Ding Youwei stood in the courtyard, the lamplight spilling out from the wooden building behind her tracing her graceful, slender silhouette. In the darkness, her eyes shone like stars.
Chen Caozhi returned after seeing the Ding brothers off and asked, "Sister-in-law, where are Zongzhi and Run'er?"
Ding Youwei said, "They've gone to bed. Neither little thing paid any attention to reading or writing today. They kept asking when Ugly Uncle would come back and whether Ugly Uncle had received a rank. They must have asked dozens of times."
Chen Caozhi smiled. "Quite a handful, weren't they? How did you answer them?"
Ding Youwei turned and walked into the building, saying with a smile, "Naturally, I told them you would receive a rank, but then Run'er asked which rank. She even knows there are nine ranks, and that her father received the seventh rank back then. She said Ugly Uncle had better get the ninth rank, because nine is the biggest."
Chen Caozhi laughed. "Then I'll have to disappoint Run'er. My rank is smaller than my elder brother's."
"Oh?" Ding Youwei turned back, delighted surprise flashing in her eyes. "What rank did Attendant Quan promote you to?"
Chen Caozhi said, "The sixth rank."
Excitement stirred in Ding Youwei's heart. The sixth rank was the highest a scholar from the Cold-Gate Commoner Clans could attain. When Lu Na had promoted Qingzhi to the seventh rank at eighteen, it had already caused a sensation throughout the counties of Wu Commandery. Yet Caozhi was only fifteen now, and would only be sixteen when his rank was formally confirmed next year. In the century and more since the Nine-Rank Official Selection System had been implemented, no small number of Cold-Gate Commoner Children had been assessed as sixth rank, but receiving the sixth rank at sixteen was absolutely without precedent.
Chen Caozhi followed his sister-in-law into the study and sat down. Qingzhi and Rain Swallow were watching over the sleeping Zongzhi and Run'er in the bedroom, while Xiao Chan and A Xiu attended them in the study. Both pretty maids were radiant with joy. They were happy that Young Master Caozhi had received a rank, especially Xiao Chan, whose laughter seemed ready to bubble up from the very bottom of her heart.
Chen Caozhi recounted what had happened at the literary gathering on Qiyun Mountain. Only then did Ding Youwei learn that someone had tried to ruin Caozhi's reputation, and that Ding Chunqiu had even kicked over the food box she had prepared for him-
Ding Youwei said apologetically, "Caozhi, I'm the reason you had to suffer that indignity."
Chen Caozhi smiled. "Even if it hadn't been for you, Sister-in-law, I wouldn't have taken issue with Ding Chunqiu. There was no need. If I had sought a moment's satisfaction by exposing his vile conduct before Attendant Quan, it would have done me no good. I would only have made an enemy for nothing."
Ding Youwei felt deeply reassured. The young man was steady and calm, truly unlike a boy of only fifteen. She said, "I know Chunqiu. He's frivolous by nature and rash in his actions, but he wouldn't go so far as to harm someone behind their back. He's still very proud-Caozhi, who do you think was trying to frame you? Was it Chen Liu?"
Chen Caozhi said, "It's quite clear: Chen Liu, Lu Clerk, and the Qiantang Chu Clan behind them."
Ding Youwei said with lingering fear, "That really was dangerous. If you had handled it badly at the time, I fear your whole life would have been ruined. Aristocratic scholars who study the Mysterious Mind can indulge themselves, but scholars from commoner clans who study Confucianism must observe propriety. I'm afraid they still won't give up, and will spread more rumors to slander you."
Chen Caozhi smiled. "Set your mind at ease, Sister-in-law. Rumors stop at the wise. I'm only fifteen; what wicked things could I do? No one will believe rumors that are too outrageous. I'm filial to my mother, respectful toward my sister-in-law, loving toward my young nephew and niece, and I honor my teachers and their teachings. What can they do to me?"
Ding Youwei's worry dissolved into a smile. She nodded firmly and said, "You're right, Caozhi. What is clear remains clear, and what is muddy remains muddy. Sooner or later, those petty villains will eat the bitter fruit of their own deeds."
Beside them, Xiao Chan said with a beaming smile, "I love seeing how calmly and unhurriedly Young Master Caozhi speaks. If you ask me, Zongzhi learned that little grown-up manner of his from Young Master Caozhi."
Chen Caozhi had originally intended to go into town in a couple of days to visit Uncle Feng Mengxiong and thank him for his care. Unexpectedly, on the evening of the eleventh, Lai Zhen hurried over from Chen Family Cove, saying that Immortal Elder Ge had sent Jing Nu back to summon the young master to the monastery, as he had important matters to convey.
Summoned by Master Ge, Chen Caozhi dared not delay. Early the next morning, he took his leave of his sister-in-law Ding Youwei and brought Zongzhi and Run'er back to Chen Family Cove, sending Lai Fu to the Feng Residence to thank Feng Mengxiong on his behalf.
Mother and children were naturally reluctant to part. Run'er said, "Mother, next year I'll come to see you again with Brother and Ugly Uncle. You mustn't be sad. Every time we come, we'll bring you the best presents."
Ding Youwei smiled through her tears and bent down to kiss her beloved daughter. After giving the little brother and sister a few reminders, she said to Chen Caozhi, "Young brother, after the New Year, you'll be going to Wu Commandery to be assessed by the Provincial Merit Assessor. Before you leave, come here first. I have some things to give you."
Chen Caozhi bowed. "I'll remember. Take good care of yourself, Sister-in-law. See you next year."
By the time Chen Caozhi, his nephew and niece, Xiao Chan, Qingzhi, Lai Zhen, Lai De, and Ran Sheng returned to Chen Family Cove, it was already the wei hour in the afternoon. Chen Caozhi paid his respects to his mother and told her about the literary gathering on Qiyun Mountain. While they were speaking, Zeng Yuhuan came upstairs to say that the clan head wished to see Young Master Caozhi.
Chen Caozhi's mother, Lady Li, said happily, "Your Fourth Uncle was here just a while ago to congratulate me. He already knew that Attendant Quan had recognized your talents and promoted you to a rank. Now that he's heard you're back, he's come again." She told Chen Caozhi to invite his Fourth Uncle upstairs to sit.
At the sight of Chen Caozhi, the clan head Chen Xian actually shed tears, though his expression was filled with joy. He said, "Caozhi, come with your uncle to the ancestral hall. Today is a day of great joy for our Qiantang Chen Clan. We must bring comfort to the spirits of our ancestors in heaven."
That morning, a runner from the County Office had brought Chen Xian word that the head of the Qiantang Chen Clan was to attend the County Yamen on the fifteenth of the month for a public deliberation on the ten scholars selected to receive ranks in the county that year. Chen Caozhi of the Qiantang Chen Clan had provisionally been placed in the sixth rank.
Qiantang County had ten newly ranked scholars in all. The eight great aristocratic clans each accounted for one, while only two came from humble families. Apart from Chen Caozhi, the other commoner scholar to receive a rank was named Liu Shangzhi, who had been placed in the ninth rank. Of the eight aristocratic sons, even the lowest were sixth rank. Ding Chunqiu had been placed in the fifth rank, and Chu Wenbin in the sixth.
But to the Qiantang Chen Clan, this sixth rank was a joy as vast as the heavens, just as an aristocratic son's receiving the highest available rank, the second, would have been. Both were supreme honors.
The entire Qiantang Chen Clan worshiped their ancestors in the ancestral hall. As the clan head Chen Xian knelt and proclaimed the news to the Chen ancestors, he wept with joy.
After the ancestral rites, it was already the first quarter of the shen hour. Chen Caozhi informed his mother that he needed to go to Precious Stone Mountain to pay his respects to Master Ge. Since it was already late, he would stay at the monastery that night and hurry back the next day, and asked her not to worry.
By the time Chen Caozhi arrived at Chuyangtai Taoist Monastery on Ge Ridge with Lai De and Ran Sheng, darkness had fallen. Yet he saw a horse-drawn carriage parked below the ridge. The driver was sleeping inside the carriage and poked his head out at the sound of their approach. His was an unfamiliar face, one Chen Caozhi had never seen before.
Horses were exceedingly scarce in the Eastern Jin, and horse-drawn carriages were seldom seen. Puzzled, Chen Caozhi entered Chuyangtai Taoist Monastery and saw Taoists and attendants packing luggage, seemingly preparing for a long journey.
Ge Hong was writing letters in his study. Seeing Chen Caozhi arrive at this hour, he said happily, "If you hadn't come soon, this old Taoist couldn't have waited any longer. I was just about to leave you a letter of farewell-"
Chen Caozhi asked in alarm, "Where are you going, Master Ge?"
Ge Hong said, "This old Taoist must make a trip back to Lingnan."
Ge Hong had lived in seclusion on Mount Luofu in Lingnan for more than twenty years. Now, for some unknown reason, he was going to travel a thousand miles to Lingnan again. Since Ge Hong did not explain, Chen Caozhi naturally could not press him for details, and merely asked, "When will you be able to return, Master Ge?"
Ge Hong said, "Three years at most, one at least."
Chen Caozhi's spirits sank, and he said sorrowfully, "Master Ge, you did not disdain me, and allowed me to attend you often and receive so much instruction. I've grown as attached to you as to a father. Now that you're leaving on such a distant journey, how can I bear it?"
In Ge Hong's eyes, Chen Caozhi was like his own son or grandson. Seeing his genuine feelings laid bare now, he too was deeply moved, and comforted him. "Caozhi, partings have been part of life since ancient times. You needn't grieve too much. Listen to this old Taoist. I already know that you made your name at the Qiyun Mountain literary gathering on the ninth day of the ninth month. This is the beginning of your changing your fate. But if you wish to rise into the upper ranks of the distinguished elite, the road will be long and beset with obstacles. Caozhi, strive hard!"
As he spoke, Ge Hong handed Chen Caozhi the two completed letters on his desk and said, "This is my letter recommending you to Lu Na, the governor of Wu Commandery. The other is addressed to Xu Zao, an erudite at the state academy in Wu Commandery. I'm an old acquaintance of his father, Xu Chengzhi. Take my letter to Wu Commandery, seek out Erudite Xu, and become his student. Xu Zao is versed in both Confucianism and the Mysterious Mind, and his learning is extensive. In his brilliant interpretations of the Zhuangzi, this old Taoist is his inferior. Most importantly, Xu Zao is proficient in Luoyang Standard Pronunciation. You're a southerner and cannot speak with a Luoyang accent. When you go to Jiankang someday, northern aristocratic clans such as the Wangs and Xies will laugh at you. You must learn it-and as for the books in this monastery, apart from my own manuscripts and the Daoist Scriptures, which I'm taking with me, all the others will remain here. You may come and borrow them whenever you wish. Two Taoists will stay behind to look after the monastery. I've already given them instructions..."
As Chen Caozhi listened to Ge Hong's instructions, one after another, tears fell drop by drop onto the front of his robe.
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