The Golden Hairpin

Gongsun Yuan practiced a few sword dance moves on the stage, then turned to Yin Luyi and asked, "Like this?"

Yin Luyi nodded, pointing to the large sheer curtain hanging behind them. "I remember after two consecutive spins, you enter behind the curtain."

Gongsun Yuan nodded and spun according to her rhythm. After two flashes of sword light, she disappeared behind the gauzy veil.

Huang Zixiao asked Yin Luyi, "Has Gongsun Niangniang forgotten the dance steps?"

"Oh... The sword dance she's performing tonight, 'Qi Jian Hun Tuo,' was rearranged by A'Ruan several years ago. It's graceful and gentle, without much sharp swordplay, making it more suitable for such an occasion." Yin Luyi glanced around the waterside pavilion before picking up a lantern and stepping behind the curtain. Gongsun Yuan's silhouette was illuminated against the veil, her graceful figure appearing even more ethereal in the hazy glow.

Zhou Ziqin whispered to Huang Zixiao, "Honestly, I think if her clothes were a bit lighter, it would look even better. Those spins would make her sleeves and skirt flutter like a celestial maiden!"

Huang Zixiao replied softly, "They specialize in song and dance—do you really think they'd overlook something you noticed? There must be another reason, like how overly sheer fabric might clash with swordplay or how fluttering sleeves could obstruct the sword's momentum."

"Hmm, you think of everything," Zhou Ziqin conceded with admiration.

Seeing that it was getting late, the two worried about being away from the banquet for too long and making excuses difficult. They bid farewell to Gongsun Yuan and Yin Luyi before hurrying back to their seats.

Upon returning, the atmosphere remained lively—flattery and declarations of loyalty filled the air. Seeing his father among the crowd, Zhou Ziqin covered his face in dismay and muttered, "This is why I'd rather stay home with corpses!"

Huang Zixiao shot him a sympathetic look of agreement.

Amid the clamor, only Yu Xuan sat quietly, his expression serene, as if he didn’t belong there.

Huang Zixiao switched seats with Zhang Xingying to sit closer to Yu Xuan and asked in a low voice, "How did you find time to come today?"

Had Qi Teng provoked him into finally joining the military governor's office?

Yu Xuan nodded, his voice barely audible over the noise. "Prefect Zhou sent someone to invite me. I didn’t want to come, but then I thought... I might see you here."

She paused, her gaze involuntarily flickering toward Li Shubai, who was deep in conversation with Fan Yingxi, before asking slowly, "Oh?"

"Yes..." He seemed equally uneasy, hesitating before finally adding, "I wanted to ask about the progress on your adoptive parents' case."

Huang Zixiao lowered her head in thought before replying, "Actually, I wanted to ask you about Wen Yang."

"Wen Yang... Is he connected to the case?"

Her expression remained calm as she spoke, her voice steady, as if the words were drawn from deep within her: "I suspect the person who killed my parents is the same one who killed Wen Yang."

Yu Xuan stiffened, his eyes widening, lashes trembling slightly. His voice shook as he forced out the words, "But Wen Yang... didn’t he... take his own life out of love?"

"You believe that?" Her gaze fixed on him.Yu Xuan turned his face blankly, staring at the cup before him, his voice hoarse and broken: "I... I don't know... Everyone says so."

"How often did you interact with Wen Yang? How much do you know about him?" Huang Zixiang pressed.

He silently lowered his lashes and murmured, "As I told you before, we only occasionally met at poetry gatherings and social events. I didn’t know him well."

"Then, who was he close to?"

Yu Xuan’s slightly bewildered eyes lifted from beneath his lashes to meet hers. "I suppose... he wasn’t particularly close to anyone."

"Was there anyone he had conflicts with?"

After a moment’s thought, Yu Xuan slowly raised his chin, gesturing toward Qi Teng. "Perhaps... you could ask Qi Teng."

Huang Zixiang’s gaze flickered briefly over Qi Teng before she asked quietly, "He and Wen Yang didn’t get along?"

"I once happened to witness them arguing. Qi Teng seemed to despise Wen Yang, saying he was... shameful or something like that."

Huang Zixiang pondered this before asking, "Anything else?"

Yu Xuan remained silent for a beat. "I merely passed by. Why would I eavesdrop on others? So I left immediately. I only know they had a dispute."

This vague, unhelpful response left Huang Zixiang somewhat exasperated. Giving up on further questions, she turned her attention to Qi Teng, seated to her left. He held a wine cup, his face wreathed in smiles, but his gaze lingered on her with a thoughtful air.

Huang Zixiang knew that as someone close to Prince Kui, her sudden shift in position to whisper intimately with Yu Xuan would inevitably displease Qi Teng—especially since he had openly mocked Yu Xuan just that morning.

She offered him a faint smile before returning to her original seat beside Qi Teng. Raising her cup, she toasted him. "Magistrate Qi, I offer you a drink."

"Ah, no, no... It should be I who toasts you, Eunuch," he replied hastily, downing his wine before asking with a smile, "You know Yu Xuan?"

"We met a few times in Chang’an. He was a scholar then," she said casually.

A peculiar smile tugged at Qi Teng’s lips. "Indeed. I heard he caught the eye of Princess Tongchang."

Huang Zixiang merely lowered her head slightly, the corner of her mouth twitching. "Oh? I wasn’t aware of that."

He feigned regret. "Ah, just hearsay... May I ask your surname, Eunuch?" Though they had met before, Huang Zixiang had been disguised at the time, so he didn’t recognize her.

"I am surnamed Yang," she replied.

Qi Teng’s eyes widened in shock. "Could you be... the famed Eunuch Yang by Prince Kui’s side, renowned for solving extraordinary cases?"

"You flatter me." Though repulsed by his character, Huang Zixiang forced a smile for the sake of gathering information about Wen Yang. "Speaking of which, a recent case involves you, Magistrate Qi."

Qi Teng stiffened. "What case? How could... how could it involve me?"

Huang Zixiang studied his expression, smiling faintly. Unease prickled at Qi Teng, and he finally blurted out, "Is it... recent? About Wen Yang... that matter?"

She nodded. "Precisely. I heard you were in the same poetry society and that you once quarreled with him."

"We did argue, but we reconciled afterward! Besides... why would I kill him? We had no grudges, no enmity—nothing at all between us!"Huang Zixiao nodded and asked, "So, in your opinion, was there any reason for Wen Yang and Fu Xinruan to commit suicide together?"

"Well..." He glanced around, then leaned in closer to her and whispered, "Eunuch Yang, to be honest with you, you've asked the right person about this matter."

Huang Zixiao feigned surprise. "Really? Magistrate Qi knows the inside story?"

He sighed and said quietly, "That Fu Xinruan was truly beautiful."

Huang Zixiao asked in astonishment, "Magistrate Qi has seen her?"

"This past spring, I happened to see her at Moonlight Mountain. It was warm with flowers blooming, and Wen Yang was returning from an outing with her. A red tassel fell from her horse, and as I happened to be standing below, I picked it up for her. Through the gap in her veil, I caught a glimpse of an exceptionally beautiful face..." Qi Teng sighed again and shook his head. "What a pity, what a pity that her face was covered in tears. Amidst such beautiful spring scenery, she was crying so sorrowfully. I was stunned at the time, wondering why such a beautiful woman would be weeping like this while out with her lover. Who would have thought... their love had already met obstacles, and in the end... it came to such a tragic conclusion."

Huang Zixiao frowned slightly and remained silent.

"Ah, the path of love is fraught with hardship, and now the beauty is gone. What a shame!" he said, raising his cup to her again.

Huang Zixiao gave a faint smile and said no more to him.

As the evening wore on, everyone raised their cups to toast Prince Kui's good fortune before moving to the pavilion to enjoy the music and dance.

Performers had already gathered by the water's edge. As the guests arrived, the sound of flutes, pipes, and lutes suddenly filled the air, breaking the quiet of the night with lively music. Once they were seated, a lotus dance began, performed by twenty-four young and charming courtesans holding lotus flowers, spinning and dancing in unison, creating a scene of great festivity.

Li Shubai, Fan Yingxi, and Zhou Xiang took the front seats, with Huang Zixiao and Zhang Xingying attending behind Li Shubai. Zhou Ziqin and Fan Yuanlong sat behind Zhou Xiang and Fan Yingxi, while Wang Yun, Yu Xuan, Qi Teng, several deputy generals of the Western Sichuan Army, and a few advisors from the governor's office sat further back.

Amidst the harmonious music, the lotus dance continued, but Wang Yun stood up and walked toward the steps by the water.

Huang Zixiao was pouring tea for Li Shubai when she noticed his movement from the corner of her eye.

She saw Yu Xuan following him to the water's edge. In the warm and joyous atmosphere, the two of them stood side by side by the pond, gazing at the water.

A flicker of curiosity rose in her heart, and her hand slowed slightly.

Li Shubai also glanced toward the water and said softly, "Go."

Huang Zixiao looked at him in surprise.

"I'm curious too, to know what those two might be talking about," he whispered into her ear.

One was her fiancé, the other her former lover, with whom she had once been embroiled in scandal. Why would these two be speaking together?

Huang Zixiao silently set down the cup in her hand and walked quietly toward the steps.

Though called a dock, it was merely a symbolic gesture with a single crabapple wood boat tied there. The platform in front of the pavilion was large, but the pond was small. A few large vases of water lilies sat at the bottom, and the clear water reflected the patterns of the lanterns hanging by the pond, revealing the brickwork beneath.

The light cast rippling reflections onto Wang Yun and Yu Xuan by the water's edge, their figures shimmering with an almost translucent quality in the darkness.By the dockside, there were only shrubs. Huang Zixiang crouched low, just enough to conceal herself. Not wanting to appear too obvious as she eavesdropped by the water's edge, she stopped behind the bushes. Fortunately, the evening breeze carried their voices from upwind, and though she couldn't catch every word, most of them reached her ears.

Wang Yun's voice drifted over with the wind, still gentle as ever: "A pleasure to meet you."

"Captain Wang, the pleasure is mine." Yu Xuan's voice was cool and detached in the wind.

Wang Yun merely chuckled lightly, leaning against the railing as he said, "Scholar Yu, you've lived here for over three years, haven't you? You must be very familiar with everything here?"

Yu Xuan remained silent for a long moment before replying, "Yes."

"Though I am Zixiang's betrothed, I've never been to Shu Commandery before, nor set foot in this governor's residence where she once lived. It has always been a regret of mine." He tilted his head slightly, looking at Yu Xuan as he asked, "I heard that when the incident occurred, she was staying in the garden—that small pavilion over there, wasn't it?"

He pointed to the nearby pavilion, and when Yu Xuan nodded silently, Wang Yun smiled. "Though I reside in the capital, I've often heard about her affairs—after all, she is my long-awaited betrothed. Naturally, I would keep myself informed."

Thus, both Yu Xuan and Huang Zixiang knew that he must have been fully aware of the rumors between them, down to the smallest detail.

Yu Xuan bowed slightly to him and turned to leave.

"During my stay at the military governor's residence these past few days, I heard Judge Qi mention you. Governor Fan seems to hold you in high regard—he even asked me if I knew you." Wang Yun's voice was unhurried, trailing slowly behind him.

"I am unworthy," Yu Xuan replied softly, offering no further response.

"I could only say that I wasn't familiar with you, merely that I'd heard your name in the capital and had a vague impression—after all, I truly don't know Scholar Yu well enough to make any introductions." Wang Yun chuckled lightly. "Governor Fan seems intent on inviting you to serve in his office. Might you be interested?"

Yu Xuan replied, "Thank you for your kindness, Captain Wang. This morning, I encountered Judge Qi, and he also mentioned this matter to me. But I have already declined."

"Oh? Scholar Yu has no interest in an official career?"

"Riches and honor are not my desire; the imperial court is beyond my reach." Yu Xuan's voice was quiet, but these simple words carried an unshakable resolve.

Wang Yun laughed softly. "And yet, you've already been drawn into this great whirlpool. Do you truly believe you can still extricate yourself?"