The Golden Hairpin

In the Tang Dynasty's Chang'an, there were two outer music schools. The western outer music school, located in Guangzhai Fang, housed musicians skilled in instruments like the pipa and qin, not far from Yongjia Fang where Prince Kui's residence stood.

Huang Zixiang hurried to the music school. As it was a gathering place for musicians and dancers, an old woman sat at the entrance cracking melon seeds. Seeing Huang approach, the woman raised her hand to stop her, "Young eunuch, who are you looking for?"

Huang Zixiang quickly bowed and said, "Excuse me, granny, I need to go inside to find Jinnu."

"Oh, what a coincidence! One person comes looking for Jinnu, and now another," the old woman remarked, brushing off melon seed shells from her clothes as she stood up. "You're not here to retrieve something you lent Jinnu, now that you've heard she's run off with someone, are you?"

Huang Zixiang let out a surprised "Huh?" and asked, "Someone came before me?"

"Indeed, a girl as beautiful as a celestial maiden—I've never seen another like her in all my years," the old woman rambled on. "Her features, her figure—even the most exquisite painted beauties couldn't compare to her radiance and liveliness."

"Do you know her name, granny?" Huang Zixiang pressed.

"No idea. But unlike you, a little eunuch with just empty words, she had a letter Jinnu wrote to her years ago. This old woman can read, you know!"

Seeing the old woman had no intention of letting her in, Huang Zixiang smiled ingratiatingly and pulled out some silver from her purse. "Granny, you see... I'm here on orders. Our prince gave Jinnu something extremely important, and now that he's heard she's run away, he's furious. If I don't retrieve it, he'll have me beaten out of the palace!"

"Oh dear, that won't do. This old woman has a kind heart and can't bear to see others suffer." The moment the silver ingot landed in her hand, the old woman beamed. "Come, I'll show you Jinnu's room—third one on the east side of the second lane. We'll be locking up in less than an hour, so hurry."

Huang Zixiang nodded with a smile and rushed to the third room on the east side of the second lane. To her surprise, the door was wide open, with two young maids chatting outside.

Huang Zixiang approached them and asked, "Excuse me, where is that fairy-like young lady who was here earlier?"

The two maids turned to look at her, eyeing her eunuch attire before giggling. "Oh, who do you serve? Are you from the Inner Music School or one of the princely households?"

"My prince left something with Jinnu, and now that she's gone, he sent me to retrieve it. Though it's not particularly valuable, it holds sentimental value to him..." Huang Zixiang said earnestly. "I heard an exceptionally beautiful young lady came earlier?"

"Indeed! Jinnu was quite pretty herself, but who knew she had such a stunning younger sister?" the maid on the left said, peering inside before pouting. "She said she was just going out to buy some sundries—why isn't she back yet?"

"Right, I was looking forward to seeing that painting of hers," the other maid frowned.

Huang Zixiang asked in surprise, "What painting?""That's the one, the legendary Six Maidens or something. It's said a few musicians and dancers in Yangzhou gained insights into music and dance from it, eventually becoming legends themselves."

Huang Zixiao couldn't help but laugh: "The Six Maidens of Yunshao?"

"Yes, yes! You know about it too? But you're just a little eunuch—what would you gain from contemplating that painting? You don't study music or dance."

"..." Huang Zixiao was speechless, wondering where such strange rumors originated. She suspected the beautiful woman who brought the painting must be Cheng Xuese and was surprised that Chen Nianniang hadn't come to find her immediately with her.

The two maids waited a while longer, but when the person still hadn't returned, they clamored to leave. Huang Zixiao asked them, "Can I go into Jinnu's room?"

"Of course! When she left, she probably took all her valuables and important things. Whatever remained was snatched up by people in the troupe, each claiming they were just keeping it safe for her. But let's be honest—they all pocketed it for themselves. I doubt there's anything left in there now."

"Even so, it's worth a try," Huang Zixiao said, bidding them farewell before stepping inside and looking around.

Jinnu's room was elegantly furnished, with rose-red gauze covering the latticed windows and a beaded curtain separating the inner chamber from the outer hall. The main entrance led to a small sitting area, where light from outside filtered through the floral-patterned windows—lanterns had already been lit in the troupe's quarters.

Beneath the window stood a small table and a daybed. On the table were a few trinkets and a white porcelain vase holding two pomegranate branches, now withered, their petals and leaves scattered across the surface.

She sat on a nearby stool, pondering the case while waiting for Cheng Xuese.

As the sky darkened, the lantern light from outside grew brighter. Cheng Xuese still hadn't returned.

Huang Zixiao finally grew impatient and decided to start searching. She stood up and went to the wardrobe, opening it under the glow from outside.

Just as the maids had said, the good items inside seemed to have been taken, leaving only a few clothes tossed about in disarray. She checked the tables, chairs, and bed but found nothing. The girl everyone had mentioned entering earlier must have taken whatever she came for and left.

Lost in thought, she paced the room, her gaze sweeping every corner until she finally spotted a tiny glimmer in one shadowy nook—a faint reflection catching the light from outside.

She crouched down and reached beneath the corner flower stand, retrieving the reflective object.

Half a silver ingot.

It was roughly the same size as the fragment found in Yongchun Hall, and the cut and luster suggested it could perfectly match the other half.

She tucked the ingot into her robe and carefully searched the room once more to ensure nothing else was overlooked before stepping out and closing the door behind her.

Exiting the troupe quarters just before they closed for the night, Huang Zixiao stood alone in Guangzhai Ward, surveying her surroundings. The curfew was approaching, and Chang'an had fallen silent—no carriages for hire in sight.

With a resigned sigh, she set off on foot toward Prince Kui's residence.

The city of Chang'an lay in hushed stillness, broken only by the distant drumbeats from the bell tower, marking the closing of the gates at nightfall. She quickened her pace, her footsteps echoing through the quiet streets. Guangzhai Ward, located north near the Daming and Taiji Palaces, was far from lively—her solitary footfalls seemed to reverberate endlessly in the empty night.From behind came a sharp demand, "Who goes there? What business keeps you out so late?"

Huang Zixiang turned to see the capital patrol catching up and explained, "I'm a eunuch from Prince Kui's residence. I was delayed by some matters and am now hurrying back."

Upon hearing it was Prince Kui's household, their attitude noticeably softened. "Do you have any official documentation?" one asked.

"No need for papers. I know him—he's Yang Chonggu, the eunuch from Prince Kui's residence," someone spoke up from behind.

Hearing the voice, Huang Zixiang couldn't help but sigh inwardly before turning to bow respectfully. "Captain Wang."

Wang Yun, the Right Captain of the Capital Defense Bureau, was dutifully patrolling the area tonight.

Mounted on his horse, Wang Yun looked down at her without any hint of arrogance. Instead, his expression was gentle, his voice soft and unhurried. "Eunuch Yang, I saw you idly gazing at the sky outside the prince's residence this afternoon. What kept you busy until so late tonight?"

"Well... I misjudged my walking speed and thought I could make it back before curfew." It seemed she had lingered too long in Jinnu's room.

Wang Yun nodded, signaling the other patrol guards to continue their predetermined route through other streets. Then he patted his horse's flank and said, "Hop on. I'll take you back to the residence."

"Ah... that won't be necessary, my lord. You're occupied with official duties—I couldn't possibly trouble you like this," she replied stiffly with a bow before quickly striding ahead.

The soft clop of hooves followed as Wang Yun's horse caught up again.

She glanced back at him. Gazing straight ahead, he said mildly, "The capital hasn't been peaceful lately. I'll walk with you."

"Thank you... Captain Wang," she forced out the words before falling silent.

The long street lay quiet, the lamps at each ward's corner glowing steadily in the night. Occasionally, a breeze would make the candle flames tremble slightly, causing Chang'an's countless lights to appear as if flowing with the wind—brightening and dimming like rippling water, enveloping the entire city.

They walked toward Prince Kui's residence—Wang Yun on horseback, Huang Zixiang keeping to the street side. His well-trained steed matched her pace perfectly, maintaining a parallel rhythm with unhurried steps.

They traversed the undulating sea of lights along Chang'an's straight, broad avenues. The world's most prosperous city shone brilliantly, its countless towers and pavilions illuminated against the night.

Yongjia Ward, where nobles and officials gathered, occasionally sent faint strains of music their way on the breeze. A songstress's sweet, delicate voice carried snippets of melody through the darkness—

"Beyond the beaded curtain, wutong shadows fall,

Autumn frost approaches—my hands know first of all."

Huang Zixiang was walking in distracted silence when Wang Yun suddenly remarked with amusement, "Summer hasn't even arrived, yet autumn frost comes early."

She blinked, realizing he was referring to the songstress's lyrics.

"When meaning aligns, external things matter little," she replied.

He glanced at her profile and nodded. "True. I'm too constrained by surfaces."

Having broken the silence, Huang Zixiang ventured another question. "Miss Wang's coffin will soon be returned to Langya. You must be quite busy lately, Captain. Why are you on night patrol today?""There are so many people in the household. As long as things are properly arranged, someone will naturally take care of the tasks—no need to keep a constant watch." As he spoke, he raised his eyes to gaze at the night before him and added, "Besides, I love Chang'an's nightscape. Compared to the day, it appears serene and profound. The buildings stand like jade towers and palaces, yet the scenery hidden within remains impossible to fully discern, no matter how one tries."

"Being immersed in it, one naturally loses perspective. Stepping back is all it takes."

He smiled faintly at her. "Eunuch Yang is right. An outsider always sees things clearly."

The distant and nearby lights blurred hazily, casting his smile in a way that seemed to carry meanings unknown to her.

Huang Zifang felt her teeth ache with tension. This Wang Yun—treating a mere eunuch like her in such a manner—was absolutely suspicious.

But had he recognized her, or was he merely doubtful? If she needed to be cautious from now on, where should she start?

She lowered her head, not daring to meet his gaze again, and said only, "I’m almost there, Lord Wang. Please turn back."

"Hmm, next time, don’t forget the hour and linger outside for too long."

He reined in his horse at the center of the street, watching as she walked away.

Huang Zifang hurried to the side gate at the northwest corner of Prince Kui’s residence, knocked, and entered. As she closed the gate, she glanced back at Wang Yun.

He remained on horseback, watching her, his expression as warm as a spring breeze beneath the night and the glow of lanterns.

It was unclear how long he had lingered there when another rider approached slowly from behind and asked, "Yun'er, when are you returning? There’s still much to attend to at home."

"Right away." Wang Yun turned his horse and followed him home, asking, "Father, why did you come out personally today?"

Wang Lin sighed. "The Empress summoned me urgently—how could I refuse?"

Wang Yun nodded silently, and the two rode home side by side at a leisurely pace.

"Did you finish what I asked you to handle?"

"It’s done," he replied calmly. "Used medicine to dissolve some flesh and blood. No one should be able to recognize it now."

"Did you do it yourself?"

"Of course not. I found someone reliable."

"Reliable?" Wang Lin said coldly. "In this world, only the dead can truly be called reliable."

"Understood. I’ll find an opportunity later."