One day，Cao Zhi was called to the court，and was made to pose a poem within seven paces。The topic was about the friendship between brothers。If he failed，Cao Zhi should be put to death without mercy。Cao Zhi instantly smelled the malice。His brother wanted it to be an excuse to kill him。Cao Zhi was a real talent，and he started to pose as he started to pace：“Boil the soy beans，You intended to cook congee，Under the pot the stalk is burning merrily，Inside the pot the beans are crying：We were originally born of the same root，Why heat me so furiously？”
This poem has a plain metaphor，laying bare Cao Pi's malignant intention。On hearing it，Cao Pi was sweating all over his back，and felt ashamed，regretful and nervous。
Seven-pace talent was the idiomatic story，and boiling beans with its stalks is also an idiom。On the one hand，it shows Cao Zhi had an excellent literary talent，and on the other hand，it also condemns Cao Pi's mercilessness about his fraternal relationship。