In Chinese history, there are many anecdotes about scholars and writers, among which the most talked about one is Cao Pi and Cao Zhi's "seven-step poem". This story not only shows Cao Zhi's extraordinary literary talent, but also gives birth to a time-honored idiom - "talent of seven steps".

First, let's review the background of this historical story. Cao Pi, styled Zi Huan, was the founding emperor of the Cao Wei dynasty during the Three Kingdoms period and the eldest son of Cao Cao. Cao Zhi, styled Zi Jian, was Cao Cao's second son and also a talented litterateur. After Cao Cao's death, Cao Pi succeeded to the throne and was jealous of Cao Zhi because Cao Zhi's literary talent far exceeded him. To test Cao Zhi's talent, Cao Pi proposed a demanding requirement - to compose a poem within seven steps.

Faced with such a challenge, Cao Zhi did not back down. He knew that this was not only a literary contest, but also a gamble concerning life and death. In the long river of history, Cao Zhi successfully resolved this crisis with his wisdom and talent. He improvisationally created a beautiful poem within seven steps, which amazed everyone present. This story later evolved into the idiom "talent of seven steps", which is used to describe someone with outstanding talent and agile thinking.

However, what is the truth behind this story? Historians have different views on this. Some believe that the story is true because the relationship between Cao Pi and Cao Zhi was indeed very tense, and Cao Zhi did have talent. Others believe that the story may have been invented by later generations to highlight Cao Zhi's talent. Regardless of the truth, this story demonstrates Cao Zhi's extraordinary literary talent and wit.

Apart from the story itself, we can also see the historical background and cultural atmosphere at that time. The Three Kingdoms period was an era of heroes competing for power, with talents emerging and culture flourishing. The story of Cao Pi and Cao Zhi is a microcosm of this era. It not only reflects the political struggle at that time, but also showcases the competition and friendship among scholars.

Overall, whether true or false, the story of Cao Pi and Cao Zhi's "seven-step poem" has become a part of Chinese culture. It not only gives birth to a popular idiom - "talent of seven steps", but also allows us to see Cao Zhi's extraordinary literary talent and wit. At the same time, this story also helps us to better understand the historical background and cultural atmosphere of the Three Kingdoms period.

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