The Golden Hairpin

These were her own love knots, her own bridal fan, her own wedding dress—this was her, the marriage she was about to face.

Wang Yun arrived that evening.

Huang Zixiao was sipping wine by the window. Seeing him approach, she didn’t rise, merely nodding in greeting and pouring him a cup of wine before passing it over.

Wang Yun sat down across from her, observing the faint flush of peach blossoms blooming on her pale cheeks from the alcohol. He couldn’t help but express surprise, saying, “So you enjoy drinking alone.”

“No, this is the first time,” she replied, lifting eyes slightly hazy and tinged with red to meet his gaze. Her voice carried a faint slur as she continued, “I’ve heard that when the world becomes too heavy to bear, sometimes drinking a little and getting drunk might bring a turn of fortune by the next day.”

Wang Yun studied her face, softened and blurred under the candlelight, the peach-like hue on her cheeks accentuating the dewy shimmer of her eyes, now scattered with light. Compared to her usual clear and steady gaze when she looked at him, this unfocused, dreamy expression was infinitely more captivating.

He sighed, reaching out to take the wine jug from the table. “Alright, that’s enough for now. You should get some rest.”

“The last time I drank was when you were still with the Left Imperial Guards,” she murmured, a faint smile tugging at her lips. Her eyes remained fixed on the flickering candle flame on the table, the tiny light swaying endlessly in her gaze like a lone star adrift in autumn waters. Wang Yun found himself unable to look away, as though drawn in by that glimmer.

He remembered—back then, Huang Zixiao had been brought over by Zhou Ziqin to drink with the Left Imperial Guards. It had been a sweltering midsummer noon, and though he had shielded her from most of the alcohol, her cheeks had still flushed peach-blossom pink—whether from the heat or her own tendency to flush easily when drinking.

And then, just that once, she had been caught by Prince Kui. In Wang Yun’s memory, it was the first time he had ever seen the prince truly angry—over something so trivial.

What had felt unsettling to him back then now suddenly made sense as he watched her dazed expression before him. The unease and panic he had felt—he finally understood why.

Huang Zixiao lifted her eyes to meet his and shook her head. “Don’t worry, it’s just a little mild wine. I wanted to drink, but I didn’t intend to drown myself in it—the matters I’m facing now are tangled and complex. How could I let myself escape or vent like this?”

Wang Yun gazed at her silently before murmuring, “If it truly becomes too much, I’ll help you.”

“Thank you,” Huang Zixiao replied with a nod. “But the Imperial Guards must keep you busy. How could I ask you to set aside your duties for my sake?”

“What kind of relationship do we have now that you’d still speak so formally?” Wang Yun said helplessly. “But I also know I can’t truly help you. In this regard, I’m not even as useful as Ziqin—at least he can investigate cases and solve mysteries alongside you. I truly don’t have his talents.”

“Why say such things? Ziqin has his strengths, but you too possess abilities unmatched by anyone in this world.”"Only..." He wanted to say that in front of that person, his abilities were insignificant. But some words shouldn't be spoken aloud, so he merely thought them before shaking his head and changing the subject. "I have news for you—something that will surely cheer you up."

Huang Zixiang nodded at him and asked, "What is it?"

"During my routine patrol today near the Dali Temple, I saw someone," he said, a faint smile playing on his lips as he gazed at her tenderly. "Guess who?"

Studying his expression, Huang Zixiang thought for a moment before exclaiming in surprise, "Dicuí?"

"Yes, Lü Dicuí," Wang Yun affirmed with a smile. "Though I resent Zhang Xingying for framing you, I know you've always cared about that girl. So I let the others go ahead while I quietly followed her on horseback to see what she was doing there."

Though anxious, Huang Zixiang noted his composed demeanor and assumed it must be good news, allowing her to suppress her urgency as she waited expectantly for him to continue.

"I saw her lingering in an alley beside the Dali Temple, her face filled with despair. I was considering bringing her to you discreetly when suddenly someone emerged, grabbed her arm, and pulled her into a corner, demanding, 'How dare you loiter here?'" Wang Yun lowered his voice. "Guess who that person was?"

This time, Huang Zixiang truly had no idea and could only shake her head. "Not many people would appear near government offices and know Lü Dicuí... Was it someone acquainted with Zhang Xingying?"

"Wei Baoheng," Wang Yun whispered.

Huang Zixiang gasped in surprise, though she quickly realized that Wei Baoheng, Princess Tongchang's consort, did indeed know Dicuí. After a brief pause, she asked, "Did Wei Baoheng take her away?"

"Yes. Lü Dicuí was sobbing, saying she was a wanted criminal and now that even Zhang Xingying was dead, she intended to surrender at the Dali Temple and end it all. But Wei Baoheng persuaded her it was pointless and eventually took her away. However, they didn’t head toward Guanghuali—they went toward Yongjiafang instead. After that, I returned, so I don’t know where they ended up."

Huang Zixiang frowned slightly, pondering before saying, "Yongjiafang is where Prince Kui and Prince Zhao reside, with constant traffic of officials and commoners. It’s hardly an ideal place to hide someone."

"True. I’ve already discreetly sent someone to investigate. If there’s any news, I’ll let you know immediately."

Huang Zixiang nodded. As the night deepened, she cleared the dishes from the table, replacing them with pastries and fruits. Taking a small knife, she peeled two oranges for him.

The oranges were juicy, staining her fingers. She rose to wash her hands in a basin of water. When she returned to her seat, she noticed him watching her under the candlelight, his eyes reflecting the flames, bright and intense.

Unconsciously lowering her gaze to avoid his, she asked, "Are they sweet?"

"Mmm," he replied, handing her a slice.

Huang Zixiang took a bite. The flavor was sweet and tart at first, but as she savored it, a faint bitterness lingered.

She ate quietly, her lowered face casting delicate shadows from her eyelashes in the flickering light, half-concealing her expression.Wang Yun felt a surge of emotion—sweet yet uneasy—welling up in his chest. Unable to restrain himself, he said, "Your wedding gown is being made by the most renowned Jinxiu Embroidery House in Chang'an. Over a dozen seamstresses there have been working day and night, and it’s nearly finished. It should be delivered to you in the next few days."

Huang Zixiang’s hand trembled slightly, causing a drop of orange juice to spill onto the table. She paused, then reached for a silk handkerchief to wipe it away before nodding gently. "I’m truly sorry... Other brides would have sewn their own wedding gowns..."

"My wife is extraordinary. What’s so special about what ordinary people can do? You have more important matters to attend to," Wang Yun replied, the corners of his lips curving into the gentlest of smiles as he spoke softly. "Right now, Prince Kui’s case is being handled by Eunuch Wang. If you can assist him, it would be an immense contribution to the Wang family. Countless women can sew wedding gowns, but this matter—who else in the world could accomplish it but you?"

Huang Zixiang had not intended to bring up certain things, but since he had mentioned it, she murmured, "Today, I visited Liang’s Woodworking Shop and heard what the craftsmen had to say. Zixiang... is deeply moved by all you’ve done for me."

"I’ve told you before, there’s no need for such formality between us. After all, your affairs are mine. We are soon to be husband and wife, united as one," Wang Yun gazed at her, his eyes tender and bright. "Zixiang, there’s one more thing I must ask you to promise me before our wedding."

Huang Zixiang hesitated slightly, unsure what he wanted her to agree to—whether it was to completely forget Li Shubai or to abandon everything she excelled at after marriage.

Yet here she sat before him, under his unwavering gaze. Though her expression flickered, she suppressed the hesitation and unease in her chest and replied, "Please instruct me, Young Master Wang."

He studied her lowered face and said gently, "Zixiang, after we marry, we must never become one of those couples who are overly polite and distant. To me, husband and wife should be like intertwined branches or a pair of lovebirds—bound together for life, growing old as devoted partners. We must become the closest pair in the world, so... you must no longer be so restrained and reserved."

His voice was tender, his tone so affectionate that Huang Zixiang felt an overwhelming wave of guilt and sorrow rise in her heart. Yet the surge of emotion lasted only a moment before she forcibly steadied herself, lowering her head and replying hoarsely, "Yes."

Though the lingering chill of early spring still lingered, spring had undeniably arrived. Zhou Ziqin sighed to himself as he rode along the capital’s main road.

The willow trees lining the path had begun to sprout tender green buds, and the first shoots of grass peeked through the gray remnants of withered leaves, creating a faint green haze in the distance.

"It’s already early February—even the wind feels gentler now," he murmured to himself as he passed beneath the drooping willow branches, heading toward Yongchang Ward.

Children clutching paper kites ran past him, cheering as they searched for open spaces to fly them. Zhou Ziqin turned at the sight of a butterfly-shaped kite in one child’s hand and immediately called out, "Hey! You—that child, yes, you! Come here!"

The child nervously approached with his butterfly kite, asking timidly, "Big brother, what do you need...?""What's this? Is this how you make a kite? Hand it over!" he said, taking the kite and weighing it in his hand before balancing it on his index finger to show the boy. "Too heavy at the head, too light in the body, unbalanced on both sides—no wonder it won't fly! Let me fix it for you."

As he spoke, he pulled out a small knife from his pocket and trimmed the wooden sticks on the kite. Satisfied with his adjustments, he tossed it back to the boy. "There you go. With my years of skipping school to fly kites, I guarantee this one will soar high and steady!"

He was still basking in his own pride when the sound of clapping and laughter came from the alley entrance. "Zi Qin, still as childish as ever, I see."

Zhou Ziqin turned his head and quickly dismounted from his horse. "Commander Wang."

Wang Yun smiled. "Just call me Yunzhi, like Zixia does."

Zhou Ziqin didn’t mind the familiarity and glanced at the children running away. "You were in Langya before and only recently came to the capital, so of course you wouldn’t know about my legendary reputation. I was the one who led all the truants from the Imperial Academy to fly kites!"

"I know. Minister Wei gets heart palpitations just mentioning you. Four or five of his nephews were all led astray by you," Wang Yun teased, though his steps didn’t falter as he motioned for his attendants to follow.

Zhou Ziqin noticed the people accompanying him and immediately understood. "Are these gifts for... Miss Huang?"

"Yes. We’ll be leaving for Chengdu next month, so many things need to be settled before we depart," Wang Yun replied, pointing to the boxes and trunks they had brought. "These items must first be reviewed by Zixia."

Today’s delivery included seasonal clothing, various shawls, silk handkerchiefs, cloth towels, bedding, and more. The most important item, of course, was the wedding dress, which had required countless hours of labor.

Huang Zixia opened the trunks in the inner hall to inspect the contents, discussing with the embroiderer from Jinxiu Workshop whether any adjustments were needed for size or length. Surprisingly, the wedding dress fit her perfectly, as if tailored specifically for her. The woman marveled, "Young Master Wang has an excellent eye. He pointed to one of our embroiderers, saying her measurements were similar, and indeed, they matched yours exactly."

Huang Zixia remained silent, her fingers tracing the delicate phoenix embroidery. Her father had once been the Prefect of Chengdu, and Wang Yun, as the Right Commander of the Imperial Guards, came from the prestigious Wang family—his father, Wang Lin, was a Minister of State. Naturally, her wedding dress was a phoenix robe. Pairs of phoenixes adorned the turquoise silk, vibrant and lively, complemented by floral hairpins that added solemnity and grandeur.

Setting aside the phoenix robe, she picked up the white round fan with its gold-inlaid jade ribs, used to veil her face during the ceremony. The fan was embroidered on both sides with gold and silver threads—front side displaying silk tree flowers, the back with daylilies. The tassel beneath the handle was braided into a nine-knot concentric design, matching the turquoise hue of her wedding dress.

Staring blankly at the concentric knot, her mind flashed to the remnants of burnt silk threads she and Zhou Ziqin had discovered in the incense burner at Prince E’s residence.

That dagger, that jade bracelet, that concentric knot—would she ever find a way to reveal this secret before others and bring the truth to light?

Her thoughts tangled like a dense ball of yarn, suffocating her chest. She sat down, pressing her hand against the fan, and in that moment, it finally dawned on her—

This was her own concentric knot, her own veiling fan, her own wedding dress. This was the marriage she was about to face.Round and round, from Yu Xuan to Li Shubai, in the end, she still returned to where she started, choosing the one she had never loved but was destined to be her final destination.

Her chest heaved violently until, at last, she could bear it no longer. Pressing a hand tightly to her heart, she uncontrollably collapsed onto a chair, her breathing heavy, her eyes instantly turning red.

The attendants helping her into the wedding dress exchanged bewildered glances before someone hesitantly asked, "Is the dress too tight? Is it pressing on you, miss? Should we loosen the sash?"

Huang Zixiao bit her lower lip and shook her head, her voice trembling as she replied, "No, I'm just... just excited and overjoyed, feeling a bit dizzy... I just need a moment alone."

Staggering into the inner chamber by herself, she shut everyone out. Leaning against the door, she took deep breaths, trying to suppress the searing ache in her chest. Yet, in the end, a dark wave of dizziness overwhelmed her. Her legs gave way, unable to support her any longer, and she slowly slid down against the closed door behind her.

Knees drawn up, she sat slumped behind the door for what felt like an eternity before she seemed to finally comprehend her situation. Slowly, she wrapped her arms around her knees, sitting on the cold floor, her wide eyes staring blankly at everything before her.

She felt as though she could see everything, yet nothing at all. Her gaze drifted numbly over the objects in front of her before settling on an empty point in the air.

She had no idea how long she sat there, lost in thought, until a knock came at the door. Wang Yun's voice reached her from the other side, "Zixiao, the embroiderers from Jinxiu Workshop are about to leave. Do you have any further instructions for them?"

She responded vaguely, her eyes aching terribly. Blinking, the prolonged strain made them sting unbearably, and two lines of tears streamed down her face.

Wiping away the tear tracks, she closed her eyes and took a deep breath before answering in as steady a voice as possible, "No need. I'm satisfied with everything."

Wang Yun sensed something off in her tone but paused only briefly before turning to relay some minor instructions to the embroiderers and sending them on their way.

When he turned back, he found Huang Zixiao had emerged from the inner chamber, her face calm but slightly pale, as if she hadn't seen sunlight in a long time.

She stood there gazing at him, like a lotus quietly blooming and wilting in the water's breeze. Wang Yun searched her expression for even a trace of joy but found none.

In this moment approaching their union, it seemed only he was filled with eager anticipation, his heart burning with fervor.

Like being doused with cold water, what rose in his heart was not just sorrow but also anger. He turned his face away and sat down on the nearby couch without a word.

An awkward silence fell, broken only by Zhou Ziqin's oblivious voice as he looked between them and asked, "So... when are you two planning to leave for Chengdu?"

Huang Zixiao glanced at Wang Yun, who replied indifferently, "In a few days. It might snow again soon, making the mountain roads difficult to pass."

"That's true. I'd suggest waiting until the third month when the flowers bloom—it's the best time to travel south. You can enjoy the scenery along the way, treating it as a leisurely trip," Zhou Ziqin said, then scratched his head in frustration. "But I was hoping to go back with you. If we really have to wait until the third month, won't that be too late...?"Wang Yun smiled and said, "Indeed. What if your fiancée, seeing you never return, decides to call off the engagement? What will you do then?"

It was meant as a jest, but Zhou Ziqin immediately grew anxious. "You're right... That would be disastrous!"

Huang Zixiao reassured him, "Don't worry. You've only been away for a month or two. How could the engagement be called off so quickly?"

Zhou Ziqin fretted, "But... but when I left home, I said I was running away because I didn't want to get married. Now I realize how hard it is to find a wife—no one wants to marry me! Second Miss... when I think about it now, Second Miss is actually quite nice!"

Seeing his distress, Huang Zixiao couldn't help but smile faintly. "I'm sure your elder brother already knows how you feel. He'll explain it to your parents. It won't be too late."

"I hope so..." He sat gloomily beside Wang Yun and sighed. "Now you two are getting married, soon to be a loving couple, and I'll be left all alone. I need someone to keep me company!"

Huang Zixiao froze, instinctively turning to look at Wang Yun.

Wang Yun's gaze was already fixed on her. Their eyes met, and in that moment, they saw the complicated emotions reflected in each other's eyes.

An awkward, stifling tension silently enveloped them.

Huang Zixiao turned away quietly and changed the subject. "Ziqin, what brings you here today?"

"Oh! There's something I nearly forgot," Zhou Ziqin said hurriedly. "Old Guo from the southern city mortuary—we're on good terms—sent someone yesterday afternoon to tell me that the case regarding Zhang Xingying has been closed by the Dali Temple. Zhang's father's case has also been recorded, so today they'll be calling Zhang and his family to claim the body."

Huang Zixiao pondered for a moment before asking, "So if we want to investigate anything further, we should go today?"

"Is there anything left to investigate? Zhang Xingying's false accusation against you has already been cleared up, hasn't it?" Wang Yun interjected.

Zhou Ziqin nodded. "Right, there's nothing left. Besides, even if they're buried..."

Even if they were buried, if they really wanted to investigate, they could still dig them up like before—it would just be a bit disgusting.

He looked at Huang Zixiao, only to see her heading toward the inner chamber, saying, "Wait a moment. I need to change."

Zhou Ziqin blinked in surprise and muttered, "This..."

A vague sense of unease crept over him, and he turned his gaze to Wang Yun. Wang Yun stood and walked to Huang Zixiao's side, asking softly, "Zixiao, you just tried on your wedding dress, and now you're going to examine a corpse?"

Even someone as oblivious as Zhou Ziqin finally realized what felt off—it seemed somewhat inauspicious.

But Huang Zixiao looked up at Wang Yun and whispered, "Yunzhi, there are still things unsettled in my heart, and I can't rest easy. The bodies are about to be buried. If I don't take this last chance to see them, I fear I'll regret it later."

Wang Yun gazed down at her. The stubborn resolve in her eyes left him no choice but to relent. He sighed softly, gently resting a hand on her shoulder. "I'll go with you."They arrived at just the right time. Old Guo from the southern city's charity cemetery was loading large cloth sacks containing corpses onto an ox cart with the little scabby-headed boy he had adopted.

Zhou Ziqin hurried over and shouted, "Old Guo, wait a minute!"

The moment Old Guo saw him, he quickly dropped the sack. "Young Master Zhou, you're here? And these two are..."

"Friends of mine," Zhou Ziqin said briefly before glancing around and asking, "Has no one from the Zhang family come to claim the body?"

"Yes, the eldest son of the family mentioned it to me earlier. They ordered two thin-shelled coffins from the shop, but they haven’t been delivered yet. He asked me to help transport them directly to Yeziling in the southern part of the city," Old Man Guo said, touching the bulge in his chest—clearly the money the Zhang family had given him—with a satisfied smile. "His father and younger brother died in disgrace, so he told me not to bring them home but to take them straight to the burial ground."

Huang Zixiang looked at the two corpses on the ox cart and felt an overwhelming sorrow. She turned her back, took a deep breath, and forced back the burning tears in her eyes.

Zhou Ziqin said, "But since the bodies haven’t left the mortuary yet, the authorities can still investigate, right?"

Old Man Guo nodded. "It’s just that the Dali Temple has already closed the case..."

Zhou Ziqin quickly slipped him half a string of coins and said, "No problem. I’ll file a supplementary record later. For now, we need to examine the bodies again."

Old Man Guo signaled Little Scabby to drag the corpses back inside. His gaze then fell on Wang Yun, whose gentle and refined demeanor made him wonder why such a noble young man would come to see corpses. When he noticed Huang Zixiang, his jaw nearly dropped in shock. He pulled Zhou Ziqin aside and whispered, "You... you’re bringing them to examine the bodies?"

Zhou Ziqin nodded. "Yes, I even went home to fetch my autopsy kit. Don’t tell me it’s not allowed."

"That... that young lady is also going to examine them?"

"Of course! We can’t do this without her. Do you know who she is?" Zhou Ziqin raised a thumb proudly and declared, "When it comes to autopsies and solving cases, if she claims second place, no one dares call themselves first!"

"Stop boasting!" Old Man Guo scoffed. "The true number one in the world is undoubtedly the daughter of Magistrate Huang—later known as Eunuch Yang, who served by Prince Kui’s side."

"What a coincidence—the very person I’ve brought here is Miss Huang," Zhou Ziqin said triumphantly.

Old Man Guo was instantly dumbfounded, staring at Huang Zixiang in amazement. Wang Yun, seeing the old man’s reaction, smiled and patted Huang Zixiang’s shoulder. "Let’s go."

Once they had entered, Old Man Guo tugged at Zhou Ziqin’s sleeve again and whispered, "So, this distinguished young gentleman with such extraordinary grace and elegance—could he be the legendary... Prince Kui? But I heard Prince Kui is currently detained in the Court of Imperial Clan Affairs..."

Zhou Ziqin stared at him in shock. "This is Commander Wang of the Imperial Guards. How could he be Prince Kui?"

"Oh? He’s not?" Old Man Guo’s face immediately showed disappointment. "I’d heard that Prince Kui and Yang Chonggu worked together to solve several baffling cases—a match made in heaven. There’s even a rumor that Prince Kui, now in his twenties, hasn’t married because he’s waiting for his princess."

"What nonsense... utter rubbish!" Zhou Ziqin muttered in bewilderment.

"Exactly, the rumors in the streets are just ridiculous," Old Man Guo quickly agreed with an apologetic smile.

Speechless, Zhou Ziqin carried his kit into the mortuary. To preserve the bodies, the room had thick walls and small windows, making it dimly lit.

Stepping in from the bright outdoors, his vision was momentarily plunged into darkness. He closed his eyes for a moment, then reopened them to see Huang Zixiang’s face in the gloom—pale as snow.

Zhou Ziqin stood frozen for a long time before the truth slowly dawned on him.Suddenly, he understood something he had never noticed before—the confidence she exuded when standing behind Prince Kui, unburdened by worry because she knew everything was taken care of; the tacit understanding that Prince Kui always arranged everything for her before she even spoke or acted; the unspoken connection between them when their gazes occasionally met, leaving him the only one unable to decipher their secret...

In an instant, he grasped things he had never perceived before, leaving him utterly at a loss. Prince Kui and Wang Yun were both people he knew well, and Huang Zixiao held a place in his heart that surpassed almost everyone else. Yet now, these three suddenly presented a complex situation before him, leaving his mind blank.

Wang Yun glanced at him and asked, "Zi Qin, what are you thinking about?"

"N-nothing." He vigorously patted his head, forcing all thoughts out of his mind, then quickly set down the box and handed the gloves and face covering to Huang Zixiao before hurriedly putting on his own thin gloves. "It's a bit dark here. Let's move the body under that window."

Under the light streaming through the window, he took out a thin knife from the box, clasped it between his palms, and bowed slightly to Zhang Xingying, murmuring, "Brother Zhang, apologies. We just want to uncover the truth and see if there was any injustice in your death..."

Wang Yun interjected, "As far as I know, Zhang Xingying committed suicide and even framed Zixiao beforehand. The evidence is clear—what's the point of an autopsy?"

"That may be so..." Zhou Ziqin looked hesitantly at Huang Zixiao.

"Just in case. After all, a thorough examination will bring some peace of mind," Huang Zixiao said to Wang Yun. "Yunzhi, I know you dislike autopsies. You can wait for us outside."

Wang Yun frowned slightly but nodded. "I'll keep watch for you outside."

As he reached the door, he turned back to look at them. Zhou Ziqin had already undone Zhang Xingying's clothing, carefully checking for any wounds. Huang Zixiao adjusted her face covering and gestured for him to turn the body over, scrutinizing any remaining traces.

Wang Yun hesitated for a moment but finally stepped outside.

Standing at the door, he gazed at the bright sunlight outside and thought to himself, What's the point? She must have seen countless corpses before—men, women, old, young, clothed, unclothed...

Let it all end. Maybe after marriage, she'll change and never involve herself in these absurd things again.

Zhou Ziqin made an incision into Zhang Xingying's chest and abdomen, meticulously examining the contents.

Seeing that he had already opened the stomach and intestines, Huang Zixiao went outside to fetch the large bucket for washing the body. She asked Wang Yun to help bring in two buckets of water to clean all the organs.

Zhang Xingying had been dead for a long time, and his blood had long since coagulated. Even so, when she and Zhou Ziqin began washing the organs in the water, Wang Yun retreated outside again.

Leaning against a tree, he felt nauseous but forced himself to endure it. However, when he turned back and saw them filtering the contents through gauze, he could no longer hold back. He took two hurried steps and fled into the courtyard like a man escaping.

After filtering through the two buckets of water for a long time, they found nothing. Huang Zixiao pondered briefly and said, "Open the trachea and esophagus."Zhou Ziqin switched to a smaller knife to cut open the lung lobes. Huang Zixiao gestured for him to follow the trachea, but still found nothing. The esophagus and throat also yielded no clues.

She took a bowl of water and carefully rinsed the severed neck to wash away bodily fluids and coagulated blood, then searched downward from the mouth along the trachea.

Zhou Ziqin asked, "Are you looking for something he ate before death?"

"Yes. I think it shouldn't have decomposed yet," she replied, then paused. Zhou Ziqin quickly leaned in, and together they used a cloth dipped in water to clean that area. Right at the rima glottidis, there was a tiny red object.

She took the tweezers from his kit and extracted a small red fish from the glottis.

It was only as long as a fingernail, slender as a mosquito. Its gauzy tail accounted for half its body. Already decomposing, its deeply sunken eyes resembled a skull.

Zhou Ziqin hurriedly fetched a small porcelain box nearby and placed the fish inside.

Only after finding the fish did Huang Zixiao's tightly wound nerves finally relax. She realized she was drenched in cold sweat. Raising her arm, she wiped the perspiration from her forehead with her sleeve and numbly sat down on a nearby stool.

Zhou Ziqin moved to Zhang Weiyi's body, cutting open his throat and searching meticulously as before. Soon, he let out a soft "Huh?" before extracting something from the throat and placing it in the porcelain box, which he then handed to her.

Two nearly identical small red fish, their crimson bodies hidden within the flesh, so tiny they were barely visible to the naked eye.

Huang Zixiao stared at the two fish for a long time before slowly removing her thin leather gloves. "Ziqin, stitch up the bodies."

"Mm, I'll do it carefully," Zhou Ziqin replied earnestly.

Huang Zixiao gave him a slight nod, stood up, and walked out of the mortuary.

Outside, the sunlight was dazzling. The sudden brightness made her eyes ache as her pupils contracted sharply.

She slowly pulled down the cloth covering her face, leaned against the door, and let out a long sigh.

Wang Yun stood beneath a withered tree in the courtyard. Seeing her emerge, he approached and asked, "Finished?"

She nodded, went to wash her hands thoroughly, and said softly, "Yes, let's go."

Noticing her pale, exhausted expression, Wang Yun asked with concern, "Too tired?"

She didn't answer, only staggered forward. Wang Yun reached out and grasped her wrist, guiding her step by step out of the funeral parlor.

Her hand stiffened momentarily, but she ultimately let him lead her to the street outside.

Wang Yun escorted Huang Zixiao back to Yongchang Lane. As he was about to leave, she called out to him.

When he turned back to look at her, she hesitated for a long moment before finally saying, "If you see Eunuch Wang, please relay a message for me. Tell him what he seeks is in Yongchang Lane."

Wang Yun nodded. "Get some rest."

She acknowledged him, watching as he left before returning to her room. She took out the crystal bottle containing the pair of Agashini and examined it closely.

The fish eggs, fine as dust, still floated in the water. Though scattered by her the night before, they now lay at the bottom like a faint smear of blood.

Gently shaking the bottle, she stared blankly at the drifting fish and eggs for a long time.Before Wang Zongshi arrived, she opened the drawer first and took out the propolis inside, gazing at it for a long time. Everything seemed to have taken preliminary shape. She pulled out the hairpin from her bun and slowly traced the emerging answer on the table.

After an unknown length of time, someone lightly knocked on the already open door.

Looking up to see Wang Zongshi standing at the entrance, she tucked the hairpin back into her hair and bowed to him: "Eunuch Wang."

Wang Zongshi nodded as he stepped inside. She moved to the table and picked up the crystal vial to show him.

"I thought something was the matter. Yunzhi is truly concerned about your affairs," Wang Zongshi said slowly as he walked further into the room. "So the Agashini have laid eggs."