After Du Zigong went to Gushu to see Huan Wen, he returned to Qiantang and established a Golden Register Taoist Ritual Site at the Way of the Celestial Masters temple on the Du Clan estate north of the city. He submitted petitions to the celestial court and offered sacrifices to the Water Official Emperor to dispel calamities and relieve the people's suffering. Legend held that the Water Official Emperor had been formed from the breath of the Celestial Worthy of Primordial Beginning, and that his former incarnation had been Great Yu. Every fifteenth day of the tenth month, he came to the mortal world to assess sins and blessings and dispel calamities-
Even high officials and nobles could not escape illness and disaster, let alone the impoverished common people. They dared not hope for blessings; freedom from sickness and calamity was the most practical wish. Thus, the Water Official celebrations held every year during the Lower Primordial Festival were the grandest of all, with believers from nearby commanderies and counties flocking to Qiantang-
When Chen Caozhi and his party arrived at the Du Clan estate, they saw Feng Mengxiong accompanying Wang Shao, Neishi of Yangzhou, and Wang Ningzhi, Neishi of Jiangzhou, as they spoke with Du Zigong. Wang Shao and his nephew Wang Ningzhi had arrived the previous evening and stayed at the county post station, which was why they had reached the Du Clan temple before Chen Caozhi.
Chen Caozhi and Xie Daoyun paid their respects to Wang Shao and Wang Ningzhi. Wang Shao said to Chen Caozhi, "I have already heard about the Chu Clan's collusion with the bandits. We shall discuss it after the Water Official Emperor's celebration. Such scoundrels must be severely punished." Then he fixed his eyes on Xie Daoyun and asked, "Is this Zhu