Yuelan spent the next day showing Guangfeng around. When they stopped for breaks she would fiddle with her phone and when he asked her about it she explained that she was sending messages to her friends. The prince was impressed at the speed and seeming ease with which the messages went back and forth. He was also amazed by the busses, cars, trains, stores, restaurants, and variety everywhere they went. Walking around with Yuelan allowed Guangfeng to see for himself that there were women in many different positions and with capabilities beyond what he’d known.

After returning to Yuelan’s home and resting for a bit in the late afternoon, Cheng Man knocked on the door to the sitting room where Yuelan and Guangfeng were having tea and reading. “Miss, Madam Fang from Fang corporation is here. Your father is in the middle of an important phone call.”

Yuelan looked up from her book and set it aside. “Alright. Invite her up and she can have tea with Guangfeng and I. Ask Carrie to come in to help with serving it. I’m feeling tired.”

The butler nodded and left. A couple of minutes later a red-headed girl with green eyes and wearing a maid uniform walked into the room leading a middle-aged woman with stern eyes. The older woman carried herself with confidence and grace. She nodded her head to Yuelan and took the seat that was offered to her.

“Madam Fang. Excuse me for not getting up to greet you. As I’m sure you’ve heard, I’m not feeling very well.” It wasn’t exactly a lie. The time spent running around had exhausted Yuelan and she had already decided to cut the visit to Kilin short and return the next morning. She hadn’t expected there to be such a difference in the amount of energy she had and had worn herself out. “And this is Xiong Guangfeng. He works in my recovery center.” Also not entirely a lie. After all, Guangfeng worked as a prince and Yuelan’s ‘recovery center’ was his entire world.

“Of course, Miss Long. It’s a pleasure to meet you, Mr. Xiong.” The middle-aged woman nodded her head to him and smiled at Yuelan. “The entire country hopes for your recovery and I apologize for disturbing you when you’re so rarely at home. I came to meet with your father and was informed he is occupied at the moment.”

Yuelan nodded. “Cheng Man said Father is in the middle of an important call. I’m sure he’ll come as soon as he’s finished. What can I do for you?” She looked over at the red-headed girl. “Carrie, please pour Madam Fang some tea.”

Carrie nodded and walked over to the teapot to pour tea into a cup and handed it to the visitor. “Here you are, Madam.”

Madam Fang smiled and took the cup. “Thank you, Carrie. Miss Long you have such excellent servants. I’m impressed every time I come here.”

“Thank you. I do my best to treat them well and am happy that they do the same for me.” Yuelan reciprocated the smile with one of her own and nodded her head to Carrie in silent praise. “I don’t believe you came here to have tea with me, Madam Fang. Or is it something I won’t be able to handle on my father’s behalf?”

The madam leaned back in her chair a bit and crossed her ankles as she sipped the tea. “I’m sure you could. Do you know much about the tax law that your father and some of the other officials are trying to put into place?”

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“I’m afraid I’m a bit behind on current events in the government,” Yuelan confessed. “I don’t get a lot of news. The most recent tax law I remember my father mentioning had something to do with taxing corporations based on the percentage of the market for certain items they control.”

Madam Fang nodded. “Precisely. Such a tax can hardly be beneficial to the country. I don’t understand why your father would be wanting to implement it.”

Yuelan shrugged and took a sip of tea. “I’m afraid I don’t know. My father did mention that there is a problem with monopolies at the moment and he is trying to figure out a way to let smaller businesses thrive along with the large corporations. Perhaps that’s the reason.”

The middle-aged woman frowned. “I don’t think there’s a problem with monopolies at all. There’s a problem with that tax, though. Such a thing would do a considerable amount of damage to my own company. I might have to lay off workers and that could affect the economy as a whole.”

Yuelan took another sip of tea. “Madam Fang, I’m afraid I cannot help you. My father and I are very close, but I don’t interfere or get involved when it comes to his decisions on policies. Unless my father seeks for my opinion I won’t even advise him on something like this.”

Madam Fang frowned. “But Miss Long, I’m aware that your opinion holds a lot of sway with the prime minister. Couldn’t you at least put in a few good words for me?”

Yuelan shook her head. “I’m truly sorry, Madam Fang, but I don’t interfere in such matters for a reason. I am still only a high school student. I have no degree in finance or economics nor is it something I am skilled with. I am sorry that you feel it would be a threat to your company, but I cannot try to advise my father. He has economists and financiers he trusts and consults over such decisions and I am sure he will do what he feels is best for Kilin.”

The middle-aged woman did not look pleased with Yuelan’s response. “Miss Long, I am sure you are aware that my company deals with medicine and the healthcare industry. The best doctors in the country are on my payroll…”

Yuelan lifted a hand to stop Madam Fang just as Long Ansheng walked into the room. The prime minister had apparently overheard part of the conversation as he was frowning.

“Madam Fang, please leave. My daughter’s time here at home is short and I do not want her stressed. I will pretend that you did not come today and try to coerce my daughter into convincing me to make a policy decision based on my feelings for her.” The prime minister’s eyes bored into Madam Fang’s. “My daughter is leaving in the morning to return to the recovery center and I want to spend as much time with her before that as possible.” He turned to look at Carrie, who was pouring a cup of tea for him. “Thank you, Carrie. As soon as you’ve finished please show Madam Fang out.”

The maid nodded as Madam Fang’s face paled and her eyes flashed. “I see I am not welcome here. Very well. Do not expect assistance from me in the future, Prime Minister. You will not be receiving it.” The middle-aged woman stood and swept out of the room, forcing Carrie to quickly set the teapot down and hurry after her to lead the way.

Long Ansheng sighed and picked up his teacup then sat down in an armchair. “I don’t know that I would want her assistance anymore anyway.”

Guangfeng smiled. “I see politics still work similarly here.”

“Politics work the same everywhere. Fundamentally, humans are selfish creatures. We can’t help trying to work for our own self-interest. Still, it is examples like my wife and daughter who convince us to work for others.” Ansheng smiled fondly at Yuelan. “Those who believe that bettering others will better everyone are remarkable people.”