Before Verdant Green Woman arrived, her voice reached them first.
"Go—!!"
Wang Xizhi heard the clatter of footsteps. A short distance away, he saw Verdant Green Woman coming along the wooden walkway. She stopped only when she reached him.
Wang Xizhi put on a solemn expression and cupped his hands in greeting. "Fu Niangzi."
Verdant Green Woman waved a hand. "Who's coming?"
"Xie An, Xie Anshi, Sun Chuo, Sun Xinggong, Xu Xun, Xu Xuandu, Yu You, Yu Huiyan, Xi Tan, Xi Chongxi... They're all famous scholars of Jiang Zuo, with close ties to the Wang Clan. There's also the eminent monk Master Zhi Dun from the Buddhist Gate, along with members of the Wang Clan. Forty-two people in all."
Wang Xizhi rattled off the names as if reading out a menu.
The Chen Commandery Xie Clan, the Gaoping Xi Clan...
All famous names!
"Very good, very good. Let me know when you set off, and I'll go with you!"
Verdant Green Woman nodded slightly and instructed Wang Xizhi.
Wang Xizhi nodded. "Yes!"
On the third day of the third lunar month, the Shangsi Festival, every household performed purification rites.
As the event's host, Wang Xizhi naturally had to arrive first. By the time Verdant Green Woman arrived with Wang Xizhi and his party at Shanyin Orchid Pavilion, the others had yet to come.
"The sky is bright and clear, the breeze gentle and pleasant! What a lovely natural setting. You chose this place well!"
Verdant Green Woman took in the scenery among the hills and trees. Hearing her, Wang Xizhi couldn't help sighing, too. "In just a few words, Fu Niangzi has captured all the beauty of this place. Xizhi is impressed."
Verdant Green Woman: "..."
If she hadn't known what Wang Xizhi meant, she might have thought he was