I served as Li Bai's page.

Li Bai and I left Qingcheng Mountain a day earlier than Zhao Rui and the others.

The next morning, we got up early, had breakfast, and then bid farewell to Zhao Rui and the others. We walked along the East Rock Cave to the Jade Maiden Cave. Li Bai remained silent for a long time, then turned back again and again as he walked down the rugged mountain. The journey was arduous and difficult. Qingcheng Mountain was in ruins after the disaster, and everyone in the various caves was busy rebuilding. We reached the foot of the mountain, led out our horses, and galloped towards Chengdu.

We arrived at the inn early, and Wu Zhinan was reading in his room.

Li Bai entered without a word, went to the bed, and fell asleep immediately. Wu Zhinan looked at me, puzzled.

"Yuehua, what's wrong?"

I gave him a wink, then led Wu Zhinan out of Li Bai's room and into the corridor.

"Young Master's junior sister died in the earthquake; she was his beloved. Do you think he's heartbroken?"

"Is she Zhao Rui's master's daughter? How did she die?"

"Yes, the Jade Maiden Cave collapsed during the earthquake, burying me inside."

"I was wondering why Master Zhao Rui didn't come back with us. Turns out something terrible happened. It's a natural disaster; there's nothing we can do about it."

After speaking with Wu Zhinan, we each returned to our rooms. Lying in bed, I intended to rest for a while, but I couldn't fall asleep. I thought about Li Bai, China's greatest romantic poet, and how difficult his life was; how deep the pain was hidden behind his romanticism. I stood up, took out a collection of Li Bai's poems from my backpack, and began to read them earnestly. His youthful innocence and erudition, as well as his early youthful wisdom and aspirations, were vividly portrayed. However, after this blow, his poetic style would become even more profound.

"Yuehua, is your young master with you?" Wu Zhinan's knocking came from outside.

"No, isn't he sleeping in his room?"

"I went to call him for dinner, but no one was in his room."

I left my room and went with Wu Zhinan to Li Bai's room. I saw the blankets on the bed piled up haphazardly, and Li Bai's sword was on the table. I touched the blankets; they were completely cold.

"He's been gone for a while now. Let's go look for him," I said to Wu Zhinan.

We went downstairs to the counter. "Boss, did the customer who was with me go out?" I asked.

"You're talking about Li Bai, right? He's been gone for a while. I asked him where he was going, and he said he was going to drink."

Wu Zhinan and I rushed to the Fuchun Winery next door. The Fuchun Winery was extremely busy at noon; every corner and every private room was full of people, and a play was being performed on the stage. Wu Zhinan and I split up and searched every private room and every table, but we couldn't find Li Bai.

I found the shopkeeper and asked, "Boss, has Li Bai come for a drink?"

"He's here. He's already left, but he took two jugs of wine with him," the shopkeeper replied.

Did he say where he was going?

"No, oh, he hasn't paid for his drinks yet?"

I took out my money, paid the bill, and then left the hotel with Wu Zhinan.

Wu Zhinan said, "Let's split up and search. You go to the Hejiang Pavilion area, and I'll search from this side." After saying that, we parted ways.

I followed the alley to Hejiang Pavilion, and searched around Hejiang Pavilion and the Prince's Mansion. I wandered through the streets and alleys of Chengdu Prefecture from noon until evening, but I still couldn't find Li Bai. After searching for most of the day, I was too tired, so I headed towards the inn.

As we approached the inn, we saw Wu Zhinan looking around at the entrance. Upon seeing me, he asked, "Have you found your young master?"

"No. You probably haven't either, you don't know where he went," I replied. "It's getting dark, what if he's passed out drunk by the roadside?" As I spoke, tears welled up in my eyes. I sat on the steps outside the inn, sobbing softly. Wu Zhinan was terrified and quickly grabbed my hand, saying, "Don't cry, maybe he'll be back soon."

I shook off his hand and said, "I'm fine. You should go upstairs and rest. You must be tired after searching all day. I'll sit here for a while."

"If you don't go up, I won't go up either. I'll stay with you," Wu Zhinan said, sitting down on the steps.

We don't know how long we sat on the steps.

The late autumn night was bitterly cold. Even the vendors in the alley couldn't withstand the heavy autumn dew and packed up to go home, making the alley quiet for a moment. My worries grew stronger, and I stood up and walked towards the alley entrance. Wu Zhinan stood up and followed me.

When we reached the alley entrance, we saw a horse-drawn carriage approaching from afar.

The carriage stopped in front of us, and Miss Panpan stepped down and came to us: "I was singing on a painted boat by the Huanhua Stream when I saw your young master lying drunk by the stream. I brought him back with me on my way to the city."

I walked to the carriage and lifted the curtain. I saw the young master sitting weakly inside, wearing an embroidered brocade cloak. I wanted to help him down, but Panpan said, "No rush. I'll take him to the inn. It's windy tonight; he shouldn't catch a cold."

"Thank you, Miss. We've taken up your time." After saying that, Wu Zhinan and I followed the carriage back to the inn. Wu Zhinan helped Li Bai out of the carriage, and we each helped Li Bai into the inn. Miss Panpan also followed us in.

"Miss, please come upstairs and have a seat," I said.

"Alright, help him upstairs, and then go and make him some hangover soup," Panpan said.

Wu Zhinan and I helped Li Bai walk ahead, and Miss Panpan followed us upstairs to Li Bai's room. After putting Li Bai on the bed, I went downstairs to prepare a hangover soup.

When I brought the soup back to the room, I saw Wu Zhinan standing by the window, and Panpan was covering Li Bai with a blanket. I brought the soup into the room, and Panpan helped Li Bai up and leaned him on her shoulder. She then took the soup bowl and began to feed him.

"Miss Panpan, let me take over." I wanted to take Li Bai's hand.

"No need, I'll do it. You're all clumsy; you won't spill the soup on yourselves."

After drinking the hangover soup, Li Bai lay back down, and in his drowsy state, he grabbed Panpan's dress and called out, "Xiao Feng, I'll take you back to Longxi Courtyard."

I quickly grasped Li Bai's hand and said to Panpan, "Young Master, you've mistaken me for someone else. I'm sorry."

"It's alright. Your young master must have lost someone important to him, otherwise he wouldn't be so heartbroken."

"His junior sister died in the earthquake."

"That's right. He's a man of great loyalty and affection. Please take good care of him. I'm leaving now. When your young master is feeling down or troubled, accompany him to the Panpan Painted Boat by the Huanhua Stream to listen to music and ease his longing."

"Thank you, Miss Panpan. We'll definitely come when we have time." After I finished speaking, Miss Panpan walked towards the door.

I helped Panpan onto the carriage and took out some silver to give her, but she refused.

"It's fate that I met your young master. If I hadn't met him at the restaurant that day, I wouldn't have helped you today. Go back now and take good care of your young master." After saying that, Panpan got into the carriage and left.

I returned to Li Bai's room, where Wu Zhinan was still standing by the window: "Young Master Wu, go and rest. I'll take care of things here."

"I'll stay with you."

"No need, I'm relieved as long as he's back."

"Okay, I'm going to rest now."