The Golden Hairpin

The afternoon in Taiji Palace was so tranquil that even the breeze moved with gentle serenity.

The Lizheng Hall stood tall with its grand arches and imposing doors, exuding an air of dignified elegance.

It was a place perfectly suited for Empress Wang. Residing within, she was like a peony in full bloom within a golden well—her beauty harmoniously at one with her surroundings.

Having moved here over a month ago, she naturally understood the emperor’s intentions when he suddenly arrived with Consort Guo. Yet she feigned ignorance, greeting them with the same composed grace, her smile warm and demeanor relaxed, as though she still resided in Penglai Hall, effortlessly commanding the fates of tens of thousands in the Daming Palace—and indeed, the entire realm.

The emperor asked her, "Do you find this place agreeable? You seem quite content here."

Empress Wang gazed at him with a soft smile and replied in a low voice, "This humble consort dares not grow too fond, lest Your Majesty decree that I remain here forever."

The emperor looked at this woman—the one most familiar yet most distant to him in all the world—and found himself momentarily at a loss for words.

Consort Guo covered her mouth with her fan and laughed lightly. "So Her Majesty still prefers Daming Palace? That is understandable—Penglai Hall is the coolest in summer. But when the autumn winds arrive, that solitary hall may grow chilly, requiring extra layers."

"Even if it turns cold, in terms of scenery, it remains the finest in the palace, second only to Your Majesty’s own residence. I imagine, given the chance, even the Noble Consort might come to favor it."

Consort Guo replied dismissively, "I dare not entertain such hopes..."

As she spoke, her gaze drifted toward the entrance.

Having navigated the intrigues of the inner court for years, Empress Wang knew her well. "Has Linghui been delayed on her way here?" she asked.

The emperor, surprised, inquired, "Linghui is coming?"

"Indeed. She has long wished to visit Your Majesty in Taiji Palace but never found the opportunity. Since today presented the chance, I had her informed."

The emperor’s expression darkened slightly. "I only wished to speak with the empress on a few pressing matters today. Why involve Linghui and complicate things?"

Empress Wang smiled faintly, her eyes steady on the emperor. "The Noble Consort fears Your Majesty might soften. With your beloved Linghui present, she may serve as a reminder of your resolve."

The emperor, realizing she had long discerned his intentions, felt a flicker of embarrassment at having his thoughts laid bare. He could only say, "If the empress prefers solitude, I can certainly grant it."

With a serene smile, Empress Wang met his gaze. "It is not that I do not cherish tranquility. But for over a decade, I have accompanied Your Majesty through the countless splendors of Daming Palace, sharing in the empire’s finest sights... If Heaven would grant me mercy, I pray for a lifetime by Your Majesty’s side, growing old together, hand in hand."

Consort Guo gave a faint, indifferent laugh. "Her Majesty’s ambitions are too grand. The emperor belongs to the realm—how could he grow old with just one woman?"

Empress Wang sat poised before her, her smile unwavering. "The Noble Consort does not understand. I am the empress, the emperor’s rightful consort. Though the imperial family may be ruthless, we have weathered countless storms together over these years. In all the world, if there is one who may stand by His Majesty’s side, it is naturally me."

The emperor, by nature gentle and magnanimous, was moved by her words, reminded of their shared past. As he looked at her—still unchanged from years ago, her hair coiled in layered clouds adorned with kingfisher hairpins and swaying ornaments, her robes resplendent yet never overshadowing her radiant presence—he found himself lost in thought.This was the woman who had been by his side for over a decade. The beauties in the palace bloomed like flowers season after season, their colors fading with time, yet the one before him had only grown more radiant and exquisite with each passing year.

So even when he discovered her deceit, even knowing her unsavory past, he consoled himself with the thought that in this world, perhaps only he was truly suited for her. No matter whom she had encountered before, it was only by his side that she could shine with such dazzling beauty.

Thinking this way, at least, he felt those ten-odd years of affection had not been wasted.

The emperor sighed involuntarily and gazed at her, saying, "Rest well, Empress. I shall consider this further."

Empress Wang bowed gracefully. When she raised her head again, her smile remained, though her eyes had moistened, tears glistening on her lashes—a sight both tender and sorrowful.

As the emperor rose to leave, Consort Guo blurted out, "Your Majesty, did you not have words for the Empress?"

Without turning back, the emperor replied while walking away, "I came only to inquire after the Empress's health—such is my concern for her. Yet you, knowing Linghui is unwell, allowed her to leave the palace without informing me. This is overstepping your bounds."

Consort Guo, indignant, retorted, "Linghui is my daughter. How is her visit overstepping—"

She immediately realized her mistake and clamped her mouth shut.

The emperor had already descended the steps of Lize Hall and departed.

Left behind, Consort Guo stood frozen in the hall. When she turned, she saw Empress Wang approaching slowly, a meaningful smile on her lips. The Empress leaned in and whispered, "Do you intend to rely on Tongchang, Consort Guo? Yet I know of no dynasty where a consort rose to power by clinging to her daughter."

That smile sent an inexplicable chill through Consort Guo's heart. She instinctively stepped back and forced out, "If there have been empresses cast into the cold palace after bearing sons, then surely there can be consorts who rise after bearing daughters."

"Was it not just that one utterance—'let her live'?" Empress Wang gazed at her with eyes that held both scorn and mockery, though her voice remained soft and gentle. "Consort Guo, a woman without even a son, dreaming of ascending to the pinnacle of Daming Palace—how pitiable you are."

Consort Guo's chest heaved violently as she glared at her. But after a long silence, she said nothing, lowering her head and swiftly turning to leave.

As she descended the steps, several eunuchs came rushing over—not only Changqing, who had been waiting outside, but also Dezheng, the chief eunuch of Consort Guo's palace, and, most unexpectedly, several eunuchs from the princess's residence and Prince Kui's mansion.

The emperor had already reached the front hall. Seeing their panicked expressions, he demanded, "Why this commotion in Lize Hall?"

Changqing and Dezheng immediately prostrated themselves, weeping too hard to speak.

Huang Ziguang, solemn-faced, knelt and reported, "Your Majesty, Princess Tongchang was attacked in Pingkang Ward on her way to Taiji Palace."

The emperor was stunned. "Attacked? Was she injured?"

Huang Ziguang replied quietly, "Her injuries are grave."

The emperor's face paled. "Where is Tongchang now?"

"She has been rushed back to the princess's residence, and imperial physicians have been summoned."The emperor flicked his sleeve and strode toward the palace gates, unable to contain himself any longer as he shouted, "Fenghan!"

Xu Fenghan by his side hurriedly trotted after him through the palace gates. "Your Majesty need not worry. The princess is blessed by heaven—I'm sure she'll be fine—"

"To Tongchang's residence!" the emperor interrupted sharply, paying no heed to Xu Fenghan's words.

Imperial Consort Guo followed the emperor out, her face deathly pale. As she passed Huang Zixiang, who was still kneeling, she pointed at her angrily and said, "Frightening His Majesty like this—once the princess recovers, you'll answer for this!"

But the princess would never recover.

Huang Zixiang thought this to herself. After Imperial Consort Guo left, she slowly stood up and let out a long sigh.

The vast heavens stretched endlessly. Princess Tongchang's soul had already departed to the netherworld, severing all ties with this mortal realm.

The splendor of her life, the mourning after her death—none of it concerned her anymore.

She raised her hand, gazing at the traces of Princess Tongchang's blood still staining it.

This princess, the envy of the entire realm, had grown up among golden beams and jade pillars, draped in silks and adorned with jewels—yet who could have imagined she would die in her prime, in a desolate corner overgrown with weeds and vines, merely moments after stepping away from her attendants?

The murder weapon was undoubtedly the Nine Phoenix Hairpin embedded in her chest. Piercing her heart, it had caused the princess to die almost instantly after a brief struggle. During her convulsions, the hairpin had snapped at the joint between its head and stem.

Upon discovering Princess Tongchang's death, her maids had collapsed in terror, wailing in grief. Zhuiyu, in particular, had been so frightened she wept uncontrollably, crying, "It must be Consort Pan of Southern Qi! She took the Nine Phoenix Hairpin, and now she's used it to take the princess away!"

The others dared not speak, but Huang Zixiang saw the fear and horror in their eyes—all silently agreeing with Zhuiyu's words.

The killer's frantic footsteps had trampled the wild grass all the way to the corner of the ward before scaling the wall to escape. This section of the wall happened to border a recently cleared street, now filled with panicked, scattering crowds. The authorities had detained a few people outside, but all claimed not to have noticed anyone climbing over the wall.

It seemed the main leads in this case, aside from matching the traces at the scene, were to thoroughly investigate who could have stolen the Nine Phoenix Hairpin from the heavily guarded princess's residence and then used it to stab the princess to death today.

Whoever had stolen the hairpin must have had a significant connection to the murderer.

Lost in thought, Huang Zixiang failed to notice someone approaching.

A clear, slightly sharp voice sounded beside her ear: "Birds on branches, fish in water, people beneath flowers. Amidst such fleeting beauty, I wonder what has so distracted Eunuch Yang?"

Startled out of her reverie, Huang Zixiang took a step forward before turning to look at the speaker.

It was a man in purple court robes, appearing to be in his early thirties. His skin was unnaturally pale, his eyes strikingly dark, and his tall, slender frame leaned against a flowering tree behind him.

Yet, even with blossoms cascading onto him and a faint smile on his lips, he exuded an air of chilling coldness. His gaze settled on Huang Zixiang's face, sending an involuntary shiver down her spine.In an instant, she recalled the man at the Tai Chi Palace who had stared at her with eyes like a venomous snake.

Her gaze fell upon his hands. A large white porcelain bowl rested there, within which two small red fish swam gracefully.

Noticing her attention on the fish, he smiled and asked, "Does Eunuch Yang also fancy fish?"

Fish. The two fish flicked their gauzy tails, causing a soft splash in the porcelain bowl.

Huang Ziguang suddenly snapped out of the chilling atmosphere. In the Tang imperial court, there was only one eunuch privileged enough to wear purple robes.

Involuntarily, she knelt and said, "Yang Chonggu pays respects to Eunuch Wang."

He glanced down at her, motioning for her to rise. Noticing the faint traces of blood on her hands, he inquired, "I heard... something has happened to Princess Tongchang?"

Huang Ziguang hesitated before nodding slightly.

His expression remained calm, only the corners of his lips curling into a cold smile. "Come, give me your hand."

Reluctantly, Huang Ziguang raised her hand and extended it toward him.

He grasped her wrist. His fingers were not only dazzlingly white but also icy and smooth, with a texture like jade.

He immersed her bloodstained fingers into the white porcelain bowl.

The dried blood began to dissolve in the water, tiny clots dispersing.

The two small red fish immediately darted toward the blood, greedily sucking at the stains on her fingers. The faint tingling sensation sent shivers down Huang Ziguang's spine.

"Agashenye fish have a particular fondness for human blood. I’ve heard Prince Kui also keeps such a fish. Eunuch Yang might share this trick with him."

Hearing his chilling voice, she couldn’t suppress a shudder and abruptly withdrew her hand.

Splashes of water landed on his left hand holding the bowl, dampening his purple sleeve and even dotting his pale cheeks with a few droplets.

He raised his right hand, gently wiping the water from his face, silently watching her.

Huang Ziguang felt a cold sweat break out on her back, the sensation of being watched by a venomous snake creeping over her once more. She hastily bowed and said, "Forgive my rudeness, Eunuch Wang! I must hurry to the princess’s residence."

"Go," he replied impassively, slightly raising his hand.

Huang Ziguang stood immediately, took a few steps back, then turned and hurried away.