “Be quiet and wait for this prince to show off his skills! When we return to the palace you will accompany this prince and see his skills in bed as well!”

Camellia looked even more upset, but closed her mouth and didn’t argue. Guangfeng silently praised her for her excellent acting as he turned his attention to the game of mahjong.

When the game ended, Guangfeng had lost. He stood up and threw the mahjong table to the side in a sudden ‘rage’ and glared at Wang Zhong. “Hmph! You had better appreciate this prince’s gift! Daring to defeat this prince and take what belongs to him! Everyone leave!”

The guests who hadn’t already sprung to their feet when Guangfeng overturned the table scrambled to their feet. They and the other guests quickly left the courtyard. Wang Zhong walked over to Camellia and wrapped an arm around her waist. “I will await her papers at my Wang residence,” he told the prince before leading her out of the courtyard as well.

Guangfeng waited until everyone was gone before letting out a delighted chuckle. The employee of Red Orchid Teahouse responsible for the courtyard came in and gave the prince a mournful look. “Your Highness Prince Heping...our teahouse’s new master has yet to come and visit. If Your Highness destroys the things here how can things possibly be fit for her to see?”

“Send the bill to my palace,” Guangfeng reassured the employee. “Anything broken can be replaced with more expensive things.”

The employee saluted Guangfeng and nodded. “This servant will obey.”

“Mm.” Guangfeng looked around at the spacious room that was filled with empty teacups, an overturned table, scattered mahjong tiles, and some broken bits of china, let out a satisfied sigh, and left to return to his palace.