Recaps

Chu Jian plotted to use Lu Qin against Chen Caozhi and arrange for Chu Wenqian to become Qiantang’s magistrate, while Chen Caozhi continued studying and befriending Xu Miao and Liu Shangzhi. Liu Shangzhi moved into a cottage in a peach grove, but the old farmer soon warned that its owner was coming and demanded they leave.

• Chu Jian told Chu Wenbin to befriend Lu Qin and gradually provoke him into clashing with Chen Caozhi, while planning for Chu Wenqian to succeed the Qiantang magistrate.
• Xu Miao warned Chen Caozhi about the Chu Clan’s likely schemes, and Chen Caozhi said he would face them without fear.
• Liu Shangzhi rented a secluded cottage in a peach grove, and Chen Caozhi and Xu Miao agreed to visit and gather there.
• Chen Caozhi ran around Little Mirror Lake, prompting several gentry youths to mock him, but he dismissed them as narrow-minded.
• Xu Zao praised Chen Caozhi’s ambition and told Xu Miao to run with him to build his strength.
• After Liu Shangzhi moved into the cottage, the old farmer hurried in to warn that the young master was coming and begged them to leave, but Liu Shangzhi refused.

Chen Caozhi met Wei Xie and Gu Kaizhi at Peach Grove Cottage, where he offered Wei Xie a simple prescription for his heart pain. Wei Xie invited Liu Shangzhi to remain at the cottages, and Gu Kaizhi ended by asking whether Tenant Mao’s daughter was beautiful enough to paint.

• Gu Kaizhi brought his ailing teacher Wei Xie to Peach Grove Cottage and discovered that Lao Mangtou had rented the cottages to Liu Shangzhi and his companions.
• Chen Caozhi recognized Wei Xie and introduced himself as a disciple of Ge Hong, then offered to write a prescription for Wei Xie’s heart pain.
• Chen Caozhi gave Wei Xie a prescription using dried lacquer, and Gu Kaizhi ordered a servant to prepare the medicine.
• Wei Xie asked Gu Kaizhi to let Liu Shangzhi stay in two of the cottages, and Gu Kaizhi returned the rent and praised Lao Mangtou for bringing them together.
• Chen Caozhi and Xu Miao left the grove, while Gu Kaizhi asked Lao Mangtou’s son whether Tenant Mao’s daughter was beautiful enough to paint.

Chen Caozhi found his own expression on the Keting Flute while climbing Lion Mountain, then faced Chu Wenbin’s attempt to provoke a conflict with Lu Qin. He left without agreeing to treat Lu Qin’s sister’s chrysanthemum, and Lu Qin was left furious with both men.

• Chen Caozhi played the Keting Flute on Lion Mountain and discovered a way to adapt Ji Kang’s guqin music to his own feelings.
• Liu Shangzhi arrived late after spending the night listening to Gu Kaizhi talk about painting, then joined Xu Miao and Chen Caozhi for Scholar Xu Zao’s lecture.
• Chu Wenbin praised Lu Qin’s calligraphy and agreed to request one of Lu Qin’s practice copies of the “Letter on Recovery.”
• Lu Qin asked Chu Wenbin to summon Chen Caozhi to treat his sister’s chrysanthemum, Jade Edition, but Chu Wenbin instead claimed Lu Qin demanded that Chen Caozhi apologize.
• Chen Caozhi confronted Lu Qin about Chu Wenbin’s message, refused to treat the chrysanthemum unless Lu Qin asked him again, and left with Liu Shangzhi.

Chen Caozhi gained Wei Xie’s approval as a painting disciple after sketching a peach tree, and later went to Peach Grove Cottage to show Wei Xie Huan Yi’s flute. He left Gu Kaizhi chanting poems through the night while he slept, and woke to find Gu still believing he had listened.

• Liu Shangzhi suggested that Chen Caozhi use Immortal Elder Ge’s letter to seek an audience with Governor Lu, and Xu Miao offered to arrange the visit through his father.
• Wei Xie’s heart pain flared when he mentioned it, though he said the episode was shorter and less severe than usual after taking the pills.
• Chen Caozhi painted a lifelike peach tree, and Wei Xie accepted him as a disciple after advising him to develop spirit and vitality beyond mere likeness.
• Gu Kaizhi invited Chen Caozhi to Peach Grove Cottage so Wei Xie could paint the story of Huan Yi giving him the Keting Flute, but Wei Xie fell asleep while planning the scene.
• Gu Kaizhi kept Chen Caozhi awake with hours of poetry recitation, while Chen slept in the adjoining room and had Ran Sheng occasionally call out praise.
• At daybreak, Gu Kaizhi thanked Chen Caozhi for sharing the enjoyable night, unaware that Chen had slept through his chanting.

Chen Caozhi watched Wei Xie paint a linked-picture scroll and practiced painting while Gu Kaizhi sought out a beautiful young woman to serve as his model. After hearing about Lu Weiwei, the flower-obsessed young lady of the Lu Clan, Chen was summoned to the commandery city by Prefect Lu.

• Liu Shangzhi expected Chen Caozhi to be exhausted after Gu Kaizhi's all-night poetry recitation, but Chen was energetic and invited him to climb Lion Mountain.
• Chen Caozhi watched Wei Xie outline a three-part painting about the gift of a flute, and Wei Xie agreed to continue painting after Chen left for his Zhuangzi lesson.
• Gu Kaizhi went to Shanluo Village to paint the beautiful young woman of the Mao family and stayed there to work through the night.
• Chen Caozhi practiced brushwork, while Xu Miao told Liu Shangzhi and Chen about Lu Weiwei's devotion to rare flowers and the story of her revived snowball tree.
• A school servant arrived at Peach Grove Cottage to tell Chen Caozhi that Prefect Lu had sent an ox cart to bring him to the commandery city.

Quan Li’s praise of Chen Caozhi’s calligraphy sparked Governor Lu Na’s desire to meet him, and Lu Na summoned him to the residence. Chen Caozhi examined Lu Weiwei’s dying chrysanthemum, Jade Edition, and offered a risky treatment that left its survival uncertain.

• Quan Li showed Lu Na Chen Caozhi’s calligraphy, and Lu Na admired the young man’s distinctive script.
• After learning Chen Caozhi was studying at the Xu Clan School, Lu Na sent for him.
• Lu Na brought Chen Caozhi to Golden Wind Pavilion, where Lu Weiwei pleaded with him to save her wilted chrysanthemum.
• Chen Caozhi examined Jade Edition’s badly rotted roots and said the flower might be beyond saving.
• Chen Caozhi had the serving women clean and soak the damaged roots in glutinous millet wine, then replant the chrysanthemum in a dry spot without watering it for three days.

Chen Caozhi impressed Lu Na with his insight and calligraphy, and Lu Na offered him rare modelbooks to study. After helping Lu Weiwei accept that Chrysanthemum Jade Edition might not survive, Chen Caozhi left her smiling.

• Lu Na praised Chen Caozhi’s diligence and calligraphy, then assured him that no one in Wu Commandery would trouble him over the Chu Clan’s hostility.
• Chen Caozhi explained his insight into Lu Ji’s “Rhapsody on Literature” and wrote “Song of the Yan” in left-handed regular script and right-handed running script.
• Lu Na praised Chen Caozhi’s progress and lent him original works by Wei Heng and Xie An to copy.
• Lu Weiwei waited to thank Chen Caozhi, who asked her not to grieve too deeply if Chrysanthemum Jade Edition could not be saved.
• Lu Weiwei understood his words and smiled.

Chen Caozhi continued his studies and painting while Chu Jian ordered his son to keep watch on him after Governor Lu Na praised him publicly. Ding Chunqiu delivered gifts from Ding Youwei, and Lu Weiwei visited to tell Chen that Jade Edition was recovering, leaving him with a quiet happiness as she invited him to Cherished Garden.

• Lu Qin wrongly assumed Chen Caozhi had sought Lu Na’s favor to gain a reputation, while Chu Jian told Chu Wenbin to watch Chen and report anything unusual.
• Chen Caozhi studied and practiced painting with Wei Xie, while Gu Kaizhi painted the young woman of the Mao family at Shanluo Village.
• Ding Chunqiu passed Xu Miao’s admission question and delivered a wooden chest of gifts from Ding Youwei to Chen Caozhi at Peach Grove Cottage.
• A servant from the Lu residence summoned Chen Caozhi, and Lu Weiwei told him that Jade Edition had begun to recover after he advised her on caring for it.
• Lu Weiwei invited Chen Caozhi to visit Cherished Garden and told him she had ignored her sixth brother’s insults about him before departing.

Chen Caozhi received winter supplies from Ding Youwei and grew closer to Ding Chunqiu, then visited Lu Weiwei to help save her chrysanthemum and heard her reflections on flowers and loss. Lu Qin tried to keep Chen away from the Lu residence, but Lu Weiwei defended his talent and challenged her brother to prove his superiority in calligraphy.

• Ding Chunqiu brought Chen Caozhi winter clothes, writing supplies, food, and a caring letter from Ding Youwei, and Chen suggested finding him a nearby room.
• Ding Chunqiu overcame his unease at the Thatched Cottage and admired Chen Caozhi, Xu Miao, and Liu Shangzhi, then learned Chen had been invited to Governor Lu's residence.
• Chen Caozhi visited Lu Weiwei in the Cherished Garden and found that Chrysanthemum Jade Edition had sprouted new leaves after his treatment.
• Lu Weiwei explained her love of rare flowers and spoke sadly about her deceased mother and sisters and her sickly brother.
• Lu Qin warned Lu Weiwei that Chen Caozhi was seeking fame, but Lu Weiwei defended him and urged Lu Qin to compete with him in calligraphy.

Gu Kaizhi completed his moonlit painting Nighttime Laundry Pounding and received praise from Wei Xie. The next day, Lu Weiwei waited for Chen Caozhi and invited him to see camellias at Zhenqing Daoist Abbey, while Chu Wenbin secretly followed his cart.

• Gu Kaizhi told Chen Caozhi he would teach him figure painting the following year, and the three friends joked about painting beauties and marriage.
• After a moonlit walk, Gu Kaizhi rushed back to paint Nighttime Laundry Pounding, which Wei Xie praised as a painting with a soul.
• The next morning, Duanchu told Chen Caozhi that Lu Weiwei had been waiting for him, and Lu Weiwei invited him to see camellias at Zhenqing Daoist Abbey.
• Chen Caozhi agreed to go with Lu Weiwei and followed her ox cart toward the commandery city.
• Chu Wenbin noticed the Lu residence's ox cart and had his own cart follow Chen Caozhi to discover who was with him.

Chen Caozhi and Lu Weiwei admired camellias at Zhenqing Daoist Abbey, grew closer, and agreed to meet there on his days off. After Chu Wenbin saw them together, Chu Jian decided to monitor them and use their meetings to bring disgrace on Chen Caozhi and damage the Lu Clan.

• Chen Caozhi and Lu Weiwei visited the abbey’s camellias, and Chen accidentally bumped Lu Weiwei before she kindly reassured him.
• Duan Chu revealed that Lu Weiwei’s Sixth Brother had picked the two missing purple camellias, prompting Lu Weiwei to ban him from Cherished Garden.
• Chen Caozhi promised to return to Wu Commandery the following year and invite Lu Weiwei to see peach blossoms, while she invited him to paint with her.
• Lu Weiwei said she was happy to see Chen Caozhi, praised his looks and conversation, and arranged to meet him at the abbey on his days off.
• Chu Wenbin reported seeing Chen Caozhi with Lu Weiwei, and Chu Jian ordered him to watch them so he could exploit their relationship to disgrace Chen and harm the Lu Clan.

Chen Caozhi learned that Ye Zhu was secretly watching him and suspected Chu Jian was looking for a way to spread rumors about his friendship with Lu Weiwei. He visited Lu Na, impressed him with his painting and calligraphy, and secured his support for a Wu Commandery painting gathering that would include Lu Weiwei and Gu Kaizhi.

• Ran Sheng spotted Ye Zhu watching Chen Caozhi and suspected he was planted by the Chu Clan, but Chen Caozhi told Ran Sheng and Lai De to act as if they knew nothing.
• Xu Miao warned Chen Caozhi that Chu Jian might exploit his visits with Lu Weiwei to spread gossip, but Chen Caozhi decided not to withdraw from their friendship.
• Chen Caozhi visited Lu Na with calligraphy models and paintings, and Lu Na praised Chen Caozhi's camellia painting and his poem on Gu Kaizhi's Nighttime Laundry Pounding.
• Chen Caozhi asked Lu Na to host a month-long gathering for paintings of winter flowers and trees, and Lu Na agreed to invite artists including Gu Kaizhi.
• Chen Caozhi invited Lu Weiwei to participate in the gathering, and she accepted.

Chen Caozhi met Lu Weiwei at Zhenqing Daoist Abbey to discuss painting camellias, while Chu Jian tried to use their meetings to spread suspicion about them. His plan backfired when Wei Xie and Gu Kaizhi arrived, and the gathered officials and gentry praised Chen Caozhi and welcomed the planned painting gathering.

• Chen Caozhi and Lu Weiwei compared their Auspicious Snow camellia paintings and discussed painting Great Purple Robe flowers in the cold rain.
• Ran Sheng told Chen Caozhi that a spy had watched them at the abbey, and Chen suspected Chu Jian was preparing a rumor.
• Chen Caozhi arrived at the abbey three days later and spoke with Daoist Li before Lu Weiwei joined him.
• Chu Jian brought officials and gentry to the abbey, praised Chen Caozhi, then pretended surprise to find him with Lu Weiwei.
• Lu Weiwei explained that she and Chen Caozhi were preparing for Governor Lu's painting gathering, and Gu Kaizhi arrived with Wei Xie.
• The officials and gentry welcomed Wei Xie and Gu Kaizhi, praised Chen Caozhi further, and left Chu Jian frustrated as his scheme failed.

Chen Caozhi presented Wei Xie’s finished painting to Lu Na, who invited him to a gathering of painters and asked to hear him play the flute. On his birthday, Chen Caozhi longed for his mother by copying “Kai Feng,” and discovered that Lu Weiwei had quietly watched him for nearly two hours.

• Wei Xie finished “Huan Yi Presenting a Flute,” praised Chen Caozhi’s flower studies, and sent him to present the painting to Lu Na.
• Lu Na admired the painting, invited Chen Caozhi to a winter flower-and-tree gathering, and asked him to bring his flute on his next day off.
• Lu Weiwei followed Chen Caozhi’s oxcart to Zhenqing Daoist Abbey, where seeing him beneath a cypress stirred a strange feeling in him.
• On his birthday, Chen Caozhi wore the warmer robe, new shoes, and jade zhang his mother had arranged, then climbed Lion Mountain and yearned for her.
• Chen Caozhi spent the morning copying “Kai Feng” from the Book of Songs, and at noon found Lu Weiwei sitting nearby after watching him write for nearly two hours.

Chen Caozhi hosted Lu Weiwei at the Xu Clan Thatched Cottage, then arranged for Ye Zhu to pass false news that frightened Chu Wenbin into seeking Lu Qin’s forgiveness. Lu Qin rejected Chu Wenbin’s apology, leaving him to endure an awkward wine outing with He Zhu.

• Lu Weiwei visited Chen Caozhi on his birthday, ate Chive-Leaf Shuiyin Pancakes at the Thatched Cottage, and asked him to meet her at the Daoist abbey the next day.
• Wei Xie praised Lu Weiwei’s paintings but declined to instruct her, while Gu Kaizhi avoided speaking to her because of the feud between their clans.
• Ran Sheng suggested using the spying Ye Zhu to mislead Chu Jian, and Chen Caozhi arranged for Ye Zhu to hear that Lu Qin planned to complain to his father about Chu Wenbin.
• Chu Wenbin panicked over the supposed threat to his official prospects, and Chu Jian advised him to apologize to Lu Qin while blaming Chen Caozhi.
• Lu Qin refused Chu Wenbin’s invitation to the Fragrant Garden Winehouse after learning it was meant as an apology, so Chu Wenbin accompanied He Zhu and endured the evening miserably.

Chu Jian apologized to Lu Na for Chu Wenbin’s conduct and watched Lu Na praise Chen Caozhi’s talent, deepening his resentment. He ordered his family to endure for now and vowed to ruin Chen Caozhi and his humble-origin clan rather than kill him.

• Chu Wenbin told Chu Jian that his encounter with Lu Qin had gone badly, and Chu Jian ordered him to stay indoors and reflect on his faults.
• Chu Jian brought rare orchids and Wang Xianzhi’s calligraphy to Lu Na’s residence and apologized for Chu Wenbin’s behavior.
• Lu Na brought Chu Jian to the Cherished Garden, where Chen Caozhi played the flute and discussed orchids and calligraphy with Lu Weiwei.
• Chen Caozhi admired Wang Xianzhi’s calligraphy, and Lu Na encouraged him to study the masters and aim to match Wang Xianzhi.
• Chu Jian reprimanded Chu Wenbin and told Chu Wenqian that Lu Na’s praise of Chen Caozhi had insulted the Jiangdong aristocratic clans.
• Chu Jian told Chu Wenbin to leave the Xu Clan School and declared that he would destroy Chen Caozhi’s standing and prevent the Chen Clan of Humble Origins from rising.

Chen Caozhi and Lu Weiwei grew closer as they spoke about his family and his planned return to Qiantang, while the painters of Wu Commandery gathered at the Lu residence for a flower-and-tree painting contest. The chapter ended with Wei Xie assessing the submitted works and teaching Chen Caozhi about the local schools of painting.

• Ye Zhu lost his paid informant position after Master Xu dismissed him, and Chen Caozhi stopped Ran Sheng from punishing him.
• Chen Caozhi told Lu Weiwei he planned to return to Qiantang early the following month to keep his promise to Run'er, and he shared stories about Run'er and Zongzhi.
• Lu Weiwei hinted that she would like to visit Chen Family Cove, but Chen Caozhi fell silent and looked toward the clouds.
• Wei Xie, Chen Caozhi, and Liu Shangzhi attended the flower-and-tree painting gathering at Cherished Garden, where Zhang Mo mistook Chen Caozhi for Gu Kaizhi before learning his identity.
• Wei Xie began reviewing the forty-three submitted paintings and explained their styles and merits to Chen Caozhi.

Zhang Mo appraised the paintings and praised Lu Weiwei’s camellia and Chen Caozhi’s unusual ink orchid, while Gu Kaizhi’s work received the highest grade. After the judging, Chen Caozhi explained why Zhang Mo had welcomed Lu Weiwei’s self-taught use of Wei Xie’s techniques, and her teasing remark left them both blushing.

• Zhang Mo recognized Lu Weiwei’s Cold Rain Camellia as her own, praised her use of Wei Xie’s technique, and ranked it upper-middle grade.
• Zhang Mo examined Chen Caozhi’s Ink Orchid, praised its imagery and atmosphere despite its rough technique, and ranked it upper-lower grade.
• Lu Qin complained that Chen Caozhi had brought Gu Kaizhi’s painting, but Lu Na rebuked him and Zhang Mo awarded the painting upper-upper grade.
• Zhang Mo and Wei Xie’s appraisals largely matched, and Lu Na invited the painters and guests to hear the rankings announced.
• Lu Weiwei told Chen Caozhi about Zhang Mo’s reaction, and Chen explained that learning Wei Xie’s art without asking him avoided owing him a favor.
• Lu Weiwei teased Chen Caozhi by comparing him to someone in Cao’s camp whose heart was with Han, and they both blushed.

After Gu Kaizhi’s painting won first place at the Lu residence gathering, he celebrated with Chen Caozhi and Liu Shangzhi at Peach Grove Cottage. Inspired by the company and the warm winter night, Gu set out to write a new collection of poems, leaving his friends free to sleep.

• At Governor Lu Na’s banquet, Lu Weiwei recalled Chen Caozhi and the recorder music from their encounter beneath the camellias.
• Gu Kaizhi waited at Zhenqing Daoist Abbey and promised Daoist Li his painting if it won first place.
• Chen Caozhi told Gu that his painting had taken first place, and Gu promised to give Daoist Li both the painting and a donation in three days.
• At Peach Grove Cottage, Gu admired his prize and complained that Lu Weiwei’s second-place prize, Zhang Heng’s painting, was more valuable than his own.
• Chen Caozhi proposed that Gu compose new poems, and Gu agreed before going off to write them.

Chen Caozhi visited the Lu residence to return calligraphy and borrow Zhang Zhi’s Treatise on the Heart of the Brush, then learned Lu Weiwei was sick and went to see her. He discovered she had braved the storm to visit the camellias at Zhenqing Daoist Abbey, and urged her to take care of herself.

• Chen Caozhi returned his copied calligraphy to Lu Na and borrowed Zhang Zhi’s Treatise on the Heart of the Brush to study at home.
• Chen Caozhi asked Lu Na to let Gu Kaizhi borrow Lu Weiwei’s prize painting, and Lu Na revealed that Weiwei had caught a chill.
• Chen Caozhi accompanied Lu Na to see Lu Weiwei and offered to examine her with his knowledge of medicine.
• Chen Caozhi attempted to take Lu Weiwei’s pulse, then learned from Duan Chu that Weiwei had visited Zhenqing Daoist Abbey in the rain to see the camellias.
• Lu Na scolded Weiwei for risking her health, and Chen Caozhi urged her to take care of herself.

Chen Caozhi bid farewell to Lu Weiwei before leaving for Qiantang, while Xu Zao planned to return to Jingkou with Xu Miao. During a final night together at Peach Grove Cottage, Chen Caozhi and his friends recited poetry and celebrated their parting, leaving their future reunions uncertain.

• Xu Zao told Lu Na that Lu Qin had stopped taking notes and attending lessons regularly, and Lu Na angrily reprimanded his nephew in front of Chen Caozhi.
• Lu Qin left humiliated and resentful, while Chen Caozhi realized Lu Qin now considered him an enemy.
• Chen Caozhi and Xu Zao formally bid farewell to Lu Na and Lu Weiwei before returning to the Xu Clan Thatched Cottage.
• Chen Caozhi, Liu Shangzhi, Xu Miao, Ding Chunqiu, and Gu Kaizhi gathered at Peach Grove Cottage to drink and lament their impending separations.
• Gu Kaizhi chanted poetry through the night, and Chen Caozhi recited an ancient Music Bureau poem about enjoying life rather than waiting for the future.
• Liu Shangzhi and Ding Chunqiu dozed off during the chanting, but after waking they joined the lively recitations, laughter, and applause.

Chen Caozhi left Wu Commandery for home, but turned aside to play the Keting Flute for a young gentleman who had traveled from Jiankang to hear him. After he departed, the young gentleman’s elder sister said the music had made their six-hundred-li journey worthwhile.

• Chen Caozhi, Liu Shangzhi, and Ding Chunqiu bade farewell to Master Xu, Wei Xie, Gu Kaizhi, and Daoist Li before setting out for home.
• A steward caught up with Chen Caozhi and asked him to play for his young master, a friend of Huan Yi who had traveled from Jiankang to hear him.
• Chen Caozhi sent Liu Shangzhi and Ding Chunqiu onward with Lai De and walked with Ran Sheng to Seven-Li Bridge on the Jing River.
• Chen Caozhi played his adaptations of Ji Kang’s “Long Clarity” and “Short Clarity” on the Keting Flute, then stopped when a ginkgo leaf landed on it and left.
• The young gentleman asked his elder sister whether the journey had been worthwhile, and she said the music had made it so.

Lu Weiwei reflected on her growing affection for Chen Caozhi as he left Wu Commandery, then visited Zhenqing Daoist Abbey and received a painting he had left behind. The next day, the Lu residence donated a hundred thousand cash to the abbey for repairs to its mountain path.

• Lu Weiwei recalled her feelings for Chen Caozhi and worried that her father’s story about Chen Qingzhi and Ding Youwei had been meant as a warning.
• On the day Chen Caozhi left Wu Commandery, Lu Weiwei tended the garden, practiced calligraphy, and received her father’s permission to visit Zhenqing Daoist Abbey.
• At the abbey, Daoist Li told Lu Weiwei that Chen Caozhi had left for Qiantang and had given him a painting to sell for the abbey’s incense funds.
• Lu Weiwei recognized the painting of a budding peach tree as Chen Caozhi’s playful reply to calling her a peach tree turned into a spirit, and took it with her.
• The next day, a steward and two servants from the Lu residence delivered a hundred thousand cash for repairs to the abbey’s mountain path.

Chen Caozhi and Liu Shangzhi traveled through a winter night to Ding Clan Villa with Ding Chunqiu, who welcomed them into his home. Ding Yi learned of Chunqiu’s new friendships and Chen Caozhi’s growing reputation in Wu Commandery, leaving Chunqiu free to befriend Chen while urging him to pursue ties with the great gentry.

• Chen Caozhi’s party traveled from Jiaxing through Yuhang, and, with snow threatening and home near, they continued through the night toward Qiantang.
• Ding Chunqiu invited Chen Caozhi and Liu Shangzhi to stay at Ding Clan Villa, where his family welcomed them with lanterns, food, wine, and a bath.
• Ding Yi questioned Ding Chunqiu about his studies and friends, and Chunqiu impressed him by reciting a poem in a Luoyang-style chant.
• Ding Chunqiu told Ding Yi that he was close to Chen Caozhi, Liu Shangzhi, Gu Kaizhi, and Xu Miao, and claimed Gu Kaizhi had given him a painting and invited him to Jiankang.
• Ding Chunqiu described Chu Wenbin’s disgrace and explained that Governor Lu admired Chen Caozhi, who had also become Wei Xie’s painting disciple and earned a reputation in Wu Commandery.
• Ding Yi agreed that Ding Chunqiu could befriend Chen Caozhi but advised him to focus more on making connections among the gentry.

Chen Caozhi returned to Ding Clan Villa after studying in Wu Commandery and reunited with Ding Youwei. After learning that Run'er was waiting for him, he set off through the falling snow for Chen Family Fort, leaving his companions to follow by cart.

• Ding Youwei waited for Chen Caozhi, who arrived late at night with Ding Chunqiu after traveling from Wu Commandery.
• Chen Caozhi told Ding Youwei about his studies and the Chu Clan's hostility, while keeping his dealings with Lu Weiwei to himself.
• Chen Caozhi woke to falling snow and told Ding Youwei he had promised to visit Run'er, so she packed new clothes and gifts for the journey.
• Chen Caozhi gave Ding Youwei and her maidservants gifts from Wu Commandery, then left with Ran Sheng while Lai De escorted the carts and Liu Shangzhi traveled separately.
• At Maple Forest Ferry, Chen Caozhi crossed the river by small boat, said goodbye to Liu Shangzhi, and strode ahead through the snow in wooden clogs.