Lu Shu, the Commandery Assistant of Kuaiji, lived beside Li Creek behind the Commandery Office, in a secluded residence of deep courtyards and successive gates. The quiet night was serene. He was strolling beneath the orchid terrace in his rear courtyard, accompanied by a man in loose robes with broad sleeves. Despite the tenth-month weather, the man gently waved a small fan, wafting fragrance with each stroke. He was He Zhu, Attendant Gentleman to the Prince of Pengcheng.
He Chou laughed. "Brother Zishan, Chen Caozhi invited you, but you never came. He must have felt thoroughly embarrassed and lost a great deal of face. Haha, just the thing to take him down a peg."
Lu Shu pondered. "Chen Caozhi is the Tuduan commissioner, while I am the official responsible for Tuduan in this commandery. By rights, I ought to pay him a visit. To show such open contempt for him now seems somewhat inappropriate."
He Zhu chuckled. "Brother Zishan, you are a sixth-rank Commandery Assistant, born to one of the Great Clans of the Three Wu. That Chen Caozhi is merely a ninth-rank clerk to the General Who Conquers the West. His so-called post as Left Inspector of the Tuduan Bureau may appear powerful, but it carries no substantive rank and will be abolished once Tuduan ends. What does it matter if you scorn him? Chen Caozhi can do nothing about it."
Lu Shu said, "My father is Chief Registrar of the Tuduan Bureau. I cannot be too indifferent toward Chen Caozhi's review of Tuduan. We need to play along with him outwardly; hampering him in secret will suffice."
He Zhu said, "Surely you do not mean to pay your respects as though he were your superior!"
Lu Shu said, "I have already told him we will meet in the