Gu Kaizhi, Liu Shangzhi, and Chen Shang were rather surprised to hear Kong Wang ask to speak with Chen Caozhi alone. They wondered what he wanted to discuss with Chen Caozhi. Could Kong Wang still be thinking of marrying Lu Weiwei? Yes, quite possibly. Otherwise, he would not have come to the capital at this time. He had plainly come to compete with Chen Caozhi. How infuriating-
Chen Caozhi's expression remained unchanged. He said to Gu Kaizhi, "Sorry to trouble you, Chang Kang, but please find Brother Kong and me somewhere quiet."
Gu Kaizhi said, "Zizhong, Brother Deze, you can talk here in the study. Third Brother, Shang Zhi, and I will stroll around the little garden for a while. The bright moon has just risen-a perfect time to recite poetry."
After Gu Kaizhi and the other two left, only Chen Caozhi and Kong Wang remained in the study. Chen Caozhi's young servant Huang Xiaotong and the young bookboy Kong Wang had brought also withdrew to wait outside the door. For a time, silence settled over the study. The oil lamp cast a yellow glow, while the moonlight remained beyond the window.
Chen Caozhi quietly regarded Kong Wang, seated five feet opposite him, waiting to see what he had to say.
Kong Wang bowed slightly and said frankly, "I came solely to exchange views on literature and the arts with you, Brother Chen-"
Chen Caozhi said mildly, "May I ask how you propose we do so?"
Kong Wang said, "Let us discuss only metaphysical debate and classical scholarship. There is no need to compare calligraphy."
Chen Caozhi smiled faintly and thought, *This Kong Wang has considerable generosity of spirit. When he saw that copy of Collection of Treatises on Xuan at Mingsheng Lake transcribed by a clerk at the Qiantang