Chapter Summaries

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.

Run'er and Zongzhi eagerly waited through the snow for Chen Caozhi to return, then went with the household servants to meet him on the road. Chen Caozhi reunited with the children and rode home in the ox cart, where Xiao Chan warmed his frozen feet against her bosom.

• Run'er and Zongzhi dressed, read, and practiced writing while they waited for Chen Caozhi to come home in the snow.
• Lady Li sent Lai Fu, Xiao Chan, Qingzhi, Jing Nu, and the children toward Maple Forest Ferry to meet Chen Caozhi and Ran Sheng.
• Lai Fu stopped the cart when they had not found the travelers, but Run'er begged to continue toward the ferry.
• Jing Nu spotted Ran Sheng and Chen Caozhi approaching through the snow, and Run'er and Zongzhi ran to greet their uncle.
• Chen Caozhi's wooden clogs broke as he carried the children, so he climbed into the ox cart with them.
• Xiao Chan removed Chen Caozhi's soaked stockings and held his icy feet against her bosom to warm them.

After returning to the Qiantang Chen Clan, Chen Caozhi spoke with his mother about his studies and learned she was considering a marriage alliance with Feng Lingbo's family. He chose to focus on his formal grading and reflected on the need to gain aristocratic standing to protect his family, before Xiao Chan invited him into the study for the night.

• Chen Caozhi told Lady Li, Zongzhi, and Run'er about visiting Ding Clan Villa and promised the children presents from their mother and from himself.
• Lady Li asked Chen Caozhi about his studies in Wu Commandery, and he described his teachers, friends, and Governor Lu Na's appreciation.
• Lady Li asked what Chen Caozhi thought of Feng Lingbo and explained that Sun Shi had hinted at a marriage alliance; Chen Caozhi said he wanted to focus on next year's formal grading.
• Chen Caozhi considered how aristocratic status and marriage connections could protect the Qiantang Chen Clan, and why he did not want to marry Feng Lingbo merely for convenience.
• Xiao Chan found Chen Caozhi in the corridor, brought him into the study, and told him his bed had been warmed.

Chen Caozhi studied, painted, and cared for his family at Chen Family Cove while preparing to return to Wu Commandery. The clan agreed to reconsider Chen Liu’s expulsion after a year of improved conduct.

• Chen Caozhi answered Zongzhi’s questions as Ran Sheng read the Analects aloud to Run'er, who corrected his mistakes and urged him to lower his voice.
• Chen Caozhi took Ran Sheng and Lai De to Chuyangtai Taoist Monastery, delivered provisions to the Daoists, and borrowed books to study and copy.
• Chen Caozhi completed a panoramic painting of Nine Luminaries Mountain, while Zongzhi and Run'er asked to learn painting and he promised to teach them when they were older.
• Chen Caozhi played the xiao for Lady Li each evening, and Liu Shangzhi visited and agreed to travel with him to Wu Commandery on the sixth day of the second month.
• Chen Xian called a clan meeting to discuss Chen Man’s request to restore Chen Liu, and Chen Caozhi agreed to abide by the clan head’s decision.
• Chen Xian ruled that Chen Liu could return to the clan only if his conduct and reputation improved during the coming year.

Chen Caozhi introduced New Year couplets to his clan and nearby villagers, then visited the Feng family and tactfully refused a marriage with Feng Lingbo by citing a Daoist's incompatible birth calculations. Feng Mengxiong accepted his explanation and preserved the families’ friendship, while Feng Lingbo asked her mother not to pursue the matter and agreed to regard Chen Caozhi as a brother.

• Chen Caozhi hung peachwood couplets at the West Tower and celebrated the New Year with Run'er, Zongzhi, and Lady Li.
• The other Chen clan towers and nearby villagers copied the couplets, spreading the custom, and Chen Xian had Chen Caozhi write a pair for the fort gates.
• At his mother's request, Chen Caozhi traveled to the county town for the Shangyuan Festival and visited Feng Mengxiong's residence.
• Chen Caozhi told Feng Mengxiong that a Daoist had judged his and Feng Lingbo's birth particulars incompatible for marriage, and bowed in apology.
• Feng Mengxiong accepted Chen Caozhi's explanation and reassured him that the Feng and Chen families would remain close.
• Sun Shi lamented the refusal and proposed consulting another Daoist, but Feng Lingbo asked her mother to stop and said she and Chen Caozhi would address each other as brother and sister.

Chen Caozhi attended the Celestial Official’s birthday rites, where Sun Tai challenged him over studying with Ge Hong and ordered him to explain himself to Du Zigong. After learning that his sister-in-law Ding Youwei was ill, Chen arranged for her children to visit and went to see her at the Ding Clan Villa.

• Chen Caozhi attended the birthday celebration at the Du clan villa and learned that Sun Tai was leading the rites while Du Zigong was away.
• Sun Tai questioned Chen Caozhi about taking Ge Hong as a teacher and told him to face Du Zigong’s judgment when he returned.
• Ding Chunqiu told Chen Caozhi that Sun Tai resented Ge Hong for refusing to teach him alchemy and invited Chen to travel to Wu Commandery with him and Shangzhi.
• Ding Yi said Ding Youwei was ill, and Chen Caozhi obtained permission for Zongzhi and Run’er to visit their mother for three days.
• Chen Caozhi sent Lai Fu to bring the children to the Ding Clan Villa and went there with Ding Yi and Ding Chunqiu to visit Ding Youwei.