The Beauty Within the Gates
Chapter 51
How much grain could Fengcheng possibly have? Even if she bought up all the grain in the city, could she really squander away the two mountains of gold belonging to the Wen and Xie families?
As for driving up prices, did he not know his own daughter? She might be wasteful, but she wasn’t foolish. Could she really hoard grain as if it were gold?
Although Qingzhou had suffered natural disasters, Fengcheng remained unaffected. And while Luo’an was at war, there were still grain reserves in Dongzhou and the imperial granaries. Any shortage of grain would not last more than two months.
In a few more months, the autumn harvest would arrive in Fengcheng, and the imperial granaries would also release their reserves. The grain she had stockpiled would then be considered stale and aged. Who would buy it then?
In the end, it would only rot in the stinking gutters, worthless and forgotten.
That day, after listening to her finish speaking, Second Master Wen had at first felt as if he’d been struck by a blow to the head, his mind stunned, his sense of direction knocked askew, unable to react at all. But the more he thought about it afterward, the more something felt wrong.
She had never been someone who failed to leave herself a way out, ever since childhood.
Back when the Wen family was poor, a single meal amounted to no more than half a bowl, hardly enough to fill the stomach. Yet she could still save one mouthful, secretly knead it into a little rice ball and hide it away, just in case of need.
Now that their days were better, now that the whole family had finally escaped hunger, could she possibly bear to gamble away the entire family fortune?
Absolutely not.
Once he understood this, he guessed that her whole series of maneuvers had been a deliberate ploy, buying the grain market empty as a pretext, using the opportunity to move the Wen and Xie families’ money elsewhere.
As for why she would do so, he already had a rough suspicion in his heart.
The Old Madam had always acted with composure. Yet she had suddenly switched brides on the very night the Eldest Young Lady was to be married. He had asked around the mansion about the reason, and it was because the Eldest Young Lady had been dissatisfied with her dowry.
When he returned home last year around New Year’s, he learned that the eldest young lady’s wedding date was approaching. He had deliberately left silver behind for his mother to prepare a dowry, a total of sixty-four chests.
Ordinary families might give half that for a daughter’s marriage, but the Wen family was different. In Fengcheng, they were a household of some standing, and this was the first daughter of the family to marry. Naturally, it had to be a grand and splendid affair.
Two sets of dowries weren’t excessive at all.
As her uncle, he would provide one full set of dowries, while the other would be prepared by the Eldest Young Lady’s parents. With the silver he routinely gave the eldest branch, plus his elder brother’s official salary, assembling a dowry should have been more than sufficient. Besides, when a daughter married, it sounded proper, on paper as well, for her parents to furnish one dowry themselves.
Yet afterward, the Eldest Madam came to him again, saying funds were tight and they couldn’t scrape it together, asking him to prepare yet another dowry.
Not long before that, he had purchased a ship. After arranging one dowry, his own reserves were nearly exhausted, but since the Eldest Madam had already spoken, it would have been awkward to refuse.
For so many years, he and his son had been away most of the time, relying entirely on the eldest branch to look after the Old Madam. It was only right to contribute financially.
When he reached Fuzhou, he personally went down into the deep sea, fishing for over a month. Only then did he barely manage to scrape together enough for another dowry, which he prepared and had someone deliver to Gao Xian.
He had calculated the household furnishings carefully, more than enough, not a bit short. As for a portion given in silver, how much would be appropriate, he left for Gaoxian to decide herself.
After the Wen family’s fortunes improved, Gao Xian had indeed grown accustomed to spending freely, never shortchanging herself.
But when it came to major matters, she had always been clear-headed. Unless she had been pushed to the brink, how could she possibly treat the Eldest Young Lady’s dowry as a joke? That things had escalated to this point, at the root of it all, was nothing but the eldest branch’s greed.
Especially after learning that his elder brother’s entire family had left the Old Madam alone in the mansion and all moved to the Eastern Capital, everything became clear.
This time, when he returned, he had never intended to go back to Fuzhou. Since that was the case, and with one’s parents still alive, one should not travel far; he would stay in Fengcheng. In doing so, he would not fail that young lady’s painstaking efforts.
Therefore, the very next day, he went to the Prince Mansion and accepted the post of Senior Deputy.
But money in her hands and money in his were two entirely different things.
Don’t be fooled by the way she smiled, looking harmless, like a little sun hanging overhead, warm and bright. Once she turned ruthless, though, she was capable of going after anyone.
He had seen with his own eyes what kind of days Wen Huai and the Xie family’s son-in-law had been living lately. Every single coin had to be split in two before it could be spent. Just the other day, Wen Huai had received his salary and passed by a stall selling roast chicken. His legs practically refused to move. He clutched his coin purse again and again, but in the end, he still gritted his teeth and walked away.
A single coin could break a hero, and that saying wasn’t exaggerated in the slightest. It was downright pitiful.
He absolutely could not follow their old path and reach out again to seize money.
Wen Shuse gave him no chance to struggle. “Father probably still doesn’t know that your daughter is already left with no way out.”
Second Master Wen froze.
Wen Shuse cut straight to the point. “Deputy Commander Xie received an imperial edict tonight ordering the reduction of the feudal prince’s power. He plans to take advantage of Jing Wang being away to drive him out of his territory. A moment ago, your daughter slit the deputy commander’s wife’s throat with a knife, then fled together with your precious son-in-law to seek refuge with Jing Wang. I am now officially a ‘rebel.’ If I don’t run, Father can just wait to collect my corpse and perform rites for my soul.”
Second Master Wen listened in utter shock, drawing breath again and again.
He looked her over from head to toe. Seeing that she was unhurt, he was still shaken, letting out a long breath. “Good heavens… you, you… Where did you get such courage?”
She actually dared to slit someone’s throat.
“Like father, like daughter. When Father went down to sea, did you ever stop to think about what would happen if you didn’t make it back?” Wen Shuse didn’t look at him, busy stuffing money into her bundle.
“How is that even comparable?” Second Master Wen had already stopped caring about the silver. Then it hit him, and he asked in alarm, “The court is going to reduce the feudal princes of their power?”
Jing Wang had neither military power nor money in his hands. What was the point of targeting him?
“For now, we don’t know, but the whole thing is extremely suspicious.”
Second Master Wen sucked in another sharp breath. “Who would dare such criminal audacity? Forging an imperial edict is a capital crime. Execution, and the extermination of nine generations! Deputy Commander Xie…” He stared at Wen Shuse, his face draining of color. “You truly have no way out.” In an instant, he thought of a retreat. “At a time like this, I wonder if it’s still possible to ask your son-in-law for a divorce letter.”
Wen Shuse: ……
“I’m afraid it’s already too late. If you keep dawdling like this, your precious son-in-law will probably run off on his own.”
“He… he’s running where?”
“Eastern Capital.” Wen Shuse had left not a single banknote in the pillowcase; everything was now packed into the bundle. There was no time left to gather her own clothes. So, she turned and yanked several sets of robes from Second Master Wen’s wardrobe, crammed them in without discrimination. The bundle bulged full; she cinched it tight with a dead knot. Only after finishing did she look up at Second Master Wen, who wore an utterly bewildered expression, and say, “I’m going to chase after him now. Father, take care. Eat properly at home, and look after Grandmother.”
She slung the bundle over her shoulder, lifted her skirts, and hurried out, heading once again to crawl through the dog hole.
“Wait…” Second Master Wen rushed after her. “And… and also…”
Wen Shuse was already crouched down. She turned back helplessly. “What else, Father? Say it quickly. Every moment you delay, your daughter’s life grows that much more dangerous.”
Second Master Wen blurted out, “In the Eastern Capital, there’s also… there’s a restaurant.” He had sold all his boats in Fuzhou; from now on, he would never go back there again. “It’s called Seeking Immortals Pavilion.”
That had been the good news he’d planned to tell her when he first returned.
With his elder brother serving as an official in the Eastern Capital, it was impossible to manage both sides. Sooner or later, the whole family would move to the Eastern Capital. Before coming back this time, he had already secured a restaurant there, planning to make a living in the capital from now on.
Who could have known things would change like this?
Wen Shuse had heard the Eldest Young Master Wen mention the Eastern Capital’s Seeking Immortals Pavilionbefore…
So, it truly wasn’t simple. Wen Shuse nodded. “I understand. Father, rest assured. I will do everything I can to survive.”
—
Everything needed for the journey, along with the bundles, had already been prepared by Madam Zhou. Time would not wait; they had to leave the city under the cover of night.
After saying a few words to Xie Shao, she personally escorted him to the entrance of the underground passage and cautioned him, “Young Master Xie, take care on the road. As for Wangye…” She paused, then said, “Tell him to take good care of himself. He’s lived more than half his life, fought on countless battlefields in no fewer than a hundred. To survive all those battles only to die in some filthy ditch would be an insult to his lifelong reputation.”
“Madam, please rest assured.”
Zhou Kuang entered the tunnel with him. Unable to accompany him further, he felt deeply frustrated and regretful. “This time, Brother Xie must be extremely cautious. A gentleman is easy to deal with, but petty villains are hard to guard against. Though my father has a lifetime of skill, his nature is honest and straightforward, and he has a flaw when it comes to judging people. By his side, Brother Xie must remind him often that he must not trust others lightly and beware of hidden arrows from behind.” He looked as though he wished he could follow along himself. “I only regret that I cannot personally punish those traitors.”
“Defending the city won’t be easy either. Once Wangye goes to see the Emperor, the other side will surely be driven to desperation. Stockpile more fire oil and be on guard against a siege.”
Zhou Kuang’s expression turned solemn, and he nodded. “Brother Xie, rest assured. I understand.”
They spoke all the way to the tunnel’s exit. Suddenly, Zhou Kuang looked at Xie Shao and said, “If His Majesty truly intends to strip the fiefs, then Brother Xie, you should leave. I swear, even if it costs me my life, I will protect Sister-in-law.”
In the past, he and Brother Xie, along with Cui Nian and Pei Qing, had roamed freely through Fengcheng, how carefree and unrestrained they had been.
Yet in barely two months’ time, first Brother Xie had gone bankrupt, and now it was the Prince Mansion’s turn. The unrestrained days of drinking, composing poetry, and galloping on horseback with their friends seemed to vanish all at once.
A wave of melancholy inevitably rose in his heart.
Seeing an unusual trace of calm on his face, Xie Shao reached out and gave his arm a firm pat. “I’m counting on you. Take good care of yourself.”
Time was tight. He pushed open the door of the teahouse and headed straight toward the carriage waiting outside.
Only then did Zhou Kuang remember the words Sister-in-law had instructed him to pass on. He hurriedly glanced toward a side street, but no one was there.
Just as he was about to look away, a figure suddenly burst out from around the corner.
When he turned fully to look, he saw a young woman with one hand bracing the bundle on her shoulder and the other lifting her skirts, running toward them at the speed of the wind.
Her dress was wrapped tight by the wind, her hair blown back behind her.
It was the first time Zhou Kuang had ever seen a young woman run like this, her speed not the least inferior to that of an ordinary man. Before he could even react, she was already at his side.
The young woman seemed not to notice him at all. Her gaze was fixed solely on the carriage ahead. Reaching the carriage, she tossed her bundle onto the carriage and climbed up after it, using both hands and feet.
So swift, so agile were her movements that even Zhou Kuang was left staring blankly.
It took him a moment to come back to himself.
Sister-in-law?
Hadn’t she said Wen Huai was coming?
The young master inside the carriage was likewise left dumbfounded, staring at the young lady who had suddenly pushed the door open, so stunned that he forgot to react at all.
The young lady flicked him a glance, panting for breath, then dropped down beside him with a thud. Before he could speak, she raised a hand to stop him. “I… I’ll offer you a word of advice too. Don’t… don’t waste your breath anymore. No matter what you say, I’m going to… going to follow you. We’re going together.”
So, she had gone back just to pack her things, only to come here and block him.
Xie Shao’s temple throbbed violently.
The young lady took a deep breath, then turned to look at him and spoke in one go, without pause, “Husband, you don’t need to feel troubled. It’s that I can’t bear to be apart from you. I insist on going with you. Just think of it this way: at the very least, this young lady here isn’t afraid of death. In times of danger, to have such a sweet, delicate young lady by your side is a blessing many people could only dream of. Even if one day you ascend to great heights, having walked this mortal world would not have been in vain. So, what is there to be troubled about?”