The Golden Hairpin

Had it not been for overhearing the emperor's conversation with Li Shubai today, she would never have known that the emperor had shed all pretense and harbored murderous intent toward Li Shubai, nor would she have realized just how dire his situation had become.

The carriage traveled westward and came to a halt near the Kaiyuan Gate.

A crowd had already gathered there, all looking up at the city wall and murmuring among themselves. Amid the clamor, Huang Zixia stepped out of the carriage and raised her gaze to the towering wall of the Kaiyuan Gate.

Wang Zongshi watched coldly as she approached the wall before shutting the carriage door.

Huang Zixia walked forward step by step. On the ramparts beside the gate tower stood an old man. The howling wind whipped around him as he stood at the height, shouting hoarsely with all his might: "Prince Kui is a traitor who slaughtered his own kin! Heaven and earth will not tolerate this!"

Huang Zixia took a few slow steps closer and silently looked up at him from behind the crowd. Though the old man's face was contorted and his voice too hoarse to bear, she could still clearly recognize him—he was Zhang Xingying's father.

"My son, Zhang Xingying, served as a guard in Prince Kui's household and long ago uncovered his rebellious ambitions! He refused to aid such villainy, firmly rejecting any association with that deranged madman! Now that the traitorous prince has been exposed and captured, there are still those in his household attempting to rescue him. My son sought to serve his country loyally by apprehending the remnants, but alas, his efforts were thwarted at the last moment, and he fell victim to treachery! His death is an honor to our Zhang family! A glory to our name!"

Listening to his hysterical cries amid the shocked murmurs of the crowd, Huang Zixia stood motionless, feeling as though the sunlight behind Zhang WeiYi was nearly blinding her.

A wave of dizziness washed over her, forcing her to lower her gaze and look away.

In the crowd not far away, she spotted someone turning to look at her—it was Zhou Ziqin. His face was a mix of shock, panic, and disbelief. When their eyes met, he hesitated before pushing toward her, but the press of the crowd was too thick, blocking his path. He could only cast her a distant glance before quickly turning back to watch Zhang WeiYi on the wall.

"Heaven has eyes! Our virtuous emperor will surely rid the world of this scourge and restore peace to our Great Tang..." His voice grew fragmented and indistinct as the guards on the wall, finding his words increasingly inappropriate, seized him by the arms and began dragging him down.

Huang Zixia stared unblinkingly at the chaos above, her mind flashing back to that day at the Xiangluan Pavilion when Prince E, Li Run, had similarly denounced Li Shubai.

Different people, the same accusations, nearly identical scenes.

The surrounding clamor buzzed in her ears like a swarm of bees—

"So, Prince Kui really intended to rebel?"

"Who would doubt it now? First, he murdered Prince E, and now even his own guard risked death to stop him—only to fail at the last moment. What a pity..."

"I told you Prince Kui was possessed by Pang Xun's spirit, bent on overthrowing the Tang! None of you believed me before!"

"The emperor is wise—Prince Kui has been detained, but who are those in his household still struggling to the death?"

"No doubt it's those eunuchs and palace lackeys. What a shame for Prince E and this Zhang family's son, who gave their lives loyally for the people!"

"Mark my words—Prince Kui's slaughter of his own kin is undeniable. A beast like him deserves no mercy, not even in death!""Alas, before being possessed by Pang Xun, Prince Kui had at least contributed to the state. Our current emperor is benevolent and virtuous—how could he simply order his execution?"

"Even if the death penalty is spared, there must still be punishment—demotion to commoner status, exile, or imprisonment. Otherwise, how can the people be convinced?"

Listening to the murmurs of the crowd around her, a cold sweat broke out on her back. For a moment, she felt utterly disoriented, unsure whether she was still atop the Qifeng Pavilion that day or beneath the Kaiyuan Gate tower.

Suddenly, the crowd erupted in screams, the shrill cries of women and children particularly piercing. Yet Huang Zixiang seemed completely numb. She only stared wide-eyed as Zhang Weiyi on the city wall shook off all the soldiers trying to restrain him and, with a maddened roar, leaped down without hesitation.

It happened in the blink of an eye.

But Huang Zixiang's mind remained blank for what felt like an eternity.

The world flashed black, then white before her eyes. Only after a long while did a dull grayish-yellow haze slowly seep in, gradually restoring color to her vision.

She stood motionless amid the panicked, scattering crowd, her expression wooden.

Some pressed forward to gawk, while others fled in terror, as if afraid to smell blood. Someone shouted, "Dead! Dead! So gruesome—his brains are splattered!" Others comforted wailing children, murmuring reassurances.

Only when the chaos had mostly subsided, leaving only a ring of onlookers around the corpse, did Huang Zixiang mechanically step forward. The crowd, unnerved by her ghastly expression, instinctively parted, whispering among themselves that she must have known the deceased.

Pushing through, she found Zhou Ziqin squatting dumbstruck beside Old Man Zhang's body. Noticing her approach, he stared blankly for a moment before removing his outer robe to cover Zhang Weiyi's face. Then he wordlessly stood beside her, silent for a long while.

Seeing this, the remaining bystanders gradually dispersed.

Eventually, officers from the Jingzhao Prefecture arrived. Since Zhang Weiyi had jumped to his death in full public view with straightforward circumstances and numerous witnesses, they only briefly recorded testimonies. The lead officer, who happened to have met Zhou Ziqin before, pulled him aside and asked quietly, "Ziqin, I hear this involves Prince Kui?"

Zhou Ziqin hesitated, then nodded. "Yes... Before dying, Old Man Zhang did denounce Prince Kui vehemently."

"What exactly did he say?" pressed the officer.

Frowning in thought, Zhou Ziqin finally shook his head. "It happened too suddenly, and I was too distraught... I can't recall the exact words. You might ask other witnesses—hundreds must have heard him."

The officer understood Zhou Ziqin's reluctance to repeat the accusations against Prince Kui and didn't press further. With a clasped-hand salute, he said, "In that case, I'll go inquire with other observers."

Meanwhile, the coroner from Jingzhao Prefecture had already set up a white canopy to examine Old Man Zhang's body on site."Death by falling from a height is confirmed," the coroner concluded after a preliminary examination, then invited Zhou Ziqin to inspect as well. Having endured two major shocks today, Zhou Ziqin was unusually silent. He hastily re-examined the body with the coroner—indeed, it was a fatal fall. The head was smashed beyond recognition, the neck broken, death instantaneous.

"So many people saw him jump with their own eyes. Is there any doubt about the cause of death?" the coroner said as he signed the autopsy report.

Another person chimed in, "The cause of death is clear enough, but the reason for jumping off the city tower... that's harder to explain. Should we write it in the report?"

The leader shook his head. "Too difficult. Let’s go back and seek instructions first."

Zhou Ziqin, distraught, turned to look at Huang Zixia, only to find that her previously dazed expression had now settled into calm.

She spoke slowly, "Ziqin, go ask how Old Man Zhang got up to the city tower."

Zhou Ziqin acknowledged and headed toward the tower’s steps. Soon, he returned and spoke to the soldiers searching Zhang Weiyi’s belongings, taking one of the military tokens and showing it to Huang Zixia. In a low voice, he said, "He used this token to go up."

Huang Zixia examined it—it was a Prince’s Army token, undoubtedly belonging to Zhang Xingying.

She took the token and murmured, "This should have been on Zhang Er-ge’s person at all times... How did Old Man Zhang get hold of it?"

"Could it be... that Old Man Zhang took it when he went to the mortuary to identify the body?"

"Official items like this would have been secured by the mortuary or sent to the Prince’s residence—they wouldn’t leave it on the corpse," Huang Zixia pondered, then shook her head. "No, the time is too short. Old Man Zhang couldn’t have gone from Puning Ward to the mortuary and then back to Kaiyuan Gate near Puning Ward in such a short span."

Zhou Ziqin hesitated before asking in a hushed tone, "Are you saying... that this token was already in Old Man Zhang’s possession before Zhang Er-ge died?"

Huang Zixia gave a faint nod, her voice strained. "Yes, it seems it was prepared in advance... If Zhang Er-ge failed and died, Old Man Zhang would go up the city tower and publicly denounce the matter—ensuring that a massive scandal would erupt, with no way to avoid it."

Zhou Ziqin recoiled in horror, his throat tightening as if gripped by an invisible hand, rendering him speechless.

"I don’t know what virtue or ability Prince Kui possesses to warrant such ruthlessness from the other side... And Old Man Zhang—what connection did he have with us? Why was he dragged into this?" she murmured, then turned away slowly. "Let’s go. At this point, every step only leads us deeper into despair."

Zhou Ziqin couldn’t help but follow her. "What will you do next? And what about His Highness... what will he do?"

Huang Zixia stopped and sighed. "Don’t ask, Ziqin. The forces we’re up against are too terrifying. Right now, all I fear is... that everything I hold dear will be swept into this whirlpool, that everyone I care about will be turned into pawns against me, one by one, against their will..."

Zhou Ziqin gazed at her in silence, his fists clenching and unclenching. Finally, with great difficulty but utmost solemnity, he spoke, word by deliberate word:

"But I will stand by your side. No matter what the world says, no matter how many abandon you—Zhou Ziqin will always believe in Huang Zixia."Huang Zixiang's eyes instantly reddened, the surging tide within them uncontrollable, on the verge of breaking through. She tilted her head back, taking a deep breath, and only after a long while did she manage to calm the frantic beating in her chest, suppressing the tightness in her throat as she said softly, "Thank you. Huang Zixiang will never let Zhou Ziqin down either."

In the streets outside the city walls, Wang Zongshi's carriage was still waiting for her.

He sat upright inside the carriage, silently watching her without a word. Only when the carriage began to move did he leisurely ask, "Any thoughts?"

Huang Zixiang lowered her head in contemplation before asking, "Eunuch Wang already knew this news. If you had intervened at the time, perhaps... it might not have been too late."

"How could I have anticipated something even you didn't think of?" The corners of his lips curled into a faint, ambiguous smile as he glanced at her before adding, "Besides, what connection do the Zhang father and son have with me? If not for you, why would I bother?"

"Thank you for your kindness, Eunuch Wang. Zixiang is endlessly grateful," she murmured with downcast eyes.

The carriage swayed slightly as it moved. Through the window, Huang Zixiang caught sight of the young man on horseback outside—his delicate profile, the occasional absentminded gesture as he brushed aside low-hanging branches, his face radiating innocence.

Noticing her gaze, Wang Zongshi remarked, "His name is A'Ze. I found him over a decade ago. Back then, I was still fond of pretentious elegance and named him Yunmengze. But now, A'Ze feels more natural."

Huang Zixiang asked, "Eunuch Wang holds the esteemed position of Protectorate General of the Divine Strategy Army, wielding immense power at court. Yet you keep only this young boy by your side. Doesn't that inconvenience you?"

"Handling everything oneself is the only way to truly live. Otherwise, what's the point?" He lifted his eyelids slightly before continuing, "Besides, what matters do I have? Though His Majesty ordered me to investigate Prince E's murder, now that His Majesty shows no interest, I have no leads. Everything falls on you now."

Listening to his unhurried words and observing his inscrutable expression, Huang Zixiang said nothing more and withdrew her gaze from A'Ze.

Wang Zongshi chuckled suddenly. "Since I've helped you this far, I might as well give you one more gift." He lightly tapped the carriage wall and instructed the driver, "To Xiuzheng Ward."

The driver acknowledged and immediately turned the horses southward.

Huang Zixiang asked, "Eunuch Wang is taking me to see Prince Kui?"

He didn't answer, merely leaning against the carriage wall with closed eyes, resting.

The carriage traversed most of Chang'an from north to south before entering Xiuzheng Ward. It came to a halt just as they neared the pavilion of the Court of Imperial Clan Affairs.

Wang Zongshi pushed the carriage door open and motioned for her to alight. "Enter through the side gate on the right."

Huang Zixiang complied, slipping through the small gate. The guards outside moved to stop her, but she gestured toward Wang Zongshi's carriage, and they let her pass.

Days had passed, and the plum blossoms by the river bend had bloomed even more brilliantly, vivid and abundant, glowing like rosy clouds.

Huang Zixiang approached Li Shubai's pavilion slowly beneath the trees, stepping onto the corridor that extended over the water. Her light footsteps echoed softly in the stillness.

As she rounded the corner of the corridor, she passed by a tree of radiantly blooming plum blossoms and saw Li Shubai standing there, watching her.

The sky was as blue as jade, the water as clear as a mirror. Plum blossoms lined both banks, their reflections shimmering on the water's surface. The world seemed draped in brocade, and as a gentle breeze swept past, the blossoms rippled like waves, shedding petals like snow.They stood gazing at each other across a sky and earth filled with falling blossoms. Though only a few days had passed since their last meeting, it felt like an eternity.

His refined and noble demeanor remained untarnished. His slightly somber eyes and the distant-mountain-purple "mirror-flower" silk he wore, now wreathed in mist, lent him an even more restrained and introspective charm.

She had grown thinner, the days of relentless travel and torment leaving her visibly pale and haggard. The spring-water-green robes hung loosely on her frame, as if she might collapse under their weight.

He walked toward her through the snow-like shower of petals and gently took her hand.

"Ziyao," he said, "spring is still early. You should wear more layers."

She hadn't expected these to be his first words upon their reunion. All she could manage was a soft "Mm," feeling moisture already gathering in her eyes.

He wrapped his arms around her slender shoulders and held her for a long moment. Around them, the murmuring stream and endless falling petals created countless ripples on the water's surface—one circle barely fading before another took its place, the overlapping arcs continuing without end.

After what seemed an age, Li Shubai gently released her. Taking her hand, he led her inside. "You've been through so much hardship and upheaval recently," he said, "while I've been here enjoying leisure, unable to help. I feel ashamed."

Huang Ziyao shook her head. "Your difficulties far surpass mine, Your Highness. I've just been... running around blindly, without any real direction."

Li Shubai gave a slight smile and shake of his head as he poured her tea, handing her the cup. Holding the vessel with three fingers, he gazed at her intently before asking quietly, "You've seen how things stand now—far beyond my control. If I asked you once more to leave the capital and avoid this turmoil, would you agree?"

Huang Ziyao studied his fingers—that distinctive three-fingered grip she knew so intimately. The jade-green tea in its secret-color porcelain cup, held by those three pale, slender fingers... When they'd first met, she hadn't seen his face—only his hand through the carved lattice of the carriage compartment beneath her hiding place, its color and grace like spring water and pear blossoms.

Back then, she could never have imagined this day would come.

Never imagined that the bedraggled girl dragged from beneath the carriage would one day become the person closest to him in all the world—standing together as the edifice crumbled, weathering the storm side by side.

So she shook her head and asked instead, "If I wait in safety far from the storm, can you promise me you'll emerge unscathed? That you won't leave me waiting in vain?"

Li Shubai gazed deeply at her before slowly shaking his head. "I can make no such promise."

Her lips curved in a smile—difficult but resolute. "Then I'll stay here. At least I'll be closer to you."

Silently, Li Shubai raised his hand to stroke her temple. "Truthfully, I don't want the storm to touch you."

Huang Ziyao placed her hand over his and asked softly, "You've heard... about Zhang Xingying?"

Li Shubai nodded once. "I know."

"And do you know that Zhang Xingying's father—Zhang Weiyi—threw himself from the Kaiyuan Gate wall today?" Huang Ziyao pressed.Li Shubai's eyes remained calm as he let out a faint "Hmm" and said, "I heard that before his death, he vehemently accused me of plotting to overthrow the court. It seems the world's prejudice against me may deepen further."

Huang Zixia was taken aback and quickly asked, "This incident happened not long ago, and I came directly by carriage from Kaiyuan Gate. How could Your Highness already know about it?"

"Hmm, I have my own sources of information," Li Shubai replied. After a moment of contemplation, he nodded and added, "A masterful move indeed. The death of my seventh brother has made my position in the court untenable, while the deaths of the Zhang father and son have convinced the common folk that I am possessed by an evil spirit. It seems all my years of effort and greatest achievements are no match for him."

Huang Zixia said, "Public opinion is easily swayed. If he can exploit it, so can we—and even turn it against him."

Li Shubai merely smiled faintly and replied, "Such petty tricks are easily uncovered. Aside from those who thrive on chaos and the gullible masses who believe rumors, the biggest beneficiary would be the source spreading them. So while our opponent can use this, we must never resort to it lightly."

Huang Zixia nodded but then frowned. "Yet Your Highness must also know that the military governors are already making moves. I fear—"

"Li Yong, the military governor of Zhenwu?" Li Shubai said dismissively. "Don’t worry. A merchant by birth, his troops lack loyalty in battle. What threat could he possibly pose?"

Seeing his indifferent expression, Huang Zixia pressed urgently, "If the Emperor blames you for this and the military governors are implicated alongside you, you’ll bear yet another accusation!"

"I’ve already shouldered many—one more makes no difference," Li Shubai said, steering the conversation away to spare her further worry. "Over this time, I’ve pondered every possibility, but the one thing I still can’t understand is how my seventh brother vanished before our eyes that day in Xiangluan Pavilion."

"His disappearance must have involved some trickery. But the true key lies with the mastermind behind the scenes who orchestrated it all. I believe that person is also the one who plotted the deaths of Zhang Xingying and his father—after all, the identical methods make it impossible not to connect them."

As she spoke, Huang Zixia raised her right hand, pressed the scrolling vine pattern on her hairpin, and pulled out the jade pin inside. She used it to draw a fine line on the small table before her, then placed her finger at the end of the line. "Now we’ve reached this point, but if we trace it back to the very beginning, it should start with—"

Her finger moved back to the starting point and settled there. "The death of Princess Qile."

Li Shubai shook his head. "No, it should begin four years ago, when I went to Xuzhou."

Huang Zixia nodded but then shook her head again, murmuring, "Or perhaps it started over a decade ago, on the day the late Emperor passed away."

Li Shubai agreed. She tapped lightly at the beginning of the line: the day of the late Emperor’s death—the little red fish.

Then, to the first mark: Xuzhou, Pang Xun’s rebellion, the curse.

The third mark: late summer last year, the death of Princess Qile.

The situation took a sharp turn for the worse, and events grew increasingly dense.

The fourth mark: the winter solstice last year, the disappearance of Prince E.

The fifth mark: New Year’s Day, the death of Prince E.The Sixth Mark: Today, the Death of Zhang Xingying and His Father.

Amidst these major events, Huang Zixiang added countless minor incidents—

Abbot Muxian's little red fish, Empress Wu Zetian's dagger from years past, the imperial brush bestowed upon Zhang Weiyi by the late emperor...

Clutching the jade hairpin, she silently gazed at the faint line drawn on the table and the increasingly dense marks upon it. Just by looking and contemplating the events each mark represented, a chill ran down one's spine.

Li Shubai also lowered his eyes, quietly observing that line. Its trace resembled an arrow drawing ever closer, now imminent and pressing.

His lashes, which had been shielding his gaze, trembled slightly as if pierced by an invisible arrow. He couldn't help but close his eyes for a moment before remembering something and asking, "How did you get in today?"

"Wang Zongshi brought me here. He said he wanted to give me a grand gift."

"Is our meeting considered a grand gift?" He raised his eyes to look at her.

Huang Zixiang pondered briefly and was about to speak when Li Shubai raised his hand to stop her.

He picked up a nearby handkerchief, dipped it in tea, and wiped away the faint white mark in one motion. Huang Zixiang, still puzzled, was about to ask when she heard faint footsteps approaching from outside—someone was walking along the waterside corridor.

With a slight tilt of his chin, he signaled for her to hide inside. Then he poured the tea from her cup into his own, wiped her cup dry with the handkerchief, and placed it upside down on the tea tray.

The footsteps grew closer, and a familiar voice rang out: "Your Majesty, the corridor is slippery near the water—please be careful..."

Huang Zixiang, hiding beneath the window of the side chamber, immediately recognized the voice of Xu Fenghan, the emperor's attendant. And the person he was accompanying could only be the current emperor.

A dozen or so people passed by the window in front of her, their footsteps chaotic. She instinctively curled up and held her breath.

Li Shubai rose to greet them at the door. The emperor surveyed the surroundings and said, "Fourth Brother, this place is truly extraordinary. How does it feel to live here?"

Li Shubai replied, "Sitting to watch the flowers fall, lying to listen to the spring's murmur—such splendor is beyond words."

The emperor nodded lightly and took his arm, saying, "Such scenery is indeed splendid. Today, I've come specifically to ask for a cup of your tea."

"Your humble brother dares not presume," Li Shubai said, inviting him to the seat of honor and personally preparing the tea. When selecting a teacup, his hand subtly passed over the one Huang Zixiang had just used, choosing another instead.

The emperor remained amiable throughout, smiling as he held the tea but only lightly sniffing it. "All things in the world are interconnected. Fourth Brother, your mind is naturally astute, excelling in all matters—even the flavor of your brewed tea is more profound than others'."

"Your Majesty flatters me. It is merely the serene surroundings that bring out the tea's true essence," Li Shubai said impassively. He lowered his gaze to the tea in his hand—the cup into which he had poured half of Huang Zixiang's tea. Fastidious by nature, he never touched others' belongings, but seeing the emperor refuse to drink the tea he had prepared, he slowly sipped the tea she had left behind.

The emperor smiled and glanced up at Xu Fenghan. Understanding the cue, Xu withdrew with the others, keeping a distance.

Only after the footsteps had faded did the emperor speak again: "Now that we're alone, let us be more familiar—call me 'Eldest Brother.'"

"Your humble brother dares not," Li Shubai immediately declined.

"Why not? Does the imperial family not have brothers?" The emperor set down his teacup with a sigh. "We were once a dozen brothers—some died young, some passed in their prime, leaving only you, me, and Ninth Brother since my ascension... I never imagined the misunderstanding between you and Seventh Brother would grow so deep..."

The emperor's voice choked with emotion, his sorrow cutting his words short. Li Shubai replied calmly, "Your Majesty misunderstands me. Though Seventh Brother and I were led astray by others' provocations, there is no enmity between us that cannot be resolved."The emperor gazed at him pensively and slowly said, "Yet everyone claims that on that day at the back of Xiangji Temple, you publicly killed the Seventh Prince... All those present can bear witness for Prince E, proving that you murdered him."

Li Shubai lowered his eyes to the teacup in his hand, remaining silent.

"Fourth Brother, the Seventh Prince always respected and loved you. The two of you were the closest among us. But what exactly did you do to make the brother who trusted you most willingly sacrifice his own life to publicly accuse you of your crimes?" His voice was low, barely suppressing his grief. "Fourth Brother, what exactly are you trying to achieve that would make you disregard even the Seventh Prince's life?"

"Your Majesty implies that I plotted against the Seventh Prince?" Li Shubai asked calmly.

"I refuse, I cannot, and I dare not believe it!" The emperor frowned, his voice filled with sorrow. "But at Xiangluan Pavilion, I witnessed with my own eyes the Seventh Prince's vehement accusations against you. At Xiangji Temple, hundreds of the Divine Strategy Army saw you kill him. How can you expect me to believe you?"

Perhaps too agitated, the emperor gasped heavily after speaking these words.

"I only wish to ask Your Majesty one thing," Li Shubai set down his teacup and said composedly. "That day at Xiangluan Pavilion, the Seventh Prince jumped from such a high tower in public—naturally, there was no chance of survival. So how could a man already dead appear again at the back of Xiangji Temple?"

The emperor's face instantly darkened, a shadow passing over his features. He stared at the composed Li Shubai before him and slowly replied, "Perhaps... it was the ancestral spirits watching over him, allowing him to escape death."

"Your Majesty, as the ruler of a nation, do you truly believe in such superstitious tales meant to deceive ignorant villagers?" Li Shubai's gaze was clear, his tone as tranquil as a breeze over water, as calm as drifting clouds. "The truth is, every person—whether a commoner or royalty—has only one life. It is absolutely impossible to die twice. Therefore, if the Seventh Prince truly denounced me and took his own life at Xiangluan Pavilion, then the man seen being killed by me at Xiangji Temple could not possibly have been him. Conversely, if the man who died at the back of Xiangji Temple was the Seventh Prince, then the one who accused me of treason at Xiangluan Pavilion could not have been him. Your Majesty, do you not agree?"

Though his voice was gentle and unhurried, the emperor furrowed his brow, pressing his fingers to his temples as he leaned back against the armrest, gritting his teeth and closing his eyes.

"Your Majesty is wise and decisive. If you wish to convict me, then I must ask—of what crime? Did I force the Seventh Prince to his death at Xiangluan Pavilion, or was I witnessed killing him at Xiangji Temple? Which of these is my alleged crime?"

Veins bulged on the emperor's forehead. After a long pause, he forced out through clenched teeth, "What... difference does it make?"

"There is naturally a difference," Li Shubai replied unhurriedly, pouring him a second cup of tea, his voice as clear and steady as the flowing spring outside the window. "If Your Majesty convicts me of driving the Seventh Prince to suicide at Xiangluan Pavilion, yet he later appeared at Xiangji Temple, then the charge is invalid. If Your Majesty convicts me of murdering Prince E at Xiangji Temple, then who was the one who died slandering me at Xiangluan Pavilion? How can we be certain this isn't another instance of using death to frame me? Thus, this case must be thoroughly reinvestigated."Having said this, Li Shubai looked at the emperor opposite him, whose expression was extremely grim, and even allowed a faint smile to appear at the corners of his lips. "Your Majesty, it seems there are far too many doubts surrounding Seventh Brother's death. I cannot simply offer my life in his place without understanding the truth."

The emperor pressed his hand against the armrest, slowly forcing out a few words through gritted teeth. "What... do you want?"

"Though I may lack talent, there must still be one or two in this vast world who believe in me. Though I stand here ready to offer my neck to the blade, Your Majesty must give the people a convincing charge against me. Otherwise, the truth will inevitably come to light, and I fear it may stir unrest among the court and the populace, only adding to your troubles." Having spoken calmly, he fell silent, his gaze fixed on the emperor as he awaited a response.

In the quiet of the room, a sudden breeze swept through the window, scattering petals like snow and rippling the water's surface.

Amidst the falling blossoms, he sat before the emperor, unmoving in posture, his expression as composed and somber as ever.

The emperor's face, however, grew even more ashen, taking on a sickly pallor. He pressed his fingers to his temples, beads of sweat forming on his forehead, his body trembling slightly despite his efforts to control it.

Seeing his distress, Li Shubai rose to assist, reaching out to gently massage his temples. "Your Majesty is unwell. There was no need for you to come in person—a summons would have sufficed."

The emperor groaned faintly and swatted away his hand, then weakly called out, "Fenghan—"

Though his voice was soft and lacked strength, Xu Fenghan, who should have been waiting outside, rushed in immediately. Seeing the emperor's state, he quickly retrieved a medicine bottle from his sleeve, poured out two pills, and helped the emperor swallow them with water.

Li Shubai watched coldly from the side. Only after Xu Fenghan had settled the emperor against the backrest did he approach and ask in a low voice, "Given His Majesty's poor health, why did you not dissuade him from leaving the palace?"

Xu Fenghan wore a pained expression. "Prince Kui, His Majesty has been deeply concerned about you and wished to summon you for questioning long ago. But everyone in the palace advised against it, saying that with you under house arrest and public resentment running high, it was unwise for His Majesty to visit. Yet he insisted on coming in secret, so deep is his brotherly affection. How could this old servant possibly stop him?"

Li Shubai sighed softly, gazing at the emperor, who was still clutching his head in pain, and said no more.

Only after the emperor's headache had subsided did Xu Fenghan cautiously ask, "Your Majesty, shall we return to the palace?"

The emperor gave an almost imperceptible nod.

Li Shubai bowed deeply, his voice calm and steady. "This humble brother respectfully sees Your Majesty off."

Huang Zixiang held her breath, remaining motionless long after the emperor had departed.

It wasn't until Li Shubai entered the side chamber and sat beside her that she finally exhaled, realizing her back was damp with a thin layer of sweat.

Li Shubai patted her shoulder gently and whispered, "The emperor's intent to kill is clear. You must leave quickly to avoid unnecessary trouble."

Huang Zixiang reached out and grasped his arm, her voice trembling. "And what about you?""I've already said, I'm here to await my fate, ready to meet my end," he raised his hand to clasp hers, their fingers intertwining gently as that faint smile reappeared on his face. "If I flee, then everyone under heaven will say I'm the murderer of Prince E. Even if I save my life, what meaning is there if my reputation is tarnished and my seventh brother dies unjustly?"

Huang Zixiao gazed at his serene yet resolute expression and couldn't help but ask, "Is the truth more important than life itself?"

Li Shubai couldn't help but laugh. He reached out to stroke Huang Zixiao's forehead hair and asked with amusement, "How could the number one female detective in the world ask such a question?"

Huang Zixiao bit her lower lip and nodded silently. "You're right... No matter what the truth is, no matter how powerful the mastermind behind this is, all I can do is pursue the truth and bring peace to Prince E's spirit underground."

"Besides, the truth this time concerns my safety too, doesn't it?" He smiled as he looked at her, then shook his head with slight regret. "Actually, staying by Wang Yun's side would have been a safer choice for you. After all, the forces you're facing now are a hundred times more powerful than you imagine."

"I'm not afraid. In fact, when I left Shu and traveled alone to Chang'an to follow your footsteps, I had already thought about it—" Huang Zixiao rested her chin on her hand, leaning against the window to watch the falling petals like snow outside, then turned back to look at Li Shubai, meeting his deep, steady gaze as she slowly continued, "Once I took that step, there would be no turning back for the rest of my life."

A smooth marriage into a noble family, a peaceful and uneventful life, the latter half of her life devoted to husband and children—all of that was forever abandoned the moment she mounted Fusha and galloped north.

From then on, her life would take a different path. Ahead of her, mist and haze swirled; beneath her feet, sometimes fragrant grass, sometimes thorns. When the clouds and mist parted, it might reveal a cliff or a smooth road—

Yet, no matter what she faced, she would meet it head-on, unafraid of any hardship or danger. Because this was the path she had chosen. Because on this path, she walked alongside Li Shubai.

She still remembered the autumn leaves as bright as flowers that had seen her off across mountains and rivers last year, dazzling and brilliant. And now, sitting beside Li Shubai, the petals fell like snow.

"At the very least, today we are together—you, me, and countless blossoms. At least this time has not been wasted."

"Are you satisfied with this gift?"

On the carriage ride back, Wang Zongshi asked her impassively.

Huang Zixiao bowed her head in gratitude. "Yes, Zixiao thanks Lord Wang."

Had she not overheard the conversation between the emperor and Li Shubai today, how would she have known that the emperor had shed all pretense and intended to kill Li Shubai? How would she have realized how dire Li Shubai's situation had become?

Though Li Shubai had turned the tables for now, with enough determination, an excuse could always be found. The court and the public had already been stirred, and suspicions against Li Shubai were rampant. To pin a crime on him would be all too easy.

As if reading her thoughts, Wang Zongshi asked, "Do you know why His Majesty personally visited Prince Kui today?"

Huang Zixiao didn't answer, only looked up at him."I've said it before—now that the military governors are making moves, although the Divine Strategy Army is enough to secure Chang'an, the regional garrisons can only be controlled by Prince Kui. With the Emperor gravely ill and the Crown Prince still young, under such circumstances..." He narrowed his eyes slightly, studying her expression. "I wonder what His Majesty's current stance is toward Prince Kui?"

The roads of Chang'an were smooth, and the carriage swayed only slightly as it moved forward. Huang Zixiao sat upright in silence, replying briefly, "His Majesty... seems eager to resolve this matter."

Wang Zongshi observed her expression closely. Seeing no additional words or reactions from her, he continued, "Rest assured, even if he is the Emperor, there are many things beyond his control."

Huang Zixiao nodded silently and said, "Indeed."

"Moreover, there is much that can be done behind the scenes—not just by His Majesty, but by you, me, and even..." Wang Zongshi's gaze drifted toward the Xiuzheng Quarter behind them before he added leisurely, with a faintly mocking smile, "Many others will seize the opportunity."