The Golden Hairpin

The Yongchun Hall was a small building located in the southeast corner of the Daming Palace. Originally serving as a palace storeroom, its walls were exceptionally high and thick, making it one of the most secure structures within the palace grounds.

To the east and south, not far from the hall, stood the outer palace walls, towering over five zhang in height with no gates. A watchtower atop the walls was constantly patrolled by guards, ensuring no outsider could possibly enter from this direction.

The western side was heavily guarded as it faced the main palace gates—the most likely entry point for any intruder. Yet the Yongchun Hall's design was meticulous: the western wall stood three men high with only a single side gate, now sealed under strict orders. With two hundred guards stationed, four were posted inside and outside the gate, rendering it impregnable.

The northern side faced the inner palace but was equally fortified. Beyond two tightly shut palace gates, heavy troops stood watch. Notably, even rotating patrols were barred from entering or exiting after nightfall when gates were locked, preventing potential infiltrators among their ranks.

The security around Wang Ruo consisted of three concentric layers. The innermost ring comprised palace maids and eunuchs stationed in the main hall and adjacent pavilions, keeping constant watch over her. Thirty guards patrolled the outer hall and connecting corridors, monitoring all movement to and from the inner chambers. Another thirty guarded the inner perimeter of the walls, while thirty more patrolled outside. One hundred guards per shift rotated in two teams, supplemented by eight squad leaders and two commanders—totaling two hundred personnel.

Despite its modest size, the Yongchun Hall maintained an impenetrable defense with two hundred guards at all times, creating an atmosphere of absolute containment.

"Every inch of the hall has been thoroughly searched—no intruders could possibly be present. Please set your mind at ease, Princess Consort!" reported the commanders of the imperial guards and the prince's personal troops to Wang Ruo and Wang Yun.

Wang Yun rose to take his leave. "Night deepens—you should rest early. I'll retire to the front hall," he said.

Wang Ruo and Huang Zixiang saw him to the doorway, watching him depart. Standing at the threshold, Huang observed the guards strategically positioned along winding corridors and artificial rock formations. The encircling formation reminded her of the mysterious man's bamboo birdcage at Xianyou Temple. Who could have guessed that such an intricately woven cage concealed a hidden mechanism? With one subtle motion, the entire structure could be transformed—a sleight of hand shifting heaven and earth.

Like the caged songbird, Wang Ruo sat alone in the hall as maids lit lanterns around her, her pensive expression illuminated by their glow.

Approaching her, Huang asked, "What holds your gaze, Princess Consort?"

Wang Ruo slowly withdrew her eyes from the lanterns, lifting her tear-brightened face. The flickering lamplight shimmered in her eyes as she whispered hoarsely, barely audible: "Chonggu, I... I feel as though I've lived a lifetime's dream these past months. I grasped fortunes beyond my wildest imaginings, yet now everything dissolves like spring lanterns in the wind—soon to vanish without trace."

Huang detected boundless melancholy in her voice, beneath which lay even deeper sorrow.

A breeze drifted through the palace gates, causing the lanterns to sway gently, their light waxing and waning with each rotation.

Wind dims spring lanterns; rain washes years into sorrow. Huang studied Wang Ruo's downcast face—this maiden in the bloom of youth now stood as if peering into an abyss, treading upon thin ice.Though Huang Zixiang was well aware of the unknown depths of her soul, she couldn't help but feel a faint sense of pity for her. She lowered her voice to console her, saying, "Please set your mind at ease, my lady. With so many soldiers guarding the Daming Palace so strictly, not even a tiny insect could fly in. How could anything possibly go wrong?"

Wang Ruo nodded, yet still appeared deeply troubled.

Huang Zixiang didn't know how to comfort her further, feeling that the Empress's excessive attention had only added to Wang Ruo's burden. As she searched for words to console her, she looked up and saw Li Shubai appear under the bright lights outside, illuminating the night as if it were day.

He walked to the palace entrance, glanced inside, and Xianyun and Ranyun quickly bowed in greeting. Suqi stood up with Wang Ruo to pay their respects.

Under the lamplight, Huang Zixiang saw Wang Ruo's eyes light up the moment they landed on Li Shubai, glowing like lustrous pearls with an exceptionally moving radiance. Yet her expression remained shy and tinged with sorrow. Bathed in the glow of the palace lanterns, her face was a mix of joy and melancholy, the faint sorrow between her brows unshaken even by her smile.

Li Shubai glanced at her and nodded in acknowledgment but said nothing, merely signaling for Huang Zixiang to come out.

Huang Zixiang bowed to Wang Ruo before stepping out and walking with Li Shubai along the brick path of the central courtyard, passing through the rockery to the front hall's corridor. They were no more than five zhang away from the inner hall where Wang Ruo was, and every movement there could be seen clearly.

Li Shubai looked in that direction and asked, "How are the arrangements for tonight?"

"Suqi, Xianyun, and Ranyun will accompany the lady consort to rest in the left chamber of the inner hall, while Anfu and I will be in the right chamber. The main hall separates us, but we can respond immediately if anything happens."

"Hmm. I don't believe anything major could happen in the Daming Palace, heavily guarded and under everyone's watchful eyes." Li Shubai frowned slightly. "But with only seven days left until the wedding, the Empress's grand display suggests there might be some trouble."

Huang Zixiang was still pondering what kind of trouble he meant when Li Shubai said indifferently, "Originally, we should have presented the betrothal letter these past few days, given the urgency."

His tone was utterly devoid of emotion, as flat as if he were discussing the weather—no frustration, no aversion, which only made it seem all the more detached.

Thinking of Wang Ruo's melancholy and bewildered expression, Huang Zixiang couldn't help but ask softly, "Does Your Highness intend to reveal the truth at the moment of the wedding? If so, the Empress and the Wang family would surely lose face."

"I'll handle it privately. How could I not spare the dignity of the Langya Wang family?"

Huang Zixiang was at a loss for words when she turned and saw Wang Ruo approaching from the inner hall. The cool night breeze lifted the hem of her robe and strands of her hair. She wore a yellow gown, her hair loosely tied in a Liuxian bun, adorned with a leaf-vein hairpin glistening with dew. Accompanied by Ranyun, she walked toward them through the garden rockery.

Her figure was perfectly proportioned, standing half a head taller than most women, her movements as graceful as wind skimming water, captivatingly beautiful. When she reached them, she bowed gracefully and said softly, "Greetings, Prince Kui."Li Shubai nodded, signaling for her to rise. She stood up and gazed at him, saying softly, "Thank you, Your Highness, for gracing me with your presence and inquiry. Wang Ruo is deeply moved. Given the strict security of the Daming Palace and the numerous guards from the Prince's residence and the imperial guards patrolling day and night, everything is surely secure. Your Highness need not worry."

Though her words were reassuring, her wide eyes as she looked up at Li Shubai betrayed the sorrow and lingering fear of a startled deer, even a reluctant longing. Huang Zixiang could imagine how heartbroken and disappointed Wang Ruo would be if Li Shubai actually took her words at face value and left now.

Fortunately, Li Shubai merely smiled faintly and said to her, "Indeed, there is no need for concern. You should rest now. From tomorrow onward, you may reside in the palace with peace of mind."

"Yes," Wang Ruo replied with a curtsy.

Her long lashes veiled her eyes, and a flicker of lamplight shimmered like rippling water in them—for a moment, Huang Zixiang thought it might have been a tear.

She stood up and, without another word, lowered her head and walked toward the inner chambers.

Li Shubai and Huang Zixiang watched as she made her way around the rockery in the night breeze, slow but steady, returning to the palace. As she reached the doorway, she seemed slightly dazed, stumbling over the threshold. Ran Yun quickly steadied her and adjusted her skirt.

Li Shubai withdrew his gaze and said, "With so many guards stationed here, I shall return to the residence. Please keep an eye on things here."

"Understood," Huang Zixiang replied, though her eyes remained fixed on the inner chambers. Just then, Xian Yun emerged carrying a food box, heading toward the small kitchen at the back, while Ran Yun came out with a lantern, murmuring something softly.

Huang Zixiang called out loudly from behind the rockery, "What are you looking for?"

Ran Yun cupped her hands around her mouth and shouted back, "The consort’s leaf-vein dew-drop hairpin is missing!"

Huang Zixiang waved to Li Shubai and said, "I’ll help them look for it."

Li Shubai watched silently as she hurried across the courtyard.

As Huang Zixiang passed the rockery, she spotted a glint of gold on the ground—a delicate, hollowed-out leaf-vein design adorned with two pearl dewdrops. It was the very hairpin that had been tucked into Wang Ruo’s hair earlier.

She picked it up and quickly handed it to Ran Yun.

As the three of them reached the palace entrance, they encountered Xian Yun returning with the food box. She sighed and opened it to show them, "The kitchen maids have already been dismissed. All I found in the cupboard were a few pastries. Will you have some tonight?"

"Eat, eat, eat—is that all you think about? Look at your waistline!" Ran Yun teased.

Xian Yun retorted, "Hmph, Consort Yang was plump and radiant, the very beauty that toppled kingdoms!"

"You, comparing yourself to Consort Yang? Besides, she lived a hundred years ago—plump beauties aren’t in fashion anymore! Look at our consort’s waistline—that’s true elegance!"

Huang Zixiang stood inside the hall, noticing the left chamber was eerily silent. She quickened her steps to the chamber door and peered inside.

Within the small chamber: a crabapple-wood bed with tasseled curtains still had its brocade quilt neatly folded; an empty mother-of-pearl inlaid carved couch stood quietly by the window; a golden carpet strewn with falling petals held a low table and two brocade cushions; a sandalwood wardrobe adorned with seasonal flowers stood in the corner.

The palace lantern’s glow spilled like cold, bright mercury, illuminating the entire chamber—yet there was no one in sight.Wang Ruo, who had just walked into the Left Pavilion under the gaze of so many people, vanished without a trace in the blink of an eye, as if a wisp of smoke had dissipated into the air.

While those behind her stood frozen in shock, Huang Zixiao swiftly stepped forward. She opened the wardrobe to glance inside, bent down to check under the bed, then moved behind the couch to open the tightly shut window. Outside, she saw two guards standing rigidly at attention.

She looked up and spotted Li Shubai in the front hall, speaking to someone beside him. As if sensing the commotion from the corner of his eye, his gaze shifted toward her, meeting her eyes for a brief moment.

She waved at him, signaling that something was wrong.

Li Shubai strode quickly across the courtyard. After one look at the empty pavilion, he immediately directed everyone to search the main hall and the side pavilions. Yet Yongchun Hall was only so large, and within moments, every corner had been scoured—Wang Ruo was nowhere to be found.

Just then, hurried footsteps echoed from outside as Yanling, the palace matron serving the Empress, rushed in with Su Qi and asked, "What happened?"

Upon seeing Li Shubai in the hall, she hastily bowed, then cast an inquiring glance at Su Qi, who whispered, "The Princess Consort... has disappeared."

Yanling gasped in shock. "I was just following the Empress's orders, bringing the palace flowers and garments for the Princess Consort with Su Qi. How could... in such a short time, with so many people around, how could this—"

Li Shubai said, "You should return and report to the Empress first. I will continue searching the hall. If we find her, we will inform Her Majesty immediately."

"Leave a few of you behind to help with the search. I must hurry back to Penglai Hall," Yanling instructed, gesturing for the maids carrying the clothes to set them down before departing with only two or three attendants.

Under Li Shubai's orders, the crowd in Yongchun Hall combed through every inch of grass, every brick, and every wooden beam over a dozen times—yet not a single trace was found.

Just as the prophecy had foretold, Wang Ruo had vanished before the grand wedding. And she had disappeared under heavy guard, within the very walls of the Daming Palace.