To understand Li Pao's hints, you must first view the problem from his perspective.

After briefly regaining clarity, Li Pao didn't return to the palace but chose to lie under a lemon tree with his diary. There are only two possibilities.

One is that his time of clarity was limited, and he couldn't make it back to the palace.

The other is that he intentionally recorded this event while in a state of confusion to provide hints to fellow travelers who might read the diary.