The moonlight shone like silver.
The fine horse, pure black as ink, snorted.
The young man sat astride his horse, gazing into the distance.
Behind him rode a cavalry troop several dozen strong, along with a eunuch wearing a tall hat.
The eunuch glanced at the Crown Prince beside him, inwardly marveling at how wonderful it was to be young, as though one had inexhaustible energy.
"Eunuch Liu, counting the days, isn't it about time for the merchant caravans from all over to come to court?"
"Yes. Barring any surprises, they should all be arriving one after another over the next few days."
"Last time, I told that merchant to bring me back a jade ruyi scepter. I wonder if he'll manage it."
"If the Crown Prince gave the order, he certainly wouldn't forget."
"Hyah! Hyah!"
The young man suddenly spurred his horse away.
Not far off, some hunters were returning from a hunt.
They looked to be from the same stockaded village, a party of a dozen or so.
They carried torches and shouldered wild beasts.
The young man galloped past them, stirring up a gust of wind.
The hunters' hounds erupted into furious barking, and the speeding figure nearly collided with one of the hunters.
The Crown Prince turned toward them and whistled.
A volley of curses immediately followed.
It was dark, with poor visibility, and they could not make out his clothing.
The young man paid them no heed and kept galloping wildly.
The eunuch's shouts came from behind. "Slow down! Slow down!"
The ink-black horse cared nothing for the newly planted seedlings in the fields, or anything else.
It simply obeyed its master's commands and charged straight ahead.
Before he knew it, a fish-belly white had appeared in the dark sky.
The young man tilted his