The Golden Hairpin

The morning sun rose, casting its light over the Dali Temple. Even at its ascent, the sun displayed its formidable power, promising a scorching day ahead.

Today marked the joint trial by the Three Judicial Offices—the Censorate, the Ministry of Justice, and the Dali Temple. The heads of the three institutions sat in a row at the high seat. By protocol, during a joint trial, the Dali Temple presented evidence and determined the case, the Ministry of Justice delivered the verdict, and the Censorate oversaw the proceedings.

The Dali Temple had long been managed by its vice minister, Cui Chunzhan. When he saw Huang Zixiang entering with Li Shubai, he gave her a resentful look, as if silently pleading— Please, don’t say a word today. Just let this case conclude peacefully!

Wang Lin, the Minister of Justice, naturally remembered Huang Zixiang as the one who had sent Empress Wang into the Taiji Palace. Thus, he ignored her entirely, offering only a slight nod to Li Shubai.

From the Censorate came the Vice Censor-in-Chief, Jiang Kui. The old man clearly disdained overseeing such a murder case, but out of deference to the fact that one of the victims was a princess, he reluctantly took his seat, arms tucked into his sleeves, eyes closed in repose.

All those involved in the case arrived one by one.

The imperial son-in-law and Prince E sat at the side of the hall. The son-in-law stared blankly at the intricate patterns on the brocade box Prince E had brought, his mind adrift, his face haggard.

Behind them stood their four maids—Chuizhu, Luopei, Zhuoyu, and Qingbi—each wearing expressions of unease, uncertain of what fate awaited them.

Zhang Xingying and Dicui stood side by side at the lower end of the hall. Dicui appeared gaunt and pale, while Zhang Xingying quietly grasped her hand in reassurance.

Lü Zhiyuan crouched in the shade not far from them, head bowed, eyes fixed on the moss on the ground.

Qian Guansuo, brought out from the prison, slumped against a pillar, his entire body sallow and ashen, trembling uncontrollably, his face devoid of life.

Among them all, only Zhou Ziqin remained his usual self, dressed in bright clothes, waving excitedly at Huang Zixiang and Li Shubai. "Your Highness won’t blame me, will you? Since I’ve been following this case for so long, I came to observe even though I wasn’t summoned!"

"Feel free, as long as you don’t speak unless called upon," Li Shubai said, cutting off any potential mischief from him. Zhou Ziqin could only nod with a pained expression.

The Dali Temple provided a chair for Li Shubai, placing him beside Prince E. Huang Zixiang and Zhou Ziqin stood behind him—one somber and brooding, the other looking around restlessly.

Li Run turned to Huang Zixiang, his face wearing its usual gentle smile. "Eunuch Yang, now that the truth of this case has been revealed, you must finally be able to relax and rest. Why do you still seem so burdened and lost in thought?"

Huang Zixiang lowered her head awkwardly. "Yes, thank you for your concern, Your Highness."

Li Run then whispered to Li Shubai, "Fourth Brother, why did you ask me to bring that painting? Does it serve some purpose?"

"Mn," Li Shubai nodded. "The methods used in this case likely originated from our late father’s writings."

"But… Father has been gone for ten years. How could his works suddenly be connected to such a case now?" Li Run asked, puzzled.

Before Li Shubai could answer, a procession of eunuchs entered, announcing the arrival of the Emperor.

Accompanying him was Consort Guo. The Dali Temple staff hurriedly brought a chair from the back, seating her behind the Emperor.

Once everyone had settled, Cui Chunzhan struck the gavel, and silence fell over the hall.Qian Guansuo was brought forward, along with his confession transcribed clearly during his days at the Dali Temple, awaiting only his signature and fingerprint.

"Qian Guansuo, the evidence is irrefutable that you murdered Princess Tongchang, Wei Ximin, and Sun Laizi. Confess the details of your crimes at once and submit to the law!"

After days of torment, the once plump and prosperous man had visibly thinned. Though still overweight, he had lost all vitality, leaving only a corpse-like aura.

Disheveled and clad in prison garb, he lay sprawled on the ground like a pig's bladder. At the questioning, he attempted to push himself up with his hands, but they were covered in blisters and waterlogged to a sickly pallor, all ten fingernails torn out. Unable to bear the pain, he collapsed back with a low moan: "I confess... I confess..."

"Speak the truth!"

"This criminal... coveted the rare treasures in the princess's residence, so I bribed the eunuch Wei Ximin by her side. Together we stole the golden toad. All was done without my family's knowledge—they are completely innocent..."

Cui Chunzhan ignored this and pressed on: "Why did Wei Ximin die?"

"Because... we quarreled over the spoils. He turned against me, and fearing exposure, I... during a Buddhist ceremony at Jianfu Temple, took advantage of a candle fire to push him into the flames..."

"And why did Sun Laizi die?"

"Because..." Qian Guansuo's lips moved numbly, his face an ashen gray, his sunken eyes like empty holes devoid of light. "He witnessed me killing Wei Ximin. Later, he blackmailed me, so when my men were cleaning the sewers, I sent them away and crawled in to kill him too..."

Cui Chunzhan glanced discreetly at the emperor, who sat rigidly composed, and felt slightly reassured. He continued: "Then why did you murder Princess Tongchang?"

"This criminal... this criminal..." His lips trembled as his gaze flickered toward the emperor and others seated behind. Ultimately, he dared not speak.

Cui Chunzhan slammed the gavel: "If you wish to avoid further suffering, confess truthfully now!"

"Yes... this criminal's greed remained. Hearing the princess dreamed of losing her beloved Nine Phoenix Hairpin, I sneaked into her residence to steal it... But that day on the street, I impulsively took it out to admire, and the princess saw it. She chased me to a secluded spot, and in the struggle, I... I..."

The emperor's face darkened with fury. He stared at Qian Guansuo with hatred and despair, wishing in that moment he were an ordinary commoner—free to lunge forward and beat this murderer of his daughter senseless, if only to vent a fraction of his grief.

Consort Guo gnashed her teeth and sprang up with a roar: "Your Majesty, he must be executed here and now to avenge Linghui!"

The emperor raised a hand to stop her, jaw clenched. "With the Three Judicial Offices present, there's no need for us to intervene."

Huang Zizhang stood behind Li Shubai, intently listening to Qian Guansuo's confession.

Covered in wounds, Qian Guansuo's voice was half groan, half whimper: "Everything... was this criminal's doing alone. My wife, children, and acquaintances knew nothing... I confess...""In that case, sign the confession." Cui Chunzhan took the deposition recorded by the Dali Temple clerk, glanced over it, and had it handed to Qian Guansuo for his signature.

Qian Guansuo, slumped on the ground, struggled to prop himself up and read through it. Then, with his already ruined hands, he picked up the brush, closed his eyes, and was about to sign his name.

At that moment, a dull "thud" suddenly broke the solemn silence in the hall.

It was Dicui, who had been standing at the side of the hall. Perhaps frightened and already frail, she collapsed to the ground and fainted.

Qian Guansuo's hand trembled, and the ink from the brush smeared a long streak across the confession.

Huang Zixiang, standing beside Dicui, quickly reached out to steady her. Zhang Xingying anxiously looked at Dicui, noting her unfocused eyes and icy-cold body, and hurriedly addressed the court: "Lord Cui, Adi... Dicui has been weak ever since returning from the Dali Temple. I fear she is in no condition to remain here for the trial..."

Cui Chunzhan, observing her ashen complexion, also sensed the severity of the situation and glanced back at the emperor.

The emperor, however, only had eyes for Qian Guansuo. "Who is she?" he asked.

"She was initially a suspect, but it has since been proven that she is indeed unrelated to the case—as she was detained in the Dali Temple at the time of the princess's death."

The emperor waved his hand dismissively. "Such irrelevant persons should be removed at once."

Zhang Xingying quickly gathered Dicui in his arms, intending to carry her out, but Cui Chunzhan interjected, "Zhang Xingying, you are also involved in this case and should not leave the hall without permission."

Li Shubai then signaled Jingyou to support Dicui and escort her out.

Dicui, dazed and unaware, remembered feeling perfectly fine moments ago—until Huang Zixiang touched her shoulder, releasing a faint fragrance that caused her to collapse. Yet, after fainting, she regained consciousness almost immediately.

She looked at Zhang Xingying, about to tell him she was fine, when she heard Huang Zixiang whisper urgently in her ear, "Run!"

Her eyes widened in shock. She wanted to see Huang Zixiang's expression and ask what she meant by such a command, but Huang Zixiang had already stepped past her to the front of the hall.

Supported by Jingyou, Dicui reached the entrance. A Dali Temple guard pointed at her and asked, "Eunuch, what's the matter with her?"

"She seems to have fallen ill. By His Majesty's decree, she is to be removed immediately." With that, Jingyou released her and gestured, "Hurry, go now."

Standing under the blazing summer sun, Dicui gazed at the gates of the Dali Temple, her head spinning slightly.

Huang Zixiang's whispered word echoed faintly in her mind—

"Run!"

After a brief hesitation, she turned decisively and strode forward, merging into the bustling crowds of the capital's Vermilion Bird Avenue.