The Golden Hairpin

He was still the valiant Zhang Xingying, and the way he stood in front of her was still the protective stance he had always taken. But she knew he was no longer her Second Brother Zhang.

Huang Ziyao returned to the Wang residence in Yongchang Ward. The weather was bitterly cold, and the household stayed indoors, making the place seem desolate and empty.

Walking alone along the corridor, the slanting sunlight filtered through the pillars. She passed through the shadows cast by the columns, emerging into the light only to be swallowed by the next pillar’s shade moments later. She walked forward absently, drifting between light and shadow, unsure of where she was going or what she could do.

No leads, no methods. In this torment, she didn’t know how she endured each passing day.

It wasn’t until the sound of flutes and pipes reached her ears one evening that she suddenly realized—it was already the Lantern Festival. In the Tang Dynasty, the festival was celebrated over three days, and today was the fourteenth.

With no direction in mind, Huang Ziyao left the Wang residence and wandered beyond Yongjia Ward.

The streets were filled with dazzling lanterns, strung like pearls across the night. Crowds of people laughed and played, admiring the lanterns and guessing the riddles written on them. Some carried their own lanterns, challenging others to solve their riddles.

Some riddles were simple, others fiendishly difficult, leaving many scratching their heads in frustration. Huang Ziyao walked past them all, her gaze sliding over the lanterns without pause.

Suddenly, a voice behind her asked, “A line from Du Fu’s poem: ‘Few live to seventy since days of old.’ The answer is an idiom, in reverse order.”

Huang Ziyao’s heart seemed to stop at the familiar voice. The clamor of the festival suddenly felt distant.

She turned slowly and saw Wang Yun standing behind her under the lantern-lit streets, smiling at her.

He was as gentle and warm as ever, looking down at her with a smile and a questioning hum.

Huang Ziyao met his gaze and answered softly, “Old head on young shoulders.”

“Yes! That’s it,” Wang Yun said, enlightened. “I saw this riddle on someone’s lantern earlier and couldn’t figure it out. I didn’t expect you to solve it so quickly.”

Huang Ziyao hesitated, unsure if he had already met with Wang Zongshi and discussed the matter, given his cheerful demeanor.

Still smiling, he said, “See? I was just about to look for you when I saw you coming this way. Doesn’t that mean we share a connection?”

She lowered her head, avoiding his eyes and the topic. “You’re back in the capital so soon?”

“Yes. I thought you might be lonely spending the New Year alone here, so I hurried back after the ancestral rites,” he said softly, studying her under the warm orange glow of the lanterns. “You’ve lost weight. Have you been worrying about something?”

Huang Ziyao nodded. “Yes… You must have heard about Prince E’s case by now?”

“On my way back, everyone was talking about it. It was impossible not to hear,” he replied, walking with her toward home. Frowning, he added, “How could it be? Prince Kui would never commit such a crime.”

“Indeed. The strangeness of this case is beyond words.” Huang Ziyao sighed, thinking of all the inexplicable details that troubled her.Wang Yun turned his face toward her and asked softly, "I heard from Eunuch Wang that you were nearby at the time—so, in your view, was it truly Prince Kui who killed Prince E?"

Huang Zitang shook her head firmly. "How could Prince Kui do such a thing!"

"Indeed, Prince Kui and Prince E were the closest of brothers. So why would Prince E publicly accuse him of seeking to overthrow the realm and corrupt the court? And why would Prince Kui kill Prince E? It's truly baffling," Wang Yun sighed, seeing her resolute and unwavering expression. "All of this defies reason, doesn't it?"

After a moment of silence, Huang Zitang replied, "I believe there must be more to this."

"So do I. I don’t believe Prince Kui would kill Prince E. Even if he did... he would have countless ways to ensure no one noticed," he said, lowering his gaze to study her before adding gently, "But this case has only grown more convoluted. If you continue investigating, the path ahead will be even harder."

Hearing the tenderness in his voice, Huang Zitang could no longer bear it. She turned her back to him, unable to face him. "I confessed to Eunuch Wang... I’ve wronged you."

"I know. Eunuch Wang mentioned it to me as well. So you still have doubts about reconciling," Wang Yun said, his voice softening slightly, as if brushing it off casually. "It’s nothing. After all, marriage is a lifelong commitment—it’s only right to be cautious, isn’t it? Besides, I’ve wronged you too. Didn’t I once hunt you down in Shu?"

Back then, he had been determined to kill them. Now, he and Li Shubai had buried the hatchet, yet she still couldn’t discern whether his intentions were genuine. Was his care for her now driven by shared interests, or was it a dangerous gamble? Who could say?

But when she looked up and saw the sincerity in his eyes, she found herself unable to doubt him—only overwhelmed by guilt.

"Truthfully, when you came back to me and agreed to reconsider our marriage, I was truly happy..." He smiled faintly, his gaze drifting to the swaying lanterns in the wind. "Zitang, I know winning your heart in this lifetime will be an uphill battle. But I’ve heard that fate may be decided by heaven, yet bonds are forged by human effort. So I still want to try my hardest."

Huang Zitang felt a sudden warmth in her eyes, as if something threatened to spill over.

She clenched her jaw, staring silently at the distant lights.

Wang Yun continued, "I’ll do everything I can to help you. But right now, Eunuch Wang still has reservations about you. I fear the Wang family may not offer much support."

Huang Zitang took a deep breath. "When Prince E died, Eunuch Wang’s arrival was... remarkably timely."

"Believe me," Wang Yun said gently, "the Wang family has nothing to do with this."

She turned her head away, giving only a slight nod without speaking.

"Today, I entered the palace to see Her Majesty the Empress. She also asked me to convey this to you. The Wang family has endured for centuries—we understand the art of survival too well to involve ourselves in such treacherous political schemes. Someone as intelligent as you must already know who the true mastermind is."

Huang Zitang nodded slowly, lost in thought, then shook her head. "No... I still don’t understand how everything hidden behind the scenes connects.""With your abilities, as long as you can investigate freely, the case will be easily resolved," Wang Yun sighed lightly. "Right now, you just lack access to the most crucial leads."

"I'm merely a commoner—I can't enter the Court of the Imperial Clan, nor even meet Prince Kui. How can I obtain any leads?" She stood dejectedly amidst the sea of lanterns, the lights lining the streets unable to illuminate her downcast face, casting only faint shadows upon her profile.

The gently swaying lanterns in the wind cast rippling light that slowly shifted across her face. Wang Yun gazed at her profile, and it seemed as though the light also shone upon his heart, making it ripple like water.

Without thinking, he said, "Tomorrow, I'll take you to see Prince Kui."

Huang Zixia turned to him in astonishment, her surprise momentarily outweighing her joy. She hadn't expected him to help her meet Prince Kui. After hesitating for a long time, she finally whispered hoarsely, "With so many eyes watching Prince Kui now, helping me see him might bring you trouble..."

"That's not an issue. Tomorrow is the fifteenth of the first month. The Court of the Imperial Clan isn't a prison—by law, even imperial relatives under investigation can receive visitors on this day. Besides, Prince Kui is of noble lineage. What's the harm in sending him some gifts during the festival?" His expression was relaxed, his tone light. "And I know a few officials in the Court of the Imperial Clan who have some influence. I'll make arrangements—I guarantee there won't be any problems."

Huang Zixia looked up and saw his open, sincere smile. Biting her lower lip, she nodded slowly and said, "Alright... as long as it doesn't implicate you."

Wang Yun thought for a moment and said, "At the beginning of the Chen hour tomorrow, I'll come to fetch you."

The next day, at the Chen hour, the sunlight was thin. Wang Yun took Huang Zixia to Qujiang Pool.

Prince Kui, Li Shubai, was of exalted status, and with the case of Prince E still unresolved, he naturally couldn't be detained within the Court of the Imperial Clan's main offices. Many Tang dynasty government offices had built their own pavilions by Qujiang Pool for gatherings and leisure. The Court of the Imperial Clan's pavilion was located in Xiuzheng Ward, where Prince Kui was currently residing.

They traversed Chang'an from north to south, arriving at Xiuzheng Ward.

At the entrance of the Court of the Imperial Clan, there were only about a dozen guards. As they approached, the guards moved to stop them, but someone behind them gave a light cough, and the guards immediately dispersed. A middle-aged man came forward and clasped his hands in greeting to Wang Yun. The two exchanged pleasantries about trivial matters as they entered, and Huang Zixia followed them inside.

Past the front hall, they came to a small inlet of Qujiang Pool, planted with plum blossoms. It was the season for the blossoms, their subtle fragrance lingering in the air, their dense branches partially obscuring a row of elegant buildings.

Seeing that the place was far better than she had imagined, Huang Zixia felt slightly relieved. The middle-aged man led them inside. After a few attendants served tea and withdrew, the man smiled and asked, "Yunzhi, what brings you here today?"

Wang Yun replied, "Today is the Lantern Festival. I brought some small gifts from Langya for you to enjoy, Uncle."

The man accepted the gifts and exchanged a few polite words before his gaze settled on Huang Zixia.

Wang Yun continued, "I also have an old friendship with Prince Kui. In previous years, I would always send him a gift. Now that I've heard he's here, I thought to bring something for him as well—Uncle Xue, could you help me decide? As a young man, I'm inexperienced. Which of these two gifts would be more suitable for Prince Zhao, and which for Prince Kui?"He opened the two brocade boxes. That Uncle Xue, sharing an unspoken understanding with him, lowered his head to examine the contents. Inside the foot-long brocade box, one held a thumb-sized gourd, smooth and adorable—perfect for admiring and playing with. The other box contained a palm-sized Chengni inkstone, its luster subtle and refined, exuding quiet elegance.

Both items were quite small, certainly incapable of concealing anything within. Yet Uncle Xue still picked them up to admire before returning them with a beaming smile, saying, "Prince Zhao has a childlike temperament—naturally fond of gourds. As for Prince Kui, an inkstone is most fitting."

"Thank you for your guidance, Uncle," he said, handing the inkstone to Huang Ziyao. "I'll sit with Uncle for a while. Deliver this for me."

"Yes," she replied, lifting the small brocade box containing the inkstone and making her way toward the rear.

Guided by the guards, Huang Ziyao passed through a grove of plum blossoms in full bloom, arriving at the corridor along the river bend. The guards halted, signaling for her to proceed alone.

The corridor extended over the riverbank, hollow beneath. Her footsteps echoed softly across the water's surface. The faint fragrance of blossoms enveloped her, and the hem of her skirt brushed against petals strewn along the walkway, whispering a gentle rustle.

After passing two or three chambers, she reached the central one. Before entering, she saw Li Shubai standing inside the doorway, his gaze fixed upon her.

Clad in plain white robes devoid of ornament, he stood as elegant and striking as the white plum blossoms outside. Only his deep, shadowed eyes remained sharp—cold as midnight stars.

Huang Ziyao smiled faintly and dipped into a graceful bow. "Your Highness."

Li Shubai strode forward, seized her wrist, and pulled her abruptly inside. "What are you doing here?" he demanded.

Instead of answering, she smiled and asked, "You knew it was me from my footsteps, didn't you?"

Frowning, he released her hand and turned away from her smiling face. "Didn't Jing Yi and the others warn you not to act rashly?"

She set the brocade box on the table, then stepped behind him and murmured softly, "But... I missed you."

His fingers twitched imperceptibly, tightening into fists. A warmth—tender and sweet—flooded through him, quickening his pulse.

Suppressing the surge, he kept his voice low. "You've seen me now. I'm fine. Go back."

Huang Ziyao remained motionless behind him. "It's the Lantern Festival today... Is there anything you need, Your Highness? I can have it prepared and sent over."

"Nothing," he replied stiffly.

She bit her lip in silence before speaking again. "Ziqin and I examined Prince E's body at his residence. The wound on his chest was angled downward to the left. It's been recorded in the autopsy report."

"Hm." His response was indifferent, as though he hadn't truly heard.

Seeing that he still paid her no heed, she bowed wordlessly once more. "Then... Ziyao takes her leave."

She waited a moment, but when no reply came, she rose and turned silently toward the exit.Hearing the rustle of her clothes, Li Shubai could no longer restrain himself and turned to look at her. Outside the door, falling plum blossoms were like snow, and scattered petals were swept into the room by the wind, brushing past her ear before landing on his cheek. That soft touch, carrying the faint fragrance from her, suddenly stirred immense ripples in his heart.

Like a storm whipping up towering waves, overwhelming and unstoppable, it drowned his consciousness.

He could no longer hold back and strode toward her retreating figure. Before Huang Zixia could even turn around, he had already raised his arms and embraced her tightly.

Huang Zixia felt as though her heart was pounding so hard it might burst from her chest. She stood there in a daze, feeling his faint breath by her ear, stirring a few strands of her hair, lightly brushing her cheek.

Her body trembled slightly, uncontrollably. With difficulty, she turned her head and whispered, "Your Highness..."

He murmured in her ear, "Don’t move... I just want to hold you for a while."

Huang Zixia closed her eyes and gently placed her hand over his, which was gripping her shoulder. He held her tightly, burying his face in her hair, greedily inhaling her scent, unwilling to loosen his grip even the slightest.

Huang Zixia bit her lower lip. After a long moment, she raised her hand to lightly caress his, noticing that his left hand seemed to tremble faintly, its grip also weaker than his right. She gently clasped his left hand and pressed her cheek against its back.

She remembered him saying that he had once been left-handed, but not long after obtaining that talisman, he was attacked and injured his left hand, nearly crippling it. Though it had since recovered, today’s cold weather and the dampness near the water must have aggravated the old injury.

But she said nothing, only leaning softly against his hand and closing her eyes in silence.

She heard his voice, so low it was almost inaudible, stirring a faint current of air by her ear: "Wang Yun brought you here?"

She gave a quiet "Mm" in response.

His breath hitched slightly, and his arms around her seemed to tighten further: "He actually agreed to bring you to see me?"

"He’s been very kind to me. And even if he has ulterior motives, I can’t afford to care right now," Huang Zixia turned her head in his embrace to look up at him and said, "This case has reached a deadlock. If he intends to make a move now, it might just be the opportunity we need."

He frowned, gazing into her tender eyes as she looked up at him, and asked, "What if it backfires and you end up caught in the crossfire?"

A faint smile touched the corners of Huang Zixia’s lips as she replied, "I’ll be careful."

He sighed and loosened his embrace, saying, "I really don’t understand why, out of all people, I only like someone as stubborn and headstrong as you."

She lowered her head, her cheeks flushing a delicate pink: "Whether you like it or not, this... is just who I am."

Li Shubai silently raised his hand to lightly brush her rosy cheek. The sensation of his fingertips gliding over her skin made her so nervous she could hardly bear it, even feeling the urge to close her eyes and escape this flustered state.

But he had already withdrawn his hand and was looking at her as he asked, "Are you still staying with Wang Yun?"

Huang Zixia nodded, covering her cheeks with her hands in an attempt to cool their burning heat.Li Shubai lowered his gaze in silence, a trace of worry and helplessness flickering beneath his lashes. But after a brief moment, he turned his face away and said lightly, "Very well. If you were at the Prince of Kui’s residence now, you might still be affected."

Huang Zixiang shook her head and looked at him. "I’m not afraid of being affected, and I’ll be careful everywhere."

Li Shubai nodded, then shook his head. In the end, he only said, "Go back and wait for me in peace."

Huang Zixiang left the house where he lived and walked back along the corridor.

The sound of footsteps echoed softly over the empty water below, where fallen petals floated on the surface. Gentle ripples spread in circles before vanishing without a trace. As she gazed at the water, she reached the corner of the corridor and saw Wang Yun standing beneath a tree of blooming plum blossoms.

His cyan-blue robe was dusted with white plum petals, like snow covering distant mountains or clouds brushing the vast sky. Yet against this leisurely, picturesque backdrop, his expression was distant and forlorn, his eyes fixed blankly on the drooping branches of white blossoms before him, lost in thought.

A flicker of tension passed through Huang Zixiang’s heart. Could he have seen something just now?

But she quickly dismissed the thought—the corridor outside amplified every sound. If he had approached, they would have noticed.

Still, for some reason, she felt a twinge of guilt. She stood beneath the corridor and called softly, "Young Master Wang."

Wang Yun snapped out of his reverie and turned to her slowly, a faint smile appearing at the corners of his lips. "Back so soon?"

Huang Zixiang nodded and walked with him along the path through the plum grove.

Falling petals drifted like snow, covering their hair and clothes. Wang Yun looked up at the dense blossoms and remarked casually, "Just a few days ago, everything was frozen in ice and snow. Now, with the warmth of spring, the flowers have burst into bloom all at once."

"Yes, the earth knows the shift of warmth and cold, and all things respond," Huang Zixiang mused. She reached out to brush her fingers along a branch, the full blossoms slipping past her fingertips one by one. As the branch swayed, petals scattered like snow.

Wang Yun turned to look at her. The bright sunlight filtered through the blossoms, casting a radiant glow over her. His gaze followed the falling petals to her raised arm, where a delicate white petal slipped into her sleeve.

She seemed not to notice and continued walking slowly ahead.

But his heart began to race uncontrollably. He stared at her lifted hand, at her sleeve, and for a fleeting moment, he wondered— when would the day come when he could naturally take her arm, trace up her fair wrist, and retrieve that stray plum petal for her?

After leaving the Court of Imperial Sacrifices, Wang Yun had to return to the Imperial Guards, so he offered to escort Huang Zixiang back.

Just as she was about to board his carriage, someone strode up behind them and called, "Miss Huang, what are you doing here?"

Huang Zixiang turned and saw Zhang Xingying approaching quickly from the street. He came to her side, his eyes wary as they fixed on Wang Yun, and asked in a low voice, "Why are you with him? Did you... come to see His Highness?"

Huang Zixiang was surprised. "What are you doing here?"

Zhang Xingying hurriedly explained, "I’m off duty today, so I was wandering around the city. There are many people admiring the plum blossoms by the Qujiang Pool—I thought I might look for traces of Dicui."Huang Zixiang said softly, "I think she must still be hiding her whereabouts and probably wouldn’t come to such a crowded place. Besides, she likely isn’t in the mood for sightseeing."

Zhang Xingying nodded but remained undeterred. "Right, then I’ll escort you back first, miss."

Huang Zixiang paused briefly and glanced back at Wang Yun. "Young Master Wang, thank you so much for today. I still have a small matter to attend to, so there’s no need to trouble yourself with seeing me off."

Wang Yun replied casually, "I also have some affairs to handle with the Imperial Guards, so I must beg your pardon for not accompanying you further."

After Wang Yun's carriage had departed, Zhang Xingying anxiously grabbed Huang Zixiao's sleeve and pulled her into a deserted alley nearby. Urgently, he asked, "Why did he bring you here? Miss Huang, don't you think... there might be some problem?"

Seeing his anxious and earnest expression, Huang Zixiao felt a slight stir in her heart, but her face remained composed as she shook her head. "There shouldn't be any problem. Young Master Wang helped me see the prince, and everything went smoothly."

"If it went smoothly, that's good... I was really worried something might happen to you." Zhang Xingying fell silent, glancing around to ensure no one was nearby before lowering his voice. "Jing Yu once told me that those who set the ambush in Shu might have connections to the Wang family."

Huang Zixiao hadn’t expected him to bring this up now. She looked up at him, meeting his earnest and worried gaze, then slowly asked, "Have you... mentioned this to the prince?"

"Yes, I brought it up with the prince long ago, but he didn’t respond. After all, Eunuch Jing Yu only had suspicions, no concrete evidence," Zhang Xingying replied, casting a furtive glance at Wang Yun before whispering even softer, "Now that the prince is in trouble, and Young Master Wang is willing to take risks to help you... I... I want to trust him, but I’m afraid there might be something amiss..."

Huang Zixiao nodded silently. Zhang Xingying’s concerns were reasonable. If it were discovered that Wang Yun had secretly taken her to visit Prince Kui, she would undoubtedly face severe consequences.

Yet, she eventually smiled and said, "The prince is already accused of such grave crimes—what does one more minor offense like a private visit matter? And as a former servant of the prince’s household, visiting my master in secret would, at worst, result in twenty lashes under the law or precedent. It’s hardly a major issue."

"Well... as long as nothing happened this time, you must be more careful next time." Zhang Xingying let out a relieved sigh.

Though Huang Zixiao harbored some doubts about him, seeing his sincerity and recalling his past help and concern for her, she couldn’t help but sigh inwardly. "Second Brother Zhang, thank you for caring so much about me."

Zhang Xingying shook his head. "It’s nothing. I can’t do much to help the prince or you—I can only worry uselessly every day."

Huang Zixiao suddenly remembered something and asked, "By the way, do you know any physicians at Duanrui Hall? Especially those skilled in treating bone injuries."

Zhang Xingying thought for a moment. "There’s a Dr. He who’s a good friend of my father’s. His bone-setting skills are renowned throughout the capital."

"Is he on duty today? I’d like to get some medicine from him."

"Are you injured?" Zhang Xingying immediately asked.

Huang Zixiao shook her head. "I’m getting some medicine for pain and dampness—for someone else."

Duanrui Hall had dozens of physicians on duty, and Dr. He happened to be there that day. Hearing her describe it as an old injury aggravated by dampness, he wrote a prescription for her to take to the pharmacy.

The medicine counters at Duanrui Hall stretched in a long row, with over a dozen clerks busily weighing herbs.

As one of the top pharmacies in the capital, the medicine-dispensing area alone spanned five interconnected rooms, lined with over seventy medicine cabinets—wide, tall, and towering over ten feet. The lower drawers required crouching to access, while the higher ones even needed a small step stool to reach.Zhang Xingying, relying on his familiarity with the place, handed his prescription to the clerk first. The clerk glanced at the prescription and frowned, saying, "We've run out of ephedra today. Someone's gone to fetch more from the back storeroom. Why don't you two wait in the small room at the back? It shouldn't take long."

Zhang Xingying nodded in agreement and led Huang Ziyao around the medicine cabinets to a small room in the rear. The space was haphazardly piled with roughly processed herbs, the air thick with their scent.

"This is where Duanrui Hall prepares emergency medicines," Zhang Xingying explained. "But it's rarely used, so it's usually empty. Let's sit here for a while."

Huang Ziyao nodded and took a seat on a small stool in the corner.

After a brief silence, Zhang Xingying seemed to grow uncomfortable with their solitude. He stood up abruptly. "I'll go check if the ephedra has arrived yet."

Huang Ziyao murmured an acknowledgment. Leaning against a wooden beam, she found herself enveloped by the potent herbal aroma. From outside came the mechanical sounds of medicine drawers opening and closing, along with faint voices calling out names—the clerks distributing prescriptions to waiting patients.

The warmth of the room, the heavy fragrance of herbs, and the distant murmurs lulled her like a lullaby.

For the first time in half a month of relentless tension, Huang Ziyao slowly closed her eyes. In the darkness behind her eyelids, she saw white plum blossoms drifting down like snow, and amidst them, Li Shubai clad in white robes. She heard his whisper in her ear: "Don't move. I just want to hold you."

That embrace had been so strong, those words so tender.

This brief respite felt sweeter than the deepest dream. As she drifted, her head nodded forward until, nearly hitting the beam, she jolted awake with a start.

Her eyes flew open to a horrifying sight—a corpse lying before her.

It was the young clerk who had asked them to wait moments earlier. He lay face down, a stream of blood seeping from his chest. From her low seat, she watched as the crimson tide crept toward her feet like a scarlet serpent.

For a moment, she couldn't distinguish reality from dream. Only when the blood nearly touched her skirt did icy clarity strike her. She sprang up, lifting her hem to avoid the advancing stain.

As she rose, a metallic clang sounded. Looking down, she saw a bloodstained dagger slide from her lap to the floor—both blade and skirt now smeared with gore.

The half-closed door burst open as someone shouted, "Ah Qi! We're swamped out here! What's taking you so—"

The words died as the newcomer took in the scene: the bleeding clerk sprawled on the floor, and Huang Ziyao standing dazed beside him. The package-wrapping papers in his hands scattered as he froze, then screamed, "Help! Ah Qi... Ah Qi's been murdered!"

His cry drew patients from the waiting area, who quickly formed a crowd. Medicine clerks abandoned their stations to push through the gathering onlookers.

The shock finally cleared the fog from Huang Ziyao's mind. She moved to examine the body, but the first witness seized her arm, shouting, "You're the killer! You murdered Ah Qi!"The surrounding people immediately closed in. Two of them twisted her arms behind her back, while another pulled out a rope to bind her.

Huang Zixiang struggled and shouted, "Let me go! I didn’t kill anyone!"

The person who had discovered the corpse pointed at her and yelled, "If not you, then who? A-Qi died in this room, and besides you, was there anyone else inside?"

"Exactly! We were all busy dispensing medicine and couldn’t leave the counter for a moment. Other than you, who else went in or out of this room?"

"That’s right, you were the only one!"

Amid the clamor, Huang Zixiang opened her mouth to argue but suddenly thought of something. A cold sweat trickled down her spine.

She froze in place, stunned. Even as they shoved her against the wall and tied her up, she offered no resistance. Her wide eyes stared blankly at the person standing behind the crowd, watching the chaos unfold with detached indifference—

Zhang Xingying.

He was tall, and as the crowd jostled, she caught glimpses of his face through the gaps. His expression was so indifferent that he couldn’t even feign shock or concern.

Only when she was dragged out, bound, and the crowd debated sending her to the authorities did Zhang Xingying finally push through the throng. He hurriedly stepped in front of her and said, "Uncles and brothers, please don’t wrong an innocent person! Miss Huang is my friend. She came with me to get medicine—how could she possibly kill someone?"

An elderly man dressed like a shop manager snorted coldly and asked, "Xingying, weren’t you outside? How do you know it wasn’t her? In this medicine preparation room, aside from A-Qi’s corpse, she was the only one there. If you say it wasn’t her, then who was it?"

"But... but..." Zhang Xingying stammered, unable to find words. He turned to look at Huang Zixiang and said haltingly, "Miss Huang... she’s not that kind of person..."

Huang Zixiang turned her face away, unwilling to look at Zhang Xingying. Instead, she addressed the manager, "I was waiting for ephedra in the room and then fell asleep. So, after I fell asleep, it wouldn’t have been hard for someone else to enter or leave the preparation room!"

"Hmph, easy for you to say!" The old man pointed at the door. "This room is behind the medicine counter. If a stranger had come in, those of us dispensing medicine at the counter would have noticed. How could we have let anyone in? Even you were only allowed in because Xingying brought you here to sit for a while!"

"Other than me, was there really no one else who came in or out?" Huang Zixiang bit her lower lip, her gaze slowly settling on Zhang Xingying as she said deliberately, "At the very least, Second Brother Zhang could have come in, couldn’t he?"

Zhang Xingying opened his mouth, struggling to speak. "But... I... I can’t vouch for you either. I thought it improper for a man and woman to be alone together, so after leaving, I never came back. I was sitting on the stool at the end of the counter, listening to A-Shi dispense medicine..."

A short apprentice in the crowd, presumably A-Shi, nodded. "I saw Brother Ai." He had a slight lisp, pronouncing "Er" as "Ai." "Brother Ai was chatting with me the whole time. I only left once to prepare a dose of medicine."

Huang Zixiang’s voice trembled slightly as she asked Zhang Xingying, "Then, when he was preparing the medicine, where were you?"Zhang Xingying quickly said, "I was sitting right beside him the whole time... I remember, A-Shi was reciting the prescription while grabbing the herbs. Since some of the herbs were placed far apart, he kept repeating the names as he gathered them. I recall he mentioned white ginseng, asarum, white atractylodes, lotus plumule, poria cocos, white aconite, angelica dahurica, sandalwood, clove, and others..."

A-Shi immediately nodded, saying, "Yes, yes, that's exactly the prescription, no mistake."

The manager immediately waved for someone to take her to the authorities: "What more do you have to say? Take her away now!"

With a life at stake, the room erupted into chaos—some wailed "A-Qi's" name, others cursed Huang Ziyao in fury, and some even shoved her violently.

Huang Ziyao stumbled from the push, nearly falling. Zhang Xingying quickly stepped in front of her, addressing the crowd, "Everyone, please calm down! Let's wait for the authorities to arrive. I don't believe Huang-guniang is capable of such a thing!"

Shielded by him in the corner, Huang Ziyao stared at his broad back and suddenly felt a wave of weakness. She raised a hand to cover her eyes, forcing back the tears welling up, and murmured softly, "Zhang Er-ge..."

Zhang Xingying kept one arm raised to hold off the crowd while glancing back at her.

He was still the same valiant Zhang Xingying, standing protectively before her just as he always had. But she knew—he was no longer her Zhang Er-ge.

She whispered, "No wonder... Dicut told me... to run."

Zhang Xingying stiffened, his expression hardening. He clenched his jaw and slowly turned his head away.

Huang Ziyao leaned her head against the wall, her cheek pressing into the cold surface. Her tightly bound wrists burned with pain, but she barely noticed, standing motionless in a daze. The curses and hateful glares around her felt like mere dust—her mind was consumed only by memories of every moment she had shared with Zhang Xingying, each one vivid and agonizing, cutting deep into her heart.