I served as Li Bai's page.

At noon, Li Bai and I walked down the Yueyang city tower. We strolled slowly along the street and came to the corner where bean curd sheets were sold. Li Bai stopped there.

"Yuehua, go buy a few more servings of bean curd sheets and pack them up to take back to the inn to eat."

"Are you still buying wine?" I asked.

Li Bai was momentarily dazed, then came to his senses and said, "Buy."

We bought wine and bean curd sheets and returned to the inn. Xiao Lin walked over to us and asked, "Yuehua, someone asked if the inscription on Yueyang City Tower: 'Water and sky merge into one color, the wind and moon are boundless,' was written by your young master?"

"It was written by my young master, is there a problem?" I replied.

"Many people love his poems and articles; we often hear people talking about him at our inn. So he is Li Bai." Xiao Lin looked on with admiration.

Li Bai smiled at Xiao Lin and went upstairs. I followed closely behind with the wine and bean curd sheets. We returned to the room, and Li Bai used the bean curd sheets to make liquor.

"Young master, it seems many people enjoy your poetry and writing, but they don't know you in person yet," I said.

"What difference does it make whether I know them or not? Poetry and prose are merely for those with leisure and refined tastes to appreciate. What I desire is to serve the court and achieve great things. How wonderful it would be if I could realize that!" After saying this, Li Bai took a sip of wine, looking completely bewildered.

"There's no rush to achieve great things. As long as your will is strong enough, you will eventually succeed," I comforted Li Bai.

Li Bai and I ate lunch while chatting about trivial things.

"Young Master, when are we going to Jinling? Young Master Meng is still waiting for you there." I suddenly remembered Meng Ning's words and asked casually.

"Let's wait until Young Master Wu's seven-day mourning period is over before we leave. A couple more days won't make a difference," Li Bai said.

Just as Li Bai finished speaking, there was a knock at the door. Xiao Lin called out, "Yuehua, are you there?"

"Yes." I stood up and opened the door. Xiaolin stood outside with a tall guest wearing a blue brocade robe.

"This is Young Master Fan. He's looking for your young master, Li Bai," Xiao Lin introduced.

"Please come in." I made way for Young Master Fan.

Li Bai paused for a moment, then stood up and went to greet him: "Brother Fan, how have you been?"

Young Master Fan circled around Li Bai and said, "They said Li Bai was in Yueyang, and I didn't believe it, but it turns out it's true."

"Brother Fan, it has been several years since we parted ways in Rencheng, Donglu. I never expected to meet you here," Li Bai said.

"A few days ago, some of my friends came to Dongting Lake and saw your calligraphy on the Yueyang City Tower. They told me back at the inn that Li Bai was in Yueyang, but I didn't believe them. Today, I passed by the Yuelai Inn and overheard this waiter talking about you with a guest. I asked him to take me up to see you, and it really is you." After saying this, Young Master Fan hugged Li Bai tightly. The two exchanged pleasantries and sat down.

"Brother Fan, what brings you to Yueyang?" Li Bai asked.

"My uncle came to Yueyang to buy goods, and I happened to have some free time, so I thought I'd take a trip to Dongting Lake. I've been here for almost half a month and was planning to go back tomorrow. Brother Taibai, why have you come to Yueyang again?" Fan Lun said.

"My fellow townsman Wu Zhinan and I came to Dongting Lake for a trip, but I never expected that he would fall ill and die here. I have already buried him by the lake, and after we finish our eastern tour, I will move his grave back to his hometown. We will be leaving in two more days," Li Bai said with a sigh.

"Brother Taibai, we're not far from Mount Lu. Since we're here for sightseeing, why don't we go and see Mount Lu together?" Fan Lun looked at Li Bai with a questioning gaze.

Li Bai was a hospitable person who loved to travel and enjoy nature. He was eager to have both beautiful scenery and good friends wherever he went. The two hit it off immediately and decided that their next stop would be Mount Lu.

As I watched the two of them chatting happily, Li Bai's usual gloomy mood vanished, and my heart finally settled down.

"Young Master, you've been so busy talking that you haven't even asked if Young Master Fan has had lunch yet," I interjected.

"And who is this?" asked Van Lun.

"My pageboy, Yuehua," Li Bai said, then turned to me: "Yuehua, this is my good friend Fan Lun from my time in Donglu."

"Greetings, Young Master Fan," I greeted him.

Fan Lun said, "Brother Taibai, it's quite nice to have a page to keep you company."

"Yuehua, bring another set of bowls and chopsticks. Brother Fan and I will have a couple of drinks," Li Bai said.

I brought out bowls and chopsticks, filled the two gentlemen's cups with wine, and sat down to watch. The two men drank with increasing enthusiasm, continuing until most of the afternoon had passed.

"Brother Fan, why don't you move in with me? We'll go to Mount Lu in a couple of days," Li Bai said to Fan Lun.

"Alright, I'll go back to the inn and tell my uncle, then I'll pack my things and come over." Fan Lun stood up to take his leave, and Li Bai also stood up: "We'll go with you."

Li Bai and I accompanied Fan Lun to his inn. Several carriages, loaded with goods, were parked in the courtyard, and the drivers were inspecting the vehicles and horses. Seeing Fan Lun return, they greeted him, "Greetings, young master."

Just then, a middle-aged man with a protruding belly and a broad smile came out: "Lun'er, where have you been running off to instead of eating lunch?"

Fan Lun stepped forward and said, "Uncle, let me introduce you. This is my good friend Li Bai, the one who helped me out of misfortune when I was studying in Donglu."

Fan Lun's uncle stepped forward, grasped Li Bai's hand, and said, "I've often heard Lun'er talk about you, but seeing is believing; you are indeed exceptionally brave and heroic."

"Uncle, you flatter me. I am just a commoner," Li Bai said modestly.

"I also want to thank you for saving Lun'er from danger that year. A drop of kindness should be repaid with a spring of gratitude. Lun'er, you must remember that," said Fan Lun's uncle.

Fan Lun said, "Of course I'll remember, Uncle. My friend Taibai and I want to go to Mount Lu, so I won't be going back with you tomorrow."

"Alright, you can have Steward Song and the carriage. We'll leave first thing tomorrow morning. When are you leaving?" Fan Lun's uncle asked.

Li Bai said, "We're still two days away. Fan Lun, you can stay at my place tonight. Uncle, you have a long journey ahead tomorrow, so we won't bother you any longer. Please get some rest."

After Fan Lun and Steward Song packed their things, we got into the carriage and returned to the Yue Lai Inn.

The next day was the seventh day after Wu Zhinan's death. I bought some paper money, and Li Bai, along with Fan Lun, and the three of us went to Wu Zhinan's grave. Li Bai burned the paper money while weeping, saying, "Brother, it is I who have wronged you, letting you die far from home. When I return from my travels in the east, I will move your grave so you can return to your roots. Tomorrow we will leave; today we come to say goodbye."

"Young Master, don't be sad. Be careful not to upset yourself." I cried as I tried to comfort Li Bai.

Fan Lun stepped forward and helped Li Bai up, saying, "Brother Taibai, please accept my condolences. It is a blessing from his past life that Young Master Wu could become your brother. He should be happy even in the afterlife because of your high regard for him."

"I'm sorry to him. I brought him out, but I couldn't protect him." Li Bai finished speaking and was overcome with grief again.

We lingered at Wu Zhinan's tomb for a long time. When we left, we went to Xiaolin's house. Xiaolin's father and mother were sitting in the yard. When they saw us, they stood up and came to greet us.

Li Bai stepped forward and took Uncle Lin's hand, saying, "Uncle Lin, thank you so much. My friend was able to rest in peace thanks to you. We'll need your help looking after him from now on. We're leaving tomorrow, and we don't know when we'll be back."

"No trouble at all, Young Master Li. You can go with peace of mind. I will take good care of you," Uncle Lin said.

I took out twenty taels of silver notes from my pocket and stuffed them into Uncle Lin's pocket.