Chapter 1—Pages 27-46 Summary

Yuan returns to his father's house, riding up to the gates against his will and yet coming voluntarily. Guards accompany him the entire way. He chafes at his lack of freedom. As he rides with them, he comes to understand they do not accompany him so much for his protection as much as because they think he will try to escape. He speeds up, riding as fast as he can, "taking haughty pleasure in his quick horse that kept so easily before their common ones that they must press their poor beasts on and on," (p. 27) It is evening when he arrives at his father's house. He dismounts immediately and heads to visit him upon his bed. However, he is not there. Yuan becomes angry, thinking he has been deceived—something he fears from the moment...