Arc 8The Assessment and the Promise
Chen Caozhi won over scholars and officials through his learning, passed the Grand Zhongzhengs’ assessment, and secured Mingsheng Lake for his clan. He reunited with Lu Weiwei, promised to marry her, and was summoned by the emperor after she returned to Jiankang.
- Chen Caozhi impressed Kong Wang with his scholarship and calligraphy, and the two agreed to visit each other often.
- Chen Caozhi advised Xi Chao against forcibly moving the capital to Luoyang, then joined Zhi Fahan at the Xie residence and helped Xie Daoyun defeat Fan Wuzi in debate.
- Chen Caozhi reunited with Lu Weiwei at Guo Pu Pavilion and promised to marry her, while she agreed to wait up to three more years.
- Chen Caozhi faced the Grand Zhongzhengs’ assessment, answered their questions on classical learning and metaphysics, and received Sima Yu’s approval, Mingsheng Lake, and twenty Protected Households for his clan.
- Chen Caozhi restored Lu Weiwei’s stained painting and later wrote Buddhist verses at Dong'an Temple, impressing Wang Xizhi, Wang Xianzhi, and Zhi Daolin.
- Chen Caozhi and Lu Weiwei walked together at Mount Hua, exchanged a kiss beneath a magnolia tree, and promised to marry each other.
- Zhang Wenwan brought Lu Weiwei back to Jiankang while Chen Caozhi stayed at Dong'an Temple, where riders arrived with the emperor’s summons.