Seeing Zhuge Zeng retreat in dejection, Yuan Tong naturally cheered inwardly, but Chen Caozhi was so eloquent, yet had made excuses earlier rather than assist him in the debate. Yuan Tong could not help feeling somewhat displeased, and took his leave as well.
Zhi Fahan smiled at Chen Caozhi. "Layman Chen, your eloquence knows no bounds. This humble monk admires you. I shall call another day to seek your instruction."
"Welcome, welcome," Gu Kaizhi said.
The night rain had just stopped. Wen Lin of Taiyuan, Cai Xin of Chenliu, and Zhou Jiong of Runan all took their leave. Of the guests, only Chen Caozhi and Gu Kaizhi remained, along with Ran Sheng and the Gu Clan's young bookboy.
Xie Wan chatted with Chen Caozhi, asking about his friendship with Xie Xuan. Naturally, Chen Caozhi did not mention the names Zhu Yingtai or Zhu Yingting, saying only that he and Xie Xuan had studied together in Wu Commandery for several months, and their friendship had deepened by the day.
Xie Wan chuckled. "A'e is amusing, too. We of the Chen Commandery Xie Clan are northerners. Why should he go to Xu Zao to learn the Luoyang-style Chant? When it comes to that chant, how could Xu Zao compare with my third brother, Xie Anshi!"
Chen Caozhi murmured his assent.
"I heard the name Chen Caozhi of Qiantang three years ago," Xie Wan said. "Huan Yewang is a good friend of mine. When we spoke in Shouchun, he lavishly praised the young flute player he had met at Maple Forest Ferry in Qiantang. The two pieces the boy played were exquisite, he said, leaving me longing to hear them. Tonight, I finally met the youth to whom Huan Yewang gave his flute, only to find he has grown into a handsome man