The Beauty Within the Gates
Chapter 27
The Wen family’s shops have all been mortgaged?
The Eldest Madam was taken aback, thinking this was utter madness. But then, considering the current grain prices, she found it understandable. Who wouldn’t be tempted by such readily attainable profits?
Under the pretense of inquiring about the grain situation, the Eldest Madam was actually trying to find out just how much grain Third Young Madam had hoarded beyond what was stored in the Xie family’s courtyard.
If even the Wen family’s shops had been mortgaged, then it was likely that most of the grain in Fengcheng was already in her hands.
And yet, she still wasn’t satisfied.
After entering, the Eldest Madam overheard Wen Shuse and the Old Madam discussing mortgaging the Xie family’s shops. Old Madam Xie remarked, “Our Xie family’s rouge and face powder shops have never resorted to the gimmicks of the Cui family. We’ve always operated on thin margins and high volume, with inherently low profits. We hardly earn much in a year, so if they can be mortgaged, then mortgage them.” She glanced subtly at the Eldest Madam and added to Wen Shuse, “Once your grain is sold, the returns will surpass ten years of the shops’ earnings.”
Wen Shuse inclined her head slightly. Sitting upright on the round stool, her cheeks flushed a delicate pink, her face radiant with confidence.
With cash depleted and the shops mortgaged, wouldn’t the Xie family be left with nothing? The Eldest Madam never imagined the two would be so audacious. A sense of unease lingered in her heart. “You’re putting all our eggs in one basket. What if…”
“It’s grain we’re hoarding, something nobody can do without. What ‘what if’ could there be?” The Old Madam cut her off. “If we profit from this grain purchase, won’t it be easy for Chengji to acquire property in the Eastern Capital? We’re all family, we help where we can. I trust that when the second branch faces hardship one day, you’ll lend a hand as well.”
The Eldest Madam froze for a moment, and when she finally registered what had been said, a rush of joy surged through her chest. Tugging lightly at the silk handkerchief in her hand, she let out a bright laugh. “Mother, what are you saying? This is a family matter. How could my husband and I possibly stand by and do nothing?”
She believed the Old Madam was referring to subtle dealings within official circles.
Although Second Master once held the lofty title of Chancellor, that was all in the past. Now that he had resigned from office, he was no different from any commoner. Once her own eldest son went to the Eastern Capital and achieved success, the future of the Xie family would have to depend on their eldest branch.
What use was all the Second Branch’s wealth? Without official backing, they would only draw envy and trouble.
It would be best if they understood that.
With the Old Madam’s words today, and with that Wen Shuse present to hear them, there was no way for them to deny it later, and the Eldest Madam’s spirits soared. It felt as if the grand mansion in the Eastern Capital was already within her grasp. Her tone grew light and cheerful as they continued chatting.
For the first time in a while, they conversed for a full incense stick’s worth of time. When the Eldest Madam left the Old Madam’s courtyard, the gloom that had lingered on her face for days finally lifted, her mood radiant once more. “I must go and ask the Master how the war in Luo’an is progressing…”
___
On the third day, news arrived that war had erupted between Luo’an and the Western Capital. The price of rice began to soar wildly.
Two hundred coins, two hundred and twenty, two hundred and fifty…
Outside, long queues formed in front of the grain shops, while the stacks of large burlap sacks in the Xie Mansion’s courtyards appreciated wildly in value with each passing day.
Not just rice, Wen Shuse was also hoarding wheat and every other imported grain she could find, buying them up at steep prices. She even had ten or so porridge stations built throughout the city, where common folk could come to receive free porridge. The only rule was that none of it was for sale.
When the Eldest Madam learned of this, her heart ached. Was that porridge they were ladling out, or pure silver being poured away?
Each day, several people came to report the latest grain prices to her, and as she watched the numbers climb higher and higher, her heart pounded with excitement until she could hardly close her eyes at night.
Though the profits wouldn’t fall directly into her hands, they still belonged to the Xie family. The second branch’s fortunes in officialdom had run their course, but the eldest branch’s rise was just beginning. Once they reached the Eastern Capital, wouldn’t everything be under their control?
By the fifth day, the price of rice had surged to three hundred coins. Unable to bear the tension any longer, the Eldest Madam went to Wen Shuse, suggesting they start selling off some of their stock.
But Wen Shuse remained unhurried. “Let’s wait a little longer. It’s still rising, isn’t it?” she said lightly.
The Eldest Madam couldn’t shake her fears from the previous armory incident. If the court from the Eastern Capital moved to weaken the local lords and seize their grain reserves, they wouldn’t recover a single coin. Yet, just as Wen Shuse had pointed out, the price of rice continued to climb. Selling even a day earlier would mean significant losses. Caught in this dilemma, she pressed her husband, Eldest Master Xie, relentlessly for any news from the court.
But Eldest Master Xie had no clear answers to give.
After news arrived that Jing Wang was trapped in Qingzhou, Madam Zhou had not dispatched Eldest Master Xie to provide support outside the city. Instead, she ordered him to guard the city gates alongside Shizi Zhou.
Qingzhou had already been suffering from drought, and now, with the outbreak of war, news from the front lines was slow to arrive. Elder Master Xie himself had no clear grasp of the situation.
By the eighth day, the Eldest Madam could no longer stay still. She went again in search of Wen Shuse, but just as she stepped out of her courtyard, she ran into Elder Master Xie returning from outside.
Seeing his hurried expression, she felt her heart leap to her throat. Pressing a hand to her chest, she asked cautiously, “What’s happened?”
Fearing the shock might be too much for her, Elder Master Xie replied at once, “The matter with the armory has been resolved. Consort Yang in the palace intervened on their behalf, and His Majesty did not punish anyone…”
The news had just arrived that very day from the Eastern Capital. Shizi Zhou had received it first, and Elder Master Xie had been present as well. They both heard it clearly.
Pei Yuanqiu had indeed taken both the witnesses and the evidence to the Eastern Capital, and during the morning court session, he openly accused Jing Wang of secretly manufacturing weapons and plotting rebellion.
The evidence was irrefutable. The Crown Prince immediately volunteered to lead a campaign against Zhongzhou to quell the rebellion. But before he could finish, Consort Yang’s father, Minister Yang, suddenly interjected, “Your Majesty, this minister believes there may be some misunderstanding.”
“Every household keeps knives for butchering cattle or sheep,” Minister Yang said mildly. “At most, these are some toy weapons children play with. How could they be counted as weapons?”
Minister Yang crouched down and addressed the manager of the armory in a gentle voice. “Don’t be afraid. Jing Wang followed His Majesty through countless campaigns from the south to the north. They are not only sovereign and subject, but bound like father and son. His Majesty would never wrong him. I only have a few questions; answer them truthfully, and that will be enough.”
The manager, who had been dragged all the way by Pei Yuanqiu, was pale and haggard, prostrated on the floor, not daring to lift his head.
Minister Yang asked, “What kinds of weapons were there?”
The man trembled as he replied, “S-spears and blades… all kinds…”
“How many spears?”
“F-forty… forty thousand or so…”
“Forty thousand what? Since you manage the armory, you should know the numbers precisely. Give the exact figure.”
“Forty… forty-five thousand eight hundred…”
“Were they long spears or fire-lances?”
“Both…”
“Are all of them red-tasseled spears?”
The manager nodded.
“And the blades, what were they like? How long were they?”
“Seventy-five centimeters.”
“How many blades were there?”
The manager hesitated. “Also over forty thousand.”
“Forty thousand and what?”
“Forty-six thousand, seven hundred and eighty.”
“So, it appears Jing Wang did indeed harbor treasonous intentions,” Manister Yang said slowly as he rose to his feet. Then, suddenly turning his head, he barked sharply, “How many spears did you say?”
Startled by the sudden change in tone, the overseer flinched. His mind, already muddled with fear, went blank. Stammering, he blurted, “F-forty-six thousand… six thousand, five hundred…”
A person who has told the truth will not contradict themselves the second time.
Minister Yang smiled faintly, raised his hand in salute to the Emperor, and said in a clear voice, “Your Majesty, it seems this witness has been forced into a confession under torture.”
Pei Yuanqiu’s expression darkened. “What does Lord Yang mean by this?”
Minister Yang ignored him and addressed the manager directly. “His Majesty himself is present today. If you dare utter even half a false word, forget your wife and children, your crimes of deceiving the Emperor and falsely accusing a member of the imperial clan would be enough for His Majesty to execute your entire clan.”
The manager turned ashen, collapsing to the floor. “Th-th-thi… this humble servant…”
Pei Yuanqiu’s original plan had been to gauge the Emperor’s true stance toward Jing Wang, even if the campaign against Fengcheng failed. But who could have expected this meddling Minister Yang to suddenly interfere?
Although Pei Yuanqiu had made every preparation to ensure the manager would never implicate him, this unforeseen disruption had rendered all his careful maneuvering useless.
Sure enough, the manager bit down on a poison pill hidden in his mouth, collapsing to the ground in convulsions. Before the Imperial Physician Xuan could even be summoned, he fell still.
Pei Yuanqiu let out a cold sneer. “Lord Yang, you’ve literally driven the witness to his death.”
“Driven him to death? Wasn’t it the one who hid the poison in his mouth who truly killed him?” Minister Yang, a man of unyielding nerve, confronted Pei Yuanqiu directly before the Emperor. “You were the one who brought this man forward, Lord Pei. You should know best. If it wasn’t you, then you’ve clearly been deceived. Someone is attempting to drive a wedge between His Majesty and Jing Wang, turning father and son against each other with drawn blades. Such sinister motives deserve death.”
The Yang family, by marriage, was considered distant relatives of the Wang clan. Pei Yuanqiu had never anticipated that the Yangs would suddenly oppose him. Caught off guard, he found himself at a disadvantage.
Even so, his expression remained calm and composed. “This man came forward voluntarily to expose the truth when I was returning to my hometown. The Dali Temple has handled countless cases and examined countless witnesses. Are you suggesting I personally procured every single one?”
While he had managed to absolve himself of any blame, the overall situation was already beyond salvage. The court officials surely had their own judgments of the situation in their hearts.
The Crown Prince’s face darkened noticeably.
This was especially true when the Emperor spoke, “Such lowly, insignificant individuals dare to falsely accuse a prince of our great Great Feng. It seems they take me for a fool. I am deeply appalled! This compels me to suspect that the two princes previously imprisoned may also have suffered wrongful accusations.”
His gaze swept across the court, landing coldly on Pei Yuanqiu as he said, “The Dali Temple is the ultimate arbiter of Great Feng’s laws. If investigations are not thorough and judgments are mistaken, the empire could fall into chaos.”
Pei Yuanqiu’s heart jolted. He lifted his robes and knelt to accept blame. “This official failed in his oversight. I beg Your Majesty to punish me.”
The Emperor did not actually punish him, but merely left him with the words, “Reflect carefully on this,” before dismissing the court.
After walking some distance, the Crown Prince caught up to him and spoke earnestly, “Father, set your mind at ease. I will investigate this matter thoroughly and see that justice is done for Jing Wang.”
“It comforts me to hear you say this, Crown Prince,” the Emperor replied, looking at him. It was unclear whether he intended it as a warning or merely spoke them without deeper thought. “In the future, the stability of our nation will depend greatly on your brothers. Do not allow others to drive wedges between you, lest you sever your own most vital supporters.”
As soon as the matter was resolved, Consort Yang immediately sent someone to deliver the news to Fengcheng.
Upon receiving the letter, Shizi Zhou was overjoyed and turned to rush back to the Jing Wang’s mansion to report to Madam Zhou.
The affair had now been laid to rest, and judging by the court’s stance this time, it seemed there was no intention to revoke the Jing Wang’s feudal authority. There was also no need to maintain defenses at the city gates.
The fact that Wen Shuse had hoarded grain was known throughout Fengcheng. Pressured by his wife’s constant questioning over the past few days, Eldest Master Xie decided to return in person to deliver the update.
Eldest Madam’s anxious heart finally settled. Pressing her palms together, she murmured, “The gods have protected us.” If the court had truly moved to revoke the prince’s powers, how could the Xie family, as the deputy envoys of Fengcheng, have emerged unscathed?
At worst, the family would have been destroyed; at the very least, they would have suffered severe losses.
With the feudal system intact, the grain was now safe. All that remained was to sell it at a high price and reap substantial profits. Unable to contain her excitement, Eldest Madam tugged at her husband’s sleeve and asked mysteriously, “Master, do you know the current price of grain?”
How could Eldest Master Xie not know? It had already tripled. Madam Zhou was also growing concerned. “You’ve profited enough; have Old Third sell quickly,” she urged. Profiting off a national disaster must never be taken too far.
“I know.”
—
By the ninth day, the price of rice had soared to 350 coins per dou, yet even at that price, a single dou of rice was impossible to obtain.
Not just Eldest Madam Xie, but even the usually steady Nanny Fang and Aunt Qing were growing anxious, pacing restlessly. Aunt Qing had lost count of how many times she had asked, “Miss, when are we going to sell?”
Wen Shuse sat quietly beneath the pear blossom tree in the courtyard, her expression calm as she gazed at the covered corridor across the way.
At noon, Xiangyun finally appeared under the corridor, hiking up her skirts as she called out to Wen Shuse, excitement bubbling in her voice, “Mistress, they’re here, they’re here…”
Only then did Wen Shuse rise from her chair. She had Nanny Fang stand guard at the door and allowed only Aunt Qing and Xiangyun to enter the room.
“Aunt Qing, it’s been a long time since you returned home, hasn’t it? Why don’t you go back to see your family?”
Aunt Qing froze. “This servant… has no home.”
She had married twice, and both husbands had died, earning her the reputation of a cursed woman in her village. Her parents and brothers all shunned her. Back then, they had shoved a bundle into her arms and declared, ‘If you die, die outside. Don’t come back and drag us down.’
Later, she came to Fengcheng and was fortunate enough to encounter the Wen family’s Old Madam. Had the Old Madam not given her a bowl of rice, she would have starved to death. In her heart, the Wen family was her home, and the Wen family’s masters were her family.
But Wen Shuse said softly, “You do have a home.” She exchanged a look with Xiangyun. Xiangyun immediately turned and went into the inner room, pulled a large bundle out from under the bed, and handed it to Wen Shuse.
Wen Shuse invited Aunt Qing to sit before her. “Aunt, you’ve watched me grow up. I lost my mother young and was raised by my grandmother. She has worked hard her entire life, raising three generations single-handedly. I cannot bear to see her golden years troubled by financial worries.”
“My father is away all year, returning only briefly twice annually, always in a rush that he scarcely has a chance to fulfill his filial duties toward Grandmother. I often wonder if such a life is truly worthwhile. The eldest branch constantly expects him to earn more, but when has money ever been enough for anyone? However much one makes, it never satisfies. What exactly is ‘a little more’? As long as the land still stands and people are still alive, money can always be earned. If others keep expecting him endlessly, then rather than living under such expectations, it would be cleaner to sever them entirely.”
Aunt Qing had never heard Second Young Lady speak this way before. These heartfelt words revealed that beneath the young woman’s seemingly carefree exterior lay profound clarity of thought.
Remembering how the Old Madam often worried about when her granddaughter would mature, Aunt Qing’s eyes instantly grew wet. In a soft voice, she asked, “Does Miss have some plan in mind?”
“I will not sell the grain in the storerooms. After tomorrow, the Xie family and the Wen family will be completely bankrupt, left with nothing.”
Before Aunt Qing could even process those words, Wen Shuse pushed the bundle toward her. “Aunt, you have always served by Grandmother’s side. I trust you. Take these banknotes. A carriage will be waiting outside the west side gate in a little while, arranged by Old Madam Xie. Uncle An will be inside as well. Take these and go to the Eastern Capital to buy several properties. Deposit whatever remains in the bank there. Remember, you must not breathe a word of this to anyone, not even Grandmother or my husband. As far as anyone knows, you are merely returning to your hometown to visit family.”
Aunt Qing froze in shock.
Xiangyun opened the bundle for her. Inside were stacks of banknotes, each one worth a thousand taels.
Aunt Qing jolted in disbelief. “Miss… didn’t you say you had no money left?”
Ever since the grain price began rising, Wen Shuse had behaved as if possessed, constantly hoarding more and more. The Wen family’s shops, the Xie family’s shops, anything that could be mortgaged had already been mortgaged. Her eyes held nothing but grain. Who would ever suspect she still had silver hidden away?
The price of grain changed every moment. In barely ten days, it had soared to the heavens. No one had the faintest idea how much she had spent or how much she had secretly kept aside.
Aunt Qing understood instantly. She straightened her expression and said solemnly, “Miss, rest assured. This old servant will see it done.”
—
Half an hour later, chaos erupted outside.
The Eldest Madam received the news while reclining on her couch. She nearly forgot to put on her shoes as she leapt up and rushed to Wen Shuse’s courtyard. The moment she stepped through the door, she demanded of Nanny Fang, “Where is Third Young Madam?”
Hearing the commotion, Wen Shuse simply closed her eyes and feigned sleep in her armchair. Eldest Madam swept aside the curtain and stormed in. Without bothering to check if she was actually asleep, she rushed forward and exclaimed, “You must release the grain reserves immediately, the sooner, the better!”
Wen Shuse opened her eyes, a look of confusion on her face. “What’s happened?”
“I’m afraid it may already be too late.” The Eldest Madam had no time to explain. “Remember, no matter who comes asking for grain later, you must not give it to them. Don’t worry, as long as you and Old Third stand firm, your uncle and I will handle the pressure from outside…”
Before she could finish, Nanny Fang entered to announce, “Third Young Madam, the Old Madam requests your presence.”
The Old Madam had likely caught wind of the situation as well.
Fearing that the two might yield too easily, Eldest Madam pressed on, “We’ve never skimped on paying our taxes. In times of war, it’s the state treasury’s duty to supply provisions. What can we possibly do if they come begging now? That grain was bought with hard silver. If they want it, they’ll have to pay the market price to acquire it.”
The Eldest Madam had initially assumed that without the court’s policy of reducing feudal powers, peace would prevail. Who could have predicted the flames of war in Luo’an would rage even fiercer?
The Crown Prince had initially dispatched troops without any real intention to ignite a full-scale war. Based on past experience, it was merely another border friction. Yet, this time, Western Capital responded in earnest, deploying a massive army to engage them.
Since there had been no true intention to fight a prolonged battle, their grain supply had not been prepared adequately. Three days later, provisions on the front line began to run dangerously low.
With no signs of action from the Crown Prince’s camp, they could neither abandon their territory nor withdraw their forces, let alone send soldiers into battle on empty stomachs. The army had no choice but to dispatch several units to seek grain supplies from various regions. One such unit, upon reaching Qingzhou and finding the region stricken by natural disasters, had no option but to press onward to Fengcheng.
The soldiers had entered the city gates just an hour earlier and immediately sought out Madam Zhou at the Prince Mansion. Both Deputy Commander Xie and Magistrate Xie were summoned to the Prince Mansion, and Elder Master Xie lost no time in sending word to Eldest Madam.
As the two women hurried toward the Old Madam’s courtyard, Eldest Madam continued her fretful murmuring, “This is precisely why every family must have someone serving in the government. That stockpile of grain may be impressive, but it also attracts envy. Without your uncle and eldest brother to shield us this time, there’s no telling if we could have held onto it.”
As for that wastrel Old Third, how could such a fop ever be relied upon? At a time like this, he hadn’t been seen for days. Who knew which pleasure house he was drowning himself in now?
On the second day after grain prices began to rise, Xie Shao had gone outside the city together with Pei Qing.
With the Prince trapped, Elder Master Xie was responsible for guarding the city and could not leave, and Shizi Zhou was even less permitted to leave. But someone had to go investigate the Prince’s situation. Not trusting the men under his command, Zhou Kuang had turned to his two sworn brothers. After much pleading and maneuvering, he finally managed to send the two out of the city.
They truly had been gone from the mansion for several days.
Wen Shuse nodded in agreement. “Aunt is right, a family truly cannot do without an official in its ranks.”
Thinking of how stubborn Wen Shuse had been earlier, and how she was now bowing her head after all, the Eldest Madam felt a surge of satisfaction. She lifted her chin with the air of a proper matriarch and led Wen Shuse into the Old Madam’s room.