The Golden Hairpin

by Qinghan CeCe

  Huang Zixia remembered Li Shubai said she was missing. “Have you seen Jin Nu lately?”

  “No, that’s why I came to find you,” she said. “Yesterday, I went to Guangfang Square to find her, but heard she hasn’t been at the academy in several days.”

  Huang Zixia frowned slightly. “She didn’t speak with anyone before she went missing?”

  “No. The teaching staff had someone open her room. Turns out, some of her favorite clothing and jewelry were gone, along with that pipa her teacher gave her. The staff was angry, saying she must have fallen for a man and eloped. I heard the staff’s been relatively lax since Xuanzong took power. Things like this have happened more than once or twice.”

  Huang Zixia nodded.

  “I don’t think she would do that. She and Li Rui had some chemistry, and I gave her advice several times, but she wouldn’t listen,” Chen Nian said.

  “Tell me more about her recent movements,” Huang Zixia said, pulling a chair over for herself and sitting.

  “The school staff said the last time they saw her was three nights ago. She came back a little drunk after curfew, said she had a few at Zhuijin.”

  Huang Zixia nodded. “I was there too that night. It was after the incident at the palace. A group of us went there to eat and discuss the case. Jin Nu was cheerful and helped us pack up the cherries—but her hands were so delicate, she even complained the stems hurt her.”

  “She’s like that, sharp-tongued and softhearted. Good person, just too chatty.”

  “Chen Nian, did you get a response from your letter to Lan Dai?”

  “No, even if Lan Dai received the letter and sent Xuese to come to the capital, it was only a few days ago. She wouldn’t have had time to get here yet.”

  “Xuese would call Lan Dai ‘aunt,’ right?”

  “Yes. Lan Dai and Mei Wanzhi were sisters, so she’s Xuese’s aunt,” Chen Nian said with a nod. “Lan Dai was the third oldest of the six, the best dancer.”

  “Do you remember if Xuese arrived in Yangzhou alone that year? Was there another girl with her?”

  Chen Nian gasped. “Actually, I think she arrived with a girl named Little Shi. They saw Little Shi’s parents die during the war. She and Xuese became sisters when they had no one else left.”

  Huang Zixia nodded. Her suspicion had been verified, but she didn’t know what bearing it had on the case. She only sensed that it must be the glimpse of a vital thread.

  A case is a lot like a tree; the part that people can see above ground is only ever a small part. Underground are enormous and deep roots that you’ll never know unless you dig them out.

  Tears began rolling down Chen Nian’s cheeks.

  Huang Zixia hurried to pat her shoulder. “Chen Nian,” she whispered, “don’t be sad.”

  “How can I not? I know Feng Yi isn’t coming back.” Her eyes swelled, and the tears came harder. “I saw her in my dream last night, transparent as glass. She said, ‘Chen Nian, the years of youth quickly wither away. Now only you are suffering in the world.’ When I woke up, I just knew. I know she’s already gone.”

  Huang Zixia filled with grief. She took out a handkerchief and helped Chen Nian wipe her tears, but she forgot about the paper wrapped in the handkerchief, and it fell out. It rolled toward Chen Nian.

  Chen Nian didn’t notice. She was too disoriented to feel it.

  Huang Zixia hesitated, then picked up the little paper bag and held it out. “Chen Nian,” she said, “look at this.”

  Chen Nian rubbed her eyes. Her voice was hoarse. “What is it?”

  Huang Zixia just looked at her.

  Chen Nian hesitated, then slowly took it and lifted the white paper off. Inside was the flawless white jade. It was no larger than a fingernail but incredibly exquisite. Chen Nian’s hand suddenly began shaking as she clutched it and read the Nian written there.

  Chen Nian shut her eyes. She shut them so tightly and desperately that it was as if the word had blinded her and she would never see again.

  She was like that for a long time. She trembled as she asked, “Where is it from?”

  “The body of a forty-year-old woman among a group of sick migrants from Youzhou. Her body was burned, so this is all I found.” She didn’t say what they found in Feng Yi’s stomach, fearing it would hurt Chen Nian too much.

  “Twenty years ago, Feng Yi and I were still young. We weren’t well known, not terribly talented. We saved money for a long time, then bought two pieces of white jade with our names engraved on them. We gave them to each other and swore we’d always do our best to support each other.” Chen Nian pulled a red string from her breast pocket and showed hers. She tightly held the two pieces of jade together and burst into tears.

  Huang Zixia sat quietly next to her, watching the light wander on Chen Nian’s face.

  “Who was it? Who killed Feng Yi?” Chen Nian asked.

  Huang Zixia took a deep breath and shook her head. “We don’t know yet. But I think it may be related to the Princess’s disappearance.”

  “The Wang girl?”

  “You heard about the catastrophe surrounding the Princess of Kui, right?”

  Chen Nian held the jade and numbly nodded.

  “I’ve already determined that the old friend’s daughter Feng Yi escorted was Wang Ruo. I actually met her once in that context, but I was afraid if I told you, word might get out.”

  Chen Nian was at a loss. “But now, I heard Wang Ruo is dead . . .”

  “Yes. I think Feng Yi’s death is closely related, but how, I have no idea.”

  “Will you be able to get to the bottom of it?” Chen Nian whispered.

  “I will do my best.”

  When Chen Nian left dizzily, it was going on noon. Huang Zixia thought about the case as she turned and walked inside. She was so lost in thought that she tripped on the stairs and almost fell. Luckily, she was able to catch herself on a tree.

  The porter got a stool for her to sit on and poured a cup of tea. Some idle eunuchs were chatting nearby. She sat beside them, gulping down her cup of tea and then another.

  The eunuch named Lu Yun who was responsible for sweeping Yanxi Hall was barely twenty. He loved gossip above all. When he saw her sit down, he quickly elbowed her and raised his eyebrows. “Hey, tell me, Chonggu, you spend the most time with the Prince. Do you think the Wang girl’s death is the worst thing that’s happened to him in years?”

  Huang Zixia stared at him without understanding. “What?”

  “Must be, right? After the Hou Jing chaos, the Langya Wang family was falling. No great people have emerged in the last few generations. Not very important at the upper levels. They relied on the last two Empresses to maintain influence. It could even be said they didn’t produce any good girls either. They finally got one to be Kui Princess, and she suddenly died. So without the Kui line of advancement, there’s only Wang Lin on the Board of Punishments.”

  Someone nearby interrupted. “The Wangs have an Empress and a high minister, but people still say they’re declining.”

  “That’s right. The Cuis of Boling had about a dozen high ministers. How about the Langya Wangs? Even if you added the Tayuan Wangs, would they compare?”

  Huang Zixia silently sipped her tea, thinking that Cui Chunzhan’s uncle Cui Yanzhao was also well regarded and acted like a minister. “It wouldn’t be surprising if the Cuis produced a high minister soon.”

  “Not bad. What about the Xies of Chen? I heard after the Hou Jing chaos, they were almost finished,” someone else said.

  “No, if the Wangs were really in such decline, why would the Lis marry them? You have to remember they still have their son, Wang Yun. He might not match our Prince of Kui but still has great character. And the Prince has a good relationship with him. They often ride together. They’re like the sun and moon, pulling girls out of their homes to watch their first and second choices for husbands pass,” yet another person said.

  “That’s true. A lot of people say Wang Yun isn’t a
s well rounded in the arts and sword, but two months ago, he led an imperial unit to pursue bandits on the outskirts and got them all—beheaded!”

  “Gee, I don’t know,” Lu Yunzhong said. He gestured for everyone to lean toward him and spoke more quietly for dramatic effect. “I heard this mess is related to Pang Xun! Some of his former soldiers have come to the capital to assassinate the Prince of Kui!”

  Everyone was shocked. “Why did we hear it was just bandits?”

  “Of course, the court is trying to keep it hidden! When Wang Yun heard, he immediately ambushed them in the middle of the night. Got a clean kill. They buried the bodies right there, said it was just bandits, and left no evidence!”

  “Huh? Then how do you know?”

  “Hey, I have a military connection!” Lu Yunzhong said proudly. “And my uncle’s brother-in-law works for the War Ministry. They’re the ones that buried the bodies!”

  “Wow!” everyone said.

  “That being said, if Wang Yun was so great, why wouldn’t the Huang girl marry him?”

  “Oh, that. Yes, I heard she even poisoned her whole family to avoid marrying him! Could marrying him be that bad?”

  “That’s ’cause the Huang girl went crazy!”

  Huang Zixia joined in with everyone’s laughter.

  When the laughter died down, the conversation ended. Huang Zixia continued holding her teacup, staring at the enamel pattern for a long time. The things she had kept inside were the subject of laughter now. It was like a rush of water stirring up sediment in a stagnant lake. Her parents had been dead for nearly six months. The case was getting harder and harder, her hopes of solving it slimmer and slimmer. But all she could do was try her best to solve the case and earn Li Shubai’s support so she could seek justice.

  “Chonggu, when the Princess went missing, you were there too, right?” Lu Yunzhong said.

  Huang Zixia nodded.

  “I heard the Wang girl suddenly burst into smoke in front of thousands of people and flew away in the wind.”

  Huang Zixia began to sweat. Rumors. “Complete nonsense,” she said.

  “Yes, I knew it wasn’t possible,” someone else joined in. “I heard they already found the body. It was all covered in black boils, and anyone who got within thirty feet of it died! How could she turn into ash?”

  Huang Zixia was shocked. All she could say was, “The Board of Punishments and Central Court are conducting an investigation. Before they close it, all conjecture is irrelevant. Please don’t repeat baseless rumors.”

  They ignored her and kept talking. “I heard that since the Wang girl died, Lady Zhao is going to give Princess Qi Le to the Prince of Kui. Is that true?”

  Huang Zixia was now fed up. She turned her hands upward and said, “I’m sorry, but the case is still underway, and we can’t share any information with the public until it’s solved.”

  Everyone had been there longer than she and held higher positions, but she was close to the Prince and was even participating in the investigation, so none of them dared to challenge her.

  She hurried to thank them for the tea and praise its lovely taste. Then she excused herself, saying she had something to do. She walked through the palace gates and looked up at the sky. Her mind wandered to the details of the case. Then she heard the faint sound of bells. A carriage slowly approached and stopped before her. She turned and saw someone get out of the car.

  Speak of the devil. It was Wang Yun.

  Since he was mourning his sister, he was dressed plainly. He wore a white silk robe. Only the collar and sleeves were decorated with a Buddhist pattern. His green sash was knotted with a white jade pendant. In his hand was a fan with a jade spine and ink painting of bamboo on the surface, showing off the luxury of his illustrious family. Often dazzled by Zhou Ziqin’s ostentatious purple clothes, Huang Zixia couldn’t help but sigh at how different young men could be.

  Seeing the sweat beads on her nose, Wang Yun handed her his fan. “I’ve come to talk to the Prince about my sister’s funeral arrangements. Could you take me to him?”

  Huang Zixia looked at the fan he was holding out, took it, and fanned herself as she nodded. “Come,” she said.

  They entered the gate, and the porter and group who had been gossiping stood up, looking guilty and bowed. Unaware, Wang Yun just glanced at them and smiled as he followed Huang Zixia into Jingyu Hall.

  Jing Yu and Jing Yang were waiting in the front hall, drinking tea and chatting. Seeing Wang Yun arrive, Jing Yang stood quickly and asked him to sit. Jing Yu went through the small courtyard to notify the Prince of Kui.

  Soon, Li Shubai came out to greet him and asked him to come in.

  Huang Zixia was wondering whether or not she should go in. Li Shubai turned and gave her a look, so she hurried to keep up. The two of them sat in front of the western window. Jing Yang prepared hot water for tea over a stove. Huang Zixia self-consciously helped them clean the cups and went out with Jing Yang for pine branches.

  Their voices came through the window. Wang Yun said, “It’s started getting hot, as you know. My sister’s body is becoming unbearable, so we discussed it as a family, and in four days it will have been seven. We’ll seal the coffin and send it home to be buried straightaway. It’s a little rushed, but it’s the only way.”

  Li Shubai pondered a moment. “You’ve found a cemetery plot.”

  “She was so young,” Wang Yun lamented. “Who would have a plot? At present, we’re thinking of using the one that was set aside for her aunt. As for the tombstone, people have already been sent to carve it.”

  “Your sister was to be my wife. I’ll certainly attend the ceremony.”

  “Thank you, Prince,” Wang Yun said.

  Wang Yun said he was burdened with mourning, so he didn’t stay long after tea.

  Huang Zixia saw Wang Yun’s white figure brush past the front hall’s cluster of hosta flowers. She hurried up to him. “Prince, your fan.”

  He turned and smiled at her. “You’re not keeping it?”

  “No, no,” she hurried to say. “I just wanted to keep it safe in my sleeve pocket.”

  “Drinking tea now, no wonder you’re sweaty.” He didn’t take the fan, just looked down at her. “Keep it.”

  She hesitated, wanting to hand it back to him, but he turned with a wave, saying, “Use it. You can give it back next time.”

  Huang Zixia stood, unconsciously fanning herself, feeling irritated.

  Thirteen

  LONG, LONELY STREET

  Sometime later, she turned and saw Li Shubai looking at her through the front window. She didn’t know how long he’d been standing there. He lowered his chin slightly, indicating for her to come in.

  She hurried to fold up the fan and went in. The room was quiet, the tea cleared. Jing Yang lit ice incense, which made it feel like there was a breeze in the room.

  Li Shubai motioned toward the seat across from him, and Huang Zixia sat.

  Huang Zixia waited until Jing Yang had left and got right to the point. “It looks like we need to solve this case within four days or we’ll lose the body.”

  Li Shubai nodded slightly. “You just keep at it. If we can’t, I’ll make sure the body doesn’t go.”

  Huang Zixia agreed. “Chen Nian visited me this morning. I think as long as nothing else comes up, we shouldn’t have a problem solving it.”

  “Oh, really?” Li Shubai said, squinting at her. “What did Chen Nian say that was so helpful?”

  “First of all, I think that body . . .” She reached and touched her hairpin, as was her habit. Li Shubai looked away helplessly. He smiled ever so slightly, took a slim box out of the table drawer, and slid it to her.

  “What is it?” she said.

  “Take a look.”

  “Does it have something to do with the case?” she asked as she took it.

  Li Shubai tilted his head and looked at the fish in the jar swimming quietly. “Basically,” he said coldly. “To help you break it.”

/>   Huang Zixia opened the box and saw a hairpin on a layer of silk. She picked it up, puzzled. It was about five inches long with a silver body and jade top caved in a beautiful, meticulous pattern. There was nothing unusual about it, suitable for a little eunuch like her, but the weight was off. She took a closer look and found an orifice. She held the bottom of the leaf and heard a soft click. The silver part came off. Inside was a thinner, white jade hairpin. It was cool to the touch and shone from within. “It’s a gift?”

  “You’re always touching your hairpin, but not being able to take it out makes me uneasy. And if you do take it out, people will be able to tell you’re a woman, which would be trouble. So yes, it’s a gift.”

  Huang Zixia put the box away. “Thank you, Prince. It’s what I needed most.”

  “I’m not sure if the craftsman understood my instructions, or if it’ll meet your needs.”

  “Thanks for your effort. The craftsman did well. It’ll be very useful.”

  “How can you know if you haven’t tried it?”

  “Oh . . .” She realized that she hadn’t been wearing her hat lately and her hair was just up in a bun. She put in the pin from Li Shubai and pulled the old one out. Then she pinched the new hairpin and pulled out the smaller hairpin. The silver body that had surrounded it was still in place.

  “It works great.” She put the jade pin back into the silver part. It locked in with a soft click. Huang Zixia liked it a lot. She kept touching it, her sleeves falling and exposing her wrists as she smiled. “Thank you so much, Prince! Now I can sort my thoughts out anytime.”

  “You’d be better off stopping the bad habit,” he said.

  Huang Zixia ignored him and pulled the inner hairpin out again. “Back to Chen Nian. Based on what she said, I think there are two key things about the body.”

  “Really?” Li Shubai poured a cup of tea and put it before her.

  Huang Zixia was so focused on the case, she didn’t notice. Then she quickly took a sip, put the hairpin on the table, and looked at him. “The body that appeared in Yongchun Hall isn’t Wang Ruo.”