I served as Li Bai's page.

When Meng Haoran and I returned to the Xu residence, it was bustling with activity. Although only close relatives and neighbors had been invited, Master Xu still counted more than ten tables of people. The front courtyard and main hall of the Xu residence were filled with tables, and many people were helping out. Steward Wu and Granny Wu were in charge, while Steward Wu had sent Wu Chao to Baizhao Mountain. Therefore, he was one less helper and seemed even busier.

I brought Meng Haoran to Master Xu, who greeted him, "Master Meng, we've arrived. I'm entrusting you with my daughter's marriage."

"Don't mention it. I don't know anything about organizing weddings. Just tell me what you need me to do, and I'll do it." Meng Haoran said.

"Nothing else. I've invited a senior member of the Xu family who frequently officiates weddings to officiate my daughter's ceremony. We'll just follow his instructions."

"Master, have you told the officiant about the wedding route and the location for the ceremony?" I asked.

"I already said that Li Bai's house is under construction, and the new house is temporarily being furnished at the Xu family's residence."

"Thank you, sir, for giving my young master face."

"We're all family, no need for formalities. Please take Master Meng to rest."

I led Meng Haoran to the inner courtyard and saw that the new house was the same room Xu Ziyan currently lived in, decorated with paper-cut window decorations and the character for "double happiness," red curtains, red quilts, and even the chairs were covered in red. Xiaoqian was moving in with me. Xu Ziyan was confined to her room.

Xiaoqian said, "Until the wedding tomorrow, the madam forbids the young lady from seeing the groom, saying it's the rule."

"Where is the son-in-law?" I didn't see Li Bai in the courtyard or the study.

"The son-in-law was sitting on the swing in the small garden, deep in thought."

Meng Haoran and I arrived at the small garden, and Li Bai stood up from the swing:

"Master Meng, you've come! This matter has truly troubled you greatly."

"Don't be so polite with me. What's wrong? You seem a bit down."

"It's nothing. As Yuehua said, the arrow is on the bowstring, and there's no choice but to release it. Actually, what I want most is to marry Ziyan and bring her back to Longxi Courtyard."

"Don't think about it anymore, brother. Anlu is not bad either. You can bring your wife to my Lumen Mountain to live in seclusion someday."

"Master Meng, you're joking! Isn't my life on Baizhao Mountain practically a reclusion? But I still feel somewhat uneasy."

Meng Haoran patted Li Bai on the shoulder without saying anything.

To ease the tension, I said, "The ancients said, 'Cultivate oneself, regulate one's family, govern the state, and bring peace to the world.' Having a family first, then pursuing other things, will make your journey easier. Young master, you should also have a family first, then think about other things."

"I have a home now, but the road ahead seems even more uncertain," Li Bai said.

"Li Bai, this isn't your style. What happened to your lofty ambition? I suggest you reread your 'Ode to the Roc'," Meng Haoran said.

I joined Meng Haoran in reciting "Ode to the Great Roc" aloud in front of Li Bai. Li Bai listened attentively, occasionally pointing out my pronunciation wasn't quite right, but gradually he forgot about his annoyance. Xu Ziyan stood by the window, silently watching Li Bai.

Madam Xu, accompanied by Wu Ma, came to our house, and the three of us returned to the house from the garden.

"Master Meng has arrived. Thank you for your help. I'm here to give you some instructions for tomorrow. There must be no mistakes tomorrow," said Madam Xu.

"Go ahead and tell us, madam. We will definitely remember it," I said.

Aunt Wu came over and handed me two sets of clothes, saying, "Young master, wear this groom's outfit tomorrow morning. Yuehua, you wear this new outfit too."

"Thank you, Aunt Wu. My young master and I will certainly do as you say."

"Get up early tomorrow, get ready, and go out through the back gate of this courtyard. The wedding procession and the bridal sedan chair are waiting outside the back gate. The procession will lead the way, followed by Master Meng and Yuehua on foot, with the groom on horseback close behind, and then the bridal sedan chair. You must arrive at the front gate before Chenshi (7-9 AM) to welcome the young lady into the sedan chair," said Wu Ma.

Mrs. Xu added, "Make sure you don't get the order wrong."

"We understand, don't worry, madam."

Aunt Wu continued, "After the young lady gets into the sedan chair, the groom walks in front, while Master Meng, Yuehua, and Xiaoqian stand on either side of the chair, following behind. When they reach the mountain, after alighting from the chair, Yuehua lifts the curtain, and Xiaoqian helps the young lady down. The groom hands the red silk ribbon to the young lady, each holding one end. The groom walks in front, and the young lady walks behind. After the wedding ceremony, when the officiant announces the entry into the bridal chamber, the young lady walks in front with the red silk ribbon, and the groom walks behind. Do you understand?"

Li Bai looked at me, probably a little confused. I quickly replied, "I understand, Aunt Wu. Can't you go and see Miss off? With you directing, we won't make any mistakes, especially my young master."

"But I have to keep an eye on this mess in the house," said Aunt Wu.

Madam Xu stood up, paced back and forth in the room twice, and said resolutely, "Aunt Wu, you go with them. I'll look after the house. Wear the new clothes I gave you; we can't let others look down on my daughter."

Aunt Wu said happily, "Good, I'm looking forward to seeing Miss off. You'll all listen to me tomorrow."

Upon hearing that Aunt Wu was going, Li Bai, Meng Haoran, and I breathed a long sigh of relief.

Seeing that it was getting late, Madam Xu led Wu Ma back to her room to rest.

After Madam Xu left, Li Bai asked Meng Haoran, "Master Meng, did you have such trouble when you got married?"

"That's roughly the same. I was lucky that my parents were around back then, because if they noticed anything was wrong, they would immediately tell me."

I glared at Meng Haoran, who understood and immediately shut his mouth.

"It's good that Aunt Wu is going. We'll do whatever Aunt Wu says. It's getting late, let's rest," I said.

We woke up very early the next day. After getting up, I went to the kitchen to fetch a kettle of hot water, brought it inside, and let Li Bai and Meng Haoran wash up. After I took the kettle back to the kitchen, Zhang Ma said to me, "You're up so early. Why don't you put some light makeup on your son-in-law?"

"Can men wear makeup?"

"Why not? To match the woman, wouldn't makeup make him look better? Imagine how beautiful the bride looks, adorned in her phoenix coronet and wedding gown, heavily made up. The man with a bare face would look so out of place."

"Thank you, Aunt Zhang."

After hearing what Zhang Ma said, I quickly returned to the inner courtyard, found Xiaoqian, and asked her to lend me her makeup supplies. I also asked her to come with me.

Back in his room, Li Bai had changed into his wedding attire and put on his wedding hat. He looked dashing and debonair, like Song Yu reborn.

Seeing Li Bai so dashing, I suddenly felt there was no need for him to wear makeup.

Xiaoqian blurted out, "Is it for doing the groom's makeup?"

"Yes, let's put some light makeup on your son-in-law as a sign of our respect for Miss Xu," I said.

Li Bai obediently sat down in the chair, letting Xiaoqian draw on his face. After the makeup was done, Li Bai's fair and rosy face showed a shy charm, making Miss Xu even more captivated.

Seeing that Li Bai had finished his makeup, Meng Haoran sat down and said, "Miss Xiaoqian, please tidy me up too, so as not to embarrass my brother."

Li Bai said, "Xiaoqian, put more powder on his old face and trim his beard into a V-shape."

Meng Haoran stood up and said, "Forget it, I'm not drawing anymore."