The Beauty Within the Gates
Chapter 36
Since he was unaware of his own sister’s marriage, it naturally followed that he also didn’t know about the family fortune being squandered by her. Fearing that this news might be too much for him to bear all at once, it was decided to hold him back for now.
Wen Huai turned around at the call, a flicker of confusion crossing his face.
Xie Shao stepped forward and tactfully advised, “You’ve just returned, why rush home so soon?”
Wen Huai smiled, glancing up at the wooden chest strapped to the horse’s back. “I hope Third Young Master won’t laugh, but my sister loves stir-fried clams more than anything. I brought back some fresh ones from this trip to sea. The teahouse has seawater to keep them alive.”
To have carried nothing but a chest of clams all the way back from Fuzhou. It was clear just how deeply he doted on that young lady.
Certain that he couldn’t handle the truth, Xie Shao spoke up, “Your younger sister, Second Young Lady, is currently staying at my residence.”
It was best to let his own sister break the news to him.
Wen Huai’s face showed surprise, but only for a moment before understanding dawned. Gao Xian must have gone to the Xie Mansion to visit her elder sister. He wasn’t in a hurry. “If Third Young Master is heading back, could you pass on a message for me? Just say I’ve returned to Fengcheng and am waiting for her at the teahouse. If my elder sister… if your Eldest Young Madam has time, she’s welcome to come as well.”
Despite all the hints, he still hadn’t grasped the situation. Xie Shao sighed helplessly. “The Second Young Lady has been staying at my residence for some time now. Third Young Master Wen, it’s best if you go see for yourself.”
This time, Wen Huai’s expression finally froze for a moment.
But even the sharpest mind couldn’t have guessed a truth more absurd than something out of a story. He began to suspect that perhaps his elder sister and the eldest young master had already fallen out.
They hadn’t even been married long…
He had already missed their wedding banquet. One way or another, he would have to pay a visit sooner or later to make amends. Why not today? He might as well go take a look.
He glanced back at the servant and was about to instruct him to take the horse inside first when Xie Shao spoke up, “It’s still early. The household hasn’t had lunch yet. Since your sister enjoys clams, why not bring them over while they’re fresh? The Xie Mansion has a chef, after all.”
The chest of clams wasn’t worth much in itself, but the journey back with them had been far from easy. With disasters in Qingzhou and war in Luo’an, he had encountered several groups of refugees along the way and had nearly failed to keep them safe.
If he took them to the Xie Mansion now, he likely wouldn’t get them back.
But since the two families had just become in-laws and the suggestion had been openly made, refusing would only make him appear petty.
After all, the clams were originally meant for Gao Xian, and since she was now at the Xie Mansion, he might as well offer them. Wen Huai cupped his hands politely. “I’m afraid I’ll be troubling Third Young Master Xie.”
Xie Shao gave a casual nod and led the way forward.
Such a rare and lively spectacle was something Pei Qing could hardly miss. From the moment he encountered Wen Huai, his gaze had been darting between the two, scrutinizing every subtle shift in their expressions.
He trailed them all the way to the entrance of the Xie Mansion and was about to follow them inside when Xie Shao suddenly turned and fixed him with a stare. “Don’t you have anything better to do?”
Pei Qing: ……
With the chance to watch the commotion now gone, Pei Qing regretfully bid Wen Huai farewell. “Third Young Master Wen, let’s catch up another day.”
After Wen Huai had left the private academy a few years earlier, he had followed his father on frequent travels, rarely returning to Fengcheng. As a result, he wasn’t particularly familiar with the Third Young Master Xie, let alone Pei Qing. Though inwardly puzzled as to when they had become close enough to arrange a future gathering, Wen Huai politely replied, “You may attend to your affairs first, Young Master Pei.”
Only after Pei Qing had left did Wen Huai notice Xie Shao’s official robes and ask with surprise, “Has Third Young Master Xie taken up an official post?”
Since both were the third sons in their respective families, omitting the surname when addressing each other gave Wen Huai an odd feeling, as if he were referring to himself.
Xie Shao nodded. “A Senior Deputy of the Court, ninth rank.”
Wen Huai truly had no idea; one could tell he had been away from Fengcheng too long, unaware of everything that had happened.
From the sound of the rank alone, it was likely the position had been purchased. The wealth of the Xie family was well-known throughout Fengcheng, and the reputation of this particular third young master for extravagance and idleness was equally widespread.
In Wen Huai’s view, it would have been wiser to save the money used to buy the official post for purchasing more ships instead. Once the fishing ban ended, a fleet could set sail and return fully laden. Why insist on taking the path of officialdom?
But everyone had their own way of living. He offered his congratulations politely. “Congratulations, Third Young Master Xie.”
There was hardly a need for congratulations, as he himself held a post too. Xie Shao smiled faintly without replying, leading him toward the courtyard.
Wen Huai had once visited the courtyard of the Eldest Young Master Xie and vaguely remembered the way. After walking for a while, he noticed the direction seemed off. Though he wondered, he wasn’t certain whether the eldest young master might have moved to a different courtyard, so he didn’t question it and simply followed Xie Shao closely.
This was his first time entering the courtyard. Compared to the Eldest Young Master Xie’s previous courtyard, it seemed three to five times larger. They twisted and turned for quite some time without reaching their destination, and the unfamiliar surroundings, punctuated by the calls of birds, began to unsettle him. He asked Xie Shao, “Is the Eldest Young Master home?”
“He’s at the yamen.”
The master of the house was absent, and he found himself unexpectedly visiting the inner courtyard. Was this appropriate? He considered retreating to the front hall to wait for a servant to announce him and summon the two young ladies of the Wen family. Just as he turned, he spotted Xiangyun arranging flowers in the corridor opposite. His face lit up with joy, and he fell silent, lifting his gaze to search for the sister he hadn’t seen in nearly half a year.
Xiangyun, noticing the movement in the corridor, looked up as well. Her gaze froze momentarily before she spun around and rushed through the doorway behind her. “Miss, Third Young Master is back!”
Back? Why such a fuss? Recently, the lethargy of spring had been weighing heavily on her. Wen Shuse, half-dozing on the soft couch, propped herself up lazily, slow as a boneless loach.
Xiangyun realized her young lady had misunderstood. She leaned in close, her face alight with excitement. “It’s our family’s third young master—Third Young Master Wen is back!”
The previously listless young lady suddenly sprang to life, leaping up from the couch in an instant. “My brother is back? Where is he? Is he here…”
She lifted her skirt with one hand and hurried out the door, questioning Xiangyun as she went. In an instant, her eyes fell upon the two figures approaching from across the way.
Compared to the fair-skinned young man ahead, the one trailing behind looked almost like a darkened Lord Bao.
He truly had grown even darker.
Without a doubt, this was her elder brother, Third Young Master Wen, Wen Huai.
As he drew near, she ignored his delighted expression and blurted out, “Brother, why have you gotten even darker?”
Wen Huai’s face stiffened, and he instinctively touched his cheek. “Dark? I don’t think so.” Dismissing the thought, he gave her a careful once-over. “But Gao Xian, you haven’t changed… still fair and plump.”
How could the sun in Fuzhou be so harsh? Not only has his tongue not improved, but his eyes seem to have failed him, too!
What did he mean by fair and plump!
Especially when she noticed her husband beside her, turning his gaze in her direction, she grew instantly anxious. “I have changed,” she insisted, turning to Xiangyun for confirmation. “Tell me, haven’t I lost weight?”
Xiangyun did her utmost to support her young lady. “Miss has indeed grown much slimmer recently.”
A woman’s heart is as deep and unpredictable as the ocean. Having learned from past missteps with his own younger sister, Wen Huai immediately realized his blunder and corrected himself, “Now that I look more closely, you really have slimmed down.”
That was more like it.
With both sides standing down, Wen Shuse’s expression finally softened with concern. “Brother, when did you return?”
“Just arrived in the city. I ran into Third Young Master Xie on the way.” He turned to give Xie Shao a grateful glance. “If not for the Third Young Master, I wouldn’t have known you were at the Xie Mansion.”
That vague remark was truly impossible to decipher—did he know, or did he not?
Wen Shuse instinctively glanced at her husband behind him. Catching her look, the young man responded with a slight shrug, his casual demeanor tinged with a hint of helpless resignation.
Watching their silent exchange, Wen Huai was utterly bewildered.
Wen Shuse understood now; he likely didn’t know. “Brother, did you return alone? What about Father?”
“He’ll arrive shortly, at most half a month to Fengcheng.” Wen Huai scanned the surroundings and asked, “Where is Suning?” Not spotting her, he continued, “And why are you at the Xie Mansion?”
Where to even begin?
“It’s a long story.” Since it couldn’t be explained in a few words, and he would have to know sooner or later, Wen Shuse invited him inside. “Come in. Let me tell you slowly.”
Xie Shao did not follow further, stopping just outside the threshold. In case Wen Huai became agitated, it might lead to unnecessary quarreling. He raised his head toward Wen Shuse and said, “You talk with Third Young Master Wen. I still have duties to attend to.”
Wen Shuse nodded. “Alright.”
The atmosphere between the two felt strange, and Wen Huai couldn’t help but sense something was off. What Xie Shao said was true, Gao Xian had likely stayed in the Xie Mansion for quite some time and was familiar with everyone there.
Just as he found a plausible explanation, an elderly maid nearby suddenly addressed Wen Shuse as Third Young Madam. “Third Young Master Wen brought back a crate of clams. Shall we prepare them for lunch?”
At the mention of clams, Wen Shuse’s mouth almost watered. She looked gratefully at Wen Huai. “You really are my brother, always thinking of me.”
But Wen Huai was utterly stunned by the address Third Young Madam, his mind reeling. He no longer cared about clams or anything else and asked in confusion, “Who is Third Young Madam?”
Since things had come to this point, it was better to just face it head-on.
Wen Shuse countered, “Didn’t you receive the letter, Brother? A month ago, it wasn’t the Eldest Young Lady who married into the Xie family. It was me. And the groom wasn’t the Eldest Young Master Xie, it was Third Young Master Xie, Xie Shao. The one who just brought you in is none other than your brother-in-law, Xie Shao.”
The news was too shocking. Sitting across from her, Wen Huai turned into a statue.
Just as Xie Shao reached the corridor, he heard an angry shout burst from behind him: “Preposterous!” He thought to himself that this was only the beginning. there were plenty more shocks in store for Wen Huai.
This was no place to linger. With feet as slick as oiled soles, he slipped out of the mansion at once.
While Xie Shao could flee, Wen Shuse had nowhere to run. Seeing Wen Huai growing agitated, she dismissed the maids and elderly servants nearby and briefly recounted what had happened.
As soon as she finished speaking, the room fell into a prolonged silence.
Wen Huai stared at her, his gaze fixed and unmoving. So, his only younger sister was already married, and neither their father nor he, her brother, had been present.
The scenes he had imagined, escorting her in marriage, carrying her out of the Wen household, and personally placing her hand into her future husband’s, were now forever beyond reach.
Wen Huai’s expression grew darker and darker.
After shouting Preposterous, he realized there was no one to truly blame for the situation, which only deepened the knot in his chest. He sat there dazed, staring at the lovely young lady across from him, overwhelmed by guilt and self-reproach.
Their mother had passed away early, and she was his only younger sister. As a child, she didn’t understand the meaning of “gone forever.” When she hadn’t seen their mother for a few days, she would cling to his leg, weeping heart-wrenchingly, insisting he take her to find her. He had shed more than a few tears with her back then.
Even then, he had silently sworn that in this lifetime, he would see her live in comfort and finery, never again to suffer even a little hardship.
When it came to her future husband, he didn’t need to be a high-ranking official or extravagantly wealthy, but he had to be upright, ambitious, and a man of integrity.
When Xie San wasn’t his brother-in-law, Wen Huai had considered him a promising young man. But now that he had suddenly become his brother-in-law, a second look revealed nothing but flaws. Everywhere he looked, something was wrong.
Seeing him remain silent for so long, his face etched with grief as if she had already fallen into a pit of fire, Wen Shuse couldn’t help but try to console him. “Brother, there’s no need for this. Actually, I’m not the one at a disadvantage here.”
Wen Huai felt utterly drained, only managing to shift his gaze slightly.
“Brother, didn’t you say before that when I marry someday, I must keep my eyes open. First, I must not choose someone ugly, and second, I must never choose a narrow-minded man? Your brother-in-law meets both of those requirements…”
As for looks, Xie San truly had nothing to be faulted for there. As for broad-mindedness, Wen Huai had never interacted with him enough to know. He couldn’t help wondering how she had judged that.
But Wen Shuse didn’t continue her thought. Afraid he’d suffer too many blows in a row, she gently pushed the teacup at her elbow toward him. “Brother, calm yourself first.”
Wen Huai had returned in such haste, especially when nearing the city gate, with his grandmother and his little sister on his mind, that he had been desperate to get home. He hadn’t even taken a sip of water on the entire road. Only now did he feel how parched his mouth was. He lifted the cup, whether to quench his thirst or steady his nerves, and tipped it back in one long swallow.
Wen Shuse resumed where she had left off. “I’m not lying to you. Third Young Master Xie is the most magnanimous gentleman I’ve ever met. Even Brother’s heart may not be as broad as his.”
What did she mean by that?
He suddenly realized she showed no sadness at all, not even a trace. Instead, she looked relaxed, even trying to comfort him.
Could it be that, by a twist of fate, she had married the right person and even grown fond of him? With Xie Shao’s face, it was more than possible.
“Brother, did you know he is now a Senior Deputy of the Court?”
What’s there to be proud of in an official title bought with silver? Yet seeing her defend him like this, Wen Huai grew increasingly convinced that she had most likely already fallen for Xie Shao.
The wood was carved, the rice fully cooked. If she truly liked him, then perhaps it wasn’t a bad thing at all. For a moment, he didn’t know whether to feel relieved or to grieve.
Then, Wen Shuse spoke up, “I bought it for him.”
Wen Huai froze.
Wen Shuse quickly explained, “Don’t worry, Brother. I used the Xie family’s money.”
Wen Huai became even more confused. Lazy as Xie Shao might be, he didn’t seem foolish enough to let her spend money buying him an official post. He couldn’t help asking, “How much?”
Wen Shuse’s expression flickered slightly. “Not exactly cheap.”
And what did not exactly cheap mean?
Before Wen Huai could press further, Wen Shuse gave him a mysterious smile. “I didn’t touch the Wen family’s money. I saved them to buy posts for Father and you. Wait a moment, I’ll go fetch them.”
Wen Huai: ……
She bought what for whom?
Before he could make sense of it, Wen Shuse had already gotten up and hurried into the inner room. From beneath her pillow, she retrieved the two remaining official appointment documents and eagerly brought them over to Wen Huai, handing them to him.
“Both you and Third Xie are appointed as Senior Deputy, but the additional posts you each hold are different. Third Xie’s is Military Judicial…”
Wen Huai’s head was spinning.
Wen Shuse, afraid he might not see clearly, thrust the document right under his eyes. “Look, Brother. It’s your name, there’s no mistake.”
He saw it. If he hadn’t once dreamed of sailing abroad, he would have long passed the imperial exams and become a scholar. He was literate, after all, and he could see it very clearly. It was indeed his name.
Wen Huai, son of Wen Bo.
Senior Deputy Minister, concurrently serving as Registrar and Military Advisor.
He had no mind to ask what exactly the Registrar and Military Advisor entailed. His entire focus remained fixed on the document before him.
He knew without her saying it, purchasing an official post wasn’t as simple as it seemed.
People had purchased offices throughout history, but not everyone could afford to do so. First came the amount of silver required. Second came a family’s reputation and standing.
The Xie family certainly had prestige. Whether it was Chancellor Xie, who had retired from court, or the current Deputy Commander of Fengcheng, the Eldest Master Xie. Even if Xie Shao’s personal reputation was lacking, compared to the honor of such a family, it hardly mattered.
The Wen family was similar. With their grandfather’s standing and their uncle’s status, as long as enough silver was offered, buying an office was feasible.
What he wanted to know was exactly how much she had spent to buy three posts in one go. Wen Huai took a moment to steady himself before calmly asking, “How much did it cost?”
“Third Xie’s was the most expensive.” Wen Shuse avoided his gaze, holding her teacup as she muttered, “It cost the entire Xie family fortune.”
Wen Huai’s eyes widened. “The entire fortune?”
Wen Shuse nodded sorrowfully. “All the silver from the treasury, several shops in Fengcheng were mortgaged…” She then repeated the entire story of buying grain, both regretful and deeply moved. “Now the second branch of the Xie family has nothing left. A few days ago, they were struggling with even three meals a day. Yet here I am, safe and sound. Brother, you tell me, doesn’t that show how broad Third San’s heart is?”
Back then, when Chancellor Xie returned, he brought with him fifty thousand taels of gold, not to mention the spice shops that Second Madam Ruan had run in Fengcheng over the years.
She hadn’t exaggerated. The fact that she could still sit here, safe and sound, spoke volumes about Third Xie’s extraordinary magnanimity.
Wen Huai listened with a racing heart, and it took him a long moment to finally speak. “And what about the Wen family’s post?”
“Ours was relatively cheaper. It still cost us everything, but in return, we got two official positions.”
Wen Huai: ……
She certainly had a way with words.
Knowing her all too well, Wen Huai felt his blood pressure rising. The shops in Fengcheng were part of the dowry he and their father had painstakingly saved up for her over the years. And what had she done? In one move, she’d lost it all.
The Wen family already had their uncle in office; that was enough. He and their father were businessmen through and through. What would they need official titles for?
Wen Huai was so furious his vision blurred. The gentleness from earlier vanished without a trace. Pointing at the young woman before him, he stood up and began pacing. “Just you wait. When Father returns, see if he doesn’t break your legs.”
Wen Shuse, utterly unfazed by his bluster, playfully shrank back, feigning fear.
Once Wen Huai had vented the wave of anger that had surged within him, Wen Shuse stole a glance at him and cautiously asked, “Brother… aren’t you curious about what exactly the Registrar and Military Advisor does?”
He didn’t care what post it was. He didn’t want it.
No wonder Third Xie had stopped him earlier in front of the teahouse. It turned out the place was no longer even theirs. He turned and glared at her, only to meet a pitiful, guilty expression. The fury that had filled him moments earlier suddenly dissipated. He took a deep breath and asked, “What does the position entail?”
“It’s in charge of household registration and marriage affairs.”
Wen Huai’s mouth twitched. He, someone who hadn’t even settled his own marriage prospects, how was he supposed to adjudicate marital disputes for others?
Then she added, “Once you’ve taken up this post, if Third Xie and I ever have an argument or a disagreement, you’ll be able to take my side and make decisions for me.”
She had already pushed things to the limit. There was no way he was going to let her gain any more ground. “You’d better not have any disputes. If you can find a gullible fool like Third Xie, you should be offering incense at the temple out of gratitude.”
Wen Shuse: ……
“Brother, did you bring any silver with you when you returned?”
Just the mention of money made Wen Huai’s head throb. To make the journey faster, he had left in such a hurry this time that he hadn’t brought much silver with him. He’d thought that since their father had just sent plenty of supplies home, even if their elder sister needed more dowry items, there should still be more than enough. And with the teahouse and shops bringing in money every day, he figured he’d have plenty once he reached Fengcheng, as long as he had enough for the journey.
Who would have guessed…
Instinctively, he reached for the pouch at his waist. It was as flat as could possibly be.
Wen Shuse let out a relieved sigh and turned to call Xiangyun inside. “My brother just returned and probably hasn’t eaten yet. Since the Wen family is bankrupt and even Grandmother’s silver has been used up, I doubt there’ll be a meal waiting for him at home. Let’s fry the clams he brought back first, and we’ll figure out what to do from there.”
The joy of returning home vanished in an instant.
Compared to what Third Xie had endured back then, the blow hit Wen Huai even harder.
In less than half an hour, one shock after another struck without giving him a moment to catch his breath. In the end, he sank into an armchair, stunned and unable to regain his composure for a long time.
Every detail from the courtyard was relayed word for word by a servant to Third Xie. “Third Young Master Wen seems to be taking the blow quite hard.”
Third Xie, sitting on a stone bench by the street with Pei Qing, suddenly found the dry, plain steamed bun in his hand tasting surprisingly delicious.