Clad in a silk headcloth and a short robe, Xie Daoyun walked slowly out. She first bowed to her uncle Xie Wan, then to Wang Xizhi, before finally coming before Chen Caozhi. Her long, narrow eyes swept over his face, and she smiled faintly, cupping her hands in greeting. "Zizhong, three years have slipped by since we parted in Wu Commandery. I hear your reputation has soared. As your unworthy former schoolmate, I too share in that honor."
Chen Caozhi naturally spoke of their long separation as well, expressing his pleasure and admiration at Brother Yingtai's rise to fame at the Mount Tianque gathering. Watching from the side, Xie Wan could detect not the slightest flaw in either of them.
Wang Xizhi saw that this Zhu Yingtai was slender and frail, indeed far more slight than the tall, straight, handsome Chen Caozhi. It seemed Xie Wan's claim that the young man was weak and sickly had not been empty words. He said kindly, "Worthy nephew Yingtai, I too was weak and sickly in my early years. Later, I obtained a health-preserving prescription from Xu Mai, the recluse of Mount Youjiu. Taking it over the years has proved quite effective. However, it must be taken together with Cold-Stone Powder. Would you care to try it?"
Chen Caozhi's brows drew together slightly, but he saw Xie Daoyun bow to Wang Xizhi and say, "Many thanks, Lord Yishao. Please bestow the prescription upon me."
Wang Xizhi ordered brush and ink brought, wrote out the recluse Xu Mai's health-preserving prescription, and gave it to Xie Daoyun. He then brought up the Prince of Kuaiji's recruitment of talented men. Xie Daoyun glanced at her uncle Xie Wan, who glared at her, and she told Wang Xizhi, "For the moment, I have no intention of entering