Ansheng’s secretary approached the group and spoke quietly with the prime minister. The secretary glanced in Yuelan’s direction a couple of times. After the conversation had ended, Ansheng sighed and turned to look at his daughter. “It seems the crown prince has come for a surprise visit and is insistent on meeting you, Yuelan. He heard that you’re feeling well enough to be at home, so I don’t think we can just send him away saying you’re ill.”

“It’s alright, Daddy. I can meet him.” Yuelan smiled at her father and stepped out of Guangfeng’s embrace to start walking toward the house.

“Should I give you time to change?” her father offered.

“Nope. He decided to show up unannounced, so he can deal with any discourtesy. It’s not like my qipao is informal, after all.” Yuelan shrugged. “Besides, if he’s insisting on meeting me then I have a good idea what he’s here for and I don’t want to act like I may be interested.”

Ansheng gave his daughter an amused and approving smile, then turned to Guangfeng. “Your Highness, you’re welcome to come along as long as you don’t mention your rank or where you’re from.”

Guangfeng nodded. “That’s no problem. I’m curious to see this crown prince and find out what he wants with Yuelan.”

The trio walked toward the house together with the secretary walking beside Ansheng and explaining which appointments he had been unable to cancel or postpone and why. The butler, was waiting as they entered through the back door and nodded his head to greet them.

“His Highness is waiting in the parlor,” the butler informed Yuelan and Ansheng.

“Thank you, Mr. Cheng. Would you bring the rose tea set please? And some of the cookies that I’m sure Meilin has made by now?” Yuelan requested.

The butler nodded and smiled. “Of course, Miss. I’ll bring them to you immediately.”

Yuelan nodded and headed for the parlor, her father and Guangfeng following behind her while the secretary headed back to his office.

In the parlor, a tall, young man with short, neatly groomed, black hair and blue eyes stood examining an ink painting on the wall. He wore a fashionable, expensively tailored suit that accented broad shoulders and long legs. When he heard the group entering he turned his head and nodded politely to Ansheng before making his way to Yuelan.

“Miss Long. It’s such a pleasure to finally meet you. I’ve heard many good things about you and your charity work over the past few years.” The man gave Yuelan a charming smile and looked her up and down as he held his hand out to her, then lightly kissed the top of the hand she offered him. “When I heard you were feeling well enough to be at home I naturally had to come and visit.”

As Guangfeng stiffened beside her, Yuelan smiled at Kilin’s crown prince. “I’ve heard quite a bit about your exploits as well. Your Highness is quite popular with the girls at my school. I wonder what you could want from me to show up uninvited and unannounced like this?”

The hint of a bite in Yuelan’s tone helped Guangfeng relax and he smiled fondly at Yuelan.

The crown prince caught Guangfeng’s fond expression and narrowed his eyes. “As I said, I’ve been eager to meet you. Since your health has been poor for so long I didn’t want to miss my chance.” He hadn’t let go of Yuelan’s hand and tightened his grip on it slightly.

Yuelan calmly removed her hand from the crown prince’s. “Please have a seat, your highness.” She walked over to an armchair and sat down in it, leaving the two sofas and a second armchair for her father and the two princes. Guangfeng took the seat on the sofa next to Yuelan’s chair and her father took the other armchair, leaving the crown prince of Kilin to sit on the other sofa, farthest from his apparent target. “What was it you wanted to see me for?”

“I had hoped to invite you to dinner tomorrow night, Miss Long,” the crown prince explained, smiling. “As you’ve only just gotten home, you shouldn’t have any other plans, right?”

The pretty young woman studied the crown prince and raised an eyebrow. “As a matter of fact, I do have plans already. I’m only allowed to visit home for a few days, so I made plans ahead of time. My schedule is already full for the next two days and I go back to where I’ve been staying for my recovery the following morning.”

“Couldn’t you find some way to fit me in, Miss Long? I’d very much like to take you on a date.” The crown prince made his expression seem sincere.

Yuelan sighed and shook her head. “I’m not interested in a relationship with your highness. Besides, I’m already seeing someone. Guangfeng would be quite upset if I canceled any of our plans together to go on a date with another man.” She looked over at Guangfeng and smiled.

The prince frowned at Guangfeng, then sighed. “How unfortunate that I was not the first to make my intentions known. If things do not work out with your boyfriend I hope you will consider trying a relationship with myself,” he said as he turned back to Yuelan.

“Please don’t wait for things to not work out for me, Your Highness. There are plenty of lovely young women who would be delighted to be with you. I am not one of them. Besides, my time is already limited. My doctors are not at all hopeful for a permanent recovery for me.” Yuelan’s smile was polite.

The prince was about to open his mouth and respond, but was interrupted by Mr. Cheng arriving with the tea tray. Yuelan stood up to help the servant.

“Please stay and have some tea, Your Highness. My family’s chef is very skilled. Though after tea I’ll need to ask that you take your leave.” Ansheng smiled at the prince as he interrupted the conversation. “My daughter’s time is truly limited and Guangfeng and I would like to spend as much of it with her as we can.”