Li Lan found Prince Wang Cheng in the palace library, surrounded by dusty tomes, his brow furrowed in concentration. The quiet, studious atmosphere was a world away from the ambition and venom of the court.
He looked up, and the sight of her brought a genuine, unguarded smile to his face. "My heart," he murmured, the term now a tender habit, and laid down his book. "I was just coming to find you. I have been wrestling with the question you put before me, and I have my answer."
Li Lan walked over and gently sat beside him, ignoring his promise. "Before you tell me," she said softly, holding up the Ministry's letter, "I need to ask you about this."
He took the letter, quickly scanning the official seals and the contents. "Ah, the drought notice. The Emperor is asking us all to contribute food and grain for the families that are affected. It's a gesture more than a solution, honestly." He handed it back, dismissing it. "The officials will handle it."
"No," Li Lan insisted, taking his hand. "You must handle it. Your people are facing famine, Wang Cheng. The court will ignore them, but you cannot."
She leaned in, her voice low and earnest. "I know you avoid the throne because you fear the coldness of power, but this isn't about power. This is about being a good man when others are cruel. My sister sent us special seeds from Huangtu. They are resistant to drought, strong enough to feed the villages that Xialan's crops will fail."
Wang Cheng stared at her, the political noise completely gone from his expression. Only profound concern remained. "Drought-resistant seeds? Can they truly save the harvest?"
"They can save lives," Li Lan corrected gently. "Wang Cheng, you have the means to make a profound difference right now. You can be the prince who saw the suffering and refused to look away. You can be the shepherd who saved his flock."
He didn't speak of the throne, of rivals, or of the danger. He spoke only of the farmers. "If they are truly drought-resistant... then we must act immediately. Where are these seeds?"
Li Lan smiled, a triumphant light in her eyes. "They are secure. Tell the Ministry you will take the lead on this project, my heart. Show your people that the man who will one day lead them is a man who already cares for their very survival."
His hand tightened around hers, his gaze burning with a new, resolute fire. He was not looking at a crown; he was looking at a duty. "Then I will take the lead. We will save those fields, Li Lan. We will save them all."
His first, decisive step toward destiny had been taken, not for glory, but for compassion.