I served as Li Bai's page.

While the third concubine and the others were talking, the carriage drove into a small alley and stopped in front of a vermilion gate with the words "Prince's Mansion" written on the top. Two stone lions stood guard on either side. An ancient tree, like an umbrella, stood on the wall, half inside and half outside.

After the carriage stopped, I helped my third concubine and Xu Zixia down from the carriage, and then carried the two children down from the carriage.

"We're finally home. Pingyang and Boqin came over, and Grandma led the way as we went home."

"Grandma, your door is so big!" Boqin stood in front of the door with wide eyes in surprise.

Old Wang, the driver, rushed up the steps and knocked on the door. The door opened, and an old woman stood there. Seeing Third Concubine and Xu Zixia, she quickly said:

"The old lady and madam are back. Master was just asking about you. He was worried because you didn't let Xiaohong come with you when you went out."

"Aunt Wang, it's alright. My mom and I are fine with Uncle Wang here."

Just then, a little girl with long braids, wearing a white shirt embroidered with a few small flowers, ran out. She was slightly taller than Pingyang and probably about the same age. She ran up to Xu Zixia, bowed, and said, "Madam, why didn't you wake me up when you left? I wanted to go too."

"Seeing you sleeping so soundly, I couldn't bear to wake you. Besides, we're only going out for a little while, it won't cause any trouble."

"Mother and Madam are back!" I looked up into the courtyard and saw a middle-aged man of medium height and thin build standing on the balcony in front of the hall, looking at us and saying this.

The third concubine, leading Pingyang and Boqin, walked around the artificial hill and pond in the courtyard towards the man. As they walked, she said:

"Son-in-law, let me introduce you to three guests."

I followed Xu Zixia and we walked over together.

"Son-in-law, these two children are Zixia's son, Ziyan's, Pingyang and Boqin. This is your brother-in-law's page, Yuehua," the third concubine said, pulling me in front of Xu Zixia.

"Greetings, Uncle." I quickly bowed to the man.

Pingyang and Boqin greeted each other in unison, "Hello, Uncle."

The man stroked his sparse beard, smiled at us, and said, "Welcome, welcome. Please come in and have a seat. It's good to visit relatives often. Didn't your brother-in-law come?"

"Reporting to Master, my young master went out with a friend. Pingyang Boqin and I met the Third Madam and the Second Miss on the street, so we followed them here."

"Don't stand there talking, come inside and sit down." The Third Madam led Pingyang and Boqin into the house. It was a spacious hall. Two armchairs opposite each other were covered with softly colored brocade. On either side, two rows of antique-style chairs were arranged facing each other. Several exquisite landscape paintings hung at regular intervals on the walls. Each tea table held a uniquely shaped vase, filled with either flowers or herbs. Entering the hall immediately gave one the feeling of being in a idyllic landscape.

Pingyang walked into the hall, released the third concubine's hand, walked around the hall once, and sighed:

"Grandma, your living room is so beautiful!"

"These are all things your uncle likes. Your uncle is a learned man, so you should learn from him in the future."

"Grandmother, I want to learn too," Boqin interjected.

"You can all study. Your uncle's school won't lack two more desks for you." The third concubine said happily as she sat down in the armchair directly opposite.

I pulled Pingyang and Boqin to sit on the chairs below, and tactfully stood behind Boqin.

"Yuehua, sit down too, don't stand," Zixia said.

"Second Miss, I think I'll stay standing."

"We don't have many rules in our family. Everyone is very casual. Please sit down. Yuehua, Xiaohong, bring out the tea and the pastries that Wang Ma made," said Xu Zixia's husband.

Xiao Hong agreed and happily ran to the kitchen. A little while later, she and Wang Ma each carried two plates of pastries into the living room.

As we ate and chatted, I learned that Xu Zixia's husband's surname was Wang, and that they got married in the spring of the year following Xu Ziyan's death.

Since Mr. Wang's parents had passed away long ago, only his uncle and wife were left to care for him. Furthermore, Mr. Wang was always engrossed in his studies and not good at business, so the substantial inheritance left by his parents was gradually sold off, leaving only this house. Seeing that Mr. Wang was getting older and still unmarried, his uncle and wife asked around to find him a wife. During a business trip to the capital with Xu Zijun, they met Uncle Wang. When the topic came up, Uncle Wu remembered that Xu Zixia was also getting older and unmarried, so he mentioned it to Xu Zijun. Xu Zijun then arranged for their marriage.

After getting married, Xu Zixia brought her mother to the capital, and her elder brother Xu Zijun took care of everything at home.

Although Xu Zixia had her own source of income, Mr. Wang was embarrassed to ask his wife to contribute money for daily expenses, so he instructed Uncle Wang to clean up the empty courtyard next door, set up a desk, and start recruiting students to run a private school.

This area was originally inhabited by people from other places who came to the capital to do business. The adults in every family were very busy, and they were not comfortable hiring a tutor at home. Therefore, as soon as the sign for the private school was put up, several people came to enroll. Later, when they heard that the teacher was good, even more people came to study. Now there are more than twenty students, including Persians and Silla people.

After getting married, Xu Zixia couldn't conceive and was very anxious. She often went to Daxingshan Temple with her mother to pray and make wishes. One day, she met Xiao Hong crying in front of the temple. Seeing that Xiao Hong was young and helpless, she took her in as a maid. Now, Xu Zixia is finally pregnant, and today she is going to the temple to fulfill her vow.

We had lunch at the Prince's Mansion. Xu Zixia, accompanied by Wang Ma, went to rest, while Mr. Wang went to the school. Third Concubine and Xiao Hong then led us on a tour of the mansion. The Prince's Mansion was even larger than the Xu Mansion, with several courtyards. Third Concubine and her daughter and son-in-law lived in the largest one, complete with flowers, trees, artificial hills, and a pond, showing that Mr. Wang was also a person who appreciated nature. The servants lived in one courtyard. Another courtyard was small, with four rooms: one full of books, one full of various pottery and jade, and another filled with all sorts of paintings. After touring this courtyard, I thought to myself, even if Mr. Wang didn't teach in a private school, he could live off these things for generations. Were these things worthless in the Tang Dynasty? There was also a bed in one of the rooms, presumably for resting. There was also an empty courtyard and a courtyard used as guest rooms.

"Madam, the Prince's mansion is so big!" I exclaimed.

"It's big, but there are very few people. Before Xiaohong came, the house was always quiet and deserted; you could hear a pin drop. After Xiaohong came, I always heard her chattering and running around, and the house finally felt a bit lively. Now it's much better. My daughter has her child, and Pingyang and Boqin have come. Our house will never feel deserted again. You didn't go back to Donglu, did you?"

"Madam, whether we return to Donglu depends on my young master's prospects in the capital. If he can secure an official position, we might settle down there."

"My son-in-law has worked so hard for so many years, but this path is not easy," the third concubine sighed thoughtfully.