It took nearly two weeks for Yuelan and Liling’s schedules to allow them to meet up at Red Orchid Teahouse. Yuelan wore a peach colored gown that went over a mint-green half-coat. The fabric was high quality, but the decorations were fairly simple. For accessories Yuelan chose a set of gold accessories with white opals that had been set as petals for blossoms.
The two young women met up at the entrance to the teahouse, arriving at nearly the same time. Yuelan smiled and gave Liling a polite salute without being too formal and Liling cheerfully returned it before grabbing Yuelan’s arm and heading inside. “Third brother’s carriage is here,” she said cheerfully. “Should we go and greet him before having tea ourselves?” the excitable princess suggested.
“Sure. We may as well, right?” Yuelan answered cheerfully as she allowed Liling to pull her into the teahouse.
The teahouse’s manager came forward to greet them, having already recognized Liling and knowing in advance the princess would be coming with the teahouse’s new owner. He gave both young women a respectful bow, but before he could say anything to them Liling cut him off.
“I noticed my third brother is here. Lan-lan and I would like to greet him before you take us to our courtyard for tea,” the princess told the manager.
The manager looked a bit uncomfortable, but nodded his head. “Of course, Your Highness. Lady Long, Princess, if you two will follow me I will show you to his courtyard…”
Yuelan frowned a little and her eyebrows pulled together in a slight crease. “Is there a problem?” she asked the manager.
“No, no,” the manager quickly assured her. “It’s just...His Highness is having a gathering with a group of friends. However, he has stated previously that Princess Liling is always welcome to interrupt him at such gatherings…”
Yuelan’s frown increased a bit. The way the manager was speaking and acting made her feel even more suspicious rather than set at ease. “Lead the way then,” she instructed.
The manager swallowed and led the way toward a large, private courtyard that was surprisingly filled with noise. Most of the voices were male, but some of them came from women.
“Miss Long, Your Highness, if you’ll wait just a moment I’ll go and ask…” the manager started only to be cut off again, this time by Yuelan lifting a hand.
“No need. We’ll go inside to greet His Highness,” Yuelan insisted. Her thin lips were pressed together into a thin line and she walked to the door of the building with determined steps.
Liling sighed and followed after.
When the doors opened the sight that met Yuelan was one she immediately disliked. Rich young men and women were obviously having fun with their party, and while they weren’t doing anything that could cause any of the young women to be unable to find good husbands, their actions were verging on inappropriate as they flirted and laughed.
A small group of girls had gathered around Prince Guangfeng, who was sitting in a seat off to the side and seemed to be holding some sort of court as he and the girls surrounding him flirted. A male servant standing just behind him leaned over to say something into the prince’s ear and Prince Guangfeng turned his attention to Yuelan.
Yuelan’s jade green eyes narrowed and her lips pressed into an even thinner line as she folded her slender arms under her breasts. She said nothing before taking Liling’s arm again and saying, “Come on Liling. Your third brother seems to be too busy for a greeting right now.” Her voice was stiff and had a sharp bite to it that drew a wince from the prince who had just stood up.
“Miss Yuelan-” Prince Guangfeng began, but Yuelan pretended not to hear him and gestured for the manager to lead the way.
The manager swallowed, bowed, and quickly headed toward a different, much smaller courtyard that had been previously prepared for Yuelan and Liling.
Yuelan waited until the manager had left the courtyard, leaving behind a pretty-looking young woman to care for his boss and the princess. Once she and Liling were more or less alone, Yuelan slapped her hand on the table in front of her and her jade eyes flashed. “How dare he be flirting around with other women?” she snapped. “Has he always been like that? My country practices monogamy. I won’t accept my husband having any concubines or other wives!”
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Liling looked calm and rather unsurprised. “Yeah, he has,” she answered. “He’s never slept with any of them, but he does flirt quite a bit.” The princess took the cup of tea from the servant girl and lifted it to her lips to take a sip. “Lan-lan, have some tea and snacks.”
“You’re not angry?” Yuelan demanded as she took the teacup the servant girl was offering her. As soon as it came close to her nose the smell caught her attention and she couldn’t help taking a sip. A soothing, almost fruity flavor came through and Yuelan couldn’t help smiling. “This tea is really excellent…” She frowned when she realized what her friend was trying to do. “Liling, don’t distract me!”
Liling laughed. “The tea here is the best in all of Longuo. It’s very fresh too and comes from the mountains just over there. They all belong to the teahouse, which belongs to you. Third brother was very generous with which property he gave you, don’t you think? This was his most profitable business.”
Yuelan glared at the princess. “Generous because he felt guilty?” she demanded. “Because he’s always surrounded by young women trying to get him to take them home with him and he doesn’t do anything about it?”
“Lan-lan, he’s really not a bad person. He flirts, but that’s all. He’s never done more than that to any woman. Of course, it frustrates Father Emperor, but that might even be the point,” Liling sighs. She pushes a plate of pastries toward Yuelan. “Have some snacks. We’re supposed to be here to enjoy ourselves. I’ve been so busy preparing for my wedding that this is the first chance I’ve had to get away from the palace. Please don’t be angry anymore.”
Yuelan bit her lip to keep from saying anything more. She took a deep breath and let it out in a sigh to calm herself. “You’re right. I’m sorry, Liling.” Her hand reached out to pick up a pastry as she gave Liling a smile. “Let’s not talk about it right now. Are you excited for your wedding? Do you like the young general?”
Liling’s cheeks turned a little pink and she smiled as she took a sip of tea. “He’s very kind. I like him very much. Though we don’t get to meet often. I haven’t seen him since the New Year celebration.” She let out a sigh and put her teacup down before reaching for a pastry and nibbling on it with a wistful look. “He’s been very busy with his responsibilities to the court and his men as well as preparations for the wedding. We probably won’t get to see each other until our wedding day.”
“That’s a shame, though some of the more traditional families back home don’t allow their engaged children to meet with their fiancees at all for the last few months before the wedding,” Yuelan sympathized. “I think I’d be very lonely if I had to deal with that.”
“It is lonely. And I would probably have to sneak out if I wanted to see him...I was hoping he would be with third brother today, but I didn’t see him in the courtyard.” Liling let out a mournful sigh.
“Why would he be at a party like that?” Yuelan asked, frowning.
Liling giggled. “Because other influential people are there. Not everyone at those parties is a hedonist. It’s a great way to get to know others of the younger generation and cement alliances and relationships with influential families. General Chang Biming wouldn’t do any flirting or anything like that.”
A glimmer of light shone in Yuelan’s eyes. “I see...because a prince is hosting the gathering, everyone invited almost has to show up or they’d be disrespecting a member of the imperial family. Since they have to make an appearance they might as well use the opportunity to network and make connections with those who will be influential in the future.”
“Exactly. Though a lot of the guests are really just useless, spoiled children of influential families.” Liling shrugged. A moment later Liling looked a bit dizzy and confused. She lifted her hand to her forehead and blinked her eyes a couple of times.
“Liling? Is something wrong?” Yuelan asked, getting up from her chair and moving over to the other side of the table to check on the princess.
“I-I think so,” Liling answered. “I just suddenly felt a bit dizzy…”
Yuelan frowned. “Maybe we should leave then. If you don’t feel well you should rest and have a doctor see you.” She started to help Liling from the chair, then stumbled a bit and ended up falling on top of the princess. Her vision swam in a familiar way and her head spun. Her face paled. “Liling...we’ve been drugged…” She pulled Liling up from the chair and headed out of the small building. “Go, quickly. Before whoever it is gets here.”
The two girls started to run, stumbling as they went. Neither one had thought to bring their maids with them. Before they could get far, a trio of men dressed in black appeared next to them. One of them reached for Lilling, but Yuelan shoved the princess out of the way and in the direction of Prince Guangfeng’s courtyard. “Go, quickly! Get help!” she shouted as the masked man in black wrapped his fingers around Yuelan’s arm instead.
Yuelan started to try and struggle, but two of the men restrained her while the third chased after Liling. "Oh no, little miss. See, we might need you to get the Princess," one of them growled. He pulled a knife out and pressed it to her throat. "Now stop struggling."
She paled and stiffened. While she didn't actively struggle, she did the best she could to subtly make it harder for the two men to drag her away.