I served as Li Bai's page.

The Prefect of Handong said, "Daoist, you have a discerning eye for talent, but it's a pity that Li Bai wouldn't allow his page to follow you in your cultivation of Taoism."

"It's not that I don't want to, it's that the two children don't want to," Li Bai replied.

Master Ziyang looked at the two children, and seeing the bracelet on Pingyang's wrist, said:

"The old monk is willing to give you this bracelet; Miss Li, you have a connection with Buddhism."

Only then did Li Bai notice the Buddhist prayer beads in Pingyang's hand, and anxiously asked:

"Pingyang, you shouldn't accept gifts from strangers so easily. When did you receive them?"

"I like what the abbot gave me," Pingyang replied.

I saw a hint of confusion flash across Li Bai's face, and quickly said:

"Let the child do what she wants. She's still young, and her understanding of things is only superficial."

Master Ziyang said, "Li Bai, you have devoted your life to seeking immortality and the Dao. It is not surprising that your daughter has such a destiny; it is a blessing from Heaven. This is the first sign of your daughter's wisdom, and you should guide her well."

"What the Taoist priest says is true. Let's not talk about her anymore. Come, let's have a drink." After Li Bai finished speaking, he raised his wine cup and drank it all with the Taoist priest Ziyang and the governor of Handong.

I sat down at the table with Pingyang, Boqin, and Xuanzhen, ate some food, and then left. Li Bai and Master Ziyang didn't drink for long either, moving from the table to the pavilion to discuss scriptures and doctrines. Xuanzhen and I, having nothing to do, each took out our bamboo flutes and played one tune after another for everyone. Master Ziyang's disciples crowded the Canxia Pavilion, and even though it was late at night, they were reluctant to leave.

I put away my bamboo flute and said, "Everyone, go back and rest. We're not playing anymore."

"Will it continue tomorrow?" one of the disciples asked.

Master Ziyang said, "One should not be greedy. Tonight, I have given you a great feast for the ears, which is enough. Are you still hoping for tomorrow? There are so many tomorrows, how can you expect them all?"

The disciples knelt before Master Ziyang and said in unison, "Master's teachings are correct; we understand."

The disciples gradually dispersed, and I took Pingyang and Boqin with me to rest with Xuanzhen. The remaining three, Li Bai and the others, were still chatting in the Canxia Tower.

We stayed at Kuzhuyuan for a few days, and Pingyang spent several days listening to Buddhist chants at Xiangguo Temple. Even Master Ziyang was impressed by Pingyang's persistence, saying that seeing Pingyang was like seeing himself back then.

A few days later, we bid farewell to Master Ziyang and officially embarked on the road back to Donglu. Li Bai led us on a journey that included stops and sightseeing. When we encountered scenic spots, we would stop to explore for a day or two. Thus, we returned to Rencheng in Donglu a month later. As our carriage entered a small alley, an old man said to Li Bai:

"Twelve, your sixth aunt comes to this alleyway to wait for you every day, why are you only coming back now?"

"Thank you for informing me, sir. I'll go find my sixth aunt right away," Li Bai replied.

Li Bai rode his horse, and I drove the carriage. We arrived at my sixth uncle's residence. I carried Pingyang and Boqin off the carriage, tied a red rope to it, and was about to knock on the gate when it creaked open. Li Youcheng appeared at the door.

"Fifteenth Young Master, we're back," I said.

Li Youcheng called out into the courtyard, "Mother, Twelfth Brother is back."

Li Youcheng opened the gate, and Li Bai, with two children, and I led the horse into the courtyard. There, I saw Aunt Liu standing at the entrance to the living room, supported by her daughter.

Li Bai, with his two children, knelt before his sixth aunt and said, "Your twelfth son is unfilial, causing you, my aunt, to worry about me."

"Get up quickly, let me see, my Twelve has lost weight." After saying that, Aunt Liu took Li Bai's hand and led him into the living room to sit down.

Aunt Liu asked, "Is everything settled over there?"

"Everything has been taken care of. With Ziyan's family looking after her, I'm relieved," Li Bai replied.

"That's good. That girl was healthy when she married you, but she passed away in middle age. I was worried her family wouldn't approve, and that something might happen to you three. I brought him back early on the fifteenth, and I gave him a good scolding."

"Don't worry, Aunt Liu, Ziyan's family didn't make things difficult for me. We get along very well."

"There's another reason I'm hoping you'll come back. Your sixth uncle wrote that your great-grandfather, Li Pu, has just been appointed as the governor of Yanzhou. He wants you to visit him and find a job so you can support your two children."

"I understand, Sixth Aunt. I'll visit him in Yanzhou another day."

"No one has lived here for several months. Why don't you stay here tonight? Go back tomorrow, clean it up, and then you can go back home."

"Thank you, Madam. I'll go back and clean up right away," I said.

"Yuehua, don't rush, you should rest too," said Aunt Liu.

"I'm not tired. I've already had the fifteenth young master take the carriage to the stables. I'll head back now. Young master, why don't you stay here and chat with the old lady?"

"Then take your time packing, there's no rush," Li Bai said.

I led my horse toward the gate of the mansion, and Pingyang and Boqin followed me out.

"Uncle, we want to go back too."

"Okay, let's go."

The three of us returned home. Actually, the house was quite clean. All traces left from Xu Ziyan's funeral had been cleaned up by the people brought by Aunt Liu.

The two children were much freer after returning home and went off to play by themselves. I took a wooden basin to the well, filled it with water, and went inside. I wiped down all the furniture in the rooms and changed all the bedding. After tidying up, it was getting dark when Li Youcheng called us over for dinner. I took Pingyang and Boqin back to Aunt Liu's house.

"Is the house all tidied up?" Li Bai asked.

"I've finished packing. I can go home tonight," I said.

"Okay, we'll go back after we finish eating."

"What's the rush? Twelve, you mustn't be sad or upset when you get home," said Aunt Six.

"I know, Sixth Aunt, I can get through this," Li Bai replied.

After having dinner at Aunt Liu's house, we returned to our own home. The moment Li Bai stepped into the yard, he paused, as if someone had called him, and walked straight to the bedroom.

I followed him and asked, "Young Master, what's wrong?"

"It's nothing, I just wanted to take a look," Li Bai replied.

"Young Master, Madam is gone. You must get used to all of this," I said.

Li Bai sat by the window, his expression somber, and said:

"I'm sorry to Ziyan. She's been married to me for eleven years, and I've spent very few days at home with her. Every time I come home, she's always waiting for me so tenderly."

"Young master, don't think so much. As the saying goes, life and death are predestined, and wealth and honor are determined by fate. Madam has gone to another world to enjoy happiness."

"I hope it's as you say. I don't want to think about it anymore. Go tell the children to wash up and go to sleep. They must be tired from this long journey." Li Bai stood up and walked outside.

After I helped Pingyang and Boqin finish washing up and watched the two children go to bed, I returned to my bedroom, closed the door, and prepared to rest. But I saw Li Bai standing in the pavilion in the courtyard, gazing up at the dark night sky.

I went out of the room, lit a lantern for Li Bai, and asked, "Young Master, aren't you going to rest?"

Li Bai took the lantern, hung it on the pavilion railing, and said, "I want to sleep, but I can't. My mind is filled with these decades of wandering. I miss Qinglian Town. I wonder how my parents and sister are doing? And Uncle Lu, Ziyi and the others."

"I miss them too. You wouldn't let them know about your wife's passing, so I wrote back saying that our whole family is doing well and the children are behaving well. I guess they were very happy for us, so they didn't reply to our letter," I said.