The Beauty Within the Gates
Chapter 52
The young master’s eyes rested on her from across the way, calm and unruffled, not in the least moved by her heartfelt words. He remained silent, and the carriage beneath them showed no sign of moving.
The young lady steadied her breathing once more, set her bundle upon her knees, and spoke earnestly as she analyzed the situation for him. “Does Husband truly think I would be safe staying in Fengcheng? The Eldest Madam has always prided herself on being a noblewoman. Wherever she goes, she is impeccably dressed, the envy of countless women in Fengcheng. And yet tonight, she was humiliated, threatened in turn with a blade to her throat by us. Husband may not understand a woman’s heart, but as one myself, I know it well. Once a woman harbors hatred, talk of family, country, propriety, or dignity means nothing. In her fury, she will disregard it all and even her own life. She would sooner tear her enemy apart and devour them whole.”
The young lady leaned closer, her voice tense and secretive. “What if she finds the courage to slit her own throat and has Deputy Commander Xie avenge her? Wouldn’t I be finished then?”
When she finished, she lifted her chin. “So, if Husband leaves, I will not be safe at all.”
“As for your suggestion that I return to the Wen family, that’s even more unreliable. If Deputy Commander Xie learns that I’m staying there, all the better. He can accuse the Wen family of harboring a rebel and use it as a pretext to wipe them out as well.”
“Since I’ll be hunted down no matter where I go, I’d rather leave Fengcheng with you. Whether I live or die, at least I’ll still have some say in it.”
If she remained in Fengcheng, that would truly be waiting for death.
No matter what, she would not leave.
Whatever the young master said, she would not change her mind. To make it clear that her decision was final, she reached out and, without waiting for his reaction, grabbed hold of his sleeve.
With an expression that declared she would never let go, she left the young master beside her utterly speechless. He turned his head to stare at her.
Her grip tightened further, though her back remained straight as a rod. She fixed her gaze ahead, her expression resolute beyond doubt.
Time was running out; they could not delay any longer. The young master turned away at last and said to the coachman, “Set off.”
He could always throw her off later.
Yet the moment the carriage wheels began to turn, the young lady’s expression changed at once. Light and pleased, she looked at the young master with approval. “That’s more like it.”
It had been a long while since she had run like that; her heart was pounding, her legs aching. She patted her chest with her palm, bent to pound her legs, then straightened her skirts and smoothed her disheveled hair. “Husband, from which gate are we leaving the city?”
No answer came.
Surprised, she turned her head, only to meet the young master’s probing gaze. His eyes, dark and deep, seemed to bore straight through her, sending a sudden, unnerving chill down her spine.
Instinctively, she squeezed the bundle in her arms and forced a smile. “Why is Husband looking at me like that…?”
He replied, “I’m trying to see what other tricks you’ve hidden in that head of yours.”
In truth, he said it because he was startled at how she had calculated everything from the very beginning. First, the soft approach; if that failed, then sheer stubborn force?
At his words, Wen Shuse’s heart trembled in alarm. The stratagems hidden in her heart were things she could never let the young master discover. Yet her expression had clearly betrayed her. If she did not say something shocking enough to distract him, she feared she would never muddle through before him.
Her gaze drifted across his face; then she suddenly lowered her head and spoke in a soft voice. “Has Husband seen through me?”
Her bashful demeanor genuinely startled Xie Shao.
Saw through what?
Before he could ask, the young lady continued, “I’m not afraid you’ll grow conceited if I say it plainly. There is no longer any possibility between the Second Young Master Ming and me. Ever since that day I told you I wished to share hardship and fortune with you, I have devoted myself wholeheartedly to you.”
She sighed with melancholy. “But Heaven refuses to open its eyes. Before I could enjoy moonlit blossoms with you, a catastrophe was sent down that could destroy us utterly. It’s pitiful, only a few months since we were married, and we haven’t even left behind a child. If anything should happen to you on this journey, wouldn’t I become a widow?”
Her clear, luminous eyes fixed on him, her expression tightening with anxiety. “You must have heard of the widow from the Zhang family by the Huimin River. Ill-intentioned men are coming to her door frequently.”
Her tone suddenly sharpened into accusation. “I worry about my husband. I want to stay by his side. I don’t want to become a widow and be bullied. What is wrong with that?”
From shy hesitation to fear to righteous indignation, her speech rose and fell in waves. The young master opposite her listened, his heart jolted again and again.
Among all her words, none struck his mind with greater force than that phrase about not even leaving a child behind.
The two of them had only just held hands and barely embraced moments ago; what child could there possibly be?
And yet the impact of her words was tremendous. His thoughts fell into complete disarray, and an unfamiliar surge rose within him, the sense of responsibility as a husband, even as a father.
He had heard of Widow Zhang. Last year, passing by, he had even seen someone secretly climbing over her wall…
Leaving her behind did seem improper.
Keeping her at his side should do no harm. Besides, the young lady was clever and physically capable, not the sort to weep and wail endlessly. She would not require excessive care from him.
Perhaps, in truth, she might even be of help to him.
Once his earlier insistence cracked, it quickly crumbled away. After a moment’s deliberation, he finally relented. “It’s not as though I said you couldn’t come…”
The young lady watched him intently, waiting for him to continue.
“Forget it.” She was already aboard; could he truly drive her back down? After a pause, he began to instruct her gravely. “You understand the dangers of this journey. Remember, no matter what happens, preserving your life comes first…”
—
Tonight, Deputy Commander Xie had blocked the front city gate directly opposite the Prince Mansion. In addition, at the cattle market to the left and at the floodgate along the moat to the right, there was a gate at each entrance, both now heavily guarded by troops under his command.
A direct confrontation would certainly not get them out.
Xie Shao had never intended to leave by that gate. Instead, he turned in the opposite direction from the Eastern Capital, heading for the rear city gate that led toward Xizhou. It was a classic feint, making a show in the east while striking in the west. The plan was to slip out of the city first, then take the waterway, travel beyond Fengcheng along the Ling River, and meet with Jing Wang.
Fengcheng was bordered by mountains on two sides and water on one, with its front facing the Eastern Capital.
Trade in Fengcheng was prosperous, and Jing Wang did not strictly control the flow of people. Whether travelers came from Xizhou wishing to go to the Eastern Capital, or from the Eastern Capital heading toward Xizhou, most passed straight through Fengcheng. Few chose the mountain routes nearby.
They were not only time-consuming but treacherously steep.
As for the remaining water routes, Deputy Commander Xie had surely stationed men there as well.
At this moment, Jing Wang’s forces had just arrived at the front gate. Fearing an assault on the city, Deputy Commander Xie had concentrated nearly all his troops there.
Between defending the city and surrounding the Prince Mansion, manpower was stretched thin. At the rear gate, only two guards remained on watch.
After leaving the teahouse, the carriage traveled for more than half an hour, arriving at the rear gate deep into the night. When they reached it, the two guards stood before the gate, chatting idly about the turmoil within the city.
“In those days, Wangye accompanied His Majesty in campaigns across the land, pushing south from the north all the way into the Eastern Capital, driving Emperor Wenchang off the throne and seating him there instead. And now, how many peaceful years have even passed? He speaks of reducing the feudal domains just like that. Truly, serving a sovereign is like serving a tiger. After all, he’s only an adopted son.”
“What do you know? Have you ever heard the saying, ‘Raise a tiger and you invite calamity’…”
The conversation was interrupted by the sound of the approaching carriage. Both men turned to look. Seeing only an ordinary carriage, they paid it little mind. One of them raised his voice and shouted, “The city’s sealed tonight. Haven’t you heard?”
The carriage did not slow. The coachman answered politely, “My master just received urgent news, and there’s been a sudden crisis at home. We must leave the city at once. I beg the officers to show some leniency.”
Seeing the carriage still heading toward them, the guard grew impatient. “Leniency? I’ll show your master leniency by sending him straight to the King of Hell. Take my advice and go back the way you came. Stay put inside the city and behave yourselves. At a time like this, don’t stir up extra trouble. Risking your life just to leave tonight? Not worth it.”
As he spoke, he stepped forward to block the carriage.
The coachman’s eyes turned cold.
Suddenly, from the left came the thunder of galloping hooves. The guard’s steps faltered. He turned his head, barely able to make out who it was before the rider called out from atop the horse, “Orders from the Deputy Commander that everyone is to reinforce the front gate!”
This time, both guards recognized the man.
Pei Qing.
Pei Qing was the chief patrol officer of Fengcheng, and his words could naturally be trusted.
The guards froze. Had fighting already broken out?
They had been wavering all along. If it came to blows, which side should they stand on? Obey the imperial edict to reduce the feudal domains and raise their blades against their former lord? Or remain loyal to their prince and resist the court to the death?
Either choice would end badly.
They had been secretly relieved to be stationed here, spared from making that decision. Yet now, hearing the order, they realized they had not escaped after all. Forgetting entirely about the carriage, they hurried toward the front gate, racking their brains for a way out.
The rear gate was left completely unattended.
Pei Qing swung down from his horse, strode forward, and flung the city gates wide open. He waved toward the carriage behind him. “Brother Xie, please proceed.”
Xie Shao had already lifted the curtain and studied Pei Qing for quite some time. Since the man had tracked him down here, there was no need for further questions.
The carriage passed through the gate. Pei Qing turned back to lead his horse.
The moment he received word that Deputy Commander Xie had ordered the gates sealed tonight, Pei Qing knew something was terribly wrong. He had rushed at once to the Prince Mansion and only to find the Deputy Commander’s troops already surrounding it.
The reason for it all had already spread through the army: the Emperor intended to strip the feudal lords of their domains.
The news had come too suddenly. It could not be so simple. And when he heard that Third Young Master and Third Young Madam Xie had abducted the Eldest Madam and defected to Jing Wang, his suspicions only deepened.
With a scheming father at his side, Pei Yuanqiu understood hidden intrigues far better than most, far better than Zhou Kuang.
Not long ago, he himself had approached Brother Xie several times, hoping to win him over. When Brother Xie had refused to give him that face and returned to the Eastern Capital, there was no doubt he would make a move against the Xie family.
But Pei Yuanqiu had not expected him to be so audacious as to fabricate an imperial edict.
In any case, there was no turning back now. He was not afraid of cutting off his own retreat.
He swung himself back onto his horse and rode up beside Xie Shao’s carriage window. “I guessed you’d take this route, Brother Xie. Good thing I made it in time.”
Given the present situation, if the Xie family wished to protect themselves, their only course was to go to the Eastern Capital and seek an audience with His Majesty.
After so many years of eating, drinking, and making merry together, there was an unspoken understanding among them. With Brother Xie’s steady temperament, if the main road was blocked, he would never force his way through. Most likely, he would slip out the back.
Sure enough, he had guessed right.
Xie Shao tilted his head and glanced at the wide grin splitting Pei Yuanqiu’s face. Noting the bundles already tied to his saddle, he could not quite discern his intent and asked aloud, “Where are you going?”
“That old man sent a treacherous lackey back to steal my mother’s spirit tablet. If he’s gone this far, and I don’t make a trip to the Eastern Capital to have a look, wouldn’t that be letting his painstaking efforts go to waste?”
As the group moved forward, Pei Qing urged his horse ahead of the carriage. Glancing back, he continued to Xie Shao, “Just so happens it’s the same road as yours. We can keep each other company. That way, Brother Xie won’t be lonely traveling alone.”
Xie Shao turned and looked at the young lady inside the carriage, who had not uttered a word. Quietly, he lowered the curtain.
If Pei Qing wished to go to the Eastern Capital, Xie Shao had neither the ability nor the reason to stop him.
With the young lady in the carriage, he did not require anyone else’s company.
Yet Pei Qing was unusually enthusiastic. Once they reached the official road, he reined his horse to ride alongside the carriage and struck up a conversation again. “Ever since Pei Yuanqiu’s men returned, you’ve been keeping watch day after day. But how did you find out tonight that Deputy Commander Xie was carrying an imperial edict to strip the fiefdom? Your reaction was swift enough, abducting the Eldest Madam and delivering her to the Prince Mansion.”
Xie Shao did not answer.
Inside the carriage, however, the young lady’s face shone with pride. How had they found out? By eavesdropping on the other side of a wall, of course. Since childhood, she seemed to possess a peculiar talent for such things.
Sometimes, even when she did not wish to overhear, the secrets would come pressing themselves against her ears.
Receiving no reply from Xie Shao, Pei Qing went on, “Still, it’s been hard on you, Brother Xie. You only just moved back into the east room to live with sister-in-law a few days ago. Things hadn’t even… come to fruition yet, and now you’re forced apart again.”
When people are fleeing for their lives, they often joke to lighten the tension in their hearts. Pei Qing had no idea that inside the carriage, the young master’s back had already gone rigid at his words. Pei Qing nudged his horse closer to the window and lowered his voice. “Tell me, Brother Xie, have you at least held sister-in-law’s hand yet?”
The moment he finished speaking, a cough sounded from within the carriage.
Pei Qing paid it no mind and continued cheerfully, “Sister-in-law isn’t like ordinary young ladies. Back then, when Zhou Kuang was bitten by the dog she set on him, he swore he’d skin her future husband alive. I used to wonder which poor fellow it would be and who would’ve thought it’d turn out to be one of our own? That’s fate for you. Looking across all of Fengcheng, I doubt there’s anyone but Brother Xie who could marry her. As the saying goes, good things take time. No need to rush. If we make it back alive, forget holding hands, embracing, or even a kiss; it would be no problem.”
Of course, there might be complications, but that was nothing serious. “If the sister-in-law still refuses, then go demand an explanation from Master Wen. What does the Wen family mean by it? Once a young lady is married into the family, what reason could there be for not even letting her husband hold her hand?”
Xie Shao: …
He had only himself to blame for losing his composure last time. When Pei Qing had asked casually, “Brother Xie, are you still staying in the west room?”
Whether to salvage his dignity or out of some foolish urge to boast, his head had grown hot, and he had shot back, “What west room? I moved into the east room long ago.”
Pei Qing looked astonished, admiration written all over his face. “So, Brother Xie and sister-in-law have already made progress? Have you at least held her hand?”
When men are simple-minded, they are little different from three-year-old boys. Feeling slightly insulted, Xie Shao scoffed, “Isn’t it just holding hands?”
Yet as soon as he said it, he realized that the furtive grab he had made that day, catching her off guard, hardly counted as holding hands.
He added stiffly, “I’ll hold it tomorrow. As if she could refuse me.”
Who could have known that Pei Qing would remember those words and choose this very moment to bring them up? The sudden embarrassment nearly left him unable to show his face.
Out of the corner of his eye, he glanced at the young lady. She appeared perfectly calm, and he could not tell whether she truly felt nothing or was merely pretending composure.
He turned back toward the window and coughed forcefully at the utterly tactless fellow outside.
Pei Qing finally seemed to notice. He paused, then asked in puzzlement, “Brother Xie, have you caught a chill?”
At moments like this, Zhou Kuang and Cui Nian’s quick wits would have shone. Among the four of them, Pei Qing was by far the slowest to catch on.
Wen Shuse could bear it no longer. Worried that the young master beside her might cough his throat raw, she spoke up in his stead. “What the young master means is for you to shut up, Young Master Pei.”