I served as Li Bai's page.

We stayed at the Prince's Mansion until sunset. The three children naturally started playing together. It was time to go back to the inn, so I searched the whole garden for them.

"Why don't we leave Pingyang and Boqin here? You go back to see your son-in-law and invite him to lunch tomorrow," the third concubine said.

"Madam, I'll take the child with me. We'll come back tomorrow. The young master will worry if he doesn't see the child."

"Alright then, you must bring your son-in-law over tomorrow. If it's inconvenient to stay at the inn, he can move in with us; there are plenty of rooms."

"I need to ask my young master's opinion. Then we'll head back," I said to the third concubine.

After saying goodbye to the third concubine, Xu Zixia, and Mr. Wang, we left the mansion. Uncle Wang then brought a carriage and said he would take us to the inn.

"Uncle Wang, no need, we can just walk through this alley and go back," I said to Uncle Wang.

"Get in the car, I'm fine, I'll give you a ride."

We boarded the carriage and soon arrived at the inn. Li Bai and Yuan Danqiu were standing at the entrance, looking around anxiously. Seeing us get off the carriage, Li Bai hurriedly pulled Pingyang and Boqin aside and asked:

"Where did you all go? I don't know anyone in the capital, I was so worried!"

"Father, we went to Grandmother's house. Grandmother's house is very big," Boqin said.

I gave Li Bai a brief explanation and introduced Uncle Wang to him. Li Bai thanked me repeatedly, and Uncle Wang happily drove the carriage back home.

Li Bai angrily dragged the two children into the inn. Yuan Danqiu glanced at me and followed. I followed cautiously behind. It was the first time I'd ever seen Li Bai so angry.

Back in the room, Li Bai said to me, "Yuehua, come here and tell me everything. It's been so many years, and she asked you to go with them, and you just took the child and went? You had no sense of caution at all. At least you should have said you'd discuss it with me before going."

"We couldn't find you, could we? I think Third Madam and Second Miss are also the children's family, and Madam has been kind to them, so they wouldn't harm us. Besides, I can protect the two children now," I argued.

"You're just relying on the kung fu you learned from Abbess Baiyun, aren't you? This is Chang'an, the capital, not Rencheng. If anything happens to the two children, how can I face Ziyan?" Li Bai became angrier and angrier, pacing back and forth in the room.

Seeing this, Yuan Danqiu quickly gave me a wink and said, "Yuehua, hurry up and apologize to your young master. Don't act on your own anymore. You must discuss everything with your young master, do you hear me?"

I knelt down in front of Li Bai with a thud and said, "Young Master, I was wrong. Please forgive me. From now on, I will tell you before I do anything." Pingyang and Boqin were also so frightened that they stood aside with their heads down, not daring to breathe.

"Alright, Yuehua, get up. Brother Taibai, don't be angry. We went to drink without telling him where we were, and with the Third Concubine and the others being so enthusiastic, Yuehua had no choice but to do this," Yuan Danqiu advised from the side.

"Yuehua, I'll forgive you this time. Next time, you must get my permission first."

"Yes, young master." I stood up and stepped aside.

"Yuehua, tell me about the situation with Third Concubine and the others."

"Yes, young master."

I told Li Bai about our encounter with Third Aunt and Xu Zixia, and how we went to their house. I also told Li Bai how Xu Zixia married into the Wang family, and about the Wang family's home and address.

"Young Master, Third Madam and her family invite you to lunch tomorrow so you can meet your Uncle." I said softly, afraid of being rejected by Li Bai and disappointing Third Madam and her family.

Li Bai thought for a moment and nodded, saying, "Alright, since we're relatives, we might as well visit each other. I won't go to see Brother Lu and the others tomorrow."

"Alright, I'll go to the palace first thing tomorrow morning to see if Princess Yuzhen has returned yet," Yuan Danqiu said.

Hearing Li Bai's statement, I finally felt relieved. I gave Pingyang and Boqin a wink, and Pingyang immediately understood, saying to Li Bai:

"Daddy, my brother and I are so sleepy, we're going to bed." She even stretched and yawned in response.

"Alright, Yuehua, go and put the two children to bed. You should go and rest too."

"Yes, young master."

I led Pingyang and Boqin to the next room. As soon as the door closed, Pingyang said:

"Father is really angry today. I've never seen him so angry before."

"That's because he loves you and is worried about you. From now on, we must tell Father before we do anything."

"I understand, Uncle. What if you can't find your father sometimes?" Boqin asked.

"At least we should leave a message for Father so he knows where we went when he returns. For example, today we should go back to the inn and tell the owner, or leave a note in the room. If he doesn't see us, Father won't be so worried."

"Okay, Uncle, we'll do as you say. Are we going to Grandma's house with Daddy tomorrow too?" Pingyang said.

"Of course I have to go. If I don't, Grandma will be angry."

The three of us chatted as we washed up and went to bed.

When I woke up the next morning, I heard Li Bai reading in the next room; Yuan Danqiu had already left.

I prepared breakfast and brought it to the room, waking Pingyang and Boqin. The two children quickly got up, washed up, ate breakfast, and Pingyang asked:

"Uncle, shall we go now?"

I looked at Li Bai, who replied, "Get ready, we'll go to the street to buy some gifts for your maternal grandmother."

Just as we were about to close the door and head downstairs, the innkeeper called out to us:

"Yuehua, someone's looking for you outside."

I walked quickly to the entrance of the inn and saw Uncle Wang standing in front of the carriage, looking inside.

"Uncle Wang, what brings you here?"

"The old lady asked me to come and pick you up."

We boarded Uncle Wang's carriage, detoured to the West Market to buy many gifts, and headed towards the Prince's Mansion.

When we arrived at the Prince's Mansion, the Third Concubine, accompanied by Xiao Hong, was standing at the entrance looking into the alley. When she saw the carriage, Xiao Hong skipped over to greet it.

"Pingyang, you've finally arrived! The old lady and I have been waiting for you at the door for a long time."

I jumped off the carriage, bowed to the third concubine, and said, "Third Madam, my young master has arrived."

Li Bai alighted from the carriage, carried Pingyang and Boqin down, and quickly walked to his third concubine, bowing respectfully and saying, "Your son-in-law greets Third Mother. How are you, Third Mother?"

The third concubine took Li Bai's hand, looked him up and down carefully, and said, "How have you been, young master? You've aged considerably these past few years since Ziyan left. It must be hard on you taking care of the two children."

"Third Aunt, it was what I should do. I'm truly sorry for not taking good care of you all for Ziyan."

"Don't say that. You and Ziyan have already done so much for my daughter and me. Without you two, I don't know what would have become of us. Let's not talk outside the door, let's go inside."

The third concubine pulled Li Bai toward the palace, while Pingyang and Boqin, following Xiao Hong, had already disappeared without a trace.