My family has been wielding knives for generations, but now it's my turn to wield a pen!

"Ode to the Goddess of the Luo River?"

After Jiang Xiaobai finished speaking, everyone present showed surprise.

Who is the Goddess of the Luo River?

Could it be the character from "Romance of the Three Kingdoms" that Jiang Xiaobai just mentioned?

Moreover, judging from Jiang Xiaobai's words, it seems that this book will be published in the capital soon.

Xiao Qin stood in front of the desk, equally surprised.

Judging from Jiang Xiaobai's posture, he's preparing to compose a poem on the spot, and... this poem is even inspired by his own book?!

That's interesting, I've never heard of such a thing before!

Xiao Qin smiled and shook his head.

The essay is extremely long, and it not only pays attention to the diction, but also to the exposition of the theme, and the beginning and end echo each other.

How can something just come up with out of thin air?

Especially... based on his own books.

It's ridiculous!

Teng Zixiu's expression relaxed slightly, and a hint of a smile appeared on his face.

Looks like... this game is in the bag!

Many scholars and students present were also surprised at this moment.

If one were to compose a poem based on one's own book, and even on one of the characters within it?

That... is already a step below!

Where can you find real people, more directly and vividly?

Amidst everyone's puzzled gazes, Jiang Xiaobai simply smiled faintly, then slowly said, "In the third year of Huangchu, I went to the capital and returned via the Luo River."

"The ancients said that the goddess of this river was named Mi Fei."

"Inspired by Song Yu's account of the goddess and the King of Chu, I composed this rhapsody."

"His words read..."

As the sound faded, the surroundings gradually quieted down.

The third year of the Huangchu era?

Luochuan?

Mi Fei?

Without a doubt, none of the people present had ever heard of these names and places.

Clearly, these all come from Jiang Xiaobai's own novel, *Romance of the Three Kingdoms*.

Thus, the crowd did not find it abrupt; instead, they became more curious about this book that had not yet been published.

Moreover, the beginning of the poem is very clear.

This was written by a person returning from the capital, passing through Luochuan, where he heard about the goddess of the water and was moved by what he saw.

Xiao Qin listened, and his expression became more serious.

At least this start has a beginning and an end, and it's not just random nonsense.

Jiang Xiaobai narrowed his eyes slightly and curled up the corners of his mouth.

In fact, he knew just how amazing this "Ode to the Goddess of the Luo River" was!

But... he wants to bomb both countries!

With a calm expression, Jiang Xiaobai's voice rose again: "I have returned from the capital to the eastern frontier."

"We passed Yique, crossed Huanyuan, traversed Tonggu, and ascended Jingshan."

"As the sun begins to set in the west, the carriages and horses are exhausted."

"Then you rested your carriage at Henggao, fed your horses at Zhitian, lingered in Yanglin, and gazed upon Luochuan."

"Therefore, his mind was disturbed and his thoughts suddenly scattered."

"Looking down, one sees nothing; looking up, one is struck by a different sight."

"I saw a beautiful woman by the rocky shore."

To be honest, even Jiang Xiaobai himself felt a little uneasy while reading it aloud.

As the ancients said, "The world's talent is like a bushel, and Cao Zijian alone possesses eight pecks!" (Note: Cao Zhi, courtesy name Zijian)

From this, we can see just how terrifying Cao Zhi's literary talent was!

As he was deeply troubled, those present were also moved.

Because the image reappeared.

He was a traveler returning to his fiefdom from the capital. He had traveled over mountains and valleys, and as night fell, his carriage and horses grew tired. Finally, he stopped by the Luo River.

The last line, "I beheld a beautiful woman by the cliff," indicates that the goddess Luo has appeared!

Li Zhiwei stood in the crowd, listening attentively.

Lin Qinrou couldn't help but glance at Li Zhiwei.

Just now, when Jiang Xiaobai wrote about a person in his poem, the person reading it was Li Zhiwei.

Now I must write about another woman...

Could this poem also be related to Li Zhiwei?

As she remained curious, Jiang Xiaobai's voice continued: "Then he asked the charioteer, 'Have you seen her? Who is she, so beautiful?'"

The charioteer replied: "I have heard that the goddess of the Luo River is named Mi Fei."

"Then is this what Your Majesty saw? What was it like? I wish to hear it."

At this point, Jiang Xiaobai paused slightly.

Those watching held their breath.

That's right, what exactly does the so-called Goddess of the Luo River look like?

At this moment, Jiang Xiaobai took a deep breath, raised his head, and slowly spoke: "I told him... his form is as graceful as a startled swan, as lithe as a swimming dragon."

As he spoke, Jiang Xiaobai couldn't help but rub his arms.

Yes, even he gets goosebumps reading it himself, let alone others.

Sure enough, the moment he uttered his first sentence, the expressions of every scholar changed.

Graceful as a startled swan, lithe as a swimming dragon!

With just eight simple characters, a woman's graceful and agile figure is vividly brought to life before our eyes.

Xiao Qin's pen trembled slightly as he stared at Jiang Xiaobai with disbelief.

As Jiang Xiaobai rubbed his arms, his voice continued: "Radiant as autumn chrysanthemums, flourishing as spring pines."

"Like light clouds veiling the moon, like swirling snow in a flowing wind."

"Looking at it from afar, it shines like the rising sun at dawn."

"Upon closer inspection, it shines like a lotus emerging from clear water."

hiss!

A series of gasps of astonishment rang out.

Like light clouds obscuring the moon.

Like flowing wind and swirling snow.

From a distance, it looks like the sun in the morning glow.

Upon closer inspection, it resembles a lotus blooming in clear water.

Is it possible for a person to come up with a sentence like this on the spot?

"What a nice view!"

In the crowd, a woman couldn't help but speak up.

That's right, they clearly didn't see the goddess Luo.

But just listening to Jiang Xiaobai's description, a graceful and beautiful woman seemed to have already appeared in his mind.

Li Zhiwei and Lin Qinrou listened, slightly lost in thought.

As for the eldest princess, she pursed her red lips.

Jiang Xiaobai, that guy...

How well must one understand women to write an article like this?

Tang Ningshuang stood to the side, her expression equally surprised.

"Her figure was perfectly proportioned, neither too plump nor too slender. Her shoulders were like those of a sculpted figure, and her waist was as slender as a silken thread."

"With a long, graceful neck and fair skin, she needs no adornment, nor does she wear makeup."

"Her hair was piled high like clouds, her eyebrows were long and delicate. Her lips were bright red, and her teeth were white and shiny."

"Bright eyes and charming smile, dimples enhancing her beauty..."

As Jiang Xiaobai finished speaking, the woman's figure became clearer.

From posture to shoulders and waist, from neck to face, from hair and eyebrows to lips and teeth.

Every part is written with extreme detail.

"What a beautiful sight, needing neither adornment nor makeup!"

"She is beautiful to this extent without applying perfume or makeup!"

"wonderful!"

"Absolutely brilliant!"

The scholars below nodded in agreement.

Jiang Xiaobai's voice remained steady: "Exquisite beauty, serene demeanor."

"Gentle and charming demeanor, alluring through language."

"The clothing is extraordinary and unparalleled; the bone structure corresponds to the illustration."

"She wears a shimmering silk robe, adorned with jade and precious stones as earrings."

"Wearing gold and jade ornaments, and adorning her body with bright pearls."

"Wearing embroidered shoes for distant travels, trailing light skirts of misty silk."

"The fragrance of orchids wafts gently as I linger at the mountain's edge."

At this point, the area outside Zuixianlou had become completely quiet.

The onlookers dared not breathe, afraid that if they made the slightest noise, they would miss the following sentences.

Fang Tong stood in the crowd, his face flushed.

teacher!

This is his teacher!

The fact that he wrote poems in succession before was already unbelievable.

Even now, when he writes a poem, he can still overwhelm people, leaving them speechless.

Fang Tong looked around.

He wanted to shout it out and tell everyone that this was his teacher.

But in the end, he managed to hold back.

Listen first!

Wait until the teacher finishes writing before calling out!

"Then suddenly he leaped up, to roam and play."

"Leaning on the left with colorful banners, and shaded by laurel flags on the right."

"I stretch my fair wrists along the divine shore, gathering the dark fungus from the rushing rapids."

When Jiang Xiaobai got to this point, Xiao Qin's expression became extremely solemn.

What Jiang Xiaobai described was not simply a static painting.

She was a true goddess who walked along the banks of the Luo River.

He immediately looked down at the white paper in front of him.

To this day... he hasn't written a single word.

Jiang Xiaobai smiled faintly, suppressing his inner turmoil, and continued to speak.

"I am captivated by her beauty and grace, yet my heart is stirred with unease."

"Without a proper matchmaker to convey my joy, I entrust the gentle breeze to send my message."

"I wish that sincerity and honesty would reach you first, and that I would offer my jade pendant as a token of my affection."

"Alas, the beautiful lady is virtuous and refined, well-versed in etiquette and poetry."

"I raise my jade pendant to you, and point to the deep abyss as our appointed time."

"Holding my heart full of sincerity, I fear that this spirit may deceive me."

"I am saddened by Jiaofu's broken promise, and I am filled with regret and doubt."

"Keep a gentle countenance and a calm mind; uphold propriety and guard against wrongdoing."

Upon hearing this, many people present gradually understood.

The person in the poem saw the Goddess of the Luo River and was filled with admiration.

Wanting to express their feelings but lacking a suitable matchmaker, they could only remove their jade pendant as a token.

But the deeper the feelings, the more hesitant he becomes.

This section, devoid of the previous descriptions of her glamorous and stunning appearance, is imbued with a deeper sense of affection.

Li Zhiwei pursed her lips slightly, and there was a strange look in her beautiful eyes.

Is Jiang Xiaobai trying to express something through this article?

However, she quickly dismissed the idea.

This is an article from "Romance of the Three Kingdoms," and it should be about the characters in the book.

Jiang Xiaobai kept adjusting his breathing, and he tried to raise his voice as high as possible so that more people could hear him clearly.

"Thus, Luo Ling was moved and lingered there, lost in thought."

"The divine light separates and reunites, sometimes yin, sometimes yang."

"His slender body stands tall like a crane, as if he is about to take flight but has not yet soared."

"Treading on the fragrant pepper, one leaves a trail of sweet fragrance."

"I sing a long, mournful lament, its sound lingering and profound."

When Jiang Xiaobai got to this point, the atmosphere in the room became somewhat tense.

Most people could tell that these two... probably wouldn't end up together!

Jiang Xiaobai shook his head and continued speaking.

"You are a multitude of spirits, calling to each other in song."

"Sometimes they play in the clear streams, sometimes they soar over the sacred islets."

"Some gather bright pearls, others collect kingfisher feathers."

"From the two consorts of the Xiang River, and with the maidens of the Han River."

"I lament the gourd's lack of a mate, and sing of the morning glory's solitary existence."

"Her light robes fluttered gracefully, her long sleeves billowed as she lingered, lost in thought."

"Swift as a flying duck, elusive as a god."

"With light, graceful steps, her silk stockings stirred up dust."

Lingbo Weibu (a martial arts technique).

Dust gathers from her silk stockings!

These eight words once again shocked the elders who came from the Qingshan Club.

What kind of magical vocabulary is this?

Walking lightly on the water, her silk stockings stirred up dust as she passed.

It is no exaggeration to say that illusion and reality are perfectly blended together in this one sentence.

This isn't a description of people at all.

This writing...it's truly goddess-like!!

Xiao Qin's face had begun to turn pale, and his hand holding the pen was trembling violently.

You should know that he was going to write about a woman from Beiyu.

The woman was exceptionally beautiful and skilled in riding and archery, and had a great reputation in Beiyu.

He had been very confident, but now, hearing this...

How did he write it?

No matter how beautifully she writes, she is still just an ordinary woman.

But what Jiang Xiaobai wrote was divine!

Jiang Xiaobai's eyes also welled up with tears as he watched Xiao Qin's shock.

Yes, he felt inexplicably proud to be able to showcase this talent to the world.

Jiang Xiaobai's voice became even more impassioned.

"Its movements are unpredictable, sometimes appearing precarious, sometimes secure."

"It's hard to know when to advance or retreat; it's like going forward or returning."

"Her eyes sparkled with brilliance, her face radiant and jade-like."

"His words were unspoken, yet his fragrance was like a delicate orchid."

"Her beauty is so captivating that I forgot to eat."

"Therefore, the wind ceased to blow through the screen, and the river calmed its waves."

"Feng Yi beats the drum, Nuwa sings a clear song."

"The flying fish warns the rider, the jade phoenix cries as it departs."

"Six dragons stood in unison, carrying a cloud chariot of imposing stature."

"Whales and sea monsters leap and flank the wheels, while waterfowl soar and guard."

"Damn it!"

"Damn it, this...this..."

The people around were shocked once again, and some were even somewhat incoherent.

The wind has stopped, the water is still, and the drums beat and the songs are clear.

The Wen fish is in front, accompanied by the Yu Luan.

Six dragons pulled the cloud chariot, accompanied by giant beasts and flying birds in the water.

With just a few simple words, a magnificent scene of a goddess's journey was completely presented to them.

"Waaah, damn it, this poem... if it could be written down, I'd gladly give it even a glance!"

"Just one look?"

The person beside him, wiping away tears, said, "If this kind of writing were to circulate, the Green Robe Society would probably invite it straight to their literary pavilion!"

Unaware of what those around him were thinking, Jiang Xiaobai continued to speak loudly.

"So he crossed the northern shore, passed the southern hill, meandered along the white-collared path, and returned to Qingyang."

"With a few words, he slowly and deliberately spoke, outlining the main points of their engagement."

"I hate that the paths of humans and gods are so different, and I lament that my prime years are not yet over."

"I raise my sleeve to wipe away my tears, which flow in waves down my lapel."

After this poem was recited, everyone present fell silent, especially the students and scholars who understood its meaning.

Humans and gods are on different paths, and ultimately cannot stay together.

As Li Zhiwei listened, she felt inexplicably saddened.

The princess's brows, hidden beneath her bamboo hat, were also slightly furrowed.

The more beautifully it is written before, the more reluctant we are to part now.

Jiang Xiaobai slowly exhaled and continued.

"I grieve that our precious time together is now over, and I mourn that he has passed away in a foreign land."

"I have no small token of affection to offer in gratitude, but I present you with a bright earring from Jiangnan."

"Though I dwell in the shadows, my heart remains devoted to the king."

Suddenly, he realized where he had gone, and his spirit was saddened by the darkness that obscured the light.

Each sentence fell.

There was no more noise around, and even the resentment on the faces of the guests from Beiyu and Qi had long since disappeared.

Compare?

How can you compare these?

They originally thought that "Bring in the Wine" was the best work Jiang Xiaobai could produce that day.

But who could have imagined that this very "Ode to the Goddess of the Luo River" would propel them into yet another world?

"So he carried the heavy hill on his back, his feet went but his spirit remained."

"Leaving behind memories and imagination, gazing back with sorrow."

"Hoping that the spirit body will regain its form, it will sail upstream in a light boat."

"Floating on the long river, I forget to return; my thoughts linger and my longing grows stronger."

"I lay awake all night, until dawn broke, covered in heavy frost."

"I ordered my servants to prepare the carriage, for I am about to return to the eastern road."

"I grasped the reins and raised the whip, but lingered there, unable to leave..."

As the last sentence fell, Jiang Xiaobai's voice also stopped.

it's over!

Yes, it's over, but his emotions remain turbulent.

At this moment, Jiang Xiaobai secretly wiped away her tears.

I don't know why, but as someone who has inherited five thousand years of tradition...

He was truly proud!

Outside Zuixianlou, all was silent.

Because everyone present was still immersed in the memories of the banks of the Luo River.

It was as if I could see the figure of that goddess gradually disappearing into the distance.

I also saw the person in the poem, riding a light boat, going against the current in search of something.

From night to dawn.

Finally... even though he had already sent someone away in a car, he still lingered there.

I don't know how much time has passed.

An elderly man from the Qingshan Society shook his head and sighed, "What a pity, lingering here unable to leave!"

After he finished speaking, the people around him gradually came to their senses.

"What a magnificent poem! A poem beyond compare!"

"Graceful as a startled swan, lithe as a swimming dragon, with steps light as a feather, her silk stockings stirring up dust—Young Master Jiang, how on earth did you manage to write such words!"

"Waaaah, everyone, do you see this? This is my teacher!"

Upon hearing this, Fang Tong could no longer contain herself. She jumped up, laughing and crying at the same time: "Jiang Xiaobai is my teacher, Fang Tong! Hahahaha!"

As for Xiao Qin, he was still standing in front of the desk, his brush still suspended in mid-air.

From beginning to end, he didn't write a single word on his paper.

After a moment, Xiao Qin looked down at the white paper, shook his head bitterly, and gently put the brush back.

Write?

He even wrote "egg"?!

It's no exaggeration to say that just look at Jiang Xiaobai's "Ode to the Goddess of the Luo River".

He felt that if he uttered even a single word more, he would be humiliating himself...

……

PS: This is a 4,000-word chapter. Actually, I could have omitted the entire "Ode to the Goddess of the Luo River" and only included the essence, but I couldn't resist using the Three Kingdoms theme to write the whole thing!

There's no way around it, this poem is truly amazing! I'm bowing down to Cao Zhi!!!