When Chen Caozhi and Dou Tao first began arguing in the Su residence's front hall, a maid hurried to the inner courtyard to inform Su Daozhi's wife, Zou Shi. Zou Shi was also from west of the passes, so when Dou Tao had come the day before to propose marriage and spoken of moving back to Shiping, she had been quite tempted. Su Hui, however, had said, "I will weave a square of palindromic verse and ask this young Master Dou to decipher it. If he can decipher half, I will leave the decision to my parents." Zou Shi shook her head. "Ruolan, quite a few sons of the Long Huai Great Clans have proposed to you these past two years, and every one of them was stumped by your palindromic poems. Since you were still young, your father and I merely laughed it off. But now you are fourteen, truly old enough to discuss marriage. This young Master Dou is handsome and distinguished, comes from an illustrious family, and has traveled a thousand miles to be here. How can you make things difficult for him with palindromic verse? Your parents will decide this matter for you. As a young lady, you need only remain modest, quiet, and proper." At these words, Su Hui fingered her skirt sash and lowered her head without speaking.
Hearing that the Crown Prince's Attendant Chen Caozhi, who had arrived at the fort as a guest yesterday, was arguing with Dou Tao, Zou Shi took two maids to the front hall to listen and learn what was happening. She had just settled into the side hall when Su Hui followed with a young maid and greeted her mother. Zou Shi said softly, "Ruolan, take a look at young Master Dou through the curtain. His appearance