The Beauty Within the Gates
Chapter 17
The midday meal was set in the Old Madam’s main courtyard.
Xie Shao still hadn’t made it back in time, but sent someone ahead to deliver a message to Old Madam Wen, “The young master says he’s sorry, there’s an urgent matter at hand, and he had to leave first. He will visit the Old Madam another day.”
Old Madam Xie was quick to speak up from the side, “What a pity he lacks the fortune to enjoy Elder Sister’s splendid feast today. One less person means one less pair of chopsticks, so we’ll have to eat more ourselves…”
At first, the servants had been worried about how the day’s events would end, but after Old Madam Xie had simply taken a stroll around the garden, the two elderly madams returned hand in hand, as if their relationship had gone back to what it once was.
That earlier quarrel seemed to have blown away the knot in both their hearts. Old Madam Wen beckoned Aunt Qing over. “Later, when you return to the mansion, send this rice cake to the young master.”
“Yes, Madam.”
Today was Wen Shuse’s first return home since her marriage. Before lunch, after seeing off the guests in his quarters, the Eldest Master Wen brought the members of the second branch to the Old Madam’s courtyard to pay their respects.
The Eldest Young Master, the Eldest Young Lady, and the Third Young Lady all came; only the main wife was absent.
With the second master away from the mansion, Eldest Master Wen was the acting head of the family. It should have been his role to host the visiting son-in-law, but as luck would have it, Minister Pei came calling today. Eldest Master Wen had intended to use the midday meal as an opportunity to share a few cups with Xie Shao to make up for not sending the wedding procession personally that day, but the man had left early. Feeling somewhat guilty, he waited until the two Old Madams were deep in conversation before turning to Wen Shuse with a kindly expression.
“Gao Xian, are you doing well in the Xie household?”
Her uncle had always treated her with warmth since childhood. Wen Shuse nodded, “Everything’s been fine.” Remembering the picture album of the Eastern Capital he had sent her, she added, “I received the painting from Uncle. The Eastern Capital looks so lively.”
Eldest Master Wen smiled. “If you like it, then next time I’ll find a chance for you to see it with your own eyes.”
Wen Shuse agreed, then asked, “When will you be leaving, Uncle?”
“Tomorrow.”
Wen Shuse was taken aback. “So soon?”
“Affairs at court are busy, and I’ve already been delayed for quite a few days. It’s time to return.” He glanced toward the women standing nearby. “Your two sisters-in-law, as well as your eldest sister and third younger sister, will be going with me.”
Seeing her surprise, he added, “Your aunt and concubines will remain here at the estate to look after the Old Madam. A few days ago, I sent word to your father, and he should be returning soon as well.”
No wonder the First Madam was nowhere to be seen. Unable to go to the Eastern Capital, she must be seething with resentment.
Who knew when they would next be reunited? Eldest Master Wen reminded her, “If there’s anything you need my help with, just write to me.”
Wen Shuse nodded. “All right.”
When the banquet ended, Eldest Master Wen returned to his courtyard, and the two Old Madams closed their doors to speak in private, leaving only a few of the younger generation in the courtyard.
Among the Wen family’s younger generation were the Eldest Young Master, Second Young Master, Third Young Master, the Eldest Young Lady, Second Young Lady Wen Shuse, and the Third Young Lady.
The Second Young Master had become a disciple of an esteemed scholar in the Eastern Capital, but his master’s strict rules made it impossible for him to break away and return home. The Third Young Master was currently in Fuzhou with Second Uncle, occupied with fishing. Thus, only four of them were present today.
The Eldest Young Master handed Wen Shuse the gift he had brought from the Eastern Capital. “Second Sister, see if you like this. I didn’t know beforehand that you were the one getting married. As for the wedding gift, I will make it up to you next time I return to Fengcheng, or when you come to the Eastern Capital.”
Originally, it was supposed to be the Eldest Young Lady’s wedding banquet. No one had expected the bride to turn out to be her instead. Wen Shuse accepted the gift, which was a box of Heart-Character Incense.
Heart-Character Incense is a type of scented tablet infused with the fragrances of gardenia and jasmine. Nowadays, it can only be found in the Eastern Capital. Wen Shuse liked it very much and thanked him joyfully, “Thank you, Elder Brother. This is more than enough.”
The Third Young Lady, like the Second Young Master, was born of Concubine Lin. Perhaps because she had long been suppressed by the main wife, her nature was innately timid. She handed Wen Shuse an embroidered pouch she had made herself, her face flushing as she said, “I wish Second Sister and Second Brother-in-law a harmonious union for a hundred years, and hearts forever intertwined.”
She delivered the line as if reciting from a book, too nervous to look up. Wen Shuse reached out to take it, offering her a warm smile. “Thank you, Third Sister.”
The Eldest Young Lady, who had remained silent nearby, seemed to have something private to say to Wen Shuse. Sensing this, the Eldest Young Master and the Third Young Lady tactfully excused themselves.
Although she hadn’t ultimately ‘stolen’ her Eldest Young Master, she had, in a way, taken over her intended marriage. Wen Shuse felt a pang of guilt and spoke first, “I wish you a smooth journey tomorrow, Eldest Sister.”
Wen Suning did not respond immediately. She looked at her for a long moment before letting out a soft sigh. “Being like this… are you truly happy?”
Wen Shuse’s expression faltered.
“Grandmother is old now. I can understand that you don’t want to upset her. But a person’s lifetime of happiness cannot simply be erased.”
Wen Suning had been clever and sharp-witted since childhood, handling matters with a cool head much like Old Master Wen. Wen Shuse wasn’t surprised she had seen through it. “Then what do you think I should do, Eldest Sister?”
“There are dozens upon dozens of prefectures across Great Feng. Fengcheng is just one small place among them. Second Sister, why not lift your head and look farther ahead? It’s not uncommon for young women to leave unsatisfactory marriages. It doesn’t necessarily mean there’s no way out. Why must you make yourself suffer?” The Eldest Young Lady pressed her, “Have you thought about the future?”
Seeing Wen Shuse remain silent, Wen Suning continued, “Father holds a post in the Eastern Capital. The Wen family will have to move there eventually. This time, considering Grandmother hasn’t fully recovered her health, Father left Mother and the concubine behind at the mansion to care for her temporarily. Once Grandmother is better, everyone will move to the Eastern Capital.”
Wen Shuse’s brow furrowed slightly. “Does Grandmother know? Does she want to go?”
“Whether she wants to or not, what choice does she have?” Wen Suning stated. “Second Uncle and Third Brother are constantly traveling for work and can’t manage family affairs. Mother and Father can’t live apart forever, stuck in Fengcheng.”
“Besides, how can Fengcheng compare to the Eastern Capital? The family moving there is a step up. Where can’t Second Uncle do business? The journey from Fuzhou to the Eastern Capital is actually shorter. Eventually, we could sell the family assets here, use the funds to establish ourselves there, wouldn’t that be better than staying in Fengcheng?”
Wen Shuse understood her meaning. “Uncle wants to set down roots in the Eastern Capital?”
“Everything I’ve said today is my own opinion and has nothing to do with Father and Mother,” Wen Suning drew the line clearly, then added, “But I’ve done the calculations.”
“While Father and our two elder brothers are in the capital, they can stay at the official lodgings, which are relatively cheap to rent. But once the family women go as well, we can no longer all squeeze in together. According to the rental prices in the Eastern Capital, a house barely fit for us would cost sixty to ninety strings of cash per month. As for buying property there, a poorer-quality house would cost over five thousand strings, while a better one would be around fifteen hundred strings. So, thinking long-term, buying is more economical. Even if we were to move out later, given the Eastern Capital’s land market where every inch is worth its weight in gold, we could sell it for double the price.”
Wen Shuse nodded. “It does sound cost-effective. You should discuss it with Uncle and have him buy one then.”
Wen Suning’s expression stiffened. “Second Sister, how can you can’t possibly not know? With Father’s salary, how could he afford such a thing?”
Wen Shuse understood. “You mean… You want me to sell off all the shops and properties in Fengcheng, and use that money to buy a house in the Eastern Capital?”
“Why not?” Wen Suning no longer circled around. “Once Fengcheng’s properties are sold, Second Uncle and Third Brother can go to the Eastern Capital to expand their business. It will surely be better than what they have in Fengcheng. You could come with us to the Eastern Capital too. Once there, who would still know about your past? You could have your pick of fine young men. Is it really worth throwing away your whole life, settling with some dissolute wastrel?”
“And this mansion here?”
“The mansion in Fengcheng is still worth something now. But once the court begins stripping the fiefdoms’ power, its value will only fall. Better to sell it sooner, before…”
“Wen Suning!” Wen Shuse was trembling with anger, her head buzzing. She finally understood the meaning behind Aunt Cao’s earlier hesitation.
So, this was their scheme.
All pretense of cordiality vanished from Wen Shuse’s face. She glared at the Eldest Young Lady, her words gritted out between clenched teeth, “If you dare lay a finger on this mansion, I will make you regret it.”
—
After lunch, following a brief period of sitting, it was time for the Xie family to take their leave.
Old Lady Wen still had words for Wen Shuse and sent Aunt Cao to find her. Aunt Cao searched around before finally spotting a figure in a secluded courtyard.
“Second Young Lady…” she began, but before she could deliver the message, Wen Shuse, who was sitting on a rock with her knees drawn to her chest, turned around. Her face was streaked with tears, her eyes swollen from crying.
Aunt Cao was startled. “Good heavens, what’s happened to our little mistress?”
Knowing her grandmother was looking for her, Wen Shuse hurriedly wiped the tears from her face and stood up from the rock.
Aunt Cao rushed forward, turning to blame Aunt Qing, who was behind Wen Shuse. “Who bullied our Second Young Lady?”
Before Aunt Qing could answer, Wen Shuse asked her directly, “Auntie, tell me, are they plotting against this mansion?”
Aunt Cao froze. The main wife had been visiting the main hall several times a day lately about this very matter. She had meant to tell the Second Young Lady earlier, but had been interrupted by the Old Madam and found no good opportunity to bring it up.
Aunt Cao’s face suddenly changed. Could it be they had already pressed this matter onto the Second Young Lady herself?
She didn’t need to answer. Just reading her face, Wen Shuse understood.
“Don’t worry,” Wen Shuse said, her voice suddenly hoarse. She couldn’t hold back two soft, choked sobs. “My father and brother are here, and I’m alive and well. Grandmother doesn’t need to go anywhere. I will take care of her. As for this mansion, this mansion… It was Grandfather’s honor. It’s the very lifeblood of Grandmother’s heart. How dare they even…”
“Now, now, don’t cry.” Aunt Cao’s heart ached seeing her like this. She soothed, “If the Old Madam sees you like this, it will break her heart.”
This worked. Wen Shuse didn’t dare cry anymore. She tilted her head back slightly, forcing the tears to recede, and hurriedly instructed Xiangyun, “Quick, go get a piece of ice! I need to press it on my eyes.”
Old Madam Wen had been waiting for a while when she finally saw her. The redness around her eyes was gone, but they were still slightly swollen. The Old Madam noticed immediately and frowned. “What happened?”
“Your granddaughter gets terribly sleepy right after eating,” Wen Shuse explained. “I went to lie down in the courtyard for a while just now. Woke up, and well… my eyes puffed up like this.”
Old Madam Xie was also present. She smiled and said, “Sleeping right after a full meal makes the eyes swell easily.” She promptly rose and yielded her spot, saying to Wen Shuse, “I’ll go wait for you in the front courtyard. No hurry, take your time talking with your grandmother.”
What needed to be said, Old Madam Wen had mostly already discussed with Wen Shuse earlier. Now, before she left, there was just something to hand over.
“Old Madam Xie might be stubborn, but her heart isn’t bad. She’s a straightforward person. Your days in the Xie family might actually be better than I imagined.” Knowing Old Madam Xie was waiting, Wen Shuse’s grandmother didn’t plan to chat long. She had Aunt Cao bring over the prepared box and placed it in Wen Shuse’s hands. “I didn’t give this to you before because I was afraid you were used to being lavish and would squander it all. But now that the Third Young Master has had the nerve to entrust the family’s account to you, I have nothing to worry about. Besides, it was all earned by your father and your brother. It’s only right for you to spend it.”
The box contained all the Wen family’s deeds for their shops, land, and fields in Fengcheng.
With this, the Wen family’s entire property was essentially all handed over to Wen Shuse. Old Madam Wen, surprisingly, felt a sense of relief. With nothing tangible left in her hands, she wouldn’t be a target for anyone’s schemes anymore.
Now married, Wen Shuse belonged to another family. Even with the thickest skin, one couldn’t very well go chasing after her to the Xie Mansion to demand things.
Wen Shuse hung her head, staring at the box in her hands for a long time without speaking. Old Madam Wen noticed and tilted her head to look at her. “What is it?”
“Grandmother.” Before the Old Madam Wen could react, Wen Shuse suddenly threw her arms around her. “Even if I have to become a nun in this lifetime, I won’t leave you alone in this mansion. When Father returns, if he doesn’t wish to stay in Fengcheng, I will come back to the Wen family. I will come back to stay with you.”
“Nonsense,” Old Lady Wen chided gently. “You’ve only just married, and already you’re speaking such nonsense? I’m currently annoyed by all the gossipy mouths in this mansion; they’re deafening me. What use would I have for you coming back to keep me company?”
—
It was after midday when Wen Shuse finally left the Wen family with Old Madam Xie.
Seeing her reluctant expression, Old Madam Xie comforted her, “Anyway, the two families live close by. When you have time, you can come visit often.”
Meanwhile, Xie Shao was just returning from outside the city, heading to the shop to find Cui Nan.
Cui Nan was currently dealing with the Xie family’s Second Young Lady, Xie Mingying.
“I told you, I didn’t bring any silver with me today. Can’t you just put it on my Third Brother’s account?” The delicate young girl spoke in a tone that made her sound utterly pitiable.
Unfortunately, in Cui Nan’s eyes, there was only money. “I’m truly sorry, Second Young Lady Xie. Perhaps you are unaware, but your Third Brother doesn’t have an account book here. Our friendship may be good, but even between real brothers, accounts must be settled clearly. Believe me, even if your Third Brother were to go bankrupt someday and couldn’t afford a meal, I wouldn’t give him a single coin out of pity.”
Xie Mingying was taken aback and scolded him, “What kind of friend does that make you? I’m going to tell Third Brother…”
And just as she spoke of him, he appeared.
Xie Shao stepped down from the carriage, one foot stepping onto the shop’s threshold. He didn’t enter, nor did he waste words. With a single glance at Cui Nian, he said, “Come out.”
At once, Cui Nian’s demeanor flipped to one of utmost deference. Tossing the account book aside, he hurried after him. “Brother Xie, wait for me…”
“Third Brother…” Xie Mingying, snapping out of her daze, quickly chased after them.
Xie Shao had no time to deal with her. He shoved Cui Nan into the carriage and simply tossed out one curt command, “Go find your sister-in-law.”