I served as Li Bai's page.

As soon as we entered the study, Master Xu came to greet us.

"Master Meng, you've had a long day. Please have a seat. Yuehua, you may sit as well." Master Xu hurriedly offered Meng Haoran a seat and instructed Steward Wu, "Old Wu, go and brew three cups of tea, and also invite Madam over."

"Okay, I'll go right away." Butler Wu said as he walked out of the study.

A short while later, Wu Ma accompanied Madam Xu into the study. I stood up, bowed to Madam Xu, and helped her to sit down. Master Xu introduced her to Madam Xu: "This is Old Wu's friend, the famous poet Meng Haoran. Today, he has come on behalf of Li Bai to propose marriage to my daughter."

Madam Xu stood up, gave a curtsy, and said, "Thank you, Master Meng, for sharing my daughter's burdens."

Meng Haoran stood up and returned the greeting, then took out a brocade box from his person and handed it to Master Xu, saying, "This is a small token of Li Bai's appreciation. He is far from his hometown and living here as a traveler, unable to have the proper betrothal ceremony as others. I hope Master Xu will not mind."

Master Xu accepted the brocade box, opened it, and took out the calligraphy and paintings, placing them flat on the desk. When he read Li Bai's "Ode to the Great Roc," he excitedly exclaimed, "This is far more meaningful than the traditional betrothal ceremony. Based on this ode alone, I entrust my daughter's marriage to him."

Madam Xu also stood up, walked to the table, finished reading the poem, and instructed, "Wu Ma, go and invite Miss over. Master Meng is no outsider; there's no need for him to avoid us."

Wu Ma agreed and walked towards the young lady's boudoir.

Soon, the sound of light footsteps could be heard. Before anyone entered the room, a delicate woman with bound feet stepped through the door. Immediately after her, a girl dressed in silk and satin, with long hair tied in a bow and adorned with a jade hairpin, a graceful figure, a face like a peach blossom, cherry lips, and big eyes, entered with Xiaoqian's help.

At first glance, she really did resemble Zhao Feng. She walked to Madam Xu's side and softly called out, "Mother."

Madam Xu took her hand and said, "Let me introduce you. This is Master Meng, the matchmaker appointed by Young Master Li. This young man is Young Master Li's page, Yuehua." Then she turned to us and said, "This is my daughter, Xu Ziyan."

Xu Ziyan gave Meng Haoran a deep bow and said, "Greetings, Master Meng."

I quickly knelt down before Xu Ziyan and said, "Yuehua greets Miss Xu."

"Get up." Miss Xu said, reaching out to help me up, which startled me so much that I immediately stood up.

Master Xu invited us to sit down. I sat diagonally opposite Miss Xu and observed her out of the corner of my eye. Miss Xu had a noble air about her. She sat upright and looked straight ahead. She had the demeanor of a wealthy young lady from a scholarly family.

Master Xu said to Xu Ziyan, "These are the betrothal gifts from Young Master Li. Come and take a look."

Xu Ziyan stood up and walked to the desk. She stroked the calligraphy with both hands, a smile on her face, and began to read it line by line. After finishing, she rolled up the calligraphy and painting with both hands and said, "Father, since it's for me, I'll keep it safe."

Master Xu said, "Wouldn't it be better to hang it in this study?"

"You should hang it in your study. Later, have him write more for you. I'll keep this one." Xu Ziyan placed the calligraphy and painting into the brocade box, hugged it to her arms, and said, "Father, if there's nothing else, I'm going back to my room."

"Wait a minute, daughter, there's something else I need to discuss with you. Your wedding should be held at the Xu residence, and after the wedding, Young Master Li will stay at our house," said Master Xu.

"Father, how could you do this? Young Master Li is such a generous and forthright person. How could you let him marry into your family? He won't be willing," Xu Ziyan said angrily.

“Daughter, don’t worry. What do you think, Master Meng? My wife and I really can’t bear to send Ziyan to Bashu, which is thousands of miles away. She is our only daughter. Besides, our family is wealthy and we will not mistreat her in terms of money and material things. We have countless books in our collection, which she can use freely,” said Master Xu.

Meng Haoran pondered for a moment and said, "After Madam spoke with him yesterday, he thought of these things and felt very sorry for Miss Xu's long journey. Therefore, he came up with a compromise." After speaking, he took out the painting by Li Bai from his body and handed it to Master Xu.

Master Xu took the drawing, unfolded it, and said, "I will completely satisfy him."

Madam Xu and Xu Ziyan took the drawing and examined it carefully. The mother and daughter hugged each other excitedly and cried: "Daughter, I can see you every day now, my precious darling."

Master Xu immediately instructed, "Steward Wu, come in here for a moment."

"Master, is there anything you need?" Butler Wu walked in.

Master Xu handed the drawing to Steward Wu: "Do you know this place?"

"Yes, we know. We bought that piece of land halfway up Baizhao Mountain."

"Immediately organize people to build a house on this land for the young lady to live in after her marriage."

"Okay, I'll go arrange it right away." After saying that, Butler Wu walked out.

I was surprised by Master Xu's decisiveness, and I knelt down before him with a thud, kowtowing three times: "Thank you, Master Xu, for your understanding of my young master. However, I request that this house be built in my young master's name. Please also consult my young master regarding the layout of the house."

"Get up, Yuehua, from now on we're family. I'll tell everyone this house was built by Li Bai. Go back and tell your young master that as long as my daughter doesn't leave this house, I'll give him whatever he wants," said Master Xu.

"It is already a blessing for my young master to marry Miss Xu. He dares not ask for more. He will definitely treat Miss Xu with respect and grow old together," I said.

Mrs. Xu came over, took my hand, and said, "Look how eloquent this little mouth is! I love it. I feel at ease entrusting my daughter to you."

Meng Haoran said, "Since we've already agreed, let's go back to the Taoist temple and report to Li Bai."

Mrs. Xu said, "You should go back after lunch; it's almost noon."

"No need, things are done. Let's go back early; they might be waiting for us!" Meng Haoran said.

Master Xu said, "Very well, it just depends on when Young Master Li sets the wedding date. Once you've chosen a date, you can move into my house and stay there as soon as the new house is finished."

"I will definitely convey Master Xu's message to Li Bai. We'll take our leave now." Meng Haoran said, standing up. I followed him out, and Master Xu escorted us all the way to the gate.

We boarded a carriage and headed up Baizhao Mountain. When we arrived at the foot of the mountain, as soon as we got off the carriage, we saw Li Bai, Yuan Danqiu, and Cen Xun sitting on a huge rock, looking at us.

"Were the three young masters waiting for us?" Meng Haoran asked.

"We're here to enjoy the scenery and picked you up on the way," Cen Xun said.

From the moment we got off the car, Li Bai remained silent, his gaze constantly shifting between my face and Meng Haoran's.

Yuan Danqiu asked, "Didn't you say Miss Xu was going to the Taoist temple to offer incense today? Why hasn't she arrived yet, it's already noon?"

"So you were waiting for Miss Xu here. Yuehua and I were just being presumptuous." After saying this, Meng Haoran left them and stepped onto the stone path, heading up the mountain.

Li Bai and the other two caught up with him, saying, "We're mainly waiting for you; everyone wants to know what kind of news you'll bring back."

"Of course it's good news! When I, the master, take action, there's no reason for me to return defeated," Meng Haoran said with no small amount of pride.