Time travel, quick transmigration

Looking down at the man below, dressed in a moon-white round-necked robe with a jade belt around his waist, with a handsome face, tall stature, and a free and unrestrained temperament, as if he were a celestial being, Shi Yan couldn't help but be captivated by the contradictory yet harmonious elegance emanating from him.

"You are Li Bai, Li Taibai."

Shi Yan has bright eyes and white teeth, and a charming smile.

"Truly worthy of the name of a banished immortal, the recluse possesses a fine demeanor."

Upon hearing this, Li Bai slowly raised his eyes and looked at Shi Yan with a deep gaze, staring at her proudly.

"Your Highness is the newly appointed Imperial Concubine by His Majesty."

Li Longji frowned in displeasure, somewhat annoyed by Li Bai's unrestrained behavior.

Gao Lishi also felt that Li Bai's words and actions were impolite and offensive.

"How dare you, Li Hanlin, speak to the Imperial Concubine! Get out of here at once!"

Li Bai laughed heartily, his eyes showing a hint of doubt.

"I merely asked Your Majesty a question; how could that be considered presumptuous?"

Li Longji had never seen such an arrogant and unruly minister before, and he was about to lose his temper.

Seeing Li Longji's expression, Shi Yan picked up the wine pot and poured a cup of wine into the silver cup in front of Li Longji.

"Your Majesty, it is said that the wine served at today's banquet is the Imperial Wine of Jade. Your Majesty would like to offer a toast to Your Majesty. Would Your Majesty be willing to drink it?"

He poured himself another cup, raised it to Li Longji, and drank it all in one gulp.

Li Longji's eyes softened, and he picked up his wine cup and took a couple of sips.

The emperor and empress drank together, leaving Li Bai standing there in the cold. Li Bai, who thought he would anger the emperor, became suspicious when he saw Shi Yan easily defuse the emperor's anger.

He had always been arrogant by nature. When he heard that the emperor had summoned him not because of his talent, but because a concubine in the palace wanted to see him, and that the emperor had even ordered him to compose a poem for the concubine he favored, he was secretly furious.

"Layman, I have long heard of your profound learning and exceptional talent in poetry and prose, as well as your free and unrestrained and bold nature. I have long admired you but have never had the chance to meet you. Today, I feel extremely honored to meet you."

"I've heard that you enjoy wine, and His Majesty has prepared fine wine for this banquet. Why don't you take a seat and have a taste?"

Yang Yuhuan was naturally beautiful, making it impossible to speak harshly or treat her coldly. In addition, Shi Yan treated her with sincerity and courtesy throughout, which greatly dissipated the annoyance and frustration that had been building up in Li Bai's heart.

"Then I thank Your Majesty and the Imperial Concubine for your kindness."

Shi Yan smiled sweetly.

"Please take a seat, layman."

Seeing that Li Bai's attitude was much more respectful, Li Longji's expression also softened.

Seeing Shi Yan's attitude towards Li Bai, Li Longji specially ordered people to prepare a chair and fine wine for Li Bai.

Everyone had arrived, and the sounds of dance, music, and zithers began to play softly.

During the banquet, the emperor asked the talented scholars and writers present to compose a poem about the scenery around the Agarwood Pavilion. After several rounds of drinks, some of the self-confident and talented individuals were in high spirits, their poetic inspiration was greatly inspired, and they picked up their brushes and wrote poems.

Gao Lishi presented the poem he had written to the emperor and his concubine.

Shi Yan had loved lyrics since her school days, and she also enjoyed poetry. She had read poems by some great poets, and she knew a little about how well a poem was written, whether it conformed to rhyme and meter, whether it was appropriate for the occasion, and whether it was beautiful. She had read them one by one, and although the poems were not bad, they were not amazing.

Li Longji was not entirely satisfied after reading several of them.

"Minister Li, since everyone says you are skilled in poetry, then compose a poem about my Imperial Concubine. If it is truly a masterpiece, I will reward you handsomely; if you are merely seeking fame and fortune, I will punish you."

Li Bai downed the wine in his cup in one gulp, then stood up gracefully with his sleeves outstretched and bowed to Li Longji with a smile.

"Your Majesty has given the decree, and I dare not disobey."

As he spoke, he raised his head and stared straight at Shi Yan.

"The Imperial Concubine's beauty is beyond description, even by words. But after drinking the fine wine bestowed by Your Majesty and the Imperial Concubine, my inspiration has flowed freely, and I can express myself with ease, no matter how difficult it is to describe it with words."

"I have a request, but I hope Your Majesty will grant it."

Li Longji smiled faintly upon hearing this, clearly intrigued.

"Oh... since you have a request, my dear minister, please speak frankly."

Li Bai smiled broadly, his expression tinged with a hint of drunkenness.

"Thank you, Your Majesty."

"Your Majesty, I need someone to serve me with writing materials."

After speaking, he shifted his gaze to Gao Lishi, who was standing respectfully beside the emperor.

"Please, Eunuch Gao, grind the ink for me."

Gao Lishi hadn't expected Li Bai to appoint him to serve him with writing materials. But what was Gao Lishi's status? He was a close attendant to the emperor, not a servant to be ordered around at will. Li Bai was merely a minor official in the Hanlin Academy, yet he was so arrogant and dared to order him around.

"Humph!"

Gao Lishi stiffened his neck and glared at Li Bai with hidden anger.

Shi Yan was unhappy to see Gao Lishi get the short end of the stick, but she was secretly delighted. She lowered her head, covered her lips, and chuckled softly. When she looked at Li Bai again, who was as aloof as the moon and acted wildly and unrestrainedly, she found him quite adorable.

Li Longji was also somewhat displeased with Li Bai's overstepping request. In his view, Gao Lishi was a servant who served him personally, so how could he serve a subject with writing materials?

“Your Majesty, Eunuch Gao is always meticulous and reliable in his work. Li Jushi is probably a little drunk after drinking. With Eunuch Gao by his side, he can keep an eye on things and prevent any mishaps later.”

Li Longji, upon hearing this, found it reasonable and, after a moment's thought, said...

"Lishi, go and grind the ink for Minister Li."

No matter how unwilling Gao Lishi was, he had no choice but to obey the Emperor's decree.

Resigned to his fate, Gao Lishi prepared the ink and laid out the paper for Li Bai, then stepped aside.

Li Bai cupped his hands and said, "Thank you!"

Gao Lishi raised his chin and gave a soft snort.

Li Bai, unperturbed, picked up his brush, dipped it in ink, bent down, and began to write with flowing strokes, completing the work in one go.

Gao Lishi leaned forward to take a look, and his eyes suddenly lit up with amazement.

"What a wonderful poem! What a wonderful poem! The calligraphy is beautiful, but the poem itself is even better."

Having said that, he picked up the poem that had been written and was spread out on the table, and walked toward the pavilion where the emperor and empress were.

"Your Majesty, Your Highness, please look."

Gao Lishi placed the still-wet ink of the poem on the table in front of Shi Yan and Li Longji.

Shi Yan couldn't contain her excitement and lowered her head. Upon seeing the beginning of the poem, she smiled with delight.

"It turns out that it really was written as 'Qingping Diao'. I am so fortunate to have witnessed the birth of Li Bai's famous poem 'Qingping Diao' in this different time and space of the Tang Dynasty. How fortunate I am!"

Upon seeing the poem on the paper, Li Longji was overjoyed and couldn't help but read it aloud: "Clouds remind me of her clothes, flowers of her face; the spring breeze caresses the balustrade, the dew is heavy."

If it weren't for Qunyu Shantou, we would meet at Yaotai.

A single, vibrant flower, glistening with dew and fragrance, makes the clouds and rain of Wushan seem like a vain lament.

Who in the Han palace could compare to her? It's pitiful Flying Swallow, leaning on her new makeup.

A beautiful woman, stunningly beautiful, is a sight to behold; even the king smiles upon seeing her.

To explain the boundless sorrow of spring, I lean against the balustrade north of the Agarwood Pavilion.

Li Bai was truly a great literary figure of his time. His poem "Qing Ping Diao" immediately captivated everyone present. The entire poem shows no trace of embellishment or artifice; it is entirely spontaneous, natural, and unpretentious. Li Bai truly deserves the title of "Poet Immortal," surpassing even geniuses like Jia Dao and Li He.

Looking at the admiring expressions of the assembled scholars and literati, Shi Yan couldn't help but sigh.

"Minister Li is indeed a man of great talent; this poem is exquisite. Gao Lishi appreciates it."

Li Longji laughed heartily as he spoke.

Gao Lishi stepped forward to receive the imperial decree, and in his heart, he couldn't help but think more highly of Li Bai.