Lai Fu, chief steward of Chen Family Cove, led the servants in slaughtering pigs and sheep to give the hundred private soldiers of the Quan and Ding Clans a hearty meal. Each man was then given a bolt of ramie cloth, worth about three hundred and fifty coins. The private soldiers of the Quan and Chen Clans were all delighted. After bowing to thank the Chen Clan chief, they set off home in the light of the setting sun.
Lai Fu's wife, Zeng Yuhuan, knew that young Master Caozhi was going to pay his respects to his late mother. She had already prepared the offerings and sent Lai Zhen ahead with them in an oxcart to the Chen Clan Cemetery on Jade Emperor Mountain.
It was eight li from Chen Family Cove to Jade Emperor Mountain. If they went on foot, it would certainly be dark by the time they arrived, so Chen Caozhi rode there. Ran Sheng naturally went too, while Zongzhi sat in front of Chen Caozhi on his saddle. The twelve-year-old boy was quite excited.
Xie Daoyun rode the brown mare. She too wanted to pay her respects to Mother Chen Lady Li, and two devotedly loyal private soldiers of the Xie Clan followed on horseback. Xie Daoyun's personal maids, Liu and Yinfeng, followed her outside the fortified manor's main gate and looked at her. "Master Xie-"
"Neither of you needs to come," Xie Daoyun said, then urged her horse after Chen Caozhi.
Liu Xu watched Chen Caozhi, Xie Daoyun, and their party round the square fortified manor and disappear, then whispered to Yinfeng, "Lady Daoyun has gone to pay her respects to Master Chen's mother. From what Xiao Chan said, that Young Lady Lu has never come to pay her respects, has she?"
Yinfeng said, "Xiao