The Beauty Within the Gates
Chapter 32
Leaving Old Madam’s quarters, his footsteps had none of their former carefree ease. The cash vault was empty, the shops were gone, and all that remained in his pocket were a mere two or three taels of silver.
Where could he go?
There was nowhere to go. Listlessly, she returned to the garden. The courtyard lay in utter silence, and even the pear tree outside the east wing, once in full, arrogant bloom, now showed signs of withering. All the intricately carved beams and painted rafters that filled the courtyard suddenly felt like nothing more than an enormous, hollow shell.
Pushing open the door to the east wing room, he collapsed listlessly onto the couch. With both arms pillowed his head, and he closed his eyes, hoping to catch some sleep. Though he had slept well past sunrise that morning, and felt little drowsiness now.
After a while, he opened his eyes and stared blankly at the canopy overhead. Finding no solace there, he turned his head and met Minzhang’s wide-eyed gaze. Minzhang looked at his young master with a face full of sympathy. “Why don’t we go find Shizi Zhou and have him think of a solution…?”
What would we find him for, so I can go take a post as some petty official?
Minzhang suggested again, “If you have nothing else to do, Young Master, why not go and have a chat with the Third Young Madam?”
Go see her?
He still wanted to live a few more years.
Sleep remained impossible, so he turned over and rose from the couch. From the dusty bookshelf, he pulled out a volume, gave it a shake, and then settled lazily into an armchair, one leg propped up as he flipped through the pages.
At least it gave him a way to pass the time. He kept reading until evening, when Nanny Fang came to set the table. “Third Young Master, it’s time for dinner.”
Two plates of simple vegetables and three or five steamed buns, compared with what he’d had at noon, the difference was like heaven and earth.
Seeing his hesitation, Nanny Fang explained, “All the rice in the mansion was taken away last night, and this month’s grocery funds haven’t been settled. The butcher shop stopped delivering this morning, so there’s no meat left. Whatever remained in the kitchen, the Third Young Madam had it all cooked for you at noon. Now we only have some wheat left. The third Young Madam had it made into steamed buns, saying you should make do with this for tonight. She’ll try to figure something out tomorrow, perhaps borrow a little from outside.”
The contrast was simply too stark.
To go from wealth to ruin overnight, and now he couldn’t even afford a proper meal?
Nanny Fang added, “If Young Master can’t stomach this, I could go see the Eldest Madam.”
Although the second branch of the family was said to be bankrupt, the Eldest Master Xie still drew his official salary. This time, when buying grain, the eldest branch hadn’t contributed a single coin; they suffered no losses at all. The second branch had supported the eldest branch all these years. Now that the second branch was in trouble, surely the eldest branch couldn’t just stand by and do nothing.
Just as Nanny Fang finished speaking, a loud cry and scolding rang out from outside. “What kind of people are these? Their consciences must’ve been eaten by dogs! Look at how Second Master and Second Madam treated them in the past, and now see what they’ve gotten in return…”
Nanny Fang hurried out. It was a sturdy maid from Wen Shuse’s courtyard. Hearing her wailing so loudly, Nanny Fang asked, “Third Young Master is still inside, what’s all this about?”
Seeing Nanny Fang, the maid seemed to have found someone to sympathize with and cried even harder. “Nanny, you wouldn’t believe it. This morning, Third Young Madam was worried Third Young Master might not be used to plain food, so she sent me to the other kitchen to see if there was any meat left to make dumplings for him tomorrow morning. But then a maid from Second Madam’s side snatched it right out of my hands, saying it was needed to make porridge for their little young master. She said if Third Master and Third Young Madam wanted to eat, they should buy it with their own money.”
Growing more aggrieved, she burst into a loud sob. “Last time, when Second Young Master was detained at Drunken Fragrance Pavilion, if it weren’t for the money Third Young Master gave, he might not even be back by now. And what about the Eldest Young Lady, Second Young Lady, and the Eldest Madam? Haven’t they taken plenty of silver from Third Young Master? And today, over just a few pounds of beef, we finally see their true faces…”
Xie Shao had just lifted a chopstickful of vegetables to his mouth and was still chewing. The faint, astringent bitterness on his tongue, paired with the crying outside, seemed to paint his misery and fallen state in the deepest, harshest colors.
They really wouldn’t let a man have a moment of peace.
He set down his chopsticks, pulled open the door, and, ignoring the looks on the faces gathered outside, called for Minzhang and strode out of the mansion in haste.
At night, the bridge market was even livelier than during the day. Under the glow of lanterns, shadows of bustling figures flickered behind the carved railings and lattice windows of the upper-floor pavilions.
Minzhang followed behind him, weaving through the crowds. They walked from one end of the street to the other. The aroma of wine drifted out from taverns and dark alleys, tempting the senses and testing one’s resolve. Yet, no matter how enticing the thoughts, the reality was that only two or three taels of silver remained in his sleeve.
No one knew how long they had walked before master and servant finally chose a secluded, deserted bridge.
Leaning back against the stone railing, Xie Shao gazed at the lively lights in the distance, then tilted his head back and took several gulps from one of the two jugs of cheap wine Minzhang had bought with a single tael of silver. The liquid burned all the way down his throat, scorching his insides.
Apart from its harshness, there was no trace of fragrance to speak of.
What did the wine from Drunken Fragrance Pavilion taste like again?
Minzhang watched him take one swig after another, seemingly unfazed, before pulling out a steamed bun from his robe and nibbling on it slowly. Halfway through, he sensed a gaze beside him and turned to see his master staring at him. Assuming it was pity, Minzhang cracked a grin and reassured him, “This servant doesn’t feel the slightest bit wronged. I like eating steamed buns. When I was little, I couldn’t even get them…”
Xie Shao interrupted, “Got any left?”
Minzhang: ……
—
A half-tael jug of wine had more kick than the Drunken Immortal served at Drunken Fragrance House. After a night of heavy drunkenness, he didn’t wake up until late in the morning.
Nanny Fang carried a bowl of meat porridge into the west wing room. “The Third Young Madam went to the pawnshop first thing this morning. She pawned her own jewelry and exchanged it for some meat and rice. She said Third Young Master should eat and rest well here at home. She’s gone back to the Wen family to see if Eldest Young Lady Wen might be willing to lend some money.”
Xie Shao: ……
He’d slept a whole night, yet life was still just as miserable.
Staring at the precious bowl of meat porridge before him, Xie Shao wondered when he had sunk so low as to rely on a woman to support him. He turned and instructed Minzhang, “Send someone to hurry along the old master and his wife. Tell them their idle son and daughter-in-law are starving to death, and that he’d better come back and earn some money quickly.”
But even if Second Master and Second Madam rushed back now, distant water couldn’t quench an immediate thirst. He then glanced around the room. “See if there’s anything of value left in here. Take it all and pawn it.”
Minzhang’s eyes immediately went to the bow and arrows hanging on the wall.
Xie Shao’s eyelids twitched. “Not that.”
Minzhang then looked at the tiger skin.
“Even more impossible.” That was the first big game he had ever hunted in his life.
His gaze drifted again, this time to the saddle.
“No.”
Then there was nothing of real value left, unless, of course, they pawned his clothes, pants, or belt.
Minzhang fell silent.
Xie Shao pressed, “Really, nothing of worth?”
Minzhang thought for a moment. “Perhaps, Young Master could go see Second Young Master. He still owes you five hundred taels.” Back at Drunken Fragrance Pavilion, Second Young Master had explicitly said it was a loan.
“Do you think he has it?”
Minzhang shook his head.
“There you have it, then.”
After a moment of silence, Minzhang offered a rare opinion of his own. “This servant thinks it wouldn’t be so bad if Young Master accepts the post and receives a salary. Deputy Xie sounds quite respectable, doesn’t it?”
No sooner had the words left his mouth than he received a daggered glare.
—
The downfall of the second branch had to be resolved somehow. They couldn’t very well let Third Young Master and Third Young Madam truly starve to death. Before the morning meal, Old Madam summoned everyone to Ningxin Hall.
Wen Shuse was not present today; she had gone back to her maiden home. From the second branch, only Xie Shao was present.
The eldest branch’s Master Xie was also absent. The Eldest Madam arrived with a few of the younger generation. As soon as everyone was seated, the atmosphere felt entirely different from usual.
The Eldest Madam turned her head aside, while the younger ones each kept their eyes lowered. None of them called out “Third Brother” with their usual affection; instead, they all avoided looking in Xie Shao’s direction entirely.
Old Madame Xie swept her gaze over the assembled faces, her heart as clear as a mirror. She asked the Eldest Madam, “Where is the Eldest Master?”
The Eldest Madam replied, “The Prince Mansion has been very busy these past few days. He couldn’t get away and left before dawn this morning.”
Old Madame Xie didn’t press the matter further. Instead, she got straight to the point. ” You’ve all seen the state of the second branch. There isn’t a single coin left. With Second Master and Second Madam away from the mansion, as the elders of the family, you can’t just stand by and do nothing. Besides, in the past, all the household expenses were covered by the second branch, and a considerable amount has been spent over the years. They’ve also supported you all in many ways. Now that they’re facing difficulties, we are one family. We should look out for each other and help them get through this challenge.”
But how exactly were they to get through it?
This time, the second branch was truly left with nothing, completely bankrupt. Could it be that the eldest branch would have to support them from now on? These past two days, having woken from her dream of sudden wealth, the Eldest Madam had been constantly worried that the second branch might turn around and ask them for money.
And now, it had finally happened.
The Eldest Madam had already prepared her speech. “It’s not that we won’t help. Everyone here knows exactly how much the Eldest Master’s salary is. It’s just that little fixed amount. And with so many mouths to feed in our household, counting even the ones in Concubine Gu’s courtyard, our eldest branch supports dozens of people. The second young master’s wife has just given birth not long ago. Not to mention the mother still needs nourishing supplements, the newborn is still an infant. Then there are the daily household expenses and the monthly wages for the servants. And from now on, we’ll also have to take care of you, Old Madam…”
She swallowed a breath, bitter and aggrieved, her heart truly pained. “We were living perfectly well before, but now this new bride has ruined the family. How are we supposed to survive from now on…?”
She simply couldn’t understand, after Second Wen had caused a disaster of this scale, why hadn’t Old Madam or Old Third thrown her out yet?
Hearing this, Old Madame Xie let out a cold snort. “Oh, so now you know how heavy the household expenses are. Yet all those years when your entire eldest branch was being fed and supported by the second branch, how come I never once saw you shed tears for their sake?”
Eldest Madam choked on her words. “Mother, how can you say that? It’s not that our eldest branch won’t help, we simply don’t have the silver on hand…”
Old Madam Xie’s temper flared instantly. “And now that the second branch has no silver either, are you saying you all should just stop living?”
Instead of feeling the slightest guilt, Eldest Madam, pressed by Old Madam’s rebuke, simply laid her cards on the table. “It’s not as if we didn’t warn Old Third before. We told him long ago that the warehouse shouldn’t be handed to a new bride who had just entered the family, but he wouldn’t listen. When Third Young Madam was hoarding grains, I reminded her more than once to sell them early and secure everything, but she just wouldn’t be satisfied. Now she’s drained the entire family fortune, who’s to blame?”
She shot a glance at Old Third across from her, but didn’t dare to meet his eyes. Her gaze slid away, and she turned her head. “Besides, doesn’t Old Third still have an official post waiting? Once he takes office, he’ll receive a salary.”
He’s a grown man, can’t he support himself?
“Mother knows that Chengji is about to leave for the Eastern Capital. We still have no idea where to gather the money for that trip. And now something like this has happened at home, aren’t we being pushed straight onto a dead end?”
Having made her position clear, she added, “As your son and daughter-in-law, we should fulfill our filial duties toward you, Mother. I accept responsibility for all the expenses related to your household. But beyond that, our eldest branch truly has no money to support idlers.”
Who could possibly afford to support Old Third with his extravagant spending habits?
And as for Second Wen, that kind of wastrel, she wished she could sweep her out the door right now. Yet from now on, she would have to use her own silver to support her? She might as well die of anger right then and there.
Old Madam Xie let out a cutting laugh. “And the Eldest Master shares this view as well?”
The Eldest Madam’s expression was resolute, unyielding, and unmoving. She remained silent.
Old Madam Xie was about to speak again when Xie Shao slowly rose from his seat. He said to her, “Grandmother, please don’t worry. Your grandson has all four limbs intact. He won’t starve.”
He did not stay a moment longer and walked out of the courtyard alone.
Spring was drawing to an end. The coldness of the world pressed in from all directions, and even the scenery seemed to shift with it. The peonies along the path and the few crabapple trees seemed to have taken on an air of decline.
He had never once wished to rely on the eldest branch. But the scene just now, where everyone avoided him as though he were poison, still managed to sting a little.
Even Minzhang could see it and began thinking of solutions for him. “Young Master… you’re not very welcome in the mansion anymore. We should go find Young Master Zhou. You could earn fifteen guan a month working for him.”
Xie Shao acted as if he hadn’t heard. “Tomorrow, ask Cui Nian if there’s any kind of work I can do.”
What kind of job could possibly suit his identity as the most notorious wastrel of Fengcheng?
Given Young Master Cui’s temperament, Minzhang felt that if his master went to him, there was an eighty percent chance he’d end up saddled with a substantial debt on top of it all.
Emerging from the courtyard in this bleak and destitute state, they ran into Wen Shuse, who had just returned from the Wen family. The young lady looked equally listless, her head hanging low. One glance told them she had surely met with rejection at the Wen Mansion as well.
The two stood at opposite ends of the covered corridor, looking at each other, misery reflected in both sets of eyes, needing no words.
Truly, a pair of fallen, unfortunate husband and wife.
Xie Shao turned his face away. Wen Shuse lowered her eyes and walked up to him, calling out weakly, “Husband…” before cautiously asking, “What did Grandmother say?”
Xie Shao did not respond.
“Don’t worry, Husband. The Eldest Master Xie is the Deputy Commander, and his salary is high. And all those years, you gave them so much silver. Now that you’re in trouble, they surely won’t just stand by. Unlike me, I went back, and not only did I fail to borrow any money, but I couldn’t even get a bite to eat…”
Xie Shao: ……
She truly knew how to rub salt into a wound. He glanced up at the sun, already well past lunch hour. He hadn’t eaten either.
Aside from yesterday’s noon meal, he hadn’t had a single filling mouthful since. Life had somehow sunk to such a state.
He fell silent. The young woman suddenly tugged lightly at his sleeve. Lowering his eyes, he saw her looking up at him timidly as she asked, “Husband… do you still have any silver on you?”
A vein throbbed at Xie Shao’s temple. What silver could he possibly have? The two odd taels left from last night had been spent on two jugs of wine. Now he only had a single tael remaining, could that even be called money?
Before he could snap at her, the young woman reached into her sleeve and pulled out an oil-paper bundle. She unwrapped several layers, revealing a piece of fragrant, mouthwatering braised beef. She swallowed once, eyes showing clear reluctance, yet she still handed it to him without hesitation. “Husband, please eat. I’m not hungry at all.”