The Golden Hairpin

The spring banquet lasted until the setting sun painted the sky red before the guests dispersed from the palace.

Huang Zixiang followed the carriage out of the palace gates, just beginning to relax when Li Shubai lifted the carriage curtain and called to her, "Get in."

With no choice, she climbed aboard, only to find his gaze sweeping over her briefly before turning toward the window. Through the intricately carved cloud and bat-adorned lattice, she watched the unremarkable street scenes drift slowly past.

Still looking outside, he said abruptly, "I want to hear about your family’s case now."

Huang Zixiang froze for a moment before asking softly, "Is Your Highness truly willing to look into this case?"

"Do you think I would go back on my word?" His expression was indifferent, as if to say, Speak or don’t, it’s up to you.

She bit her lower lip and, after a long pause, sat on the low stool opposite him. Hesitantly, she began, "It all started the day before the tragedy. The weather was clear that day, and the plum blossoms in our garden were in full bloom. Yu Xuan and I walked through the snow, picking plum branches—it was a rare, beautiful winter day..."

Li Shubai continued watching the passing scenery and asked, "Who is Yu Xuan?"

"He... was an orphan my father took in after moving to Shu Commandery. He passed the imperial examinations at eighteen and was granted a small residence by the local authorities, but he still often visited my parents."

His gaze shifted back to her, noticing the subtle change in her expression. Her face, pale from long hardship and worry, faintly flushed with a barely perceptible warmth, transforming her entirely.

Yu Xuan—a man who grew up with her, childhood sweethearts.

Li Shubai turned his eyes back to the window, his expression as calm as ever, merely uttering a quiet, "Hmm."

Relieved that he didn’t press further, Huang Zixiang took a deep breath and continued recounting that day—months past yet still seared into her heart.

That morning, a light snow had fallen, and after the skies cleared, the white snow set off the red plum blossoms, turning the world into a crystalline, radiant paradise.

Holding an armful of plum branches, Huang Zixiang smiled brightly as she showed them to Yu Xuan beside her. He said, "The other day, I saw a pair of celadon-glazed plum vases in the market. I thought they would look perfect in your room, so I bought them. I forgot to bring them today, but I’ll have them delivered this afternoon."

She nodded with a smile. Amid such beauty, they stood hand in hand, but the idyllic winter day was soon disrupted by the arrival of two visitors.

Her father entered with her grandmother and uncle. With a delighted cry, she tossed the plum blossoms to Yu Xuan and rushed to embrace her grandmother.

Doted on by her grandmother since childhood, she was especially close to her. Seeing this, Yu Xuan excused himself. Her grandmother watched him leave with a smile, but Huang Zixiang caught her soft sigh.

Hand in hand, grandmother and granddaughter went to her mother’s chambers. Her mother smiled and said, "Your grandmother and uncle have come to discuss your marriage."

Marriage. Huang Zixiang silently let go of her grandmother’s hand and sat in silence. Her grandmother patted her hand helplessly and said, "The Wang family is an esteemed lineage, and Wang Yun is the eldest grandson of the main branch. Your father has met him and always praised his appearance and character as exceptional. Marrying him would ensure a smooth and happy life."Her mother looked at Huang Zixia with concern and whispered to her grandmother, "Mother, you don’t know what’s on this girl’s mind. She gets upset whenever we mention the Wang family."

"Little girls are just shy," her grandmother chuckled.

Huang Zixia held her breath, about to defend herself, when the maids came in to announce dinner. The family moved to the outer room to eat. Her uncle, Huang Jun, grinned at her and said, "Zixia, once you’re married, you can’t be this late for meals. You’ll have to serve your in-laws first."

Her father laughed. "Wang Yun is alone in the capital—who would she serve? Even after marrying in spring, Zixia’s life won’t change much from home."

Huang Zixia froze, setting down her bowl. "Spring?"

Her mother quickly shot her father a warning glance and said, "Yes, your grandmother and uncle came to discuss whether you should marry next spring. Coincidentally, the Wang family feels the same way..."

"So you’ve already decided, haven’t you?" Huang Zixia stood up, trembling with anger. "Father, Mother, I begged you to break off this engagement with the Wang family, but you... you’re still forcing me to marry into their household!"

"This is absurd," Huang Jun snapped, his face darkening as he set down his chopsticks. He had already settled matters with the Wang family. "The Langya Wangs are a prestigious clan—both of the emperor’s empresses came from their lineage. Do you think you can just reject this marriage? Marrying into their family is a blessing from our ancestors! You should be preparing your dowry instead of making a scene."

Her father sighed. "Zixia, this engagement was arranged by your grandfather when he was still chancellor. Our family has declined since then, yet the Wangs haven’t slighted us. It’s clear they genuinely want you. Wang Yun is an outstanding match—his character and appearance are unmatched. You won’t find anyone better."

"But I love someone else, not him!"

Her brother, Huang Yan, who had been silently eating, finally looked up and added fuel to the fire. "Oh? If you disdain the Wang family so much, maybe you’ll call off the wedding after you’ve gotten us all killed."

A chill shot through Huang Zixia’s head. She slammed her bowl down, but her shaking hands couldn’t hold it steady. The soup bowl tipped over, rolled off the table, and shattered on the floor.

Soup splashed onto her grandmother’s skirt. The old woman stood up with a sigh, calling for the maids to clean up. "Child, your temper is getting worse."

Huang Zixia’s eyes burned with unshed tears. Covering her face, she fled to her room and sobbed uncontrollably. She didn’t know how long she cried before gentle hands rested on her shoulders. Her mother’s soft voice murmured, "Zixia, don’t be so stubborn. Your father and I are still discussing this. If you truly oppose it, we won’t force you. Even if it means offending the Wang family, we won’t let you suffer."

Tearfully, Huang Zixia turned to her mother, seeing only a helpless smile through her blurred vision. "First, go apologize to your grandmother and uncle. Family matters should be discussed calmly."

"But... going back now... it’s so embarrassing," she choked out between sobs."Go to the kitchen and bring another dish. Didn’t we make your grandmother’s favorite lamb trotter soup tonight? Go on, come back and serve everyone a bowl. Apologize for your earlier attitude, and the family will help you figure things out."

She nodded, wiped her tears, and went to the kitchen. She personally carried the bowl of lamb trotter soup to the dining table and served each person a portion. Yet, only she had been crying earlier, her throat tight with emotion. The soup also had a gamey taste she disliked, so she only drank half a bowl of almond milk.

That night, her entire family died from poisoning—the fatal arsenic was in the lamb trotter soup she had personally brought and served to each of them.

The twilight deepened as they traveled, arriving just as the lanterns of Chang’an began to light up the evening.

Li Shubai listened in silence until she finished speaking, then slowly said, "But even so, this doesn’t prove you poisoned your family. Couldn’t someone else have had access to that bowl of lamb trotter soup?"

"No," Huang Ziguang replied softly but clearly. "The lamb was sent the day before by the Granary Clerk’s office. That afternoon, because my grandmother and uncle had arrived, the kitchen slaughtered the lamb and prepared braised lamb, lamb soup, and lamb trotter soup."

None of the other dishes had any issues. Even the lamb trotter soup, because so much had been made, was shared among the servants after Huang Ziguang had taken a large bowl for the family—none of them fell ill. Only the portion she had personally ladled, carried to the dining hall, and served to everyone had leftovers after the meal. The kitchen staff, too lazy to deal with it properly, simply locked the remaining soup in the kitchen cabinet. When the tragedy was discovered the next morning, the cabinet remained unopened. Under the watchful eyes of the constables, the head cook, Lu, opened the cabinet and retrieved the bowl from the night before. A simple test confirmed it was this very bowl that had been laced with arsenic.

"Could someone have poisoned the bowl after it was served?"

"No. At the time, I was worried my hands weren’t clean, so I rinsed the bowl before using it. And there’s one more thing..." Huang Ziguang hesitated before continuing, "An empty packet that had contained arsenic was found in my room."

"You purchased arsenic?"

"Yes, from Guiren Hall, the most renowned pharmacy in Shu Commandery. The officials checked their records—my signature was clearly there, confirming the purchase."

"Why did you buy arsenic?" Li Shubai asked.

"I..." She hesitated. "Earlier, while reading with Yu Xuan, we came across a folk remedy in one of the books. It claimed three qian of hookvine juice could counteract half a liang of arsenic. I didn’t believe it, so we made a bet... Since I had previously assisted the authorities in cases involving poison, the task of purchasing arsenic fell to me, while Yu Xuan was to gather hookvine from the mountains. We planned to test it on the vicious dogs next door that kept biting people."

"Had you made such bets before?"

"More than once or twice."

"Did you explain this?"

"I did. Yu Xuan corroborated my story, but it was dismissed as an excuse."

Li Shubai raised an eyebrow slightly. "Where is this Yu Xuan now?"

Huang Ziguang remained silent for a long time before finally saying, "He had no opportunity to act. After leaving my house that day, he went to the academy to debate with friends. He returned home in the evening and didn’t leave again until he received news of my parents’ deaths.""So it seems the evidence of your murderous act is clear for all to see," Li Shubai said leisurely.

"Yes, the only possible opportunity to administer the poison was during the short walk from the kitchen to the hall while I carried that bowl of lamb trotter soup. Moreover, I had purchased arsenic, and there was... what they call motive."

Li Shubai nodded and said slowly, "From this perspective, you do appear to be the only possible murderer of your parents. Overturning this case will indeed be difficult."

She sat across from Li Shubai, gazing at the intricate brocade patterns inside the carriage, where golden threads meticulously outlined auspicious qilin beasts amidst colorful clouds of fortune. Seated on the soft, thick cushions of the low stool, with the mind-clearing storax incense burning in the carriage, she remained motionless in this warm, fragrant comfort, as if reliving that harrowing experience all over again, her entire body turning cold.

Her lips resembled withered white flowers trembling in the wind; even the crimson gauze of her palace robes couldn't lend them any color. Looking at the man before her, her voice slightly hoarse, she asked, "Your Highness, do you also believe, like they do, that someone in this world would murder their entire family for—that reason?"

Li Shubai looked at her for a long moment before turning his gaze to the scenery outside the window. "Who knows? The human heart is the most unfathomable, especially for a girl your age."

Huang Ziyao, trembling, said, "If Your Highness can truly lend your aid as promised, I believe floating clouds cannot obscure the sun forever. The injustice done to my parents will surely be righted before the world."

"When summer passes, I will be traveling to Bashu. At that time, I'll take you with me to reopen your parents' case files entirely. I believe someone like you, who can easily solve perplexing cases, wouldn't be so blinded by personal involvement as to be unable to clear your own name."

She bit her lower lip before finally asking after a long pause, "Do you truly believe in me? Will you help me?"

His gaze lingered on her face. The dappled sunlight filtering through the trees outside cast golden threads of light that danced across her features. In that golden radiance, her pale complexion and clear eyes appeared startlingly pure and dazzling, as if even the sunlight paled in comparison, becoming merely her backdrop.

Here was this young girl, bearing the most terrible accusations and grievances, yet resolutely treading the most arduous path, burying all the softness and delicacy that should belong to a maiden, leaving only an unyielding determination to move forward, radiant and brilliant.

Li Shubai's long-calm heart suddenly rippled slightly at this moment, like a spring breeze brushing across a deep valley lake, stirring faint ripples for the first time.

But only for a moment. He turned his gaze back outside the carriage, his voice deliberately restrained, coming out low and slightly hoarse: "Yes, I believe in you, and I will help you. In return, you must entrust your future life to me."

Huang Ziyao looked up at him, at his profile so exquisitely defined like rolling mountains under the setting sun—a steadfastness that even ten thousand years of frost could not erode.

"From now on, as long as you remain by my side, you need never fear or worry again."A faint tinge of melancholy suddenly seeped into the depths of her heart. Before her eyes, like a fleeting dream, flashed that summer when the pond was filled with blooming lotus flowers. Back then, that person had held her hand and spoken in the same manner.

Now, with the world changed and her circumstances fallen into ruin, she had fortunately fought with all her might and finally grasped a sliver of opportunity to stand by this person's side.

The carriage came to a halt—they had arrived at Prince Kui's residence. Li Shubai pushed open the carriage door and stepped out on his own. Turning back, he noticed her dazed expression as she descended, and casually raised his hand to assist her.

The sun hung low in the west, its golden rays slanting across the sky. She placed her hand in his palm, and in the fading light, she saw his face—radiant, just like those hands of his.