Night ended and dawn broke. The chaos in Ye City had subsided somewhat, and Chen Caozhi was preparing to accompany Huan Xi, Tian Luo, and the other generals to the South Bank of the Zhang River to respectfully invite Grand Marshal Huan Wen into the city. Yet Huan Xi was nowhere to be found. A soldier said that Provincial Governor Huan had gone to Longgang Temple on E'e Mountain-
"What has Provincial Governor Huan gone to Longgang Temple for?" Chen Caozhi asked in surprise.
The soldier reported, "Provincial Governor Huan learned that the Yan empress dowager and princess had fled to Longgang Temple, so he took men to capture them."
Chen Caozhi was taken aback. He too had thought the Yan empress dowager had fled with Lord of Yan Murong Wei. He had never expected that she and the princess had sought refuge at Longgang Temple instead. The scene outside the Bamboo Grove Retreat, when a handful of crushed petals had been flung into his face, suddenly became as vivid as yesterday. The proud, radiant image of the Xianbei girl riding a tall chestnut horse outside the Willow Grove on the southern bank of the Zhang River came vividly to life-
Chen Caozhi's dark brows furrowed slightly. He also remembered drinking with Huan Xi, Huan Shixiu, and the others at a tavern on the southern bank of Gushu Creek the previous year. His face flushed with drink, Huan Xi had suddenly said, "I hear the Xianbei Princess Qinghe is exceptionally beautiful. Once next year's northern expedition succeeds, I shall bring her home and lavish my favor on her alone." As he spoke, he had cast Chen Caozhi a drunken sidelong glance, quite plainly provocative-
Chen Caozhi ordered his guards to invite Tian Luo, Cai Guang, Dai Xun, and the other