I served as Li Bai's page.

Seeing that Li Bai and Xu Ziyan were not giving in to each other, Madam Xu and Master Xu had no choice but to scold neither their daughter nor their son-in-law.

I said, "I have a way."

The four of them looked at me together and said, "Yuehua, tell us quickly."

"I'll go back alone, bring the good news, and let my family know I'm safe," I said.

"That's a good idea. Go quickly and come back soon. Leave tomorrow and try to return before the New Year," said Madam Xu.

Li Bai said, "We won't be able to return before the New Year. The Yangtze River freezes over every winter and only becomes navigable in March or April of the following year. We must not be stuck on the Yangtze, like we were on our way out last time."

"It's fine to come back the following year, no rush," said Master Xu.

Xu Ziyan said, "It'll be hard for you, Yuehua. I'll have Xiaoqian pack your luggage; we're leaving tomorrow."

Li Bai stood there, motionless, staring at me.

"Young Master, if you have anything to say to your family, write it down and I'll take it back. You stay home with the Young Madam and stay safe. I'll be back next spring."

Li Bai didn't say anything, turned around and left the study, and Xu Ziyan followed him out.

"Yuehua, this trip will definitely be hard on you. It's inconvenient for your son-in-law to travel with you. Please put in a good word for us with his parents. Here, take this. As the saying goes, 'A poor family needs to be frugal on the road.' Be careful while you're out there, and safety should be your top priority," said Master Xu, taking a stack of silver notes from his pocket and placing them in my hand.

"Sir, you don't need that many. I'll just take a few for my travel expenses."

"Yuehua, take this. When we get to the county town, buy some things for your son-in-law's family. It's just a small token of our appreciation." Madam Xu said as she walked up to me and put the silver notes into my pocket.

"Thank you, sir and madam. Yuehua will remember this."

"Go back and prepare. I'll have Butler Wu take you there tomorrow."

I came out of the study and walked towards my room. Xiaoqian was standing at the door, constantly winking at me.

I peeked in through the door and saw Li Bai and Xu Ziyan sitting on the edge of my bed.

I went in and asked, "Young Master, does the Young Madam have any instructions?"

Li Bai stood up and said, "Yuehua, what will I do without you? What will happen to my manuscripts? Didn't we agree to weather the storm together?"

"Young Master, it's not that I'm not coming back. It's not just you; I also feel I owe Yueyuan something. That's why I especially want to go back to my hometown. You can't leave because you have a child, but I have no ties. Why not take this opportunity to go back and visit?"

"When are you coming back?"

"It won't be until at least next spring. With the Spring Festival approaching, I dare not cross the Yangtze River alone by boat."

"Yuehua, I think I heard you say the other day that your husband wanted to build a pavilion for his younger sister, Yueyuan, but construction hasn't started yet. When you go back this time, please take care of this matter. I'll pay for it."

"Ziyan, how can you do this? I promised Yueyuan I would keep my promise."

"Husband, why distinguish between yours and mine? I am all yours now, so of course the money is yours too," Xu Ziyan said.

"Young Madam, when I get back this time, I'll have someone build the embroidery tower. I want to tell Yueyuan that this is a gift from her brother and sister-in-law."

"I'll have Xiaoqian sew the money into your clothes, and you can wear the clothes inside. That way, everything will be foolproof."

"Thank you, young mistress."

After Xu Ziyan finished speaking, she took Xiaoqian back to the house to prepare. Li Bai and I were left standing facing the garden.

"Young master, please write a letter home for me to take back. They'll be happier to see your letter than to see me."

"I will write the letter, but I'm worried about you going back alone; it's a long journey. Yuehua, how about we don't go back? We can all go back together after Ziyan gives birth."

"Young Master, don't worry. I've weathered many storms with you, what's there to fear about going back alone? I have money now, much better than in Yangzhou. Back then, we had almost no money left, but we still made it to Anlu, didn't we?"

"That's true, but money isn't everything. Does having money guarantee a smooth journey?"

"Young Master, don't try to persuade me anymore. Go write the letter. I need to pack my things."

Li Bai stood beside me, watching until I finished packing my luggage before going to the study to write letters to his parents and family.

After lunch, Xiaoqian went back to her room and handed me a dress with a cut-out shoulder.

"Yuehua, Miss wants you to wear this underneath; it's very important. There's a lot of money inside."

"How much is 'a lot'? Didn't you count?"

"The young lady was watching but didn't dare count."

Just then, Li Bai and Xu Ziyan came over, handed me an envelope, and said, "Yuehua, I've finished writing the letter. Please keep it safe."

I took it and handed it to Xiaoqian, saying, "Xiaoqian, sew this onto my clothes."

Xiaoqian took out some thread and sewed it onto my clothes, right next to the money.

Everything was ready, and we were just waiting to set off the next day.

The next morning, before I even got up, Li Bai and Xu Ziyan were already talking in Xiaoqian's room.

I heard Li Bai say to Xu Ziyan, "I'll see him off, all the way to Jiangling, and watch him board the boat."

"I'm going too, and I'll also visit Gangneung while I'm there."

"You'll get nauseous in the carriage, so wait for me at home."

"I'm going. I'll take Xiaoqian with me, and we'll be prepared."

I went into Xiaoqian's room and said, "Young Master and Young Madam, you don't need to see me off. I can walk by myself."

At this moment, Master Xu and his wife entered and said, "Yuehua, I've already asked Steward Wu to prepare the carriage. Let's leave after dinner. We won't see you for several months. Please be careful on the journey."

"I've noted it down, sir and madam. If my young master does anything wrong, please be more tolerant of him."

"We will. Tell my in-laws that I will treat Li Bai like my own son."

"Thank you, sir and madam."

After dinner, I carried my luggage and, accompanied by everyone, arrived at the gate of the Xu residence. Steward Wu was already waiting there in a carriage. Before I could even put my luggage on the carriage, Xu Ziyan, with Xiaoqian's help, had already gotten in. Master Xu and Madam Xu were greatly surprised to see this.

"Ziyan, what are you doing? Get down here!"

"My husband and I went to see Yuehua off to Jiangling. We returned after he boarded the boat."

"Young Madam, I told you not to see me off. Uncle Wu will drop me off in Anlu and then come back."

"I also want to go out for a walk to clear my head, and I'll drop you off while I'm at it."

Having no other choice, Madam Xu had Xiaoqian fetch a thin quilt from the house and Wu Ma bring some desserts to the carriage before I put my luggage in. I had Xiaoqian and Li Bai sit in the carriage, and I sat next to Uncle Wu. With repeated instructions from Master Xu and Madam Xu, we headed towards Jiangling.

We arrived in Gangneung after noon, and our group found a decent restaurant for lunch. I said:

"Young Master, Young Madam, I'm heading to Jiangling Wharf now. You can stroll around for a bit and then head back."

"We'll take you to the dock and watch you board the ship before we leave," Li Bai said.

We took a carriage to Jiangling Wharf, where a cargo ship was heading to Yuzhou. I decided to take this ship. After boarding and negotiating the price with the ship's driver, I went back to the carriage to get my luggage. Li Bai pulled me aside, took off his sword, and hung it on my back.

"Take this sword safe; use it for self-defense. When you reach Yuzhou, go to the inn where we stayed. Our horses are still there. You only need one; the other two can be given to them as payment. Be careful on the road. Don't completely trust strangers, but don't completely disregard them either. Always be wary of others."

"I understand, young master." I said, picking up my luggage and walking towards the ship.