The Golden Hairpin

Li Run approached them and asked Li Shubai with a smile, "Fourth Brother, what brings you here?"

Li Shubai turned to look at him and gave a slight nod. "Seventh Brother."

Noticing that Li Shubai was alone except for Huang Zixiao, Li Run acknowledged her with a nod before smiling at Li Shubai. "The weather is fine today, and the street lanterns shine like stars—no wonder Fourth Brother has come out for a stroll. However, it’s not quite proper to bring only a young eunuch. You should have a few imperial guards with you."

Li Shubai reached out to touch the tassels hanging from a lantern and replied, "If I were surrounded by too many people, how could I appreciate such a tranquil night?"

Li Run glanced around at the lantern-lit streets, sparsely dotted with pedestrians, and nodded. "That’s true. Having grown up amidst constant bustle, we’ve rarely had the chance to experience such scenery."

Li Shubai seemed reluctant to prolong the conversation. "The curfew is approaching. You should head back soon."

Li Run agreed but then remembered something. "Fourth Brother, if you have time, you should visit me sometime. Dong Tinglan’s disciple, Chen Nianniang, is now serving as a court musician in my residence."

"Is she not returning to Yangzhou?"

"Ninth Brother previously took her to the palace to perform for Consort Zhao. The Emperor and Empress were also present. But Consort Zhao prefers the pipa, and the Emperor enjoys livelier entertainment—he has little interest in the qin. As for the Empress, she is naturally reserved and seldom indulges in music or banquets, so she wouldn’t pay special attention to a musician. I asked Chen Nianniang, and she said she wishes to stay in the capital for now, likely still searching for Feng Yiniang."

Huang Zixiao and Li Shubai exchanged a glance. They hadn’t expected Chen Nianniang to end up in Li Run’s residence. It seemed as though a series of related events were slowly converging under some unseen guidance.

Li Shubai remained composed and simply said to Li Run, "I see. I’ll visit you when I have time."

"Excellent. I’ll prepare for your arrival."

Only after Li Run’s carriage had departed did Li Shubai turn his gaze back to the lantern before him and ask slowly, "What do you think of Prince E?"

After a moment’s thought, she replied, "If someone wants to disguise their identity, the best way is to impersonate someone with distinctive traits. I suspect that’s why Prince E was chosen as a decoy to mislead us."

"What’s another possibility?"

"Another possibility is that Prince E, in a fit of childish whimsy, manipulated your selection of a consort while personally learning magic tricks in the West Market, then returned to have others frighten your bride-to-be." Leaning against a willow tree behind her, she idly twirled a willow branch as she added, "No matter how I think about it, the first possibility seems far more plausible."

"I’m not like you—I don’t enjoy analyzing these things. But even without analysis, I know he isn’t the one, because I don’t believe he’d dare play tricks under my nose." Li Shubai spoke slowly. "There are very few in this world who would dare oppose me openly. I only want to know who is trying to push him before me, making me think he’s the one scheming."

Ninth day of the fifth month.

Seven days remained until Prince Kui’s wedding.

A light rain had fallen all night, shrouding the capital in a misty haze. On the way to the Wang residence, Huang Zixiao peered through the fine bamboo blinds of the carriage window at the rain-laden flower branches drooping outside.The peach and plum blossoms had already faded, but the locust trees of Chang'an were just beginning to bloom, enveloping the entire city in a faint fragrance. Clusters of white flowers hung from the branches, their pale hue so delicate it seemed almost illusory. Only when one or two occasionally tapped against the carriage window did she realize—from the soft sound—that it wasn’t rain but blossoms.

The Wang family servants were already waiting at the entrance with umbrellas. Seeing her approach, they hurried over to shield her, saying, "Eunuch Yang, you’ve finally arrived. The Empress has summoned the young lady to the palace and requested that you and Aunt Suqi accompany her for an audience."

"Yes, I know." Huang Zixiao nodded in acknowledgment. The rumors spreading through the capital had grown increasingly rampant, reaching even the ears of Empress Wang, who seldom left the inner palace. Today’s summons undoubtedly meant there were many matters to discuss.

Lost in thought, Huang Zixiao took the umbrella and walked through the front courtyard, following the corridor. After passing through two vermilion gates, she turned toward the western courtyard where Wang Ruo resided. The courtyard was overgrown with orchids, and newly sprouted banana leaves stretched long and lush, partially obscuring the latticed windows. In the rain, the scene exuded a cold, unwelcoming atmosphere.

Huang Zixiao gently closed her umbrella and stood outside the window. Beneath the eaves grew a cluster of banana plants, and beneath them sat a large porcelain vat housing three or four brilliantly colored koi fish, their red-and-white hues shimmering as they swam.

She stood watching the raindrops strike the banana leaves, sending tiny splashes flying. Amid the quiet, she heard indistinct murmurs from inside the room.

Turning, she peered through the latticed window and saw the bed by the sill. Wang Ruo lay there, restless in her sleep, her brow tightly furrowed even in slumber. Her face was etched with terror, her hands clutching the quilt tightly, her forehead beaded with sweat—as though enduring the most horrifying torment.

Huang Zixiao lingered outside the window, debating whether to wake her, when she heard Wang Ruo mumble, "Blood... blood..."

Puzzled, she leaned closer to listen. Suddenly, Wang Ruo’s tone shifted to pleading: "Aunt Feng, don’t blame me... you shouldn’t have known..."

A sudden gust of wind and rain lashed against Huang Zixiao’s side. She quickly stepped aside just as Wang Ruo let out a startled cry and awoke.

Calmly brushing the raindrops from her robes, Huang Zixiao walked to the door and knocked softly. "Your Highness," she called.

Inside, two maids had been sitting by. One, named Xianyun, was particularly quick-witted and immediately opened the door. "Eunuch Yang, you’re here at last. Her Highness was having a nightmare."

"Yes, I overheard from outside the window." Huang Zixiao shook off the remaining raindrops and turned to see Wang Ruo slowly sitting up on the bed. The young woman looked at her, her eyes still clouded with fear, as if unable to shake off the lingering nightmare.

Huang Zixiao approached the bedside and asked quietly, "Your Highness, what did you dream about?"

"Chonggu..." Wang Ruo’s eyes, usually clear as autumn waters, now brimmed with tears. She gazed at Huang Zixiao, hesitating for a long moment before turning away with a tremble in her voice. "I... I dreamed that I truly... truly vanished from this world..."

Huang Zixiao sat beside the bed and murmured, "Dreams are born from the heart’s worries. Your Highness dwells on these thoughts by day, so they haunt you by night. If you stop thinking about that person and those words, such dreams will surely cease.""Is that so?" she asked tremulously, clutching weakly at Huang Ziguang's sleeve, her body trembling slightly. "Chonggu, His Highness will protect me, won't he?"

"Yes," Huang Ziguang answered without hesitation, though her mind flashed back to Li Shubai's words—no matter the reason, presenting a forged marriage document would be deceiving the emperor, a crime punishable by eternal damnation.

Yet this single word of affirmation brought Wang Ruo immense comfort. She let out a soft sigh and leaned back against the cushions on the couch, lost in thought for a moment. Huang Ziguang noticed the corners of her lips slowly curling into a dreamlike smile as she gazed at some intangible point in the air, as though seeing something unshakable. "Yes," she murmured, "Prince Kui will protect me. What do I have to fear?"

Daming Palace, Penglai Hall.

The grand hall stood atop a three-tiered foundation, serving as the residence of the empress.

Huang Ziguang followed the endless stream of palace attendants, accompanying Wang Ruo, Su Qi, and several other maids from the Wang family up the white jade steps and through the nine-door entrance.

Before them stood an enormous twelve-panel sandalwood screen, intricately carved with the Twelve Flower Goddesses amidst celestial blossoms and mist, paying homage to the Queen Mother of the West atop Mount Kunlun. She paused behind Wang Ruo before the screen, standing with bowed head, listening to the absolute silence around her.

As she stood there, she pondered Wang Ruo's dreamlike murmurs earlier. "Aunt Feng"—that must surely refer to Feng Yiniang. But what did she mean by "the color of blood"?

Just as she was lost in thought, a sweep of crimson silk robes brushed past the thick Persian carpet on the floor. Those around her immediately knelt, not daring to lift their heads.

Realizing it must be Empress Wang, Huang Ziguang knelt as well, keeping her eyes lowered on the cloud and mist patterns adorning the empress's robes.

Surrounded by her attendants, Empress Wang moved behind the screen and settled onto a sandalwood couch inlaid with colored glass and precious stones. She held a secret-glazed porcelain teacup in silence for a long while before finally speaking. Her voice was clear and flowing like a spring, slow and composed. "Aruo, you seem unwell. With only seven days until your wedding, why do you lack the joy of an impending bride?"

Wang Ruo sat beside her on the couch and replied softly, "Your Majesty, trivial matters have weighed on my mind lately. I apologize for troubling you with my worries."

Empress Wang studied her for a long moment, holding her hand without speaking. Huang Ziguang stole a glance at the empress's face. Though her expression carried the usual aloofness of one in high position, her eyes held a trace of familial tenderness.

The two cousins did not resemble each other, and their ages differed by over a decade, yet their bond seemed genuinely close.

"The capital is vast, filled with idle gossip and countless distractions. There's no need to dwell on them," Empress Wang said gently, enclosing Wang Ruo's right hand between her own palms, as tenderly as comforting a fledgling bird. Watching this, Huang Ziguang felt an indescribable emotion stirring within her. Just as she was lost in thought, the empress asked, "Who among you was sent by Prince Kui's household to attend the princess consort?"

Su Qi and Huang Ziguang quickly responded, "We are, Your Majesty."

The empress's gaze swept over them, lingering briefly on Huang Ziguang before she said, "The princess consort is young. Once she enters the prince's household, you must take good care of her."

"Yes," they answered promptly.

Wang Ruo added, "Chonggu and Aunt Su Qi have been most attentive to me. I've relied greatly on their care these past days.""Mm, if there's anything you don't like, just let me know," Empress Wang said, then took Wang Ruo's hand and stood up. "Seven days from now will be your wedding day. I've prepared some things for you. Come take a look in the inner hall."

A group of people waited outside while the inner hall was vast and deep, the voices within barely audible. Before long, several of Empress Wang's attending ladies-in-waiting emerged and invited everyone to dine in the outer chamber.

The palace cuisine was unlike that of the outside world—exquisitely prepared yet bland and tasteless. Huang Zixia took a few bites before setting down her chopsticks. The maid beside her, Xianyun, nudged her with an elbow and asked, "Shall we go take a look outside the hall together? I heard you can see the entire Taiye Lake from here, a sight many people never get to see in their lifetime."

Though Huang Zixia was currently disguised as a eunuch, she had frequent interactions with the Wang family and had recently become acquainted with Xianyun. Xianyun was a chatterbox, quite lively, and disliked by those who found her too familiar, so she ended up dragging Huang Zixia along.

Not wanting to endure the meal any longer, Huang Zixia followed Xianyun to the entrance, standing by the railing outside the hall and gazing northward.

The weather was clear today, and the Taiye Lake in the distance shimmered with countless ripples. The island at its center resembled the mythical Penglai Immortal Isle, faintly visible amidst the glistening waves.

"It's so beautiful! No wonder everyone says the imperial palace is the most stunning place in the world," Xianyun exclaimed, spreading her arms as if trying to embrace the scenery.

Huang Zixia looked down at the countless towers and pavilions below and murmured, "Yes, it's truly beautiful." Yet it was so solemn and magnificent that it seemed less like a place in the mortal world and more like an unattainable jade palace, devoid of the warmth of human life.