The Golden Hairpin

The people behind dragged Huang Zixiang out of the pond, while Li Shubai had already entered Jianbi Palace.

Huang Zixiang scrambled up from the mud, watching Li Shubai's retreating figure without a backward glance. She clenched her teeth silently and couldn't help kicking fiercely in the muddy water, splashing droplets that landed coldly on her cheeks. But since she was already covered in filth, it didn't matter anymore.

The eunuchs behind quickly reached out to pull her up, and the palace maids led her to bathe. Noticing her male attire, an older maid pursed her lips in amusement and said, "Please wait a moment, sir. We'll help you bathe and change shortly."

"No need." She refused outright—she couldn't let anyone undress her, lest they discover she was a woman, which would easily link her to the fugitive Huang Zixiang.

So she brushed off the maids' hands and walked straight to the well, hauling up a bucket of water and dumping it over herself.

Though spring had arrived, the weather was still bitingly cold. The icy water drenched her from head to toe, sending a violent shiver through her body. The mud hadn't even washed off completely, but she felt numb, hauling up another bucket and pouring it recklessly over herself again.

The maids nearby stood frozen in shock.

After two buckets of water, Huang Zixiang felt her mind finally clear. She dropped the bucket, standing drenched and shivering by the well, breathing heavily.

The cold made her ears ring, and her vision blurred—only the phantom image of Li Shubai's face remained, cold and indifferent.

He had said, I have no interest in your affairs, nor in reporting your whereabouts to the authorities. From now on, you're on your own.

No interest...

Her parents' deaths, the massacre of her family, her wrongful accusation—none of it concerned him. Of course he had no interest.

To him, she was nothing but a speck of dust.

And yet... She tossed the bucket aside, clenching her fists tightly. Her nails dug deep into her palms, but she felt no pain, only determination.

And yet, Huang Zixiang, he is your greatest hope.

She spoke to herself clearly and firmly in her mind, gritting her teeth.

This man who had scorned her disheveled state at first glance, who had mercilessly kicked her into the mud, who had outright declared his indifference—Prince Kui, Li Shubai, was her greatest hope.

Prince Kui, Li Shubai, was far more reliable than the forces she had originally planned to rely on—her father's old friends, those distant bureaucratic relatives, or the desperate act of appealing directly to the emperor.

So, no matter how much she was belittled or despised, in this moment of icy clarity, she had already made her decision.

Under the early spring sunlight, the cold wind cut sharply. Shivering, she turned from the well and slowly descended the steps. In that moment, she heard the voice in her heart whispering to her, Huang Zixiang, have you ever considered that a man so unfathomable and terrifying—shouldn't your best response be to turn and flee, never looking back, never approaching him again?

Yet, heedless of her dripping hair and clothes, she continued step by step down the stairs.She forced a stiff smile at the maids standing frozen in place, suppressing the slight tremors in her chilled body. "Please fetch me a set of eunuch's robes. I still need to attend to Prince Kui."

Roughly binding her chest, she donned the plain silk undergarment and tied the slender silk sash into the simplest double knot.

Huang Zixiang stood before the half-height bronze mirror and glanced at the reflection. Dressed in eunuch's attire, her still-damp hair fell over her shoulders and chest, presenting the image of a delicate, slender youth—clear-eyed brows, a slightly weary face, yet with eyes as deep and serene as a still pond, bearing no trace of girlish innocence.

Taking a deep breath, she hastily gathered her half-damp hair beneath the eunuch's gauze cap, turned to lift the door latch, and strode out of the room.

Following the directions given by the maids, she entered the main thoroughfare of Jianbi Palace. Today marked the palace's recent completion, and the atmosphere was naturally different. Ahead, the vast lake shimmered with countless pearwood boats gliding across its surface. On the island at the center, songstresses danced to the music, while rows of pink silk palace lanterns hung from the willow trees along the shore. The spring breeze brushed against her face, the warm sun gentle—a scene of perfect harmony.

Directly ahead stood the main hall, its massive spirit wall inscribed with four grand characters: "Jian Bi Mi Zhang."

Pausing before the wall, she gazed up at the four characters, struck by their expansive strokes that exuded an air of dignified authority. A voice spoke behind her: "This was personally inscribed by His Majesty. Can a little eunuch like you appreciate its quality?"

Turning, she saw a man in purple robes, likely in his twenties, with skin so fair it gave him an ageless purity. At the very center of his forehead sat a vermilion mole, contrasting starkly against his snow-white complexion and jet-black hair, lending him an ethereal, almost otherworldly aura.

Given his presence here, his age, and that distinctive mole, Huang Zixiang immediately recognized him. She quickly bowed to the smiling youth. "Your Highness, Prince E."

Li Run, Prince E, was known among the imperial princes for his gentle temperament—a kind and amiable young man. He nodded at her with a smile, his gaze lingering on her face for a moment. "Are you from this palace? Which eunuch oversees you? Why have you been sent here?"

Every eunuch in the palace knew that serving in the detached palaces offered little chance for advancement. Rarely seeing the emperor or empress, they, like the maids, mostly waited out their years here, typically assigned to the old, weak, or infirm.

Her expression remained composed. "I came with Prince Kui. I stumbled into the water upon arrival, and the maids helped me change."

Li Run smiled. "I see. Then let me escort you inside."

Following him around the spirit wall, they were led by maids along the covered walkway until they reached the hall, where a group had gathered to listen to a woman playing the pipa. The notes cascaded like pearls and jade, dancing and flowing, perfectly complementing the radiant sunshine—an indescribable delight.

"Such exquisite pipa music—it would be a shame to interrupt," Li Run remarked, pausing outside the hall to listen. Huang Zixiang could only stand quietly behind him, waiting until the piece concluded before they entered together.Inside the hall sat Prince Kui, Li Shubai, along with the ninth-ranked Prince Zhao, Li Rui, and the youngest, Prince Kang, Li Wen. A strikingly beautiful woman dressed in yellow robes, a blooming crabapple flower pinned at her temple, sat opposite them, cradling a pipa in her arms.

Prince Zhao, Li Rui, was a wealthy idler with a penchant for mischief. Though already in his late teens, he still behaved like a carefree youth, devoid of any princely decorum. Upon seeing their arrival, he enthusiastically waved them over. "Fourth Brother, Seventh Brother, come quickly! I've found a marvelous talent in the music academy—her pipa skills are truly unparalleled in the world!"

"We overheard half a tune outside just now. Indeed, such music belongs only in heaven," Li Run remarked as he took a seat near Li Shubai. "Fourth Brother, where is His Majesty?"

"His Majesty suffered a headache this morning. The imperial physicians are attending to him. He will likely join us later," Li Shubai replied, his gaze briefly flickering over Huang Zixiao before he said nothing more.

Huang Zixiao clenched her teeth discreetly and swiftly moved to stand behind him, bowing her head in the perfect posture of a loyal eunuch.

Prince Kang, Li Wen, was still studying her when Prince Zhao, Li Rui, chuckled and said, "Speaking of which, isn't His Majesty worrying over Fourth Brother?" Li Wen immediately shifted his attention. "What's the matter?"

Li Shubai had already caught wind of the rumors but feigned ignorance. "What concern could that be?"

"Ha! Look at him pretending!" Li Rui gestured dramatically at Li Shubai, laughing. "What else could it be? Naturally, it's the marriage of our dynasty's fourth prince. A prince over twenty still unmarried is a rare sight indeed. If you continue this ascetic lifestyle, it'll become downright scandalous!"

Li Run nodded solemnly. "Exactly. Plans were made four years ago to select a consort for you, but then the Dowager Consort Wu passed away. Since you insisted on observing a year of mourning for your mother, everyone had to respect that. Just as the mourning period ended, the rebel Pang Xun rose in the south, and you were dispatched to quell the rebellion, delaying matters again. Now that peace reigns, and you're no longer young, if you don't take a consort soon, I fear His Majesty and the dowager consorts won't let you off the hook."

"Indeed, His Majesty and the Empress have gone to great lengths. This time, there's no escaping this marriage," Prince Kang, Li Wen, chimed in, raising a toast to him.

Seizing a moment when the pipa player, Jinnu, smiled demurely but stole glances at Li Shubai, Li Rui teased, "Jinnu, why do you keep staring at Prince Kui?"

The princes burst into laughter, while Li Shubai merely raised an eyebrow. The Tang Dynasty's music academies were known for their liberal atmosphere, where performers often mingled freely with guards and attendants, their romantic escapades even celebrated as tales of beauty. Thus, Jinnu showed no shyness, merely hiding half her face behind her pipa as she giggled. "Forgive my boldness, but I've long heard the rumors in the capital—Prince Kui's grace and bearing are divine, as if descended from the heavens. Seeing him today, the tales do not disappoint. No wonder all the sisters in the academy have set their hearts on him."

"Alas, those sisters are destined for heartbreak," Li Rui said, slinging an arm around Jinnu's shoulder. "Go back and tell them my fourth brother has a heart of stone, bound to disappoint. They'd have better luck pinning their hopes on me."

Amid Jinnu's laughter, more wine and dishes were served. Palace maids flitted about, and the singers' voices soared to the heavens.Amidst the lively scene, Huang Zixiang felt like a complete outsider. She stood motionless, her gaze fixed on Li Shubai's retreating figure. Though she seemed to be watching him, her mind was elsewhere, lost in her own thoughts.

At the banquet, someone brought up a topic and asked Li Shubai, "Fourth Brother, I heard His Majesty intends to appoint Vice Minister Zhou Xiang as the new governor of Shu Commandery. What do you think?"

Li Shubai replied casually, "I don't know much about Vice Minister Zhou, only that he has a good reputation. But I've met his youngest son, Zhou Ziqin, a few times—quite an interesting young man."

Li Rui laughed, "Exactly! Vice Minister Zhou has a mild temper, but whenever he loses it, it's always because of this son."

Li Run asked, "Is the boy unfilial?"

"Not exactly. As the youngest son, with Zhou Xiang's strict parenting and three or four capable older brothers, it would've been natural for him to be a pampered playboy. But instead, this boy refuses to study or learn any skills, doesn't indulge in cockfighting or dog racing—he just keeps running off to the mortuary! It's become a running joke in the capital."

"The mortuary?" Prince Kang Li Wen burst out laughing.

Li Rui chuckled, "Indeed! His greatest ambition was to become a coroner. After Vice Minister Zhou beat him several times, he reluctantly changed his goal—now he pesters the capital's constables daily, demanding to become a constable himself. The constables, afraid to offend both the vice minister and Zhou Ziqin, flee at the sight of him!"

Li Wen laughed heartily and said to Li Shubai, "Fourth Brother, since you have His Majesty's ear, why not put in a good word for Zhou Ziqin? When Zhou Xiang takes up his post in Shu Commandery, have the emperor personally appoint his son as a constable there. Let's fulfill Zhou Ziqin's earnest wish!"

"Brilliant!" Li Rui nearly collapsed with laughter. "With His Majesty's wisdom, if Zhou Ziqin becomes an imperial-appointed constable, let's see how Vice Minister Zhou can object then!"