The Golden Hairpin

Under Luopei's guidance, Huang Zixiao headed to the kitchen in search of Changpu.

Changpu was still planning the next day's menu for the household, instructing several cooks and servants: "The princess is unwell, so the dishes must be light. Reduce the portions of chicken, duck, fish, and meat, but ensure there are four types of blood-nourishing and qi-boosting dishes—I mentioned the other day that the princess likes wolfberry sprouts, so why haven’t you gone to buy them yet?"

The servants murmured in agreement, though one grumbled, "Wolfberry sprouts are best in season. Now they’re old and tough, hard to find at short notice."

Changpu sighed and slapped the table. "I don’t care. If the princess wants something, you’d better get it, or tomorrow I’ll skin every one of you alive!"

Luopei called from outside, "Aunt Changpu."

Turning and seeing them, Changpu waved the others away and stood up, forcing a smile. "Eunuch Yang, do you need something from me again?"

Huang Zixiao entered and sat across from her. "Last time, I came to ask you a few questions. Now I have one or two more doubts—would you mind clarifying them for me?"

Changpu looked exasperated. "Still about Wei Ximin? I really wasn’t there that day. I only argued with him once, and I wasn’t the only one in the household who quarreled with him. Last month, Zhuiyu had a huge fight with him—"

"No, I’m not here about that."

"Then... what is it you’d like to ask this time?"

Huang Zixiao met her gaze directly. "Aunt Changpu, could you tell me again, from start to finish, the origin of that Lingling incense you mentioned last time?"

Changpu was stunned. "What does that Lingling incense have to do with anything?"

"I can’t say. I’m only here under orders from Assistant Minister Cui of the Dali Temple," Huang Zixiao replied with bureaucratic formality.

Changpu had no choice but to lower her head. "It... it was given to me by someone outside the princess’s residence."

"Who was it?" Huang Zixiao pressed.

Changpu bit her lip but finally admitted, "The owner of Qian’s Carriage and Horse Shop—Qian Guansuo."

Huang Zixiao hadn’t expected the short, stout shop owner Qian Guansuo to be connected to the princess’s cook. Her brows furrowed instantly.

Wei Ximin had argued with Changpu over the Lingling incense; in the room where Sun Laizi died, Wang Yun had caught a whiff of Lingling incense; Qian Guansuo happened to be the one who broke down the door to Sun Laizi’s room—and he was also the one who had sold the black horse that caused the prince consort’s fall...

How were all these things connected? What was the invisible thread tying them together?

She asked, "Aunt Changpu, forgive me for prying into your personal affairs, but you’re in charge of the princess’s kitchen, while Qian Guansuo runs a carriage and horse shop. The two seem unrelated..."

"Yes... we only met earlier this year." She lowered her head, tracing idle patterns on the table, her expression both lost and bashful. "His crew was repairing the drainage system in the princess’s residence at the time. Since the kitchen had the most pipes, I discussed the layout with him, and that’s how we got acquainted. He... well, he’s a bit fat and short, but he’s a good man. Once, when they were working here, I accidentally stepped into mud, and he fetched water to clean my shoes before returning them to me."

Seeing the faint blush on her face, Huang Zixiao couldn’t help but remind her, "At his age, Qian Guansuo must already have a wife and children."

"Yes, he has a wife, a concubine, and three sons."Huang Zixiang didn't press further and only asked, "So Merchant Qian gave you the lingling incense, which you then presented to the princess, only for her to bestow it upon Wei Ximin?"

"Exactly! And that greedy Wei Ximin—thinking I must have kept some for myself—came demanding more. When I said I had none, he actually asked for Merchant Qian's address, saying... saying he'd go get it from my 'lover' instead!" Changpu's face flushed with anger as she recounted this. "What nonsense! Anyone hearing this would think there was something between me and Merchant Qian!"

"Aunt Changpu, don't be too upset. Actually... I think Eunuch Wei's assumption wasn't entirely unfounded," Huang Zixiang explained. "Lingling incense is extremely precious. Who would expect Merchant Qian to be so generous as to give you such a valuable gift?"

"Nonsense! I've helped him so many times, and I took risks myself..." She suddenly choked on her words, as if realizing she shouldn't have spoken of this. But the words were already out, and she could only sit there in frustration, falling silent.

Huang Zixiang gazed into her eyes without speaking, her stare unrelenting.

Under that gaze, Changpu sighed and reluctantly continued, "Merchant Qian once told me that he had a daughter in his early years, who would be about seventeen or eighteen now if she were still alive. Back then, when he fled famine with his wife and children to the outskirts of Chang'an, the family was starving and freezing. With no other choice, he sold his eldest daughter—just seven years old at the time—for five strings of coins. That money kept his family alive, and he started his business selling fodder. Later, he met a benefactor who connected him with several large horse farms beyond the pass. Now his business has flourished, and his three sons have grown up, but... he said the one he owed the most in this life was his daughter, whom he feared he'd never find again."

Huang Zixiang nodded and asked, "He should have gone to the Ministry of Revenue for such matters. Why come to you?"

"The buyer of his daughter back then was a eunuch, supposedly sent from the palace to procure maids. He figured his daughter was either in the palace or in one of the royal mansions. But as a mere merchant, what connections could he have with the palace or noble households? I, at least, belong to the princess's household and can speak with some of her attendants. They sometimes visit the palace or other royal residences and might be able to gather some information. It was a slim hope, but still a path forward."

"You must have helped him inquire, given your kind nature?"

Changpu's expression turned oddly awkward. "This matter... it's quite a coincidence. He was searching for his daughter, and as it turned out... she was right here in the princess's household."

Huang Zixiang was equally surprised. Among the palace, noble households, and princess's residence, maids and attendants numbered in the tens of thousands. What were the odds that the very person he sought through the princess's household would be found there? It was far too coincidental.

"Perhaps... his sincerity moved fate, and this was destined to happen," Changpu said.

"So, who is his daughter in the princess's household?"

Changpu's expression grew even stranger, her eyes shifting uneasily before she finally said, "I think... it might be Chui Zhu."

"Chui Zhu? How was this determined?""Oh... Chui Zhu is seventeen this year. She was bought into the palace at seven. Her family... reportedly had two younger brothers, and there's a... mark on her right wrist that matches exactly what Merchant Qian described."

"Two younger brothers?"

"Yes. Merchant Qian has three sons—one was born only after he prospered from selling his daughter."

"What an incredible coincidence. Merchant Qian must be overjoyed?"

"Indeed, it's like a blessing from heaven. I'm genuinely happy for them. But Eunuch Yang, I must beg you to keep this confidential. Unless absolutely necessary, don't mention it to anyone." Changpu sighed and added, "After all, I accepted bribes privately and helped someone behind Princess's back. By the rules, I could be expelled from the princess's household."

"Don't worry, Auntie. This is you doing a good deed. As long as it's unrelated to the case, I won't breathe a word!" Huang Zixiang assured her.

Changpu nodded, though her expression remained troubled.

After a moment's thought, Huang Zixiang asked, "Auntie, you were originally part of the consort's household, weren't you?"

Changpu quickly replied, "Ah, we're all part of the princess's household now. There's no 'this side or that side' anymore."

"That's not what I meant," Huang Zixiang said with a smile. "I just thought your name is quite elegant, and I've heard there are others like Doukou and Yuanwei in the household. I assumed you were all part of the same group of sisters."

"Yes, the few of us are around the same age. We've been serving in the consort's chambers since he was very young. Thanks to Madam's favor, I oversee meals, Yuanwei manages daily affairs, and Yuzhu handles books and stationery... Those were good times."

"What about Doukou?" she asked.

At the mention of Doukou, Changpu's face clouded with sorrow. "Doukou was a bit more distant from us. She was the first to serve the consort—she was thirteen when he was three or four. This year, she would have been... thirty-three."

"Where is she now?"

"Just last month, she... drowned in Zhijin Garden."

Huang Zixiang immediately recalled Chui Zhu's mention of the ghostly rumors surrounding Zhijin Garden. Tentatively, she asked Changpu, "I heard the princess sealed off Zhijin Garden?"

"Yes... After Doukou's death, people claimed to hear weeping there at midnight. Even Daoist rites couldn't dispel it, so the princess ordered the garden closed permanently."

"Was the weeping voice male or female?" Huang Zixiang pressed.

"I wouldn't know. The princess said she heard it, and if she says so, how could it be wrong?"

Huang Zixiang nodded. "Then... did Doukou live there before?"

Changpu shook her head. "No, she lived in Suwei Garden. When the consort married, the master and mistress originally wanted to arrange a good marriage for Doukou, but the consort insisted he was used to her care and brought her along. Later, she managed Suwei Garden where he lived. I was swamped in the kitchens, Yuanwei had it easier but still supervised over a dozen embroiderers daily, and Yuzhu was busy in the study. The four of us each had our duties and rarely spoke. When I suddenly heard Doukou had died, I was heartbroken. I asked Yuanwei and the others, but they knew nothing either. Some in the household speculated the garden's ghosts must have lured her in—otherwise, why would she die there when Suwei Garden isn't even close to Zhijin Garden?"Huang Zixiang pondered for a moment and asked, "So... the imperial son-in-law had deep affection for Doudou?"

"Yes, Doudou was ten years older than the imperial son-in-law and had cared for him since childhood, so he always held her in great respect and affection. Sometimes even the madam would joke that Doudou, having been by his side for so many years, was closer to him than she was as his mother."

Huang Zixiang nodded and said, "I see."

Seeing that she had no further questions, Changpu turned back to the account book and began checking the records again.

Noticing that her abacus finger movements were slightly sluggish, Huang Zixiang realized her presence was making the other woman uncomfortable. She stood up and said, "In that case, I shall take my leave now, auntie."

"Take care on your way, sir," Changpu replied, visibly relieved, then added perfunctorily, "Would you like to stay for dinner? I can have them prepare some dishes you like."

"No need. Prince Kui is waiting for me at the imperial son-in-law's residence."