Guangfeng was surprised to see Laurel waiting outside his palace when he arrived home. Before he could get down from his carriage she had walked toward it and bowed.

“Your Highness, my lady has asked me to inform you that she would like you to go to her Crystal Moon Residence right away.” Laurel had changed since her family was threatened, her brother rescued, and her crimes forgiven. She was more solemn and serious than before. Her younger brother was still training to be Yuelan’s page, so she had come in his place this time.

“Has something happened? Is she alright?” The third prince felt a moment of panic. Yuelan had never taken the initiative to invite him before. Something must have happened.

Laurel smiled. “My lady is fine, Your Highness. Some guests arrived and she wants you to meet them.”

He relaxed and let out a breath he hadn’t realized he was holding. “Oh. I’ll go immediately.”

The servant girl bowed and went back to the carriage she had come in to follow after him.

Crystal Moon Residence was only a few minutes away by carriage, so it didn’t take Guangfeng long to get there. He picked up the carefully wrapped package of amethyst accessories he’d gotten for Yuelan and headed inside. A young boy of about seven was waiting for him by the gate. He looked quite a bit like Laurel.

“Your Highness, please follow me.” The boy bowed a little clumsily, but he looked happy and cheerful with slightly chubby cheeks. He was also missing a tooth and the hole caused a slight whistling sound as the boy talked.

“What is your name, child?” Guangfeng asked as he followed the boy.

The boy grinned. “My lady said that I should have a name to match my sister’s. Since Laurel is a type of tree I should also have a tree name. She called me Rowan. When my contract has ended I can return to my original name, too. Lady is really nice!”

“Yes, she is.” Guangfeng smiled. He was a bit surprised to be led to the main hall. Yuelan hadn’t used it since his brothers had first started to visit her. Chung Soo was waiting at the door to let them in and the boy hurried forward and bowed to Yuelan.

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“My Lady, His Highness the third prince is here.” Rowan said cheerfully.

“Thank you, Rowan. You may go and play in the garden.” Yuelan walked over and patted the boy’s head.

Rowan let out a happy “whoop!” and ran outside.

Guangfeng chuckled as he bowed to Yuelan. “He seems to be doing well here.”

“He’s the only child in the residence, so he gets lonely. I’m thinking of getting a couple more for him to play with and to help with some of the easier chores,” Yuelan explained. She didn’t mention that they wouldn’t have life contracts as soon as they entered her home. “Anyway, I brought you here to meet my guests, the leader of the Hechuan people and her two daughters.”

The three women stood and bowed in the same way they had to Yuelan before. “Greetings, Your Highness.”

Guangfeng returned their bow with a slight one of his own. “Greetings. We don’t get many of your people here in Longuo.”

“There hasn’t been much need to come through here, Your Highness,” the older woman replied. “We came to see the priestess and ask for her help.”

Yuelan took a seat and gestured for Guangfeng to take one near her. “I need to make a trip to the barren lands east of here. The magical creatures are starting to go insane and I have a duty to do as the priestess in the temple there. Would it be possible for you to go with me?”

Guangfeng frowned. He didn’t like the idea of her going to the barren lands on her own, but it was a bad time for him to leave the courts. The proposition he was trying to put through had only just started and he needed more time. “I want to, but I don’t know if I can,” he said quietly. “I have responsibilities in court and I only barely managed to convince the officials to consider the idea that women be given the same opportunities as men.”

“What a barbaric country,” the older of the two daughters snorted. “Run by men? No wonder its laws are so ridiculous.”

Guangfeng frowned and turned to look at the speaker. “Excuse me?”

“The Hechuan people are led by women. We are superior to men in every way but physical strength, after all. Why shouldn’t we lead?” the woman explained when she saw Guangfeng’s confused and slightly angry appearance.

Yuelan hid a smile behind a cup of tea that she lifted to her lips. “By the way, the Hechuan people seem to be matriarchal. Coming along and getting to know them could help you with your efforts in the court.”

Guangfeng looked over at Yuelan and smiled. “Then I will ask my father for leave. Do we need to leave immediately, or can we wait until the end of the week?”

“The end of the week will be fine as long as we hurry. It’ll still take several days by river,” Leila answered. “About seven days.”

Guangfeng nodded. “Then I will work quickly to finish what I need to do before then.”