I served as Li Bai's page.

Li Bai entered the room, walked to Xu Ziyan's bedside, and held her hand, saying, "Thank you, Madam. You gave birth to our Li family's first child. We will continue to strive for more."

Xu Ziyan was already weak and tried to shake off Li Bai's hand, but failed. She said weakly, "Husband, you have no idea how much pain I'm in."

"I know, baby, your pain is my pain, my heart is aching, but have we overcome the pain?"

At this moment, Madam Xu and Master Xu entered. Madam Xu bent down, hugged Xu Ziyan, and cried, "My daughter is so brave! I want to reward you."

Li Bai said, "Mother, we don't want anything else, we only want the books in our collection."

Master Xu quickly said, "Here, take it all."

Mrs. Xu said, "What a bookworm! All he thinks about is studying. Adults and children alike will starve because of him."

Li Bai lowered his head in embarrassment.

Madam Xu picked up the child, growing more and more fond of him. Li Bai leaned closer, looking at the child in the robe, and said, "He really looks like a little old man, his face full of wrinkles."

Madam Xu glared at him and said, "A newborn baby isn't like this. Do you expect her to have a full forehead and a broad, square jaw? Hurry up and give your daughter a name."

Li Bai thought for a moment and said, "Let's call her Li Pingyang. Peace and tranquility facing the sun."

"Come, hold your daughter." Madam Xu handed the child to Li Bai, who took the child with both hands outstretched, not daring to move. Little Pingyang started crying in his arms, which frightened Li Bai so much that he quickly returned the child to Madam Xu.

"I'll hold this one instead." He said, walking to the bedside and sitting down next to Xu Ziyan, then hugging her. This made everyone both laugh and cry.

The birth of Xiao Pingyang excited Li Bai for several days, but also made him feel restrained for a long time.

Because their daughter was in postpartum confinement, most of the Xu family's servants came to Baizhaoshan, and the third concubine also brought Xu Zixia to visit every few days. Only the second concubine and her son came for the first time when they held a full-moon celebration.

"Yuehua, Xiaoqian, there are many people today, so please keep a close eye on the children, especially Second Madam. Don't let her hold the children; she's too ruthless," Madam Xu instructed.

"Yes, Madam," Xiaoqian and I replied.

The full moon celebration in Pingyang was attended by more than a dozen tables, all of whom were relatives and friends of the Xu family. Li Bai's only guest was Xuanmeng from the Taoist temple on the mountain.

Xuanmeng arrived home early, holding a silver bracelet wrapped in cloth. She shyly handed it to Xu Ziyan, saying, "The person who sold it to me said this is more suitable for children."

"Xuanmeng, you don't need to be so polite. You've come all this way, why bring any gifts?" Xu Ziyan said.

"I also like Xiaopingyang, so I wanted to give her a gift. Please accept it on his behalf," Xuanmeng said.

"I thank Master Xuanmeng on behalf of Pingyang." Xu Ziyan wrapped the bracelet up and put it away.

"Ziyan, you've only been a month old today, why are you out here? Go back and lie down, or you'll develop health problems later. Who will take care of you? Men are the most unreliable men." Accompanied by Xu Zijun, the second concubine came to the inner courtyard. Just then, Xiaoqian moved a chair for Xu Ziyan to sit in the inner courtyard, holding the baby in her arms.

When Xiaoqian and I saw the Second Madam, remembering Madam Xu's instructions, we immediately stood behind Xu Ziyan, staring intently at the Second Madam.

The second concubine stepped forward, reaching out to hold the child, and said, "Come, let your great-aunt hold the child."

Xiao Pingyang opened his eyes, looked at her, turned his face away, and burst into tears.

Madam Xu was greeting guests in the outer hall when she heard a child crying. She came in and saw the second concubine standing in front of Xu Ziyan. She said, "Second son, come sit outside. Dinner will be served soon. Don't just stand there."

"It seems I'm not destined to be with this child. I was just about to hug her when she started crying and said, 'I won't hug you anymore. I'm leaving.'" The second concubine said as she walked out of the inner courtyard.

After Pingyang's baby turned one month old, Xu Ziyan no longer wanted to stay in bed. Every morning she would get up early and take a walk in the inner courtyard, with Madam Xu following closely behind, carrying clothes in her hand, afraid that her daughter would catch a cold. Truly, the hearts of parents are full of love and concern for their children.

For the past month, Li Bai has completely lost his freedom. He dares not go out or drink alcohol, and spends his days hiding in his study practicing calligraphy and reading. Whenever he sees Master Xu and his wife, he has to take a detour.

Seeing Li Bai's expression, Xu Ziyan asked him, "Husband, why do you always avoid my parents?"

Li Bai said, "As soon as they catch me, they start lecturing me on parenting, telling me to be nicer to you, nagging me nonstop. It's driving me crazy."

"They're just looking out for us, wanting us to be happy."

"I knew, so I didn't say anything, I just listened."

Xu Ziyan thought about how her parents' nagging was really a headache. That day, after lunch, while taking a walk in the garden, she said to Mrs. Xu:

"Mother, you and Father should go back to Da'an Mountain. All the servants who came up here should also go back. I'm worried about the family in Da'an Mountain if you stay here too long. After all, Steward Wu is just a steward; he can't make decisions for Second Mistress and Third Mistress. We don't want the family to be emptied out before we even know it."

After a long silence, Madam Xu said, "My daughter is right. I'll go home with your father now."

Madam Xu was also a decisive person. She left as soon as she was told to. She called Master Xu, left Wu Ma behind to take care of Pingyang, and led the other servants from Da'an Mountain back in a grand procession.

As soon as they left, Li Bai breathed a long sigh of relief and quietly said to Xu Ziyan, "Madam is truly wise."

During dinner, Li Bai drank a whole jar of wine. After a hearty meal and drinks, he lay down next to his beautiful wife and young daughter, looking completely content, a sight that was truly enviable.

After Master Xu and Madam Xu left, Li Bai became the head of the household again, but he had to take Wu Ma's presence into consideration and wouldn't drink too recklessly.

Pingyang grew very quickly. After two or three months, her little face was already chubby, and she would wave her arms and legs when she laughed, especially when she saw Li Bai, she would even laugh out loud. Li Bai loved her dearly. Sometimes he would hold little Pingyang on his lap while reading in his study.

"Son-in-law, your letter." Wu Chao walked towards the study with a letter in his hand.

I quickly took the little Pingyang from Li Bai's arms. Li Bai stood up, took the letter, and read:

"My twelfth son, my daughter-in-law Ziyan, I have received your letter. I am overjoyed to learn of the birth of your daughter, and I eagerly await seeing her face. In your next letter, please ask Yuehua to paint a portrait of her to ease my longing. I received your letter in Rencheng, Donglu. Your mother is far away in Xishu and has probably not yet received your letter, thus unable to congratulate you both. The road to Shu is long and arduous; your mother must be longing for you. When my granddaughter is a little older, I will bring my wife back to Shu to visit her…"

Li Bai was already in tears after reading his father's letter. Xu Ziyan took out a handkerchief to wipe Li Bai's tears. Xiao Pingyang looked at his father and burst into tears.

"Young master, don't be sad. Your daughter understands you perfectly; she cried too."

My words made Li Bai both laugh and cry. He looked at Xiao Pingyang, wiped away his tears, and said, "Daughter, grow up quickly so we can go home to see your grandmother."