As Yuelan had returned home at dawn, she spent the whole day in bed just as Doctor Wei had recommended. While she rested, Camphor and Willow worked with Granny Mei and Chung Soo to make sure everything was ready for Yuelan to travel to Zhongshu the following day with Princess Ainuan and the other members of the wedding party. Yuelan’s two personal maids stopped packing at regular intervals to take food or medicine to their mistress so she would recover as soon as possible.

The next day, Yuelan was running a fever. Nobody was surprised, as she had spent two full days without food and trapped in a small room covered in water. Unfortunately, there wasn’t time for her to rest properly and recover from her illness. Camphor and Willow carefully helped Yuelan into her carriage and settled her as comfortably as they could, piling up pillows behind her and covering her in blankets. They also made sure there was plenty of fuel for the brazier. Once the two maids were sure Yuelan was comfortable enough she could get some rest, they signaled the driver and the carriage headed for the palace to join the group leaving for Zhongshu.

Guangfeng was waiting outside the palace gates on a horse when Yuelan’s carriage arrived. Behind him was his own carriage and standing beside it was Doctor Wei holding his bag. The third prince tapped on the side of Yuelan’s carriage as it came to a stop.

Camphor lifted the curtain to look outside and attempted to salute the prince. “Your Highness. Miss has just fallen back to sleep. She’s running a fever, so if possible we’d like to let her rest…”

“Let her sleep. I’ve brought Doctor Wei along to monitor her condition. I’m sure he can examine her without waking her,” Guangfeng replied. He glanced back at the doctor, who nodded in confirmation and stepped away from the prince’s carriage and toward Yuelan’s.

Willow opened the carriage door and let the doctor in and the two maids sat beside Yuelan while the doctor examined her and then handed them a small bundle.

“No need for concern, Your Highness, it seems to just be a cold,” the doctor said quietly. “Boil the herbs in water and have her drink it as tea. Let me know if her condition changes at all.”

“Thank you, doctor.” Camphor’s voice was just as soft as the doctor’s and she started to reach for Yuelan’s coin purse.

Doctor Wei raised up a hand. “No need for payment. His Highness has already promised to pay. I will be in His Highness’ carriage should you need me.”

Camphor nodded and Willow opened the carriage door and let the doctor out.

The doctor stepped out of Yulan’s carriage and climbed into the third prince’s.

Over the next half hour, more carriages and wagons arrived. Once everyone was gathered and Princess Ainuan’s carriage had come out of the palace, the caravan set off, heading out of the capital and onto the western highway toward Zhongshu.

***

Yuelan dozed off and on for the next couple of days as she recovered from her cold and the ordeal of being abducted. She didn’t leave the carriage or make an attempt to carry out a conversation with anyone outside it. When she was awake she would chat with her maids or study the books and scrolls they had considerately packed for her, but for the most part she slept.

On the fourth day after leaving the capital Yuelan was fully recovered and had lifted the curtain to watch the scenery as the caravan traveled along the highway. Guangfeng rode his horse next to her carriage, though kept back a bit from the window so he wouldn’t impede her view.

“When we cross the bridge just ahead we’ll be in Zhongshu,” Guangfeng said, pointing ahead along the road.

Yuelan poked her head out of the carriage window to look ahead and smiled. “And how long after that before we reach our destination?” Yuelan asked as she turned her head back to look at him.

Guangfeng smiled. “Another four days. Would you like to come out and ride on the horse with me for a bit?”

As the prince had expected, Yuelan’s face paled and she quickly shook her head. “No thanks. You know I don’t like horses.”

“Just thought I would offer in case you wanted a change of pace.” He smiled.

They had just crossed the bridge Guangfeng had pointed out earlier and Yuelan was going to respond to his teasing but just as she opened her mouth to speak the horses pulling her carriage suddenly panicked. They reared and darted off the road toward the forest, ignoring the driver’s attempts to get them back under control.

“Ah!” The sudden change in speed threw Yuelan back against the seat and she bit her tongue. It wasn’t bad, but was painful and the taste of blood filled her mouth. She lifted her hand and covered her mouth, wincing.

Camphor and Willow had also been tossed about. Camphor had hit her head against the table in the center of the carriage and been knocked out and Willow was thrown against the door, which opened, and she tumbled out of the carriage.

“Send someone ahead to stop the caravan!” Guangfeng snapped at one of the nearby guards. “Circle around and keep everyone safe. You five, come with me!” He pointed at five guards and then spurred his horse to chase after Yuelan’s carriage.

The carriage seemed to be hitting every rock and bump as it sped toward the nearby forest. Yuelan did her best to keep herself steady inside the carriage, but she kept being tossed around. Before long, Shadow came in through the window, wrapped an arm around Yuelan’s waist, and jumped out of the carriage with her. “Apologies, my lady,” he muttered just before they landed on the ground. The guard managed to land on his feet and kept Yuelan lifted up. He ran a few steps before he managed to stop and set her down. Not far away, the horses ran on opposite sides of a tree, smashing the carriage into it. The driver had already jumped off his seat and Yuelan couldn’t see any sign of him.

“Thank you, Shadow.” Yuelan gave her guard a tense smile.

The guard only nodded and stepped away to an appropriate distance.

Yuelan looked around at the trees around them and frowned. She couldn’t see the road at all or any sign of anyone else. Just as she was about to ask Shadow which way they should go, she heard a loud roar sounding from nearby, causing her to shiver. Oddly, she didn’t feel fear, but a sense of familiarity from the roar and she unconsciously took a step toward the sound.