Once they had left the palace, Yuelan chose to ride in Guangfeng’s carriage with her fiance and her father so she could have more time with her father. Byakko shifted to house-cat size and curled up inside the carriage in her lap.

“How long can you stay, Daddy?” Yuelan asked Long Ansheng. She had an anxious and eager expression on her face.

Ansheng smiled and reached a hand out to pat his daughter’s head. “Just for today. I have important meetings to attend to before my term is up. In a few months, I will be able to come here with you permanently.”

Yuelan nodded. “I’ve missed you. A lot. I was glad to get your letter for my birthday, but it would have been better if I could have seen you.”

Her father smiled. “It would have been. I’ve missed you as well. I had no idea things were so hard for you living here alone.”

She sighed. “It has been hard, but Guangfeng has helped me a lot and I’ve made some good friends here. Things like what the empress did haven’t actually happened that much.” After a bit, she smiled at her father. “I’ve gotten to do a lot more traveling than I did back home. I went to a neighboring country and a place called the ‘Barren Lands’ even though it’s covered in forests. I’ll get to go to two more countries as well.”

Ansheng chuckled. “Good. You always did want to travel, but I couldn’t take you on any of my trips because they were too far from the library. You couldn’t leave the capital or it would have put you at risk.”

“Why would it have put her at risk? She does just fine away from it here.” Guangfeng interrupted.

“Her mother explained it better. It has something to do with the magic inside Yuelan and the fact that there is no magic in the world Yuelan grew up in. The only source of magic there is the library and because Yuelan requires that magic to survive, she couldn’t be taken too far away from it,” Ansheng explained.

Guangfeng frowned. “So there are other sources of magic here?”

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“Perhaps you should ask Long He or Seiryuu about that,” Ansheng suggested. “I don’t know much about this world except what Yuelan or Long He have told me.”

The prince nodded. “I will.”

The carriage pulled to a stop then and Guangfeng and Ansheng got down before reaching in to help Yuelan off it. It wasn’t until after his daughter was safely on the ground that Kilin’s prime minister turned to look at his daughter’s house. An approving smile spread across his lips.

“Your home is beautiful, Yuelan,” Ansheng praised.

Yuelan smiled. “Thank you, Daddy. The emperor gave it to me. Along with most of the guards and servants.” Her smile turned into a slight frown. “Some of them refused to take their contracts back from me.”

Ansheng nodded. “You can’t force someone to accept change. That you offered means a lot to them I am sure. Why don’t you give me a tour and then play a song for me on your mother’s guzheng before I go back?”

“I would love that, Daddy.” She grabbed her father’s hand and ran inside the residence. Behind them, Guangfeng chuckled and followed along.

The servants were startled to see a grown man older than Guangfeng being pulled along by Yuelan, but none of them asked about it until Granny Bing Mei arrived with Chung Soo.

“Miss, who is this man? Holding the hand of someone who is not your husband is improper.” The older woman’s chiding tone was gentle but firm.

Yuelan laughed. “Granny Mei, this is my father, Long Ansheng, Prime Minister of Kilin.”

Ansheng gave a slight bow to the elderly woman. “It is good to meet you. Thank you for taking care of my daughter.”

Granny Mei nodded. “It is what I should do as a servant. There is no need for thanks.”

“And this is Chung Soo, my steward,” Yuelan added, indicating the eunuch.

“My Lord.” The eunuch bowed and his voice had that oddly high pitch to it you wouldn’t normally find in a man.

“These two have been very helpful. Granny Mei has been teaching me about etiquette and culture and Chung Soo manages the manor for me along with most of my errands and handling the servants,” Yuelan explained.

Ansheng sighed when he heard Chung Soo’s voice, but said nothing. He managed a smile and nodded to the two servants. “Thank you for taking good care of my daughter. She seems to be in much better health than the last time I saw her.”

Both servants bowed. “It is both our duty and our privilege, my lord,” Chung Soo replied.