Chen Caozhi had not expected Xie Daoyun to come to Chen Family Cove again. Seeing her in a lacquered gauze cap and wide-sleeved robe, her face powdered, he suddenly felt a pang in his heart. He managed only, "We meet again, Brother Yingtai." Then his throat grew dry, and he did not know what to say. Holding the railing, he did not think to go downstairs to welcome her.
Xie Daoyun, graceful in her masculine attire, raised her head and narrowed her slender, alluring eyes. Seeing the mingled surprise, delight, and distress on Chen Caozhi's face, she felt an inexplicable joy. Her dimples appeared and vanished as she said in her strongly nasal Luoyang accent, "Zizhong, I am about to travel far, and came especially to pay my respects to Aunt Chen."
Xie Xuan and Xu Miao came out of the study. "Elder Brother is here," Xie Xuan called, sounding somewhat helpless.
Xu Miao, however, felt only the joy of friendship. "Brother Yingtai, I have missed you greatly since we parted in Wu Commandery." He hurried downstairs with Chen Caozhi to welcome her.
Hearing Xu Miao's words, Xie Xuan shook his head with a wry smile. He did not follow them downstairs, but looked down at his elder sister, Xie Daoyun, and asked, "Elder Brother, have the boats reached Qiantang? When are we leaving?"
Xie Daoyun also lifted her head to look at this younger brother born of the same mother. Her gaze held teasing mockery and aloof pride, as well as emotions that could not quite be named. "All three large boats are moored at Maple Forest Ferry. I have informed Third Aunt. We will set off tomorrow."
Xie Xuan asked in surprise, "Elder-Brother, you mean to spend the night at Chen Family Cove?"
Ignoring her younger brother, Xie