I served as Li Bai's page.

The next morning, after breakfast, Uncle Lu urged, "We've packed our things, we're leaving. There aren't enough men in the family, I have to go back."

"Uncle Lu, let Ziyi stay," I said.

"No, I'm getting older, and Ziyi needs to learn how to manage the household. Right now, Miss Yueyuan is still handling some of the family businesses, and it's not always convenient for a young lady to go out. Ziyi needs to help her." After saying this, Uncle Lu took a stack of silver notes from his inner robe and placed them in my hand: "Keep this money safe. Be careful and cautious when you're out and about, and more importantly, take good care of the young master and yourself, and don't get sick."

"Uncle Lu, we don't lack money. We'll find a way to use it ourselves. You can take it back." I pushed Uncle Lu's hand back.

The woman in purple approached: "Here you go, Yuehua. Young Master never carries money. You need to stay with him at all times, lest you drink and then be unable to pay for your drinks—that would be incredibly embarrassing."

With tears in my eyes, I accepted the silver note from Uncle Lu and put it in my inner pocket. To be honest, Wu Zhinan's death had cost a fortune, and we didn't have much money left.

I went outside the inn and rented two carriages. Li Bai and I accompanied Uncle Lu and the others to the Qinhuai River dock, where we found the boat that had brought them there. I took out my money to pay the fare, but Uncle Lu said, "We agreed on this before we came: we'll pay half now and the other half when we get back. You don't need to worry about it. Just take good care of the young master."

"Don't worry, Uncle Lu, I will take good care of the young master. Tell your family not to worry. I will urge the young master to send messages home more often."

From the moment Li Bai stepped off the carriage, he held the purple-clad woman's hand tightly, unwilling to let go, and even joked, "This is how I led you out of Qinglian Town."

Uncle Lu and the others boarded the boat, and the boatman hoisted the sail and headed towards the outer section of the Qinhuai River. Li Bai and I waved until the boat was out of sight. We stood at the Qinhuai River dock, gazing at the river for a long time.

"Young Master, let's go back. They've already gone far away," I said, tugging at Li Bai's clothes.

"Alright, let's go back to Wuyi Lane." The moment Li Bai turned around, I saw tears welling up in his eyes.

Li Bai and I returned to the inn, deciding not to go out again for the day. Li Bai sat on the veranda reading a book, while I took out paper and pen to practice my calligraphy.

As evening approached, Young Master Wang arrived. Upon entering, he said, "Brother Taibai, let's go for a drink. I've invited several friends from Jinling; they are all your followers."

Li Bai said, "Brother Wang, you flatter me. We should be learning from each other."

Li Bai stood up, straightened his clothes, and walked downstairs with Wang An.

I called out loudly, "Young Master Wang, is it the same place as yesterday?"

"We're going somewhere different today, to the Moonlit Dream Boat Inn, right on the Qinhuai River below the restaurant. Aren't you coming with us?" Wang An asked.

"You all go ahead, I'll come back to pick up my young master in a bit."

"Alright then, we're leaving."

Li Bai and Wang An went downstairs and walked towards Huaiqing Bridge.

I had dinner at the inn, and with nothing to do, I went out of Wuyi Lane and sat on Huaiqing Bridge.

The Qinhuai River comes alive again at night. Looking at the countless boats on both banks and the passengers coming and going, it suddenly feels like no matter the dynasty or era, the most lively place is the brothel.

I walked down Huaiqing Bridge and came to the Qinhuai River in front of the restaurant, where an elegantly decorated and spacious passenger boat was moored. Two servants stood on the gangplank, preventing guests from entering. A sail was raised in the center of the boat, with the words: "Moonlight in the Mist" written on it.

I walked toward the passenger ship, where a male and female duet, "Yushu Hou Ting Hua," was being sung.

As I stepped onto the gangplank, a servant approached me: "I'm sorry, sir, our boat is booked by a private client today and is not open to the public."

"I am a guest of the young master who chartered the boat. Please go and inform him that Yuehua has arrived."

The attendant hurried inside the boat and returned shortly after: "Young Master Wang invites you in."

I entered the cabin, where a dozen or so young men, each accompanied by a young woman, were all drunk and dazed. Li Bai sat on a chair by the gunwale, gazing at the Qinhuai River, while Yunxia held up a wine vessel to pour him wine.

I went to Li Bai's side and said, "Young Master, you haven't had too much to drink, have you?"

"It's nothing, why didn't you come sooner?" Li Bai glared at me angrily.

Wang An walked up to us and said, "Brother Taibai, these brothers really like your poems and essays. Please recite one for them."

Li Bai looked at Wang An with some reluctance. I read indifference in Li Bai's eyes, so I made an excuse and said, "My young master has had too much to drink today. Let me perform a song for everyone."

With a flourish of my long sleeves, I took the pipa from Yunxia's hands and sang: "Mist shrouds the cold waters, moonlight veils the sand, I moor my boat on the Qinhuai River near a wine shop. The courtesan, oblivious to the sorrow of a fallen nation, still sings 'The Flowers of the Rear Courtyard' across the river."

Li Bai stood up and said, "Wonderful! Wonderful! What a beautiful poem, 'Mooring at Qinhuai at Night'!"

A dozen or so young men stood up, gazing at me with rapt attention. One of them exclaimed, "Such a handsome young man! So delicate and petite, like a woman, especially with skin so fair and rosy, so smooth and dewy, as if it could be broken with a breath!" As he spoke, this young man approached and reached out to touch my face. Li Bai and Wang An simultaneously shouted, "How rude!"

I took a step back, used my pipa as a sword, and spun out. The young master was immediately thrown to the ground.

Li Bai came up to me and reached out to shield me behind him.

Wang An helped the young man up and said, "How can you be so rude? You're a disgrace to scholars. You don't need to come to my gatherings anymore." After saying that, he ordered someone to escort him off the passenger ship.

Wang An turned to Li Bai and said, "Brother Taibai, I'm sorry, that brother was also drunk and couldn't control himself. Brother Yuehua was frightened."

Li Bai said, "Young Master Wang, this isn't entirely your fault; there are good and bad scholars among the general population. It's getting late, let's stop drinking here for today, I'm going back."

After Li Bai finished speaking, he cupped his hands in a fist salute and said to the gentlemen, "I've spoiled your fun. I'll take my leave now." Then he pulled me towards the shore, and the gentlemen saw me off.

Shortly after we landed, I asked Li Bai curiously, "How did you know that poem was called 'Night Mooring at Qinhuai'?"

"Didn't you mention mooring at night on the Qinhuai River in your poem? Is there anything more fitting?"

"I didn't write it; I was just singing someone else's song. That person had the same thoughts as you; no wonder they could both become great poets."

"No matter what kind of poet you are, you can't be so reckless in the future. I'll just deal with it casually, don't try to be brave. What will I do if something happens to you?" Li Bai said anxiously, looking at me.

"Then you're not allowed to attend these low-quality gatherings anymore. Look at the kind of people there are, each with a prostitute. They don't look like scholars at all." I said angrily and strode away.

Li Bai caught up with me and tried to grab my hand, but I shook him off. "Oh, you're angry now? No wonder they mistook you for a woman dressed as a man. The way you look when you're angry, you really do look like a girl."

"Young master, you mustn't talk nonsense. I'm just a little petite." After saying that, I strode towards the inn.