I served as Li Bai's page.

After bidding farewell to Master Xu, Steward Wu instructed the Xu family's carriage to take us back to the Bai Zhaoshan Taoist Temple. After the carriage arrived at the foot of the mountain, we walked up the mountain along the stone path.

"Master Qinglian, what kind of calligraphy do you plan to write so I can take it to propose marriage to you?" Meng Haoran asked.

"I haven't thought it through yet. Now that I think about it, something seems off about the question Madam Xu asked me." Li Bai stopped walking and pretended to be deep in thought.

"Tell me about it, and I'll analyze it for you." Meng Haoran also stopped.

Knowing how it would end, I ignored them and continued walking upwards.

"Yuehua, wait, can you help me analyze this too?" Li Bai called out.

I stopped and waited for them to walk up to me before saying, "What's there to analyze? The conclusion is right in front of you, young master."

"Then you speak," Li Bai said.

"You see, the young master is far from his parents. There's no parental consent, only an arranged marriage. We can arrange that; Mr. Meng will go to propose tomorrow. After the proposal, where should we take Miss Xu? Longxi Courtyard is thousands of miles away, and Madam Xu won't allow Miss Xu to go with us. So, we'll have to have the young master live at the Xu family home. Every problem Mr. Xu and Madam Xu raises points to this."

"Impossible, I would never marry into the Li family, and besides, our Li family wouldn't allow it," Li Bai said.

"Young Master, given our current situation, marrying Miss Xu is the best course of action. First, didn't you hear Master Xu say they're not short of money? After the marriage, you won't be. Second, the Xu family is very powerful and has many connections in officialdom, which can pave the way for your career advancement. Third, I secretly peeked at Miss Xu; her long, flowing hair looks a bit like Zhao Feng's. I'll draw it for you when we get back."

Meng Haoran listened to my logical analysis and kept saying, "That makes sense."

Actually, Meng Haoran didn't know that we were out of money.

Li Bai fell into deep thought, burying his head as he walked up the mountain.

When we returned to the Taoist temple, Master Ziyang, Yuan Danqiu, and Cen Xun all came out to greet us. Seeing Li Bai's silent demeanor, they assumed he hadn't been chosen and comforted him, saying, "There are plenty of fish in the sea. You're still young; you'll have plenty of opportunities in the future."

Meng Haoran said, "Let's go inside and talk."

We went inside, and Meng Haoran explained the general situation. Master Ziyang said, "That's easy. If you don't want to live in the Xu family's house, you can learn from Tao Yuanming: 'Picking chrysanthemums by the eastern fence, I leisurely gaze at the southern mountains.' What's wrong with that? You can build a thatched hut in Baizhao Mountain, which will be enough for you to settle down."

Upon hearing this, Li Bai's mood immediately improved.

Everyone thought it was a good idea. It would free them from the Xu family's constraints, allow them to cultivate in seclusion on Baizhao Mountain, and provide them with beautiful companions.

Meng Haoran said, "I'll go propose marriage tomorrow. If Master Xu brings up the matter of me marrying into his family, I'll say this. What do you all think?"

"Of course, that's the best way," said Master Ziyang.

After everyone finished discussing, Li Bai said, "Let's go explore Bai Zhao Mountain and see where there's a Feng Shui treasure land. Old Taoist priest, you'd better keep an eye on things with me."

To match Li Bai's mood, everyone stood up and followed him out of the Taoist temple.

Master Ziyang called out, "Yuehua, come with us."

At this moment, Xuanmeng came out and said, "Go down from here, walk along the stone path to the right, pass a pond, and there's a depression in the hills, surrounded by mountains on three sides. A couple of years ago, a farmer wanted to build a house there and renovated it. Later, I heard that the family's son passed the imperial examination and moved to his place, so this place was abandoned. This location is quite suitable for building a house."

"Let's go take a look here," said Master Ziyang, leading everyone straight down the mountain.

We arrived at this plot of land, nestled halfway up Baizhao Mountain, surrounded by mountains on three sides shrouded in mist, resembling a fairyland. A country road wound around a pond and led down to the main road at the foot of the mountain.

Li Bai fell in love with this place at first sight, and Master Ziyang also said, "It is truly a blessed land on earth."

"This place is better than living in the grand mansion of the Xu family," Li Bai said.

After surveying the land, they returned to the Taoist temple. Li Bai sketched the plot of land he had just seen, adding two thatched huts. He folded the drawing and handed it to Meng Haoran, saying, "Master Xu mentioned the matter of marrying into the family; give this to him."

Meng Haoran said, "Why don't you paint or write something else?"

"No need, this is enough to express my feelings. This is a decision I made after careful consideration," Li Bai said.

Meng Haoran held Li Bai's painting, looking at it again and again, unable to bring himself to put it away. I quietly approached him, handed him a brocade box over a foot long, and whispered, "This is the betrothal gift."

Meng Haoran opened the brocade box, and a framed copy of Li Bai's "Ode to Dapeng" was revealed.

Master Ziyang, Yuan Danqiu, and Cen Xun also came over. Everyone was full of praise when they saw Li Bai's poem and calligraphy.

"This is more than enough as a betrothal gift. With just this poem, the Xu family will be remembered for eternity along with the Qinglian Hermit," said Master Ziyang.

Li Bai walked over and, seeing everyone staring at the calligraphy, said, "This is my ideal, but I wonder when it will be realized?"

"Haste makes waste. Don't be impatient for success in everything. Just like when we seek immortality and visit the Dao, we must persevere in order to achieve our ultimate goal. This is the same principle." Master Ziyang then instructed Li Bai.

The next day, Meng Haoran brought calligraphy and paintings, and asked me to go with him to the Xu residence. Li Bai chased after them, shouting, "Yuehua, where's your painting? Give it to me quickly!"

I suddenly remembered that I said I would paint a portrait of Miss Xu for him yesterday, but I forgot.

"Let's paint it after I get back from the Xu residence," I said.

"No, I need to see her first. I'll only get to know her when she comes to the Taoist temple to offer incense," Li Bai said.

"Young Master, so you knew everything. I'll draw it for you right away." I went back into the house, took out a pen, and drew a quick sketch of Miss Xu, then handed it to Li Bai:

"Young master, you'd better be strategic and not scare her," I said.

"Do you need to teach me this? You're still so young. Go and come back quickly." Li Bai shooed me out of the house and began to examine the portrait carefully.

Meng Haoran and I arrived at the foot of the mountain and boarded the carriage that Master Ziyang had parked there, heading towards the Xu residence.

"Mr. Meng, I'm very nervous and afraid of making a mistake," I said to Meng Haoran.

"This is the first time I've ever done something like this; it's much harder than writing poetry. Good luck to your young master!"

"come on!"

When we arrived at the Xu residence, Steward Wu was already waiting at the entrance: "You've arrived! My master has been waiting for you for quite some time." After saying that, he led us directly into the study in the inner courtyard.

This was the first time I'd ever seen such a large study. Two spacious and bright rooms, with neatly arranged bookshelves piled high with all sorts of books. The walls were adorned with countless calligraphy and paintings by renowned artists. Several large desks were placed against the windows, each with various pen holders filled with brushes, and paper, ink, and inkstones neatly arranged on the desks. A large chair sat in front of each desk, ready for anyone to sit down. It truly was the work of a scholarly family; I was dazzled by the sight.