Yuelan frowned at Guangfeng and folded her arms under her breasts. She shifted on the seat so she was no longer curled up and instead sat facing the third prince with one leg crossed over the other. Her feet were still hidden beneath the long gown. “What would you do if you became emperor?” she asked him. Her tone and attitude made it clear she was still upset with Guangfeng, but she hadn’t forgotten what the emperor had forced her into: choosing the crown prince was her responsibility now.

“I want to improve the circumstances of the common people,” Guangfeng answered earnestly. “The way your country handles medical care interests me. I’d like to do something like that here. I also want to make a place where doctors can study and improve their skills and a school for anyone who wants to learn.” He paused and thought about how to phrase where he came up with the ideas. “I...go out once a week without telling anyone who I am and walk among the commoners to listen. Some of them are very intelligent, but don’t have the means to go through the processes required to become officials. Only a few officials listen to the commoners while the rest look down on them.”

Yuelan leaned back and relaxed her posture, uncrossing her legs and listening patiently to what Guangfeng had to say. When he finished speaking and fell silent again she nodded. “I understand. I still need to hear what your brothers have to say. You also need to be aware that I don’t accept polygamy. I won’t marry anyone who can’t accept that.”

Guangfeng nodded. “I can. My mother’s death was a result of the fighting between the women of my father’s harem. Several of my father’s concubines had miscarriages or died because of it. I decided long ago to only have one wife. If I have only one wife then it wouldn’t be because of fighting among women if something happened to her.”

“Good.” Yuelan gave Guangfeng a small smile then turned to look at Laurel. “Why don’t you have tea brought out for the guests?” she suggested.

Laurel saluted in acknowledgement and left the gazebo.

Yuelan turned her attention to Liling and smiled. “Are you doing alright? No bad aftereffects from the drug we were given?” she asked.

Liling nodded. “I’m fine. Third brother said all the ones who attacked us were caught and Father Emperor handed the case to him so as few people would know of it as possible. He doesn’t want to give details on what he knows though…”

“I gave a report to Father Emperor this morning,” Guangfeng told the girls. “There’s no need to cause you stress by saying anything other than the issue will be dealt with and there’s no need for you to be afraid.” He leaned back in his seat, letting himself get more comfortable, and decided to change the subject. “Miss Long, are you going to inspect the contents of my gift to you?” he asked.

Yuelan sighed and took the box from Willow then lifted the lid and looked inside. The accessory set made of fire opals was well made and as she touched them she could feel that they were light enough that they wouldn’t cause her a headache. She smiled and stroked one of the pins. “It’s beautiful,” she told the third prince.

“It was my mother’s,” Guangfeng explained. “Father Emperor had it made for her not long after she became his crown princess. If it’s placed properly then the set forms a phoenix.”

Liling leaned over and peeked into the box. Her bottom lip poked out in a pout and she looked over at her brother. “Why doesn’t third brother ever give me such nice gifts?” she complained.

“I haven’t done anything lately to make you angry with me,” Guangfeng chuckles. “Besides, I do give you nice gifts. Just not anything from my mother’s dowry.”

“Stingy.” Liling pretended to pout and looked away from him.

Yuelan giggled. “Thank you, Your Highness. I’ll have to have some clothes made that will suit these beautiful accessories.”

“You should wear the set for the mid-autumn banquet,” Liling suggested. “It isn’t for half a year, but you’d be the envy of every girl there if you did.”

Laurel reappeared with tea and served it to everyone and Yuelan, Guangfeng, and Liling continued to chat idly for a while longer before Guangfeng and Liling needed to leave.

Shortly after the two left, Chung Soo approached Yuelan in the gazebo and respectfully offered her a piece of paper. “His Highness the first prince is inviting you to eat lunch with him tomorrow,” he explained. “Now that their one month punishment has passed I am sure the second prince will not be far behind in issuing invitations.”

Yuelan sighed and took the paper from Chung Soo. She scanned its contents and handed it back. “Accept the invitation,” she said calmly.

“Are you sure, my lady?” Chung Soo asked, looking concerned. “You were drugged and should still be resting. It would be fine for you to refuse.”

“If I don’t go it could make people suspicious,” Yuelan replied. “Especially after meeting with the third prince today. Besides, I haven’t felt any ill effects left over from the drug. Willow and Camphor will come with me, so it won’t be a problem even if I do start to feel something.”

The eunuch nodded and went to send word that his lady had accepted the invitation.

“I wonder why Long He hasn’t come back,” Yuelan mused quietly to herself. “When I was sick last time he was back when I woke up...but this time I was nearly abducted and he hasn’t shown himself.” She frowned and tapped her lips with her index finger as she thought over the problem. “Could something have happened?”

“Lord Long is a dragon,” Laurel quietly reminded Yuelan. “I don’t think he is in any danger, and even if he was what could we do about it?”

Yuelan sighed. “You’re right. I’m still a bit worried, though. He’s been gone for almost two weeks...I suppose he could be at the library, but it’s not convenient for me to go and look right now.”

Of course, it not being convenient to go to the library also meant it wasn’t convenient for Yuelan to go and visit her father. She missed him quite a bit and wanted someone to talk to about what had happened and the conversation she’d had with Guangfeng that day. Yuelan frowned a little, realizing that she seemed to have stopped thinking of the third prince by his title. She wasn’t entirely sure about when the change had happened, but waved the thought away, considering it unimportant.

“I suppose we should choose what I’ll be wearing tomorrow…” Yuelan mused.

“Perhaps the accessory set that His Highness the first prince had delivered to you last week?” Willow suggested.

“Mm...maybe.” Yuelan’s response was half hearted. The gold and sapphire set was beautiful, but she wasn’t particularly drawn to it. Her favorite color was blue, but she would have preferred silver instead of gold for the accessory set the first prince sent to her.