Chapter 328: The Brocade Zither

On the sky curtain, bullet comments began to spring up—

【Bullet Comment·Tang Netizen】: Li Yishan! The top figure of the late‑Tang poetry scene!

【Bullet Comment·Song Netizen】: His poems are truly… one read feels beautiful, two reads feel profound, three reads make me want to cry.

【Bullet Comment·Ming Netizen】: A victim of the Niu‑Li faction feud—what a pity.

【Bullet Comment·Modern Netizen】: Li Shangyin's poems are like onions; peel one layer, you cry.

【Bullet Comment·Mysterious Three Kingdoms Netizen】: This person is kind of interesting.

The last comment caught Gu Shanhe's attention.

"Mysterious Three Kingdoms netizen?"

He whispered a line, then laughed.

The sky curtain's reach isn't limited to the Tang era and later; figures from the Three Kingdoms can also see it.

Cao Cao, Liu Bei, Sun Quan, Zhuge Liang, Sima Yi…

These illustrious names now sit in their own timespaces, watching the inventory on the sky curtain.

Gu Shanhe had a flash of inspiration and linked the system to the Three Kingdoms' bullet‑comment system.

Soon, comments from the Three Kingdoms plane flooded in.

【Bullet Comment·Cao Cao】: Late Tang? The late period of the Great Tang?

This dynasty actually lasted over a hundred years?

My Great Wei lasted only forty‑something years before it fell?

【Bullet Comment·Cao Pi】: Father, your focus seems a bit off…

【Bullet Comment·Cao Cao】: Shut up, I'm pondering.

【Bullet Comment·Liu Bei】: This Li Shangyin lost his father young, grew up poor, and changed his fate through study.

When I was young I also wove mats and sold shoes, fully aware of its difficulty.

【Bullet Comment·Zhuge Liang】: You're right, Lord.

Children of humble families seeking to rise through legitimate means truly find it as hard as scaling heaven.

But precisely because it's difficult, it becomes even more precious.

【Bullet Comment·Sun Quan】: I'm quite curious—what's this 'Niu‑Li faction feud' about?

It can make a poet hit walls everywhere; the struggle must be fierce.

Gu Shanhe watched the comments and couldn't help but laugh.

The Three Kingdoms figures are among the most beloved people in history.

Their assessments will surely make this inventory even more splendid.

He decided to let the Three Kingdoms characters post a few more bullet comments.

The inventory on the sky curtain continued.

Scene shift: Li Shangyin sits in his study, a brocade zither spread before him.

His fingers gently pluck the strings; the zither emits a low tone, as if narrating something.

His gaze is hollow yet profound, seeming to recall something and also to miss something.

【Li Shangyin's Four Major Literary Achievements】

【1. The consummate collector of late‑Tang poetry, inheriting the flourishing Tang and Middle‑Tang traditions, and upholding half the poetic world during the decline of Tang poetry.】

【2. Founder of the hazy poetic style, adept at metaphors and allusions, with subtle, deep imagery, pushing restrained beauty to the extreme, profoundly influencing later graceful poetry.】

【3. Master of untitled poems, pioneering a vast body of works titled 'Untitled', becoming the most unique thematic type in classical poetry.】

【4. Historian‑poet who used ancient references to satirize the present, critiquing late‑Tang politics, blending literary beauty with philosophical depth; his parallel prose is richly ornate, making him a representative of late‑Tang parallel prose.】

"'Hazy poetic style?'"

Liu Che frowned, "What does 'hazy poetic style' mean? Isn't a poem written to be understood?"

Wei Zheng explained, "Your Majesty Emperor Wu of Han, the 'hazy' here refers to an implied, non‑explicit artistic conception."

"Some emotions, when written directly, lose their charm; they need the reader to experience and ponder them."

Fang Xuanling nodded, "I have read some of Li Shangyin's poems, and indeed they feel that way."

"His poems are like a thin veil of mist; you know there's something good inside, but you must step in to see clearly."

Li Shimin asked curiously, "I'd like to read his poems and see what this 'hazy poetic style' truly is."

The sky curtain seemed to hear Li Shimin's words and immediately displayed Li Shangyin's most representative poem—

【'Jin Se'】

The brocade zither, without cause, has fifty strings; each string, each pillar, recalls youthful years.

Zhuangzi's dawn dream confounds butterflies, the yearning emperor's spring heart entrusts to the cuckoo.

The vast sea under moonlight, its pearls weep; the blue fields warmed by the sun, its jade gives rise to mist.

This sentiment may await becoming a recollection, yet at that moment it was already vague.

The moment the whole poem materialized, the hall fell silent.

Everyone stared at the poem, feeling that indescribable, ineffable emotion.

"This…"

Wei Zheng was the first to speak, but he got stuck on the word 'this', because he too could not explain what the poem was about, yet he felt it was beautiful—heartbreakingly beautiful.

Fang Xuanling pondered for a long while: "This poem, I have read it three times, and each reading feels different."

"The first reading feels beautiful, the second feels sorrowful, the third… I can't put it into words; it's an indescribable feeling."

Du Ruhui said, "'This sentiment may become a recollection, but at that time it was already vague'—as I read these lines, I suddenly thought of some events from my youth."

"Some things seemed ordinary then, but now, looking back, they are the most precious memories."

"Li Shangyin writes exactly this feeling."

Changsun Wuji nodded: "This is the charm of obscure poetry."

"He doesn't tell you what he's writing, but he can make you think of your own story."

Liu Che savored it for a moment, then said: "I think this poem is not about a single event, but about an entire life."

【'Zhuang Sheng's Dawn Dream Lost in Butterflies' — life is like a dream; what is real, what is illusion, cannot be distinguished;】

【'Wang Di's Spring Heart Entrusted to the Cuckoo' — things one clings to will never be abandoned, even unto death;】

【'The Vast Sea, Moonlit, Pearls with Tears' — beautiful things always carry sorrow;】

【'Blue Field, Warm Sun, Jade Gives Rise to Smoke' — beautiful things are close at hand yet cannot be grasped.】

【Finally 'This feeling may wait to become a recollection, but at that moment it was already bewildered' — when one finally understands everything, it is already too late.】

Wei Zheng looked at Liu Che in surprise: "His Majesty Emperor Wu of Han has interpreted it so exquisitely!"

Liu Che modestly waved his hand: "I merely spoke from feeling."

But the expression on his face plainly said — "I'm impressive, aren't I?"

Ying Zheng looked at the line "Zhuang Sheng's Dawn Dream Lost in Butterflies" and suddenly said: "The story of Zhuangzi dreaming of a butterfly, used in the poem, is indeed clever."

Liu Bang asked curiously: "First Emperor, do you still read Zhuangzi?"

Ying Zheng replied coldly: "After I unified the Six Kingdoms, I read every book."

Liu Bang: "…Fine, you're impressive."

Li Shimin closed his eyes and softly recited "This feeling may wait to become a recollection, but at that moment it was already bewildered," then suddenly opened his eyes, his eye sockets faintly reddening.

"I recall some past events."

Li Shimin said, "Before the Xuanwu Gate Incident, I, along with Jiancheng and Yuanji, also shared deep brotherly affection."

"But later…"

He did not continue, but everyone understood.

The barrage exploded outright —

【Bullet Comment·Tang Dynasty Book Lover】

"Jin Se"!!! The foremost obscure poem of all ages, truly deserving!

【Bullet Comment·Song Dynasty Book Lover】

Every time I read this poem, I feel I understand it, but upon closer thought I feel I don't.

This is Li Shangyin's magic.

【Bullet Comment·Ming Dynasty Great Scholar】

Li Shangyin's poems are like a fine tea, the more you sip, the richer the flavor.

【Bullet Comment·Modern Netizen】

When I memorized "Jin Se" in school, I only thought it beautiful; reading it again as an adult made me cry.

【Bullet Comment·Three Kingdoms·Cao Cao】

Good poem.

I cannot compose such a poem.

But I can feel that the suffering in that person's heart is no less than mine.

【Bullet Comment·Three Kingdoms·Cao Zhi】

Brother, you are right.

The artistic conception of this poem has already transcended the words themselves.

It does not express anything, but creates a feeling.

Gu Shanhe watched Cao Cao and Cao Zhi's bullet comments, smiling inwardly —

Cao Zhi himself is a great poet; gaining his approval, Li Shangyin is indeed impressive.