The eight-year-old Prince of Zhongshan of the Yan Kingdom, Murong Chong, wore a gold crown binding his hair and black armor over crimson robes. Holding the reins, he sat upright on the snow-white Jade Cong Horse, his little pale face taut, his deep blue eyes fixed on Chen Caozhi. None of his former goodwill toward Chen remained; he looked as though he hated him to the marrow.
Huangfu Zhen did not know why Murong Chong was blocking the road. He urged his horse forward and, holding the reins, cupped his hands in greeting. "Is Your Highness the Prince of Zhongshan hunting here?"
Huangfu Zhen held the offices of Palace Attendant and Guanglu Dafu and was an important minister of the Yan court. Even Grand Preceptor Murong Ke treated him with great respect. Yet Murong Chong would not so much as look him in the eye. He merely glared at Chen Caozhi and said coldly, "Chen Caozhi, you're leaving just like that!"
Chen Caozhi urged his horse a few steps forward and saluted. "I came to take my leave of Your Highness the day before yesterday, but Your Highness refused to see me, so I could only submit a letter-"
"You've gone too far!" Before Chen Caozhi could finish, Murong Chong cried out shrilly. "You said you would marry my sister! Everyone in Ye City knows about it, yet now you're simply leaving. Where does that leave my sister?"
Murong Chong's little face was scarlet; he was plainly furious beyond measure. He had originally thought Chen Caozhi a fine person, talented and handsome, who had also given him a horse that had belonged to him in the first place, so he had kindly sought to bring about a marriage between Chen Caozhi and his sister Murong Qinchen. To that end, Murong