Huan Wen was bold and spirited, with seven star-like marks on his face and an imposing appearance. Even in his youth, he had won the appreciation of the celebrated Wen Jiao and Liu Tan. At eighteen, he had killed his father's enemy with his own hands, making his name resound far and wide. He had served as Commandant of the Imperial Equipage and Administrator of Langya, and married Emperor Ming's eldest daughter, the Princess of Nankang. At thirty-four, he had pacified Shu Han. Over the following twenty years, he had launched three Northern Expeditions, successively defeating Fu Jian, ruler of Di Qin, the Qiang leader Yao Xiang, and the mighty, overweening Murong Yan, taking all the Central Plains and Hebei. His military achievements were illustrious, his fame far-reaching. When Murong Ke had governed Former Yan, its national strength had flourished, and he had contemplated a large-scale invasion southward, but with Huan Wen there, he had not dared rashly take up arms-
Yet the hero had reached his twilight years. Now Huan Wen lay in a stupor on his sickbed, needing others to attend even to his bodily functions. For life to come to this was truly desolate!
At dusk that day, Huan Wen's mind cleared somewhat. He asked the attendants beside him whether it was the end of the third month or the beginning of the fourth. An attendant answered, "Commandery Duke, today is the second day of the fourth month, the Wuzi day."
Huan Wen had the attendants prop him up with difficulty. Looking at the evening sunlight streaming through the west window, he asked, "Has Huan Chong from Jingzhou still not arrived?"
"Not yet," the attendant replied.
Huan Wen turned his head slightly and looked around. "Call Qingqing here." During his grave illness, Li Jingshu had often tended