The Golden Hairpin

The Dali Temple went through the usual procedures once again, summoning Su Qi, Xianyun, Ranyun, and all the relevant personnel from the palace for thorough questioning. However, their testimonies remained consistent without any discrepancies—simply that Princess Consort Wang had arrived at Yongchun Hall, Prince Kui had paid a visit, Wang Ruo had stayed alone in the eastern pavilion, and within moments of the others leaving, she had vanished without a trace inside the pavilion.

At the time, neither Wang Ruo, Li Shubai, nor the thirty-some people in the courtyard had noticed when Wang Ruo might have entered or exited the inner hall. Even the eunuchs in the right pavilion, separated only by a grand hall, had detected nothing unusual happening in the left pavilion.

The two guards stationed outside the eastern pavilion’s window had faithfully carried out their duties, confirming that they had kept their eyes fixed on the window the entire time—it had only been opened once afterward, by Huang Zixiao.

"It was Lord Wang who instructed us to keep a close watch on the window, so our eyes never left it!" the guards swore earnestly.

"Indeed, Wang Yun was thorough in his precautions—yet despite all efforts, the princess consort still met with misfortune," sighed Cui Chunzhan, looking perplexed and troubled as he turned to Huang Zixiao. "Truly a baffling mystery... Has Your Excellency discovered anything?"

Huang Zixiao shook his head. "Before Your Honor arrived, Prince Kui and I had already inspected the area multiple times, but it was all in vain—we found nothing."

By the time all the witnesses had been questioned, evening was approaching. After an exhaustive search, the only discovery was a piece of charred wood presented by a soldier who had examined the small kitchen in the rear hall, claiming to have found it in the stove.

Cui Chunzhan took it and shook his head helplessly. "Fool! What’s the big deal about a kitchen burning scraps of wood? Is this really worth bringing to my attention?"

Huang Zixiao took it and examined it closely. The wood was half-burned, its exterior blackened, but its shape remained largely intact—vaguely resembling a horseshoe, with a slanted front and a semi-circular curve at the back.

As she studied it, Cui Chunzhan remarked, "The palace kitchens occasionally use leftover scraps from the carpentry workshop as firewood. This was probably just a remnant of some wooden utensil—nothing unusual."

Huang Zixiao nodded and handed it back to the Dali Temple officials, saying, "Let’s keep it just in case."

"Indeed, Eunuch Yang is right—store it for now," Cui Chunzhan said offhandedly before turning to order the case files to be organized, declaring the day’s work concluded.

When Huang Zixiao bid him farewell, Cui Chunzhan stopped her with a smile. "It’s rare to meet like this today, and we’ll be working together for a long time. I must insist on treating you to a meal."

As the representative assigned by the prince’s household to assist in the case, Huang Zixiao had no choice but to agree. However, upon arriving at the Zhui Jin Lou in the Western Market and seeing the people already seated in the private room, she couldn’t help but feel a little exasperated.

Jinnu, holding a pipa and sitting to the side, was a familiar face. Then there was Zhou Ziqin, dressed in deep blue brocade with crimson trim and a goose-yellow sash, enthusiastically explaining how to determine the time of death based on the texture and decomposition of meat—completely oblivious to the others’ discomfort as they stared at the dishes of chicken, duck, and fish on the table.

Another man, standing gracefully to greet Cui Chunzhan and Huang Zixiao, exuded warmth and refinement—it was none other than Wang Yun."Chonggu!" The moment he spotted Huang Zixia, Zhou Ziqin forgot what he was talking about in his excitement and immediately waved her over. "I heard that Eunuch Yang from Prince Kui's mansion was assisting Brother Cui with the case, and I just knew it had to be you! My guess was spot on!"

Ignoring the empty seat beside Wang Yun, Huang Zixia chose instead to sit next to Zhou Ziqin, who was dressed in his usual horrifying combination of blue and red. "I didn't expect to see you here," she said.

Cui Chunzhan laughed. "Ziqin has an exceptional eye for crime scenes, especially when it comes to studying corpses. That's why the Dali Temple often seeks his help. It's a pity he'll soon be leaving for Shu with his father, so our gatherings in the capital will become rare. Let's make the most of today and drink a few more cups!"

Zhou Ziqin shot him a disdainful look. "Every time it's just us drinking! You always use your wife as an excuse to stop after one or two cups. Who else in the capital deserves the title of 'Most Henpecked' more than you?"

Cui Chunzhan laughed heartily, clearly unbothered, and casually asked about Zhou Ziqin's father Zhou Xiang's departure date and the timing of the farewell banquet.

After the eight hot dishes were served and everyone had toasted, Wang Yun finally spoke up. "Has there been any progress in the case of Prince Kui's missing consort?"

Cui Chunzhan shook his head. "It seems we'll need more time."

A flicker of concern crossed Wang Yun's face, though he didn't show much beyond that.

Zhou Ziqin eyed the newly served fish and exclaimed in surprise, "Huh? Is Aunt Li from the kitchen not here today?"

The waiter looked puzzled. "How did you know, Young Master Zhou? Aunt Li had some family matters today, so someone else prepared this fish."

Zhou Ziqin grimaced. "It's obvious it was done by an amateur. Look at this messy cut—the belly is ruined! The fat and skin layers are damaged, which will affect the rich, delicate flavor of the belly meat! And look here—they didn't even clean the black vein properly. Aunt Li's swift, precise cuts are nowhere to be seen!"

The others at the table exchanged wry smiles. Wang Yun changed the subject. "Eunuch Yang, have you and Ziqin met before?"

Sitting beside Zhou Ziqin, Huang Zixia watched helplessly as he placed a large piece of deboned fish into her bowl. "We've crossed paths once," she said.

Cui Chunzhan chuckled. "Ziqin can strike up a friendship with anyone at first sight. We're used to it by now."

Zhou Ziqin retorted seriously, "Chonggu and I share a life-and-death bond—it's different from ordinary acquaintances!"

Since when did digging up corpses together qualify as a life-and-death bond? Huang Zixia sighed inwardly and began eating the fish in her bowl. Zhou Ziqin continued enthusiastically, "I'm not boasting, but when it comes to deboning fish, I'm unmatched in the capital—no, in the entire world! When my father grounded me and forbade me from shadowing the coroner, I spent my days studying the poultry and fish in the kitchen. Did you know a cow has 108 bones, a chicken has 164, but fish vary greatly? Take this crucian carp, for example. It may seem bony, but the distribution follows a pattern. Let me teach you my secret technique—passed down exclusively to you—the meat on the back can be peeled layer by layer. Of course, the method is crucial..."The crowd listened to his nonsense, drinking and joking, the atmosphere lively and boisterous. Before long, the discussion about the disappearance of the future Princess Consort was completely forgotten, turning into a rowdy feast. Huang Zixiang noticed Wang Yun's expression was somewhat helpless, though he still managed to maintain a faint smile.

Suddenly, someone brought up, "By the way, has anyone heard the rumor circulating in the capital today?"

"What rumor?" everyone asked eagerly.

"The one about Princess Qile."

Everyone at the table knew of Princess Qile—the woman who had long positioned herself as the future Princess Consort of Kui but ultimately failed to secure the title. They exchanged knowing glances and chuckled, murmuring, "Oh~"

Jin Nu laughed and said, "Ah, what an unfortunate coincidence. Speaking of which, when I went to play the pipa for the Dowager Consort yesterday, I happened to run into Princess Qile in the palace."

"So Princess Qile was also in the palace when the Princess Consort disappeared?" Cui Chunhan asked.

"Indeed. She was there to copy scriptures for the Dowager Consort—I heard she had bribed one of the Empress Dowager's close attendants to secure the task. Her goal was to catch Prince Kui when he visited the Dowager Consort every ten days to pay his respects, so she could speak with him."

The crowd sighed, "Such devotion."

"And I heard she had openly expressed her feelings for Prince Kui to the Dowager Consort, who was also inclined to support her. Alas, fate had other plans, and the title of Princess Consort never fell to her. After Prince Kui's engagement to Lady Wang was finalized, she claimed to be ill and stopped visiting the palace for a while. Who would have thought that on the very day she returned, the Princess Consort vanished? After the incident, I heard she even went to take a look outside Yongchun Hall..." Jin Nu covered her mouth with her pipa plectrum and giggled. "I went along too, and if I may jest—Princess Qile's expression was one of relief, as if a dream had finally come true."

"Indeed, when the rumor spread in the capital that the Princess Consort would disappear before the wedding, she was probably the most delighted to hear it." Aside from Wang Yun, the men all laughed heartily, their mirth undampened even by his presence.

Huang Zixiang sighed inwardly at the group of men, mentally filing away Princess Qile's name for later consideration. When she looked up, she found Wang Yun's gaze fixed on her amidst the clamor. Under the lamplight, his jade-like skin and ink-black hair stood out, his refined features and dignified bearing setting him apart from the unruly men around him. He exuded the noble grace of a scion from an elite Jin family, an air of transcendent distinction.

Her eyelashes fluttered involuntarily, as if pricked by a needle, and she quickly averted her eyes, pretending to study the structure of a fishbone with Zhou Ziqin beside her.

As the feast wound down, the hour approached dusk. A waiter came to replenish the candles, and Jin Nu picked up her pipa again, tuning the strings for one final performance.

"Ah, this dreadful weather," she muttered after testing a few notes. "It's been raining all day, and the pipa strings have loosened from the dampness. The sound is even worse now."

Huang Zixiang turned and asked, "Is there any way to fix it?""Just rub some rosin on it and it'll be fine." She took out an exquisitely crafted box from her bosom, pinched a bit of rosin powder with three fingers, and carefully applied it to the pegs of the pipa. "This rosin powder was bestowed by the palace, you see. Even the box is so beautiful—I took it and tucked it right into my bosom."

Huang Zixiao couldn't comprehend her need to show off, so she simply looked at the pipa and said, "This 'Autumn Dew on Frost' is truly beautiful."

"Indeed, my master gave it to me. In this life, I'll only play this one. I’ve grown unaccustomed to other pipas because my hand movements and gestures only suit this one." Smiling, she continued rubbing the rosin powder for a long while, her brows furrowing slightly before relaxing again. She cradled the pipa in her arms and plucked the strings with a jade plectrum, releasing a lively and joyful melody.

Once the piece ended, Cui Chunzhan raised his cup and concluded, "The Emperor's grace is vast, and we bear this heavy responsibility with reverence. Everyone present must pool all our efforts to solve this perplexing case, living up to the high expectations of His Majesty, the Empress, and Prince Kui. I hope you will all contribute your ideas and wisdom so we may resolve this case swiftly and repay Heaven's favor!"

Thus concluded the official banquet.

The officials from the Dali Temple went to settle the bill, seeing off Cui Chunzhan and Wang Yun. Only Zhou Ziqin, Huang Zixiao, and Jinnu, who was packing up her pipa, remained at the table.

Zhou Ziqin glanced at the dishes barely touched on the table and called over the waiter, "Hey, do you have lotus leaves? Wrap up this roast chicken, grilled fish, and pork knuckle for me."

Jinnu giggled beside him, "So the rumors in the capital are true—Young Master Zhou really doesn’t waste anything."

"Even chickens, ducks, fish, and pigs have their dignity. Who’d willingly turn into slop?" Zhou Ziqin replied without hesitation, laughing. "And that dish in front of you—yes, the cherries—wrap those up for me too."

"Do cherries have dignity too?" Jinnu looked at her snow-white fingers and reluctantly poured the cherries onto a lotus leaf, wrapping them before handing them to him with a frown. "Ugh, these wretched cherry stems are so hard—they’re making my hands itch."

"Your hands are delicate, but who knew even cherries would prick you? Thanks." Zhou Ziqin casually tied the parcels with string and carried them out with the others.

Huang Zixiao deliberately lagged behind and asked Jinnu, who was still rubbing her hands, "Miss Jinnu, when would be a good time for me to visit you?"

"Oh, Eunuch Yang, are you also interested in the pipa?" Even knowing she was a eunuch, Jinnu instinctively gave her a flirtatious glance—light and soft.

Huang Zixiao replied, "I just have some matters I’d like to ask about."

"About my master?" she asked.

Huang Zixiao had no interest in her master and simply smiled. "Naturally, it’s about... your former sisters, the ones who admired Prince Kui."

"Sure, have Prince Kui come ask me himself. I’ll gladly point out which sister adored him." Jinnu blew on her hands and laughed. "Alright, I’ll be off now."

"Miss Jinnu," Huang Zixiao had to stop her, lowering her voice. "That day at Penglai Hall, you said something that struck me..."

"What?" Jinnu looked at her with an innocent and guileless expression."You're saying, the princess consort shouldn't be... her." Huang Zizao whispered in her ear, her voice extremely soft yet each word enunciated with perfect clarity.