At Shen Hour that afternoon, Chen Caozhi returned from the Qin Palace to the Court of State Guest Quarters. Huang Xiaotong came forward with a grin and reported, "Young master, quite a few people came here just now asking whether we had any fans for sale that could open and close like yours. Some said they would pay several thousand coins for one-"
Chen Caozhi's striking bearing and splendid eloquence as he verbally battled the assembled scholars in the Imperial Academy's lecture hall west of the city had utterly captivated those Di Qin students. His folding fan, Lun Scarf, and pure Luoyang Standard Pronunciation had all become models for the sons of both non-Han and Han nobles to imitate-idol worship had existed since ancient times. Shishuo New Words recorded how Xie An had used his reputation to sell fifty thousand unsold palm-leaf fans at high prices for a fellow townsman who had been dismissed from office-
Chen Caozhi smiled, took the folding fan from his sleeve, and opened it with a swish. On its front was his own painting of Ji Kang walking to disperse the effects of the powder; on its back, Ruan Ji's "Rhapsody on Taking Powder" was transcribed in the elegant, refined calligraphic style of the Declaration Memorial. Both promoted the free, unfettered spiritual state associated with taking Five-Stone Powder. Chen Caozhi had prepared this to deceive the Xianbei Murong Clan. As for Di Qin, since Wang Meng strictly prohibited the people of Qin from taking the powder, Chen Caozhi had no intention of meeting his sharp edge head-on-
Chen Caozhi closed the folding fan and said, "Ten thousand pieces of gold could scarcely buy this fan." He went inside and sat down, sipping tea while considering how to counter Fu Jian's attempt to keep him in