The Golden Hairpin

They stood under the thin daylight, the candles having burned out one after another, leaving not a trace of light, their faces all blurred in the dimness.

Before anyone could voice their questions, the golden bells and jade chimes within the hall sounded, signaling the emperor's arrival at court.

Though separated by the distant vermilion steps and the curling incense smoke, the ministers below were all taken aback when they saw the emperor's face. Three days of prayers had brought him no benefit whatsoever—instead, his complexion was deathly pale, his steps faltering, leaning heavily on Xu Fenghan just to move forward. That trembling, unsteady figure left everyone at a loss.

After the court rituals were completed and the customary "Long live the Emperor" was proclaimed, the Grand Academician reported the recent incident before the hall. The court fell silent, and the emperor's already ghastly expression darkened further.

After a long while, the emperor's voice came—so faint that only Xu Fenghan standing right beside him could hear it. Xu inclined his ear to listen, then announced clearly: "His Majesty's words: The dead are gone, let the living cherish themselves. Since the Prince of E has passed, We cannot bear to hear of his faults—let this matter be set aside."

The courtiers below erupted in murmurs, astonished that such a significant matter would be dismissed so lightly, without inquiry or consequence.

Even if the Prince of E's faults were to be ignored, what of Prince Kui's wrongful accusation? Was that to be forgotten as well?

While everyone was still speculating, Xu Fenghan received another imperial decree and relayed: "By His Majesty's edict: For three days, We have prayed without cease, neglecting food and rest, and thus lack strength. Let none of Our ministers trouble themselves over this. Today, the Buddha's relics shall be escorted from the palace, conveyed by the temples of the capital to spread blessings. May all bask in the Buddha's radiance, seeking prosperity for the realm and eternal peace for the Great Tang. By decree: Li Jian is appointed as the Escort Envoy—let him approach the hall to receive the relics."

The Buddha's relics had been brought into the palace by Li Shubai. Now, as the palace attendants carried out the reliquary pagoda, it was naturally he who rose to escort it out of the hall.

The reliquary was immensely heavy—a silver-wrought case nearly a foot square. Through the openwork treasure-flower patterns on the silver surface, one could glimpse the gem-inlaid golden coffin inside, which held a jade casket containing the Buddha's relics.

All the ministers prostrated themselves, paying reverence as the relics were borne away.

Just as during the reception of the relics three days prior, Li Shubai still held a willow branch, dipping it in purified water. With his left hand lightly supporting the reliquary, he flicked the branch nine times with his right.

Huang Zixiang knelt at the back of the crowd, her gaze fixed intently on the willow's sweet dew sprinkling over the reliquary.

Then Li Shubai took the reliquary from the attendants and, under everyone's watchful eyes, descended the steps from the hall entrance to stand before Li Jian.

Li Jian kowtowed deeply, performing the full three kneelings and nine prostrations before rising to receive the reliquary.

Just as the reliquary was transferred and Li Shubai began to lower his hands, the attendants standing nearby all gasped in shock.

For on Li Shubai's hands had appeared unmistakable streaks of blood—a horrifying sight.

Amid the exclamations, Li Jian lifted the reliquary to look beneath it. There, faintly visible, were two bloody handprints that perfectly matched where Li Shubai had held it.He was utterly shocked and at a loss. As the ministers buzzed with discussion, someone had already risen and rushed toward the throne, prostrating himself on the ground: "Your Majesty! Although Prince Kui has proven Prince E's false accusations before his death, Prince E still died by his hand at Xiangji Temple! He must have harbored resentment after Prince E exposed the truth, leading him to kill his own brother in a fit of shame and anger—such a heartless man! How could Your Majesty be deceived into letting him defile the Buddha's relic? Now... now the relic has manifested its divine power, and Prince Kui's hands are stained with blood—this is clearly a sign of Heaven's wrath!"

This was none other than Tian Lingzi, the trusted advisor of the Crown Prince Li Xuan, who immediately followed suit and knelt before the throne. Seeing this, many others also came to their senses and hurriedly crowded forward, all echoing the sentiment: "Heaven is wrathful, the relic has shown its power—this is a sign for Your Majesty to swiftly punish this unforgivable crime!"

Li Shubai frowned, looking at his hands before turning his gaze to the palace maid who had handed him the reliquary.

It was Changling, the chief lady-in-waiting serving the Empress. The moment she noticed Li Shubai looking at her, she immediately knelt in terror, pleading, "Your Highness, spare me! When I handed this to you, it was completely clean! If you don’t believe me, look at my hands—"

She tremblingly held up her hands for all to see—they were dry and pale, without a trace of blood.

The commotion before the throne, coupled with the Crown Prince’s faction’s accusations, prompted the Emperor to send Xu Fenghan to investigate. Seeing the situation, Xu Fenghan quickly ordered everyone to return to the hall.

Li Jian held the reliquary and strode swiftly back inside. Changling, panic-stricken, followed behind him. Li Shubai ascended the steps, and as he passed by Huang Zixiao, he signaled to her. She promptly followed.

Wang Yun reached out and grabbed her sleeve. Huang Zixiao turned abruptly, meeting his desolate and despairing gaze.

He said, "Huang Zixiao, if you leave now, I can still help you."

Huang Zixiao slowly shook her head and pulled her sleeve free from his grasp.

As her sleeve fluttered, the golden bracelet on her wrist swayed slightly. The two red beans on it momentarily parted in the air before sliding back together along their destined path, lightly touching once more.

She lowered her eyes to the two red beans pressed tightly together on her wrist and whispered, "Thank you... but I must go."

The vast hall, which had been empty moments ago, was now crowded again. The scent of sandalwood lingered in the air.

Below the vermilion steps, closest to the Emperor, stood Li Shubai, Li Jian, and Changling. Li Jian, flustered, raised the reliquary for the Emperor to inspect, saying, "Your Majesty, it was already like this when I received it—I don’t know... I don’t know what happened!"

The Emperor’s gaze swept over him before he waved a hand. Xu Fenghan hurriedly handed Li Jian a cloth to wipe the blood from the base of the reliquary, which Li Jian then returned to him.

Xu Fenghan naturally found the bloodstained cloth unsettling and hesitated over whether to take it back. Huang Zixiao, standing behind Li Jian, looked at Xu Fenghan and asked, "Eunuch Xu, may I examine this bloodstain?"

Xu Fenghan was taken aback. When he recognized her, he hesitated further, glancing back at the Emperor. But the Emperor’s gaze remained fixed on empty space—clearly, his delayed reaction meant he hadn’t yet noticed the disturbance here.Before he could seek the emperor's permission, Huang Zixiang had already taken the handkerchief from Li Jian's hand. She examined the bright red stains on it and, upon noticing the faint yellow traces on the dry parts, carefully sniffed the cloth.

Xu Fenghan hurried to the emperor's side and whispered into his ear.

The emperor's weak voice reached the ears of those nearby: "Fourth Imperial Brother, I know you were led astray and killed our fourth brother... Yet I still wanted you to receive the Buddha's relic, hoping... hoping it might cleanse your mind and prevent you from sinking deeper. But... but..."

His strength failed him, and he couldn't continue.

Tian Lingzi immediately shouted, "Your Majesty is wise! The Prince of Kui harbors treacherous ambitions. Though he may deceive the world, the gods knew! Now the relic pagoda he held bleeds—this is the Buddha's warning! How can Your Majesty still speak of brotherly affection for one with his hands stained in kin's blood? What imperial dignity remains?"

Li Shubai turned his head slightly, casting a cold, disdainful glance at him.

Tian Lingzi shuddered violently, kneeling there trembling like a sieve, not daring to utter another word. Even the Crown Prince Li Xuan beside him clung tightly to Tian Lingzi's arm, too frightened to lift his head.

The emperor paused briefly, then weakly raised his hand, moving it inch by inch. Just as it seemed about to drop, Huang Zixiang stepped forward and knelt at the foot of the steps, declaring clearly, "Your Majesty, this bloodstain is a setup against the Prince of Kui. I beg Your Majesty to investigate!"

The emperor's hand hesitated, then slowly lowered. "Who is this?" he asked.

Xu Fenghan immediately leaned in and whispered, "Yang Chonggu... Huang Zixiang."

The emperor's expression changed instantly. A guttural sound escaped his throat, his lips twisting into a strange expression that seemed both resentful and mocking. Before Xu Fenghan could interpret it, Huang Zixiang kowtowed to the emperor, then stood and held up the handkerchief for all to see: "Besides the bright red bloodstains, there are faint yellow powder traces on this cloth. I've confirmed it—this is undoubtedly turmeric."

"Turmeric?" The crowd murmured in confusion, still puzzling over the meaning when Huang Zixiang produced another white silk handkerchief. She placed it beneath the relic pagoda, then slapped the pagoda several times with a sharp "pat pat."

Li Jian, holding the pagoda, turned deathly pale and cried out, "Eunuch, this... this is the Buddha's relic!"

Ignoring him, Huang Zixiang carried the white cloth to the palace maid holding the purified water. She took the willow branch resting atop it, dipped it into the water, and sprinkled the liquid onto her handkerchief before raising it for all to see.

Gasps of shock erupted as the once-pristine white cloth now bore vivid red stains.

"This isn't purified water—it's lye," Huang Zixiang announced loudly, pointing at the palace maid's vessel. "And hidden within the pagoda's intricate patterns is finely ground turmeric powder. This is a common trick among charlatans—when turmeric meets lye, it turns blood-red, appearing like bleeding. Thus, after the Prince of Kui sprinkled the 'purified water' and held the pagoda, these red 'bloodstains' appeared on his hands!"A soft murmur arose in the hall amidst the discussions of the courtiers. Amidst the buzz, Huang Zixiang bowed deeply to the emperor seated above and proclaimed loudly, "Your Majesty, this matter must be the work of vile individuals attempting to deceive the imperial court and harm Prince Kui right under Your Majesty's very eyes in the palace! I implore Your Majesty to thoroughly investigate this matter!"

Amidst the unease that filled the hall, the emperor moved his lips slightly toward Xu Fenghan. Understanding his intention, Xu Fenghan immediately announced to those below, "By His Majesty's decree, the delivery of the Buddha's relics must not be delayed. The pagoda containing the relics shall proceed as scheduled. Prince Kui and the palace attendants shall remain in the hall while His Majesty conducts a full investigation. All others may now withdraw—"

After the courtiers had bowed and retreated in order, the empress's phoenix carriage arrived. Empress Wang, accompanied by a retinue of palace maids and eunuchs, entered the hall.

Following her were none other than Wang Yun and Wang Zongshi.

Empress Wang approached the emperor, her gaze lingering thoughtfully on Huang Zixiang before she turned away.

After paying her respects to the emperor, he gestured slightly for her to come closer. She stepped forward and sat beside him, leaning against him as she asked, "May I ask why Your Majesty has asked Prince Kui to remain?"

The emperor pointed to Changling and said, "The empress's lady-in-waiting... is suspected of framing Prince Kui."

Empress Wang looked uncertainly at Changling and asked, "What exactly happened?"

Changling kowtowed repeatedly, weeping as she said, "This servant knows not why turmeric was hidden in the pagoda or why the pure water was replaced with alkaline water, causing such an anomaly—Your Majesty, please believe me, I would never dare to do such a thing!"

Empress Wang's gaze shifted back to Huang Zixiang, realizing it must have been she who unraveled the mystery. She then addressed Prince Kui, saying, "On this matter, I must speak plainly to Prince Kui. Changling has been my personal attendant for many years, always cautious and never making a mistake. This time, she merely wished to touch the relic pagoda with her own hands, which is why she begged me to allow her to deliver it from the inner palace to Your Highness. She holds the utmost reverence for the Buddha's relics—how could she dare to tamper with them, playing tricks with turmeric and alkaline water to frame Your Highness?"

Li Shubai replied coolly, "Her Majesty speaks wisely. In truth, I also know that this matter could not have been the doing of a mere lady-in-waiting."

Only then did Changling seem to regain her breath, as if granted a reprieve. She hastily kowtowed to the emperor, empress, and Prince Kui before quickly withdrawing.

Wang Zongshi lifted his head slightly, tucking his hands into his sleeves, remaining silent throughout.

Leaning against the empress, the emperor gradually recovered from his earlier exhaustion. Though his voice was weak and strained, he managed to speak without Xu Fenghan's assistance: "Fourth Brother, I have something to ask you."

Li Shubai bowed and saluted, saying, "Your Majesty, please speak."

"Previously, regarding the matter of Seventh Brother, I had you detained in the Court of Imperial Clan Affairs. For the sake of the royal family's dignity, I never handed you over to the judicial authorities..." After these words, he leaned heavily against Empress Wang, breathing rapidly. Only after she had spent some time soothing him did he continue slowly, "Now I ask you, regarding Seventh Brother's matter, have you thought of how to give an account to me, to the court, and to the realm?"

Li Shubai lowered his hands and stood before them, saying, "While in the Court of Imperial Clan Affairs, I already informed Your Majesty that the peculiarities of this matter warrant further investigation. As today's events have shown, there are those in the court who will stop at nothing to frame me. I beseech Your Majesty to order the Three Judicial Offices to investigate this case. I will fully cooperate.""And what if I refuse?" The emperor interrupted him, his voice too sharp, followed by another bout of labored breathing. Empress Wang patted the emperor's back and looked at Li Shubai, saying, "After all, this matter concerns the dignity of the royal family. Since Prince E has already passed, why must Prince Kui further involve himself in legal proceedings, needlessly bringing shame upon himself?"

Li Shubai gazed at the emperor and empress upon the vermilion steps and slowly asked, "So Your Majesty's intention is to settle this matter without a trial?"

The emperor remained silent, merely closing his eyes.

Seeing this, a faint smile appeared at the corner of Li Shubai's lips—cold and mocking, devoid of any joy. "Then, how does Your Majesty plan to deal with this younger brother of yours?"

"The state has its laws, and the family its rules. But nowhere can tolerate a murderer who slaughters his own kin," Empress Wang sighed, turning to look at the emperor. Seeing his slight nod, she turned back to Li Shubai and said, "However, the court's dignity must not be compromised. His Majesty has prepared something for Prince Kui. Please, Prince Kui, do as you see fit."

The eunuch behind her immediately stepped forward, holding out a goblet of wine, and presented it to Li Shubai.

Li Shubai glanced at the goblet, noticing one or two tiny red fish eggs floating like dust on the surface. He smiled faintly and said, "Thank you for Your Majesty's grace. Originally, as your subject and younger brother, I should not speak further. But now, as I am about to bid you farewell forever, I only wish to know—how will Your Majesty explain my fate to the world?"

Empress Wang replied slowly, "His Majesty is merciful. Prince Kui accidentally harmed Prince E and, consumed by guilt, descended into madness."

"However, I have already written a personal statement. Should anything happen to me, it will be disseminated throughout the land, revealing the truth behind all this. By then, the world will know that I was wronged and that the true culprit is someone else—I fear Your Majesty's explanation will not hold up."

Empress Wang was momentarily stunned and turned to look at the emperor. The emperor's expression darkened as well. He struggled to sit up, his voice low and strained. "A personal statement?"

"Not exactly. It's more of a fictional tale, with names slightly altered, but the content is identical to reality—spanning over a decade, filled with countless bizarre and eerie events. It begins with the curses and the little red fish by my side, ultimately exposing the mastermind behind it all. It is well-reasoned and supported by evidence. Those with discerning eyes will immediately recognize the figures it alludes to."

The emperor's face turned ashen as he stared fixedly at him, his voice hoarse. "Then, who is this mastermind you speak of?"

Li Shubai turned and looked at Huang Zixia.

Huang Zixia nodded and opened the chest beside her, saying, "Please allow this humble servant to explain in detail."

Wang Zongshi, who had been standing silently nearby, fixed his gaze on Huang Zixia and finally spoke. "I advise both of you to weigh your words carefully. In this world, perhaps every matter has its truth, but not every truth can be spoken."

"Forgive my ignorance, Eunuch Wang. I only know that justice prevails, and good and evil will be repaid. No matter how high one's status or how lowly one's position, what has been done can never be concealed," Huang Zixia met his gaze with unwavering clarity and resolve. "The falsehoods of this world may deceive the majority, may obscure the truth for a time, but clouds will never block out the sun forever, and jade buried in mud will one day be cleansed.""Lord Wang, there is no need for concern. I merely present the possibilities we have speculated for discussion. As for the truth of the matter, the one who has done it all stands here in this hall and naturally knows how to judge and explain." Li Shubai spoke with an air of indifference, not even glancing at the visibly shaken crowd. After a brief pause, he turned to Huang Zixiao and said, "Then let us begin with the death of Prince E."

"Understood," Huang Zixiao bowed slightly to the assembly and began, "Earlier, at the break of dawn when the light was still dim, I reenacted the scene of Prince E's disappearance. There is no longer any doubt about how he vanished before everyone's eyes. Now, the question we face is this: knowing full well that such an act would forever distance him from the throne and possibly force him into a life of anonymity, why would Prince E resort to such an extreme measure, publicly slandering Prince Kui before all?"

"Prince E sacrificed everything for the sake of our ancestors' legacy and the common people, solely to expose Prince Kui's treacherous ambitions," Empress Wang interjected coldly.

"Is that truly the case? I was present during Prince Kui's last meeting with Prince E before his disappearance. At that time, Prince E had even entrusted Prince Kui with investigating the cause of his mother's madness. Afterward, he secluded himself and only received two items purportedly sent from Prince Kui's residence. How, then, could he have developed such intense hatred for Prince Kui in the short span of a month while in seclusion?"

"Naturally, the items he received must have drastically altered his perspective," Wang Zongshi remarked with folded arms.

"Precisely. I questioned those in Prince E's household and learned what he had received. In the incense burner before the spirit tablet of his mother, Consort Chen, I found these three items, already destroyed."

Huang Zixiao retrieved the remnants of a dagger, a burnt silk cord, and a shattered jade bracelet from a chest and placed them on the ground.

"A dagger, a love knot, and a jade bracelet," Huang Zixiao said slowly. "I repeatedly sought connections between them but found no clues—until one day, when I heard a storyteller on the street recount how Emperor Yang of Sui presented a love knot to Lady Xuanhua. Only then did I understand the relationship between these three items. The dagger of Empress Wu Zetian and the love knot received by Lady Xuanhua represented the two women. And their commonality was..."

Here, she bit her lower lip and fell silent.

Yet everyone in the hall already grasped her meaning. Empress Wu Zetian, once a concubine of Emperor Taizong, ultimately became the empress of Emperor Gaozong. Lady Xuanhua of Emperor Wen of Sui, after his death, accepted the love knot sent by Emperor Yang.

A deathly silence enveloped the hall. The emperor's face turned ashen, the empress was torn between shock and doubt, Wang Zongshi and Wang Yun were too horrified to speak, and even the usually composed Li Shubai took a deep breath to steady himself.

Only Huang Zixiao paused briefly before continuing calmly, "Just as after one and three comes five, and after hundred and thousand comes ten thousand. The jade bracelet of Prince E's mother naturally carried the same implication. Otherwise, why would Prince E, in his fury, shatter his mother's most cherished bracelet and discard it into the incense burner along with these two items? What suggestion had he received? What was he being led to believe?"At this point, even Xu Fenghan had begun to sweat down his back, while the eunuchs and palace maids in the hall trembled like sieves, realizing that the secrets they had just heard would cost them their lives.

Empress Wang turned to Xu Fenghan and said softly, "All of you, leave us now."

"Yes!" Xu Fenghan, as if granted a reprieve, hastily bowed and descended the steps, leading all the palace attendants out of the hall before firmly closing the doors behind them.

With only the six of them remaining in the sealed-off hall, Empress Wang finally asked slowly, "Huang Zitang, are you suggesting that someone has framed Prince Kui, accusing him of an improper relationship with Consort Chen?"

"Yes. The Prince of E and the Prince of Kui have always shared the closest fraternal bond, making it exceedingly difficult to drive a wedge between them. Yet precisely because of this, if exploited effectively, it could deliver a fatal blow to the Prince of Kui, inflicting the greatest damage. The murderer, with meticulous calculation, knowing full well the Prince of E's delicate and sensitive nature and his deep attachment to his mother, did not hesitate to insult the deceased Consort Chen, ultimately driving the Prince of E to make the desperate decision to sacrifice everything for revenge against the Prince of Kui!" Huang Zixiang's voice trembled slightly with indignation as she spoke. "When the Prince of E leaped from the Xiangluan Pavilion, among his accusations against the Prince of Kui was the phrase 'defiling the imperial court.' At the time, I found it slightly odd, but now, upon reflection... it all makes sense."

"Preposterous..." The Emperor's voice was hoarse and dry, faint and eerie from exhaustion. "In this world, who would dare insult a consort? And who would dare... treat my seventh brother thus? Seventh Brother... Seventh Brother has been intelligent and composed since childhood, always thinking thrice before acting. How could he be so easily swayed and deceived?"

"Indeed, what the Prince of E cherished most was his mother, and after Your Majesty, the one he revered most was likely the Prince of Kui. As for why he would doubt these two most important figures, I believe it is because of this." Huang Zixiang opened the porcelain box she had brought and presented its contents to everyone. "This, I presume, is something Eunuch Wang is most familiar with."

Inside the box lay two small, half-rotted fish, tiny as gnats, utterly horrifying.

Wang Zongshi gazed at the fish corpses in the box, his pale face now tinged with a sigh, finally showing a trace of vitality. "Huang Zixiang, I truly must admire you. Such tiny things, and yet you managed to find them."

"These were discovered in the Yizhuang after I dissected the bodies of Zhang Xingying and his father, thoroughly cleansing their internal organs, and finally finding them lodged in the rima glottidis," Huang Zixiang said calmly. "Identical small fish, identical locations, identical circumstances—the deceased all underwent drastic personality changes before death. Kind and gentle individuals became exceptionally extreme. Before his death, Zhang Xingying accused me of aiding tyranny, declaring he would rid the world of me. After his son's death, Zhang's father climbed the city tower to spread rumors among the capital's populace about the Prince of Kui's treason. Does this not mirror the Prince of E's situation exactly?"

Empress Wang, struggling to maintain composure, could not suppress the faint trembling of the hairpins in her hair. "Are you suggesting the Prince of E also had these small fish placed inside him?"

"Exactly. It was because of the Aga Shine that the Prince of E, in his frenzied state, took his own life, yet in his final moments, he falsely accused the Prince of Kui before everyone!"

Empress Wang scoffed, flicking her sleeve. "Preposterous! The Prince of E died at the hands of the Prince of Kui—this is known to all under heaven. Before his death, the Prince of E himself declared the Prince of Kui killed him. Eunuch Wang and hundreds of the Shence Army heard and saw it with their own ears and eyes. Now you claim he took his own life—who would believe you?""This servant is not seeking to overturn the case with mere words, but with evidence in hand." Huang Zixiang retrieved a copy of the autopsy report from her case and held it up, saying, "After Prince E's death, the Dali Temple and the Court of Imperial Clan Affairs requested Zhou Ziqin to conduct the autopsy. The report has been signed and sealed, providing irrefutable evidence. What I hold here is a transcript, which clearly states that the wound on Prince E's chest slanted downward to the right—meaning, relative to the examiner, it leaned to the lower left. In other words, if Prince E did not take his own life, the murderer could only have been left-handed."

Empress Wang's expression grew increasingly grim, and she remained silent.

"Yet it is common knowledge in the court that Prince Kui was assassinated years ago after suppressing Pang Xun's rebellion. His left hand is now only capable of simple daily tasks, and his dominant hand is his right. How could his current left hand possibly manage something as demanding as murder, which requires full strength and precision?"

Empress Wang was left speechless and could only angrily flick her sleeve, pretending to sit down in a huff without even glancing at her.

Huang Zixiang turned to Wang Zongshi and said, "As for the matter of Agashini, Chief Wang is the foremost expert on this. It was you who revealed the secret of Agashini to me. I am but a humble servant with shallow knowledge, and I must trouble Chief Wang to explain this matter in detail to us."

Wang Zongshi responded with a cold, mocking smile, initially unwilling to speak. But upon hearing Li Shubai say, "Chief Wang, please speak," he hesitated for a long time before reluctantly beginning. "Lady Huang's account is slightly inaccurate. The eggs of Agashini are as fine as dust. Once ingested, they attach to the throat and begin to hatch. The newly hatched fish are extremely small and can burrow into the glottis to feed on human blood, but they do not survive long. They soon die within the body, decomposing and disappearing. However, the young fish carry toxins, and even after death, the trace poison can enter the brain through the bloodstream, causing the host to fall into a state of obsessive madness. If the host already harbors doubts, these thoughts become all-consuming, leading to fanatical and extreme behavior until death."

Huang Zixiang nodded. "Administering live fish to someone would be difficult, but eggs as fine as dust are much simpler. Moreover, the hatching of the fish inside the body takes time, meaning Prince E must have been infected with the eggs long before Prince Kui visited him. Meanwhile, the murderer also impersonated the deranged Dowager Consort Chen, leaving nail marks on the table in her palace to imply that her death was linked to Prince Kui's ambition for the throne. Then, the murderer, estimating that Prince E had already been driven to madness by the rumors and the Agashini toxin, sent him a dagger and a love knot. Thus, even while keeping to himself during that time, the murderer could still time his final suggestion perfectly."

Empress Wang forced herself to remain composed, tearing her gaze away from Wang Zongshi. She half-supported the emperor, who looked ashen and grew increasingly cold, and whispered, "How does Your Majesty feel? Would you like to retire and rest?"

The emperor's eyes were unfocused as he tightly grasped her hand, seemingly wanting to say something but unable to. After his lips moved silently for a long while, he finally murmured, "No... I must... hear this out."

Li Shubai's gaze slowly settled on the emperor and empress, his voice as cool and detached as ever. "Chief Wang, do you know that on the day of the late emperor's passing, I found an Agashini in the blood he coughed up?"Wang Zongshi's lips twitched slightly, as if hinting at a smile, then he leisurely tucked his hands into his sleeves and said, "Indeed, that Agashenye has always remained by His Highness's side. It's just that His Highness lacks the proper method for raising fish, and this old servant often laments it in secret."

Li Shubai ignored the rest and stated directly, "When the late Emperor passed away, all of us princes knelt outside the hall. However, Eunuch Wang, as the late Emperor's personal attendant, not only entered the hall but also summoned monks and practitioners from across the land to the capital. Among them, you particularly favored a certain Monk Mushan, skilled in soul-summoning arts, and brought him into the hall to pray for the late Emperor. Is that correct?"

Wang Zongshi nodded. The facts were as stated, and he saw no need to evade them.

"Zhang Xingying's father was summoned to the palace to treat the late Emperor. His acupuncture brought His Majesty a final moment of clarity. Yet, after the Emperor regained consciousness, you prevented the princes from entering to pay their respects and barred the court officials from hearing his final words. Only you and Monk Mushan remained inside. Whatever transpired at that moment is now known to you alone in this world."

Hearing this, Wang Zongshi raised the corners of his lips in a flat smile. "What else could there be? After the late Emperor awoke and learned it was Zhang Weiyi who had revived him, he asked for paper and brush. This old servant assumed he intended to leave a final edict and brought him yellow hemp paper. Yet, His Majesty merely scribbled three ink blots on the paper before passing away. Eunuch Chen and I surmised that the Emperor had intended to bestow a painting upon Zhang Weiyi, so we had it delivered to him. That painting should still be in Zhang Weiyi's possession."

Huang Ziyao interjected, "Eunuch Wang, are you certain that what His Majesty left behind was truly just a painting?"

"Three meaningless scribbles—I couldn't fathom their meaning at the time. But the Emperor did say it was for Zhang Weiyi. Consort Chen, who had attended to His Majesty's daily needs, was also present and ordered it delivered. Since then, I have not seen the painting again," Wang Zongshi replied coldly.

Huang Ziyao met his gaze steadily and asked slowly, "Eunuch Wang, are you so confident because you believe the truth concealed beneath those scribbles—black ink on white paper, irrefutable as nails on a board—will never resurface?"

At this point, Li Shubai suddenly tilted his head slightly, as if hearing something from outside the hall. But the sound seemed indistinct, and he turned back.

Wang Yun had been ordered to keep a close watch on Li Shubai, but as Huang Ziyao dissected the case, the morning sunlight streaming through the window lattice illuminated her figure. Her dark blue robes and black gauze hat accentuated her jade-like skin, translucent under the light. For a moment, he was so entranced that he forgot about Li Shubai, focusing entirely on Huang Ziyao's words.

Wang Zongshi lifted his head indifferently and said, "What truth concealed beneath scribbles? The facts are as they are. What more is there to say?"

"Yet, Eunuch Wang, are you aware that foreign texts mention a mixture of spinach juice, poppy, and fragrant herbs that can peel away layers of ink? If such a solution is applied to paper, the surface scribbles can be stripped away, revealing what lies beneath—" Huang Ziyao bent down and retrieved a scroll from the chest, unfurling it before Wang Zongshi, whose expression abruptly stiffened.

The writing on the yellow hemp paper was unmistakably clear. Even the Emperor, who had been weakly leaning against Empress Wang, suddenly widened his eyes, his breathing turning rapid.The words on the yellow hemp paper were divided into three sections, appearing somewhat disjointed due to the writer's frail condition and trembling, drooping wrist. Yet despite the scribbled and feeble strokes, the three parts of the message were still clearly discernible:

Long have I heard Heaven's Mandate, now it is time to return.

Prince Kui, whom I have cherished and kept by my side, possesses wisdom akin to Emperor Taizong. To him, I entrust the realm.

Wang Guichang shall assist. By the Emperor's decree.

Wang Zongshi's face changed drastically, his usual cold arrogance vanishing in an instant as he involuntarily took a step back. Behind him, Wang Yun stared in shock at the aged yellow hemp paper. He understood the meaning of those words, but the sheer magnitude of the revelation left him at a loss.

Empress Wang abruptly rose to her feet, then quickly knelt down, half-supporting and half-embracing the Emperor. Her chest heaved violently, yet not a single word could escape her lips.

Meanwhile, Huang Zixiang approached the imperial dais and presented the late Emperor's handwritten document to the current Emperor. She spoke slowly, "Allow me to speculate about what truly happened on the night of the late Emperor's passing—Eunuch Wang went to great lengths to ensure Your Majesty's ascension, preparing two contingency plans. One was the little red fish, the other was Monk Mershan. Eunuch Wang had already fed the late Emperor eggs of the Agashen fish during his medicine doses. Estimating the hatching time, he had Zhang Weiyi forcibly revive the long-comatose late Emperor with acupuncture and induced him through Monk Mershan to draft an edict naming Prince Yun as successor. Unexpectedly, the late Emperor coughed up blood in his severe illness, and the small fish was expelled with the blood, rendering the plan ineffective. As for Monk Mershan, it seems he could only control the mind of Consort Chen, who was present when the edict was made, ensuring the secret wouldn't leak—I wonder if my speculation is correct?"

Within the Hanyuan Hall, above and below the imperial dais, a deathly silence fell.

Both the Emperor and Wang Zongshi gritted their teeth in silence, neither admitting nor refuting the claims.

Huang Zixiang felt a wave of dizziness and weakness surge through her. Such a monumental secret had now been unveiled by her words, and she could almost see the moment the executioner's blade would fall upon her. Yet, taking a deep breath, she steeled herself and continued, "However, none of the late Emperor's measures—his edict, his final words, or his entrusted ministers—ultimately had any effect. After the late Emperor's passing, the edict was destroyed, the consort who knew his final words was driven to madness, the entrusted Wang Guichang was killed, and Prince Kui was stripped of his rightful throne. And now, Your Majesty offers a cup of poisoned wine, seeking to strip even Prince Kui's right to live!"

The Emperor stared at the aged document in the late Emperor's hand, his facial muscles twitching. His livid complexion and convulsing skin made him appear utterly terrifying. After a long silence, he closed his eyes, leaned back against the couch behind him, and let out a low chuckle. "Wang Zongshi, I told you long ago—just tear it up and burn it. Who... would dare question what happened to something written by the late Emperor on his deathbed? Or, set fire to that Zhang family... burn this along with them, and it would all be over. Yet you insisted he might still be useful and refused to act!"

"I cannot believe it... this is impossible!" Wang Zongshi growled in a low voice. "How could such a method exist in this world, capable of peeling away two layers of ink to restore the writing beneath?!""Eunuch Wang, the world is vast and full of wonders. You have been too trusting of your own knowledge," Huang Zixiao said with a sigh. "But Consort Chen is truly pitiable. That night, while attending to the late emperor in the palace, she must have learned of this matter and thus fell under the spell of Master Mu Shan. First, she presented the edict to Zhang Weiyi, then descended into madness, only regaining clarity for a brief moment to leave a warning for Prince E. Yet, tragically, it had the opposite effect!"

"She actually regained her senses?" Wang Zongshi's face twisted into a bitter smile as he asked, "What did she do?"

Huang Zixiao took a deep breath and slowly rolled up the yellow hemp paper in her hand. "The consort left behind a scribble for Prince E, nearly identical to the altered edict—likely the last vivid image in her mind before madness took her. Though insane, she still feared Prince Kui might vie for the throne again because of the edict, so she warned Prince E to stay away, lest he be dragged into the political strife. Yet, Prince E took her words as an accusation against Prince Kui. Combined with his own affection for an older woman, this deepened his suspicion and resentment toward Prince Kui. Once consumed by madness, he fixated on this irrational belief, never awakening to the truth even unto death."

The emperor stared at her, his throat rasping, but no words came out. Wang Zongshi sneered coldly. "Now that Prince E has passed, everything you say is mere conjecture. What do you hope to achieve by bringing forth the late emperor’s edict from over a decade ago? The empire now belongs to His Majesty. Surely... Prince Kui doesn’t think he can stir up any trouble?"

"I seek nothing, only to say that Your Majesty has guarded against me too closely," Li Shubai said calmly, standing straight at the foot of the steps. "After I quelled the rebellion in Xuzhou, Your Majesty sought to use me to counter Eunuch Wang, yet feared my loyalty. You’ve subjected me to countless bizarre manipulations—truly unnecessary."

The emperor merely smirked coldly, leaning back on the couch with Empress Wang’s support, remaining silent.

"Your Majesty placing spies around me to monitor my movements is one thing, but why bestow upon me that sinister talisman, leaving me in perpetual unease and unrest?"

The emperor’s lips twitched into something between a smile and a snarl. "And yet... I heard it was the vengeful spirit of Pang Xun, come to haunt you?"

Li Shubai met his gaze, his voice steady. "Your Majesty meticulously arranged for someone to manipulate that talisman by my side. Was it all for this moment—to brand me a demon in the eyes of the court, and to orchestrate Prince E’s accusations, forcing me to kill our own kin?"

"No! I... never wanted you dead." The emperor’s voice was hoarse, like the crack of rotten wood. "Since childhood, I’ve envied and resented you most, Shubai. You were clever, beloved, doted on by our father. At ten, I was cast away to the narrow confines of the Yun Palace, while you... even as you grew, Father couldn’t bear to send you away. Every time I entered the palace and saw you seated in his lap, I would return home and weep bitterly..."His face twisted in agony, his body curled up as if he were still a child on the verge of bursting into tears. Empress Wang gently stroked his back and whispered to him, "Your Majesty, please do not be overly agitated. Try to ease your heart..."

"But in the end, I became emperor—first, because I married a woman from the Wang family, and second... second because I appeared weak and incompetent, easier to control than you... Isn't that right, Eunuch Wang?" His gaze fixed directly on Wang Zongshi, his voice hoarse.

Wang Zongshi stood motionless, his jaw clenched. After a long pause, he finally bowed and said, "Your Majesty overestimates the matter."

"Hmph..." The emperor paid no heed, murmuring to himself, "Before my father passed, he intended to pass the throne to you. So, after my ascension, I should have had you killed immediately... But did I? No! I wanted to watch you rot silently in the Kui Prince's residence for the rest of your life, to let my father's spirit see how pitifully his favored child would kneel before me, living out his days in such disgrace... Hahaha..."

His laughter was wretched, his breath weak, until his voice finally failed him, leaving only a rasping sound in his throat.

Huang Zixiang silently turned her gaze to Li Shubai, only to see him press his lips tightly together, his eyes fixed on the emperor atop the steps, saying nothing.

"I still remember... during Pang Xun's rebellion, when the military governors refused to obey orders, you actually submitted a memorial requesting to mobilize troops on my behalf. Fine... I wanted to see how you would command those wolves and meet a miserable end! I thought you would die inexplicably out there, but instead... you returned. That was the beginning of your triumphant days, and the Tang imperial family began to flourish anew. Even Wang Zongshi started to fear you, urging me to deal with you as soon as possible... But I refused! I thought I had seized a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to watch the tigers fight—to see you tear each other apart while I reaped the rewards, ruling effortlessly from above..."

Wang Zongshi cast a cold glance at Li Shubai but remained silent.

Empress Wang clung to the emperor's trembling arm and whispered, "Your Majesty, please do not distress yourself so. Let this humble consort escort you to the rear palace to rest..."

The emperor tried to shake her off, but his arms were too weak to break free. He could only gasp weakly, muttering, "But I never intended to kill you... I used that curse to make you afraid, to instill fear in you, hoping there would be something I could use to control you... Fourth Brother... If only you had been like the others, believing in fate, in ghosts and gods—if you had even turned to me in fear for help, wouldn't everything have been fine?"

Li Shubai met the emperor's clouded, desperate stare and slowly raised his hands in salute. "Your Majesty, forgive my offense. In this life, I do not believe in ghosts or gods."

"You... and that Huang Zixiang... You watched as prophecy after prophecy came true, yet still refused to yield..." The emperor's hand fell limply onto the couch, his fingers twitching weakly as he tried in vain to clench them into a fist. He could only glare at them helplessly, his voice so faint it was almost inaudible. "Fourth Brother... If only you hadn't been so stubborn... If only you had willingly believed in fate and bowed your head... Would we have come to this?""Then, what about Seventh Brother?" Li Shubai asked slowly. "Seventh Brother has always held deep respect and affection for Your Majesty. What harm did he pose that you were willing to sacrifice even him to deal with me?"

"I did not wish to sacrifice him!" His voice trembled, the words torn from his chest with what little strength remained. "It was he who repeatedly... begged me to renounce everything and retire to Wang Wei's Wangchuan Villa for secluded cultivation... How could I possibly agree? He... is a prince of the realm. Even if he wished to cultivate, it should be within... his own residence..."

"It was this old servant who persuaded His Majesty to grant Prince E's request," Wang Zongshi said calmly, seeing the emperor could no longer continue. "At that time, His Majesty's health was failing, and we were deeply concerned about how to handle Prince Kui. With two failed assassination attempts in Shu and the loss of Princess Qile, Your Highness proved exceedingly troublesome. So before your return to the capital, we administered the fish eggs to Prince E and arranged various mechanisms, finally convincing him to publicly expose your crimes before the world. It was, truth be told, no easy feat."

With these words, all was laid bare. Li Shubai exhaled deeply, watching as sunlight slanted through the latticed windows, casting stark contrasts between light and shadow within the hall.

They stood in the sparse daylight, while the Emperor and Empress sat in the deepest shadows. Within the palace hall, the candles in the lanterns had burned out one after another, leaving not a single ray of light to fall upon them, rendering their features indistinct.