I served as Li Bai's page.

The next day, I got up early, washed up, and went to Li Bai's room. I heard him reading, so I didn't disturb him. I went downstairs, ordered breakfast for the four of them, and told the waiter to bring it to their room before leaving the inn.

The alleyway in the early morning still retains the tranquility of the night. Early risers do not make a lot of noise, and when they meet on the road, they simply nod slightly as a greeting.

I walked from one end of the alley to the other, and when I emerged, I saw a pavilion ahead, directly opposite a grand and imposing courtyard with the words "Prince's Mansion" written on its main gate. This must be where Lord Li was coming today. I observed the Prince's Mansion for a long time and was certain that Lord Li would have to pass through the alley where we were staying to get there; I just didn't know when he would arrive.

Just then, I saw a person carrying two pots of flowers and a flower basket in his hand, walking towards the Prince's Mansion with great difficulty.

"Brother, are you going to deliver flowers to the Prince's mansion? Let me help you!" I said.

"Okay, quickly help me with the flower basket, the flowerpot in my hand is about to fall." I quickly took the flower basket from his hand and followed behind him into the palace.

"Is a banquet being held at the Prince's mansion? I saw many people bringing things in today," I asked tentatively.

"Lord Wang has invited the social elites of Chengdu Prefecture to a gathering. Can you imagine how grand that is? They're all prominent figures; of course, Lord Wang has to make thorough preparations. I've already sent flowers here several times, and these are all rare and precious varieties."

"Why do you have to start delivering so early? Those celebrities won't arrive that early."

"That won't do. The Prince's Palace stipulates that the gathering hall must be set up before eight o'clock in the morning, and Lord Li must give a speech as soon as he arrives at nine o'clock. Besides, those celebrities will always give Lord Wang face, so they will all arrive early. You'll see."

I dared not wait any longer. I helped him carry the flower basket into the hall and turned to walk back. I needed to quickly tell Li Bai this information so they could make full preparations.

I practically ran back to the inn and asked at the counter that it was 7:15.

After Li Bai and his companions finished breakfast, they gathered in a room to read.

I knocked gently on the door: "Young Master, may I come in?"

"Come in, how's the inquiry going?" Li Bai asked.

"The Prince's Mansion isn't far from here, just at the other end of this alley. Lord Li is going to give a speech at the gathering at nine o'clock, so we need to estimate when he'll pass through this alley. I've observed that whether you're riding a horse or in a sedan chair, you have to pass through this alley to get to the Prince's Mansion." I finished speaking in one breath, and Li Bai handed me a glass of water.

"That makes things easier. We'll just stop him in this alley and hand him the notice," the master said.

"Who should stop them? Or should all of us do it together?" Wu Zhinan asked.

"Send Twelve to present his 'Ode to the Great Roc,' let Twelve's literary talent impress Lord Li first, and then Mr. Zhao and Zhinan can present their invitations," Li Yangbing said.

"That works. Let's split up and prepare. It's getting late. Yuehua, you go down first and keep watch at the alley entrance. We'll come down shortly and wait in the main hall," Master said.

I agreed and ran downstairs as fast as I could, my heart pounding with nervousness.

I arrived at the alley entrance, looked around, and saw no one on horseback or in a sedan chair, so I breathed a sigh of relief.

Suddenly, I became nervous again. How could I know if it was Lord Li?

I lingered at the alley entrance, not knowing what to do.

Just then, an old man came out of the first shop at the alley entrance and asked, "Young man, are you in some trouble? I've seen you pacing back and forth there many times."

"Grandpa, this is my first time in Chengdu Prefecture. I wish to see Lord Li, the Prefect of Yizhou, but I don't know him and I'm at a loss as to what to do."

"It's alright, young man. Lord Li is going to the Prince's residence in a bit. He'll be passing by here, so I'm letting you in. Come in and sit for a while."

"Thank you, Grandpa." I moved a stool and sat down at the shop entrance, staring intently, not daring to blink.

"Grandpa, there's a sedan chair coming up ahead. Do you think it's Lord Li's? There's also someone on horseback. Which one is it?"

The old man came out: "They are all of them. Lord Li doesn't ride a horse, and his sedan chair isn't that luxurious either."

Several groups of people passed by, but Lord Li still hadn't arrived. I got a little restless, so I stood up and looked at the old man's shop, which was filled with all sorts of calligraphy and paintings.

"Grandpa, are you selling calligraphy and paintings?"

"Selling calligraphy and paintings is secondary; the main thing is to mount and frame them—simply put, to decorate," Grandpa replied.

"I'll come to you if I need any calligraphy or paintings for decoration in the future."

"Okay, I'll definitely do a good job for you."

As I was talking to the old man, we suddenly saw a sedan chair approaching. The old man quickly said, "Hurry, Lord Li is here!"

I took off running towards the inn: "Young master, Lord Li has arrived and has already entered the alley."

Li Bai and his three companions stood up and walked out of the inn.

As Lord Li's sedan chair approached the inn, Li Bai straightened his clothes and stepped into the middle of the road. After a few steps, he turned back. Seeing that Lord Li's sedan chair was almost past, Li Bai still hadn't moved. In my haste, I ran out, accidentally tripping over a passerby and falling right in front of Lord Li's sedan chair. Li Bai quickly ran over and helped me up.

The sedan chair stopped, and Lord Li stepped out. Li Bai immediately knelt on one knee, clasped his hands in a fist and palm salute: "Li Bai, a student of Western Shu, pays his respects to Lord Li."

Lord Li approached Li Bai and helped him up with both hands: "Please rise quickly. Are you the famous scholar Li Bai of Sichuan? I often hear people talking about you."

"You flatter me, sir. I am but a humble scholar. I am not talented, but I have a poem to offer you." After saying this, Li Bai took out a scroll from his bosom and handed it to Lord Li with both hands.

Lord Li took the scroll, gently unfurled it, and before him lay a "Rhapsody on the Great Peng": "...Suddenly, a rare bird appeared and said to it: 'How magnificent is the Peng! This is joy! My right wing covers the westernmost reaches, my left wing obscures the eastern wilderness. I straddle the earth's net, I circle the heavens' net. I make the ethereal my nest, the void my playground. I call you to roam, and you soar with me.' The Great Peng agreed, and gladly followed. These two birds have already ascended to the vast expanse, while the sparrows are left only to be laughed at by their fences." Lord Li read it, praising it repeatedly, holding it in both hands, reluctant to put it down. He read it over and over again several times.

"Li Bai, you possess extraordinary talent and lofty ambitions; you should serve the court." After saying this, Lord Li took Li Bai's hand: "Come, I'll take you to a gathering today."

"My lord, I also have two fellow villagers, both of whom are learned and talented. I hope to receive your guidance and assistance," Li Bai said.

"Oh, quickly bring it to me." After saying this, Lord Li put away "Ode to the Great Roc" and looked at Li Bai. Li Bai waved to Zhao Rui and Wu Zhinan.

Zhao Rui and Wu Zhinan approached Lord Li, clasped their hands in greeting, and said, "Greetings, Lord Li." They then presented their respective essays. Lord Li read them one by one and praised them highly. He was particularly impressed by Zhao Rui's diplomatic skills.

After exchanging pleasantries, Lord Li invited them to a gathering at the Prince's Mansion. Li Bai then introduced Li Yangbing to Lord Li, and the group chatted as they walked toward the mansion.