Chen Caozhi heard his sister-in-law Ding Youwei exclaim delightedly from the bedroom, "Is that you, little brother? Ah, please wait a moment before coming in."
Seeing Chen Caozhi look at her questioningly, Rain Swallow lowered her voice. "My lady just had a bowl of bean porridge, but she brought it all back up. Please wait a moment, young masters. My lady likes to keep clean and doesn't want anyone to see her like that."
A pang of sorrow rose in Chen Caozhi's heart. He nodded and said loudly, "Sister-in-law, Chunqiu and I will sit in the study for a while. There's no hurry."
Rain Swallow said, "I must fetch some hot water, so I won't be able to attend to you, young masters."
Ding Chunqiu said, "Go ahead. Zizhong and I will talk in the study."
Chen Caozhi and Ding Chunqiu went into Ding Youwei's study. Brush, ink, paper, and inkstone were neatly arranged on the desk, where Chen Caozhi's copy of Wei Huan's Four Forms of Calligraphy lay. On a sheet of Zuo Bo Paper was a yuefu poem Ding Youwei had transcribed in the clerical script of the Cao Quan Stele-
"How bright, how bright the moon, Shining on the gauze curtains of my bed.
Sorrow keeps me from sleep; I gather up my clothes and rise to pace.
Though they say a traveler's life brings joy, Better to turn homeward soon.
I step outside and wander alone; To whom can I tell my sorrow?
Craning my neck, I return to my room; Tears fall and soak my robes."
Ding Chunqiu saw the poem and looked rather embarrassed. He told Chen Caozhi, "Third Sister usually keeps to herself behind closed doors and seldom visits the other women of the clan, so I didn't even know she was ill.