The Golden Hairpin

The cuisine at Prince Kui's residence was light and delicate, perfectly suited for summer.

The Pillow Stream Pavilion was an ideal summer dwelling. With all its doors and windows open on all sides, three sides were graced by swaying lotus flowers in the breeze, while the fourth connected to a winding bridge that led to a shaded path lined with weeping willows on the shore.

The gentle breeze carried a faint fragrance, and the entire pavilion was cool and refreshing.

Li Shubai sat alone at the table, his gaze lingering on the empty seat opposite him. Though he tried to ignore it, the absence only grew more glaring.

Silently, he motioned for the attendants to clear the table, then rose and stepped onto the winding bridge. A lotus in full bloom, unable to withstand the scorching midday sun, drooped before him. He inhaled its cool, subtle fragrance and found himself staring at it for a long while.

Jing Yu, standing behind him, heard him murmur three words under his breath—

"Second time."

Jing Yu frowned, puzzled by the meaning, when someone came rushing from the shore to report, "Princess Tongchang's residence has sent someone to summon Eunuch Yang Chonggu."

Only upon hearing the name "Yang Chonggu" did Li Shubai turn and ask, "What happened?"

"Your Highness, it seems there has been a grave incident at the princess's residence. Princess Tongchang has suddenly fallen ill with heart palpitations. The imperial physicians are attending to her, but she insists on summoning Eunuch Yang Chonggu immediately."

Li Shubai's brow furrowed slightly as he strode along the winding bridge toward the shore, instructing Jing Yu, "Prepare the carriage."

"Eunuch Yang, the prince's carriage is waiting for you at the gate..."

Huang Zixiang looked up in surprise at the gatekeeper who had come to inform her at the Defense Bureau, bewildered. "A carriage?"

"Yes. They said it's to take you to the princess's residence immediately."

Can't even enjoy a meal in peace, yet they deduct my monthly salary so strictly. Can such a superior really be called a good one?

Forcing a smile, Huang Zixiang raised a cup in farewell to her reluctant colleagues before hurrying out of the yamen. Sure enough, Prince Kui's carriage was waiting outside.

She quickly tapped on the carriage door and said, "Your Highness, I apologize for keeping you waiting. This servant deserves death."

Silence greeted her—it seemed Prince Kui had no intention of acknowledging her.

Relieved, she was about to circle around to the front and sit with Old A’Yuan on the driver's seat when a cold voice from inside the carriage stopped her in her tracks:

"You do deserve death."

Huang Zixiang sucked in a sharp breath and froze where she stood.

"As a eunuch of this household, His Majesty personally entrusted you with the responsibility of solving the strange case at the princess's residence. Yet before one wave settles, another rises. Just yesterday, someone died, and today you're carefree, drinking and feasting, clinking cups with abandon—do you truly believe you don’t deserve death?"

Her scalp prickled, and she could only stammer in response, not daring to argue.

He watched her through the carriage window. Under the blazing midday sun of midsummer, her face bore a faint flush, like a peach blossom in full bloom—an unbearably captivating sight.

That delicate flush stirred an inexplicable fire in Li Shubai, one that swiftly burned through his chest.

Around him, she had always been quiet and composed, as if her mind held nothing but grievances and case details. Even her breathing was measured, her every movement restrained and proper. Yet when she wasn’t by his side, she lived so vibrantly—playing polo with men, drinking and laughing among them. He didn’t need to see it to imagine her calling them brothers, indulging in unrestrained joy—

Completely forgetting she was a woman, completely discarding the quiet restraint she showed in his presence.

And the moment her colors shone brightest would never be revealed to him.The flame in his heart burned fiercely in Li Shubai's chest. For a moment, he forgot he was the ever-composed Prince Kui. He stood up, kicked open the carriage door, and stood atop it looking down at her, his voice low and slightly hoarse: "Get up here!"

Huang Zixiang looked up at him, at his sharply defined silhouette against the backlight, his hawk-like piercing eyes. For some reason, an inexplicable fear welled up in her heart, making her breath catch unconsciously, too afraid to respond.

"Everyone in Chang'an knows Prince Kui is always composed, never showing emotions. Why is Your Highness angry at a mere eunuch today?"

A teasing voice came from behind, seemingly oblivious to the tension between the two. Wang Yun, smiling broadly and lightly waving the folding fan Huang Zixiang had returned to him earlier, bowed slightly to Li Shubai: "Today marks the first day of Yang Gonggong's friend joining our department. Yang Gonggong values friendship deeply, and many of our brothers greatly admire him. That's why I invited him here. I trust Your Highness won't blame us for persuading Yang Gonggong to drink a few extra cups?"

Seeing Wang Yun personally come out, Li Shubai couldn't outright reject his goodwill. He only said, "Her personal affairs are none of my concern. But today, there's an issue with the case she's handling that requires immediate attention, or it might cause delays."

Wang Yun smiled at Huang Zixiang: "Go ahead then. Once this case is solved, the brothers from the Defense Department will treat you to a celebration feast."

Li Shubai glanced at him and signaled Huang Zixiang to move to the front and sit with A Yuanbo.

Huang Zixiang let out a relieved sigh, nodded to Wang Yun, then hurried to the front and jumped onto the carriage beside A Yuanbo.

Wang Yun watched her leave with a smile. Behind him, Zhou Ziqin rushed out, asking, "Chonggu went to the princess's residence? Did something happen? Why wasn't I taken along?"

"What would you do there? Isn't following Chonggu around every day enough?" Wang Yun tossed back before turning to leave.

Zhou Ziqin was baffled by his remark: "What's wrong with following Chonggu? With him, there are always mysteries and corpses—such great resources. Who else should I follow?"

Wang Yun looked up at the sky speechlessly: "Let's go."

Early afternoon.

The staff at Princess Tongchang's residence stood trembling outside the high platform, not daring to enter. The crowd huddled together, careful not to make a sound.

Li Shubai led Huang Zixiang up the platform step by step. Seeing him arrive, everyone sighed in relief and quickly bowed in greeting.

Huang Zixiang noticed Chui Zhu standing at the front of the crowd, her face anxious and eyes darting nervously. She asked, "What happened to the princess?"

Seeing her, Chui Zhu quickly lowered her head and said, "The princess's Nine Phoenix Hairpin... is missing."

Missing. Princess Tongchang's dream had come true—the hairpin she treasured most had indeed disappeared.

Huang Zixiang frowned slightly. Seeing Li Shubai had already gone inside, she nodded at Chui Zhu and hurried after him.

The golden-threaded bamboo curtain had been lowered, casting the small pavilion in dim light. In the half-light, they saw Princess Tongchang reclining on the couch, with Consort Guo sitting beside her, gently waving a white round fan.Princess Tongchang was dressed in a white gauze robe, her long hair cascading like black silk across the couch. The black was inky dark, the white pure as snow, and her frail, sickly state lent her face a delicate vulnerability, making her appear far more pitiable and endearing than usual.

Yet when Huang Zixia saw the person seated before the princess, her chest tightened faintly, and she suddenly understood the reason for the princess's captivating aura.

Yu Xuan.

The dim light in the chamber could not obscure the noble air that radiated from him. He sat upright before Princess Tongchang, his posture poised yet relaxed. His impeccable bearing and clear, luminous features exuded a cool, subtle brilliance, like the glow of a waning moon.

His voice was gentle and serene, like the soft chime of jade pieces echoing in icy water, as he explained to Princess Tongchang, "Originally, the qin had five strings representing the five notes—gong, shang, jiao, zhi, and yu—each symbolizing the ruler, ministers, people, affairs, and objects. Later, King Wen and King Wu of Zhou each added another string, forming the seven-stringed qin..."

His voice, soft and clear, seemed to dispel the summer heat. Not only was Princess Tongchang gazing at him, but even Consort Guo had set aside her silk fan, listening intently.

Li Shubai stood at the entrance of the pavilion, studying Yu Xuan. After a long moment, he turned his gaze to Huang Zixia. Seeing her standing silently with her head bowed, her face devoid of any expression, he finally withdrew his gaze and gave a light cough.

Princess Tongchang noticed him and straightened up, rising from the couch to bow. "Fourth Uncle."

Yu Xuan stood and stepped aside, silent.

"There's no need for formalities in your condition," Li Shubai said to Princess Tongchang. Consort Guo helped her up and said, "We are honored by Prince Kui's visit today. Tongchang is truly fortunate."

Princess Tongchang, however, looked at Huang Zixia and said, "Eunuch Yang, my Nine Phoenix Hairpin is truly lost! What... what should we do?"

She was evidently still shaken by her nightmare, clutching her chest as she panted slightly, her eyes filled with deep fear.

Huang Zixia quickly asked, "How exactly was the hairpin lost? Could Your Highness describe the details for me?"

As a consort, it was improper for Consort Guo to remain in the same room as a prince, so she sighed and signaled for Yu Xuan to withdraw. Without a word, Yu Xuan quietly took the book and followed Consort Guo out of the pavilion.

Li Shubai sat nearby, idly flipping through the Rites of Zhou left on the bedside table, half-listening as Princess Tongchang recounted the circumstances of the hairpin's disappearance.

Beside the book sat a small porcelain dog, about two inches tall. Though everything in the princess's residence was exquisitely luxurious, this little dog stood out starkly from the gold and jade treasures. Small and adorably clumsy, it was clearly a common trinket from the marketplace, albeit finely crafted.

As he studied the porcelain dog, he heard Princess Tongchang say to Huang Zixia, "After I had that nightmare a few days ago, and you promised yesterday to look into the matter, I entrusted the Nine Phoenix Hairpin to my maids, instructing them to guard it carefully..."

Princess Tongchang had barely spoken these words before her breath grew labored. She leaned back against the couch, her breathing erratic, pressing a hand to her chest as she struggled to speak.

Huang Zixia hurriedly patted her back and called out, "Someone, come quickly!"Footsteps hurried in as Chui Zhu, Luo Pei, and several other close attendants rushed in. They quickly helped Princess Tongchang catch her breath. Chui Zhu swiftly took out a small bottle from her bosom, poured out a pill, and gave it to the princess. She continuously patted the princess's back until her breathing steadied, only then letting out a sigh of relief.

Beads of sweat formed on Chui Zhu's forehead, but she didn’t bother to wipe them. Instead, she immediately stood up to fetch tea from the side. Noticing Huang Zixiang observing Chui Zhu, Princess Tongchang weakly raised her hand to point at her and whispered, "You see, with Wei Ximin gone, among all the people around me, Chui Zhu is the most capable... It’s a pity she’s about to be married off. Who will be so devoted in the future?"

Chui Zhu promptly knelt and said, "If the princess commands it, Chui Zhu would rather serve you for life and never leave!"

"Go on, I don’t even know how long I’ll live," the princess replied, turning to look at Li Shubai and Huang Zixiang with a bitter smile. "Fourth Uncle, I’ll have to let Luo Pei take you to investigate. Your niece is in no condition to assist."

"Rest well. You’ve had this illness since childhood, and overthinking is the worst for you," Li Shubai said.

Chui Zhu remained kneeling by the princess’s bed, retrieving a key from the small drawer at the bedside and handing it to Luo Pei. Without rising, she gently wiped the princess’s sweat with a cloth.

Huang Zixiang followed Luo Pei out of the chamber and asked, "Where was the Nine Phoenix Hairpin lost?"

"In the adjacent side room," Luo Pei replied, leading them to a locked room nearby. Two eunuchs stood guard outside and opened the door upon seeing Luo Pei, allowing them to enter.