The Beauty Within the Gates
Chapter 13
The traditional wedding tea ceremony had been skipped, so there hadn’t been a chance to formally meet before. This was also the first time Wen Shuse saw Old Madam Xie, and she had expected a stern, rigid old woman. To her surprise, the elder turned out to be warm and kind.
The gentle call of “Shuse” startled her for a moment. Nanny Fang, standing nearby, softly reminded her, “Third Young Madam, this is the ancestral matriarch of the Xie family. She’s been unwell and, fearing she might bring ill fortune to a newlywed, she hasn’t allowed you to pay respects until now.”
That single sentence gracefully dissolved the awkwardness everyone tacitly understood. This is proof of just how important a tactful servant could be to their master.
Wen Shuse stepped forward to greet her, following Xie Shao in respectfully addressing her.
“Grandmother.” She had never been one to hold grudges, and faced with a smiling elder, she responded with equal warmth.
“Good child,” said Old Madam Xie, studying her from head to toe before asking kindly, “Are you settling in well here at the mansion?”
Wen Shuse nodded. “Everything is fine.”
Though Old Madam Xie hadn’t met her in person until now, she had summoned Nanny Fang to her quarters every day. Everything Wen Shuse did had reached her ears, no tantrums, no demands to return to the Wen family. Old Madam Xie was quite pleased. Her biggest fear had been that, if she didn’t end up marrying the eldest grandson, she might throw a fit, crying, making scenes, or threatening her life. That would have truly been a headache.
Last night, she’d even heard, word for word, how Wen Shuse had handled the Eldest Madam’s maid, leaving her speechless. Old Madam Xie had laughed heartily at the amusing parts.
She knew how to ask where the silver was spent and even knew where the Cui family’s cosmetics came from. A granddaughter-in-law like that, compared to her own prodigal grandson, gave her real peace of mind.
She had already changed her opinion of her before they even met. Now, seeing her in person, she liked her even more. Fearing that once she left, she might never want to come back, she gently tested the waters, “It’s getting late. Let’s go visit your grandmother at the Wen family first. When you return tonight, you and I can have a good, long chat.”
Wen Shuse was stunned. Was Old Madam Xie going too?
Previously, it had taken her immense effort just to persuade Xie Shao to accompany her back to her family home, and she’d already counted that as a blessing beyond expectation. But now that Old Madam Xie would go along as well, such a grand gesture was something she wouldn’t have dared dream of, even in her sleep.
Seeing her fall silent, Old Madam Xie tilted her head and asked, “What’s the matter? Not happy to have Grandmother come along?”
Ever since the Wen and Xie families had schemed against each other and both failed to get their way, the two sides had remained deadlocked, neither willing to back down. Now that Old Madam Xie was taking the initiative to cross that line, Wen Shuse felt deeply moved; how could she not be delighted?
She wasn’t the type to beat around the bush. Without hesitation, she dropped to her knees with a thump, as if making up for the missed wedding tea ceremony, and said crisply, “Of course I’m happy. Your granddaughter-in-law thanks, Grandmother.”
“What are you kneeling for? Get up, quickly…” Old Madam Xie reached out in a fluster to help her up, and the nearby maids and attendants all rushed forward to assist as well.
Up front, the group was laughing and chatting like one big happy family, the atmosphere warm and harmonious. Xie Shao and Minzhang stood off to the side, completely confused, still trying to figure out what had just happened, when Old Madam Xie turned around and called out,
“Xianwei, it’s getting late, help Shuse into the carriage.”
The sun had already climbed high, casting light over the General’s Gate of the Xie Mansion. It really wasn’t early anymore.
Seeing Old Madam Xie already fully prepared and clearly set on going, Xie Shao knew there was no point in trying to stop her. He instructed Nanny Fang to look after the old madam, then helped Wen Shuse into a carriage at the rear.
The rhythmic clip-clop of hooves carried them forward, each step bringing them closer to the Wen family mansion.
Counting the months she had spent at the country estate, Wen Shuse felt as though she hadn’t been home in ages. She thought of her grandmother’s smile, of the courtyard she’d filled with flowers and plants. The jostling of the carriage faded from her mind. She wished she could sprout wings and fly straight to the Wen Mansion.
But clearly, the person beside her did not share in her joy.
Xie Shao sat with his hands resting on his knees, a nearby wooden lattice window open at his side, watching the alley walls and stone pavements slowly slide past outside, bored out of his mind.
Feeling almost guilty for her own excitement, Wen Shuse glanced at the silent man beside her and took the initiative to break the ice. “So, husband’s courtesy name is Xianwei?”
Xie Shao turned his head. The young lady beside him instantly straightened her back and sat upright, putting on a proper, dignified posture. “My surname is Wen, and my given name is Shuse.”
Xie Shao: …
A mocking smile tugged at his lips. “Second Young Lady Wen, Shuse, fair and lovely. A fitting name indeed.”
For a moment, she’d been so happy she nearly forgot this man had a tongue sharper than a blade.
“I only mentioned it because you always call me ‘Second Wen.’ I was worried you didn’t know my name, so I kindly reminded you. Wouldn’t want us to slip up later.”
Xie Shao raised a brow. “Slip up how?”
Seeing his confusion, Wen Shuse silently thanked herself for bringing it up in advance and quickly helped him piece it together. “Didn’t we make an agreement that day? The three rules? In public, we’re husband and wife. And since we’re playing that role, shouldn’t we at least act a little affectionate in front of my family?”
“Not necessarily.” The man beside her coldly doused her hopeful little fantasy with a splash of icy water. “Not all married couples are affectionate. Many are sick of the sight of each other, some have affairs, others favor concubines and neglect their wives. Far from rare. Fengcheng has no shortage of such examples.”
He glanced back at the wide-eyed young woman before him and added, as if lecturing, “Only couples who truly like and love each other can share that kind of affection.”
As soon as the words left his mouth, he regretted them. Since when did he talk so much? He must’ve listened to too many of those Western Xia love songs last night.
Just as he was about to cut off the conversation and close his eyes for a nap, he heard the young woman beside him, speaking in a voice full of grim determination, “Then just pretend that I love you.”
Xie Shao: …
—
The Wen Mansion sat along the Huimin River to the south, while the Xie Mansion was built near the eastern moat. Looping around via the streets outside Jing Wang Mansion and the government offices formed a clean angle that brought you straight down to the southern district.
Today, the Wen family’s gatekeeper had just welcomed one guest earlier. He had barely made it back to the door and hadn’t yet caught his breath when the sound of carriage wheels rolling echoed from the alley outside once again.
The eldest son of the Wen family served as an official in the Eastern Capital, and the second master had long been stationed in Fuzhou, so the Wen Mansion was rarely lively. Visitors were few and far between. The gatekeeper muttered to himself, what auspicious day is it today? He poked his head out for a look and was stunned.
One carriage after another filled the narrow alley, slowly advancing toward the gate. The leading carriage had already arrived at the door. The horses were jade-green roans with golden bridles; the carriage body and wheels were both forged from brass. Under the shade of the green canopy hung two lanterns, each boldly inscribed with the character “Xie”.
In all of Zhongzhou’s Fengcheng, aside from the former household of Minister Xie, what other Xie family could put on such a grand display?
The carriages soon came to a steady stop in front of the entrance, and a group of maids and attendants clustered around an old madam as she descended from the lead carriage.
The gatekeeper took one look and hurriedly turned back, excitedly whispering to a maidservant behind the carved screen wall, “Quick, go report to the Old Madam! The Xie family’s Old Madam is here!”
Ever since she learned that her scheme had backfired, costing her not only her plans but also her beloved granddaughter’s hand in marriage to a notorious noble prodigal, Old Madam Wen had taken to her bed, too ill to rise. At first, she refused even a drop of food or water. Only after receiving the portrait Wen Shuse sent home did she slowly regain some strength.
In the past ten days, her thoughts hadn’t rested for a moment. She had come up with all sorts of schemes, even considering sending someone to sneak into the Xie Mansion and rescue Wen Shuse. But the Xie Mansion was built like an impenetrable fortress, leaving no chance to make a move.
She figured, if nothing else worked, she’d go publicly. Even if she had to throw away her dignity and reputation, she’d go to the mansion herself and demand Wen Shuse back.
As she was still calculating her options, a maid rushed in and reported, “Old Madam Xie has arrived! Second Young Lady and the Young Master are back as well.”
Old Madam Wen’s expression stiffened, momentarily stunned. She stared blankly for a moment before suddenly sitting upright in bed, struggling to get out. “That old fox! She actually has the nerve to show up at my door.”
At the same time, she urged Aunt Cao, “Quick! Help me get ready, I must look my best…”
—
The Xie and Wen families had been close for generations, which was how this marriage was arranged in the first place. Years ago, Old Madam Xie had even visited the Wen Mansion as a guest.
But that was then, and this was now. Things were far more awkward today.
But by sheer accident, the Wen family had delivered a granddaughter-in-law who truly satisfied her. Having gained the advantage, she couldn’t very well keep acting aloof. Since she was making this visit, she had to show sincerity.
Spring weather was fickle, warm one moment, cold the next. Today, Wen Shuse wore a soft yellow dress with a matching sash across her shoulder. Xiangyun held a light, thin brocade shawl in her hands, worried she might get cold later, ready to drape it over her when needed.
Old Madam Xie noticed this, and as the two approached, she said to Xiangyun, “Hand the shawl to the young master.”
Xiangyun, being quite the straightforward type, didn’t wait for Xie Shao to respond. She lowered her head, walked over, and directly handed the shawl to him. Xie Shao had no choice but to reach out and take it.
The creamy white brocade was soft and fine to touch, embroidered with vibrant red blossoms that stood out brilliantly against the deep azure of his sleeves.
Such a flamboyant, girlish fabric was obviously a young lady’s accessory. Xie Shao frowned slightly, still processing what had just happened, when the girl beside him gave him a bright smile and said, without the slightest hesitation, “Thank you for your trouble, Husband!”