Gu Kaizhi, Xu Miao, Liu Shangzhi, and Ding Chunqiu all recognized Duan Chu and knew she was Lu Weiwei's personal young maid. All were greatly astonished. Ding Chunqiu and Liu Shangzhi also knew of the affection between Chen Caozhi and Lu Weiwei, and seeing the young maid Duan Chu arrive in mourning clothes, weeping bitterly, gave them quite a shock. They thought Lu Weiwei had come too. That would cause a sensation in Qiantang and Wu Commandery—no, throughout Jiangzuo. But however they looked, they saw no Little Lady of the Lu Clan, only two stewards from Lu Residence watching Duan Chu with considerable embarrassment.
Xu Miao was puzzled too. As one of the highest-ranking gentry clans of the Three Wu, the Lu Clan had already shown the Qiantang Chen Clan considerable regard by sending people to make offerings and attend Mother Chen Lady Li's funeral. This was, of course, also because Chen Shang had attended Lu Changsheng's funeral. The Lu Clan maintained strict standards and would not slight others in matters of courtesy, so sending household stewards to attend the funeral was perfectly normal. But for their Young Maid Duan Chu to wear such deep mourning and weep so bitterly was decidedly strange. Her mourning skirt was made of coarse hemp, but its hem was neatly finished. This was qizui mourning dress, worn by close blood relatives. What sort of ritual observance was Duan Chu following?
But the funeral dirge "Hao Li" was sounding mournfully, and the hearse rolled onward. Though Xu Miao and the others had questions, they could only keep them to themselves and walk with Chen Caozhi, supporting the hearse as they headed toward Jade Emperor Mountain.
At the northern foot of Jade Emperor Mountain, Chen Clan Cemetery was planted throughout with pines and cypresses. Here lay