Chen Caozhi kept Xie Shao at the Chen Residence for dinner, then went with him to Wuyi Lane to visit Xie An and his wife. Lady Xie Liu Dan was delighted to see Xie Daoyun and her daughter. Holding Xiao Feiyu and studying her closely, she said to Xie Daoyun, "Seeing this child reminds me of Yuanzi as a baby. Her brows have the same spirit, her eyes are just as slender, and when she smiles, they look exactly alike."
Xie Xuan's wife, Lady Huan, also lived here. Their son Xie Huan was nearly two years old. He was less steady on his feet than Bozhen and his little sister, yet refused to let anyone lead him by the hand, toddling over on his own to see his bride. The bride could not yet speak, and at the sight of so many unfamiliar faces, she burst into loud sobs-
Liu Dan, Xie Daoyun, and Lady Huan all laughed. Yinfeng hurriedly took Xiao Feiyu into her arms and crooned to soothe her.
Chen Caozhi and Xie An spoke privately in a quiet room. Chen Caozhi told him about affairs in Hebei, and Xie An said, "The Huan Clan has monopolized the credit for the Northern Expedition. Of the twenty provinces in Jiangdong and Henan, the Longkang Huan clan holds six. Moreover, Liangzhou, Yizhou, Qingzhou, and Xuzhou are all governed by its trusted associates. You alone, Caozhi, have benefited from the Northern Expedition outside that circle. But rumor has it that Huan Bodaо is at odds with you over the Xianbei Princess?"
Chen Caozhi explained, "The Xianbei Princess is merely a pretext. Huan Bodaо and I have never been on good terms."
Since Chen Caozhi had already taken the Xianbei Princess as a concubine, Xie An could hardly reproach him further. A