An exquisitely ornate mother-of-pearl inlaid black lacquer gold buckle box fell to the ground, its lid springing open upon impact. The silk-wrapped contents inside tumbled out. Li Yuangui glanced at it and was surprised to see it was a "hair cage"—a device used to secure men's topknots—entirely woven from gold threads, with small pearls embedded at the intersections, displaying extraordinary extravagance.
If they were truly planning to rob this pair of siblings before them, this treasure alone would make the trip worthwhile... Wait a moment.
Li Yuangui took a closer look at the "siblings" his group had intercepted. Both were dressed plainly, but the man in his thirties was plump and fair-skinned, clearly accustomed to a life of comfort. The woman wore a veiled hat, an accessory typically used by noblewomen to avoid prying eyes when venturing outside. Common women, like the boatwoman or the pancake vendor, wouldn't wear such a thing—how could they work with it on?
The maid trailing behind them, startled, accidentally dropped the black lacquer box and hurriedly crouched to pick it up. Seeing the gold-threaded pearl hair cage roll out, the veiled woman, forgetting her dignity, also knelt to help gather the items. Li Yuangui's gaze returned to the man's face as he responded coolly:
"Imperial officers investigating a case. Honest citizens need not panic. May I ask your esteemed siblings' surname and origin?"
The man hesitated slightly before answering:
"My humble surname is Pei, originally from Hedong. I have estate properties here and am temporarily residing due to family matters..."
Behind him, the two women had already picked up the fallen items and were wiping off the dust to return them to the box. The maid flipped the black lacquer box to check for damage, inadvertently revealing a line of gold-painted characters on the bottom, among which the words "Great Peace Palace" stood out prominently.
Ah, something felt off from the start.
That "hair cage" was a male hair accessory that had only recently gained popularity in the palace. When styling hair, the topknot was first secured with this hollow bamboo cage, pinned in place with hairpins, and then wrapped with a turban to keep it neat and firm. Li Yuangui himself was wearing one at that very moment.
He hadn’t realized these items had already spread from the palace to the common folk. Even so, they weren’t particularly valuable—ordinary bamboo ones lacquered black were sufficient. Gold and silver-threaded cages were rumored to be used by his extravagant elder brothers and brothers-in-law, but they were always concealed beneath black gauze, making them hard to notice. As a frugal minor prince, he certainly didn’t own one.
Thus, using such an item was inherently peculiar, as it wasn’t typically meant for flaunting wealth. If someone deliberately displayed it to show off... Well, in the capital under the Son of Heaven’s feet, even the wealthiest merchants would exercise restraint to avoid accusations of overstepping their station.
"What did you retrieve from the jewelry shop?" Li Yuangui gestured toward the mother-of-pearl inlaid box. "Is it a forbidden palace item? We are acting under imperial decree and must inspect it!"
Only after speaking did he realize his tone was harsh—almost like that of a street thug extorting honest citizens. Unsurprisingly, the veiled woman and the maid hastily shielded the lacquer box, while the plump man’s expression darkened:
"Officer, please understand. My sister and I both hold official ranks and are not idle vagrants. Today, we came out for leisure and entered the market without attendants, which was my oversight. If you gentlemen have time, you may accompany me back to my estate to verify our identities. I’ll also offer a modest token of gratitude. But if you resort to force in the streets, I will not comply. If this escalates and we’re dragged before the Xianyang authorities, I fear your superiors won’t appreciate the trouble either!"
"Hey! How dare you!" Yang Xinzhi snapped from the side. "You’re blind to true nobility, mistaking our Fourteenth Young Master for some common ruffian!"
Li Yuangui waved him off, not wanting to complicate matters further:
"Magistrate Pei, you misunderstand. We are not the sort of men you assume. Keep your gold-threaded hair cage—I only wish to examine the lacquer box."
Hearing him refer to it as a "hair cage," the man named Pei paused, his gaze flickering to Li Yuangui and Yang Xinzhi’s heads—both wore turbans secured with hair cages, giving their topknots a neat, elevated shape distinct from commoners—then to the veiled foreign girl, the two young servants, and the greyhounds they led.
Before setting out, Li Yuangui had specifically instructed his search party to avoid revealing their identities through dress or speech. Yet he knew the difference between princely guards and ordinary soldiers was stark, and observant individuals would notice the discrepancy. The Pei siblings were clearly no ordinary folk either. The man frowned:
"Young Master, have you already seen the inscription on the box’s base indicating its intended recipient? If so, I’ll be frank—these jewels are destined as tribute to that very place. I urge you to consider whether you can bear the implications of interfering. If you can, let us discuss this further at my residence. If not, it’s best we part ways here."
In other words, the jewels the siblings had collected from the shop were offerings for the Great Peace Palace, backed by formidable influence. By obstructing them, Li Yuangui’s group would be courting imperial displeasure. If they knew what was good for them, they’d leave immediately—or else.
Since this involved his own family, Li Yuangui was naturally concerned and eager to "discuss further" at the Pei residence. But—
"Have you seen a young foreign merchant accompanied by a Han girl of eleven or twelve?" he asked. "Or others in their company. The merchant is bald, though he likely wears a hat to conceal it..."
"So you’re searching for someone?" The Pei man seemed to relax slightly, offering his first smile. "No wonder you stopped us in the street... But I hardly have a prominent nose or deep-set eyes, and my hair certainly isn’t bald! Would the Fourteenth Young Master like to inspect me personally?"
The man wasn’t unattractive, and his jesting tone was amiable. His sister coughed lightly beside him, chiding softly: "Elder Brother..."
Li Yuangui’s heart twinged.
His seventeenth sister often addressed him the same way, though her voice was far more childish and delicate. This woman’s tone was deeper, suggesting she might even be older than him.
The Pei man sobered and, murmuring that blocking the shop entrance was improper, ushered Li Yuangui’s group to a nearby street corner before speaking earnestly:
"If you’re searching for someone—especially a foreign merchant—you’d do well to accompany me back to my estate. Though my sister and I haven’t resided here long, our estate manager is highly respected around Xianyang Ferry, with connections among local farms and guilds. As you likely know, foreign merchants are a secretive, insular lot, rarely mingling with us Han folk. Asking randomly on the streets like this, you could spend a decade without hearing a single truthful word."
His reasoning was sound, but... why the sudden enthusiasm?
"What benefit is it to you, Magistrate Pei, to help us find someone?" Li Yuangui asked bluntly.
The man smiled. "The Fourteenth Young Master speaks plainly... I’ll be equally direct. Judging by appearances, you have ties to the Great Peace Palace. My sister and I currently face a dilemma requiring assistance from someone connected to the palace. If you can help, splendid. If not, consider it my act of ancestral virtue."
"What dilemma?" Clear terms reduced the risk of deception.
The Pei man glanced around the bustling street and gestured meaningfully: This wasn’t the place for confidential matters. Take it or leave it.
"Fourteenth Young Master," Yang Xinzhi warned from behind.
Li Yuangui weighed his options. Four armed, skilled young men—where could they possibly come to harm? Besides, they had no better leads for finding their quarry. It was worth the gamble.
As for the Pei siblings’ request for palace assistance... He’d already facilitated an enemy assassin’s regicide—what more did he have to fear?
"Let’s go!" Once decided, he didn’t hesitate. The five men and two dogs followed the Pei siblings and their maid westward along the Wei River, away from the "Little Western Market."
Fortunately, the Pei estate wasn’t far. Just beyond the town, a large manor stood beside the main road. They’d set out around dinnertime, and though dusk had fallen by the time they passed through the Black Head Gate, full darkness hadn’t yet arrived. The Pei siblings escorted Li Yuangui and Yang Xinzhi to the main hall for hospitality, while the younger Pei sister excused herself to retire to the inner quarters.
Upon entering, the Pei man had instructed a servant to "invite Manager Zhang to the main hall." Li Yuangui found this odd. As aristocratic landowners visiting their rural estate, the Pei siblings were the masters, while the estate manager overseeing farmwork and rent collection was their subordinate. Since when did masters "invite" servants?
Once seated in the main hall, the host spoke first:
"Fourteenth Young Master, forgive my earlier discretion. The streets were crowded, and I couldn’t reveal my identity. Now, I dare not conceal it further. I am Pei Lvshi, second in my family. My elder brother passed young. My late father served as Minister of Works during the WuDe Era, posthumously honored as Governor of Xiangzhou, Minister of Works, and Commandery Duke of Hedong."
Li Yuangui was stunned. Even Yang Xinzhi behind him rose in shock.
These siblings were the children of Pei Ji—the Supreme Emperor’s most favored minister and the Great Tang’s foremost founding official.
During the WuDe Era, Pei Ji had ranked among the Three Excellencies, enjoying imperial favor unmatched among non-imperial subjects, his influence rivaling even Prince Qin Shimin and Prince Qi Yuanji. The Son of Heaven treated him as a friend, addressing him as "Supervisor Pei" or "Pei the Third" rather than by name, and even ordered the imperial kitchen to deliver meals identical to the emperor’s own to the Pei residence daily. After pacifying the Central Plains in WuDe 4, when the court minted the new "Kaiyuan Tongbao" coins, Prince Qin and Prince Qi were each granted three private mints, Pei Ji one—an unprecedented privilege, as private minting was punishable by death for anyone else.
During the succession struggle at the end of WuDe, Pei Ji was seen as favoring Crown Prince Jiancheng. Thus, once the Zhenguan court stabilized, he swiftly fell from grace, repeatedly demoted before being exiled to Jiannan, where he died of illness in Zhenguan 6. That was the last Li Yuangui had heard of the WuDe-era powerbroker—until today’s encounter with his heir at Xianyang Ferry.
Before the Pei family’s expulsion from the capital, Li Yuangui had been a child of eight or nine, retaining only vague impressions of "Supervisor Pei" himself, let alone his children’s appearances. That Pei Lvshi failed to recognize one of the Supreme Emperor’s many sons—well, that was hardly surprising.
But continuing to conceal his identity would be discourteous. Li Yuangui nodded slightly in acknowledgment:
"I am Yuangui, fourteenth son of the Supreme Emperor, currently enfeoffed as Prince of Wu."
Pei Lvshi rose and performed a formal bow. His expression showed no particular surprise, as if he’d already guessed as much. Having inherited his father’s second-rank Commandery Duke title, his status wasn’t low. After exchanging courtesies, Li Yuangui repeatedly urged him to sit, and Pei Lvshi eventually took a lower seat.
"Lvshi is ashamed and begs Your Highness to forgive my sister’s ignorance. She should present herself to pay respects anew, but circumstances make it inconvenient."
"No need—" Li Yuangui began reflexively, then suddenly recalled something and paused. "The former Minister Pei’s daughter... could she be the one..."
"Indeed," Pei Lvshi smiled gently. "Your Highness is perceptive. My sister and I came from Hedong precisely for this matter."
At the height of Pei Ji’s influence during WuDe, one of his daughters had been betrothed to the eldest of the emperor’s younger sons—Sixth Prince Zhao Yuan-jing. Both had been children then, with no marriage or consummation. After the throne changed hands and the Pei family declined, the matter was dropped, though Prince Zhao remained unmarried, as did his younger brothers.
The veiled woman who’d accompanied them back to the estate—was she to be his sixth sister-in-law?
Li Yuangui tried recalling the veiled woman’s obscured features. Though her face was hidden, her bearing suggested nobility. The Pei family of Wenxi were prominent Hedong aristocrats, and their women carried themselves with dignified grace. His sixth brother was fortunate.
Though Pei Ji had fallen from the current emperor’s favor, the betrothal arranged under the previous reign hadn’t been formally annulled. Li Yuangui asked, "Since you’ve reached the capital, why not report to the Court of Imperial Clan Affairs and urge Prince Zhao’s household to proceed with the marriage? Why linger in this riverside estate?"
Pei Lvshi sighed. "It’s a long story."
In Zhenguan 3, Pei Ji had angered the emperor over the Faya sorcery case, resulting in his dismissal, demotion, and exile to Jingzhou, with his family expelled from the capital. Three years later, Pei Ji died en route to a recall to Chang’an at age sixty. His heir, Lvshi, escorted his father’s coffin home for burial and observed mourning. Once the mourning period ended, considering his sister’s marriageable age, he brought her to the capital to settle her future.
He’d assumed it would be straightforward. During WuDe, the imperial family had already completed the betrothal rites—matchmaking, name inquiry, divination, and betrothal gifts—presenting jade, silk, and horses. The Pei daughter was already registered as Prince Zhao’s principal consort; they merely needed to finalize the wedding date, confer the title, conduct the ceremonies, and complete the rituals. Knowing their late father’s disfavor, the siblings traveled discreetly to report to the Court of Imperial Clan Affairs.
The court officials didn’t obstruct them overly, and Pei Lvshi met with Chief Minister Li Baiyao after a few days. The elderly minister was cordial but evasive, dodging the subject with rambling anecdotes. Whenever Pei Lvshi mentioned "Prince Zhao’s marriage," Li Baiyao demurred that "His Majesty is preoccupied with military campaigns and won’t heed our petitions."
The Ministry of Rites was even blunter: "Our role is limited to preparing consort titles, not arranging marriages." Further inquiries revealed that the Pei name’s taint made officials reluctant to broach the matter with the emperor.
With formal channels blocked, Pei Lvshi sought alternatives—notifying the Great Peace Palace directly, so Prince Zhao’s household could pressure the court. This too required extensive networking. The sycophants who’d once flocked to the Pei residence during WuDe had long scattered, leaving only closed doors and cold shoulders.
Eventually, they connected with the Great Peace Palace’s current overseers—Consort Yin and her brother, Deputy Palace Supervisor Yin Tuo. The latter was straightforward: he demanded a hefty bribe, claiming Prince Zhao himself was short on funds and the Pei family would need to provide additional dowry...
"That dog Yin A-Ta was lying through his teeth!" Li Yuangui interjected, unable to contain himself. "Sixth Brother knows nothing of this! Just days ago, we brothers gathered for a feast, and not one mentioned Prince Zhao’s consort arriving in the capital!"
"I suspected as much, but what could I do?" Pei Lvshi smiled bitterly. "The gold-threaded hair cage you saw earlier was... ahem... my sister’s thoughtful gift for Prince Zhao. I hope it suits his taste..."
Li Yuangui exhaled slowly, steadying himself as he pondered. Pei Lvshi’s revelation clearly sought his help in conveying this to Prince Zhao, which was reasonable and something he ought to do. But...
"Your estate manager, Zhang..." he began, only to be interrupted by a coarse shout outside the hall:
"...Lookin’ for someone? A day’s delay in spring sowing means a year’s loss in harvest! Anyone who can stand is out in the fields—who’s got time to search for some nobody?!"
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