The imperial carriage stopped in front of a large building painted in red and gold. The sign board read “Red Orchid Pavilion” in black-outlined gold characters. From what Yuelan could see, the people going in and out of the building were all members of the elite or servants from those elite families. She watched quietly from inside the carriage until Camphor and Willow stood up and stepped out of the carriage, followed by Long He and then Prince Guangfeng.

“Miss Long, please allow this prince to treat you to a meal as an apology for upsetting you,” Prince Guangfeng said gently.

Yuelan sighed, stood up, and stepped out of the carriage, holding onto the hand that Willow offered her as support. “I’m not upset,” she replied. “I just didn’t want to give you an opportunity to tease me again.”

The prince smiled and bowed slightly. “Red Orchid Pavilion is the finest restaurant in the capital. I own it, so please feel free to order whatever you wish and eat as much as you wish.”

Yuelan let go of Willow’s hand and started walking into the building, looking around curiously at everything as Prince Guangfeng and Long He followed a few steps behind her with the two maids bringing up the rear.

One of the employees spotted the group as soon as they stepped through the doors and quickly made his way forward to bow to the prince. “Your private room is available, as always, Your Highness,” the employee informed them. “General Cheng Biming and a few of your usual guests are here as well. Shall I inform them that you’re here and lead them to your private room?”

“Not this time,” Prince Guangfeng answered. “Today I am entertaining Lord Long and his ward, Miss Long. It’s Miss Long’s first time in the capital, see to her comfort and needs. We’ll sit wherever she likes.”

The employee blinked and looked a bit startled, but turned to Yuelan and bowed courteously. “Miss Long, would you prefer a private room or something in the main dining area?”

Yuelan touched a finger to her lips as she tilted her head and thought for a minute. “The main dining area, I think. I’d like to see more of what the captial is like and I can’t do that from a private room.” She watched the employee glance at the prince for approval and receive a nod in response and her lips curled into a slight frown. Hadn't the prince said wherever she wanted to sit?

“This way, please.” The employee led them through the tables to a larger table by a window with a view of the street before bowing and excusing himself.

“What would you like to eat?” Prince Guangfeng asked as he leaned back lazily in his chair, ignoring the stares of the people around him.

“I don’t know what’s available,” Yuelan pointed out. “So I’ll let you decide.”

“Miss Yuelan loves dumplings, Your Highness. And prefers sweet to spicy,” Long He added.

Yuelan looked over at the dragon. “I don’t remember telling you that…”

Long He chuckled. “You did. When you were about six years old and first came to the library. Your father had to explain to you that the library wasn’t a place to eat. You’d only been taken out to a couple of restaurants before then.”

Prince Guangfeng chuckled as well. “Miss Long seems like she was a charming and willful child…”

Yuelan’s face turned a little pink. “I was six,” she mumbled. “Aren’t all six year olds that way?”

“I wouldn’t know. I didn’t interact much with my younger siblings outside of what lessons we had together,” the prince remarked.

“And I’ve never had much experience with children,” the dragon added. “Except with you, because you visited the library so often.”

She sighed, put her head in her palm with her elbow on the table, and turned to stare out the window.

“We’ll order pork dumplings, crab rangoons, and sweet and sticky beef,” Yuelan heard the prince say after a couple of minutes. She turned her head to look and realized that a server had appeared.

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“And seasoned, roasted vegetables,” she added. “Eating only meat isn’t good for your digestion.” When the server bowed and walked away, Yuelan turned her attention back to watching the street outside the window. She listened as several people came up to speak to the prince, a few of them fathers sounding like they were trying to convince him to take their daughters in as a wife or concubine. 

The corner of Yuelan’s mouth twitched in annoyance after hearing a couple of them trying to sell their daughters and she lifted her head to turn and look when she heard another person approaching. She saw a middle-aged man with a girl about Yuelan’s age, perhaps a little younger. At first she said nothing, only watching as the man introduced his daughter and started listing her assets and abilities.

“Excuse me,” Yuelan cut in, letting her expression show her upset. “But am I invisible?” Her voice was cutting and angry. “And is this a place to be trying to sell your daughter to someone and try to climb the social ladder?” She stood up and put her hands on her hips as she glared at the man.

Prince Guangfeng looked startled, then amused as he leaned back in his seat as if to watch a show.

The man who had come over with his daughter looked at Yuelan in surprise. “And you are…?”

“My ward, Miss Long Yuelan,” Long He answered. “It’s her first time in the capital and His Highness was doing us the honor of giving her a tour.”

“I am a fifth rank official for the Emperor,” the man countered. “His Highness the third prince has never objected to officials suggesting our daughters enter his palace. What right have you, a mere ward of a librarian, to argue?”

“Miss Yuelan’s father is the prime minister of her country and shares equal power with the country’s emperor. He is a close friend of mine and asked me to see to her care and well-being while she is visiting this country,” Long He cut in without giving Yuelan a chance to fight back on her own. “I’ll make sure the Emperor is made aware of your dismissal of her right to monopolize any member of the imperial family’s time as soon as our meal is finished. Besides, even if her father didn't hold such a rank, as a fifth rank official you do not have the right to attend court. I, on the other hand, a 'mere librarian' do. My standing in the court is deserving of more respect than you are currently showing by interrupting the meal between myself, my ward, and His Highness.”

Yuelan folded her arms under her breasts and glared at the official. “I don’t care what rank you hold. It is incredibly rude to interrupt a meal to which you were not invited. Especially when one of the guests in the meal you are interrupting is a young, unmarried lady and you are coming to sell your own daughter, who is also a young, unmarried lady. Whatever Prince Guangfeng’s usual habits, you should take better notice of who you may be offending. I am unfamiliar with how things work in this capital, but in my home country  the capital is filled with people you shouldn’t offend and you don’t always know who they are. What a poor representation of your emperor’s government you’ve turned out to be.” She huffed, shot a glare at Prince Guangfeng, and sat back down to stare angrily out the window. How could he just sit back and watch in amusement while someone offended a guest at his table in his own restaurant? Not to mention all the others that had been coming to talk to him when he was so obviously busy. Did no one in this place have any manners?

“Miss Long is correct,” the prince said quickly. “I apologize for not having my employees keep others away from this table. I should have thought of it earlier.” He looked over at the official. “This prince hopes you do not take offence over what his guest had to say. This prince is simply hoping to give her a pleasant experience in the capital, as she has never been here before.”

The official’s face turned red, then pale and he swallowed rather loudly before quickly replying, “There is no need for Prince Guangfeng to apologize. This official was too hasty in his judgments and didn’t think to look into who Your Highness was dining with. This official hopes he has not offended Lady Long too much and wishes to know where to send an apology gift…”

“Miss Yuelan and I will be returning to the library in the morning,” Long He replied. “I am sure if you send the gift to His Highness’ palace one of his servants can have it delivered to her.”

The official bowed, glanced at his daughter, and then scurried away. After that, no one else tried to approach the table to converse with Prince Guangfeng and the ordered meal was served.

Yuelan picked up the silver chopsticks placed in front of her and started to eat in silence. The food had a delicious flavor and she closed her eyes to savor it better. Nobody else at the table said a word until all of the food was gone.

“Was the food to Miss Long’s taste?” Prince Guangfeng asked politely once all the food had been eaten.

Yuelan gave the prince a smile and nodded. “It was delicious. Thank you for treating me to such a wonderful-tasting meal.”

“Good. I’ll make sure the chefs receive a bonus for tonight.” The prince stood and moved around to hold the chair for Yuelan as she stood up. “I would invite you to see more of the capital today, but perhaps it would be best to rest instead. I’ll take you and Lord Long to an inn.”

“Thank you, Your Highness,” Long He said as he stood. He clasped his hands together and bowed a little. “Your assistance is appreciated.”

“Of course.” Prince Guangfeng smiled and nodded, then led the way out of the restaurant and back to his carriage.