I served as Li Bai's page.

Chapter 143 A Letter from Home

Holding the package from Longxi Courtyard, I was deeply moved. I put it on the carriage and hurried back to Baizhao Mountain.

Just as I reached the gate, I ran into Li Bai returning from Peach Blossom Rock. I called out:

"Young master, a letter has arrived from home."

Li Bai suddenly stopped in his tracks, stunned. He had been wandering far from home for a long time and hadn't received any letters from Longxi Academy. The letters he sent back always seemed to disappear without a trace.

I jumped off the carriage, took the package out, handed it to Li Bai, and said, "The messenger said this is from the old lady; the letter is inside."

Li Bai, carrying the package, walked listlessly towards the inner courtyard. After I finished unloading the vegetables, I followed him inside. Li Bai took the package to the study, and Xu Ziyan saw him and followed him in as well.

Li Bai placed the item on the desk, stood in front of it, staring blankly, seemingly hesitant to open it. I took a pair of scissors, walked over, and said:

"Young Master, let me open it."

I picked up the package and opened it. Inside were several sets of clothes and shoes. Wrapped inside the clothes was a letter. Li Bai's hands trembled as he held the letter, his face already streaked with tears before he even unfolded it. Xu Ziyan took the letter, unfolded it, and read:

"My dearest son, Twelfth Prince, and my dearest daughter-in-law, Ziyan, it has been a long time since we received your letters. We hope you are all well, Pingyang, Boqin, and Yuehua. We don't even know if this letter has reached you. But your father, mother, and sister still wanted to write to you to express our longing for you."

The changes in our hometown over the years have been immense. Your sister is very pleased with the embroidered pavilion you built for her. The bamboo in front of the door, nourished by the water your sister used to wash her makeup, looks as if each section has been coated with powder; therefore, your sister named it Pink Bamboo Pavilion. Father and Mother are old, and your sister stays by our side day and night, unwilling to marry. My twelfth son, my daughter-in-law Ziyan, we should thank your sister for taking care of our parents for you.

Upon hearing this, Li Bai burst into tears, and Ziyan choked back sobs, unable to continue reading. I took the letter, weeping, and continued reading:

"My grandsons Pingyang and Boqin have grown much taller. You should be like your father, diligent in your studies and strive to become learned scholars who are skilled in both literature and martial arts. Your grandparents hope that one day you can set foot on your homeland and see your father's study platform on Xiaokuang Mountain."

How is Yuehua? Is she married yet? Ziyi already has two children, the older one is three years old and is the little darling of our Longxi Courtyard, loved by everyone.

Everyone misses you, my twelfth son. Your uncles and brothers in Rencheng, Donglu, also miss you dearly. Your sixth uncle has been promoted to magistrate of Rencheng (Jining), your elder brother is the magistrate of Wenshang, your cousin Li Ning is the registrar of the neighboring Shan County, your great-grandfather is the prefect of Qizhou (Jinan), and your recent ancestor Li Fu is the governor of Lujun (Yanzhou). They all hope that one day you will also serve the country loyally and contribute to the court.

……

Words cannot express how much our parents miss you. We sewed five sets of clothes for you, one for each of you, hoping that wearing them will remind you of us.

The parents dictated, and your younger sister wrote it down. Their longing for your return is palpable.

After reading the letter, I was speechless. The saying "a mother worries when her son travels a thousand miles" couldn't be more true. I handed the letter to Li Bai, whose hands trembled as he took it, pressed it to his chest, knelt facing southwest, and sobbed, "Father, Mother, your son cannot be by your side to fulfill his filial duty. I am sorry to you, and I am also sorry to my sister, for ruining her life."

I reached out to help Li Bai up, saying, "Many things happen by chance, Miss Yueyuan won't blame you. Young Master, get up, don't be sad."

Li Baipu lay prostrate on the ground. Xu Ziyan and I helped him up. Pingyang and Boqin had been watching from outside the study. Seeing their father weeping, they also began to cry. Wu Ma comforted the child and took him into the study. I picked up the new clothes from the table and said to Pingyang and Boqin:

"Pingyang, Boqin, come here and try on the new clothes your grandmother made for you. Do they fit?"

The two children wiped away their tears and helped me and Aunt Wu put on their clothes and shoes, saying with smiles, "They fit perfectly, and they feel so comfortable."

"If it fits, wear it. Don't take it off," I said.

Wu Ma, dressed in new clothes, led her two children out of the study.

Li Bai sat at his desk, clutching the letter, and read it carefully again, tears streaming down his face once more. Xu Ziyan stood beside him the whole time, her hand gently patting his shoulder.

The letter from home reassured Li Bai greatly. Knowing that his parents were healthy and his family was safe, he was very pleased. A few days later, Li Bai wrote a reply to his parents.

"Father and Mother, your son and daughter-in-law, along with your grandchildren and Yuehua, bow deeply. I have received your letter. The clothes fit everyone perfectly; Pingyang and Boqin didn't want to take them off once they put them on."

The son was relieved and overjoyed to learn that his family was safe and sound. However, having been away from home for over a decade, he had accomplished nothing and felt ashamed to face his elders back home. He hoped his parents would forgive him. He had lived in seclusion in Anlu for nearly ten years, writing very little poetry or prose; he had truly wasted his years. The son had recently heard that General Pei Yan had retired to General Mountain in Donglu, and he wished to go there to learn swordsmanship from him. He would set off soon, first visiting his uncles and brothers in Rencheng. The son would be taking his wife and children with him to Donglu, as he intended to settle in Rencheng…”

After reading Li Bai's letter home, Xu Ziyan said happily, "My husband really wants to take us to Donglu! I've never traveled so far before, I'm so happy! We can see my father-in-law when we get to Donglu, and I will definitely try my best to be filial and make up for the lost time."

"My lady, it's truly kind of you to think of fulfilling your filial duty on my behalf. I wonder when Father will arrive in Donglu? The journey to Xishu is long and arduous, and I'm afraid that if we set off now, we'll arrive before Father does," Li Bai said.

"Let's go first, settle things at home, and let Father see us relaxed and at ease, wouldn't that be better?" Xu Ziyan said.

"Alright, everyone, let's get started on the preparations to move to Rencheng. Yuehua, go to Anlu and ask someone to take this letter back to Longxi Academy."

When I heard I was going to Donglu, I was overjoyed. I took the letter with both hands and repeatedly said, "Yes, yes."

For two days in a row, I searched the streets of Anlu for a messenger. The Yangtze River had begun to reopen, and many people and goods heading to Sichuan and Chongqing were now choosing to travel by land and water. On the third day, just as I was about to return home in disappointment, a caravan approached from afar and stopped in front of a restaurant. I quickly went to the caravan leader and asked:

"Brother, where are you delivering the goods?"

"Young man, we've traveled quite a distance. Judging from your strong Sichuan accent, you must be carrying a message home."

"Yes, yes, has your elder brother gone to Changlong County?"

"We're heading to Changlong County."

"Caravans often pass through my hometown, Qinglian Town. Are you going to Qinglian Town?"

"We're about to pass through there, and we'll be spending the night near Li Bai's Longxi Courtyard."

"That's wonderful! I'm Li Bai's pageboy. Could you please take this letter back for us? I'll go buy some things to bring back with me."

"Okay, hurry back, we're eating and waiting for you."

"Thank you, brother." I said, bowing repeatedly.