When False Is True and True Is False (Part Five)

After hearing Chu Chen's explanation, everyone nodded in agreement almost in unison.

Although Wu Yingmiao's birth and death dates were unknown, judging from the inscriptions on some of his works, he had probably lived around the same period when Xiang Yuanbian was active. In other words, this Ode to the Luo River Goddess had very likely passed from Wu Yingmiao into Xiang Yuanbian's hands.

Considering the experiences of the two later owners, Xiang Yuanbian and Gu Wei, it made sense that this representative work by Zhao Mengfu had remained unknown for so long.

At that moment, Professor Zheng thought of another question and asked, "But why had this Ode to the Luo River Goddess also remained unknown from the time it was completed until Wu Yingmiao acquired it?"

Old Qu said, "I think it has a great deal to do with the fact that the work was written for Guan Daosheng."

Guan Daosheng was a famous female calligrapher, painter, and poet of the Yuan Dynasty. She was Zhao Mengfu's wife, was granted the title of Madam of Wuxing Commandery, and was commonly known as Madam Guan.

Guan Daosheng and Zhao Mengfu had a very good relationship. Of course, taking concubines was perfectly normal in ancient times, and Zhao Mengfu had once entertained the idea. He even brought it up directly with Guan Daosheng. Naturally, she was displeased, so she wrote the famous My Words.

The poem was colloquial and smooth, with vivid imagery and sincere emotion. It was deeply thought-provoking. It filled Zhao Mengfu with remorse, and he finally changed his mind and abandoned the idea of taking a concubine.

In the fifth year of the Yanyou era (1318), Madam Guan's beriberi recurred. After Zhao Mengfu pleaded repeatedly, permission was finally granted in April of the following year for her