When Murong Qinchen heard Chen Caozhi say that she would remain in Ye City, she was startled. Her jewel-like, deep-blue eyes suddenly widened, and she blurted out, "What about you?"
Chen Caozhi smiled. "I'll be staying in Hebei for the time being too."
Murong Qinchen turned away, her heart pounding rapidly. Her face flushed, and her steps grew quicker and quicker. She thought, He's staying in Ye City to keep me company. He must like me very much. I'm beautiful, aren't I? But he already has two wives. Still, that doesn't really matter. We Xianbei used to practice polygamy; only after entering the Central Plains did we learn the Han custom of one husband and one wife. He already has two wives, so what harm would one more do? I'll live in Ye City anyway, not Jiangdong, so I won't have to endure those two principal wives' displeasure-
The more Murong Qinchen thought, the happier she became. She walked swiftly, like a light, nimble doe. Her long skirt of purple-and-jade patterned gauze fluttered, now and then revealing the contours of her long legs, while her waist swayed rhythmically with graceful, willowy charm. Lost in her thoughts as she walked, she suddenly looked up and found herself at Chen Caozhi's lodgings on the Ice Well Terrace. She stopped and glanced back. Chen Caozhi was striding toward her with a smile-
Murong Qinchen gave a soft "Ah," then said to Chen Caozhi, "If there's nothing else, I'll go back to the palace-"
This Xianbei Princess had something of the Jin people's elegance in visiting Dai on a snowy night without actually meeting him. Apart from her mother and imperial elder brother, she was not accustomed to saluting anyone. She merely nodded, swept out her long skirt, and glided away, with Sanu'er of