In the NanQu district of Liquanfang, there was a Western Regions tavern named "Moon's Den." Whenever dusk fell, a heady fragrance of grape wine would perfume the district, attracting princes, nobles, merchants, and scholars of Jinxiujing like flies.
Golden camel bells hung before the tavern door; at the slightest breeze, they emitted a clear and pleasant sound. Inside, Gönok carpets, woven with gold and encrusted with precious stones, adorned the walls. On the small tables were wine cups carved from tourmaline. Every detail exuded exoticism.
The very evening Razmir, having arrived in Jinxiujing, had found Ardashir and presented him with the sacred book, this group of Gönoks had come here to drink and celebrate.
Ardashir had also invited his friend Pang Duo to join their revelries.
At the four corners of the hall, copper braziers spat high flames, their dancing tongues illuminating the entire space as if it were broad daylight. The warm air was filled with the sweetness of fruit and the intoxicating perfume of spices.
The musicians, dressed in colorful costumes, were lined up in a semicircle on one side of the hall. Each held an exotic instrument and devotedly played their music.
As the music swelled, dancers, each holding a lit oil lamp, made their entrance, barefoot, lightly brushing the silk carpets that covered the floor.
They wore long satin robes of bright colors and sparkled with jewelry. Silver bells adorned their bare ankles, tinkling softly with each step. Their wrists twirled, the lamps flickered to the rhythm of their movements, the glow of the flames tracing captivating arcs in the air. Their dance, ardent as fire, alternated between mischievous sidelong glances and modestly lowered eyes, irresistibly captivating the guests.
The music gradually subsided, and the dancers slowed their rhythm until they stopped. The echo of the final melody still floated in the hall, each face, illuminated by the flames, shining with a slight flush.
Since the troubles related to the Crown Prince's attempted rebellion had calmed down, the political situation at the court of Jinxiujing was in full ferment.
Ardashir, for his merits, had been ennobled and had thus been able to establish himself in Jinxiujing.
That day, during the imperial audience, Ardashir entered the grand hall following the other dignitaries. The floor was paved with gold bricks; jade pillars supported the sky.
The emperor of the Xu kingdom sat on the dragon throne, his gaze as piercing as a falcon's, dominating the assembly.
Ardashir bowed deeply, but his heart struggled to regain its calm. He felt a majesty emanating from the emperor that brooked no argument.
This power filled him with both respect and a vague revulsion – that cold gaze lacked human warmth, as if all creatures and all things under heaven were but pawns on his chessboard.
This majestic gaze differed entirely from that of the fallen prince when he had burst into the palace grounds.
That night, at the beginning of the rebellion, when the fallen prince had led his troops into the Forbidden City, amidst the flashes of sabers and shadows of swords, he had come face to face with those mad eyes – like those of a trapped beast, imbued with an almost obsessive, terrifying fervor, yet also tinged with a hint of sadness.
After the audience, an imperial banquet was held in the palace gardens. Silk lanterns embroidered with gold were hung high, illuminating a profusion of rare flowers and plants. Ardashir stood apart from the crowd, a tourmaline wine cup in hand, but his gaze involuntarily fell upon the new Crown Prince. The latter wore a jade belt, his features were fine and clear, his smile affable. He was conversing with someone in a humble tone, devoid of his father's arrogance.
Suddenly, an old, white-haired minister stumbled and nearly fell. The Crown Prince stepped forward and supported him with both hands, saying in a gentle voice: "Minister Xu, be careful, the path is slippery tonight."
Ardashir, observing the scene from afar, felt a wave of warmth rise within him.
At that moment, the new Crown Prince, as if sensing his gaze, nodded and smiled at him from a distance, a gleam of sincere kindness in his eyes. Ardashir's heart was slightly moved; he raised his cup in response.
If the emperor was a majestic conqueror, leading his empire like a shepherd leads his flock, the new Crown Prince, for his part, possessed a greater share of compassion and gentleness. Perhaps he was better suited to become the guardian of these lands.
Many guests were already deeply intoxicated; some, slumped in their seats, had fallen asleep embracing a dancer. Razmir, in a comically inebriated state, was declaiming songs loudly. Pang Duo was arm-wrestling with some merchants from the Western Regions, their laughter and joyful exclamations echoing in the night.
Ardashir, meanwhile, left the banquet hall, his body sweating, to get some fresh air in the courtyard.
In the center of the courtyard grew a few fruit trees. A night breeze brought with it a light fruity fragrance.
He nonchalantly picked a red pomegranate and, with the silver knife with a rhinoceros horn handle that he wore at his belt, finely cut off a segment which he brought to his mouth. The fruit's flesh was a mixture of acidity and sweetness. The initial acidity made him grimace slightly – Gönok pomegranates were, after all, more purely sweet.
Ardashir, with an amused air, took a sand lizard from his tunic, placed it in his palm, and put a few pomegranate seeds before its snout. But the little creature turned its head and refused to eat.
He smiled and, looking around, spotted a snail. He approached it slowly, placed the sand lizard on a nearby leaf, then observed the "hunt" that was about to unfold.
The lizard's small, bright black eyes locked onto their target. Suddenly, its tongue shot out, and the snail was swallowed in an instant, leaving behind only an empty spiral-shaped shell.
Then, it raised its head towards its master, as if waiting, full of confidence, for praise.
Ardashir couldn't help but laugh softly and lightly stroked the scales on its back.
The sand lizard, excited by its master's caress, went so far as to lick the ring on Ardashir's finger, its tongue brushing against the gem set on the bezel.
He bit into the pomegranate he held again, its sweet-sour taste and fresh fruity fragrance dissipating the effects of the alcohol.
The night grew thicker. The cool glow of the moon, the quietness of the courtyard, the sweet scent of melons, all mingled into a peaceful atmosphere. Ardashir narrowed his eyes slightly and finally lay down on his back, directly on the ground, contemplating the two moons suspended in the sky. He gently patted the earth with his hand and hummed a song in the Gönok language.
Suddenly, he smelled a fragrance of roses after the rain, as fresh as new dew.
How was that possible? It hadn't rained in Jinxiujing for half a month.
He followed the scent and perceived, deep within a flower bed, two slender figures moving cautiously, holding scented candles, seeming to search for something with their heads bowed.
"Miss, let's go back quickly, the curfew will soon sound."
"No, it was I who insisted on coming to see the flower festival, and it's because of me that you lost that very important gold hairpin. I absolutely must find it."
"Losing the hairpin isn't serious. But if we delay any longer and get into trouble, the master and the young master will blame us."
"No, no, if someone picks it up, we'll never find it again!"
They whispered among the flowers.
As they spoke, the sand lizard suddenly poked its head out, discreetly slipped out of Ardashir's sleeve, crawled into the flower bed, quickly weaving between their feet, and in passing, swallowed a praying mantis that was resting among the flowers. The two young girls let out a cry of surprise, recoiled a few steps in fright, and looked suspiciously towards the back of the flower bed.
Just as they were recovering from their fright, they looked up and noticed a figure not far away – it was a tall, slender young man from the borderlands.
At that moment, the sand lizard, as if obeying a silent order from its master, docilely climbed onto Ardashir and snuggled into the pocket of his tunic.
The young lady seemed surprised for a moment, but she immediately straightened up, frowned slightly, and asked in a falsely assured and rather unfriendly voice: "You... who are you?"
Ardashir tilted his head, a mischievous glint in his eyes, and retorted: "And you, who are you? Could you be searching for a treasure?"
"We..." The maidservant was about to speak, but the young lady grabbed her hand, a certain anxiety in her voice. However, before she could finish, they heard the sound of heavy footsteps behind them; the glow of a patrol's lanterns was approaching.
Ardashir's expression darkened. He said in a low voice: "Follow me."
Then, without giving them time to argue, he swiftly led them away and guided them into the small courtyard of the Moon's Den, allowing them to escape the patrol's sight.
The sound of the patrol's footsteps faded away; the night regained its calm. They heaved a sigh of relief. The one called "Miss" said softly: "Thank you."
Ardashir observed them. In a hesitant voice, in the Xu language, he said: "Where do you live? What if I escort you back? I have this."
With that, he took out a bronze plaque engraved with a flying tiger. Pang Duo had told him that with this, he could move freely in Jinxiujing.
She hesitated slightly. Thinking that this man from the borderlands, since he had helped them, was probably not a bad person, she immediately replied: "My name is Wei, and this is Rong."
Ardashir tilted his head with a smile. "My name is Ardashir. The people of the Xu kingdom like to call me A'Shi. Let's go, I'll take you home."
Wei bit her lip lightly and shook her head: "But we haven't found the hairpin yet."
"Miss..."
"I can't give up on your gold hairpin."
Hearing this, Ardashir asked: "Is this object very important to you?"
Rong lowered her eyes: "It's a memento my mother left me."
Ardashir's expression grew slightly more serious: "Then it is very precious."
A Gönok dancer, carrying a tray of melon and fruits, approached gracefully, dressed in a gold and red gauze skirt, the silver bells on her wrists tinkling lightly.
She bowed respectfully before Ardashir, twirled, sat cross-legged, and engaged in conversation with him in the Gönok language, a smile on her lips.
Wei and Rong understood nothing, merely staring wide-eyed, amazed by the dancer's dazzling beauty.
The dancer handed over an oil lamp made of lacquered glass. Ardashir took it and said to them: "Come with me, I might have a way to help you search further."
Ardashir stood at the edge of that patch of grass in the district, scanning with his eyes for several turns. He murmured something in a low voice before the oil lamp, then bent down, poured the hot oil onto the ground, and set a clump of dry grass on fire. The fire spread quickly, and the small patch of yellowed grass turned into a blaze.
When the fire subsided, an odor of ash filled the air. Ardashir, holding the oil lamp, took a small silver mirror from his pocket.
A golden glint flashed from the ashes, dazzling.
He bent down to pick it up: it was that hairpin of sparkling gold, its body engraved with sinuous foliage patterns, of astonishingly fine workmanship.
"It's true, gold does not fear fire," said Wei, who was still staring blankly at the ashes.
Rong lowered her head and gently caressed the gold hairpin, as if consoling an old friend found after a long separation.
Ardashir, observing the hairpin, suddenly asked: "What is this flower... on the top?"
"You mean this? It's duckweed," said Rong, pointing to the head of the hairpin.
"I have never seen this flower."
Rong smiled: "Rather than a flower, it's an herb. In summer, on ponds, one often sees these small green leaves floating, very light."
Ardashir half-understood but nodded seriously, as if he had understood perfectly.
When Rong put the gold hairpin back in her hair, "It's pretty," he let slip. This compliment made Rong's cheeks blush.
Rong looked up, met his serious gaze, and said softly: "Sir, how can I thank you?"