The Golden Hairpin

"I don't want to be the flower that merely embellishes your life. I only wish to be a catalpa tree standing shoulder to shoulder with you, so when storms come, we can shelter each other."

The imperial guards of Chang'an's Northern Office had undergone several transformations, with the Divine Strategy Army now leading and the Imperial Forest Army following closely behind.

Huang Zixiao, dressed in eunuch attire, passed through the Divine Strategy Army camp and arrived at the Imperial Forest Army headquarters to request an audience with Wang Yun. After being transferred back to the Imperial Forest Army, Wang Yun had quickly risen to the position of Right Commander, his career soaring like a comet.

After presenting her name card, Huang Zixiao gazed at the soldiers training nearby through the tent. She expected to wait a while before Wang Yun would emerge, but to her surprise, he came out almost immediately, returning her name card. "Don't use Yang Chonggu's name card anymore. Next time, just tell them you're Huang Zixiao and walk right in."

Huang Zixiao was slightly taken aback, wondering how he had appeared so quickly.

"I just returned from the Divine Strategy Army and saw you the moment I turned around," he said, gesturing for her to follow him inside. A quick-witted young attendant had already prepared tea and served it promptly.

Wang Yun stoked the fire in the room, studying the faint shadows under her eyes. "Yesterday's upheaval was truly horrifying. I couldn't sleep all night either."

"I came today precisely because of that," Huang Zixiao murmured, looking down at the tea in her hands. "I have a request to make."

He narrowed his eyes slightly, scrutinizing her expression inch by inch before finally smiling. "A wise man doesn't stand under a crumbling wall. Someone as intelligent as you should know what's best for yourself."

Huang Zixiao pressed her lips together silently and said softly, "Yes, but there are some things in this world—even if I know it's like a mantis trying to stop a chariot, even if thousands stand in my way—I must still go forward."

The tea tasted slightly bitter, sticking in her throat like a fishbone. Watching her subdued yet resolute expression, Wang Yun felt his own breath catch, countless words trapped in his chest, unable to be spoken.

"Your reason?" He set his teacup down gently and turned his gaze to the window, looking at the snow-laden clouds in the post-storm sky. "What is he to you, and what are you to him?"

What was he to her? What was she to him?

Fragments of the past flashed before her eyes, countless moments just within reach. No promises had been made, yet the bond was undeniable.

Huang Zixiao took a deep breath and said in a low but steady voice, "He accompanied me south to Chengdu, helped clear my name of false accusations, and aided me in finding the true culprit behind my family's murder, bringing that bloody case to a close. In this lifetime, such a debt can never be repaid."

"In this lifetime..." Wang Yun laughed, though there was a tinge of sorrow in it. "In the end, I never had such an opportunity."

Huang Zixiao bowed her head silently, offering no reply.

Unable to let it go, he pressed further, "When you came to the capital to seek justice, were you planning to turn to him from the start? The Huang family has relatives here, and I... was your betrothed at the time. Why did you seek his help instead?"

"It was mere coincidence. Zhang Xingying helped me sneak into the procession, and he discovered me." She lowered her head, cradling the teacup, her neck deeply bowed. Yet she knew that even if she hadn't resolved to seek Li Shubai's help then, she could never have turned to Wang Yun. Because the crime she had been accused of was killing her entire family for the sake of a lover.Wang Yun naturally thought of this as well, and both fell into silence. Eventually, it was Wang Yun who broke the awkwardness by refilling her tea with a smile, saying, "Then I truly can't guess your purpose for visiting today."

Huang Zixiang looked up at the Shence Army camp across from them and said, "Previously, in the Taiji Palace, I once had a brief encounter with Eunuch Wang. He kindly taught me how to care for Agashini, helping me successfully retrieve the little fish I had accidentally released. I thought perhaps I should express my gratitude to him."

Wang Yun immediately understood her meaning and replied, "Eunuch Wang has served as Left Shence Army Protectorate Central Envoy for many years and enjoys the emperor's deep trust. As a result, visitors seeking his favor are endless. To avoid the nuisance, he rarely goes out, seldom visits the military camp, and hardly ever receives guests."

"Precisely because I know this, I came to seek your help, Commander Wang. Perhaps a note from you could grant me an audience with him."

Wang Yun frowned slightly. "Though Eunuch Wang shares my surname, we are not of the same lineage. The entire court knows he has little interaction with my Langya Wang family. If you wish to see him, why come to me?"

"Is that so?" Huang Zixiang gazed at him with clear, unwavering eyes, her voice soft but resolute. "Yet since he staunchly supports Empress Wang, he must be familiar with your family. At the very least, as an outstanding member of the Wang family, he would surely appreciate you."

Wang Yun couldn't help but laugh. He was exceptionally handsome, and his smile was particularly striking—like the dawn's first light or a spring breeze melting ice. Resting his chin on his hand, he chuckled lightly and said, "No, the one Eunuch Wang admires most is still you."

His sudden remark took Huang Zixiang by surprise. She widened her eyes, curious about what he would say next.

But Wang Yun said no more. Instead, he stood and told her, "Wait here a moment. I'll be right back."

True to his word, he returned shortly, having changed out of his military uniform into a black fox-fur coat, ready to accompany her outside.

"Let's go. Eunuch Wang's residence isn't far from here."

In the gray sky, the dense crimson clouds grew heavier. Wang Yun and Huang Zixiang mounted their horses and headed north of the Daming Palace toward Jianbi Palace.

Yesterday's light snow had melted, only to freeze again into icy shards under the renewed cold. Huang Zixiang leaned down from her horse to check Fusha's hooves, then gently stroked its mane in reassurance.

Wang Yun glanced back at her and noticed a few flecks of ice clinging to her hair, which soon melted, occasionally glinting brightly against her cheeks.

Turning to look at the dazzling light on her face, he slowed his horse to ride beside her. Though he knew a simple gesture could wipe it away, his hand remained frozen, unable to reach out.

A wave of inexplicable frustration welled up inside him. Without understanding why, he flicked the reins and urged his horse into a gallop.

Ahead, the trees around Jianbi Palace stood bare, and a low wall meandered along the lakeside. Two persimmon trees stood at the gate, with no guardian stone beasts in sight. Wang Yun pointed into the distance and said, "We're here."

Huang Zixiang had assumed Wang Zongshi would live in a heavily guarded, high-walled compound. The simplicity of his residence surprised her.

Wang Yun knocked lightly on the door. After a long wait, a young boy finally opened it. Recognizing Wang Yun, he said lazily, "So early? The eunuch hasn't risen yet... Huh? Who is she?"

Wang Yun replied, "She is Huang Zixiang.""Oh," he responded casually before turning and heading inside. Not long after, he emerged from the backyard with a handful of pine nuts for Wang Yun, saying, "Let's sit here and chat for a while. Miss Huang can go in by herself."

"Go ahead," Wang Yun nodded slightly at Huang Zixia, then leaned against the railing with the young man, actually starting to shell the pine nuts.

Huang Zixia pushed open the door and walked slowly inside.

Beyond the door, beneath the corridor, lay a clear pool of water. Even in such snowy weather, the green duckweed remained vibrant, and sparse lotus leaves dotted the surface, with one or two small buds peeking out above the water.

She crossed the small bridge over the pond and arrived at the pavilion on the opposite side, where she saw Wang Zongshi standing. Dressed in plain brocade casual attire, he was slender and tall. Only his eyes, sharp and somber, fixed on her, sent a shiver down her spine, stirring an inexplicable fear within her.

Without a word, Wang Zongshi turned and led her inside, seating her in the pavilion.

Facing them was a massive glass tank, where red and black fish swam leisurely back and forth. The daylight outside refracted through the glass, water ripples, and fish scales, casting a faint, undulating glow that filled the room with an eerie yet beautiful light.

The heated floors kept the room warm as spring, so Wang Zongshi wore only a thin brocade robe. Huang Zixia, having just come in from the cold wind outside, immediately felt a wave of warmth. Wang Zongshi gestured for her to remove her fox fur coat behind the screen. When she returned, she found he had already poured two cups of tea on the small table by the window—two pools of jade-green liquid in delicate celadon cups, with steam still rising gently from the small stove.

She sat down before Wang Zongshi and bowed her head in greeting.

Having spent long hours indoors, Wang Zongshi's skin was so pale it seemed almost translucent. Under the shimmering reflections of the water, it took on an unnatural radiance. Huang Zixia could only sense the chilling aura around him, not daring to meet his gaze, and instead lowered her head to sip her tea.

His voice, cold as ice meeting water, broke the silence: "Is Prince Kui well?"

Huang Zixia replied softly, "Very well."

"Hmph," he sneered, setting his cup lightly on the table before fixing her with a stare. "Then, may I ask what brings Miss Huang here today?"

Huang Zixia answered calmly, "The Agaśṛṅga fish raised by Prince Kui have been unusually restless lately. So I came privately to seek your advice, Lord Wang, on how to calm these disturbed little fish."

"Sudden changes in weather—rain and snow—can unsettle fish, making them sensitive to abrupt shifts between warmth and cold. It's only natural if they act out," he said slowly, his voice icy, carrying an inescapable chill. "As long as the fish remains obediently in the water and doesn't leap out, all is well."

In Huang Zixia's mind flashed the image of Prince E, Li Run, plunging from the Xiangluan Pavilion the night before.

She knew Wang Zongshi had eyes and ears everywhere in the court, and last night's tragedy had already spread throughout the capital—he must have known long ago. She turned her gaze to the glass tank, watching the fish darting freely in the water, and sighed softly. "Your insight is profound, Lord Wang. I only wish to know why a fish, living so contentedly, would suddenly choose to leap out? What could drive it to sacrifice its life so recklessly?""I have never seen Prince Kui's fish, nor have I raised them myself. How could I know the reason behind it?" Wang Zongshi stood up and walked to the fish tank, lightly tapping the glass wall with his fingers. The fish inside quickly gathered before his fingertips, appearing like black ashes and red blood flowing along his fingers. The fish's figures were distorted by the glass, creating a vague and eerie effect.

"Moreover, what does Prince Kui's fish have to do with me?"

Huang Zixiang smiled faintly at him and said, "Prince Kui's fish is no different from yours, Eunuch. Since his fish have already leaped out, I suspect yours might not remain obediently in the tank forever—after all, you must know the weather has been unfavorable lately. It seems the skies have changed."

Wang Zongshi's sinister eyes narrowed into slits. He studied her carefully, then slowly asked, word by word, "Then how do you know that I am not the very strange weather causing the fish to behave abnormally?"

"You oversee so many fish, such a vast family. I believe you would prefer to maintain the current weather rather than risk harming the fish you cherish. Wouldn't you agree...?" Huang Zixiang also stood and walked to his side, watching the small fish gather and disperse in the water, a faint smile curling at the corners of her lips.

Wang Zongshi tapped the glass tank lightly with his fingers, lost in thought for a long while. He looked up at Huang Zixiang standing before him, her figure bathed in the shimmering, refracted light of the water—serene and translucent, like polished jade glowing softly.

His gaze, usually cold and harsh, seemed to soften slightly as he studied her. He turned and sat back down by the window, pouring her another cup of tea himself.

Huang Zixiang knelt respectfully before him, lowering her head as she accepted the cup, cradling it in her palms.

Wang Zongshi poured himself another cup and said impassively, "However, I truly do not know why the weather has been so peculiar lately, nor do I know what strange behavior the fish might exhibit next, or in what manner."

"Even you are unaware of the signs?" Huang Zixiang asked, watching him closely.

Wang Yun's pursuit and assassination attempt on Prince Kui was a secret, but how could Wang Zongshi not know?

Yet, faced with her probing, he merely smiled faintly. In the wavering light of the water, his smile seemed oddly cryptic. "Even if I knew, why should I tell you? Yun has already broken off the engagement with you. You are no longer part of our Wang family."

After a long silence, Huang Zixiang finally said, "I had thought that, given the current circumstances, you might also worry about your fish being affected."

"I do, but I have no intention of entrusting such matters to an outsider," he said slowly, holding the teacup in his left hand and resting his chin on his right. "Between a daughter-in-law of the Wang family and a eunuch from Prince Kui's household, the difference in trustworthiness is far too great."

Huang Zixiang remained silent, watching him without a word.

He studied her expression, and for the first time, a smile appeared on his somber face—though in the rippling light of the room, it seemed distorted, making her feel an even deeper chill.

"Reconsider your engagement to the Wang family, and I will allow you to investigate this matter."

By the time Huang Zixiang returned to Prince Kui's residence, it was nearly noon.

She led Nafusha to the stable, adding fodder and beans for the horse. Turning around, she saw Die’e trotting over to nuzzle Nafusha’s neck.She rubbed Di E's head, only for it to shake her off fiercely with a snarl. A little exasperated, she lightly patted its head and said, "Honestly, after all we've been through together, you still won't give me any face?"

"How could it possibly give you face when it holds such a deep grudge against you?" someone remarked from behind. "After all, you dragged Na Fusha out early this morning, leaving it sulking."

Huang Ziguang didn't need to turn around to know it was Li Shubai. Feeling a slight tension, she turned to him with a smile and asked, "So, I'm the one who wronged it?"

Li Shubai glanced at the mud stains on Na Fusha and ordered someone to clean it. Then, turning to Huang Ziguang, he said, "Change your clothes. It's time for lunch."

Huang Ziguang nodded obediently and followed him. After a few steps, she couldn't help but explain guiltily, "This morning... I went to see Chief Eunuch Wang Zongshi."

"Oh," he replied flatly. "Now that I'm free of responsibilities, I should take walks like you do."

Relieved that he didn't seem to mind, she added, "I was testing the waters. Chief Eunuch Wang likely isn't involved in this matter. In fact, he might even become an ally for Your Highness."

Li Shubai paused and turned to look at her, saying quietly, "The two of us have never had any dealings before."

Huang Ziguang gave him a questioning look.

Meeting her clear gaze, he sighed deeply and said, "I don’t want you to worry for my sake."

The cold air turned his breath into a wisp of white vapor that dissipated into nothingness.

"Why worry?" Huang Ziguang silently took his hand and murmured, "Your Highness has upheld integrity in court for years, beyond reproach. Since they can find no fault in you, they resort to superstitious rumors to mislead the public and slander you. But falsehoods always have an origin—this is our chance to uncover the mastermind behind it all."

Li Shubai looked down at her and shook his head. "It won’t stop there. Remember the assassins we encountered in Shu? Now that I’m in this vulnerable position, do you think they’ll let such an opportunity pass?"

Huang Ziguang frowned slightly. "Your Highness means they might still—"

Before she could finish, footsteps approached. Jing Yi entered and reported, "The Left Protectorate Army’s Chief Eunuch Wang has sent word that he will visit Your Highness at the hour of Wei. He requests an audience."

Li Shubai’s gaze shifted to Huang Ziguang, who blinked and said, "I thought you two never interacted?"

For the first time, Li Shubai looked flustered in front of her. "How should I know? Do you have any idea why he’s coming?"

Huang Ziguang gave him an innocent look, indicating she truly didn’t know. But then, a sudden recollection flashed through her mind—Wang Zongshi’s final words to her.

She lowered her head silently. Noticing her sudden quietness, Li Shubai said nothing but tightened his grip on her hand. "Out of all the court officials, His Majesty chose Wang Zongshi—someone who has never been connected to me—as his envoy. There can only be one reason."

Huang Ziguang looked at him questioningly.

"Because he is the Left Protectorate Army’s Chief Eunuch. Right now, even the Ministry of War controls fewer troops in the capital than he does. In all of Chang’an, he is likely the only one who dares to pressure me."Huang Zixiang immediately understood and asked, "Is His Majesty planning to strip you of your military authority?"

"Indeed. Currently, within the Northern Garrison Imperial Army, apart from the Divine Strategy Army and the Imperial Forest Army, the main forces of the Divine Might and Divine Valor Armies are composed of troops I relocated from Longyou. As for the Southern Garrison Sixteen Guards, which oversee the various regional military governors, they had already existed in name only since the An Lushan Rebellion. It was only after my campaign in Xuzhou that I, along with the military governors, reestablished the rotation system, rebuilding them based on the troops stationed in the capital from various military prefectures. Only I can control them," he frowned slightly and said in a low voice, "So, although I have no private army, I am indeed a significant threat to the court."

Huang Zixiang couldn't help but say, "When you initially built these two forces to strengthen the imperial family's power and restrain Wang Zongshi, His Majesty must have supported you."

"He did. But now, the person His Majesty has chosen is not me." He silently lowered his lashes, gazing at their tightly clasped hands, his expression slightly somber. "How could I not know that maintaining a low profile is the way to preserve oneself? But with the imperial clan in decline, for years I had no choice but to stand out in court, taking charge of everything—yet it seems, in the end, I still took the wrong path."

"You didn't take the wrong path. Without your efforts to restore the imperial family's authority, who in the world could have restrained Wang Zongshi? Emperors Shunzong, Xianzong, and Jingzong all perished at the hands of eunuchs. The world knew only of eunuchs, not the imperial family. Given the past precedents, who’s to say history won’t repeat itself?"

Her earnest affirmation finally drew a silent smile from him. Gently stroking her hair, he murmured, "If only His Majesty could share your perspective, how wonderful that would be."

When Wang Zongshi arrived, he brought only his personal attendant, a young boy. His demeanor was casual and relaxed, as if this were merely a routine visit. Yet the first words he spoke after sitting down made Huang Zixiang, standing behind Li Shubai, frown involuntarily.

He said, "This humble official comes today on His Majesty's orders."

Li Shubai asked, "What instructions does His Majesty have?"

Wang Zongshi leaned back in his chair, the corners of his lips curling into a faint, ambiguous smile. "Originally, this matter had nothing to do with me, but who in the capital would dare to offend Your Highness lightly? In the end, this thankless task fell to me."

"Then it must be a matter of great importance."

"Your Highness is aware that yesterday’s incident has already spread throughout the court and beyond. Such turmoil is not beneficial to Your Highness, and silencing the ignorant masses is no easy task—after all, Prince E's accusations were that Prince Kui has corrupted the court and endangered the realm."

Li Shubai listened to his words in silence, offering no response.

Seeing that he wouldn’t take the bait, Wang Zongshi stood up calmly and bowed to him. "Now that the three-year garrison rotation period has ended, the Southern Garrison Sixteen Guards are due for a change in command. If Your Highness would allow the court to oversee the generals and relinquish control of the Divine Valor and Divine Might Armies, the court and the public would surely recognize Your Highness's lack of rebellious intent. Then, the rumors would undoubtedly cease immediately, and the ignorant villagers would come to understand Your Highness's loyalty to the sovereign and devotion to the state—"

"You yourself called them ignorant villagers. What they speculate in their hearts is of no concern to me." A rare smile appeared on Li Shubai's face as he leisurely interrupted him.

Wang Zongshi's lips curled into that same ambiguous smile. "This humble official knew Prince Kui would not easily concede. However, the Emperor's will is difficult to defy, and with Your Highness now under widespread condemnation, remaining unmoved would make it hard to justify to the world, would it not?""With countless people in this world, young and old, wise and foolish, all differing in opinion, how could this prince possibly attend to them all?" Li Shubai replied with a faint smile still lingering at the corners of his lips. "Moreover, Eunuch Wang should be well aware that this prince has recently faced frequent assassination attempts. If I cannot even maintain control over those already in my grasp, I fear it won't be long before I find myself in grave danger. Who in this world doesn't prioritize their own safety? For now, this prince has no choice but to let down the people of the realm first."

"If His Highness does not give his consent, then I can only report as much to His Majesty," Wang Zongshi said with a bow. "There is another matter. Due to the Dali Temple's inability to intervene in the case of Prince E, His Majesty has specifically instructed this official to collaborate with the Ministry of Justice in the investigation. I humbly request Your Highness's guidance to facilitate our work."

Li Shubai naturally knew what this was about, but he did not reveal anything, merely nodding and saying, "Of course."

"Does Your Highness have any connection to the death of Prince E?"

"I, too, would like to know. After all, Prince E and I grew up together, and our brotherly bond was deep," he said impassively, his face showing only a hint of regret. "I have never done anything to wrong Prince E, yet before his death, he spread such rumors, causing the world to misunderstand me. It is truly perplexing."

Huang Zixiang listened to his calm narration, recalling his grief the night Prince E leaped from the city wall, and couldn't help but feel sorrowful.

In truth, he might have been the person who cared most for Prince E in this world, yet now he could only speak of his seventh brother with such detachment.

Wang Zongshi's slightly narrowed eyes swept over Li Shubai's face before lowering again. He asked, "When was the last time Your Highness met with Prince E?"

"At the beginning of the month."

"Was Prince E's attitude toward Your Highness unusual at that time?"

"No."

"Could Your Highness recount the circumstances of that meeting for this official?"

"I returned to him a bracelet that belonged to Consort Chen, which had been lost outside the palace. He took it back and placed it before his mother's spirit tablet."

Li Shubai did not offer a single unnecessary word, yet his answers were indeed cooperative, leaving Wang Zongshi with no choice but to rise and bow. "Thank you, Your Highness. This official will proceed to Prince E's residence immediately to search for any useful evidence to clear Your Highness's name as soon as possible."

Li Shubai slightly raised a hand in a gesture of farewell.

Wang Zongshi straightened, his gaze sweeping over Huang Zixiang. His perpetually cold and rigid face suddenly revealed a faint smile as he said, "Miss Huang, have you given any thought to that matter we discussed?"

Huang Zixiang had not expected him to bring it up so abruptly in front of Li Shubai. Startled, she was at a loss for words.

Though Wang Zongshi was already in his forties, he had always taken good care of himself, his skin pale as jade. Now, with this slight smile, he faintly resembled Wang Yun's graceful, willow-like demeanor. Yet his eyes remained cold and sharp, sending chills down one's spine: "If you have made your decision, come with me to Prince E's residence and assist in the investigation."

Hesitant, Huang Zixiang's gaze fell upon Li Shubai.

Naturally, Li Shubai was unaware of the previous conversation between Huang Zixiang and Wang Zongshi. His eyes rested on her, though he did not ask. Yet Huang Zixiang already felt guilty, lowering her head timidly to stare at her toes.

That faintly mocking expression reappeared on Wang Zongshi's face. "Your Highness, please understand. If Miss Huang remains your attendant eunuch, she must avoid any conflict of interest and naturally cannot be involved in this case. Therefore, she came to me and agreed to consider marriage to Wang Yun. In doing so, she would become a member of the Wang family, the wife of the Right Commander of the Imperial Guards, and the daughter-in-law of the Minister of Justice. Her status would no longer require her to avoid involvement. With Your Highness's permission, she could join us in the investigation immediately.""No need," Li Shubai withdrew his gaze from Huang Zixiao and said lightly, "With Eunuch Wang and Minister Wang personally overseeing this matter, what concerns could the Kui Palace possibly have? Why bother involving a little eunuch who would only get in the way?"

"In that case, everything is at Your Highness's discretion."

Wang Zongshi bowed once more and turned to leave at a measured pace.

The room was now left with only Li Shubai and Huang Zixiao. He gestured to the seat before him, indicating for her to sit.

Huang Zixiao sat nervously before him, her eyes downcast as she silently stared at her tightly clasped fingers. Her mind was in turmoil, unsure how to explain herself. Lost in hesitation, she finally heard Li Shubai ask, "Why?"

"I... didn't agree," she quickly explained. "He told me that reconsidering my engagement to Wang Yun would allow me to intervene in this case. At the time, I sought an audience with him to discern whether he was friend or foe—how could I outright refuse? So I vaguely said I would consider it. But who knew he would twist my words before you?"

"Then why did you impulsively take it upon yourself to see Wang Zongshi today?" Li Shubai's brows furrowed slightly, and as another thought occurred to him, his voice turned icy. "You couldn't have met Wang Zongshi unless Wang Yun took you there."

Her lips trembled, but no words came out.

"Do you not trust me, or do you doubt my ability? Do I need a woman's help?" he asked coldly, his voice laced with anger.

Huang Zixiao pressed her lips together and shook her head, lifting her gaze to meet his steadily. Though her voice was soft, she finally explained, "Though you strive to shield me from the storm, I cannot stand by and watch you bear everything alone. I don’t want to be the flower that merely adorns your life—I want to be the catalpa tree standing beside you, so when the storm comes, we can shelter each other."

He slowly shook his head. "Better to forget each other in the rivers and lakes than cling together in hardship."

"But even if I were to live alone in this world of boundless splendor, how could I ever forget you?" She looked up at him and asked softly, "Don’t you think that, in the current situation, the Wang family is our best ally?"

Beneath her long lashes, her eyes shone like morning dew in spring, unwavering as they held his gaze. In them, his reflection was clear. At this moment, he didn’t need to ask to know that in her eyes, he mattered more than the entire world behind him.

A chord in his chest trembled violently, and he nearly lost control of his hands, wanting to pull her tightly into his embrace—never to part from her again in this life.

But she was like a wisp of smoke in the wind, snowflakes on a hot spring, a fragile orchid easily crushed.

The slightest touch, and she might vanish—so delicate.

Wang Yun’s words from that day echoed faintly in his ears:

"Your Highness, what are your next plans? Have you considered what might happen to Huang Zixiao by your side? Do you truly believe you can protect her unscathed in such circumstances? Though Your Highness is a prodigy, adept at strategy, before the weight of family and country, human life is as insignificant as grass—let alone a lone, orphaned girl. Sometimes, the slightest misstep could wither even the most delicate orchid."In all his life, he had never protected anyone. Through the storms of these years, countless people around him had perished or been wounded—all of it commonplace. But now, assassinations, killers, poison, traps, soul-stealing... any of these could befall her one by one.

Even though she was renowned throughout the land and exceptionally intelligent, she was still just a slender and delicate seventeen-year-old girl. Even if she wished to be a flourishing catalpa tree, how could she withstand the fury of thunder or the scorching of heavenly fire?

In the end, he turned his face away, avoiding her clear, dewdrop-like eyes, and rose to stand before the door, gazing at the pines and cypresses in the courtyard.

Neither of them had noticed the snow falling heavily outside. Under the gloomy sky, goose-feather flakes tumbled down heedlessly, covering the ground like shattered jade.

Watching the snow, he suddenly spoke in a low voice, "Leave."

Huang Zixiang slowly stood up, dazed. "What?"

"If you seek the Wang family's help for my sake, what meaning would it hold even if you succeeded? You think this would aid me, but in truth, it would only make me a laughingstock," he said, his gaze fixed on the heavy snow as it blanketed the courtyard in white. "I pressured the Wang family to secure your freedom. Why must you now ruin my plans and complicate matters?"

"But I believe the forces we face now are far beyond what we imagined. So, for both of us to emerge unscathed, even if it means resorting to methods you disdain, even if it means collaborating with Wang Zongshi and Wang Yun, even if it means betraying the Wang family—I am willing to do it, and I will do it well!" She pressed a hand to her chest, steadying her agitated breathing. "Because I believe this is the best choice for the Wang family, for you, and for me. Even if some underhanded means are used, as long as we reach our desired destination, isn't that the best outcome?"

"A gentleman has principles—some things he will do, others he will not." Li Shubai's voice was cold and distant, carrying an icy edge. "The only thing I need from you is to leave. Your presence here only makes you my weakness."

"Why do you think I would become your weakness? If you’re willing, I can ride alongside you, keeping pace with you," she said, biting her lower lip. "You don’t need to provoke me deliberately—I won’t be a burden to you."

He exhaled deeply, watching the storm outside. The eaves shielded them from the swirling snow, but they could not keep out the biting cold.

"I told you, leave," he turned back, walked to the desk, and spread out a sheet of paper, weighing it down with a jade ruler. "The capital’s winter is harsh and unforgiving. But in Nanzhao, flowers still bloom everywhere, and the climate is like spring. The garrison there consists of trusted men. You can take my letter and the Prince of Kui’s token south to enjoy the flowers first, then wait for my return."

Huang Zixiang said nothing. She only pushed the jade ruler aside, causing the paper to roll up again, preventing him from writing.

Yet he merely glanced at her, silently smoothing the paper once more with the ruler, and said indifferently, "Shu, Jiangnan, even Longyou—where would you prefer?"

"Don’t send me away," she pressed her hand against the desk, her voice trembling slightly. "I just want to stay with you, for both of us to be safe."He set down the brush in his hand and looked directly at her. "Zixia, do you think they wouldn't know that targeting you is the best way to hurt me? Sending you away now is for your good as well as mine. So you must leave as soon as possible."

"I won't leave until Prince E's case is solved," she shook her head, her gaze fixed firmly on him. "As long as Wang Zongshi permits me to investigate this case, I will uncover the mystery behind Prince E's disappearance, clear your name, and find out the truth about the curse and the little red fish!"

"Impossible. I won't let you take such risks." He cut off all possibilities with finality.

"Why? Is this for my sake, or for your ridiculous pride?" Huang Zixia's anger flared at his stubbornness. She grabbed the jade ruler from the table and slammed it down beside his papers. The fragile jade snapped in two under the force, the upper half flying off and shattering on the floor with a sharp, clear sound that echoed through the hall.

That piercing noise seemed to slice a sharp wound across both their hearts. Li Shubai tossed aside his brush and asked coldly, "Ridiculous pride?"

"Yes! That so-called male dignity of yours, as if accepting my help would somehow diminish you! Will blaming me like this help the current situation at all?" Huang Zixia took deep breaths, struggling to contain herself before the words burst out, "Don't you understand? I just want to do something for you!"

He sneered, "I don't need you to do anything for me. If you'd just obediently stayed in Chengdu, in the residence as I told you, I wouldn't be facing these troubles now."

She couldn't believe he would shift the blame to her like this. Shaking her head, she took a step back, her voice trembling as she asked, "Are you saying... all these troubles were brought about by me?"

Li Shubai saw her pale face and bluish lips—whether from the cold or overwhelming emotion, he couldn't tell. Though brilliant beyond compare, he didn't understand women and didn't know how to respond. Seeing her like this pained him deeply, yet he hardened his heart and said, "Zixia, self-awareness is precious. Don't make me regret ever meeting you."

A bleak smile surfaced on Huang Zixia's face as she murmured, "So even our acquaintance has become a mistake now?"

Li Shubai shook his head, saying only, "Go pack your things. Leave for Nanzhao once the snow stops."

"Fine... I'll leave you." With these final words, she walked out without looking back, striding through the swirling snow in the courtyard toward the exit.

She didn't turn back, moving so quickly through the courtyard it was almost a run.

Li Shubai watched her disappear into the snowstorm, his thoughts in turmoil. Picking up his brush, he managed only two characters before finding himself unable to continue.

He sighed, gazing in the direction she'd gone. Her footprints had already been buried by fresh snow. The pines and cypresses retained only their outlines, their verdant hues completely hidden beneath. The entire courtyard was left a blank expanse of white, as empty and desolate as his heart.

Huang Zixia hurried through layer after layer of courtyards toward the main gate.

Her eyes burned fiercely, what they contained no longer able to be held back, spilling over in hot streams.The wind was bitterly cold, but she seemed not to feel it at all as she hurried past three gates and nine winding corridors.

The scenery before her was nothing but a blur in the snowstorm. Her mind was fixed solely on the last words she had thrown at him as she walked step by step.

The snow was falling heavily. The young eunuch Lu Yunzhong sat in the gatehouse of Prince Kui’s residence, roasting peanuts by the brazier. When he saw her emerge from the corridor in the midst of the storm, he was startled. He quickly stood up, pulling her to the warmth of the fire, staring at her blue-purple, frostbitten face. Stamping his feet, he exclaimed, “Good heavens, at least wear a cloak! If you catch a chill, how am I supposed to explain it to His Highness?”

She lowered her head woodenly and said, “No need to explain.”

“Huh?” Lu Yunzhong looked at her, puzzled.

“I have urgent business. I must leave.” She raised her hand to her wrist, gripping the golden thread strung with red beans, intending to remove it. Yet under the glow of the firelight, she stared at those two blood-red beans in a daze for a long moment before finally letting her hand drop, allowing the bracelet to slip back onto her wrist.

Lu Yunzhong hurriedly asked, “Where are you going in such heavy snow? Let me call a carriage for you!”

She shook her head, only gazing ahead at the street as she asked, “Has Eunuch Wang left?”

“He just left—right before you, in fact.” Lu Yunzhong pointed at the still-fresh wheel tracks in the snow.

Huang Zixiang said nothing more, rising to dash down the steps. Lu Yunzhong, startled, called after her, but she had already quickened her pace and vanished into the snowstorm.

He stood there gaping for a moment before a cold gust of wind made him sneeze twice. Shivering, he hurried back inside to warm himself by the brazier.

The white-clad city of Chang’an was a vast expanse of desolation.

Huang Zixiang struggled through the blizzard, following the tracks of Wang Zongshi’s carriage and horses as she made her way out of Yongjia Ward.

Though the snow was heavy, Wang Zongshi couldn’t have gone far. The tracks led north before abruptly ending at the gates of Anguo Temple in Xingning Ward.

Anguo Temple was originally named Qingchan Temple, only renamed in the sixth year of Huichang. When she was a child in Chang’an, the elders still called it by its old name. Now, with such heavy snow, the horses and carriage would surely slip—they must have gone inside to take shelter.

She walked up to the temple gates, not bothering to brush the snow from her clothes, and pounded on the tightly shut doors. From within came the sound of rapid footsteps—certainly not those of monks, but likely the Shence Army or Imperial Guards. Wang Zongshi and Wang Yun had arrived together, each leading a contingent of soldiers.

The snow swirled thickly, the cold biting to the bone. Already weakened by poor health, the exertion of running through the storm left her vision darkening, her body unbearably weak. She leaned against the door, her legs unable to support her any longer.

Slowly, she slid down the door, collapsing to the ground as she hugged her knees. Her right hand clutched her left wrist, fingers brushing the golden thread where the two red beans nestled together.

Smooth, warm, pressed lightly against each other.

Even if she pried them apart with her fingers, they stubbornly slid back together. No matter where one was, the slightest force would send them rolling along the curve of the thread, drawn inexorably toward each other, inseparable.

And yet, just moments ago, she had told the man who gave her these two red beans—

I will leave you. She raised her hands to cover her face, large teardrops welling up in her eyes—salty, bitter, and cold—falling one by one to the ground. Her entire body trembled, her face pale and blue from the cold, leaving her powerless to do anything but curl up, clutching her own body with icy hands.

The gate creaked open, and amidst the sound of footsteps, someone hurried forward. A black fox-fur cloak, still warm with body heat, gently wrapped around her shivering frame. A pair of warm, broad hands enveloped her stiff, frozen fingers.

Dazed, she sank into this sudden warmth and looked up at the person before her.

Wang Yun bent down in front of her, offering a snow-white, soft silk handkerchief.

Having given her his outer robe, he now wore only a dark round-collared jacket embroidered with faint silver qilin patterns. A few delicate snowflakes dusted the black fabric, accentuating the refined elegance of a noble scion from the Jin dynasty.

Her lips quivered slightly, her throat tight. No matter how hard she tried, she couldn’t utter a single word. A dark haze rose before her eyes, and dizziness overwhelmed her. Clutching the handkerchief in his hand, she murmured, "He... he doesn’t believe me..."

Wang Yun tightened his embrace around her and asked softly, "What happened?"

Her pallid face was devoid of any light in her eyes. Before she could utter another word, she lost consciousness.

As the last of her strength gave way, darkness swallowed her completely.

When she awoke, she was already in Wang Yun’s arms.

He carried her swiftly through the corridor and into a room.

It was a simple monk’s guest chamber, sparsely furnished with only a small table and a bed. A blazing fire burned in the hearth, a pot of boiling tea atop it.

Exhausted and weak, she let Wang Yun lay her on the bed. He moved the brazier closer, stoking the flames. Seeing her silent and staring blankly at him, he poured her a steaming cup of tea.

Nestled by the warmth of the fire, she cradled the hot tea in her palms. The scalding heat gradually spread through her body, thawing her frozen blood until it flowed once more.

The blizzard that had seemed intent on burying her still raged outside, yet it already felt like a distant memory.

Only then did she realize she still held the handkerchief he had given her earlier. Slowly, she pressed it against her eyes. The silk, still warm with his body heat, enveloped her like a gentle embrace—as if, in the midst of this snowstorm, he had brought with him the radiant sun of spring, softly shielding her. The world’s bitter cold was pushed far beyond reach, and he was the blazing sun that melted the ice, rising brilliantly before her.

He helped her lie down, tucking the fox-fur cloak snugly around her, his voice low and gentle. "I came with Eunuch Wang but fell behind, trapped here by the storm. I never expected you’d arrive at the same time."

Huang Zixiang turned her gaze to his smiling face, her lips trembling as if to speak, but her throat tightened, rendering her mute.

Wang Yun looked at her with tender eyes. "Why are you out alone in such terrible weather? And so lightly dressed—you could have frozen to death."

Huang Zixiang lowered her head in silence. His kindness touched the most vulnerable wound in her heart, making her eyes well up. A mist of tears blurred everything before her.She struggled to make a faint sound in her throat, murmuring, "We argued... because of my engagement to you... In my current state, I... can't go back anymore."

Who that "he" was, she didn't say, and he didn't ask. He simply added half a cup of hot tea and passed it to her.

He gazed at her with those gentle eyes and said softly, "When I wrote the annulment letter for you, I once thought there are two kinds of marriages in this world. One is where love runs deep but fate is shallow—no matter how deep the affection or how strong the bond, they ultimately cannot grow old together. Like me... I was willing to honor our betrothal and stay with you for life, but you fell for someone else, and we had no shared destiny... There was nothing I could do."

When Huang Zixiao heard the words "fell for someone else," a wave of bitterness surged in her heart, unsure who he was referring to.

The twists of fate are unpredictable. Her heart had once belonged to Yu Xuan, and later entrusted to Li Shubai. Yet Wang Yun, who had once been her fiancé and should have been the only one she could love in this world, had never been destined for her.

Seeing her remain silent with her head bowed, Wang Yun continued slowly, "The other kind is where love is shallow but fate runs deep. I’ve seen many relatives and friends like this. Husband and wife share a bed but dream different dreams, each harboring their own secrets. A lifetime together without a shred of true affection, ending as a pair of resentful companions bound till death. Even if they share the same bed in life and the same grave in death, what joy is there in that? And—if you had married me, would it have been the same?"

Huang Zixiao felt a deep pang in her heart. She thought of Wang Zongshi’s question to her, about reconsidering the betrothal with the Wang family. She recalled Li Shubai’s final words—that she would become his burden.

In truth, she knew all too clearly that he had sent her away only to avoid dragging her down, to keep the dangers around him from affecting her.

And so, she had to leave him. Even if he disapproved, she would follow the path her heart demanded. Even if it meant using a ruse to get close to Wang Yun now, even if it meant deceiving this man who treated her with such tenderness and patience, even if she despised herself for it—as long as she could use the Wang family to get closer to solving that case, she would press forward without hesitation.

"So back then, I gave you that annulment letter, letting you go. I’d rather our love be deep but our fate shallow, than trap you in a marriage where love was shallow but fate deep. But now... I think I might have been wrong."

Wang Yun’s voice, always soft and steady, now trembled slightly with barely restrained emotion. "Zixiao, I cherished you so much, yet others hurt you again and again. It... it makes me so unwilling!"

His trembling whisper lingered in her ears, and the tears she had been holding back began to spill once more.

Dazed, she looked up through her tears at this refined and elegant man before her. He was the one fate had destined her to walk through life with, carrying a warmth as gentle as spring breeze. Yet step by step, the tides of destiny had pushed her further and further away from him. Would losing him become the greatest regret of her life?

His voice whispered softly in her ear, "Now, I regret it. I think... rather than letting you endure sorrow and pain, I should have been selfish, should have kept you by my side no matter what. At least then, you would never have had to face the storm alone."

At his words, Huang Zixiao instinctively clutched her left wrist with her right hand, gripping the golden bracelet with its red bean—round as a pearl, crimson as blood—the symbol of lovesickness. The tears she had been holding back finally fell, unchecked.He reached up to wipe the tears from her face and asked softly, "Can you give me a chance to make amends? Will you return that letter of annulment to me?"

She covered her face, not daring to look up, not daring to meet his deeply affectionate gaze, not daring to listen to his gentle words. In her heart, she cursed herself—Huang Zixiao, how fortunate you are to receive such love from someone like him; and yet, how cruel you are, still planning to use this as an opportunity to deceive the Wang family for their help.

Seeing her bury her face in her hands, her body trembling slightly, saying nothing, Wang Yun also fell silent. He simply wrapped his arms lightly around her shoulders, letting her lean against him.

After a long, long while, he finally heard her let out a faint "Mm"—whether it was agreement or just a soft sound from unsteady breathing, he couldn't tell.