The day after the group returned, Guangfeng was named crown prince by the emperor, despite the objections of just under half the court. Word spread quickly that Yuelan was ill as well and with her now known as the future crown princess many families sent valuable healing herbs to her residence. As soon as the herbs started arriving Yuelan instructed her servants to spread word that she was not ill, merely exhausted from performing her duties as the dragon priestess. Even more healing herbs arrived after that from those who were not in the faction supporting the third prince.

Yuelan did not leave her residence and even when her friends came to visit her she wasn’t very cheerful and looked quite down. Even Princess Liling arrived to spend time with her only to find that Yuelan was tired and sad. Thinking that perhaps there was something troubling Yuelan, the princess set time aside later in the week and came to visit again. It was now only a few days before the banquet that would celebrate Yuelan’s birthday.

Liling sat next to Yuelan in the music room listening to Yuelan playing the guzheng. The song being played was filled with loneliness. When the final notes disappeared, Liling sighed. “Yuelan, what’s the matter? You haven’t been yourself since you got back from the barren lands and even though your birthday is coming you look so unhappy.” She stood and put a gentle hand on Yuelan’s shoulder.

“There isn’t anything that anyone can do about it,” Yuelan said as she gently removed Liling’s hand from her shoulder. “I miss my father. This is the first birthday I will spend without him with me. It’s lonely.”

Liling reached out and pulled Yuelan in for a hug. “I should have realized that myself. I’m sorry, Yuelan. Of course you would be feeling lonely for your father. It must be difficult for him to come, since he is a prime minister and your home country is so far away.”

Yuelan hugged Liling in return and nodded her head. “I miss him. But it could be months before I’m recovered enough to go and visit him. I certainly won’t be recovered by my birthday.”

“Is there anything I can do to help you feel better? I’ve received the invitation for your birthday banquet and my husband and I will attend. My third brother will be there as well, I’m sure.”

She shook her head. “No, but thank you for offering, Liling. I’ll be alright.”

Liling sighed and nodded her head. “Alright. By the way, I’ve never heard that song you played before. It was beautiful.”

Yuelan smiled a little sadly. “My mother told me when I was little that it was written by the original owner of her guzheng. That would mean that the first dragon priestess was the composer.”

“She must have really missed whoever she was thinking about when she wrote it.” Liling smiled.

“She probably felt much the same as I’m feeling right now. That’s why I chose to play it.” Yuelan sighed and stood up. “Why don’t we go and have some tea? And thank you for coming over to try and cheer me up.”

Liling poked Yuelan’s forehead. “Of course. What are friends for?”

***

The Crystal Moon Residence became even busier for the next few days and finally the day of Yuelan’s birthday party arrived. Chung Soo and Granny Mei had been very busy with the preparations and that morning Yuelan’s three maids meticulously dressed her up. By the time the guests started to arrive Yuelan was ready and she went into the main hall of her residence with Byakko in his full-size tiger form walking next to her. She wore a peacock blue gown with a rabbit fur cloak as she sat in the main seat with Byakko at her feet with her beaded slippers tucked under him to keep her feet warm. Since there was no one who outranked Yuelan, she did not need to greet anyone personally and with her recent exhaustion, she chose to let all her guests come to her and present their gifts as they arrived.

Many officials of high rank had their daughters step forward to present the gifts from their families and Yuelan received many precious gems, statues, fabric, accessories, and other similar gifts. Guangfeng was the last to arrive with Liling and Chang Biming. Liling presented her gift, a hand-embroidered handkerchief done by Liling herself, and then went to sit down while Guangfeng approached Yuelan.

The third prince reached into his sleeve and produced a small stack of papers folded together. “I thought this was most appropriate after Liling came to visit me the other day,” he explained to her. “I hope you like it, Yuelan.”

Curious, Yuelan took the papers and unfolded them. When she saw the familiar writing her eyes filled with tears. “How did you get this?” she asked, looking up at him with a smile. “Guangfeng, thank you so much!”

Guangfeng smiled and gently touched the delicate, dangling chain of one of her hair ornaments. “I asked Lord Long to help me speak with your father. He delivered it to me just before I came.”

Yuelan stood up and hugged Guangfeng, ignoring the sounds of shock coming from her other guests as they quickly turned their heads away to pretend not to notice. “Thank you, Guangfeng. A letter from my father is the closest thing you could get me to what I wanted.”

He smiled and gently patted her head while she hugged him. “You’re welcome. I’m glad it made you smile.”

The voice of a eunuch rang out from the entrance to the hall then. “The emperor has arrived!”