◎Golden Hairpin◎

That night, Qu You dreamed again.

She found herself in the cafeteria of her long-unseen, almost unfamiliar academy. Her advisor sat across from her, his face blurry, yet everything felt vivid. Outside the cafeteria, she could even hear the sounds of construction as the school built a new building.

A typical, sweltering afternoon.

The voices of her fellow students echoed around her, teasing someone about going on a blind date. Someone called her name: “Youyou…”

“Has your family been pressuring you to go on blind dates?”

After exchanging a few words, she declared: “I’ll never go on a blind date. If I were to fall in love… it would have to be with a soulmate!”

The table erupted in laughter, mocking the old-fashioned term. On a large screen nearby, a debate show was playing, and a clear female voice drifted over.

“Suppose there really exists my soulmate, but between us lies the greatest distance imaginable—be it age, time, or space. If I were to cross that vast distance to love this person, I’d have to pay a tremendous price, perhaps even sacrifice everything for them… and they for me. The world might call us fools…”

“But whether it’s worth it or not—only you and I will know.”

Then, everything seemed to freeze around her. The cacophony faded into an irrelevant background hum. A man in white robes and a tall hat walked against the flow of people toward her. His face was familiar, but she couldn’t recall his name.

He took her hand—his touch was cold.

He led her down the long, high escalator of the cafeteria. Standing above her, his half-tied hair brushed against the back of her hand.

In her dream, she followed him into a dimly lit museum. He gently pulled her hand, guiding her past rows of glass display cases adorned with wooden trim.

She saw a rolled-up architectural sketch, a broken jade hairpin, a dusty official hat, a jade seal. Behind her, a crimson robe with faint patterns hung in a display case; in front of her, a familiar white jade thumb ring.

She finally remembered his name and called out to him.

“Zhou Tan…”

But the man didn’t turn around.

He let go of her hand and resolutely walked into the darkness before her. She chased after him but suddenly choked on dust that seemed to rise from nowhere, covering her face as she coughed.

A towering tree tied with red ribbons collapsed in front of her. From somewhere unseen came the sound of arrows. She heard Zhou Tan cry out desperately.

“A Lian—”

The dream was chaotic.

Then everything vanished, and she woke up abruptly, drenched in cold sweat that had soaked her pillow.

It was just before dawn, the sky still dark, and the howling autumn wind whistled outside the door.

“Madam—”

Hexing pushed open the door, speaking in a hushed tone. Everything felt like a lingering dream.

“The light in Master’s room is on.”

It seemed someone had arrived at the estate before sunrise. Qu You quickly dressed, threw on an outer robe, and hurried through the garden toward Zhou Tan’s Songfeng Pavilion. In the courtyard, she noticed a magnificent horse.

The horse’s saddle and bridle were adorned with gold. She gave it a second glance and grew more cautious. As she rushed through the corridor, the door to the Songfeng Pavilion opened, and Song Shiyan emerged. Seeing her there, he raised an eyebrow in surprise.

Qu You immediately covered her face with her fan and bowed respectfully: “Your Highness, ten thousand blessings.”

Zhou Tan followed Song Shiyan out, frowning slightly but saying nothing. Song Shiyan chuckled and said to her, “No need for formalities.” A guard by the corridor quickly stepped forward to drape a somber, dark cloak over his shoulders.

Holding his riding crop, Song Shiyan glanced at Zhou Tan. Zhou Tan lowered his gaze slightly, and Song Shiyan said: “As long as you’re aware.”

Zhou Tan replied: “I’ll trouble Your Highness.”

Song Shiyan grunted, his scrutinizing gaze sweeping over Qu You with evident interest. He flicked his riding crop, producing a sharp crack in the air, then turned and strode away along the corridor without looking back.

His gaze always made her uncomfortable.

Zhou Tan watched her silently, then followed to see him off. After standing there for a moment, she saw Zhou Tan jog back, shrugging off his outer robe and draping it over her shoulders. He scolded her lightly: “What foolishness is this? How can you come out dressed so thinly?”

Hexing hastily apologized. Wrapping the robe tightly around her, Qu You opened her mouth to ask a question, but just then, the sound of armored guards jogging with clinking metal rang out from the garden.

No sooner had Song Shiyan left than a silent line of golden-armored guards marched in. Their leader bowed deeply to Zhou Tan, showing great respect.

“Master Zhou, please.”

The guards of the Ministry of Justice typically wore black uniforms, while those of the Dianxing Temple donned high-collared cloaks. The Left and Right Forest Guards carried swords and wore brocade robes. But the attire of these men was something she had never seen before.

Zhou Tan nodded politely to the leader and took a step forward. Immediately, someone approached and clasped a chain around one of his wrists. Out of deference, the guard did not shackle his other hand but instead retreated to the side.

Qu You quickly wrapped the robe back around him: “What’s going on?”

Zhou Tan glanced behind him enigmatically, a bitter smile tugging at his lips. His expression carried a note of self-mockery but no panic—complex and icy.

“After the morning court session, go find Miss Gao and ask her to introduce you to Chief Minister Gao. Come see me and ask him one question: which is more important, safety or loyalty to the sovereign?” Zhou Tan whispered urgently. Time was short—he couldn’t say more. The leader called out, “Master Zhou,” and Qu You handed him the lantern she had been carrying. He hesitated briefly, then accepted it, and they departed.

Once they were gone, Qu You sat inside the Songfeng Pavilion, lost in thought.

She could roughly guess what Zhou Tan intended to do. Knowing that the Candlelit Pavilion case wasn’t an accident uncovered by the emperor but deliberately orchestrated to drive Gu Zhiyan to his death, how could Zhou Tan simply swallow this injustice and let it go?

Moreover, Fu Qingnian, the mastermind, was no saint. The recent case of the falling death had already exhausted Zhou Tan’s last shred of patience.

If he wanted to topple a reigning chancellor, how would he proceed?

Qu You’s mind raced. Earlier, the two of them had found the notebook containing palace secrets in Peng Yue’s residence—a significant piece of leverage against Fu Qingnian. If presented to Emperor De, he would surely realize that Fu Qingnian had orchestrated the Candlelit Pavilion case, thereby growing wary of him.

The problem lay in who would present it. If Peng Yue or Du Hui, former insiders, brought it forward, they could claim it was to beg the emperor for mercy. But if someone else did, the emperor’s first thought would be that the presenter already knew the secret of Zhenru Palace.

When mere suspicion arose, the emperor had already slaughtered scholars and students under Gu Zhiyan’s tutelage—this was the imperial family’s most guarded secret, and fewer people knowing was better.

Thus, the notebook could only serve as fuel to burn Fu Qingnian after his downfall—it couldn’t be directly presented, or it would invite disaster.

When Zhou Tan fell into Fu Qingnian’s trap, he likely already devised a countermeasure—a perilous move that might harm himself.

The Crown Prince should be aware of this plan. Last time, Zhou Tan mentioned having a common enemy with the prince, and their recent close interactions suggested they were collaborating to deal with Fu Qingnian, making it much simpler.

The Crown Prince knew, yet he still came to the estate at dawn. Judging by Zhou Tan’s expression earlier, something unexpected must have occurred.

She needed to meet with Zhou Tan to discuss.

With that thought, Qu You abruptly stood. Hexing and Nurse Yun were waiting outside the Songfeng Pavilion. Seeing her emerge, they anxiously addressed her: “Madam…”

“Nurse Yun, the guard named He San should be at the estate gate. Have Uncle De fetch him and instruct him to gather the household servants to secure the entire Western Garden. For the next few days, no one—guards, maids, cats, dogs, or even a fly—is allowed in.”

The Western Garden was where the Songfeng Pavilion was located. After issuing these instructions, she continued thoughtfully: “Nurse, for the next couple of days, ensure all entrances are strictly guarded. Suspend any unnecessary activities—gatekeeping, comings and goings, purchases. Remind everyone to focus on their duties. Any rumors outside should neither be spread nor believed. With Master absent, I rely on you to keep things in order.”

Nurse Yun reassured her: “Madam, rest assured. This is my duty, and I will handle it properly.”

“Good,” Qu You glanced at the sun and headed out. “Hexing, prepare a fast horse. We’ll head to the Gao residence. Tell the carriage driver to remove the estate’s plaque and leave through the back gate. Before we go, have Shuiyue lock up Fanghua Pavilion and instruct the servants that I’m unwell. If anyone comes calling, send them away with that excuse.”

Hexing hurriedly replied: “Yes.”

Gao Yunyue seemed to anticipate her arrival and didn’t even bother with an announcement. When Qu You reached the Gao residence, she lifted the curtain slightly, and a waiting maid immediately signaled for her to be let in.

Upon seeing Qu You, Gao Yunyue quickly grabbed her hand and led her hurriedly to the main hall: “You’ve arrived quickly. Father said you’d come looking for me and instructed me to bring you in immediately.”

The two walked briskly, Gao Yunyue gripping her tightly and comforting her: “Don’t worry. Though Master Zhou was taken away by the Golden Hairpin Guard, their commander—who owes Father a favor—can still arrange for you to visit and check on his well-being.”

Zhou Tan must have communicated with Chief Minister Gao through the Crown Prince. However, based on Gao Yunyue’s words, the excuse he used was likely to ask Qu You to settle some internal matters.

His private relationship with Chief Minister Gao was evidently better than with the Crown Prince. He had previously remarked, “Chief Minister Gao is a virtuous minister,” so it made sense he trusted her to use this route to visit. Had the Crown Prince been present, he might have grown suspicious of the seemingly distant relationship between Qu You and Zhou Tan.

Chief Minister Gao hadn’t yet changed out of his deep purple court robes. Seeing her arrive, he quickly ordered tea to be served. Qu You bowed deeply: “Greetings, Chief Minister.”

“Yunyue, you may leave.”

Chief Minister Gao spoke sternly. Though reluctant, Gao Yunyue obeyed and exited, taking the guards with her.

Only then did Qu You dare to look up and take in Chief Minister Gao. Around the same age as Fu Qingnian, his demeanor was entirely different—resolute, upright, and commanding without uttering a word.

The situation grew more complex as Qu You absorbed Zhou Tan’s revelation. Ren Shiming—unexpectedly found on the boat alongside Du Gaojun’s body—had become an unforeseen complication.

Zhou Tan leaned back slightly, his expression darkening. “I didn’t anticipate this. Initially, I thought it was just a matter of Du Gaojun’s death being linked to me due to the altercation earlier in the day. But now, with Ren Shiming discovered at the scene... it complicates things.”

Qu You frowned deeply, her mind racing. “Ren Shiming? Why would he be there? Did someone set him up?”

Zhou Tan shook his head slowly. “It’s unclear. But his presence makes it seem like he’s either involved or framed. Either way, it places suspicion not only on me but also on him. If Fu Qingnian chooses to exploit this, he could turn Ren Shiming into another pawn in his game.”

The implications weighed heavily between them. Ren Shiming’s ties to the imperial family and his strained relationship with Zhou Tan made him a volatile element in what was already a precarious situation.

Qu You pressed further: “And Song Shiyan? What does he intend by coming here so early? Does he suspect Ren Shiming is connected to you—or worse, that you orchestrated everything together?”

Zhou Tan exhaled sharply. “Song Shiyan knows about my cooperation with him against Fu Qingnian. But if he believes I’ve pulled Ren Shiming into this mess, he may see it as overstepping. Worse still, if Ren Shiming implicates himself under duress, it might force Song Shiyan’s hand prematurely.”

Qu You sat silently for a moment, absorbing the gravity of the situation. Finally, she asked, “What do we do now? Can Ren Shiming be trusted to stay quiet?”

“I don’t know,” Zhou Tan admitted grimly. “But I can’t leave him dangling like this. If Fu Qingnian presses charges against both of us, it’ll destabilize everything—including Song Shiyan’s position. We need to act swiftly.”

He paused, his gaze flickering toward the iron bars surrounding them. “There’s one advantage: whoever staged this wanted chaos. They underestimated how closely tied all these threads are. If we play our cards right, we can unravel their scheme.”

Qu You nodded thoughtfully. “If Ren Shiming survives this without breaking—and if we manage to distance ourselves from direct blame—we might yet steer the narrative.”

A faint smile returned to Zhou Tan’s face. “You always have a way of cutting through the noise. Let’s hope your clarity guides us through this storm.”

Just then, footsteps echoed down the corridor outside. The door creaked open, and a guard entered, bowing respectfully before addressing Zhou Tan. “Master Zhou, the Chief Inquisitor requests your presence immediately.”

Zhou Tan exchanged a glance with Qu You. Rising steadily to his feet, he turned to her and murmured, “Stay safe. No matter what happens next, remember—you hold the key to untangling this web.”

As he stepped out of the cell, flanked by guards, Qu You watched him go, her heart pounding with a mixture of fear and resolve. Whatever awaited them beyond these walls, she knew they would face it together—or not at all.

The moon rises, startling the mountain birds; their cries echo through the spring ravine.

Qu You still vividly remembered that name.

She was instantly alarmed: “Young Master Ren? How could he have been there?”

“I wish I knew,” Zhou Tan’s expression grew graver. “He’s been single-mindedly opposing me, even going so far as to join Fu Qingnian’s faction. I thought him young and inexperienced—aside from that past incident where I erred years ago, he shouldn’t have been able to stir up much trouble.”

“But coincidentally, yesterday he was also at Chunfeng Huayu Pavilion, dining with Du Gaojun. For some unknown reason, he lingered a little longer, and later, he was discovered on the Bian River boat alongside Du Gaojun’s corpse…” Zhou Tan trailed off, his voice heavy. “Fu Qingnian killing Du Gaojun fits my expectations. But Ren Shiming? He nearly ruined the case of the falling death and revealed many of my secrets to Fu Qingnian as an act of loyalty. And yet, Fu Qingnian still dared to make such a move against him.”

Qu You replied softly: “He is, after all, a man who spares no means.”

Zhou Tan nodded in agreement. “When Crown Prince Song came to see me, he asked if I wanted to protect Ren Shiming.”

He closed his eyes for a moment, then opened them slowly, his tone measured: “It’s troublesome, but it can be resolved—it just requires some effort. A Lian...”

Zhou Tan suddenly called her name. Qu You responded: “Hmm?”

He looked at her intently, his gaze serious, as he spoke deliberately: “When Fu Qingnian falls, I won’t emerge unscathed. The worst-case scenario is uncertain, but that letter of divorce you hold... keep it safe.”

Instinctively, Qu You reached out to cover his mouth. “Nonsense. Don’t say such things.”

Zhou Tan took advantage of her gesture to grasp her wrist lightly. His warm breath tickled her palm, making her feel a slight itch as she tried to pull away, but he wouldn’t let go. Smiling faintly, he reassured her: “Don’t worry. Such possibilities are slim. As long as I survive... I...”

As though steeling himself, he cautiously asked: “If I decide to leave Bianjing, will you... follow me?”

Qu You froze, her surprise evident despite her attempt to mask it.

After a brief silence, she answered calmly, her voice tinged with quiet excitement: “I... would naturally want to.”

________________________________________

In the second year after the Candlelit Pavilion case, Zhou Tan had been exiled to the western frontier and only returned to Bianjing when Emperor De fell critically ill, summoned back by three urgent imperial edicts. Historical records vaguely attributed his exile to “factional struggles within the Eastern Palace.”

But now it seemed... this exile had been something he sought for himself?

Seeing her remain silent for a long while, Zhou Tan felt a twitch in his left eye. Just as he prepared to speak, Qu You snapped out of her thoughts and stood up, her face subtly alight with suppressed excitement.

Her answer surprised him, but not unpleasantly.

“Of course I’ll follow you,” she said simply, her voice carrying a trace of resolve.

Zhou Tan’s lips curved into a rare, genuine smile. Despite the perilous path ahead, her unwavering support gave him strength. Together, they would face whatever storms lay beyond.