I proved immortality through the imperial examination.

Chapter 34 Dyeing and Painting
What is dye painting?

Xue Xiangqian was not highly educated and had never attended a gathering of Confucian scholars.

"It is to casually create a minimalist painting, and then add verses to the objects in the painting to enhance the artwork, hence the name 'dyed painting'."

Zhou Mengyu looked worried; he wasn't on the list of selected candidates.

“Brother Zhou, you are a talented poet, and you may very well be able to excel in painting. Why be so sad?”

Although Li Peng was not selected, his mental fortitude was far superior.

Before long, the woman in the yellow dress finished her painting.

She took a charcoal pencil and sketched a few lines on the frosted paper, and the drawing of a figure with his back to her, holding a fishing rod, was finished.

"Although the painting is vivid, it is far too simplistic."

Xue Xiang said in a low voice, but in his heart he thought, "The opportunity I've been waiting for so long to show off my clothes has finally arrived."

Meng De chuckled softly, “That’s how painting is. You only need to give an object, landscape, season, or theme, and the artist is free to express themselves.”

Anyone who can't come up with a good sentence would feel too embarrassed to blame the question setter.

"I come!"

In just a few breaths, a young man in a tall hat stepped forward and recited in a loud voice, "A lone boat is moored deep in the misty waves, a half-foot silver thread ties it to the ninth autumn."

Do not say that the world is full of cruel storms; a single fishing rod can quell all the sorrows of the past and present.

"it is good!"

Everyone recognizes its value, and everyone applauds it.

"A green broom hangs down, fishing in the blue bay; the mountain light reflects off the cold jade hook."

Before the fish and dragons even noticed the fishing rod move, ten thousand bushels of cinnabar shattered in the Milky Way.

…………

Everyone chimed in, each vying to speak first.

Apart from Su Ziming, it seems that no one remembers the original intention of the woman in the yellow dress in starting the "dyeing painting".

Indeed, the world of painting is a stage for dreams; come and join us!

“Yuanjun, I reckon the venue is definitely going to be smashed today. What are you doing with the dyeing and painting? This requires a quick and skillful hand.”

The woman in green tugged at the sleeve of the woman in yellow and whispered.

The woman in the yellow dress said, "Willow leaves rustle in the dense green, lotus blossoms glow red in the setting sun. Thirty-six ponds of spring water, I long to see Jiangnan when I'm old."

The opening words of "The Mortal World" are truly a masterpiece. If he really wanted to see Jiangnan, he would surely be able to overcome the hurdle of painting.

If he wasn't, I've repaid the favor I owed him for reading his book, and my conscience is clear.

The woman in green whispered, "Given your temper, you let Su Ziming provoke you just to see what Xue Xiang is capable of."

The woman in the yellow dress snorted but didn't say anything.

"Everyone knows of your great talents, but you must never forget the purpose of the original lady's dyeing and painting."

Su Zimo said loudly, "We should at least let Lord Xue display his poetic talent."

Instantly, everyone looked at Xue Xiang.

"Does Lord Xue need more time?"

Su Zimo mocked.

Xue Xiang was waiting for Su Zimo to call out, so he strode up and said loudly, "A straw raincoat, a bamboo hat, and a small boat."

"what is this?"

"what."

“These vulgar officials are certainly not people like us.”

"..."

Xue Xiang moved a step, saying, "A ten-foot fishing line with an inch hook."

"Want to count?"

"Even a five-year-old wouldn't stoop to writing this kind of poetry."

"..."

Xue Xiang walked into the hall, "going up and down, back and forth."

"Hahaha……"

"It's becoming a joke."

"Yunmeng City has something to talk about now."

"Yuanjun".

The woman in green covered her face with one hand and tugged at the sleeve of the woman in yellow with the other.

Xue Xiang stopped, "A lone fisherman on an autumn river."

The room was completely silent.

Poems that first suppress and then elevate are not uncommon.

However, the poem that Xue Xiang recited was composed of nine "one" characters strung together. The first line was unremarkable, the second line plunged into a valley, the third line plunged directly into the bottom of the valley, and the last line suddenly opened up a full range of imagery, soaring straight into the sky.

Such dramatic and evocative verses are, in any case, masterpieces.

Moreover, the poem has a lingering aftertaste and a lofty artistic conception.

Xue Xiang remained outwardly calm, but inwardly he was overjoyed. From this day forward, the ultimate show-off was finally online.

"The poem is good, but who knows if it wasn't taken out of the opportunity to ask someone else? When you gentlemen were composing your poems, Xue Xiang was whispering among himself and the people around him."

Su Ziming is making baseless accusations; he cannot simply sit idly by and watch Xue Xiang turn the tide.

"What my friend Su said makes no sense. I, Zhou, am not capable of writing such a fine line."

Zhou Mengyu said loudly. Li Peng retorted loudly, "If I have this ability, why don't I show it myself?"

"It couldn't possibly be Meng, could it? Meng could certainly write such lines, but he wouldn't stoop to giving away his poems."

Mengde stood with his arms behind his back, looking down at Su Zimo.

Xue Xiang wished he could cover the mouths of the three idiots. In his eyes, Su Ziming was his true friend.

"To accuse someone without any evidence, Su friend, is this how your elders taught you?"

The woman in green couldn't stand it any longer and coldly rebuked her.

However, the public opinion stirred up by Su Ziming did indeed generate a great deal of discussion among the audience.

The woman in the yellow dress became interested, but didn't want the woman in green to ruin the fun, so she quickly said, "Since Friend Su is not convinced, this time you will paint a picture to test Xue Xiang."

After saying that, the woman in green took out a charcoal pencil and some frosted paper and handed them to Su Ziming.

Su Zimo took the paper and pen, pondered for a moment, then put them down and picked up the fishing picture that the woman in the yellow dress had drawn earlier. "No need to trouble yourself, just use this painting. If you have real talent, Xue, you can compose another poem."

"Great! Make another one!"

Meng De scoffed, "The Su family truly lives up to its reputation as a family that produces tough hair."

Everyone knows that creating a masterpiece requires emotion and inspiration.

If you've exhausted all your talent and inspiration on the same subject, even if you manage to write a second one, it will inevitably be a mediocre piece.

The hall erupted in discussion. Just as the woman in the yellow dress was about to speak, Xue Biwang, who couldn't contain himself any longer and fearing that Su Ziming would change the topic, loudly proclaimed, "All birds have vanished from the mountains!"

Upon hearing this, the entire room fell silent.

Su Ziming's eyes suddenly turned cold.

"All paths are deserted."

Xue Xiang could barely suppress the urge to smile.

"hiss."

"An old man in a straw hat and raincoat, alone in a small boat, fishing in the cold river snow."

Long live Liu Zongyuan!

"sky!"

Zhou Mengyu leaped up and recited loudly, "Birds have vanished from a thousand mountains, human tracks have disappeared from ten thousand paths, an old man in a straw hat and raincoat sits alone in a small boat, fishing in the cold river snow."

This work is exquisite in its depiction of scenery, grand in its imagery, and lofty in its realm. It is a masterpiece of unparalleled excellence and will surely be passed down through the ages.

The topic for tomorrow's poetry critique in "Cloud News" has been found, it's found!

“Yuanjun, this person is truly a genius. Even the famous poems in the Book of Songs are no better than this.”

The woman in green shouted excitedly.

The entire venue erupted in a deafening roar, but the woman in the yellow dress seemed oblivious, remaining silent in a daze.

Apart from the woman in the yellow dress, Su Ziming was the only one who remained silent.

He was angry, he regretted, he was embarrassed.

If he had known this would happen, why would he have gone to such lengths? He had intended to strip Xue Xiang of his underwear, but instead, he removed her veil, revealing her unparalleled beauty.

Xue Xiang stood with his hands behind his back, head held high, looking extremely dashing.

"Alright, the painting session is over. Su Ziming, if you don't want to stay here, you can leave now."

The woman in the yellow dress was quite pleased with the commotion Su Ziming had caused, but she looked down on him. However, Su Ziming was a student whom Mr. Yin Chuan had instructed him to take care of.

She had to give Mr. Yin Chuan face.

"I am willing to study here. I was just joking with my friend Xue."

"It better be."

After a short while, those who were supposed to leave left, and those who were supposed to stay stayed. The wooden hall was rearranged, with thirty desks and thirty benches set up.

At 1:15 PM, the attendants of Zhaoyewu finished collecting the fees on site, and the lecture officially began.

Mr. Yin Chuan has not returned, and the woman in the yellow dress is the one who delivers the final agreement.

Her voice was clear and cool, full of elegant and refined language, each word a gem.

Xue Xiang secretly admired it, feeling that the tuition fee of two spirit stones was well worth it.

After the two classes ended, it was already 5:45 PM.

Many classmates came to Xue Xiang to exchange names and make plans to have a drink together another day, which Xue Xiang accepted with a smile.

When he reached the ferry crossing, it was already dusk, and all the tourist boats that had picked up passengers had returned home.

Only one boat remained, its mooring ropes undone, motionless on the shore.

Just as Xue Xiang was about to greet him, a man stepped out from the bow of the boat, cupped his hands, and said, "I thought the nun was going to keep you here overnight. Are you leaving or not?"

It was Mengde.

"Thank you, Brother Mengde."

Xue Xiang stepped onto the small boat, smiling and bowing.

Every time he saw the chubby Mengde, he found it hilarious; he would be even more amusing if the guy had dark skin.

The boat docked at night, and the Meng family's carriage waited on the shore.

Meng De invited Xue Xiang to get into his car, but Xue Xiang politely declined, bowed slightly, and disappeared into the deep night.

Mengde got into the carriage and sighed to himself. The steward asked him why, and Mengde said, "After thousands of years, Yunmeng has finally produced a remarkable figure."

The housekeeper paused.

Don't criticize the plagiarism; it's impossible not to plagiarize Confucian and Taoist texts. As long as it's done smoothly and logically, and serves to embellish the plot, that's fine. Realistically speaking, if we really did travel back in time, this would be all we'd know.

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(End of this chapter)