The Beauty Within the Gates
Chapter 43
The young master allowed himself to be pulled down by his wife, leaning in as she whispered into his ear. He had expected her to boast about what fine dishes she had prepared, but instead, he received this startling piece of news.
The ease on his face slowly faded, replaced by a deep, contemplative seriousness, asking her, “When did this happen?” He had just returned from the Prince Mansion, and why hadn’t he heard anything sooner?
“An hour ago,” the young lady replied with earnestness and urgency. “The palace messenger arrived at the Xie Mansion. The Eldest Young Master wasn’t there, so Eldest Master and Madam Xie received the transfer order.”
So, it had come after all.
Xie Shao frowned and strode forward purposefully.
The young lady lifted her skirts and hurried after him, chattering excitedly all the while. “As soon as the palace messenger left, Eldest Madam Xie sent someone to summon the Eldest Young Master back from his office. He returned home just before you did. The family is now behind closed doors, discussing the matter. Eldest Madam Xie says she plans to sell several of her fields and properties outside the city to raise funds for the Eldest Young Master’s relocation to the Eastern Capital. She specifically instructed everyone not to leak the news, especially not to you and me.” The young lady clicked her tongue, clearly pleased with herself. “But there are no walls without cracks, and now we know anyway. I suspected as much all along. Sure enough, they were hiding assets.”
Her lively, animated recounting made Xie Shao turn back and look at her with a strange expression. “How did you come to know all this?”
The young lady, who had been beaming with triumph, suddenly looked slightly flustered, her gaze shifting away. “Since you won’t let me go out, I’ve been idling away in the courtyard. I just happened to be strolling around when I overheard this astonishing piece of news.”
Strolling around… knowing the young lady’s temperament, it probably wasn’t as simple as that.
But he no longer had the mind to question where she had heard it. Stepping off the corridor, he turned and headed straight for Eldest Madam Xie’s courtyard.
Wen Shuse was taken aback. “Husband, where are you going?”
Xie Shao didn’t answer.
Alarmed, the young lady hurried to dissuade him. “If you’ve learned your lesson, then remember it and be more cautious about handing out money in the future. Going there now won’t help; they won’t return the money to us.” Seeing that she couldn’t stop him, she could only add, “Then at least don’t tell them I was the one who told you.”
The young master ahead gave no reply, only quickening his pace.
Judging by his determined stride, it seemed as if he were about to pick a fight. No, she had to follow.
When they reached Eldest Madam Xie’s plum garden, the maids at the gate had just been caught off guard. Seeing someone charging in, they froze in surprise, their expressions turning startled. “Third Young Master, what brings you here?”
As he barged straight ahead, they hastily moved to block his path. “Third Young Master, please wait, allow this servant to inform Madam first.”
But Xie Shao paid no heed, pushing his way inside. The maids could only raise their voices to alert those within, “Third Young Master! Third Young Master… Oh my, why is Third Young Madam here too…”
Inside the room, the Eldest Madam was taking out her private savings to scrape together travel funds for the Eldest Young Master. Hearing the maid’s voice outside, her face went pale. In a flurry, she swept a stack of banknotes into her sleeve. Startled badly, she couldn’t help cursing under her breath, “Even a dog’s nose isn’t this sharp.”
The last time Third Young Master Xie had visited this courtyard was probably years ago. His sudden appearance today was anything but casual—he must have caught wind of something.
Before she could think further, he had already barged in.
Eldest Master and Madam Xie were seated on the daybed, while the Eldest Young Master sat to the side on an official’s chair. All three turned to look at the two who had burst in so abruptly.
Xie Shao stood just inside the threshold, facing them without the slightest hint of embarrassment, as though he didn’t find his intrusion improper at all. He greeted them calmly, “Uncle, Aunt, Elder Brother.”
Wen Shuse also stepped out from behind him, lowered her eyes, and offered the three of them a respectful curtsy.
“Old Third, what brings you here?” Eldest Master Xie was the first to react, instructing the maids in the room to bring two wooden stools.
The two took their seats. Xie Shao sat toward the inner side, with Wen Shuse pressed close beside him, her back straight and posture impeccably proper.
Uncertain of his purpose for coming, Eldest Master Xie began with polite conversation. “I heard from Madam Zhou that you’ve been doing quite well lately as the Military Judicial Officer.”
Xie Shao’s expression remained calm as he nodded slightly. “All thanks to Uncle’s good fortune.”
Eldest Master Xie laughed. “It’s all your own ability. What does it have to do with me?” Yet, inwardly, he couldn’t help but feel a flicker of satisfaction.
Back then, he hadn’t expected Old Third’s wife to donate all the grain to Luo’an, securing a minor official position for him in exchange. To Eldest Master Xie, it was no different from giving away the grain for nothing. He had secretly fumed, scolding the couple for being reckless and wasteful, but what could be done? The grain had already been shipped to Luo’an, impossible to retrieve.
Aside from that minor official title, the second branch was essentially bankrupt.
Eldest Master Xie had thought that with Old Third’s stubborn temperament, he would never submit to such constraints or obediently take up an office. To his surprise, not only did he accept the position, but he also performed with notable competence.
Once he arrived at the Prince Mansion, Madam Zhou, out of regard for Eldest Master Xie’s position as Deputy Commander, naturally showed him some courtesy, offering a few words of praise as a form of recognition for the Xie family. As for what Xie Shao actually did, Eldest Master Xie had no real interest.
A Military Judicial Officer, to put it plainly, wasn’t just accompanying people at the Prince Mansion in idle conversation? What great prospects could that hold?
Eldest Master Xie understood the twists and turns well enough, and that was all the better. Just as he was feeling reassured, Xie Shao turned to look at Xie Heng beside him and suddenly asked, “Has Elder Brother’s transfer order come down?”
The Eldest Madam’s expression changed at once. The palace envoys had only just left, and the news hadn’t yet spread and yet he already knew.
Since it was something that would come out sooner or later, there was no point in hiding it. Xie Heng smiled. “It’s just arrived.”
Xie Shao pressed on, “What does Elder Brother intend to do? Are you willing to accept it?”
Xie Heng was a little surprised by the question. He knew his third brother’s temperament well. When Xie Shao had returned from the Eastern Capital back then, Xie Heng had once placed some hope in him and even gone to call on him, hoping to exchange views. But when it came to eating, drinking, and amusement, Xie Shao was adept at everything; once the topic turned to affairs of state or the nation, he became indolent and disengaged, utterly uninterested.
After a few such visits, Xie Heng had rarely gone to see him again. Now, seeing him suddenly turn serious today, Xie Heng felt both surprised and a little unaccustomed to it. “It was within expectations anyway, only delayed by a few days. As an official, one serves the court and obeys assignments from above. How can there be talk of willingness or unwillingness?”
So, he intended to go.
Xie Shao said, “I don’t think that’s necessarily so.”
Ignoring the stunned look on Xie Heng’s face, he continued, “It may not necessarily be the court’s true intent. Elder Brother is the son of Fengcheng’s Deputy Commander. To avoid a single clan holding positions on multiple fronts, the court does not usually make such appointments lightly. This transfer order came rather strangely, bypassing Madam Zhou of the Prince Mansion and being delivered directly to the Xie Mansion, which already violates protocol. I advise you to stay in Fengcheng for now.”
This time, it wasn’t only Xie Heng who froze. Eldest Master Xie and the Eldest Madam were both taken aback by his words.
First, they were surprised that such views could come from a known wastrel? Then followed displeasure at his remarks.
What profound insight could a wastrel who only knew how to eat and drink possibly have? Who knew what ulterior motives lay behind these words? A trace of disdain flashed through the Eldest Madam’s eyes as she forced a smile. “Old Third’s argument is certainly novel. Your elder brother earned his position by passing the imperial examination through his own ability, and his name was inscribed on the golden list and stamped with His Majesty’s seal, witnessed by all the people of Great Feng. Local officials are evaluated every three years, and their term has concluded with an impeccable record. Why should he not be appointed to another post?”
The domain of a feudal prince only stretches so far—rise a little, and hit the ceiling. What future was there? Was he to remain in Fengcheng like this forever, squandering his life as Old Third had?
Lacking ability himself, yet trying to block another’s path. Madam Xie was deeply displeased.
For several nights now, Eldest Master Xie had been unable to sleep well at night, anxiously awaiting this transfer order. Now that it had finally arrived, he was overjoyed, only to have cold water abruptly poured over his excitement. Naturally, he too felt somewhat troubled, though his reaction was not as strong as Eldest Madam Xie’s. He offered his own explanation, “Although your elder brother serves as the Magistrate of Fengcheng, his background as a Presented Scholar places him under the jurisdiction of the Eastern Capital court. The palace may directly issue his transfer orders. You are correct that the order should have gone through the Prince Mansion, but presumably, the palace officials heard that the prince was away and thus delivered it to me instead. Later, I will go and report the situation to Madam Zhou.”
Eldest Master Xie’s explanation was not unreasonable. As the Deputy Commander of Fengcheng, with Wangye absent, many matters fell under his purview. Receiving the transfer order in this manner was not improper.
But today, for some reason, Xie Shao pressed on relentlessly, “If Wangye is away, there is still Madam Zhou. If Madam Zhou is unavailable, there is the Shizi. For the court to issue a transfer order and reassign an official within a fiefdom without going through the ruler of that fiefdom, instead bypassing the prince to give orders directly to a subordinate. This is neither reasonable nor lawful. As Wangye’s Deputy Commander and the father of the official being transferred, you should be even more cautious to avoid such a situation.”
His words were stern and principled, leaving Eldest Master Xie momentarily speechless and somewhat embarrassed, unsure how to respond. He could only avert his gaze.
Seeing him speak to Eldest Master Xie in this manner, Eldest Madam Xie was astonished and even more bewildered. “What is wrong with Old Third today?”
Xie Shao ignored her and continued to address Eldest Master Xie. “Uncle serves as Fengcheng’s Deputy Commander, Wangye’s right-hand man. If Elder Brother goes to the Eastern Capital now, how will Wangye view this? How will Madam Zhou view it? Has Uncle considered that?”
Throughout history, the greatest taboo in employing officials has always been the suspicion of divided loyalties. Last time, when he had released Pei Yuanqiu without authorization, Madam Zhou and the Shizi had already held a grudge over that.
That Madam Zhou had not allowed him to leave the city to receive Wangye was precisely because she had grown wary of him.
Before Eldest Master Xie could respond, the Eldest Madam let out a cold laugh. “What conflict could there possibly be? Your elder brother will serve as an official in the capital, while your uncle continues to manage affairs for Wangye. Though they serve different masters, aren’t they both ultimately working for the same cause, serving Great Feng?”
Even a feudal prince must pledge loyalty to the court. If the Eldest Master Wen family could rise from a mere county magistrate to take office in the capital as Minister of Works, then why should her own son be any different?
Xie Shao’s expression remained calm. “I hope it will be as you say, Aunt. May they each remain loyal to their own master, even if one day they find themselves on opposing sides with blades drawn.”
Eldest Madam Xie was taken aback. “You… what kind of talk is this? What opposing sides with blades drawn…”
Xie Shao said nothing more, his gaze growing quiet and steady as he fixed his eyes on Eldest Master Xie.
“Enough!” Master Xie, under that gaze, suddenly felt a flicker of unease and erupted in anger. “Do you think I want this? I’m doing it for the sake of the Xie family. You’ve seen it yourself; several of the feudal princes around Zhongzhou have already been stripped of their power. Jing… Zhongzhou’s reduction is only a matter of time. After the armory incident you stirred up with the Shizi last time, haven’t you realized it yet? It was a clear warning. Zhongzhou will not remain peaceful from now on.”
The shout carried raw fury. Everyone in the room was startled into silence. Wen Shuse stiffened as well, stealing a glance at Xie Shao in confusion. Weren’t they here to ask the Eldest Madam for money? Why was he challenging Eldest Master Xie instead?
Eldest Master Xie’s outburst left his face as dark as a burnt pot, but Xie Shao showed no trace of fear in his eyes. He met his gaze squarely. “So, Uncle intends to make his stance clear to Wangye, choosing a side on your own?”
“You…!” Eldest Master Xie pointed at him angrily. “Don’t talk nonsense!”
Xie Shao remained composed and pressed on. “Uncle’s actions have already made it clear to everyone. There’s no need for your nephew to say more.”
“What do you know!” Eldest Master Xie snapped. “Since your father resigned his post, our Xie family has had no remaining connections in the Eastern Capital. Before Zhongzhou descends into chaos, send your elder brother out first, so that if misfortune befalls the Xie family, there will still be a path forward.”
Such thinking was nothing short of naïve.
“Your nephew indeed fails to understand Uncle’s intentions, but I do understand this: since ancient times, one heart cannot serve two masters. What Uncle can think of, the other side can think of as well. Without enduring the bitter cold, how could plum blossoms ever be fragrant? If Uncle hopes to gain something without paying the price, I fear the chances are slim.”
Eldest Master Xie had never expected to be lectured by a junior like this. Not only was his pride wounded, but his inner calculations had been laid bare, and embarrassment flared into anger. “According to you, then, we should simply sit here and wait for death, ready to go down with Jing Wang?!”
That was the true thought of Deputy Commander Xie. In this factional struggle, he had long since chosen a side, convinced that the Crown Prince would prevail.
“The court’s intentions are still unclear. Why would you say such a thing, Uncle? Even if that day truly comes, what does death matter? In ancient times, there was Xun Jubo, who risked his life to stay by his friend’s side without abandoning him. How much more should you, Uncle, who draws a salary, holding his post, planning according to his duties, and fulfilling his responsibilities with integrity.” A trace of impatience flickered in Xie Shao’s eyes. “Has Uncle ever considered what it was, in the first place, that earned Jing Wang’s favor?”
Why had Jing Wang trusted and promoted him back then, if not for his ability?
Yet being questioned this way forced Eldest Master Xie into uneasy reflection. Before Jing Wang became the feudal ruler of Zhongzhou, Eldest Master Xie had been nothing more than a minor patrol officer in Fengcheng. In learning or martial skills, many surpassed him.
Why, then, had Prince Jing singled him out? Because it was precisely at that time that Chancellor Xie, Xie Shao’s father, had resigned from office and returned to his hometown.
Is that what Third Young Master Xie meant?
A surge of anger roiled in Eldest Master Xie’s chest. His face flushed and drained in turns, his gaze fixed on Xie Shao without a trace of former kindness. Suddenly, he rose and slammed his palm down on the wooden table beside the daybed, his face blazing with fury. “What right does a wastrel who squandered the family fortune have to lecture me? Who gave you the audacity?!”
Others might not know, but Eldest Master Xie himself was all too aware. As the eldest son of the Xie family, he had never possessed the brilliance expected of him. Instead, he had been overshadowed by his younger brother since childhood.
Whether in natural talent or later efforts, he could never surpass Second Master Xie. For decades, he had lived in his younger brother’s shadow. It was only after Second Master Xie resigned and returned to his hometown that he was given a chance to rise. Finally, he believed it was he who had carried the family forward for over a decade. Yet now, he was being told that his so-called success was merely a path paved for him by Second Master Xie.
Nonsense!
The force of that slap was not light. The tea set on the table overturned, splashing the nearby Eldest Madam Xie with tea stains. She hastily stood up, wiping herself with an embroidered handkerchief while unable to resist making a sarcastic remark. “You see, such a joyous occasion, something to be celebrated, yet why must some people begrudge others their happiness? Talking about family… I think strangers might treat us better than this…”
Who she was referring to was unmistakable. Xie Shao’s expression tightened slightly.
Wen Shuse, however, had sharp eyes. She poked her head out from behind him and, smiling, pointed at the Eldest Madam’s sleeve. “Aunt, it looks like the land deeds and house deeds in your sleeve have slipped out.”
The Eldest Madam jolted, clutching her sleeve in panic and lowering her head to check.
Nothing had fallen; only a corner was showing. She hurriedly tucked it back in. When she straightened up, she realized she had already been exposed. Her face instantly stiffened.
Back then, after Wen Shuse donated the grain, the second branch was left without a single coin. The two of them had gone hungry. When the Old Madam summoned her and asked her to help out a little, she had stubbornly refused and even cried poverty in front of Xie Shao.
And now, here she was with deeds to land and houses.
Her thoughts exposed, her face utterly lost.
Silence fell. No one spoke.
Things had reached this point; there was no staying any longer. Xie Shao stood up. Without greeting anyone, he turned and walked straight out.
Wen Shuse followed close behind.
Once they were out of the courtyard, looking at the young master ahead of her with his back stiff from anger, she couldn’t help but see him in a new light.
In their past sparring, she’d usually had the upper hand. She’d thought him easy to deal with. Who would have guessed that, when truly provoked, his tongue could be so sharp?
During the argument, no one had treated her as an outsider, and Wen Shuse understood the situation clearly: the Eldest Branch had grand ambitions, wanting the Eldest Young Master to advance to the Eastern Capital and secure their position from both sides. But Xie Shao was opposed, believing they should remain loyal to their current master.
For once, Wen Shuse found herself firmly on Xie San’s side.
Before plotting one’s future, one had to first consider where one stood. A monk may flee, but the temple remains. If Jing Wang were truly ruthless, would he really wait for the Eldest Young Master to build connections in the Eastern Capital and come back to save them?
More likely, before any help arrived, the Xie family would already have been wiped out, roots and all.
Sure enough, people needed to become officials. Once they did, they truly changed. Not only her brother, but even Xie Shao, too, had begun to shed his old skin.
That string of words he’d just delivered bore not the slightest trace of a wastrel’s frivolity. If he kept this up, he would surely amount to something in the future.
She was feeling quietly proud when she saw the young master ahead turn around and instruct Minzhang behind her, “Send word to the old man. Tell him if he doesn’t return soon, the Xie family will be facing ruin.”
Wen Shuse: ……
Just as he was about to look away, out of the corner of his eye, she caught sight of the young lady beside him, her face rigid and her eyes wide with shock, staring at him as if already preparing to flee at the first sign of disaster.
He couldn’t help but let out a soft laugh, remembering. He slowed, took a step back toward the young lady, and said with great seriousness, “The Young Lady’s wish to remarry is likely not going to come true. You’d best give up on it sooner rather than later. Your Second Young Master Ming has already agreed to Madam Zhou’s matchmaking proposal today. Your heartfelt feelings are destined to come to nothing. But there’s no need for you to worry. When one path seems blocked, another opens. As it happens, I don’t have anyone I fancy either. These past days, spending time with you, I’ve found you quite admirable, especially your skill with a silver needle, picking out splinters, and tending wounds. I’m rather impressed and appreciative. So, from now on, I’ll have to trouble the young lady to share both joys and hardships with me, to face fortune and adversity together, united as husband and wife, sharing glory and shame.”
What nonsense was he spouting?
The young lady stared blankly at the young master before her.
Before she could even begin to figure out what sort of bewitchment this was, the man in front of her curved his lips into a smile, bent down slowly, and reached for the hand hanging at her side, clasping it in his own.
“Let’s go, Wife.”