What events occur in chapter 4 of The Remarkable Journey of Prince Jen?

Having gone out of his way in an attempt to help Master Fu, Prince Jen and his carriage are now stuck in mud. Because their escorts (Li Kwang and his soldiers) were instructed to stay behind, Prince Jen and Mafoo must free the carriage by themselves. When they finally get it free, they notice damage to the carriage that Master Fu insists will not stop them from making it the rest of the way to his village, Kwan-tzu. When they finally arrive in Kwan-tzu, Master Fu disappears without Prince Jen or Mafoo noticing as the villagers welcome them. Cha-wei, the "village administrator," appears and offers to repair their carriage and provide them with lodging in his own "private apartments" (31).

There, Prince Jen and Mafoo ask for an escort to get them back to where they left Li Kwang. Unfortunately, Cha-wei is unable to give them anyone that could adequately protect them, as the only "able-bodied" men were sent out to capture bandits. Instead, Cha-wei asks them to stay in the village and wait for his men to return to the town; however, they decline and ask for Cha-wei and his servants to accompany them on their journey (32).

Suddenly, one of Cha-wei's musicians, Voyaging Moon, interrupts to tell them that their plan is flawed, as it will attract the attention of Natha Yellow Scarf and his bandits. Rather than have Cha-wei go with them, she offers to guide them herself, as she is familiar with "pathways that [would] keep [them] clear of Natha and his gang" (35). As Prince Jen and Mafoo rest, Jen dreams of Voyaging Moon.

With their carriage repaired, Prince Jen, Mafoo, and Voyaging Moon set off the next morning through the "practically invisible paths and trails" of the countryside Voyaging Moon told them about (36). Having taken an interest in Voyaging Moon, Prince Jen attempts to find a way to talk to his new guide but finds himself "strangely tongue-tied" (36). When they finally return to the spot where they left Li Kwang and his soldiers, there is no one to be found, and the chapter ends on a cliffhanger.

What are the key events in chapter 7 of The Remarkable Journey of Prince Jen?

Chapter 7 of Lloyd Alexander's The Remarkable Journey of Prince Jen introduces Natta Yellow Scarf, a band. In the chapter, Natta and his gang cross paths with Prince Jen, Voyaging Moon, and Mafoo. Prince Jen recognizes him, tells him that the "law will deal with him," and orders him to "either leave them or let them leave." Natta scoffs at his demands, takes offense at being ordered around, and tells the Prince that the trio should give him three good reasons to not slit their throats.

He makes several demands of Prince Jen's party. First, he demands to be called kindhearted, second, he says that it's a shame to ruin the day, and third, he wants to take Voyaging Moon to presumably have his way with her.

"One. You'll tell me I'm a kindhearted, easygoing sort of fellow."... Two, why not say, 'It would be a shame to spoil a sunny morning'? All right, I'm in good spirits. We had a little scuffle with some yokels from Kwan-tzu. To celebrate our victory? That's another good reason. ...Third. The farm girl's going to bargain for your lives."

Prince Jen protests — revealing his identity — and Voyaging Moon asks him to stop joking around. Natta then asks for gold and silver, which they don't have, so he reaches for Prince Jen's gifts. Prince Jen draws his sword, challenging Natta, who grabs his hair and throat and starts choking him. The prince nearly passes out and throws his sword on the ground, so Natta lets him go.

"I'd have killed you, had I wished. Like that." Natha snapped his fingers. "You knew it. Death. You smelled it, didn't you? And didn't like the stink of it. Cheer up. None of us does. Be glad I kept my word."

Natta then takes the sword and leaves. Prince Jen feels shame because he showed fear, but Voyaging Moon assures him that fear is a common emotion and a good reason to give up, reminding him that he should count himself lucky.

"Master Hu would have been ashamed of me. Reason! Sense! It was fear. Only fear."

"Still a good reason," Voyaging Moon said, "and a very common emotion. Your subjects know it well."

"I am not one of my subjects." "Oh, that's right. I forgot." Voyaging Moon smiled. "Then, count yourself even luckier."

Can you summarize chapters 9 and 10 of The Remarkable Journey of Prince Jen?

In The Remarkable Journey of Prince Jen, each chapter’s descriptive title vaguely previews the main events. Chapter 9’s is “When is a prince not a prince? / Mafoo comforts his toes / Voyaging Moon plays the flute.” Briefly, in chapter 9, Jen relinquishes his princely title, a symbol of his identity as a prince; Mafoo deals with blisters on his feet; and when Voyaging Moon plays the flute, Jen begins to fall in love with her.

Chapter 10’s title is “The Mad Robber / The Ear of Continual Attentiveness / the Nose of Thoughtful Inhalations / Moxa begs forgiveness.” Briefly in chapter 10, Jen and his companions befriend Moxa, an honorable robber. They consider how unkind and disrespectful it is to rob anyone, and Jen forgives Moxa for attempting to rob him. Now part of the group, Moxa helps the others plan to continue on their way to T'ien-kuo. ("The Ear of Continual Attentiveness" and "the Nose of Thoughtful Inhalations" are phrases that Moxa uses and that Mafoo ridicules.)

Let’s look at the events in these chapters a bit more closely.

Chapter 9:

Prince Jen realizes that the bandits have stolen his warrant—the document that proves he's a prince. He grows angry, wanting to find the bandits and beat them. He allows Voyaging Moon to simply call him “Jen” instead of by his proper title, realizing that the title hardly matters now that his princely documentation is gone. He, Mafoo, and Voyaging Moon search for the robbers' trail without luck. Without shoes, their feet suffer from blisters, and Mafoo convinces the group to rest. Jen muses over the gifts chosen by Master Wu for the great king, wondering what their value is. One of the gifts is a flute, which Voyaging Moon plays. She declares how valuable it is: "Master Wu chose it well." Jen is enchanted by her playing and urges her to play more. The music fills him with happiness and her beauty leaves him breathless. He's falling in love with her. Suddenly, they hear a movement in the bushes behind him, and worry that someone is there.

Chapter 10:

Jen, Mafoo, and Voyaging Moon attack the man in the bushes, who declares himself an honest robber. Introducing himself as Moxa, also known by the nickname "The Mad Robber," he explains how he follows "the Precepts of Honorable Robbery." He never robs the poor, or the people he knows personally, or any people who have already been robbed, or any people who are happy or unhappy—in all of these cases, it would be a terrible act of unkindness and disrespect to rob these people, he explains. Naturally, there's hardly anyone left whom he can rob, which he admits. Moxa then praises Voyaging Moon's flute playing, which he'd overheard while hiding in the bushes, saying that it filled him with happy thoughts. He shares his food with the group. As they eat, Moxa warns them not to go to Kwan-tzu, as the Yellow Scarves are plotting a deadly invasion there. Immediately afterward, though, Moxa suggests they go together after all and have a great time fighting off the Yellow Scarves. The others wonder if Moxa is indeed mad (crazy), as his nickname suggests. When Mafoo accidentally addresses Jen as "Young Lord," Moxa realizes that Jen is a prince and apologizes for trying to rob him. Jen forgives him. Moxa, grateful, readily agrees to guide Jen and his friends on their way to T'ien-kuo. The next morning, Moxa hears horses approaching, and the chapter ends.

How would you summarize Chapter 11 of The Remarkable Journey of Prince Jen?

In Chapter 11, the robber, Moxa, tells Prince Jen that if there is any robbing to be done, the young prince must do it. After all, as royalty, he is not bound by the Precepts of the kingdom.

Meanwhile, Prince Jen remains skeptical about resorting to the act of stealing in order to furnish the needs of the group. Moxa argues that all they really need at the moment is food, rather than jewelry or trinkets of any kind. Mafoo orders Moxa to do the deed himself if he thinks it's such a good idea. Voyaging Moon, on the other hand, insists that it is better to ask for food than to steal it. Frustrated at the girl's naive suggestion, Moxa responds that 'asking' always amounts to begging when it comes right down to it.

In short order, the procession of the Official of the First Rank, Fat Choy, passes by. Prince Jen hails down Fat Choy's carriage and asks for assistance in the name of King T'ai. He excitedly proclaims that, if Fat Choy has come from the Celestial Palace, he should know who he is conversing with. Meanwhile, Fat Choy toys with Prince Jen and pretends to be concerned about the prince's welfare. Finally, he pronounces that the Prince is a fraud and a liar and orders his retainers to beat up the prince.

As the prince is almost beaten into unconsciousness, a series of explosions soon rock the air. Amid the explosions, Moxa jumps out, shrieking horribly and "flinging himself against the terrified retainers." Fat Choy, fearing for his life, orders his carriage to make a quick getaway. Meanwhile, Moxa reveals that the explosions were made by the fire-crackers he usually carries with him. The Prince complains that he has been beaten badly, but Moxa reassures him that it was for the best. After all, Mafoo has managed to appropriate all of Fat Choy's food provisions for their own.

Eventually, after a day's rest, the group make their way to T'ien-Kuo. In due time, they come across an old man who is wearing a cangue or the Collar of Punishment. The cangue is a rectangular, wooden device that was worn around the neck to punish petty criminals in 19th century China. As he looks at the old man, Prince Jen thinks he recognizes him. However, the old man introduces himself as Master Shu, and one of his first acts upon being introduced to Prince Jen is to spit on the surprised prince.

What is the content of Chapter 17 in The Remarkable Journey of Prince Jen?

Chapter 17 regales us about Prince Jen's adventures as he makes his way to Chai-Sang. The chapter tells how he comes to give away the kite that was to be offered to Yuan Ming.

Accordingly, fighting in the southern districts have led to desertions; local soldiers are rumored to have thrown in their lot with the famed bandit, The Yellow Scarf King. In fact, the local people warn Prince Jen against going to Chai-Sang, as the city seems to have fallen under the bandit's power. Hearing of the bandit leader's fantastic exploits on the battlefield, Jen realizes that the special sword has made the Yellow Scarf King invincible. Burdened with guilt at his cowardice in surrendering such a fine sword, he berates himself; however, he realizes that he must still make his way to Chai-Sang.

His main aim is to find Voyaging Moon and then together, to look for Moxa and Mafoo. He comforts himself that he still has three gifts left, and with these, Yuan-Ming will not refuse to see him. On his travels, he stops to rest at a farmhouse, where Plum Blossom lives with her almost comatose young grand-daughter, Fragrance of Orchid. Plum Blossom worriedly confides to Prince Jen that her grand-daughter will soon die if her spirit cannot be quickened; the young girl needs something to live for.

Upon hearing that the girl loves birds, Prince Jen works to fashion the struts and rods of the kite into a bird-shaped kite for Fragrance of Orchid to play with. Before long, the child's curiosity is awakened, and she is roused from her strange stupor. Eventually, she is able to get up from her sick-bed and to fly the kite herself. Alas, Prince Jen has given away another one of his gift offerings, and this time, to a child! However, the author asks us to consider whether anyone with a heart would bid him to do otherwise.