At Five-Li Pavilion, the spring chill had yet to fade.
A pot of wine, two cups of tea, and several small dishes Fu Niang had brought lay on the stone table, already seven or eight tenths eaten.
In "Reading the Classic of Mountains and Seas," Tao Yuanming wrote: "With cheerful words we pour spring wine, and gather vegetables from my garden."
Here in Five-Li Pavilion, the wine was not a spring vintage, nor were the vegetables garden-grown, yet the two men sat facing each other, talking and laughing, their pleasure no less than Yuanming's.
Amid their conversation, Wei Nisheng told Xie Lin every detail of the current situation in the Capital:
The Three Judicial Offices had yet to conclude their investigation, and Kou Yuan of the Grand Secretariat had held matters down with the words "delay entry into the Capital."
The Upright Officials' impeachment memorials still hung over the Censorate, Chancellor Shen lay ill, and Zou Mo's position remained unclear.
Each matter, each development-he explained them all in painstaking detail.
"You cannot enter the city," Wei Nisheng said deliberately. "The Cabinet Council has yet to settle the matter. The gate officials won't dare let you through."
Xie Lin held his cup and blew aside the froth.
"Zi'an," he said, "do you know what Kou Yuan is delaying?"
"Your official appointment."
"Heh, exactly." Xie Lin set down his cup. "What Kou Yuan's Cabinet Council decision delays is 'Xie Lin's promotion to Reader-in-Waiting; entry into the Capital temporarily deferred.' What he delays is my official appointment, not the bond between teacher and disciple.
Chancellor Shen is my Exam Mentor!
Now my teacher lies ill in bed. For his disciple to enter the city and visit him is proper observance of the rites.
The Book of Rites says: in serving one's teacher,