For a time, the atmosphere in the Elegant Speech Teahouse at the Minister of Works' Office grew stiff and cold. The spacious, square hall fell utterly silent, and those seated within wore differing expressions-
Chen Shang was deeply worried. Though he knew his sixteenth brother was extraordinarily talented, he was facing these renowned masters of metaphysical discourse, after all. Even the wisest man, in a thousand considerations, must make one mistake. If his sixteenth brother inadvertently found himself stumped by one of the eminent men present and was barred from office forever, the Qiantang Chen Clan would surely fall, never to rise again.
Xie Daoyun did not want Gu Kaizhi and Chen Shang to see her. Had Xie Shao not told Gu Kaizhi and the others that his cousin Zhu Yingtai was living in seclusion in Shangyu? Thus she knelt motionlessly behind her fourth uncle, Xie Wan, her buttocks resting on her folded legs. With his high crown and Crane Cloak, Xie Wan was no different from a screen.
Hearing that Lu Shi and Yu Yun intended to join forces to suppress Chen Caozhi, Xie Daoyun thought, Zizhong must have anticipated a predicament like this long ago. I shall sit quietly and watch him brave the danger and clear the hurdle. Her fourth uncle blocked her view of Chen Caozhi on the opposite mat, so she merely listened intently.
Sima Yu, Prince of Kuaiji, knew that Lu Shi, Minister of the Five Armies, was using this opportunity to vent a private grievance. Yet Lu Shi's words were reasonable, and Yu Yun had seconded them, so some answer had to be given. Mild and indecisive by nature, Sima Yu asked Chen Caozhi, "What do you think, Caozhi?"
Chen Caozhi said in a clear voice, "In my humble opinion, the elder Minister