I served as Li Bai's page.

"Why are you staring at me? Eat up, it's delicious," I said.

The two of them reluctantly ate one. Then they handed me the spring pancake, saying:

"You can take this first, we really can't eat anymore. Let's go for a stroll in Suizhou to help us digest," Li Bai said.

"Are you sure you're not drunk?" I asked.

"I'm not drunk, I'm just a little dizzy," Yuan Yan said.

We led the horses into the street. Li Bai and Yuan Yan had indeed become like immortals, walking lightly and gracefully, always taking a winding path. I led them to a teahouse by the river and chose a seat facing the Yangtze. I said to them:

"You two sit down and rest for a bit. I'll go get some hangover tea."

After sitting in the teahouse for about an hour, with the river breeze blowing, Li Bai and Yuan Yan finally sobered up.

Li Bai asked, "Brother Yuan, after this trip to Suizhou, where will you go next?"

"I have been away from my post in Qiao County for far too long. This time, I was sent to Suizhou by my master and had the pleasure of seeing Brother Taibai again, which made me very happy," Yuan Yan said.

"Then let's look forward to meeting again next time. Farewell," Li Bai said.

As we left the teahouse, Li Bai and I watched Yuan Yan mount his horse and ride off towards the official road. We also mounted our horses and rode back to Anlu.

When we arrived in Anlu, it was already afternoon. Li Bai and I went to the Anzhou Prefectural Government Office. A yamen runner was on duty at the gate. I went up to him and said, "Brother yamen runner, please go in and inform Lord Pei that Li Bai of the Li family of Bai Zhaoshan requests an audience."

"Wait here, I'll go inform them." The constable said this and ran towards the government office. He returned shortly and said:

"Lord Pei requests Li Bai's presence."

I handed the "Letter to Prefect Pei of Anzhou" to Li Bai, who then took it and walked into the government office. I followed Li Bai inside.

Lord Pei sat behind his desk, looked up at me and Li Bai, and Li Bai quickly bowed and said, "Li Bai of Bai Zhaoshan greets Lord Pei."

"What brings Li Bai to see me today? Come, please sit."

Lord Pei's attendant brought Li Bai a chair. After Li Bai politely declined, he sat down, and I stood behind him.

"Lord Pei, all the rumors circulating about me, Li Bai, are false. Please do not believe them. I have written a letter of self-defense for your perusal." After Li Bai finished speaking, he took out "Letter to Prefect Pei of Anzhou" and handed it over. Prefect Pei's attendant took the article and passed it on to Prefect Pei.

Lord Pei took the letter, unfolded it, and placed it before him, saying, "Li Bai, I don't actually believe those rumors, and I believe you are innocent. Your reputation in Anlu is even greater than mine; your poems are so well-known that even children can recite them. This is something to be proud of, and I am proud that my jurisdiction has such a talent as you."

"Lord Pei, you flatter me. I am deeply humbled by such praise. Everyone in Anzhou knows that Lord Pei is sincere, kind, and respectful to scholars. I am willing to serve you with utmost loyalty."

"Li Bai, your talent is extraordinary; you are not one to remain idle for long. I would very much like to give you an opportunity, but there isn't one yet. This opportunity will have to wait. You must believe me; once a good opportunity arises, I will definitely save it for you."

Li Bai stood up, bowed, and said, "Thank you, Lord Pei. I apologize for my intrusion today." He then walked out of the government office. I followed Li Bai out.

"Young Master, you were having a good talk, why did you suddenly leave?" I caught up with Li Bai and asked.

"Didn't you hear Lord Pei's excuses? He simply doesn't want to recommend me," Li Bai said.

"Young Master, Lord Pei is simply jealous of you. You call him a gentleman who respects scholars, but I think he's just petty and narrow-minded. It's a pity about your article; I'll go get it." I said, turning to walk towards the government office, but Li Bai grabbed me.

"We won't stoop to his level. The article can be reused; it's no problem for this young master. Let's go home."

Li Bai and I mounted our horses and returned to Baizhao Mountain. Hearing the sound of hooves, the two children excitedly shouted, "Mother, Father's back!"

Li Bai dismounted and carried a child in each arm as he walked towards the inner courtyard.

After writing to Prefect Pei, Li Bai returned home and was always depressed. Apart from eating and sleeping at home, he spent the rest of his time locked in his study.

"Yuehua, what happened when you and your husband went to Suizhou? He doesn't want to talk anymore after he came back," Xu Ziyan asked me.

"After returning from Suizhou, we went to the Anzhou government office to see Prefect Pei." I showed Xu Ziyan an article written by Li Bai.

"What did Chief Secretary Pei say after reading it?"

"Prefect Pei is a petty and narrow-minded person. He's jealous that the young master's reputation in Anlu surpasses his own. He said he would recommend the young master when the opportunity arises."

"Isn't this just blatant shirking responsibility? No wonder my husband has been so sullen," Xu Ziyan said.

One evening after dinner, Xu Ziyan said to Li Bai:

"I'd like to go back to my parents' home tomorrow and ask my father to talk to my uncles and other relatives to see if they can get you a position in the imperial court, so you'll have something to do."

"You mustn't go. It's not like I have to serve the court. Isn't this better? We're a family together. I'll stay home with you and the children, watering the ginkgo tree. It's rare to have such a peaceful time." Li Bai firmly disagreed with Xu Ziyan's idea.

Such days lasted for some time, until Master Xu passed away.

That morning, we had just gotten up and hadn't even had breakfast when Butler Wu arrived in the carriage. As soon as he entered, he frantically shouted, "Young Master, Miss, quickly pack your things and come home with me immediately! Master is dying!"

Upon hearing this, Li Bai and Xu Ziyan quickly grabbed a piece of clothing and followed Steward Wu out the door, giving instructions as they went:

"Yuehua, quick, bring the horses out; we can ride faster. Xiaoqian and Zhang Ma, you take the children and come in the carriage. Wu Chao, lock the gate and come along too."

I led out two horses, and Li Bai helped Xu Ziyan onto one, then mounted himself, lashed the horse with his whip, and galloped away. I mounted my horse and followed.

When we arrived at the Xu residence, everyone's face was filled with grief. Master Xu lay on a reclining chair in the inner courtyard, barely alive. Xu Ziyan and Li Bai ran to him, knelt down, and grasped Master Xu's hand, saying:

"Father, what's wrong? You were perfectly fine just a few days ago. How did you suddenly become so ill?"

Xu Zijun said, "My father fell after getting up this morning. My mother and I helped him up, and this is what happened to him."

"Didn't you call a doctor?" Li Bai asked.

"The doctor came, told us to prepare for the worst, and then left," Madam Xu said.

I pushed through the crowd and walked up to Mr. Xu. I placed my hand on his pulse and felt it; it was so weak it was almost imperceptible. I whispered in his ear:

"Do you have anything to say to them?"

Master Xu slightly opened his eyes, looked around, and said softly, "Purple Smoke."

Xu Ziyan stood up and leaned close to Master Xu's lips. Master Xu said intermittently, "I can't help you anymore." After saying that, he relaxed and closed his eyes.

The entire mansion was filled with weeping. Steward Wu set off firecrackers outside the door, and Granny Wu burned paper money for the deceased. Master Xu had just passed away.