On the eighteenth day of the fifth month, at noon in high summer, the clear sky was an unbroken blue, without a cloud for ten thousand miles. Sunlight streamed straight down, unchecked and unsheltered. Distant mountains and nearby trees grew distinct and solemn beneath the scorching power of the sun. The Shan River wound around the mountain, its waters glittering as they flowed ceaselessly onward, yet they carried away not a trace of the heat.
Cao'e Pavilion leaned against the mountain and overlooked the river, claiming a patch of shade all to itself. Situated at the foot of Dongshan, its ground stood higher and steeper than the opposite bank, affording a distant view. In the brilliant sunlight, every bracketed corner and upturned eave of Cao'e Shrine across the river was clearly visible.
Chen Caozhi listened as Xie Daoyun said that neither Wang Ningzhi nor Wang Huizhi could compare with him. Her tone was just like Zhu Yingting's when he had said that "willow-catkin-chanting Xie Daoyun" far surpassed "lovestruck Lu Weiwei"-both plainly carried a measure of partiality. Chen Caozhi said modestly, "The Wang brothers enjoy such illustrious reputations. How could I compare?"
Having praised Chen Caozhi to his face, Xie Daoyun realized only after speaking that she had revealed too much feeling, and grew slightly embarrassed. But when he demurred, she argued on his behalf again. "In what way are you inferior? Only in family standing, nothing more."
Chen Caozhi smiled. "If only everyone cherished talent as you do, Brother Yingtai."
Hearing a faint weariness of worldly experience in his voice, Xie Daoyun tilted her head to look at this handsome sixteen-year-old youth. She remembered that when they first met below Lion Mountain in the second month, Chen Caozhi had been about her height; now he was already slightly taller. Although