The monastery was three hours east of Jiangnan by river, then another hour on foot up a path that had been worn into the hillside over centuries of monks and their visitors making the same ascent.
Fang Wen had arranged a boat and a guide. He had also arranged a reason for my visit that would hold up to examination: I was a woman seeking guidance on a matter of family difficulty, accompanied by my secretary and a family retainer. Not unusual. Monasteries in this region were accustomed to receiving visitors from the capital who needed a quiet place to think through complicated situations.
The truth was more specific, but the cover was sufficient.
