The Beauty Within the Gates
Chapter 60
If they kept on being trapped here any longer, they would both die here. Pei Qing reached out, grabbing onto the rocky surface outside, and suddenly poked his head out from the crevice. “Brother Xie, make it to Eastern Capital alive and find Sister-in-law.”
Before he could move further, Xie Shao grabbed the belt at his waist.
Fighting for a way out of this mountain of blades and sea of flames was always a battle of endurance. Furious at Pei Qing’s recklessness, Xie Shao gritted his teeth and held him back. “Aren’t you afraid Pei Yuanqiu will give you another little brother?”
Pei Qing froze there, wedged halfway in and out, unable to move forward or back. Just as he was about to struggle, he saw the torches in the valley below slowly retreating, the voices growing more and more distant.
Pei Qing let out a breath of relief and patted the hand still dragging at him. “Brother Xie, they’ve gone.”
Xie Shao lifted his gaze. Through the branches lodged in the crevice, he finally noticed that the torches ahead had indeed disappeared.
After being wedged in that crack for a full day and night, their bodies had long gone stiff. The two of them struggled to crawl out, but the blood had yet to return to their legs. Before they could steady themselves, they both tumbled down the valley together, plunging into the pool below.
Pei Qing immediately swallowed a mouthful of water, splashing twice in the pool before struggling to his feet.
Seeing that the firelight in the valley had withdrawn and the people had gradually left, Minzhang, who had been nearby, also rolled down from the cliff. Just as he was about to search for his master, he suddenly heard movement. Feeling his way forward, he called out cautiously, “Master…?”
“Over here… not dead.”
The cliff was not low, and in the pitch darkness nothing could be seen. Their bodies had been battered by branches and rocks countless times, and after falling into the water, both Pei Qing and Xie Shao had choked badly. Xie Shao nearly failed to get up, barely managing to answer as he struggled to crawl out. Yet with that shock, feeling slowly returned to his limbs.
A thunderstorm had raged through the night before, and the entire day had been shrouded in overcast skies. Now, with no moon in the night sky, once the torches were withdrawn, the valley fell into complete darkness, so black they could not see their own hands. Stumbling out of the pool, they could not even tell which direction was which.
None of the three carried a fire starter, and even if they did, they dared not light a fire. In their current condition, trying to climb upward in the dark would likely end with them falling to their deaths before the Crown Prince’s men even had a chance to return.
All they could do was wring the water from their robes and hide behind a rock, waiting for daylight to slowly break.
If Pei Yuanqiu’s men were to come back now, they would be found without fail.
A heavy weight sank in their hearts. Pei Qing turned his head slightly. “Brother Xie, Pei Yuanqiu has always been cunning. Do you think he might be playing a trick on us, retreating only to advance?”
The thought had crossed each of their minds, but it was precisely this kind of jinxed pronouncement that no one wanted to voice aloud.
Sure enough, no sooner had the words left his mouth than the sound of loose stones tumbling down the cliff echoed above them. Too late to cover his mouth, Pei Qing shut his eyes and leaned back against the rock, wishing he could slap himself.
Climbing back up and squeezing into the crevice again was impossible. They could not see the path, nor could they act rashly. The three of them pressed their backs tightly against the rock face, holding still as they listened for movement above.
The sounds drew closer, as though someone was descending along the mountain path. Gradually, several beams of torchlight appeared, casting their glow down from halfway up the mountainside.
Then they heard a voice call out, “Third Young Master Xie…”
Xie Shao drew in a sharp breath and tightened his grip on the curved blade at his waist. The other two also braced themselves, ready for a fight to the death.
“Husband…”
A moment later, another voice suddenly slipped into his ears. At first, he thought he had imagined it. But seeing that the two beside him had also gone still, they must have heard it as well. Holding his breath, he listened more closely.
After a short while, that familiar voice came again. “Husband…”
This time, he heard it clearly, it was his little wife’s voice.
Shock surged through him. How could she possibly be here? His first instinct was that Jing Wang must have fallen into the hands of that treacherous dog Pei Yuanqiu.
Rationally, he should not step out, otherwise, they would all be wiped out.
But reason failed him. He emerged from behind the rock and watched as the torchlight on the mountainside slowly drew nearer, descending into the valley.
To his surprise, there was no large force, only two or three torches, and the figures approaching seemed to number no more than two or three.
It did not look like Pei Yuanqiu’s men.
Jing Wang had only left the previous night. Even at the fastest pace, he should have just reached the Eastern Capital by now, and it was impossible for him to have already sent reinforcements.
The most likely possibility… was that Jing Wang had turned back.
His heart gave a sudden jolt. He stepped forward… only to find that his legs, having just regained feeling, were still stiff and unresponsive. His body could not keep up with his mind. The moment he took a step, he staggered, and before he could steady himself, he fell back into the pool once more.
The bottom of the pool was uneven, and it took several tries before he managed to get out. Barely steady on his feet, water streaming down from his body in torrents, he awkwardly pushed aside the strands of hair plastered across his face.
The commotion was no small one. Everyone who had just descended into the valley heard it and rushed over swiftly. Three torches were raised high, their flames casting a clear, flickering light directly onto the young man’s face.
The young lady across from him froze for a moment, a blank look in her eyes. Then, suddenly, she dropped the torch in her hand, lifted the hem of her robe, and waded into the water, throwing herself into his arms without a second thought.
Xie Shao had only just managed to stand, struck by her sudden leap, he lost his footing and fell back onto the ground with a thud, dragging the young lady down with him as they tumbled together into the water.
Water splashed up, splashing both their faces. The young lady was now drenched through, but she paid it no mind. Before the young man could get up, she threw herself at him again, her arms wrapping tightly around him as she sobbed with overwhelming emotion, “Husband is alive… you’re alive, wuwu…”
Heaven only knew how frightened she had been.
In just one short day, it had felt like three autumns had passed. Every moment had been agonizing for her. She had finally made it down the mountain, only to find the city gates sealed shut, leaving her no way to get help. She had nearly lost her mind with anxiety. After several turns and delays, night had fallen in the blink of an eye.
When she had followed Young Master Wei up the mountain, she hadn’t been sure if he was even still alive. Her heart had been in her throat, filled with dread and tension.
She did not dare to imagine what she would do… if he never returned.
Having held it in until now, she had finally found him alive. Only by clutching him tightly in her arms could she soothe the panic and turmoil that had plagued her all day.
Xie Shao was pressed down by her, sitting motionless in the pool. With that strength and reckless urgency, there was no doubt, it truly was his young lady who had returned.
Throughout the day, he had been trapped among the rocky cliffs, her tear-streaked face as she bid him farewell had haunted his every waking moment.
At the time, the situation had been dire, and his only thought was getting her to safety. Yet once she left, a hollow emptiness settled in his heart.
That they had come to be together was, in truth, a twist of fate, not a union of mutual affection. When she had agreed to stay with him, he knew it was out of compassion for Old Madam Wen. Like him, she wanted to live on for everyone’s sake. Even if their beginning had been wrong, they could still live well, even find happiness.
After that, they had taken what they needed from each other, their paths not meant to cross. Yet, to his own surprise, he had found himself developing feelings for her.
Thinking carefully, perhaps it was not so surprising. She was breathtakingly beautiful, gentle in temperament; who could resist her?
He had thought she had already reached the Eastern Capital, that in this lifetime they would likely never meet again. Yet now she had fallen from the heavens into his arms, holding him tightly, weeping as though her heart was breaking. Was it not proof that she could not bear to part with him, that she cared for him?
The feeling was so reassuring, so warm. All reason slipped away. He did not want to ask why she had come here, nor scold her for coming. Deep down, he even felt a trace of joy at her presence. Unable to help himself, he wrapped his arms around her as well, his hand cradling the back of her head, his face pressed against hers as he soothed her softly,
“Second Wen, I’m alright.”
The young lady only held him tighter, sobbing as she protested, “I’m not leaving anymore! Don’t make me go alone. I want to stay with you. Even if it means death, I’ll accept it.”
After a full day of helplessness, Wen Shuse had long since regretted her decision.
She had never been one to endure hardship. From last night until now, another person’s life had rested entirely in her hands, yet she had been powerless to help. That overwhelming despair, as if the sky itself were collapsing, she never wanted to experience it again. If the Crown Prince’s men were to come, then so be it. Better to have it done with quickly than to suffer this torment.
“Wuwuwu…” The young lady burst into loud sobs, utterly stripped of the composure and poise she had shown during the day.
Behind her, Wei Yun held up his torch. The calmness and courage she had displayed when she came to seek his help were still vivid in his mind. Seeing her like this now, the contrast was so great that he stood there, momentarily stunned.
Pei Qing and Minzhang, who had been hiding behind the rocks, had also stepped out. They were astonished by the depth of the young lady’s devotion. She had already left, yet had actually come back.
They did not know what exactly had happened, nor whether Jing Wang had returned as well. Lifting their heads, they suddenly caught sight of a stranger, and their eyes immediately filled with caution.
When Jing Wang left, he had taken no one with him. Moreover, judging by this young man’s attire, he did not seem to be one of Jing Wang’s men. Pei Qing spoke up, “May I ask who you are?”
Wei Yun cupped his hands politely and introduced himself, “I am a grandson of the Wei family in the capital. I am the eldest of my generation, with the given name Yun.”
Hearing an unfamiliar voice besides the young lady’s, the young man in the pool finally came back to his senses and at last lifted his head.
Wei Yun’s gaze happened to fall on him as well. He inclined his head with a faint smile. “This must be the Third Young Master Xie.” Though it was hardly the time for pleasantries, he had no choice but to remind them, “This place is not safe to linger. Let us first make our way up and speak later.”
—
A wildfire had scorched the forest black, and after a heavy downpour, the Crown Prince’s forces had searched the valley floor for hours, nearly leveling the place. Everywhere were muddy footprints trampled into the ground.
The path upward was difficult, and the three of them were all wounded. Supporting one another, they took more than half an hour to finally climb back onto the original mountain trail.
Pei Yuanqiu’s men had completely withdrawn. All that remained were a few dying embers. The carriage lay overturned, the wreckage still in disarray, but the bodies that had once littered the ground were gone, dragged away.
Among them were the fallen guards of the Prince Mansion.
When the three had gone toward the cliff, the Prince Mansion’s guards had not followed. They had given their lives to buy them time to escape.
The rain had washed over everything, soaking the blood deep into the soil, staining the path red across a wide stretch. These were living men who had accompanied them along the journey, and their laughter and voices still seemed to echo in their ears. And now, in an instant, they were gone, as though erased.
Their gazes were heavy with grief. No one spoke, yet none dared to stop, even for a moment.
At the foot of the mountain, the Crown Prince’s men were searching the city. They could only press onward, deeper into the forest.
After avoiding that stretch of road, the group walked on for another half hour. At last, utterly exhausted, they stopped to rest on a mountainside where there was water.
The night before, the three of them had been driven to the cliff by pursuing soldiers. Each had prepared an iron hook in advance; the moment they jumped, they hurled them out, catching onto the cliff face and tree trunks just in time. With great difficulty, they climbed back up the sheer rock and found a crevice in which to hide.
When the mountain fire broke out, they had nearly been suffocated by the thick smoke. Fortunately, heaven did not abandon them, a sudden thunderstorm arrived in time, keeping the flames from spreading. Yet the Crown Prince’s forces refused to give up, surrounding the valley and searching for an entire day and night without withdrawing. Trapped in the narrow crevice, they could not move. Their legs were scraped raw; in the end, they slipped and fell down the cliff once more. Now their bodies were covered in injuries. Walking along the edge of death, having eaten nothing, they were exhausted and starving, their faces already pale as paper.
When Wei Yun came up the mountain, he had come prepared and had his servant bring out the bundle.
Leaning against a tree trunk, Xie Shao sat down. Though his complexion was poor, his spirits were unexpectedly bright. His gaze followed the young lady as she took the bundle from the young man opposite her, thanked him with a smile, then turned and hurried back toward him.
Along the way, he had already heard her recount the dangers she had faced over the past day and night, and he now knew who this Young Master Wei before him was.
“After parting from you, Husband, I couldn’t put my mind at ease. Later, I saw thick smoke rising from the mountainside and knew you must have been trapped. I begged Wangye to let me down from his horse. I had planned to follow his instructions to go down the mountain, leave the city, and find the hidden contacts to bring help. But the Crown Prince had the city gates sealed, and I couldn’t get out, so I had no choice but to turn back. Just when I had nowhere left to go, guess who I ran into? It was Concubine Gu’s cousin. Truly, one must do good deeds in ordinary times, only then will they save your life in a critical moment. Her husband helped me find Young Master Wei. If not for him… I fear you and I would have met again only in the heavens…”
Knowing he would ask, she continued, “Do you remember Young Master Wei, my lord?” Seeing the confusion on his face, she answered herself, “I told you about him before, the Supervisor Wei, who came to Fengcheng to procure grain. I happened to run into him at the foot of the mountain today. With the city gates sealed and no way out, I had no other choice. I remembered that when he came to Fengcheng before, his character was decent, so I went to seek his help. As it turns out, I judged him right. After hearing me out, Young Master Wei did not hesitate to lend a hand. It seems the money you spent back then was not wasted at all, you not only gained an official post, but also bought yourself a life-saving charm…”
Having endured so much hardship, the young lady finally relaxed a little, her tone turning lighter. Yet as he listened, his heart pounded in alarm. He thought to himself that this young lady truly did not fear death. He did not know where she had found such courage and daring.
Then a wave of lingering fear washed over him, chilling his back. Along the way, he had held her hand tightly, not daring to imagine what might have happened had she taken even a single wrong step.
Now that they had sat down, his eyes never left her.
He watched as she returned with the bundle from Young Master Wei, crouched in front of him, and took out a flatbread, handing it to him. “Husband, you’ve gone hungry for a whole day and night, eat something first.”
Not just him, since last night until now, Wen Shuse herself had not eaten a single grain. After giving it to him, she took out another piece for herself, bit into it a few times, and swallowed it down with water from the flask. Her empty stomach finally felt a little better.
After finishing one piece, she turned back and saw that he was still holding his bread, staring at her without moving. Confused, she asked, “What’s wrong? Husband, is it not to your liking? The bread is a bit dry, but it can save your life. Please make do with it…”
Those lively eyes, after enduring an entire day and night, were streaked with faint threads of red, yet they remained bright and full of life, gazing intently at him.
His heart thudded heavily in his chest. In the end, he could not hold back.
Before Wen Shuse could finish speaking, she saw her husband suddenly lean in. His hand slipped behind her neck, drawing her closer, and without the slightest warning, his lips pressed against hers.