The Golden Hairpin

As they were looking around, the palace maid Yanling from Empress Wang's entourage approached and said, "Her Majesty has arranged for the side hall to be opened. The Princess Consort may rest there for a while. If you wish to see the palace scenery, you may stroll by the nearby Taiye Pond, but do not wander too far."

Upon hearing they could go explore, Xianyun immediately asked delightedly, "Really? That's wonderful!"

Yanling then turned and summoned an older palace maid named Changqing to escort them to Taiye Pond. Huang Ziyao and Xianyun followed Changqing to the pond's edge. Just as they boarded the Tangmu boat, someone called out from the water, "Dowager Consort Zhao is arriving! All ahead must make way!"

Looking up, they saw an ornate pleasure boat approaching, with an elderly eunuch standing at the bow shouting authoritatively toward them.

They quickly disembarked and stood respectfully at the dock, waiting for Dowager Consort Zhao's boat to moor.

After the boat docked, several eunuchs and palace maids came ashore first, followed by a round-faced, almond-eyed young girl. Huang Ziyao was surprised to recognize her as Princess Qile. She recalled hearing that the princess had been copying scriptures daily by Dowager Consort Zhao's side to seek her approval for a marriage arrangement. Recent rumors said she had fallen ill from melancholy over the Prince Kui Consort's affairs—who would have thought she'd accompany the dowager consort to the palace today.

The elderly eunuch assisted Dowager Consort Zhao from the cabin. The dowager consort was a gentle, charming woman whose fine crow's feet showed when she smiled. Though her eyes looked somewhat weary, her lips always seemed upturned.

Having entered the palace at thirteen, borne a child at fifteen, and become dowager consort at twenty-four, she even maintained her own palace in Daming Palace—a far more privileged position than other late emperor's consorts who were relocated to Taiji Palace or Xingqing Palace.

Huang Ziyao and Xianyun hurried forward to pay respects. Learning they were from Prince Kui's household, Dowager Consort Zhao examined them with a smile. After asking their names, she looked particularly at Huang Ziyao and inquired, "So you're that young eunuch Yang Chonggu who solved the Four Directions case in the capital?"

"Yes," Huang Ziyao replied with bowed head.

"Hmm, not bad—good looks too. Prince Kui has always had an eye for talent." She then asked, "You came today accompanying the Prince Kui Consort? How fortuitous. Since we're here, I'll go see that Wang girl—she'll soon be part of the imperial family too."

With cheerful laughter, Dowager Consort Zhao led her entourage toward Penglai Hall. Huang Ziyao waited for the procession to pass before following, when suddenly someone tugged her sleeve. A woman stood beside her, smiling knowingly as she whispered, "Eunuch Yang, we meet again."

Turning, Huang Ziyao recognized the pipa player from Prince Zhao Li Rui's entourage—Jinnu, that vivacious and exceptionally beautiful court musician. She nodded in greeting. Covering her mouth with a giggle, Jinnu confided, "Dowager Consort Zhao wanted pipa music today, so Prince Zhao sent me."

Huang Ziyao knew Dowager Consort Zhao was Prince Zhao's birth mother. As they spoke, the group entered Penglai Hall's gates, where Empress Wang personally came out to welcome the dowager consort.Huang Zixiang stood at the base of the steps, watching as Empress Wang descended with Wang Ruo trailing behind her, surrounded by a retinue of court ladies and maids. Amidst the resplendent robes and flower-like faces, only Empress Wang's countenance shone like the bright moon, as if capable of illuminating the spring before her. Even the much younger Wang Ruo behind her couldn't steal the slightest bit of her radiance.

Empress Wang looked down from above at Huang Zixiang and the others below. The Penglai Hall stood beside the Taiye Pond, and a sudden breeze swept over the water, lifting the hems of Empress Wang's robes. Her seven-layered gauze garments billowed like a blooming crimson peony in the wind, half-concealing her peerless grace—ethereal and magnificent, as if she might transform into an immortal and take flight at any moment.

Huang Zixiang forgot all propriety, unable to tear her gaze away. She felt herself sinking into the dust, humbled in the presence of Empress Wang's lofty gaze.

She heard Jin Nu beside her let out a soft, almost inaudible gasp, stifled in her throat.

Empress Wang's eyes swept indifferently over them before she turned to greet Grand Consort Zhao. "Your arrival honors us, Grand Consort. I apologize for not welcoming you sooner."

"Ah, I've never cared for these formalities. You are the mistress of the palace now, and an old woman like me relies on your generosity for my stipends and silks during the festivals," Grand Consort Zhao teased, taking Empress Wang's hand as they ascended the hall together.

Huang Zixiang watched as Grand Consort Zhao and Empress Wang chatted amiably, following them into Penglai Hall. Seated atop the three-tiered white marble foundation within the vermilion gates, the Grand Consort studied Wang Ruo closely, engaging her in conversation and laughing heartily from time to time. Princess Qile stood beside them, her usually pleasant face clouded with gloom, yet she stubbornly refused to step outside, remaining as still as a wooden figure.

Inside the hall, emotions ran high—some joyful, others sorrowful—while the attendants outside feigned ignorance, standing quietly. Huang Zixiang and the others, not being personal attendants, waited outside.

Standing there, Huang Zixiang noticed beads of sweat slowly trickling down Jin Nu's face, nearly ruining her powdered makeup. She whispered, "What's wrong?"

"I... I feel so hot," Jin Nu replied, her voice hoarse.

Huang Zixiang glanced at the bright spring sun but felt the gentle breeze and didn't find it particularly warm. She handed Jin Nu her handkerchief. As Jin Nu took it, her hands trembled uncontrollably.

Wiping the cold sweat from her face, Jin Nu forced a smile at Huang Zixiang's puzzled expression. "It's nothing... probably just an old ailment acting up. I... have a strange condition that flares up occasionally. I'll be fine after some rest."

Huang Zixiang nodded and looked up at the clear blue sky. Distractedly, she heard Jin Nu murmur, "It can't be... it can't be her..."

"Who?" she asked instinctively.

"It must just be a resemblance..." Jin Nu hesitated, realizing she had spoken out of turn. After a long pause, she asked in a trembling voice, "The one in red... she must be... Empress Wang?"

"Yes," Huang Zixiang replied softly.

"And... the one behind her... is Princess Kui?"

Huang Zixiang nodded again, studying Jin Nu intently, searching her face for answers.But Jin Nu's face only held a dazed and bewildered expression. After a long pause, she finally murmured in a low voice, "Impossible... If that's the case, how could the Kui Princess Consort be her..."

Huang Zitang keenly sensed there must be some hidden story here, but Jin Nu was merely a pipa player newly arrived in the capital from the music academy—how could she know anything about these matters?

Just as Huang Zitang was about to ask, the palace maid Yanling, who served the Empress, emerged and inquired, "Which one of you is Jin Nu?"

"It's me..." Jin Nu quickly responded, clutching her pipa.

"The Grand Imperial Concubine summons you," Yanling said, then glanced at Huang Zitang and asked in a hushed tone, "Why haven't you gone in yet to attend to the Princess Consort?"

Huang Zitang hurriedly complied. Jin Nu hesitated for a moment before tugging at Huang Zitang's hand. Huang Zitang could feel that Jin Nu's palm was icy with sweat, weak and limp. Realizing Jin Nu was too feeble to carry the pipa herself, Huang Zitang took it for her and led her by the hand into the grand hall.

After Jin Nu had paid her respects, Huang Zitang placed the pipa in her arms and handed her the jade plectrum before moving to stand behind Wang Ruo.

She saw that Wang Ruo's face was as pale as a withered flower, her gaze fixed firmly on the ground as if she dared not meet the eyes of anyone present—not even a mere pipa player like Jin Nu.

Huang Zitang sighed inwardly and stood expressionlessly behind her. Next to her was Princess Qile, from whom Huang Zitang could distinctly sense a dark, oppressive aura. Unable to resist, she turned her head slightly and caught Princess Qile's venomous glare fixed on Wang Ruo, as if her eyes could transform into blades, slicing Wang Ruo to pieces.

Noticing Huang Zitang's gaze, Princess Qile didn't avert her eyes but instead glared back defiantly, her hatred so righteous it almost earned Huang Zitang's reluctant admiration, forcing her to look away.

Grand Imperial Concubine Zhao said to Empress Wang with a smile, "This is a newly arrived pipa player from the music academy. Her skill is unmatched in the realm. Prince Zhao adores her playing and says that given time, she will surely become a national treasure."

"Oh? To be considered a national treasure at such a young age—does she truly possess such extraordinary talent?" Empress Wang remarked, her eyes idly sweeping over Jin Nu, who sat below.

Jin Nu tightened her grip on the pipa, bowing slightly as she replied, "Jin Nu is unworthy of such praise. My skills are still lacking—no matter how good I become, I could never surpass my master. She is the true national treasure."

This seemed to pique Empress Wang's interest, and she studied Jin Nu more closely, though she didn't press further. Grand Imperial Concubine Zhao, however, asked with a smile, "And who might your esteemed master be?"

"She is the pipa master of Yangzhou's Yunsiao Pavilion, Mei Wanzhi. I wonder if any among you have heard her name? I am her only disciple."

The name Mei Wanzhi was unfamiliar to Huang Zitang, but the mention of Yangzhou's Yunsiao Pavilion stirred something in her mind—she recalled Chen Nianniang and Feng Yiniang, who also hailed from Yunsiao Pavilion. That Jin Nu, too, came from there struck her as an odd coincidence.

The name drew little reaction from the others, save for Grand Imperial Concubine Zhao, who seemed quite taken with her. "You must possess exceptional talent to have earned your master's favor," she remarked warmly."Exactly. I was just five years old then. My hometown was struck by floods, and my parents fled with me to the outskirts of Yangzhou. Our family was starving to the brink of death, so they had to sell me with a straw tag..." Jinnu hugged her pipa tightly and spoke quietly. "At that moment, my master happened to pass by. She lifted the curtain of her oil-painted carriage for a glance and saw my hands, immediately calling for the carriage to stop. She stepped down, took my hands, and examined them carefully—without even looking at my face—before having money given to my parents and taking me away. My master told me, 'Jinnu, these hands of yours were born to play the pipa. Heaven made you for this very purpose.'"

Naturally, everyone's gaze fell upon her hands. They were fair and finely proportioned, with exceptionally long fingers—almost slightly large for a woman's hands. But Jinnu smiled, cradled the pipa in her arms, lightly pressed the neck with her left hand, and swept the strings with a jade plectrum in her right.

In that instant, her hands suddenly ceased trembling, and a faint blush rose to her cheeks. Her fingers moved so swiftly across the strings that one could hardly follow them, and a cascade of music poured forth—like pearls large and small tumbling onto the palace floor, each distinct in its own way: some round and mellow, others light and ethereal, some clear and resonant, others soft and tender. A myriad of sensations surged in that moment, and within the grand hall, atop the high platform, the lingering echoes were especially moving.