The snow on Fragrant Mountain had just melted, and the leaves on the slopes, damp with snow water, made a soft, dull sound as the horse hooves stepped on them.
The squirrel on the tree branch held a pine cone, cautiously watching as the Crown Prince galloped beneath the tree.
Mr. Liao rode beside the Crown Prince, blowing a bamboo whistle, directing the Eastern Palace attendants to drive the prey out of their lairs.
Over ten Eastern Palace attendants shouted slogans, striking their iron stirrups with their sabers. The clashing sound of metal startled the beasts into fleeing towards the valley. They carried bows and arrows but did not draw their bows to shoot, only slowly closing in on the circle, herding the beasts into the valley in a panic.
Mr. Liao accompanied the Crown Prince as they stood still on the slope, quietly observing the "encirclement" in the valley.
