Chen Caozhi looked straight at Xie Xuan and said, "At the end of the year before last, my cousin Chen Shang returned from Jiankang, and Brother Yingtai entrusted him with a letter for me. By then, Brother Yingtai had learned of my mother's passing and wrote especially to console me, urging me to temper my grief and accept what had happened. Since then, I have had no further word."
Xie Xuan said, "Might I see my elder sister's letter?"
Chen Caozhi said nothing. Only after a long while did he ask, "Youdu, do you distrust me, or your sister?"
A trace of shame flashed through Xie Xuan's eyes. "Zizhong, consider that a slip of my tongue. With my sister's proud nature, how could she possibly have discussed-anything else with you? She knows about you and the Lu Clan Lady."
Chen Caozhi remained silent as Xie Xuan continued, "You must know that my sister refused the marriage. There is no one else here, so I will speak plainly: Zizhong, you have blighted my sister's prospects for life!"
Chen Caozhi felt the burden was more than he could bear. "Youdu, you know perfectly well how your sister and I have associated. We appreciated each other's talents and agreed only to remain lifelong friends. I knew full well that the world would not tolerate friendship between a man and a woman, but I truly never intended to blight your sister's prospects for life."
Xie Xuan shook his head and sighed. There were things he did not wish to say aloud. He merely said, "I only hope you and the Lu Clan Lady can soon become a happy couple. Then my sister-" He stopped himself. After a while, he said, "My sister is well in every respect. There is no need to worry about