I proved immortality through the imperial examination.

Chapter 226 Snowy Night (Half-Finished Train Alliance)

At this time, more than ten days had passed since Xue Xiang and Huang Zunyi had their conversation on the green plain outside Wenxu Fudi.

Huang Zunyi wielded astonishing power. On the seventh day, Xue Xiang received the Dali Temple's conclusion regarding him. The Dali Temple determined that he was innocent and also concluded that the deaths of Lord Liu and others were the work of the Witch God Cult.

Afterwards, Xue Xiang sent his family back to Yunmeng.

This time, thanks to Wei Fan's connections, he bought a house next to the Academy of Literature in Yunmeng City.

The Academy of Literature in Yunmeng City is not only guarded by the Black Tiger of Literary Qi, but also has a large number of patrolling troops. More importantly, there are many restrictions around the Academy, making it the safest place in the city.

In addition, Cheng Bei and Wen Shan were also settled near the Academy of Literature in Yunmeng City.

Having witnessed Xue Xianglian's ability to turn the tide even in such a dire situation, the two were completely convinced.

Moreover, Xue Xiang not only imprisoned them with the Life and Death Talisman, but also treated them with great courtesy and respect, so the two of them were at ease guarding Xue Xiang's house.

After doing all this, Xue Xiang went to find Sect Leader Zhao. His desire for pleasure was genuine, but so was his gathering of information.

After all, he couldn't just wander aimlessly while traveling the world. Otherwise, given how vast the world is, he might not discover anything in a year, which wouldn't be good.

That day, after successfully upgrading his seniority behind Sect Master Zhao, Xue Xiang browsed through various information in the elegant room.

Upon seeing the message, Xue Xiang had an idea. He glanced at Sect Leader Zhao, who was sleeping soundly with a flushed face, got up, walked to the corridor, checked the sky, left a letter, and went out.

Xue Xiang rushed to the bank of the Xiang River, where the snow was falling even more heavily. A wind blew from the mountain pass, and fine ripples appeared on the water's surface.

The ferry crossing was deserted, with only a small boat moored under a withered willow.

An old fisherman, wearing a straw raincoat, was huddled at the bow of the boat, tending a fire. Hearing footsteps, he only raised his eyes slightly.

Xue Xiang bowed and said that he wanted to cross the river to visit a friend.

The old fisherman shook his head and said that the snow was too heavy that day, and the Xiang River had many hidden currents, making it extremely dangerous to sail.

Xue Xiang smiled, took out a spirit stone from his sleeve, and gently placed it on the deck.

The old fisherman was overjoyed; one spirit stone was worth a month's hard work.

Even if it's a risk, it's worth it.

At that moment, the fisherman called Xue to board the boat, rolled up his raincoat, and began to untie the mooring line.

As the boat emerged from the mouth of the Xiang River, the sound of the waves was soft and gentle.

The Xiang River appeared leaden gray under the snow, and a lone boat drifted slowly into the distance.

The sky and earth were all white, with only a single black boat drifting aimlessly on the vast waters.

Snowflakes fall on the water, like countless glimmers of light floating on the surface.

Amidst the rustling wind, Xue Xiang stood at the bow of the boat, his robes fluttering slightly, ripples spreading beneath his feet, and distant mountains blurred into faint shadows.

Suddenly, Xue Xiang thought of the pavilion in the middle of the lake and the noble and charming Princess Yong.

As he was lost in thought, he heard the melodious sound of a flute.

He couldn't help but think of his teacher's wife, Madam Wei, and the jade flute he had given him. On a whim, he took out the jade flute and began to play it softly.

Although he didn't put much effort into the flute technique, he had a photographic memory, and with just a little effort, he is now an expert in this art.

The two flutes played in response to each other, adding a wonderful touch to the snowy night.

After the song ended, the wind grew low, and even the sound of boat poles striking the water was swallowed up by the sound of falling snow.

After traveling another mile or so, the water gradually widened.

Suddenly, a large, ornate ship appeared in the mist ahead, its hull painted vermilion, its eaves soaring high, and light shining through its window lattices.

A lantern hung at the bow of the boat, casting swaying shadows on the snow. Four characters were inscribed on it in elegant calligraphy: "Qingning Shuyu" (青柠书寓).

The old fisherman said in a low voice, "On such a snowy day, with the scholar's boat sailing, there must be some elegant gatherings."

Xue Xiang did not answer, but raised his hand and flicked it lightly.

A wisp of spiritual energy rose from her fingertip and fell into the water. Ripples spread across the surface, and the large ship in the distance suddenly slowed down, as if it had been gently pressed down, stopping amidst the snow and mist.

Before long, chaos erupted on the ship ahead.

As the old fisherman steered his boat closer, a woman's voice came from across the water on the large boat, "Boatman, our boat can't go any further. Our young lady has urgent business ahead. Could you give us a ride?"

The fisherman said, "This boat has already been rented, so it's inconvenient to take any more passengers."

The woman's voice said, "If you'd be willing to give me a ride, I'll offer you five hundred spirit threads."

The old fisherman's eyelids twitched, and his gaze shifted to Xue Xiang, a greedy glint in his eyes.

Xue Xiang nodded.

The old fisherman immediately poled his boat and turned the rudder to get closer.

The two boats were side by side, their lights reflected on the Xiang River, the colors of snow and fire blending together, like mist and smoke.

The side door of the large ship opened, and a pretty maidservant jumped onto the small boat first.

Her clothes were bright red, with an embroidered belt around her waist. She moved lightly on her feet, and the snow that fell on her shoulders was shaken off.

Then, a woman slowly walked out, wearing a cloak with her collar tightly covered.

She was tall and slender, with a steady gait. Before boarding the boat, she gave a slight bow and said, "I have no choice but to disturb your peace, my lord."

Xue returned the greeting, saying, "It's fate that we encountered wind and snow on the road and are now sharing a boat; there's no need for such formalities."

The woman's lips curved slightly, and her expression was gentle.

The pretty maid then took out a piece of spirit silk and handed it over, saying, "Since we've taken over the young master's land, how can we let you suffer a loss?"

Xue Xiang raised his hand to refuse, saying, "When you're traveling, if something is inconvenient, it's also a good deed to help others."

The pretty maid was taken aback, looked him up and down a few times, and then suddenly smiled and said, "Are you a scholar? May I ask which academy you are from?"
Our daughter is quite familiar with the professors at the renowned Canglan Academy.

Xue Xiang still smiled, "I only know a few characters."

"Ah Qiao, don't be rude."

The woman could tell that Xue Xiang was unwilling to get involved, so she bowed to him again and said, "My name is Shen Xihua. I teach at a bookstore and I am out tonight for a literary gathering. Thank you for your understanding."

Xue Xiang was taken aback; he had indeed heard of Shen Xihua's reputation.

There are two types of female tutors on the market: one is a courtesan, and the other is a female scholar who truly teaches female relatives.

The female tutors that Xue Xiang hired for his sisters were of this type.

At that time, he heard about Shen Xihua's reputation from that female schoolteacher, and guessed that she must be a leader in this field.

Xue Xiang nodded, "Scholar Shen, you don't need to be so polite."

The old fisherman received another five hundred spirit threads, and in high spirits, he rowed his boat with even more vigor.

After exchanging a few pleasantries, Shen Xihua led her maid, Aqiao, into the cabin.

Soon, the cabin lights came on, and Shen Xihua set up a small table and spread out her writing brush and ink.

Her pen moved extremely fast, as if she wanted to dissolve all the pent-up emotions in her heart into those lines of ink.

She stopped writing half a page, stared at it for a moment, then frowned, crumpled the paper into a ball, and threw it into the brazier.

The firelight shone brightly, and the writing turned into wisps of smoke.

She unfolded a new sheet of paper and began to write again.

This process repeated itself, writing and destroying, then writing again.

The maid, Aqiao, watched with concern but dared not utter a sound, only offering warm tea.

Outside the cabin, a fierce snowstorm raged, when suddenly a soft sound of water could be heard.

Shen Xihua looked up and saw Xue Xiang standing at the bow of the boat through the curtain, his clothes all white, his shoulders covered in thick snow. The wind swept past behind him, blowing his hair slightly.

The light shone on his face, making it appear as faint as a painting.

She then realized that the cabin was not large to begin with, and that Xue Xiang must have voluntarily stepped outside to stand after they boarded the ship, which was why she had this quiet place.

Thinking to herself that this handsome young man was indeed a gentleman, she whispered, "Aqiao, go and invite that young master into the cabin to take shelter from the snow."

Aqiao lifted the curtain and went out, and soon after, Xue Xiang followed her in.

Inside the cabin, the fire was burning brightly, making it very warm.

Shen Xihua put down her pen, moved the low table to make room for him, and said, “I am just a guest staying here, but you have taken over my place and made the young master stand in the snow. It is really impolite.”

Xue Xiang shook his head, "The boat is cramped, and the young lady is writing a beautiful essay. I dare not disturb her."

Seeing how naturally he spoke, Shen Xihua felt even more embarrassed.

Her gaze fell on the jade flute in his hand, her heart trembled slightly, and she asked, "Was the flute music you just played, young master?"

Xue Xiang said, "It was me. I just heard someone playing music on the water, and on a whim, I responded with two notes."

A-Qiao's eyes lit up and she smiled, "It is our young lady who echoed your words. You rarely meet a kindred spirit, but today is quite a coincidence."

Shen Xihua blushed slightly, brushed her fingers across her sleeve, and said gently, "On a snowy night in Xiang River, to be able to meet someone who can harmonize with me is quite a coincidence."

Xue Xiang smiled without speaking, looked around the cabin, and saw that the paper on the table was messy and the ink was still wet. He asked, "Is the Proofreader composing a poem?"

Shen Xihua sighed softly, "My writing is not to my liking, and I cannot form a coherent sentence. I hope you will forgive my poor writing."

Aqiao quickly interjected: "Today, Xiaoxiang Academy is holding the Muxue Literary Gathering on the Xiang River. Female scholars from the city, female teachers from the academy, and other scholars are gathered together. It is a very grand occasion."

Since this is a literary gathering, poetry and prose recitation are inevitable. Although our young ladies are quick-witted, to win first place, we must prepare one or two excellent pieces.

Xue Xiang had heard of Xiaoxiang Academy, a rare academy that admitted female students. It was well-known not only in Canglan City but also in the entire prefecture.

"Is your husband also attending this literary gathering?"

Shen Xihua said softly.

Xue Xiangdao said, "I am not talented enough to participate in this gathering."

I had only read two pages of a book in the evening when I remembered an old friend who lived in Jiangbei, and on a whim, I decided to go and visit him.

Upon hearing this, both Shen Xihua and A Qiao were stunned.

The old fisherman outside, sweating profusely from rowing, exclaimed in surprise, "I've been sailing on the Xiang River for decades, and I've never heard of such a strange thing. In this snowy weather, in this deep night, tsk tsk, I just can't figure it out."

Shen Xihua cupped her hands and said, "Young master is indeed a man of true character, I admire him."

Xue Xiang waved his hand, "I haven't seen my old friend for a long time. Once the thought arises, no matter how difficult the road or how cold the snow, it doesn't matter."

A moment of silence fell over the cabin. The firelight flickered, and the sound of snow falling softly outside the window could be heard.

Shen Xihua turned her head to look at him, a sense of respect rising in her heart.

Xue Xiang then looked at the pile of crumpled papers on the table and asked, "The road is long and the weather is cold, and the night is long and hard to pass. May I take a look at these discarded manuscripts, young lady?"
I know a few characters, so I won't presume to presume to write something elegant.

Shen Xihua hesitated for a moment, then finally nodded, "This is a bad piece, so I won't offend your discerning eye. This is a new and better one, please give me your guidance."

She handed him the latest page she had written; the handwriting was elegant, and the ink still smelled fresh.

It depicts the scene of "a lone boat in the snowy night, a poet's mind reflecting its reflection."

He glanced at the poem and sighed inwardly. Although the poem was extraordinary and could be the grand finale at a regular literary gathering, it was still lacking in flair for a refined gathering at Xiaoxiang Academy.

Shen Xihua looked at him and said softly, "What do you think, my lord?"

Xue Xiang put the paper back on the table. "Excellent. It is elegant yet shows strength and true meaning in the writing."

The truth can be hurtful, so it's always hard to say it.

Shen Xihua smiled slightly, seemingly more certain in her heart, "You flatter me, my lord. I have benefited greatly from this pleasant conversation on the boat on this snowy night."

The boat rocked slightly, and the shimmering water reflected in the window frames.

The wind and snow outside grew heavier, and the faint sound of music could be heard in the distance.

Xue Xiang looked in that direction and saw that the fog was slightly parting ahead, and there seemed to be flickering lights.

A-Qiao peeked out and exclaimed with delight, "Miss, I see it! It's the painted boat for the gathering!"

Shen Xihua put down her teacup, put on her cloak, and stood up. "Thank you for your help, boatman and young master. Ahead is the literary gathering boat set up by Xiaoxiang Academy."

Aqiao lifted the curtain and went out, carrying a small red lantern that swayed in the wind and snow.

A few breaths later, lights flickered in response from the painted boat on the opposite bank.

Immediately, a small boat glided out of the water.

"They've come to pick them up."

A-Qiao turned around and said.

Shen Xihua straightened her clothes and bowed to Xue Xiang again, "I am deeply grateful for your kindness on the boat. I still do not know your name."

"I am but a nobody, and I would not dare to offend your kind ears, young lady."

Xue Xiang smiled and said, "Young lady, you are very talented and will surely display your abilities at the gathering."

Seeing that Xue Xiang refused to reveal his name, she was not annoyed, but smiled gently.

Before long, the approaching boat drew near, and Shen Xihua lifted her skirt and boarded the boat.

Aqiao then carried several scrolls of books and a pen holder upstairs. As she was about to go up, Xue Xiang handed her a note, saying, "Don't lose Shen Xiaoshu's newly copied masterpiece."

Aqiao accepted it and thanked Xue Xiang with a smile.

The two boarded the boat and soon sailed far away.

Xue Xiang withdrew his gaze, turned around, and instructed the old fisherman to continue onward.

The old fisherman responded and pushed off with his pole, the tip of the pole breaking the water, the snow flashing on the surface of the waves.

The small boat traveled north and finally came into view of the lights at the ferry crossing on the north bank of the river.

That was a prefecture city by the river, with a high and wide dock. Even on a snowy night, there were many merchants and travelers.

The old fisherman breathed a sigh of relief and was about to reach the shore when he heard Xue Xiang say calmly, "Don't go ashore, turn back."

The old fisherman was taken aback, thinking he had misheard. "Young master, you mean... go back?"

"Yes."

Xue Xiang took out a spirit stone and gently placed it on the edge of the boat. A flash of light appeared, and the old fisherman's eyes widened. He felt that the good deeds accumulated by his ancestors had been unleashed in this single day.

Although he was happy, his arms were sore. "Young master, my arms are numb from all the wind and snow. I'm afraid I can't carry you anymore."

I'll hire someone, please wait a moment.

Xue Xiang waved his hand, "No need for that trouble."

He raised his hand and gently wrote the character "wind," which then disappeared into the wind and snow.

The small boat trembled slightly, and waves rolled up at its stern, as it turned back against the current.

Despite the howling winds from all sides, the boat remained perfectly still, not even the tarpaulin on the boat fluttered, as if there were an invisible barrier.

The old fisherman stood there dumbfounded for a long time, then suddenly shouted, "Immortal! You are an immortal!"

He gripped the pole, almost moved to tears, "I've spent my whole life navigating the river, and this is truly the first time I've ever carried an immortal across the water."

Xue Xiang just smiled, his gaze fixed on the snow line at the end of the Xiang River, his thoughts wandering elsewhere.

At the same moment, the elegant gathering boat of Xiaoxiang Academy was moored on the Xiang River.

This painted boat, named "Xiaomeng," is three times wider than the ordinary boat, and features carved railings and painted beams.

The cabin has three levels, with the lowest level being where the music, dance, and banquet were held.
The middle level is paved with jade tiles and displays ancient zithers, flutes, and writing implements.

The uppermost level is the literary platform, where men and women can compose and critique poems.

At this moment, the painted boat was brightly lit with candles and incense smoke, and dozens of scholars and female scribes sat at separate tables.

The headmaster of Xiaoxiang Academy was an old scholar named Liu Su'an. He sat in the center, his white beard flowing, holding a jade pendant with a waning moon in his hand, commenting on everyone's articles one by one.

"This piece has a light and elegant style, and its language is refined and tactful, ranking it in the upper-middle range."

"This chapter is expansive in its expression and has a free and unrestrained spirit; it can be ranked above the previous one."

With each comment he made, the crescent moon in his palm would flicker, sometimes turning blue, sometimes white.

This jade pendant was a treasure that Liu Su'an acquired by chance. Whenever he encountered poems or articles and recited them to it, it would shimmer with color.

Over time, this object earned the nickname "Poetic Scale".

As a result, Liu Su'an also earned the nickname "the scale maker".

Shen Xihua sat in the third row on the left, dressed simply and looking reserved.

She had just presented two articles, one titled "A Lonely Boat in the Snowy Night" and the other "The Moon Reflects My Shadow on the River," both the culmination of her hard work, which she hoped would bring her fame.

However, the evaluation results were unremarkable—the first part received an "above average" rating, while the second part only received a "medium average" rating.

Those in the middle to upper ranks, ranking fifth among the nine grades, are by no means amazing.

She lowered her eyes and remained silent, her fingertips trembling slightly.

The female school clerks who came with her were all radiant.

Du Qiurong of Longcui Book House won the "upper and lower" rank with her essay "Ode to Xiaofeng";
Han Suyin of Yaoguang Academy received a "superior" rating for her work "Yun Sheng Xiang Pu Ji", which amazed the entire audience.

Amidst the swirling smoke of cigarettes, the crowd whispered amongst themselves.

Someone whispered, "Scholar Shen's writing is excellent, but he lacks presence."

"Yes, his thoughts are elegant, but not dazzling; he ultimately lacks a bit of flair."

"It is said that among all the female scholars, Scholar Shen is the most talented, but I never expected that she would be ranked second today."

These discussions were minor, but enough to catch the ear.

Shen Xihua maintained her smile, but the hand holding the pen tightened slightly.

She wasn't unaware that while talent was important at such literary gatherings, reputation and connections were even more crucial.

She came from a humble background and was not a schoolteacher hired by the children of officials; it was already a great honor for her to be seated in this hall.

Aqiao quietly leaned closer and whispered in her ear, "Miss, Du, the proofreader at Longcui Academy, and Han, the proofreader at Yaoguang Academy, must have paid others to write their works. The verses they submitted are probably beyond the ability of even the academy's professors to write."

Shen Xihua lowered her eyes and said softly, "Of course I know."

"This is not fair!"

"fair?"

She sighed softly, "At elegant gatherings, only rank matters. At literary gatherings, words are as precious as gold; who cares about their authenticity?"

Outside, the wind and snow rose again, and the low sound of boats lapping against the Xiang River could be heard from outside the curtain.

Shen Xihua looked up at the vast expanse of snow outside the window. In the flickering lamplight, she felt only a faint glimmer of hope for the future.

Soon, the music for the third round of presentations began, and everyone waited quietly for the new chapter to unfold.

Liu Su'an's gaze slowly swept across the table, and he coughed lightly, signaling the start of the final round.

The female scholars in the audience were eager to try.

Shen Xihua sat at the end of the table, her heart tightening slightly and her palms sweating.

She knew she had no chance.

Having failed in the first two rounds, the poem she prepared for this final round was hardly remarkable; it was merely a piece written to suit the occasion.

It is foreseeable that after this gathering, the reputation of Qingning Shuyu will likely be ruined.

Born into a humble family, she was able to establish her own literary institution on her own, relying on her reputation over the years and her exceptional talent among women.

If this loss occurs in one night, the student body of the academy will inevitably be scattered.

She was frowning when Ah Qiao suddenly exclaimed "Ah!" beside her.

The sound was extremely soft, yet it sounded jarring in the deathly silence.

Shen Xihua glared back, only to see that A Qiao had a strange expression and handed her a piece of paper.

Without even looking, Shen Xihua knew it was her usual stationery. What was so strange about that?
She took the note, unfolded it, and was startled.

The handwriting was elegant and graceful, carrying an indescribable sense of clarity.

That line of poetry was as beautiful as snow falling on my heart.

Shen Xihua's eyes were full of surprise. Aqiao leaned down and whispered, "Miss, this was given to me by the gentleman who lent me the boat tonight. I thought it was your draft, so I accepted it."

Shen Xihua's heart trembled slightly as she thought of the man's appearance, but she never expected him to possess such talent.

While she was still in a daze, the beautifully dressed Du Qiurong chuckled softly, "Why are you so lost in thought, Secretary Shen? Could it be that you've already obtained a masterpiece and want to surprise us?"

Han Suyin chimed in, "I know that Secretary Shen must have been hiding some treasures, saving them for the final round. Why not show them off and let everyone have a look?"

Shen Xihua frowned. She still had her pride and was unwilling to claim someone else's masterpiece as her own.

Aqiao, however, knew that this final round of selections was of great importance, and couldn't help but interject, "My schoolteacher has already come up with some excellent lines, let me recite them for her."

Aqiao took a deep breath and slowly recited, "It's hard to meet and hard to part; the east wind is powerless and the flowers are withered."

Upon hearing these two lines, all the drinking and chatting stopped, and even the musicians playing the accompaniment ceased their playing.

The whole place fell silent.

"The silkworm spins silk until its death, and the candle burns until it is ash."

As soon as he finished speaking, no one in the room breathed a sigh of relief.

In the still air, a very faint humming sound was suddenly heard.

The waning moon before Liu Su'an's desk began to glow faintly, its white light swirling, then a purple hue emerged, and in an instant it transformed into dazzling golden light, illuminating the entire desk.

Everyone exclaimed.

"Golden light?"

"This is impossible!"

Someone staggered to their feet, knocking over the chair legs in the process.

Liu Su'an was also stunned. He looked down at the jade-like figure, his expression changing from surprise to solemnity.

The Crescent Moon Jade has been in his hands for many years, and it can radiate poetic light, but so far, it has not even emitted a purple light.

Today, it actually emitted a golden light.

"This poem is truly a masterpiece."

Liu Su'an murmured.

"His extraordinary writing style perfectly captures the longing of lovers."

The elderly man in fine clothes to the left of Liu Su'an, lost in thought, burst into tears.

Aqiao had been by Shen Xihua's side for many years and had also become literate.

She knew the poem was beautiful, but she didn't expect it to cause such a stir in the audience. She then recited the rest of the poem: "In the morning mirror, I worry about my changing hair; at night, I feel the cold moonlight as I recite the poem."

There are not many roads to Pengshan, and the blue bird is eager to visit.

As the last word fell, the golden, shimmering crescent moon jade pendant in Liu Su'an's palm exploded with a soft "bang," scattering light fragments that didn't fall to the ground but instead spread out like ripples on water.

The wind and snow on both sides of the Xiang River seemed to be absorbed by this light, leaving only a warm and bright night.

A thin layer of light suddenly appeared on the river surface, like ink being slowly spread out on paper.

The poetic imagery is transformed into scenery.

The light on the Xiang River gradually spread out, as if someone had poured lamplight into the water. The wind and snow suddenly stopped before that light, and the river surface reflected a layer of pale gold, undulating slightly as if it were breathing.

The mist around the painted boat was also illuminated, and lingering light flickered on the curtains and eaves. A few bluebirds were startled, circled twice, and then fell back into the light. The shadows of the trees on the shore were faint, as if separated by a thin veil.

The beautiful scenery lingered for a long time.

Xue Xiang, on a small boat in the distance, also witnessed this extraordinary sight and was shocked. Was this poetry gathering of such a high standard? Had some rare treasure been used?
Needless to say, that poem was the one he slipped to A-Qiao.

He didn't mean anything by it; he just had a very good impression of Shen Xihua and, seeing her worried about tonight's gathering, casually offered to help her.

However, the spectacular scene on the river ended like a dazzling firework display.

Inside the pleasure boat, everyone remained silent.

Liu Su'an suddenly stood up, bowed to Shen Xihua, and said, "Although the waning moon and jade haze are destroyed, it is still worthwhile to have made this magnificent chapter shine for a time."

I haven't heard of any fine works in a long time, but today, at this gathering, I've encountered such a masterpiece, which will surely be widely circulated.

This old man thanks Secretary Shen.

Instantly, all the Confucian scholars bowed to Shen Xihua.

Several female school clerks also turned pale and their eyes turned red, but they had no choice but to put aside their thoughts and bow to Shen Xihua.

After all, anyone with eyes that aren't blind and ears that aren't deaf can see that this masterpiece will surely be passed down through the ages.

In the future, when wise men compile poetry collections and include this poem, they will inevitably mention this elegant gathering, and all of you will be honored to have participated.

Liu Su'an, in particular, will inevitably be mentioned. He lost a crescent moon jade pendant, but in another way, his name is recorded in the classics. This is a fair deal no matter how you look at it.

Shen Xihua bowed in return, "Please forgive me, gentlemen, how could a woman possess such extraordinary talent?"

This wonderful piece was written by a fellow passenger I met on a boat on a snowy night tonight.

Knowing that the young lady was coming to the gathering, he racked his brains for a poem, so he gave this poem to his maid, Aqiao.

I only just learned of this matter; I would never dare to covet such a great reputation.

These words caused another uproar in the audience.

At first, the most common reaction was disbelief.

After all, in an era where top-notch poetry symbolizes supreme glory, who would readily give away such a masterpiece, especially to a female schoolteacher they had just met?

Soon, everyone chose to believe again.

After all, Shen Xihua had no reason to lie. If she wanted fame and claimed that she did it herself, no one could say anything since there was no evidence.

However, she explained the situation frankly, and no one could help but believe her.

"I never imagined that there would be such an extraordinary person in the world today. It is a great pity that I cannot meet you."

Liu Su'an sighed softly.

Just then, a waiter entered and said softly, "Gentlemen, please allow me to inform you that a guest from the river has come looking for Shen, the Proofreader. He said that he met Shen on the river just now and that Shen had left his inkstone elsewhere, so he has come to return it."

The waiter was a smart man; under normal circumstances, he would never have dared to report this.

But at this moment, Shen Xiaoshu was renowned throughout the hall, so even if he reported it, he would not offend the gentlemen.

Aqiao exclaimed in surprise, "It must be the young man who gave me the poem!"

She first ran gracefully out of the hall, then chased to the deck, where she saw Xue Xiang standing at the bow of the boat, holding an inkstone in his hand and waving at her.

With a whoosh, Xue Xiang threw the inkstone onto the boat.

Aqiao caught it and asked loudly, "Young master, didn't you go to visit a friend? Did you come back specifically to bring this inkstone?"

The old fisherman answered quickly, "No, when we got to the north bank of the river, the young man didn't go ashore and made us come back."

I asked my husband, "On such a snowy, dark and windy night, you came to visit a friend, but why did you stop after arriving at the destination?"

The young man said he had come on a whim and would leave when the whim was over; why bother seeing his friends?

After saying that, the small boat shot away like an arrow and drifted away.

At that moment, countless heads popped out from the deck.

Shen Xihua leaned over the railing, stretching her body far out, and could only see the small boat gradually disappearing into the distance.

Snowflakes swirled on the river, the lamplight flickered, and the figure of the person on the boat had become a blurry black dot, as if being gradually erased by the wind and snow.

She parted her lips slightly, then bit them back; a thousand words were in her heart, yet she couldn't utter them.

She held an inkstone in her hand, her fingers turning white from gripping it so tightly, but her heart was burning with passion.

(End of this chapter)