Chapter Summaries

Chen Caozhi and Lu Weiwei reunited briefly at Zhenqing Daoist Abbey before their households set out west together, but Lady Lu, née Zhu, kept them apart on the road. After the convoy reached Jinling, Zhang Tongyun arranged a trip to Wulong Mountain that might let them meet again.

• Lu Weiwei wrote “Valley Wind” at Zhenqing Daoist Abbey, and Chen Caozhi showed her his calligraphy before they spent nearly an hour together.
• Chen Caozhi returned to Gu Clan Manor, where Gu Kaizhi noticed his cheerful mood, while Xie Daoyun’s spirits lifted at Peach Grove Cottage.
• Lady Lu, née Zhu, objected to Chen Caozhi traveling with Lu Weiwei but allowed the journey after learning he would accompany Gu Kaizhi and Xie Xuan.
• Lady Lu, née Zhu, joined her household’s convoy with the Gu household and Chen Caozhi’s party, then ordered her attendants to keep Chen Caozhi from meeting Lu Weiwei.
• During the journey, Zhang Tongyun told Lu Weiwei that Chen Caozhi would soon turn toward Gushu, and Lu Weiwei said that simply knowing he was nearby comforted her.
• After the convoy reached Jinling, Zhang Tongyun invited Lu Weiwei to see Wulong Mountain’s plum blossoms and asked Gu Kaizhi to bring Chen Caozhi along as a surprise.

Zhang Tongyun arranged for Lu Weiwei and Chen Caozhi to meet among the plum trees on Wulong Mountain. Their private reunion was interrupted when Xie Daoyun arrived, leaving Lu Weiwei puzzled by the strangely familiar voice and manner of Zhu Yingtai.

• Zhang Tongyun brought Lu Weiwei to Wulong Mountain and led her to the Green Calyx Plums while Gu Kaizhi brought Chen Caozhi and their companions to Jizi Hall.
• Gu Kaizhi remembered his plan and sent Chen Caozhi with a maid to meet Lu Weiwei in private.
• Lu Weiwei sang part of “Plums Are Falling,” then Chen Caozhi arrived after Zhang Tongyun withdrew.
• Xie Daoyun followed the mountain path and unexpectedly found Chen Caozhi with Lu Weiwei beneath a plum tree.
• Xie Daoyun excused herself, and Lu Weiwei wondered why Zhu Yingtai’s voice seemed so peculiar.

Chen Caozhi and Lu Weiwei shared a tender reunion on Wulong Mountain before leaving together, while Xie Daoyun rejected jealousy over their relationship. She admonished Xie Xuan for hoping Chen Caozhi would abandon Lu Weiwei, leaving him moved but unable to understand her heart.

• Chen Caozhi told Lu Weiwei that her kindness at Zhenqing Daoist Abbey had first made him love her, and Lu Weiwei recalled when she began loving him.
• Chen Caozhi and Lu Weiwei kissed and held each other, and Lu Weiwei said she was happy to wait for him despite their hardships.
• Chen Caozhi and Lu Weiwei paid their respects together at Jizi Hall, then descended the mountain and reunited with Zhang Tongyun and the others.
• Xie Xuan asked Xie Daoyun whether she was jealous after seeing Chen Caozhi with Lu Weiwei, and she said she valued her friendship with him without seeking marriage.
• Xie Xuan argued that Chen Caozhi could not marry Lu Weiwei, but Xie Daoyun insisted that his choices were his own and admonished her brother for hoping he would betray his heart.

Chen Caozhi, Xie Xuan, and Xie Daoyun arrived in Gushu, where Huan Wen invited them to a banquet, revealed his plans for a Northern Expedition, and asked Chen Caozhi to devise a strategy. The next morning, Huan Wen summoned Chen Caozhi alone, intending to make him a trusted confidant and assign him an important mission.

• Chen Caozhi sent letters to Lu Na and Chen Shang, then parted from Lu Weiwei and the others on the road to Gushu.
• Chen Caozhi, Xie Xuan, and Xie Daoyun learned that Empress Yu had died and attended Huan Wen's banquet at the General's Residence.
• Huan Wen displayed a newly forged ring-pommel saber and told Xie Xuan to take up a post in Jingzhou after his wedding, ready to campaign against Sima Xun.
• Huan Wen asked Chen Caozhi to devise a plan for his third Northern Expedition but withheld the important mission he intended for him.
• Xie Xuan and Xie Daoyun speculated that Chen Caozhi might be sent as an envoy, then listened to him play his Keting Flute.
• Huan Wen summoned Chen Caozhi alone the following morning, believing he could become his trusted right-hand man.

Chen Caozhi advised Huan Wen against an immediate Northern Expedition and agreed to serve as envoy to Di Qin to pursue an alliance against the Murong. After Xie Xuan urged Huan Wen to send Xie Daoyun with him, Li Jingshu overheard that Zhu Yingtai was Xie Daoyun and learned of her feelings for Chen Caozhi.

• Chen Caozhi told Huan Wen that Di Qin and the Murong should be allowed to weaken each other, and Huan Wen proposed exchanging weapons for horses and allying with Fu Jian against Murong Yan.
• Huan Wen appointed Chen Caozhi to go as an envoy to Di Qin once his secret envoy returned, and Li Jingshu visited Chen Caozhi and played for him.
• At a feast with Xie Daoyun and Xie Xuan, Chen Caozhi said he feared Xie Daoyun would not be suited to the long journey, while Xie Xuan decided to ask Huan Wen to send her as deputy envoy.
• Xie Xuan asked Huan Wen to let Xie Daoyun accompany Chen Caozhi, and Huan Wen said he would consider the request and ask Chen Caozhi what he thought.
• Li Jingshu overheard Huan Wen discussing Xie Daoyun’s identity as Zhu Yingtai and her love for Chen Caozhi, and jealousy stirred in her.

Chen Caozhi arranged his mission to Di Qin, secured Shen Chiqian and Chen Yu as companions, and declined to take Xie Daoyun as his deputy. After learning of his firm intention to marry Lu Weiwei, the Princess of Nankang considered a match between him and Huan You'e while Li Jingshu plotted to exploit Xie Daoyun’s concealed identity; the chapter ended with Chen Caozhi and Xie Daoyun feeling newly constrained by their closeness.

• Shen Chiqian begged Chen Caozhi to take him north to reunite with his father, and Chen Caozhi agreed to ask Huan Wen for permission.
• Huan Wen proposed Clerk Zhu as Chen Caozhi’s deputy, but Chen Caozhi rejected the suggestion and requested Chen Yu and three hundred escort soldiers instead.
• Huan Wen promoted Chen Yu to Commander of a Thousand Household Troops, approved Shen Chiqian’s participation, and had Chen Caozhi meet the Princess of Nankang.
• Chen Caozhi told the Princess of Nankang that he intended to marry only Lu Weiwei, while she later asked Li Jingshu whether Huan You'e could marry him.
• Li Jingshu considered using Xie Daoyun’s concealed identity to pressure Chen Caozhi and make Lu Weiwei suffer.
• Chen Caozhi told Xie Daoyun about the proposed deputy appointment, and they discussed her plans to return to Jiankang before feeling awkwardly conscious of their growing attraction.

After Xie Xuan’s betrothed died of pestilence, Chen Caozhi accompanied him and Xie Daoyun to Guangling to offer condolences and warn local officials about the epidemic. Back in Jiankang, Chen met with Sima Yu, who asked him to treat Sima Daofu, and Chen found Li Jingshu with the princess before leaving a prescription.

• Ran Sheng returned to Gushu with news that Xie Xuan’s betrothed had died, and Xie Xuan asked Huan Wen for permission to travel to Guangling to offer condolences.
• Chen Caozhi persuaded Huan Wen to let him accompany Xie Xuan and investigate the pestilence, and Huan Wen also ordered Xie Daoyun to summon Gu Kaizhi to the Western Headquarters.
• Xie Xuan sang a funeral song aboard the boat, and the travelers reached Guangling, where Xie Xuan read his betrothed’s final letter and paid his respects.
• Chen Caozhi warned Wang Shao to take the pestilence seriously, but Wang Shao said he had already distributed medical texts and stocked medicines.
• After returning to Jiankang, Chen Caozhi visited Sima Yu, who asked him to examine Sima Daofu; Chen found Li Jingshu there and wrote a prescription before taking his leave.

Chen Caozhi prepared for his mission to Di Qin by consulting Xi Chao and the Xie family, then made connections among Jiankang’s leading officials. After Lu Qin learned that Lu Na had invited Chen Caozhi to a banquet, he told his father that one man would dare marry Lu Wei Rui.

• Xi Chao warned Chen Caozhi that Luoyang was difficult to defend and advised him to assess whether its commanders should hold or abandon the city.
• Xie An, Xie Wan, and Xie Daoyun discussed Chen Caozhi’s mission and gave him detailed information about officials in the Two Huai Regions.
• Chen Caozhi visited the Chen Clan’s North Garden with Chen Shang, Gu Kaizhi, and Liu Shangzhi, then continued making calls on influential officials.
• Lu Na invited Chen Caozhi, Chen Shang, Gu Kaizhi, and Gu Kaizhi’s wife to a banquet, and Banli told Lu Qin about the invitation.
• Lu Qin complained to Lu Shi that Chen Caozhi had damaged Lu Wei Rui’s marriage prospects, then said that one man would dare marry her.

Lu Qin proposed that Wei Rui marry Emperor Sima Yi to strengthen the Lu Clan against Huan Wen, while Lu Shi hesitated over the plan. As Chen Caozhi prepared to leave for Di Qin, he and Lu Weiwei were given time together to paint portraits and share a boat ride.

• Lu Qin urged Lu Shi to arrange Wei Rui’s marriage to Emperor Sima Yi, arguing that the alliance could protect the Lu Clan from Huan Wen’s growing power.
• Lu Shi warned Lu Qin to keep the proposal secret and preserve his dignity, while Lu Qin planned to raise the idea with the emperor after Empress Yu’s mourning period.
• Chen Caozhi visited Lu Na’s residence and learned from Lady Lu that she was expected to give birth within ten days; Lu Na also said he would remonstrate with his elder brother about the previous year’s actions.
• Lady Lu arranged for Chen Caozhi and Lu Weiwei to spend time together by painting portraits and going boating, since Chen Caozhi would soon leave on a mission to Di Qin.
• Chen Caozhi and Lu Weiwei shared a boat on Hengtang, sitting close, holding hands, and speaking softly.

Chen Caozhi and Lu Weiwei completed their paired portraits with Gu Kaizhi and Zhang Tongyun, and Gu Kaizhi captured Chen Caozhi’s spirit by adding three crimson hairs to his eyebrow. After Lady Lu gave birth to a son, Chen Caozhi learned that Huan Wen had recommended him as Crown Prince's Attendant and envoy to Di Qin.

• Chen Caozhi and Lu Weiwei finished their portrait of Gu Kaizhi and Zhang Tongyun, while Gu Kaizhi refined his portrait of Chen Caozhi and Lu Weiwei.
• Gu Kaizhi added three crimson hairs to Chen Caozhi’s painted eyebrow, saying they revealed his distinctive spirit.
• Lady Lu went into labor, and Chen Caozhi recognized the signs before she gave birth to a healthy boy.
• Lu Shi told Lu Qin that he intended to press Lu Na to send Wei Rui into the palace as empress, and Huang Ying overheard them.
• Xie Xuan took Chen Caozhi and Gu Kaizhi on an outing to Mount Zhidu after their planned Qingxi outing was canceled.
• Xi Chao told Chen Caozhi that Huan Wen had recommended him as Crown Prince's Attendant and envoy to Di Qin, pending discussion and an edict.

Lu Weiwei learned that Lu Shi intended to force her into a marriage alliance, but kept the news from Chen Caozhi so it would not trouble his mission to Di Qin. As Chen prepared to leave, Lu Na permitted the couple to meet, and gave Chen a fine horse for his journey.

• During her Shangsi bath, Lu Weiwei heard from Huang Ying that Lu Shi and Lu Qin were discussing a forced marriage alliance for her.
• Lu Weiwei told her attendants to keep the news secret and decided not to alert Chen Caozhi before he departed for Di Qin.
• At court, Sima Yu, Xi Chao, and others supported promoting Chen Caozhi before his mission, and Emperor Sima Yi ordered him to depart on the sixth day of the third month.
• Zhang Wenwan persuaded Lu Na to let Lu Weiwei and Chen Caozhi go boating together, and Lu Na instead arranged for Chen to visit the residence.
• Chen Caozhi told Lu Na he still hoped to marry Lu Weiwei properly, and Lu Na gave him a black Western Regions horse for his mission.

Chen Caozhi prepared to leave for Jingzhou while Lu Weiwei, facing pressure to marry into another aristocratic clan, arranged a private wedding with him at the Chen Clan residence. They exchanged nuptial wine and entered their bridal chamber before his departure.

• Chen Caozhi visited Xie An and Xie Wan, and Xie Daoyun asked him to invite Gu Kaizhi to travel with him to Jingzhou.
• Xie An and Xie Wan discussed Chen Caozhi's prospects and whether he might marry Xie Daoyun.
• Chen Caozhi took Lu Weiwei on a pleasure boat, where they promised to marry each other.
• Lu Weiwei arranged a private wedding at the Chen Clan residence and told Chen Caozhi that her second paternal uncle wanted her to marry someone else.
• Chen Caozhi and Lu Weiwei exchanged nuptial wine and entered the bridal chamber.

Chen Caozhi and Lu Weiwei privately pledged themselves to each other before his departure on an envoy mission to Di Qin, tying a red string between their ankles. They parted with promises to reunite in marriage, and Chen Caozhi sent letters to his family explaining his mission and reassuring them.

• Chen Caozhi brought out the red string he had carried for years, and Lu Weiwei agreed to let him tie it around her foot.
• Chen Caozhi tied one end of the string around Lu Weiwei’s right ankle and the other around his own left ankle, fulfilling their long-held wish.
• Lu Weiwei explained that she had chosen to become his wife before his journey because she feared what might happen while they were apart.
• Chen Caozhi promised that they would reunite and hold a grand wedding, while Lu Weiwei promised to wait for him to return safely.
• Chen Caozhi wrote letters to Chen Xian and Ding Youwei about his mission to Di Qin and sent them to Qiantang with a private soldier.

Chen Caozhi departed Jiankang as an envoy to Di Qin, receiving a prized horse and a gift from Xie An to deliver to Murong Chui. He shared an emotional farewell with Lu Weiwei, who resolved to wait for him and prevent the emperor from taking her into the palace.

• Emperor Sima Yi appointed Chen Caozhi Crown Prince's Attendant and commissioned him as an envoy to Di Qin, while Lu Qin saw him riding Lu Na's prized black horse and plotted to have Wei Rui enter the palace.
• At New Pavilion, Xie An gave Chen Caozhi golden wine cups and a letter for Murong Chui, recalling Murong Chui's childhood gift of white wolf fur ornaments.
• Lu Weiwei met Chen Caozhi privately, gave him a sachet, and received a folding fan he had made and inscribed with a portrait and a rhapsody praising her.
• Chen Caozhi kissed Lu Weiwei goodbye and rode away; she watched the procession depart and resolved to wait for him and seek an edict granting their marriage after the mourning period.
• Xiao Chan told Lu Weiwei that Chen Caozhi had left her behind in Jiankang, and Lu Weiwei invited her to visit with Zhang Tongyun.

Chen Caozhi prepared to travel north with Huan Wen as Yan invaded Huaibei, and he met Duan Si to gather intelligence about Yan and recruit Duan Zhao for his mission. Before departing for Hefei, Chen Caozhi also secured Huan Wen’s help in transferring Ding Licheng to a post closer to home.

• Huan Wen announced that Yan had invaded Huaibei and ordered Chen Caozhi to accompany him north as an envoy to Di Qin.
• Ran Sheng confirmed that three hundred soldiers were ready to accompany Chen Caozhi, and Shen Chiqian prepared twenty household troops for the journey.
• Chen Caozhi met Xie Daoyun and Xie Xuan on his way to visit Duan Si, and Xie Daoyun defended Chen Caozhi’s motives from her brother’s suspicions about Huan Wen.
• Chen Caozhi questioned Duan Si about Yan, and Duan Si assigned his trusted servant Duan Zhao to accompany Chen Caozhi.
• Chen Caozhi asked Huan Wen to transfer Ding Licheng closer to home, and Huan Wen agreed to arrange a post for him in Jiangzhou.

Huan Wen led the Western Headquarters fleet north to Hefei, where Chen Caozhi revealed that he planned to use Five-Stone Powder as a cultural lure among the northern elites rather than consume it. After Yuan Zhen reported that Murong Ping and Li Hong had retreated with thousands of captives, Chen Caozhi set out for Chang'an with Xie Daoyun accompanying him as far as Shouyang.

• Huan Wen rallied his officers at Ruxu Mouth and led his fleet across Chao Lake toward Hefei.
• Xie Daoyun questioned Chen Caozhi about his purchase of Five-Stone Powder ingredients, and he explained that he planned to display Jin culture to northern nobles by using the powder's refined image.
• The Western Headquarters fleet reached Hefei, where Huan Yi welcomed Chen Caozhi and listened as he played the Keting Flute's farewell melody.
• Yuan Zhen reported that Murong Ping and Li Hong had withdrawn north after carrying off more than ten thousand households, while Yuan Zhen had avoided pursuing them.
• Chen Caozhi left Hefei for Chang'an, and Huan Wen allowed Xie Daoyun to accompany him to Shouyang while considering possible marriages within his family.

Chen Caozhi traveled toward Shouchun with Xie Daoyun, where he learned that Jin forces might abandon Luoyang and urged Huan Wen to send reinforcements. He left Xie Daoyun to deliver his letter and rode with her to Mount Bagong before their farewell.

• Chen Caozhi and Xie Daoyun crossed the rain-soaked Two Huai region, where Xie Daoyun explained how refugee leaders governed fortified manors.
• Displaced people tried to rob the party, but Xie Daoyun identified them as local refugees; afterward, she fell from her horse and Chen Caozhi helped her into a carriage.
• Chen Caozhi and Xie Daoyun exchanged stories about youthful banditry as they continued to Shouchun.
• Yuan Zhen told Chen Caozhi that Luoyang might be abandoned and suggested he take a different route to Chang'an; Chen Caozhi disagreed and left without revealing his full views.
• Chen Caozhi wrote Huan Wen urging him to reinforce Luoyang, then asked Xie Daoyun to deliver the letter and accompany him to the Fei River.
• Chen Caozhi and Xie Daoyun rode to Mount Bagong, where Chen Caozhi reflected on the future Battle of Fei River.

Chen Caozhi and Xie Daoyun parted beneath a sudden downpour as he set out for Di Qin, then crossed the Huai and reached Runyin. There, he recognized a band of displaced people and learned their leader belonged to Su Family Fort, whose lord was Su Daozhi, before deciding to travel with them toward Pingyu.

• Chen Caozhi and Xie Daoyun exchanged farewells on Mount Bagong as Chen Caozhi led his party north through the rain.
• Chen Caozhi's party crossed the Huai and continued toward Runyin under Ran Sheng's heightened guard.
• Outside Runyin, Chen Caozhi recognized a passing group of displaced people as the band whose leader had once cried that there had been a misunderstanding.
• Shen Chiqian's soldiers traced the group to the Shiping Inn and learned they came from Runyang Su Family Fort, led by Su Qi.
• A soldier told Chen Caozhi that Su Family Fort's lord was Su Daozhi, and Chen Caozhi decided to travel with the group toward Pingyu.

Chen Caozhi traveled with Su Qi to Pingyu, where he admired a palindrome poem embroidered by Su Qi’s fourteen-year-old sister, Su Ruolan, and visited the heavily fortified Su Family Fort. Su Daozhi welcomed Chen Caozhi and, after hearing Su Qi’s report, warned his son not to let Chen Caozhi see the envoy from Di Qin.

• Chen Caozhi met Su Qi on the road and invited him and his household troops to accompany his party to Pingyu.
• At Gaotang Market Town, Su Qi presented Chen Caozhi with brocade, and Chen recognized an embroidered palindrome poem as the work of Su Ruolan.
• Chen Caozhi apologized for knowing Su Ruolan’s private name, while Su Qi privately wondered how her name had reached Jiangzuo.
• After reaching Pingyu, Chen Caozhi accepted Su Qi’s invitation to visit Su Family Fort and left most of his soldiers outside its walls.
• Su Daozhi welcomed Chen Caozhi and was impressed by his learning; Chen stayed overnight in the fort.
• Su Qi told Su Daozhi about Chen Caozhi’s interest in Su Ruolan’s poem, and Su Daozhi warned him to keep the Di Qin envoy hidden from Chen.

Chen Caozhi explored Su Family Fort and discovered that Dou Tao had come to court Su Ruolan while secretly trying to persuade Su Daozhi to return his clan to Di Qin. He warned Su Daozhi that moving back to Shiping would endanger the clan, and the chapter ended with Su Daozhi asking him to explain the risks and benefits.

• Chen Caozhi explored Su Family Fort with Ran Sheng and Shen Chiqian, then met Su Qi on the fort's eastern wall.
• Chen Caozhi offered to recommend Su Daozhi and Su Qi for better positions and recognized Dou Tao as a visitor from Chang'an.
• Su Qi revealed that Dou Tao had come to seek his younger sister Su Ruolan's hand, and Chen Caozhi suspected the proposed marriage was tied to Di Qin's efforts to win over the Su Clan.
• At a meal with Su Daozhi, Chen Caozhi identified Dou Tao's grandfather as Di Qin's General of the Right and asked whether Dou Tao meant to persuade Su Daozhi to return to Shiping.
• Chen Caozhi warned that returning to Shiping would exhaust the clan and leave it vulnerable under Di Qin, and Su Daozhi asked him to explain the advantages and dangers.