Camphor apologized for not bringing any of Yuelan’s clothes with her more than once while she was helping Yuelan bathe and prepare for bed, though just before she was about to help her mistress into one of the third prince’s robes the two girls heard a voice coming from outside. The voice belonged to Long He, so Camphor quickly went over to see what he wanted.

“I went back and had Laurel and Willow pack up some of Miss Yuelan’s clothes,” Long He explained, handing a bundle to Willow. “There should be enough to last her until I can fly the two of you back.”

“Thank you, Lord Long,” Camphor said, bowing a little out of gratitude. “I’m sure Miss will be much more comfortable in her own clothing.”

“Make sure you put those accessories she’s wearing somewhere safe. And don’t let her use them for a while,” Long He instructed.

Camphor looked confused by the additional instructions, but didn’t argue. Instead, she lowered the tent flap and went back to Yuelan’s side to help her dress and settled her miss in the chair before going out and getting the bedding that the soldier she’d sent earlier had finally brought back. Instead of the soldier she’d expected, the third prince was holding the bedding and he silently handed it to Camphor.

“Your Highness?” Camphor took the bedding, but frowned in confusion. “Did you want to come in and speak with Miss for a little while?”

“No. She needs rest so her wound can heal. Inform me if there is anything she needs,” Guangfeng instructed. “A military camp isn’t the most comfortable place and the two of you are the only women here. Be on guard so nothing happens.”

Camphor nodded and went back inside, quickly changing the bedding and then carrying the blood-soaked blankets out and shoving them into the arms of the nearest shoulder. “Take care of these,” she ordered before going right back into the prince’s tent.

The soldier happened to be one of the generals, who looked over at the prince and frowned.

“Don’t argue, just do it,” Guangfeng instructed.

“Your Highness, who is the woman in your tent?” the general asked.

The corner of Guangfeng’s mouth twitched. “Hopefully, my future princess consort. Her name is Long Yuelan and His Majesty the emperor declared that whichever of his sons can obtain her hand in marriage will become the crown prince,” he answered honestly.

The general stiffened. “I will...inform everyone.”

Guangfeng nodded.

“I can go without sleep longer than you humans can, so I will guard the tent,” Long He informed the third prince. “Your men need you rested in case of emergency. I suggest you find some place to sleep, Your Highness.”

The third prince glanced at the tent entrance, sighed, and walked away.

***

The next morning, Camphor helped Yuelan dress and put her injured arm back in the sling and then took the tray of breakfast that a young soldier standing just outside the tent had just called out to inform them he had.

Yuelan had a difficult time swallowing the food as she wasn’t used to how it was seasoned: either no seasoning at all or an overabundance of salt in each dish. Fortunately, the third prince had some decent quality tea in his tent and Camphor personally prepared a pot and gave Yuelan a cup once she’d finished eating to help wash it all down.

With nothing else to do, Yuelan insisted on leaving the tent to walk around. Camphor hovered at Yuelan’s side looking anxious the entire time even though Long He was trailing not far behind them.

Around lunch, Yuelan had explored her way through the make-shift, tent-lined streets filled with sweat-covered men to a large tent in the center. It wasn’t actually that far from Guangfeng’s tent, but Yuelan had gone the opposite direction at first and then made a few turns to get to it.

Just as she reached the tent a group of men stepped out of the large tent, all of them dressed in armor. Guangfeng was one of them and he frowned as soon as his eyes met Yuelan’s.

“What are you doing outside?” the third prince asked in a disapproving tone. “This isn’t the capital where you can explore as you wish. It’s a war camp.”

Yuelan’s cheeks puffed out a little and she pouted. “I’ve never been in a place like this before,” she argued. “I wanted to see what it was like.”

Guangfeng walked over and took hold of Yuelan’s uninjured arm just above the elbow then started pulling her back to his tent. “You’re already injured, shouldn’t that prove that this place isn’t safe?” he demanded. “You need rest to recover and nobody here will be able to focus if they have to worry about your safety! Women are a distraction in a place like this. Be good and stay in the tent!”

Yuelan tried to pull her arm away, but Guangfeng was holding on tight enough that she couldn’t. “Let go of me! Who says women can’t be in a war camp? There are women in my country’s military and they do just fine! They’re allowed to fight and even be commanding officers!”

“This isn’t your country, Yuelan!” Guangfeng shouted at her. He stopped and glared down at her pretty face. “And you’re not a soldier! If you wanted to be considered anything other than a normal woman you’d be a scholar at most! Even if you knew martial arts, you’re injured and can’t fight back! I have a war to fight and men to lead. I can’t afford to be distracted with wondering where you are, what you’re doing, and whether or not you’re going to be captured or injured or killed!” He started dragging her again and then shoved her into his tent as soon as they reached it. “Now behave yourself and stay in here! If you can’t then I’ll assign soldiers to make you!”

Yuelan staggered and Camphor had to run over and help her catch her balance before she fell. Once she was stable, Yuelan turned and glared at Guangfeng. “I don’t want to stay in the tent! There’s nothing to do!”

“Don’t be selfish!” Guangfeng shouted back at her. “For once, don’t argue with me!” He turned and glared at Long He. “Why did you let her run around the camp?” he demanded.

The dragon looked back at the prince with an amused expression. “She’s in no danger with me here,” he answered calmly. “I may not be able to heal her wounds, but I can kill anyone who has any ill intentions before they can do any harm to her.”

Yuelan smirked at Guangfeng. “See? There’s no reason for me to stay stuck inside a tent with nothing to do all day. I’m perfectly safe!”

Guangfeng turned back to Yuelan and glared. “Yuelan,” he said through gritted teeth. “You are in a military camp. I have the authority in this camp. My camp, my rules. You will stay. In. The. Tent!”

The slender girl stomped her foot. “I won’t! If you make me stay stuck in here I’ll go crazy! There has to be something I can do to help!”

The third prince felt like pulling his hair out from the roots as he glared at the willful girl he was trying to keep as safe as he could. “You can stay put! That’s the only way you can help!” he roared before turning and glaring at the nearest group of soldiers. “Do not let her leave this tent for any reason!” he snapped at them, pointing his finger right at Yuelan’s small nose. “If she needs something then someone else can get it for her!”

The soldiers snapped to attention and gave the furious prince a crisp salute, then stationed themselves around the tent as Guangfeng stormed away.

“Xiong Guangfeng, you get back here!” Yuelan shouted as she started to follow him. Unfortunately, the soldiers held their arms out and blocked her way. She glared at them, then stomped her foot and went back into the tent, flopping onto the bed in a huff.

Camphor had remained silent during the argument, but she helped her miss get settled on the bed again and tucked her in. “Miss, His Highness is worried about you. Please try to understand from his point of view. The woman he cares for is in a dangerous place. It must be difficult enough for him to be able to focus even if he knows where you are. This camp could be attacked at any time and swords have no eyes. Even with Lord Long here to protect you, accidents could still happen.”

Yuelan let out a huff. “He didn’t have to be such a jerk about it.”

Camphor tried to coax Yuelan until the doctor came and gave Yuelan a bowl of medicinal soup. The medicine made her drowsy and she fell asleep.