I served as Li Bai's page.

As it was getting dark, the waiter finally led Wang An to knock on the door.

"Young master, someone is knocking on the door," I shouted to Li Bai.

Li Bai took three steps at a time and rushed to the door. He opened the door, and Wang An was standing there unobstructed.

"Brother Taibai, I'm late. I'll punish myself with three cups later," Wang An said.

"Brother Wang has other matters to attend to, so please don't take the drinking too seriously. There will be time later," Li Bai said modestly.

"There's nothing important, it's just that I've been studying abroad for over a year and haven't been home. As soon as I got home, my mother kept asking me all sorts of questions, which took up a lot of time," Wang An explained.

Upon hearing Wang An's words, I immediately stood up and walked over to them, saying, "We always eat simple meals on the ship; today we must have a good meal. Young Master Wang, let's go eat."

I reached out to pull Li Bai, and he awkwardly handed me his hand. I knew that after hearing Wang An's words, he must have thought of his mother, the Longxi Courtyard, and the full moon.

I took Li Bai's hand and followed behind Wang An to the Qinhuai River.

The Qin River, stretching for ten miles, shyly unveiled its beauty in the hazy night. The colorful painted boats on both banks of the river appeared elusive under the dim lights. The songs of courtesans, the cheers of high-ranking officials and young nobles, and the laughter of young men rose and fell in waves.

Wang An led us to a restaurant near Huaiqing Bridge on the south bank of the Qinhuai River. As soon as Wang An entered, the manager immediately came out to greet him.

"Young Master Wang, it's been a long time. Are you still sitting in your usual spot upstairs?"

"Sit in your usual spot. Are Young Master Xie and the others still coming to the restaurant for drinks?" Wang An asked the manager.

As the innkeeper led us upstairs, he answered Wang Andao:

"Young Master Xie and his companions come here often. Yesterday they even brought Miss Yunxia along, and they didn't leave until midnight."

The innkeeper led us to a private room on the second floor by the window. The room was decorated with exceptional elegance and luxury, featuring floor-length curtains, several pots of blooming jasmine flowers arranged on flower stands in front of the window, a large round mahogany table with matching mahogany chairs, and a brocade tablecloth. Next to it, there was a large chaise lounge against the wall for temporary rest. Especially from the window, the view was of the most bustling area of ​​the Qinhuai River.

"Young Master Wang, there's no need for such extravagance, just the three of us," I said to Wang An after looking around the room.

"No need for extravagance. This is the proper way to welcome Brother Taibai. If any of your friends come to the restaurant later, I'll ask them to join you for drinks."

As we were talking, the hotel waiter brought us the dishes and wine. At that moment, a tall, beautiful young woman walked in. She filled the three of our glasses with wine and then sat down beside Si.

I tugged at Li Bai's sleeve and quietly asked, "Were there female shop assistants in the Tang Dynasty?"

Li Bai looked at me with a puzzled expression and said, "Is it strange? It's common for women to accompany guests at banquets hosted by princes and nobles."

I said "Oh," realizing that things are the same now as they were in the past.

Wang An raised his wine cup and said, "Brother Taibai, it is an honor for me to know you. Let's drink to that!"

Wang An and Li Bai toasted each other, drinking several cups in a row. After my first cup, I stopped drinking and focused on eating. The seven days' worth of coarse rations on the ship had really made me craving food.

"Brother Wang, why didn't you say you were coming back? We didn't even know you were here until the shopkeeper told us downstairs." Suddenly, several dashing young men walked in through the door.

Wang An stood up, and Li Bai and I stood up out of politeness as well.

"Brothers, let me introduce you. This is Li Bai, whom you have all admired for so long," Wang An said loudly.

The young gentlemen exclaimed in unison, "Brother Li Bai is indeed a man of poetry, with extraordinary character and appearance!"

"My esteemed friends flatter me. I am merely an ordinary, worldly person," Li Bai said.

Wang An introduced his friends to Li Bai one by one. They all sat down around the table. One of the young men called to the waiter, "Go and invite Miss Yunxia."

After everyone toasted each other a couple of times, a slender and graceful young woman wearing a veil and a silk dress walked in carrying a pipa, followed by a maid carrying a guzheng.

She entered the room and curtsied to the young men present.

Wang An stood up and walked over, taking Yunxia's hand and saying, "Miss Yun, how have you been?"

"Thanks to your great fortune, young master, I am well." Yunxia's words were like a gentle stream, melodious and graceful. Not to mention the young men present, even I, a woman, felt my whole body go weak from listening to her.

Wang An led Yunxia to Li Bai and introduced her, saying, "This is Li Bai, the author of 'The Moon over Mount Emei,' which you like to sing."

Yunxia raised her head, looked at Li Bai through her veil, bowed deeply, and said, "Young master, your talent is extraordinary. Your poems have enabled me to earn a living on the banks of the Qinhuai River. I am deeply grateful."

Li Bai stood up and said, "I am deeply honored by your kindness, young lady, but I am unworthy of it."

After everyone exchanged pleasantries, Yunxia sat down on a stool, stroked her pipa, and gently opened her lips to sing a melodious tune, "Song of the Moon over Mount Emei."

Li Bai was amazed that his poem sounded so beautiful when sung in the tune, so he picked up his wine cup and drank it all in one gulp.

Yunxia first played the pipa and then the guzheng, her singing melodious and rhythmic. The young men were drunk and their eyes were glazed over.

After a hearty meal and drinks, Wang An, slightly drunk, stood up and announced, "This concludes our first round of drinking to welcome Li Bai. We'll reschedule the second round for another day."

I helped Li Bai up and headed towards the door. Yunxia caught up and said, "It's late and the dew is heavy. Let me take Young Master Li home in my carriage."

I glanced at Yunxia, ​​then at Wang An's dazed look behind her, and said, "No need, Miss Yun, thank you. Li Bai and I would like to see the night view of the Qinhuai River. Please escort Young Master Wang out of the restaurant." With that, I helped Li Bai out of the restaurant.

It was midnight, and a full moon hung high over the Qinhuai River, its tranquility concealing a hidden clamor. Li Bai and I walked on the Huaiqing Bridge back to Wuyi Lane, and a gust of river wind made Li Bai shiver.

"Young Master, are you cold?" I asked worriedly.

"After drinking too much, the wind does make me feel a bit chilly." Li Bai crossed his arms in front of his chest.

"Then hold me tight; it might be warmer if we're close together." Under the moonlight, Li Bai would never have guessed my shyness.

Li Bai reached out his right hand and placed it on my shoulder, pulling me tightly into his embrace.

"Moonlight, how round the moon is tonight! It's been so long since I've seen the moon like this." Standing on Huaiqing Bridge, Li Bai raised his head and looked up at the starry sky. A full moon was shining evenly on him, illuminating his sorrowful face.

"Young Master, what's wrong? Are you unhappy?" I asked.

Li Bai shook his head and said, "It's nothing. Seeing the moon just reminded me of a full moon."