Chapter 50: Grant‑Money‑Return‑Gift, Li Bai Departs the Capital

Wang Hui (Wang Xiu) rushed to the front hall and saw a young eunuch in palace attire, with an arrogant expression, sitting there drinking tea.

Seeing Wang Hui, the eunuch leisurely set down his teacup and said blandly, "You are Lord Wang, right?"

"Indeed I am. May I ask what business brings you, sir?" Wang Hui bowed his hands, his demeanor neither humble nor arrogant.

"I dare not accept instruction," the eunuch said with a forced smile, "We have received the noble consort's imperial decree to inquire about a matter with you, Lord Wang."

"Please, sir, speak."

The eunuch cleared his throat, then in a sharp voice said, "That Hanlin scholar Li Bai, who often socializes privately with Lord Wang and frequently visits your residence, is that so?"

Wang Hui felt a chill; he knew this was a summons to accuse. Yet his face remained unchanged as he calmly replied, "Mr. Li Bai is the poet immortal of our age; I indeed share a certain friendship of poetry and wine with him."

He did not deny, for denial would be useless—everyone in Luoyang knows of their close relationship.

"What a fine friendship of poetry and wine!" the eunuch sneered, his voice suddenly high‑pitched, "Lord Wang, do you know what misdeeds your 'good friend' has committed?"

"I do not know; please enlighten me, sir."

"Hmph! That Li Bai, yesterday he was drunk in the palace, and the Emperor ordered him to write lyrics for a newly composed melody. He, in his drunken frenzy, penned the line 'Pitiable Feiyan leans on fresh makeup'! What does that mean? He is mocking our noble consort, likening her to the decadent Zhao Feiyan of the Han dynasty!"

The eunuch spoke with righteous fury, spittle flying.

Wang Hui (Wang Xiu) sighed inwardly. "Li Bai, Li Bai, your tongue is swifter than your sword, and even more likely to wound."

He knew that behind this lay Gao Lishi's meddling. In the old "shoe‑removal humiliation" incident, Gao Lishi never spoke of it, but could he have harbored no resentment? Now, seizing the chance, he would naturally add insult to injury.

"Is this really happening?" Wang Hui's face showed just the right mix of surprise and indignation, "Mr. Li has always been unruly, surely he misspoke while drunk, not deliberately offending the consort. Please, sir, speak kindly of him before the consort."

"Kind words?" the eunuch laughed as if hearing the world's biggest joke, "Lord Wang, you apparently do not yet grasp the gravity of the matter! The noble consort is already enraged, weeping before the Emperor all night! The Emperor now is in a dragon‑faced fury! Whether Li Bai can keep his head is still uncertain! We have come today by the consort's imperial decree to ask you: what regulation applies to this case?"

The question was indeed of a high level.

He did not ask Wang Hui directly whether to save Li Bai, but rather asked "what regulation applies." The implication was to draw a line or share the blame; the choice was his.

Wang Hui (Wang Xiu) instantly understood their intention. Yang Guifei sent someone not to truly punish him; after all, his current rank is low, he has no major faults, and crucially his relationship with Gao Lishi is good.

Yang Guifei's purpose is to strike, to warn. She wants this "Li Bai faction" to see the situation clearly and not pick the wrong side.

Wang Xiu's mind raced.

Save Li Bai? How to save him? Plead before the Emperor? As a fifth‑rank official, his voice is weak; pleading would be futile and might drag him in.

Not save? Watching a friend fall would contradict Wang Hui's character and Wang Xiu's true heart. Li Bai is well‑connected with the Wang Family and, to him, an idol.

He must be rescued, but not forcefully; he must be saved cleverly.

Wang Hui pondered briefly, then gave the eunuch a deep bow.

"Sir, this matter arose because Mr. Li was drunk, so he is at fault. Offending the noble consort is a crime worthy of death. However…"

He shifted tone, becoming earnest, "However, Mr. Li is a world‑renowned poet, the Emperor himself praised him as a 'banished immortal.' If he were severely punished for this, the news would tarnish the Emperor's reputation for cherishing talent and would dishearten scholars across the realm."

"We understand that, but the consort's anger is unquenchable!" the eunuch spread his hands, looking embarrassed.

"I understand." Wang Hui nodded; he knew the crucial moment had arrived.

He drew a pre‑prepared brocade box from his sleeve and silently slipped it into the eunuch's hand.

"Sir, you have traveled hard. Inside are a pair of newly forged crystal bracelets from Yi Water Manor, said to be made with a Western formula that refracts seven‑colored light, perfect for a beauty such as the noble consort. Please present them as a token from Wang Hui on behalf of my friend Li Bai, to atone for the offense."

The eunuch weighed the brocade box; it felt warm and heavy. He opened a slit and saw treasure‑light swirling, a radiant glow that instantly revealed it as a priceless masterpiece.

A satisfied smile immediately spread across his face.

He realized Wang Hui was softening his stance and giving him a way out.

The noble consort is not foolish; if the Wang Family were to go all out to rescue Li Bai, she could not truly intend to take his head.

After all, the Wang Family's business is vast, and Li Bai's popularity among the people is enormous; the two combined, if Li Bai were truly eliminated, the folk would spread stories of a demonic concubine no less than Daji. She cherishes her own reputation.

Thus the Wang Family's approach also signals to the harem that as long as Li Bai's life is spared, the Wang Family will not be ungrateful.

"Lord Wang truly is a reasonable man," the eunuch put away the brocade box, his tone much softer, "Your meaning is clear to us. We will report to the noble consort that Lord Wang, understanding the great principle, has compensated on behalf of his friend and has persuaded Li Bai to leave the capital and no longer trouble the consort."

"Thank you, sir, for your assistance!" Wang Hui bowed once more.

After seeing the eunuch off, Wang Hui (Wang Xiu) wasted no time, immediately prepared a carriage and rushed to Li Bai's residence.

When he arrived, Li Bai's residence was already surrounded by the Imperial Guard, the atmosphere grim.

Wang Hui revealed his identity and spent some silver to gain entry.

In the courtyard, Li Bai sat alone by a stone table, not drinking, merely gazing at the sky. His face showed no fear, no anger, only an indescribable fatigue and relief.

"You have come," he said, smiling as if he had long expected Wang Hui's arrival.

"Brother Li," Wang Hui sat opposite him.

"You embarrass me," Li Bai chuckled self‑deprecatingly, "In the end, I still do not belong here."

"This place does not suit you either, Brother Li," Wang Hui said earnestly.

The two exchanged a smile; everything was understood without words.

"I have already sent someone to the noble consort to offer atonement," Wang Hui said, "I imagine the Emperor, recalling old ties and caring about his reputation, will not truly act against you. The most likely outcome is…"

"…to expel me from the capital, right?" Li Bai took the words, his expression indifferent, "Fine, fine. I have grown weary of this capital. The 'grant‑money‑return‑gift' has become a fine tale."

His easygoing nature earned Wang Hui (Wang Xiu) respect.

"Brother Li, what are your plans now?"

"Wander the world with my sword, savor poetry and wine while youth lasts!" Li Bai stood, stretched lazily, as if shedding a thousand‑pound burden, "The world is vast, famous mountains and rivers I have yet to see. This is a perfect chance to seek immortals and the Dao, isn't it delightful!"

Wang Hui knew this was the life Li Bai belonged to.

He took a thick stack of silver notes from his bosom and placed them on the stone table.

"Brother Li, the journey ahead is long and costly. Please accept these without hesitation."

Li Bai glanced at the notes, amounting to several thousand strings. He laughed heartily, accepted without protest, and slipped them into his pocket, "Very well! As brothers, we need not speak of emptiness. I take the money; when I have spent it, I'll return for more!"

"I await your return at any time."

Sure enough, the next day a decree echoed through the palace.

Li Bai, "not a temple‑service figure but a theatrical talent," the Emperor, appreciating his talent, "granted him a grant‑money‑return‑gift," ordering him to leave the capital at once and return to the mountains.

When the news came out, the court and the populace were shaken.

Some gloated over the misfortune, others wrung their hands and sighed.

On the day of leaving the capital, Wang Hui personally saw Li Bai off to the ten‑li pavilion outside the city.

There were no bustling carriages and horses, no crowd of honored guests; only the two brothers and a jug of coarse wine.

"Elder Brother Li, take care!"

"Brother Wang, take care!"

After finishing the last cup of wine, Li Bai mounted a thin horse, slung his beloved long sword on his back, hung the gourd of wine Wang Hui had given him at his waist, and, alone, strode off in a carefree manner toward the distant green mountains.

Wang Hui watched his receding figure, stretched long and longer in the sunset, until it became a tiny black dot.