The Golden Hairpin

Huang Zixiao immediately thought of Zhang Xingying's father. Back then, when the late emperor was critically ill, the palace was in such desperation that they sought help from all quarters—not only summoning renowned physicians from across the land for consultation but also inviting numerous monks and Taoist priests to the capital to pray for blessings. The Venerable Mushan, already a celebrated and virtuous monk at the time, was invited into the palace by Wang Zongshi.

"Alas, though the power of Buddha is boundless, this old monk's spiritual resolve was not firm enough to defy heaven's will." Venerable Mushan sighed and said, "On the very day I entered the palace, the late emperor briefly regained consciousness while I recited the scriptures, but it was merely a final rally before his passing..."

Huang Zixiao frowned slightly. She remembered that it was Zhang Xingying's father who had administered medicine to the late emperor, causing him to awaken, and thus was rewarded with the late emperor's calligraphy. Clearly, Venerable Mushan was embellishing his own role.

So she feigned hesitation and said, "But many in the capital say it was a physician from Duanrui Hall who treated the late emperor and brought him back to consciousness..."

Venerable Mushan had not expected her to know about the events of that year and was visibly embarrassed. He could only reply, "Ah, yes, I do recall that physician. He was in his prime then, a man unafraid of death. While the imperial physicians of the Tai Hospital dared not administer strong medicine for fear of harming the emperor's health, he believed it was better to grant His Majesty temporary clarity to settle affairs of state than to let him remain unconscious."

Li Shubai then asked, "The late emperor's health was of such importance—how could the imperial physicians allow him to administer treatment so recklessly?"

Venerable Mushan's gaze flickered, evading the question. "The emperor's condition was critical, and the situation was urgent. It was Eunuch Wang who made the final decision."

Huang Zixiao recalled what Li Shubai had told her—that the late emperor had coughed up blood containing an Agashini. She frowned slightly, wanting to press further, but the matter was too significant to broach carelessly. After hesitating for a long while, she finally asked, "So at the time, when the late emperor briefly awakened, you, Eunuch Wang, and that physician from Duanrui Hall—Zhang—were all present?"

"Ah, now I remember—that physician's surname was Zhang..." Venerable Mushan nodded. "When His Majesty awoke, we waited outside the hall and exchanged names. But it was so long ago that I no longer recall his full name."

Huang Zixiao pressed further, "So you and Physician Zhang were both waiting outside the hall at the time?"

Venerable Mushan hesitated before replying, "Yes."

Li Shubai remained silent, but both of them knew Venerable Mushan was lying. At the time, Li Shubai had been waiting outside the hall the entire time. If Venerable Mushan had stepped out, he would have surely seen him. Yet Li Shubai had no memory of the monk's face, meaning they had certainly never met—which implied that when his father briefly awakened, Venerable Mushan must have been by his side.

But given the hasty nature of their visit today and the identities they had assumed, pressing the matter further was impossible. So both Li Shubai and Huang Zixiao chose not to expose the lie.

Seeing Li Shubai give her a slight nod, Huang Zixiao clasped her hands in a respectful bow and said, "Thank you for the tea, Venerable One. Having glimpsed your venerable presence, our wish is fulfilled. We shall not disturb your meditation further and will take our leave now. We will visit again another day."

Venerable Mushan's eyes swept over her face once more before he smiled and stood to escort them out.

They had ascended the mountain as a party of three, but now only the two of them descended Moonlit Mountain.

The mountain wind howled, and the winding bird's path twisted before them. Huang Zixiao and Li Shubai walked in silence the entire way.They walked to the edge of the cliff where there was no barrier ahead, and together they looked back at the vast expanse of mountains. Birds flew across the green peaks before them, and mist drifted through the endless sky.

Seeing no one around and hearing only silence, Li Shubai finally spoke, "This Monk Moushan seems to know the soul-capturing techniques from India."

"Soul-capturing techniques?" Huang Zixia frowned thoughtfully, recalling the dreamlike trance she had fallen into when he had gazed at her earlier.

"I once met a monk from the Western Regions who could control others with his eyes, making them infatuated and obedient—it seems Monk Moushan has learned this art, though he's not as skilled as that monk."

"Hmm, I heard he's a highly revered monk who traveled through the Western Regions. I wonder if the Agashini from the West has any connection to him." Huang Zixia suddenly understood and nodded. "During my three years in Shu Commandery, I heard legends of Monk Moushan's boundless Buddhist powers, as well as rumors about Fan Jiedu's son, Fan Yuanlong, being infatuated with a singing girl. I just never connected the two. Now it seems likely that Monk Moushan used his soul-capturing technique to alter Fan Yuanlong's mind. No wonder no one questioned that obviously fake spring or those so-called unfilial sons turning repentant or shrewish women changing their ways—most of them were probably his doing. If he used this method for good, it might still be beneficial."

"But what if he was once in the palace and did things we don't know about?" Li Shubai looked up at the birds flying over the mountains and let out a long sigh. "What if he's connected to the late emperor's imperial decree, to Consort E's madness, or to the little red fish in the late emperor's mouth when he passed away?"

These secrets, capable of shaking the world, were spoken lightly by him, dissipating into the mountain breeze, unknown to anyone.

Huang Zixia gazed at his profile—its curve more distant and beautiful than the landscape stretching thousands of miles—and fell silent for a moment. After a long pause, she said softly, "No matter what, Bright Moon Mountain is here, and Guangdu Temple is here. Next time we meet Monk Moushan, we'll be prepared."

They headed north toward the governor's residence.

At a fork in the road, however, Li Shubai suddenly turned onto another path.

Huang Zixia stopped behind him and said, "Wrong way."

"No," Li Shubai replied. "Qing Garden is just a hundred steps away. We're going to see Yu Xuan."

Yu Xuan. Huang Zixia froze, surprised that Li Shubai wanted to visit him. She quickened her pace to catch up and asked, "How did you know Qing Garden is this way?"

"Didn't the yamen have a complete map of Chengdu Prefecture hanging there? I glanced at it."

Huang Zixia was speechless—just a glance, and he was probably more familiar with Chengdu Prefecture than she was after living there for three years.

Qing Garden was planted with many plum, peach, and pear trees, but it was late summer, and none were in bloom. Only clusters of lilyturf flowers bloomed in purple spikes beneath the rockery, and hollyhocks flourished by the bamboo fences, offering some beauty.

Yu Xuan was among the flowerbeds, carrying a bucket to water the plants. When he saw them approaching, he nodded and said, "Wait a moment. Just a few more flowerbeds."

Huang Zixia looked around and asked, "Where's Old Li, the gardener?"

"His grandson is sick, so he has to stay home to care for him. I promised to water these flowers morning and evening for him." He pointed ahead and added, "Just those left, and I'll be done."

Without a word, Huang Zixia went to the well, drew a bucket of water, and prepared to help him water the plants.Li Shubai naturally took the water bucket from her and carried it for her, handing her only a ladle. Huang Zixiao was flattered and turned to look at him, but his expression was calm and indifferent, as if he didn’t care at all. She could only force herself to remain composed, taking the ladle he handed her and scooping water from his bucket to pour over the flowers one ladleful at a time.

Seeing them—one carrying the water and the other watering the plants—so naturally in sync, Yu Xuan himself didn’t realize that his hand had unconsciously stilled. He stared at them blankly for a long time, unable to snap out of it.

It wasn’t until Huang Zixiao turned her head and asked him, “How much should I water them?” that he finally averted his gaze, lowering his head as he replied, “A bit more. The weather has been hot lately, and if they don’t get a good soaking, they might wither by midday.”

As she watered the flowers, Huang Zixiao asked, “Such a large garden—are you taking care of it all by yourself now? Why not get a few people to help you?”

He answered softly, “I’m idle at home these days with nothing to do. Coming here helps pass the time.”

“Back then, Qingyuan was the finest garden in Chengdu Prefecture, filled with distinguished guests almost every day for gatherings,” Huang Zixiao remarked, sweeping her gaze over the flowers with a hint of regret. “But with the weather so scorching now, I doubt many come to admire it anymore.”

Yu Xuan nodded. “The lotus flowers have already faded, and the osmanthus hasn’t bloomed yet. With the heat like this, naturally no one comes. But last night, there was still a ‘floating cup’ poetry gathering. Everyone strolled by candlelight and composed some poems.”

“A floating cup gathering? Who attended?”

“Just our poetry society. Many came… except Wen Yang.”

Huang Zixiao asked, “So Qi Teng was there too?”

Yu Xuan nodded. “Yes. He even fished a small fish out of the water and took it home, saying he wanted to raise another one.”

“A small fish?” Huang Zixiao and Li Shubai immediately seized on this crucial detail. Outwardly, they remained composed, but they exchanged a glance.

“Mm. Qi Teng likes raising small fish. He once kept a little red fish before, even bought a porcelain vase to keep it in. He carried it around everywhere, boasting to people that it was an Agashini—a rare treasure, just like Prince Kui’s.”

Li Shubai said coolly, “Agashini are extremely rare. Was his real?”

Yu Xuan continued watering the flowers, his head lowered. “I wouldn’t know, but Master Mushan said it was.”

Huang Zixiao suddenly remembered—when Yu Xuan had met Qi Teng that morning, Qi Teng had asked him, Do you remember where my little red fish went?

At that time, Yu Xuan’s expression had twisted in shock, almost frighteningly so.

So, as she ladled water over the hollyhocks, Huang Zixiao asked slowly, “Then… do you know where Qi Teng’s little fish is now?”

Yu Xuan stiffened as if struck, taking an almost imperceptible step back. But when he looked at Huang Zixiao and saw her calm expression, her gaze steady on him, he managed to take a deep breath and said quietly, “I don’t know… It’s been a long time since I last saw it.”

“About when did it disappear?” Huang Zixiao pressed.

Yu Xuan thought for a long time, his face growing paler. “Probably… right after the incident at the prefectural office.”

Huang Zixiao hummed in thought. Li Shubai, seeing her holding the ladle motionless, took it from her hand and continued watering the flowers himself.Huang Zixiang and Yu Xuan remained standing amidst the shadows of hollyhocks, the sunlight casting dappled patterns upon them as light and shadow swayed gently, flickering between brightness and darkness across their figures.

A faint ache rose in Huang Zixiang's chest, prompting her to turn away and walk toward Li Shubai.

Seeking to dispel the awkwardness, Yu Xuan murmured, "Because I remember, before that incident, people used to joke that Qi Teng's nickname shouldn't be Lord Cold Moon—they said he should be called Lord Fishkeeper instead... But after that, the fish never appeared again, so no one made that joke anymore."

Huang Zixiang paused mid-step, sensing something amiss in her heart. She turned back and asked, "Qi Teng's nickname was Lord Cold Moon?"

"Yes. Qi Teng's courtesy name was Hanyue, which sounds like 'Cold Moon.' After Wen Yang arrived, some busybodies teased that 'Warm Sun' paired with 'Cold Moon' made a perfect match. So people often jokingly called him Lord Cold Moon."