The Beauty Within the Gates
Chapter 14
The Wen family’s ancestral home was in Fengcheng. Back in the day, Emperor Wenchang, in gratitude for Old Master Wen’s devotion, had specially arranged for this residence to be built in Fengcheng, an unintended stroke of fortune that later became the Wen family’s retreat.
After the current emperor ascended the throne, Old Master Wen was demoted, and the entire family moved back to Fengcheng. The once-grand front gate of the mansion was dismantled and replaced with a modest, house-style entrance.
A stone screen wall painted with pines and bamboo, a simple, unembellished corridor, nothing imposing at all. Only after stepping through another gate did the intricately carved beams and painted rafters come into view, revealing the mansion’s former glory.
Wen Shuse returned with eagerness burning in her heart, walking ahead with Aunt Qing leading the way, while Xie Shao and the Old Madam Xie followed a few steps behind. According to Old Madam Wen’s instructions, a servant had led them to the Xinyuan Hall, where tea was served first to welcome them.
Barely half a cup of tea had passed when voices were heard outside. Wen Shuse’s heart tightened. She craned her neck to peer out through the window’s wooden lattice and saw Old Madam Wen stepping down the corridor, accompanied by Aunt Cao and two maids.
After days of upheaval and longing, Wen Shuse couldn’t be bothered with appearances or whether anyone might mock her lack of composure. She stood up and rushed out the door, pausing on the threshold before hurrying down the steps, looking at the elderly woman now past her sixties, and called out with a trembling voice, “Grandmother.”
Before Old Madam Wen could respond, Wen Shuse lifted her skirt and quickly descended the hall, running forward to throw her arms around her. “I missed you so much, Grandmother.”
Raised by Old Madam Wen since childhood, their bond was as deep as that of mother and daughter. As a little girl, Wen Shuse would often leap into her grandmother’s arms whenever she was happy. But after growing up and learning propriety, she had long stopped being so willful.
This sudden embrace brought tears to Old Madam Wen’s eyes. She took a deep breath, and all other thoughts faded. Gently patting her granddaughter’s shoulder, she replied in a hoarse voice, “As long as you’re home, that’s all that matters.”
The grandmother and granddaughter embraced in the courtyard, pouring out their longing for one another. Inside the room, Old Madam Xie was growing increasingly uneasy. She turned to glance at her grandson, who sat beside her looking thoroughly bored, and leaned in to advise him in a hushed tone, “That old fox of the Wen family is extremely shrewd. Whether or not you can bring your sweetheart home today depends entirely on you. Stay sharp when the time comes, think about how your eldest and third brothers usually speak. Mimic a thing or two of his, enough to reassure that old schemer. Didn’t your eldest and third brothers manage the same?”
Of all the people in the Xie family, Old Madam Xie was the only one who dared speak to him bluntly.
Earlier, Xie Shao had repeatedly assured her that Second Wen was the love of his life, only for those words to now become a trap of his own making.
Before Xie Shao could respond, the group outside began making their way inside. Old Madam Xie immediately straightened up, her expression turning solemn. She hastily turned to Xie Shao. “Quick, do I look alright? Do I seem energetic enough?”
She had gone out of her way to dress up for the day, even asking Nanzhi to touch up her powder before getting out of the carriage. Whether it was nerves or the effect of the makeup, her pale complexion just the day before, now looked noticeably rosier.
Xie Shao gave a helpless nod. “You look energetic.”
Still not satisfied, Old Madam Xie straightened her back and declared, “No, I’m going to the door to greet them.”
Just as Old Madam Wen was about to step over the threshold, she suddenly remembered Old Madam Xie’s face and paused mid-step. She turned to whisper to Wen Shuse, “My face doesn’t look bad, does it?”
Wen Shuse, still holding her grandmother’s arm, leaned in and whispered with a grin, “Grandmother, you look radiant.”
No sooner had the words left her mouth than a figure suddenly emerged from within the room, calling out in a booming voice, “Aiyo, dear sister! It’s been far too long since we’ve seen each other!”
Madam Wen looked up and instantly recognized the old fox standing before her. The two of them had been on each other’s tongues more than once over the past few days.
And so, though just yesterday both had been bedridden, they now summoned every ounce of their energy and spirit, determined not to let the other see the slightest trace of frailty.
Despite having cursed each other a thousand times in their hearts, they still had to maintain decorum in person. Old Madam Wen smiled and said, “Isn’t that the truth? It’s been almost half a year. I heard you were unwell recently, Old Madam. I had meant to come visit, but was delayed by matters at home. I hope you won’t hold it against me.”
As she spoke, she turned to Nanzhi and instructed, “Old Madam Xie has a delicate constitution. The usual tea won’t do, go bring something warm and nourishing…”
Old Madam Xie’s expression stiffened slightly. “It was only a bit of a toothache, nothing serious. No need for you to trouble yourself, dear sister.” Then she added pointedly, “You weren’t well yourself last time, and I too was swamped with obligations and couldn’t find the time to pay you a proper visit…”
In their youth, they had competed over who secured a better marriage. Once wed, they vied over whose husband loved them more. With children, it became whose offspring were more accomplished. And now, in their twilight years, aside from family prestige, what remained was to prove whose health was sturdier.
Neither would concede on spirit, and certainly not on words.
Precisely because they had known each other for so long and had once sat together gossiping about other noble households, they both knew how this game was played. That old madam from this family lacked proper virtue, not worth befriending. That old madam from that family was far too scheming; better be wary.
Now that the two families had become the laughingstock of this farce, both sides could well imagine how much the other must have been badmouthing them behind their backs.
Each woman was nursing their own grievances as they entered the room. Only then did Old Madam Wen’s attention shift away from Old Madam Xie, her gaze settling on Xie Shao instead.
She had only heard of him by reputation before, but now, seeing him in person for the first time, his face immediately brought to mind the letter her granddaughter Wen Shuse had sent home, saying she’d been dazzled by the Third Young Master.
Admittedly, his looks were just the kind to catch a young lady’s fancy, but a pretty face couldn’t fill a belly. When it came to character, how could he compare to the Eldest Young Master…
As the group entered, Xie Shao stood up and gave a formal bow in greeting. “Junior Xie Shao pays respect to Old Madam Wen.”
Instead of securing the solid, dependable grandson-in-law she had hoped for, Wen Shuse had set her heart on a famously prodigal son of Fengcheng. What kind of life could two spendthrifts possibly build together? Madam Wen felt no particular enthusiasm and responded with a brief nod, saying nothing more.
The maids and servants brought in fresh tea. For a while, the only sound in the room was the delicate clinking of porcelain lids on tea cups. Then even that faded, leaving behind a heavy silence.
The atmosphere fell into sudden stillness. No one spoke. Everyone in the room was fully aware of the awkwardness hanging in the air, and yet no one was willing to be the first to address it.
At last, it was Old Madam Wen who broke the silence, politely asking Old Madam Xie, “Is Chancellor Xie not at home?”
Old Madam Xie was caught off guard and answered truthfully, “Last month, Old Madam Ruan took a bad fall. He escorted my daughter-in-law to Quanzhou half a month ago to see her.”
“No wonder,” Old Madam Wen said softly, setting her teacup down. “When Chancellor Xie was in office, his reputation resounded throughout Great Feng. His discernment was unmatched, his integrity unshakable, and his trustworthiness beyond question.”
When it came to the match between their grandchildren, she and that old fox Xie had both made missteps. There was no use blaming anyone now.
But her own granddaughter had already been married into their household for over ten days now. She had been counting every excruciating hour. If that old fox Xie had even a sliver of conscience, she should have come bearing explanations long ago. Instead, she played deaf and dumb, even going so far as to detain the girl and refuse to let her come home.
Truly, a case of moral decay in old age…
Old Madam Xie’s eyelid twitched. That was clearly a jab, insinuating that her character was now worse than even her own son’s…
But she wasn’t about to back down. “Speaking of reputation, how could anyone compare to your esteemed Old Master Wen – a royal tutor to emperors, mentor to the ruler of the realm? When it comes to character and integrity, who would dare claim to surpass the Wen family?”
Two elders already with one foot in the grave were now locked in a war of words, their barbed tongues clashing. Everyone else sat tense and silent, not daring to utter a sound.
Wen Shuse had witnessed this sort of scene before. Inwardly, she couldn’t help but think, turns out even the older generation bickers just like the petty children, digging up ancestors’ glories and mocking descendants…
But both matriarchs quickly realized how unseemly this was in front of the juniors.
Old Madam Wen turned to Wen Shuse and said in a gentle tone, “It’s been quite some time since you’ve been home. You must miss your old courtyard. Why don’t you go take a look?”
Wen Shuse rose and left, and only then did Old Madam Xie snap back to her senses.
What was she doing…
A few words from that old woman, and she’d lost her composure entirely, too busy winning the argument to remember her true purpose of coming today. She quickly turned to Xie Shao and said, “No need to sit here listening to us elders chatter, go keep Shuse company.”
____
As she stepped out of the room, Wen Shuse took a deep breath and glanced back toward the door with concern. She asked Xiangyun beside her, “They’re not going to start fighting, are they?”
Xiangyun shook her head emphatically. “Definitely not. The old madams still care about saving face.”
True enough. Even someone as hot-tempered as herself hadn’t lashed out at Xie Shao that night, knowing full well that in front of the elders, she couldn’t act freely. But if she didn’t find a way to vent, the anger in her chest would never settle.
She just happened to need to return to her courtyard, not that there was anything left to pack. Before she was taken away, all her belongings had already been sold off and converted to silver notes. Her true purpose lay in the neighboring compound.
She needed to see Ming Wanrou.
Last time, when Wen Shuse was punished and sent to the countryside estate, Ming Wanrou had cried so hard her eyes had swollen from guilt. But before she could even greet her upon returning, she was suddenly married off to the Xie family.
Now, all of Fengcheng knew that the Third Young Master of the Xie family had married the Second Miss of the Wen family; she could only imagine how frantic Ming Wanrou must be.
The Xie and Ming family mansions were next to each other, separated only by a narrow alley barely three meters wide. Whenever the two girls couldn’t meet openly, they would prop a ladder against the rear courtyard wall for their clandestine conversations.
Aunt Qing had been sent into the house to check if anything had been overlooked, so Wen Shuse was only accompanied by Xiangyun.
After setting up the wooden ladder, Xiangyun climbed up first and called out, “Young Lady Ming…!”
From the other side of the wall came an immediate response, “Is that Second Miss Wen? My lady has been thinking of you for days; she’s hardly been able to eat. Please, Second Miss, wait just a moment. I’ll fetch her right away.”
—
By the time Xie Shao came out, Wen Shuse was already gone.
Inside the room, the two old matriarchs were likely still engaged in their war of words. It wasn’t appropriate for him to remain there. He had never been to the Wen Mansion before and wasn’t familiar with the layout.
Unfamiliar with the grounds, it would be unwise to wander around aimlessly.
He was just debating whether to step outside for a walk and return later, when he looked down and noticed the embroidered shawl draped over his arm. With no better option, he turned and began walking down the corridor to the right.
He had made it halfway when a young gentleman appeared from the opposite direction, approaching quickly. From afar, he called out, “Third Young Master!”
Xie Shao recognized him. It was Wen Meng, the eldest son of the Wen family. Half a year ago, he had gone to the Eastern Capital with Old Master Wen. He must have returned recently because of the family marriage matters.
Xie Shao nodded in greeting. “Eldest Young Master.”
“I just received word from the servants that you had arrived,” Wen Meng said, stepping aside and gesturing politely. “I apologize for being late and for any lapse in hospitality. I hope you’ll forgive me.”
Then, with a slight bow and a welcoming hand, he added, “We’ve prepared a bit of tea, nothing fancy. I hope you won’t mind.”
With Wen Shuse’s father and elder brother absent, it was only proper that the eldest brother take on the role of host.
Xie Shao had nowhere else to go anyway. “Thank you. I would be honored.”
Last year, Wen Meng passed the provincial examination and earned the title of gongshi. With Old Master Wen’s influence, he had secured early placement at the Hanlin Academy, currently serving as a junior compiler at the Imperial Institute. Though the position carried no official rank yet, his future prospects were exceedingly bright.
As they walked, Wen Meng kept up a steady stream of polite conversation with Xie Shao until they arrived at a secluded courtyard. Their view upon entering was immediately blocked by an ornamental rock garden. With a graceful gesture, Wen Meng gestured ahead. “This way, Third Young Master.”
Xie Shao stepped forward. Once he passed the rock garden, his view suddenly opened up to reveal an elegant open hall where a long tea table had been arranged.
Master Wen was in the midst of preparing tea, with a guest seated across from him.
At the sound of footsteps, the guest, who had been facing away, slowly turned around. As fate would have it, it was the very same man Xie Shao had encountered the day before: Minister Pei, Pei Yuanqiu.
“Xian Wei? What a coincidence!”