The Golden Hairpin

Thus, both fell silent as the Wang family's residence came into distant view. They entered the gates, where the gatekeeper took their horses, and the father and son proceeded along the corridor toward the inner courtyard.

Lanterns bearing the bold, straight strokes of the character "Wang" cast a soft crimson glow on the ground, lending a touch of warmth to the otherwise desolate mansion.

Wang Lin walked slowly before halting in the night and turning to look at Wang Yun.

Uncertain of his father's intent, Wang Yun stood beneath the lantern, gazing back at him.

Wang Lin observed his son, who now stood half a head taller than himself, his expression a mix of pride and sorrow. "Yun'er... I truly never wished for your hands to be stained with blood."

Wang Yun pressed his lips together, studying his father for a long moment before replying, "I am a member of the Wang family. Whatever storms befall us, I will stand at the forefront to shield us, even at the cost of my life."

Wang Lin raised his hand and clapped his son heavily on the shoulder, sighing. "Good child... It's a pity that in this generation, you are the only one."

"Though our cousin is a woman, she is resolute and courageous. Now that she holds the position of Empress, she likely endures even greater hardships for our family," Wang Yun said.

A complex expression flickered across Wang Lin's face. After a long frown, he finally nodded. "Indeed... She is still a Wang, after all..."

Wang Yun continued, "Had A-Ruo not met with misfortune, she too would have been an outstanding Princess of Kui."

"True. The other girls of our generation are all mediocre—none as exceptional as her, the one who caught Prince Kui's eye at first glance," Wang Lin sighed. "Back when His Majesty was still the Prince of Yun, he attended a banquet at our home and was immediately captivated by your cousin. It seems that in this world, what truly draws people in is always a dazzling, extraordinary beauty."

Listening to his father's lament, Wang Yun gazed at the red lanterns hanging beneath the eaves, his thoughts involuntarily drifting to Huang Zixiao. He recalled three years ago, when she was just fourteen, and he had secretly followed her, watching that slender figure in silver-red, like a newly bloomed flower—soft and exuding an ethereal grace.

That ethereal aura made him search his memories, and in his mind, the young Huang Zixiao slowly turned her head—until, unexpectedly, her features merged with those of Yang Chonggu, becoming one and the same.

Huang Zixiao and Yang Chonggu—one a girl of thirteen or fourteen, the other a eunuch of seventeen or eighteen; one delicate, the other refined; one with fair skin, radiant with confidence in the palace gardens of old, the other frail and sallow-faced, cautious and deferential at Prince Kui's side.

—A mere palace eunuch, yet time and again, he reminded Wang Yun of Huang Zixiao. Even at their first meeting, he had felt something strange. Was it simply because, like Huang Zixiao, Yang Chonggu was skilled in solving cases, and his features bore some resemblance to those on the wanted portrait?

He had even discreetly sent someone to investigate Yang Chonggu's background, only to find his origins clear and verifiable—from the Jiucheng Palace to Prince Kui's residence, even the mark he had made upon entering the Jiucheng Palace remained—though at the time, Yang Chonggu had been illiterate, merely drawing a circle on the paper.

And then, there was the most irrefutable proof of all—Prince Kui, Li Shubai.

To question Yang Chonggu at Prince Kui's side would be no different from offending Prince Kui himself.He thought of his fiancée who had brought him such humiliation, and for a moment, his mind wandered. But then he heard his father's voice: "Yun'er, with the Wang family in such decline now, our ancestors in the underworld would surely feel ashamed... All the hopes of this generation rest on you now. Even if you can't restore the Wang family to its former glory, at the very least, you must not let our influence in the court fade away!"

Wang Yun nodded solemnly and said, "Our family currently has the empress in the palace and you, Father, in the court. We are not exactly weak."

"You're mistaken. The person with the greatest influence in both the court and the palace isn't the empress or us." Wang Lin smiled faintly, a hint of pride in his expression, and asked, "Have you forgotten? There is one person who could overturn the heavens and change dynasties. But everyone overlooks the fact that this person also bears the surname Wang."

Wang Yun lowered his head and remained silent for a long time before finally saying, "Yes."

"Soon after Wang Ruo's coffin is sent away, you must pay him a visit, lest he forgets our family." Wang Lin paused, then added, "He enjoys keeping fish. Remember to bring him a few—preferably small red ones."

"I wonder if the kitchen still has anything to eat?"

Upon returning to Prince Kui's residence, Huang Zixiao felt a sharp pang of hunger. Throughout the day, apart from a few spring rolls in the morning and a few bowls of tea at noon, she had been running around without a single grain of rice entering her stomach. Now, she was truly starving.

Clutching her stomach, she shuffled to the kitchen only to find the stove cold and deserted.

"Life is unbearable..." Huang Zixiao cursed herself for not having asked Aunt Lu earlier where things were kept, leaving her now utterly clueless about where to find food.

After much effort, she found two dry steamed buns in the cupboard. Holding one in each hand, she stuffed them into her mouth as she made her way back to the side courtyard where she lived.

When she reached the courtyard gate, she was startled to see a light on in her room. Rushing to the door, she nearly dropped the buns in her hands—

The person sitting inside, reading leisurely by lamplight, was none other than Prince Kui, Li Shubai.

Standing dumbfounded at the door, she met his gaze as he looked up and beckoned her in. Clutching the two half-eaten buns, she stepped inside and asked, "Your Highness... what brings you here so late at night?"

Without a word, he slightly tilted his chin toward a food box nearby.

Hesitantly, she lifted it and opened it to reveal its contents—

A bowl of imperial concubine porridge, a plate of honey-glazed fried dough twists, a bowl of white dragon delicacy, a serving of chopstick-head spring, and her favorites, grilled shrimp and snow babies, all still warm.

She glanced at Li Shubai, who ignored her completely, and immediately tossed aside the steamed buns. Picking up the ivory chopsticks from the box, she first placed a pair in front of him before grabbing the remaining pair for herself and spearing a piece of chopstick-head spring.

Chopstick-head spring was a recent culinary trend in the capital, made from nothing more than roasted quail. But this quail was perfectly seasoned, cooked to perfection, and paired with her ravenous hunger, she devoured two in no time. Only then did she slow down, savoring each bite properly.

Li Shubai set down his book and asked, "Any progress?"She remained silent, only taking out the half silver ingot from her bosom and placing it on the table. "Found in Jinnu's room," she said.

Li Shubai picked it up, turned it over, and examined it carefully.

On the back of the ingot were two lines of characters. The first read "Deng Yunxi Song Kuo," and the second, "Ten Taels Whole."

Huang Zixiao then retrieved the other half of the silver ingot from the drawer of the folding chair and handed it to him.

The two halves fit together seamlessly, forming a complete ingot. The inscription on the back was now fully legible: "Deputy Envoy Liang Weidong, Deng Yunxi, Song Kuo; Treasury Official Zhang Junyi; Cast Silver Twenty Taels Whole."

Li Shubai set down the reassembled ingot and looked up at her. "Where was it found?"

"Under the flower stand in her room."

"That shouldn't be," Li Shubai said with certainty.

"Indeed. Her room had already been searched by many people. Such an obvious place as the flower stand shouldn't have had any overlooked silver ingots left behind." Huang Zixiao took another sip of the imperial concubine's porridge before continuing, "So, it must have been left by Cheng Xuese, who just departed."

"Cheng Xuese?" Li Shubai finally showed some reaction. "She's come to the capital?"

"Yes, but I didn't see her. I only heard from the music academy that an exceptionally beautiful woman brought a painting to Jinnu's room. By the time I got there, she had already left."

"Missed her, then there's nothing to be done." Li Shubai frowned slightly and asked, "Why didn't Chen Nianniang inform you?"

"Perhaps because Jinnu and Cheng Xuese were very close, so she went to find Jinnu first?" Huang Zixiao mused, then added, "But Chen Nianniang should be most concerned about Yiniang's affairs. Logically, she should have brought Cheng Xuese to me immediately."

Li Shubai nodded. "Chen Nianniang is after all at the Prince of E's residence. We can go directly to her tomorrow."

"Mm. Besides that, I surveyed the area outside the music academy today and found a particular spot. It was too late to search properly today, but if we go tomorrow, we're bound to discover something."

"Seems like tomorrow will be another busy day for you," he said, noticing the dim candlelight. He closed his book, picked up the scissors from the nearby table, trimmed the curled wick, and adjusted the candle to brighten the light slightly.

Under the flickering candlelight, the quiet room fell into silence. Huang Zixiao ate her food, and when she looked up, she saw Li Shubai watching her in the warm glow of the candle. She hesitated for a moment.

Li Shubai averted his gaze and casually picked up the ivory chopsticks to select a few bean sprouts from the "snow baby" dish, placing them in his own bowl.

After a long pause, Huang Zixiao finally managed to say with difficulty, "Thank you... Your Highness, for saving me some food..."

"No need," he interrupted her, studying her for a long while before leisurely remarking, "I've always believed that a well-fed horse runs faster."

Her lips twitched slightly. "Your Highness is far-sighted."

"So, run faster tomorrow. Remember, the Wang family will soon be escorting Wang Ruo back to Langya."

"Yes..." Mentioning the Wang family reminded her of her encounter with Wang Yun tonight. She gripped her chopsticks, staring blankly at the flickering candlelight for a moment before wisely choosing not to bring it up—better to avoid unnecessary complications.

After all, it seemed like nothing more than a chance encounter unrelated to the case.