I served as Li Bai's page.

After resting for a night at the inn, Wu Zhinan's illness improved considerably. After breakfast, I gave him another bowl of medicine, hoping that he would recover by the time we reached Chongqing.

The three of us left the inn and rode at full speed, arriving outside Yuzhou City by evening. We stopped our horses and stood outside the moat, gazing at the city. The mountains were high and the valleys deep, and from the foot of the mountains to the summit, countless lights twinkled, layer upon layer, from near to far, like gazing at the stars in the sky. The Jialing River flowed around the city, forming a natural moat.

"Young master, let's hurry into the city. It's getting dark, and the city gates will be closing soon," I reminded Li Bai.

"Alright, let's go into the city and find an inn to stay in." With that, he led me and Wu Zhinan toward the city gate. In the evening, there were many pedestrians coming and going in Yuzhou City. As the end of the year was approaching, the small vendors' businesses were booming, and shouts and calls for sale rose and fell.

We climbed the hill and slope along the street and came to an inn. The waiter hurriedly came out to greet us, "Sir, would you like to stay here? How many people are in your party?"

"There are just the three of us, so we need three superior rooms," I said.

The waiter took the reins from the three horses and headed towards the backyard: "Wait here for me, I'll lead the horses to the stables first. The accommodations are upstairs."

We entered the inn and walked around the screen to see a small hill behind it. After being artificially restored, it had taken on an artistic form. We climbed up the steps on both sides of the hill to reach our accommodation at the top.

The waiter led us up the mountain, told us we could boil water and have meals there, then handed us the keys to three rooms before hurrying down the mountain.

There are about twenty rooms on the mountain, and they are all occupied. Our three rooms face east, and we can see the Jialing River in the distance when we open the windows. It is indeed an ideal location for staying at the inn, and Li Bai and Wu Zhinan are quite satisfied.

After putting my luggage away, I left my room and headed towards the kitchen. An elderly woman and a young man were cooking.

"Grandpa, when can we eat?" I asked.

"Almost done, we can eat after this pot of vegetables is cooked." The old woman tended the fire while the young man cooked, just like a harmonious family.

When the food was served, the young man shouted, "Dinner's ready!" The guests came out of their rooms, and the young man served each guest their food, which they could then eat as they pleased.

I found a plate and carried the food for the three of us to a dining table in the restaurant. "Young Master, you two have come out to eat," I called out.

Li Bai and Wu Zhinan arrived at the restaurant, each carrying a jug of wine. Just then, a young man approached, carrying a plate of roasted peanuts, and placed it on our table, saying, "Peanuts are a wonderful accompaniment to wine."

Li Bai said, "Young brother, come and have a couple of drinks."

"No, I haven't finished my work yet. Please enjoy your meal." With that, the young man headed towards the kitchen.

Li Bai and Wu Zhinan sipped their drinks slowly over peanuts, finishing their dinner at around 8 p.m.

After we returned to our room, Li Bai and Wu Zhinan discussed the matter of visiting Li Yong the next day, and then Li Bai told Wu Zhinan to go back to his room to rest.

Li Bai opened the window and gazed at the winding, receding Jialing River, a hint of bewilderment in his eyes.

"Young Master, aren't you very confident?" I asked.

"We don't know much about Lord Li Yong's character, and besides, he is the son of Li Shan, an outstanding commentator on classical Chinese texts in the current dynasty. This man is not easy to approach," Li Bai said.

"I've heard that his running script surpasses that of the ancients. Why don't you try to please him? When I was in Chengdu, I had a copy of your running script version of 'Ode to the Great Roc' mounted and made. I have it with me. Why don't you present this ode to him and see how he reacts?" I suggested.

"Yuehua's idea is very thoughtful. We'll do as you say." Li Bai finished speaking and closed the window: "Go to sleep, I'm going to rest too."

The next day, after we got up and washed up, the three of us prepared to go to the Yuzhou government office to pay our respects to Lord Li Yong. I specially asked Li Bai to wear a white silk robe with embroidery, a blue belt with a piece of mutton-fat jade hanging from it, and a white ribbon tied in his hair. He looked dashing and debonair.

The three of us arrived at the Yuzhou Prefectural Government Office, where yamen runners were on duty at the entrance. I approached one of them and said, "Brother, could you please inform Lord Li that Li Bai, a resident of Qinglian Town, Changlong County, Western Shu, requests an audience?"

"Alright, please wait a moment." After saying this, the yamen runner walked into the mansion.

We waited a while, and then a constable came out and said, "Lord Li requests your presence; please follow me."

We followed the constables to the main hall of the government office, where we saw Li Yong sitting and reviewing documents. Li Bai stepped forward and said, "Li Bai, a resident of Qinglian Town, greets Lord Li."

Li Yong glanced up at Li Bai, then buried his head back in the documents, saying as he read, "Young man, what business do you have with me?"

"I admire your skill in running script, sir. I have written a piece of 'Ode to the Great Roc' in running script. I am passing through Yuzhou and have come here to pay you a visit. I hope you can give me some pointers." Li Bai said as he presented his running script "Ode to the Great Roc".

The bailiff placed the "Ode to the Great Roc" in front of Li Yong, but Li Yong only glanced at it before setting it aside and continuing to read his documents.

Seeing that Li Yong was ignoring him, Li Bai immediately launched into a long-winded account of his lineage as a descendant of the Martial King of Western Liang, sharing the same kinship with the royal family. He boasted of his extensive reading from a young age, writing poetry at six and composing prose at fourteen, his literary fame spreading throughout Sichuan and Chongqing. Had it not been for the restriction imposed by his royal lineage, preventing him from participating in the imperial examinations, he would likely have already achieved top honors.

Li Yong looked up at Li Bai: "Young man, could you please be a little more humble?"

Li Bai replied: "When it's time for a person to express themselves, they should speak freely. Why be bound by etiquette? Officials should not only be loyal to the court, but also share its burdens and solve its problems. At present, His Majesty is opening up channels for communication and recruiting talented people. We ambitious people should do our best for the court."

Li Yong said, "You are not the only capable and exceptional person who can serve the court. Please return."

Li Bai was furious. He glanced at Li Yong with disdain and then turned and left. Wu Zhinan and I followed Li Bai out of the government office gate.

We strolled around the streets of Yuzhou City for a while before returning to the inn.

"Yuehua, bring me a pen," Li Bai called out.

I quickly handed the pen to Li Bai, who flicked his wrist, and a poem titled "To Li Yong" appeared before me:

"The roc rises with the wind, soaring ninety thousand miles high. Even when the wind ceases and it descends, it can still stir up the vast ocean. People always see me as unconventional, and laugh coldly at my grand pronouncements. Even Confucius feared the younger generation; a man should not underestimate the young."

Li Bai carefully folded the poem he had written and handed it to me, saying, "Go and present this poem to Lord Li."

"Young Master, won't writing it this way offend Lord Li?" I asked.

"Whatever he thinks, he barely acknowledges us. It's absurd for me to consider his feelings."