The Golden Hairpin

Huang Zixiang followed Li Shubai into the carriage back to the Kui Prince's residence. Throughout the journey, Li Shubai remained silent, neither speaking nor glancing at her. Huang Zixiang felt immense pressure, forcing herself to sit stiffly on the low stool, wondering whether she or someone else had offended this lord. If it was someone else, why was he directing this expression at her? And if it was her, what could have been the reason...

As she pondered, the lord shrouded in gloom finally spoke: "What help do you need?"

"Ah?" Huang Zixiang's heart skipped a beat. Naturally, she didn’t dare mention Zhang Xingying’s matter and hurriedly replied, "It’s... just a trivial matter, not worth troubling Your Highness. I only discussed it with Zhou Ziqin. Since he could help me resolve it, I didn’t want to bother you."

Seeing her expression, which clearly showed no intention of telling him, Li Shubai said coldly, "No matter. I don’t have the leisure to concern myself with you anyway."

Huang Zixiang let out a sigh of relief but still keenly sensed his displeasure, so she remained tense, waiting for him to continue.

To her surprise, he didn’t speak another word for the rest of the journey, only flipping through official documents on the small table. His speed was astonishing, skimming ten lines at a glance, the faint rustling of pages the only sound. He truly didn’t even spare her a glance.

While relieved, Huang Zixiang glanced at the foreign script on the documents—likely Tibetan—and couldn’t help but feel a surge of respect.

The journey felt like sitting on pins and needles. Upon arriving at the prince’s residence, Jing Yu, Jing Xu, and others were already waiting at the gate to receive them and await orders.

"Summon Jing Yi," was all he said before striding straight toward the Yubing Pavilion.

Huang Zixiang finally exhaled in relief and quietly retreated a few steps, intending to return to her quarters. Unexpectedly, Li Shubai seemed to have eyes on the back of his head. Without turning around, he tossed out two words: "Follow me."

She glanced around, realizing the command was directed at her, and could only wipe the sweat from her palms and follow, silently chanting to herself: Huang Zixiang, oh Huang Zixiang, since you’ve chosen to serve this difficult master, no matter what, you must follow him—through water and fire, just obey his orders!

Jing Yu had already prepared everything in the Yubing Pavilion. Tea and snacks were laid out, incense curled from the burner, and fine bamboo blinds shielded most of the sunlight.

Li Shubai washed his hands in the golden basin presented by a maid, then took the fine white linen towel to dry them, his movements slow and devoid of emotion. Huang Zixiang stood nearby, assisting him in reviewing documents.

When Jing Yi finally arrived, she sighed in relief, feeling the unbearable pressure of being alone with him.

"How long has Yang Chonggu been here?" Li Shubai got straight to the point.

Jing Yi answered without hesitation: "Thirty-seven days in total, just over a month."

"Has his monthly allowance not been issued yet?"

"The residence follows the rule of disbursing wages on the fifteenth. Last time, since he had just arrived, he was only given two taels as a welcoming gift."Seeing the silver, Huang Zixiang naturally followed the usual practice by hosting two tables of wine to get acquainted with everyone in the mansion, spending every last bit of it. She was well aware of such social customs—she had to be. Huang Zixiang inwardly grumbled in frustration—being a minor eunuch in this prince's household was no easy task. Though she was provided with food, shelter, and clothing, ever since fleeing from Shu, she had flattened her gold hairpin just to scrape together travel expenses to the capital. The last of her money had been lost when she was kicked into the lotus pond. Otherwise, would she have had to mooch meals off others whenever she went out? Being able to afford a bowl of soup noodles was already her limit!

Jing Yi then said, "I was just about to seek His Highness's guidance on how to determine Yang Chonggu's rank within the household."

Here it comes—her compensation was being discussed! A flicker of excitement stirred in Huang Zixiang's chest. Growing up, she had never lacked money—her parents gave her pocket money frequently, and over time, she had accumulated a tidy sum. Yet she had always envied her elder brother, the yamen runners, and the constables. Because back then, she was a woman. Though she had helped the yamen solve many puzzling cases, she could never become one of them—never able to clock in punctually, receive a monthly salary, or hold a fixed position in an orderly institution. Now, at last, she had a stable profession, one that allowed her to support herself without relying on family or a husband, with a monthly salary as a... eunuch. It might not sound great, but... a eunuch still counted as an official, right?

Li Shubai's gaze shifted slightly from the official documents, glancing at Huang Zixiang with what unmistakably looked like a hint of schadenfreude—as if he had been waiting for this moment for a long time.

A sense of foreboding instantly rose in her heart.

Then Li Shubai spoke: "Fairness and impartiality are paramount in this household. Otherwise, what purpose would the household regulations serve?"

Jing Yi nodded. "Your Highness speaks wisely. In that case, Yang Chonggu shall be provisionally ranked as a junior eunuch, with all daily allowances the same as others. His promotion will depend on his performance after the new year."

"Approved." Li Shubai's tone was indifferent, as though he were merely upholding strict principles by accepting someone else's suggestion.

Huang Zixiang's unease grew, and she couldn't help but ask Jing Yi, "May I ask, Eunuch Jing, what are the conditions for a junior eunuch in the household?"

Jing Yi looked at her sympathetically but remained silent.

Li Shubai continued reviewing documents at his desk, not lifting his head as he calmly stated, "First, a junior eunuch is not permitted to interrupt, speak, or ask questions without permission from others. Violators will forfeit one month's salary. Second, the treatment of junior eunuchs is stipulated in Part Four, Article 31 of the household regulations. Since you are unaware of this, it appears you have failed to memorize the regulations as ordered. Disobeying a direct command results in a three-month salary deduction. Third, eunuchs of the household are forbidden from engaging in private exchanges or personal favors with outsiders. Violators will forfeit a year's salary."

Jing Yi's gaze turned even more pitying, helpless in the face of her losing sixteen months' worth of wages in a single sentence.

Huang Zixiang was dumbstruck.

For the first time, she felt a profound doubt about her resolute decision to throw herself at the mercy of this man before her!

This domineering, vindictive, and arrogant master was absolutely not a good one!

The atmosphere in the Yubing Pavilion grew even heavier.

Wisely, Jing Yi promptly excused himself.Huang Zixiang spread her hand toward Li Shubai. "Give me that half silver ingot."

Li Shubai raised his eyes to look at her. "Found another clue?"

"No," she said stiffly. "I'm penniless, so poor that I can't even afford a bowl of soup noodles when I go out to investigate. If I faint on the street, I'm afraid I won't be able to serve Your Highness anymore. Plus, when I'm hungry, my mind starts wandering, and I can't focus on solving the case. So, to ensure this case is cracked as soon as possible, I've decided—to spend the evidence."

Li Shubai looked at her, the corner of his lips curling slightly in an almost imperceptible smile. He leisurely pulled open a drawer, took out a small token, and tossed it onto the table. "Take this."

Huang Zixiang picked it up and found it to be a small golden pass, about half the size of a palm. The front was densely cast with intricate patterns, embossed with the words "Prince Kui of Great Tang" in bold script. The reverse side bore the inscription "By Imperial Decree," stamped with the Emperor's seal and the words "Made by Imperial Command of the Inner Court."

Holding it between three fingers, Huang Zixiang looked at Li Shubai in confusion.

Li Shubai, however, merely continued reading his documents, saying indifferently, "This pass is the only one of its kind in the world, valid in all government offices and prefectures. Keep it safe—losing it would be troublesome."

"Ah?" Huang Zixiang was still hesitant, unsure of his intentions.

Seeing her confusion, he raised his voice slightly. "You are someone by my side. From now on, if you encounter any difficulties, you are not to seek help from others. Is there anything in this world that I cannot resolve for you?"

Huang Zixiang gazed at his lowered face, his expression as calm as ever, betraying no emotion. His voice, clear and resonant like ice striking jade, carried no ripple of disturbance, his noble and refined demeanor utterly unruffled. It was the same Prince Kui Li Shubai she knew, yet here in the Ice-Speaking Pavilion, under the golden sunlight filtered through the bamboo blinds, amidst the distant and near chorus of cicadas, and in the strange warmth stirring in her chest—he seemed different.

Perhaps because she had been standing motionless for too long, he finally looked up at her. Before he could speak, her fingers loosened, and the golden pass slipped from her grasp, landing on the green brick floor with a soft ding , shattering the silence.

She quickly crouched to pick it up, taking a deep breath before shakily standing again.

Li Shubai watched her and asked, "What, not satisfied?"

"No, it's not that. I'm just... overwhelmed by your favor." A faint blush spread across her jade-white cheeks, like the hazy hue of peach blossoms seen through a veil.

His gaze lingered on her for a long while, and the documents in his hand suddenly felt tedious and dull. He set down the stack of papers, stood, and walked to the window, looking out at the sky.

The vast expanse stretched endlessly, the blue as deep as indigo. Wisps of clouds, thin as gauze, were lightly brushed across the sky, hanging so low they seemed almost within reach.

For a fleeting moment, he felt as though those clouds had also drifted into his perpetually empty life. Like a girl as bright and clear as a May sky, she had barged into his fate one day, catching him completely off guard.

From then on, whether they faced each other or became entangled—his life was better off walking the opposite path, forgetting each other in the vastness of the world.He raised his hand as if the bright May sky outside was too dazzling, stinging his eyes. Turning around, he looked at Huang Zitang standing before him, backlit by the sunlight, and said, "I'll lend you this token for now. We'll discuss it further after this case is concluded."

Huang Zitang nodded in acknowledgment, then stared at the golden token in her hand with a troubled expression. She cautiously asked, "Your Highness, may I ask you something?"

He turned his gaze toward her.

"Well... do ordinary people in the capital—like those in taverns, peddlers, or common folk—recognize this Prince Kui's token?"

He made a questioning sound through his nose, "Hmm?"

"I mean..." She wore an expression of embarrassment, hesitating for a long moment before finally asking, "Can I use this to get credit at the capital's wine shops, bakeries, butcher shops, or peddler stalls?"

At this question, even someone as composed as Li Shubai couldn't help but twitch at the corner of his mouth. He shot her a glare, clearly unwilling to continue discussing such a vulgar topic, then turned and sat down on the low couch nearby, gesturing to the opposite side.

Huang Zitang obediently knelt and sat before him—after all, this was the formidable man who had docked sixteen months of her salary with just three sentences. How could she not comply?

Pouring himself a cup of tea, he slowly said, "What I'm about to tell you next is of great importance, which is why I didn't mention it in front of Zhou Ziqin. But I believe that if you're to investigate this case, you must know—this matter is undoubtedly closely connected to it."