The female anchor turned into the dean of an ancient academy

"Since the envoy is so interested, I, the dean, would like to perform for you." Cen Jiexiao's voice was clear and firm, echoing in the hall with an unquestionable momentum.

"Oh? Thank you, Dean Cen, for your guidance!" The Liaodan envoy raised his eyebrows in surprise, but a trace of contempt flashed in his eyes, as if he did not think that Sister Cen Xiao could have any outstanding performance.

Cen Jiexiao smiled slightly, shifted her gaze away from the Liaodan envoys, and looked around. The people present had expressions of worry, expectation, and gloating. All kinds of gazes intertwined together made her feel an invisible pressure.

She said calmly, "Since the envoy is from Liaodan, he must be quite familiar with your culture. How about we have a competition?"

"Competition? How does it work?" The Liaodan envoy became interested and leaned forward slightly, asking, as if he couldn't wait to see Cen Jiexiao make a fool of herself.

Cen Jiexiao smiled mysteriously, her gaze fixed on the distant East China Sea. She slowly spoke, "The East China Sea Sacrifice Ceremony is approaching. How about we have a competition...write a poem on the theme of the sea, no restrictions."

Seeing Cen Jiexiao so gracefully accept the challenge, the Liaodan envoy's eyes flashed with surprise, then quickly regained their contempt. He clapped his hands and laughed, exclaiming, "Excellent! Dean Cen is truly as capable as any man. This envoy is here to experience her skills today!"

Cen Jiexiao smiled slightly, not caring about his provocation. She just walked slowly to the open space in the center of the banquet, looked up at the magnificent East China Sea in the distance, and let the sea breeze blow her long hair and clothes, as if she had merged with the world.

Cen Jiexiao's voice was clear and melodious, resounding in everyone's ears like the sound of nature. "This East China Sea is the foundation of our Great Zhou and the heart of our people!"

She paused briefly, her gaze sweeping across everyone present, finally landing on Chai Zhen. An intriguing smile curled her lips as she continued, "The tides ebb and flow, the years pass by, countless heroes have turned into a handful of yellow earth in this sea. Only this East China Sea remains as majestic as ever, witnessing the rise and fall of history, and also bearing witness to the eternal glory of our Great Zhou!"

"To the east is Jieshi to view the sea.

Water and water, mountain island.

The trees are overgrown and the grass is lush.

The autumn wind is bleak and the waves are rising.

The journey of the sun and the moon, if out of it;

The stars are brilliant, if they are out of it.

Fortunately, even singing praises one's aspirations. "

The verses recited by Sister Cen Xiao were like a stone dropped into a calm sea, stirring up a thousand waves and unleashing a storm within the hall. Its power was as majestic as the surging waves, yet it was also filled with profound emotion, as deep and far-reaching as the undercurrents beneath the sea. It perfectly blended the individual and the nation, history and reality, and moved everyone present, as if they were there, experiencing the vastness of the East China Sea and the eternal glory of the Great Zhou Dynasty.

The once bustling hall was now hushed to the point of silence, a pin drop audible. Everyone was transfixed by Cen Jiexiao's poem, lost in its grandeur and profound emotion. Some sentimental civil servants even had tears in their eyes, moved by the patriotic sentiments embodied in the poem.

Even the Liaodan envoy, who had initially dismissed Cen Jiexiao, was entranced. His contemptuous expression had vanished, replaced by a deep sense of shock and disbelief. His mouth dropped open, his eyes wide, as if he had witnessed something incredible. His face was filled with a dazzling array of expressions.

Chai Zhen was so excited that he stood up, his eyes gleaming with a strange light, and he looked at Cen Jiexiao with a look full of admiration and love. He seemed to see a different Cen Jiexiao, a talented and extraordinary woman with a heart full of the world.

"What a great poem! What a great poem!" Chai Zhen couldn't help but exclaim in praise, his eyes filled with tenderness and affection as he looked at Cen Jiexiao. "Dean Cen is truly a prodigy!"

His voice was loud and excited, echoing in the hall, bringing everyone's thoughts back to reality. Everyone came back to their senses as if awakened from a dream, applauded and praised Cen Jiexiao's talent.

But what no one knew at this moment was that Sister Cen Xiao had already thanked Grandpa Cao Cao countless times in her heart. If she hadn't been good at Chinese before her time travel, she would have been humiliated in today's competition. She appeared calm on the surface, but her heart was already turbulent, and she was extremely grateful for her "exceptional performance."

Compared to Cen Jiexiao's brilliant talent, the Liaodan envoy's poetry pales in comparison. While his verses possessed impressive power, they lacked depth, seemingly a deliberate display of rhetoric meant to show off his talent, leaving him hollow and vapid. He had originally hoped to use this opportunity to excel in front of the crowd and overshadow the Great Zhou, but he ultimately shot himself in the foot, becoming nothing more than a foil to Cen Jiexiao.

Feeling the strange looks from the people around him, the Liaodan envoy's face turned pale, but he couldn't get angry, so he could only snort coldly to hide his embarrassment.

"Your Majesty, I have caught a cold today and feel unwell, so I will take my leave now." The envoy from Liaodan Kingdom bowed hastily and left the banquet in a hurry.

He walked hurriedly, fearing that if he slowed down a step, others would see his embarrassment and awkwardness.

Cen Jiexiao watched the Liaodan envoy leave with a cold smile on her face. She knew she had won this competition, and she had won beautifully!

The bright moon's silver light bathed the earth. Beyond the palace gates, only a crescent moon hung quietly in the night sky, casting a cool, silvery glow that added a touch of tranquility to the bustling night. The banquet had ended, and the tranquility outside the palace gates had returned to its former state, only the occasional chirping of insects shattering the stillness. Cen Jiexiao declined the invitation of the palace maids and walked alone along the palace path, savoring this moment of peace. Behind her, soft footsteps sounded, and Cen Jiexiao knew who was coming without turning back.

"Dean Cen, please stay." Chai Zhen's voice sounded particularly gentle in the silent night. He walked quickly forward and walked side by side with Cen Jiexiao.

Cen Jiexiao stopped and turned around. In the dim moonlight, she saw that Chai Zhen's handsome face was a little tired, but more of it was an unconcealable panic, or a state of helplessness.

"Your Majesty... Why did Your Majesty come out? It's late at night and the dew is heavy. Your Majesty should go back and rest early." Cen Jiexiao said lightly, with an effortful calmness in her tone.

"I'm not sleepy at the moment, so I came here to see you off." Chai Zhen ignored Cen Jiexiao's politeness and said in a firm tone.

"Your Majesty is busy with all kinds of affairs. How dare I trouble you to see me off in person?" Cen Jiexiao bowed slightly, her tone respectful yet distant.

"No matter how much I have to do, I can't handle government affairs for twelve hours. I am a human being, not an instrument, hahaha." Chai Zhen's tone was a little domineering, but also showed concern.

After hearing this, Cen Jiexiao also smiled. She thought to herself, indeed, the emperor is also a human being, and he also has the side of an ordinary person.

The two of them walked one after the other, and no one spoke. Only the moonlight stretched their shadows very long, casting a mottled shadow on the silent palace road.

"Thank you, Dean Cen, for what happened today. If it weren't for Dean Cen's intervention, I would have been ridiculed by the envoy from Liaodan today." After a long silence, Chai Zhen finally broke the silence with gratitude in his words.

Cen Jiexiao paused and turned to look at Chai Zhen. The moonlight shone on her beautiful face, making it appear particularly charming. She smiled slightly and said calmly, "Your Majesty, your words are too kind. As a citizen of the Great Zhou, and more importantly, as your Majesty's subject, everything I do for the Great Zhou is my due."

"I know, I know everything. But Dean Cen, you are always like this, thinking about the country and the people, but only ignoring yourself." Chai Zhen looked at Cen Jiexiao, his eyes full of tenderness.

Cen Jiexiao was slightly taken aback, avoiding Chai Zhen's gaze and said calmly, "Your Majesty, I am too kind. I was just doing what I should do."

"No, you have done much more than you think. Dean Cen, I..." Chai Zhen said affectionately, approaching Cen Jiexiao step by step, trying to narrow the distance between them.

"Your Majesty! It's late. I still have things to finalize regarding the sacrificial ceremony tomorrow, so I'll take my leave now." Cen Jiexiao took a step back and interrupted Chai Zhen, her tone still calm.

After saying that, Cen Jiexiao turned and left, leaving Chai Zhen standing there alone. He looked at her back, his eyes filled with complicated emotions...