Cai Yan, Wen Xi, Evonne. A native of Pixian County, Chenliu County in the Eastern Han Dynasty, she was the daughter of Cai Yong, a great writer in the Eastern Han Dynasty. The first time I married Wei Zhongdao, my husband died and went home. Later, due to the invasion of Xiongnu, Cai Yan was abducted by Xiongnu Zuo, married to Xiongnu, and gave birth to two children. Twelve years later, Cao Cao unified the north, redeemed Cai Yan with a large sum of money and married her to Dong Si.
Cai Yan is also good at literature, music and calligraphy. Sui Shu Jing Ji Zhi contains a volume of Cai Wenji Ji, which has been lost. The only works that Cai Wenji can see now are Hu Jia's Two Mourning Poems and Eighteen Beats.