Although Princess Qinghe Murong Qinchen did not know why Chen Caozhi wanted her to do this, it should not be anything that would harm her Xianbei imperial family. She was willing to help him, feeling curiosity and an unfathomable joy.
Murong Qinchen walked back onto the covered bridge over the lake, calling Murong Chong's childhood name, "Phoenix-Phoenix-" Then she circled back toward the Golden Phoenix Terrace. As she passed the stone qilin, she saw Chen Caozhi watching her, his expression somewhat stern. Flushed and heart pounding, Murong Qinchen paid it no mind. After calling "Phoenix, Phoenix" a few more times, she left the abandoned terrace again and crossed the covered bridge. The eunuchs and palace maids at the other end hurried to make way. Murong Qinchen gave them a great roll of her eyes and headed north through the garden, thinking, These eunuchs and maids all attend Mother. Where is she? Surely she hasn't gone into the Golden Phoenix Terrace? Mother did once say she wanted to restore it-
At this thought, Murong Qinchen started. Could Chen Caozhi be planning to harm her mother? But then she thought that if her mother were in the Golden Phoenix Terrace, why had she not come out when she called for Phoenix just now? Chen Caozhi was handsome and elegant, and could not even shoot a bow. However she looked at him, he did not seem capable of violence.
There was a grove of katsura trees on the little lake's northern bank. Their leaves turned red in autumn, drifting down as a faint fragrance wafted out. Murong Qinchen hid beneath one of them, keeping out of sight of the eunuchs and maids. She wanted to see when Chen Caozhi would come out. To her surprise, only a short while passed before she saw