The Golden Hairpin

Huang Zixiao remained silent for a long while before nodding and saying, "Yes, I will pay special attention to him."

Li Shubai didn't say anything more and simply continued eating his pastries.

Zhou Ziqin, sensing the awkward atmosphere, quickly grabbed a steamed bun and laughed loudly, "Hahaha, it's my favorite red bean paste bun! Am I just lucky, or does the cook like me?"

No one responded, and his laughter echoed through the flower hall, making the awkwardness even more palpable.

Deflated, Zhou Ziqin took a bite of the bun and then asked Huang Zixiao, "Chonggu, where should we go today?"

Huang Zixiao paused, glancing at Li Shubai. Seeing no change in his expression, she sighed inwardly and said, "You go to Yu Xuan's place, and I'll go to Gongsun Daniang's."

Zhou Ziqin was surprised. "Huh? Why split up? Let's go see Yu Xuan together! Didn't you say he's good-looking, virtuous, kind, and even-tempered? Come on, it'll be fun spending time with him!"

"I... when did I ever say that?" Huang Zixiao felt her scalp prickle—Zhou Ziqin had a knack for hitting the sorest spots.

A cough came from Zhang Xingying, as if he'd choked on his soy milk—even someone as oblivious as Zhang Xingying had noticed, yet Zhou Ziqin remained clueless!

Huang Zixiao stole a glance at Li Shubai and found him looking at her. But instead of the stormy expression she'd expected, his face bore a calm, faint smile.

Gazing at her with amusement, he said, "Since Ziqin needs your help with this case, you should cooperate fully. There's no need to overthink things. What's wrong with going to Yu Xuan's together?"

"...Understood," she replied softly.

"I've been invited to inspect the Western River Army today and will be leaving shortly. You and Ziqin go ahead, but don't overexert yourselves." With that, he took the tea offered by a servant behind him, rinsed his mouth, stood up, and walked out.

Zhang Xingying hurriedly followed. Zhou Ziqin and Huang Zixiao both rose to see him off.

As he passed Huang Zixiao, he suddenly leaned down and whispered in her ear, "Don't worry about me. You promised to stay by my side—I remember."

Hearing his lighthearted words, the weight in her chest suddenly lifted, and a small smile tugged at her lips. "Yes, I remember too," she replied.

Huang Zixiao led Zhou Ziqin on a shortcut to Yu Xuan's residence by Hanyuan Bridge.

Eager to meet Yu Xuan, Zhou Ziqin excitedly pounded on the door knocker. While most people would knock two or three times, he rapped it a good seventeen or eighteen times, nearly yanking the knocker off.

Despite the commotion, there was no response from inside.

As they waited, an old woman squatting nearby to pull weeds looked up and said, "Scholar Yu probably isn't home. Stop knocking."

"Oh..." Zhou Ziqin reluctantly stopped. "Do you know where he went?"

The old woman clearly had no idea and ignored him, continuing to search the ground for weeds.

Huang Zixiao asked, "Granny, what are you looking for?"

"Oh, I've got a few warts on my hand. Need to find some eclipta grass to rub on them," the old woman replied, plucking a weed and tucking it into her sleeve after a glance.Huang Zixiao knew this was eclipta, commonly known as mozzie-bite grass, which could stop bleeding and reduce swelling. Rubbing it on the warts on one's hands would cause them to shrink and fall off in a few days.

She then said, "This grass is indeed good, but its juice leaves black stains on the hands that aren’t easily washed off. You’ll need to use more soapberries."

"This old woman’s skin is already dark with age, so it’s not very noticeable. No matter."

Suddenly, a few images flashed through Huang Zixiao’s mind.

The black stains on Fu Xinruan’s fingers. Gongsun Yuan looking thoughtfully at Qi Teng’s hands. The small scars on Qi Teng’s hands after his death.

Standing under the willow tree, she suddenly felt a faint sadness welling up in her heart.

Zhou Ziqin, noticing her silence and distraction, asked, "What are you thinking about?"

"I was thinking..." she said slowly, "When you offer the most precious thing to someone, only for them to be so eager to get rid of it—it’s really not worth it."

Zhou Ziqin was baffled and still pondering when the door behind them finally opened. Yu Xuan stood inside, dressed in plain blue robes that only accentuated his refined and upright demeanor.

Behind him stood another person—a monk draped in kasaya, his face aged and gaunt, his eyes sharp yet restrained. It was Master Moushan from Guangdu Temple.

They were surprised to find Master Moushan at Yu Xuan’s home. After greeting him with palms pressed together in respect,

Master Moushan smiled and said, "The earlier guest yields to the later. This old monk shall take his leave first."

Huang Zixiao quickly interjected, "Master, please stay. We actually have something to ask you."

Master Moushan gave an "Oh?" and looked at Zhou Ziqin.

Zhou Ziqin promptly introduced himself, "Zhou Ziqin, constable of Chengdu Prefecture."

Master Moushan’s expression darkened momentarily before he smiled again. "What business does someone from the officialdom have with an outsider like me?"

"Master, please." Huang Zixiao gestured for him to enter.

The four of them walked past the whitewashed screen wall and saw the water lilies in the courtyard, their bluish-purple flowers in full bloom. They took their seats in the hall, facing a pond of green lotuses.

Yu Xuan went to the back to prepare tea, leaving the three of them sitting in an awkward silence.

Huang Zixiao spoke first, "Master, may I ask if your visit today was to discuss Buddhist teachings with Yu Xuan?"

Master Moushan nodded, pressing his palms together with a smile. "Patron Yu often has unique insights into Buddhism. This old monk frequently comes to converse with him, finding it calming to the heart and mind. I am leaving for the capital tomorrow, but sensing that Patron Yu seemed troubled, I came today to bid him farewell."

"How thoughtful of you, Master," Huang Zixiao said, then asked, "How did you and Yu Xuan first meet?"

"It was late the year before last, shortly after Patron Yu passed the imperial examination. Chen Lunyun invited me to a poetry gathering at Qing Garden. Though there were over a dozen attendees, Patron Yu stood out with his extraordinary grace. Among the crowd, he left an indelible impression on me." Master Moushan sighed. "Later, after the tragedy befell his adoptive father, Prefect Huang, and his family, he became deeply depressed and attempted to take his own life. Though Magistrate Qi saved him, seeing his despair, he asked me to counsel him. Since then, Patron Yu and I have grown closer."

Huang Zixiao nodded and sighed. "I’ve also heard that Magistrate Qi had frequent interactions with you."

Master Moushan nodded. "Amitabha. Patron Qi was indeed a frequent visitor here. He was witty and always wore a smile. It’s a pity he passed away so young—Chengdu Prefecture has lost a remarkable man..."Zhou Ziqin quickly added, "The master truly saves all sentient beings. It was entirely thanks to him that Yu Xuan abandoned his thoughts of suicide back then."

Though Monk Mushan still wore a smile, his gaze was evasive. "Indeed, who among mortals can truly leave behind the worldly dust? For Benefactor Yu to seek release from suffering through death was like climbing a tree to catch fish."

Huang Zixiang then asked, "So, Master, you were aware of Yu Xuan's troubles?"

Monk Mushan replied, "Naturally. As the adopted son of Prefect Huang, and with everyone knowing that the Huang family's daughter poisoned her entire household for his sake, he deeply resented himself for causing his benefactor's family to be destroyed. Overwhelmed by guilt, he blamed himself entirely, his mind consumed by demons, leading to his extreme actions..."

"I've noticed he often suffers from headaches now. Is this a psychological ailment or a lingering effect of his suicide attempt?" Huang Zixiang pressed.

Monk Mushan sighed. "In my view, it is likely both."

Huang Zixiang nodded and continued, "Forgive my curiosity, Master, but I heard from Magistrate Qi's steward that you once traveled to the capital and brought back an Agashini fish to Shu, gifting it to Magistrate Qi?"

"Yes, this old monk happened to receive it as a gift from a noble in the capital and brought it back to Chengdu. Later, upon reading scriptures, I learned that this fish is bloodthirsty and inauspicious, unfit for the purity of Buddhism. I was considering releasing it when Magistrate Qi visited and took a liking to the little fish. I explicitly warned him, but he dismissed my concerns and took it—alas, perhaps I led him astray, bringing upon him a calamity of blood."

"Master, you overthink. It's merely a small fish; how could it be inauspicious? Have you not heard that Prince Kui often carries a small fish with him as well? Also an Agashini," Huang Zixiang remarked.

At the mention of Prince Kui, Monk Mushan hastily clasped his hands and softly chanted, "Amitabha. Prince Kui's noble body is protected by heaven; no mere fish could harm him in the slightest."

"Moreover, I heard that Magistrate Qi's little fish has gone missing?"

Monk Mushan's expression stiffened momentarily before he smiled again. "With a clear conscience, one remains unshaken. How can external things hinder the self? As long as one holds firm, whether the fish is present or not makes no difference."

Seeing the old monk deflect again, Huang Zixiang steered the conversation back. "Since Magistrate Qi was so fond of the fish you gave him, why wasn't it properly cared for? Where is the fish now? I asked Yu Xuan about it, but he seemed unaware, and the fish was nowhere to be found in his residence. Steward Qi Fu mentioned hearing Magistrate Qi speak of it to you. Is this true?"

Monk Mushan's drooping eyelids twitched slightly as he spoke even more slowly. "It is true. That fish... was killed by Benefactor Yu."

Even Zhou Ziqin was surprised. "I heard Agashini are incredibly resilient, living up to a hundred years. Why would Yu Xuan kill it for no reason?"

"Perhaps during an episode of his illness, he accidentally broke the fishbowl. No matter how tenacious an Agashini is, without water, it cannot survive."

Seeing his flawless response, Huang Zixiang could only nod. "I see... Regarding this fish, I have one more question to ask. Would the master be willing to enlighten me?"Master Mushan nodded in approval before she asked, "Regarding that fish, the Agashini, could you tell us about its origin, who gifted it, and how you obtained it?"

"The fish..." Master Mushan hesitated for a long moment before finally nodding. "After I took monastic vows, I developed no fondness for worldly possessions and severed ties with material things. Thus, when I last visited the capital, Eunuch Wang presented me with several volumes of sutras handwritten by Master Xuanzang, along with that Agashini fish. It is said this fish was transformed from a momentary distraction of the Dragon Maiden before the Buddha, inherently imbued with Buddhist nature. After bringing it back to Chengdu Prefecture, I noticed Qi Teng's fondness for the fish—he repeatedly asked me for it. Considering myself a monk with no business keeping living creatures, I eventually gifted it to him."

Mention of the fish reminded Zhou Ziqin of another matter. He quickly retrieved the twin-fish bracelet from his robe and placed it on the table, saying, "Master, this—"

Before he could finish, Master Mushan abruptly recoiled his hand as if afraid to touch it. The elderly monk's movements were usually slow and deliberate, making this sudden reaction startle both Huang Zixia and Zhou Ziqin, who immediately sensed something amiss.