The Beauty Within the Gates
Chapter 72
Jing Wang’s intention was clear. He did not plan to let him return to Fengcheng.
Back when Chancellor Xie had forced him to leave the Eastern Capital, he had already given up all thoughts of an official career. Having lived these years as a carefree wastrel, he had grown used to it. Sooner or later, he would return to Fengcheng. What need was there to take up a post now?
In such a vast Eastern Capital, he refused to believe he couldn’t find some way to make a living.
If scholarly work wouldn’t sustain him, then he would rely on strength instead.
As the sun sank toward the horizon, Xie Shao brought Minzhang to the docks of the Eastern Capital. Before they even reached the alley entrance, they saw porters of all kinds, carrying shoulder poles, lined up in long queues.
There were even women and children among them.
The moment they spotted Xie Shao approaching, several people crowded around him at once.
“Young master, need a porter? No matter how heavy it is, I can carry it!”
“Young master, fair prices. I guarantee the job gets done right!”
“Young master, loading or unloading goods?”
…
Minzhang stole a glance at his master. Though his clothes were somewhat worn, compared to the people before them, his fair skin and refined bearing made him clearly look like a young master from a wealthy family.
Xie Shao pressed his lips together, his brows tightly furrowed.
Even for porter work, was the competition this fierce? Still unwilling to give up, he asked one of them, “How much can you earn in a day doing this?”
“If you’re lucky, maybe twenty coins. If not… being able to get a full meal is already a good fortune…”
The Eastern Capital’s docks saw countless merchant ships docking each day, loading and unloading all required manpower. Xie Shao felt puzzled and continued asking, “Is there no work available at the docks?”
“If a ship owner has even a bit of means, they use their own people. And even if they don’t have enough porters, the bigger share of the work goes first to the established shipping merchants at the docks. We, independent porters, can only line up and hope to pick up whatever leftovers.”
Xie Shao looked up and gazed into the distance. The long line stretched beyond sight, like a dragon with no tail in sight. “So many people all waiting for leftovers?”
How long would one have to wait?
The old man sighed. “Too many people come to the Eastern Capital looking to make a living. We haven’t studied, so all we can do is fight for manual labor. At least it keeps us from ending up begging on the streets, only to be seized by the guards and driven out of the city.”
With so many people flooding into the capital, the authorities cleared out a batch every day. Those caught begging were escorted out and urged to return to their hometowns.
Yet while many came to the Eastern Capital, opportunities were plentiful, too. It was not uncommon for someone begging today to transform into a wealthy man with thousands of coins by tomorrow.
And for most, just getting into the capital has already made great effort. Who would willingly leave? As long as they could find some kind of work, they would stay and wait for their chance to strike it rich.
Seeing that Xie Shao remained silent for a long while, the old man spoke again, “Does the young master have goods to load or unload? I can do it cheaper.”
At once, a woman beside him squeezed forward. “Young master, I’m even cheaper…”
“I’m strong, young master!”
Xie Shao looked at the crowd pressing in around him, their heads practically colliding. If he were to say now that he, too, had come to compete for this livelihood, these people before him would likely turn on him immediately.
These people were already struggling enough. He absolutely could not take their work from them.
Turning back, he called to Minzhang, and the two headed toward the bustling market district again.
If he couldn’t be a porter, then washing dishes would do. To be able to live in a grand residence with his young lady and sleep on that large bed, he had completely cast aside all reservations.
They went from one inn to another, one restaurant after the next, only to be turned away every time.
The reason? These places were hiring servants. Someone who looked like him, more like a master than a servant, how could they possibly order him around?
At the last inn, a kind-hearted waiter pointed them elsewhere. “With your conditions, coming here is a waste. Try that place ahead with the colorful banners.”
Thanking him, the two went straight there.
At the entrance, they indeed saw a notice recruiting general helpers.
By now, night had fallen. The place was oddly quiet, with no visible flow of guests. Xie Shao stepped forward and knocked on the door. “May I ask if you’re still hiring?”
The man inside looked them over, his eyes lighting up. His smile turned exceedingly warm.
“Yes, we are. Please, come in.”
The two stepped over the threshold, one after the other.
But in less than the time it took to drink half a cup of tea, they burst out again as if fleeing for their lives.
Xie Shao was panting heavily, his face green with fury. His collar hung crooked to one side as he pressed a hand to his forehead, the veins at his temples throbbing. Grinding his teeth, he snapped,
“Go… tear this place down.”
Minzhang didn’t look much better. In order to protect his master’s virtue, he had clearly sacrificed quite a bit.
On one side of his cheek, there was even a smear of lip rouge.
What was happening to the morals of the young ladies in the Eastern Capital? Had they all lost their sense of shame…
At his master’s command, Minzhang had already drawn his curved blade and was about to turn back when Xie Shao hissed and stopped him. “Come back. Wipe your face clean first.”
Master and servant retreated into a dark alley, tidying themselves up. Only after making sure there wasn’t a single trace left on them did they step back out.
After searching for work for nearly two hours, they had gained nothing and had almost lost their virtue in the process.
They no longer had the heart to keep looking. Dejected and disheveled, they returned to the residence. Before entering, Xie Shao turned back to remind him, “Keep your mouth shut.”
Minzhang naturally understood how shameful this was. “Yes.”
—
The courtyard gate wasn’t locked. Xie Shao pushed it open and stepped inside.
He had originally promised to take the young lady to the night market that evening, but that plan had fallen through. He assumed she had already gone to rest. Yet upon entering, he was greeted by a courtyard filled with lanterns.
Hearing movement, Wen Shuse poked her head out from among a cluster of gauze lanterns. Her hands were occupied, so she only lifted her head and called out from afar, “Husband, you’re back.”
Xie Shao walked over slowly, his face full of confusion. “Wife, why are you making so many lanterns?”
“To sell them, of course.” Wen Shuse finished a stroke on the gauze and gently blew on it before turning to look at him. The soft glow of the lantern light tinted her brows with a lively brightness as she said cheerfully, “I heard from Aunt Qing today that the lanterns sold on the street aren’t as well made as mine, yet they’re quite expensive. Since I had nothing to do, I thought I’d make a few and try selling them. Who knew, in less than the time it takes to burn a stick of incense, they were all sold out.”
She raised her chin, pointing at the stack of lanterns before her. “After you left, I haven’t stopped at all. I make them, and Aunt Qing takes them out to sell. We’ve already gone back and forth several times.”
Xie Shao stood there, stunned.
His wife then untied the pouch at her waist and handed it to him. “Husband, help me count this. I think it’s almost half a string already. If I keep at it for a few more days, I should be able to cover this month’s rent.”
Xie Shao reached out mechanically. Inside the bulging pouch were coins upon coins. A surge of mixed emotions rose in his chest.
It was too humiliating.
Wen Shuse seemed to recall something. Setting down the lantern, she stood up. “Husband has been running around all day. You must be tired. Go inside and rest. I’ll make you a cup of tea.”
“No need.” Xie Shao grabbed her hand.
He didn’t deserve it.
He had run around all day and hadn’t earned a single coin. Yet in the end, he couldn’t even compare to his young lady in making money.
Seeing the unease on his face, Wen Shuse asked softly, “Husband, what’s wrong?”
Xie Shao forced out a smile. “I’m not thirsty. No need for you to trouble yourself.”
Since he insisted, Wen Shuse sat back down. Lowering her head, she continued sketching a lady’s figure onto the gauze while speaking gently, “When I first learned lantern-making from my mother, I was terribly clumsy. She even mocked me, saying no one would ever buy the lanterns I made. I argued back, saying I wouldn’t need to rely on lanterns to earn a living… Who would have thought that one day, I’d actually be making a living by this very skill?”
She glanced back at her husband. “If you’re tired, go inside and rest early. I’m not sleepy. I’ll make a few more.”
Xie Shao didn’t move. After a long moment, he slowly bent down. “I’m not sleepy either. Wife, teach me. How do you make these?”
Seeing the sincerity on his face, and as he picked up a strip of bamboo to imitate her movements, she remembered how a bamboo splinter had once pierced his finger. At this late hour, she had no desire to pick splinters out of him again. Setting down the lantern, she carefully took the bamboo strip from his hand. “Husband is just starting. This can easily cut your hands.”
Xie Shao’s hands were empty. He looked a little at a loss. “Then… what can I do?”
All this effort of hers was precisely to bring about this kind of attitude in him; only after tasting hardship would he learn to cherish what he had. She lifted her head and asked, “Husband, can you paint?”
Xie Shao nodded. “Yes.”
“Then you do the painting, and I’ll handle the frame.” She pointed to the lantern and brush by her feet. “I’ve already finished one side of this lantern. You can do the other side of this lantern, paint whatever you like.”
“Alright.”
In his earlier years in the Eastern Capital, he had once been quite renowned, producing many paintings that earned praise. He looked over the lady figure she had just completed, compared it briefly, then slowly set his brush to work.
The two of them busied themselves with their tasks. The chirping of crickets blended into the night, no longer noisy but instead giving the space a sense of quiet openness.
After carving small holes into the wooden frame with a knife, Wen Shuse glanced at him and suddenly asked in a low voice, “Husband… did you go out looking for work today?”
Though it was somewhat embarrassing, he couldn’t lie to his wife. It had been a long time since he last held a brush, and he felt a bit rusty. Only after finishing the stroke in his hand with full concentration did he answer, “Yes… But I didn’t find anything.”
Hearing the disappointment in his voice, she gently comforted him, “If you can’t find anything, just take it slow. There’s no need to rush. I have this skill. At worst, I’ll support you from now on.”
Her tone was bold and easygoing. As she spoke, she pressed a bamboo strip against her knee, snapping it cleanly in two, then lowered her head and began shaving off the splinters with her knife.
Xie Shao’s brush paused mid-stroke as he turned to look at her.
A few strands of hair had come loose, falling softly by her temples. Dressed in plain clothes with her sleeves rolled up, her slender fingers, once untouched even by cold spring water, were now gripping a knife, doing coarse work.
She would support him.
Her sincerity and affection moved him deeply, yet also filled him with shame. A warm night breeze brushed against his face, and Xie Shao suddenly felt a tightness in his chest. “Second Wen…”
Wen Shuse kept her head lowered. “Mm?”
“I broke my word.”
She looked up at him in surprise.
“On our wedding night, we made an agreement,” he said. “I didn’t keep it. I haven’t given you a good life… I’m sorry.”
The lantern beside them cast twin flames into his eyes, their glow faintly flickering in his gaze. Wen Shuse froze for a moment, her hands pausing mid-motion.
A trace of guilt crept into her heart; perhaps she had pushed him too hard. She quickly softened her tone. “Husband, don’t take it to heart. Our situation now is entirely my doing. The fact that you didn’t divorce me is already more than I could hope for.”
She had already decided to make lanterns to support him. So, even if the family fortune had truly been squandered by her, what did it matter?
When a person is moved, the first thing they do is reflect on themselves. And the more he thought, the more he felt he had wronged her.
On their wedding night, he had even argued with her. He truly hadn’t acted like a decent man.
Adversity revealed true feelings. She had risked everything to return and save his life. And now, even knowing he had not a single coin to his name, she still chose to stay by his side.
What had he done to deserve a wife like this, so beautiful, so devoted?
With a wife like her… what more could a man ask for?
The bankruptcy of the Xie family, in truth, was not her fault either. “The bankruptcy was entirely due to my own laziness and lack of action. It was not your doing, Wife. I am your husband. I should be responsible for you. It’s just that from now on, I’m afraid I’ll have to trouble you to endure hardship alongside me.”
Thank heavens! He’s finally come to his senses.
A faint hope of better days ahead rose in Wen Shuse’s heart. Accepting his sincerity, she encouraged him, “What’s done is done. Don’t dwell on the past, just work harder from now on.”
He didn’t need her to tell him that. “Alright.” Xie Shao nodded. Suddenly, he reached out and took the small knife from her hand. “Teach me. I’ll make the rest of the lanterns.”
Wen Shuse froze.
“From now on, I’ll make these lanterns. You don’t need to tire yourself.”
This… was not how she had imagined things would turn out.
All her careful effort, sitting here half the night making lanterns, was never meant to have him join her in this work, nor to pass down her craft to him.
She only wanted him to regain his drive, to make use of his strengths, to do what he was meant to do.
Back in Fengcheng, he had been capable. So, why couldn’t he return to officialdom?
A wave of frustration rose in her chest. She had done all she could. If Old Madam Xie were to blame her, then so be it. There was nothing more she could do.
Xie Shao, unaware of her inner turmoil, saw her remain silent and tugged lightly at her sleeve.
“Wife?”
“I don’t want to sell lanterns. I don’t want to make lanterns.”
The pent-up frustration that feeling of hating iron for not becoming steel finally burst through. Wen Shuse stood abruptly, shaking off his hand. Her face was filled with disappointment as she looked at him without restraint, her tone cold and distant.
“Are you planning to make lanterns for the rest of your life? Even if you earn one string of coins a day or two strings, how much can that really be? Can it support a family? Can it give me a good life?”
“Do you even know what I truly want? I want a life of abundance. I want to stand above others. I want to be the wife of an official. I want to live with dignity and splendor!”
“And look at you now. What have you become? You can’t even afford to buy me a few decent sets of clothes.”
Her words were sharp, far sharper than any blade. They struck straight to the heart, drawing blood with a single blow. For a moment, everything fell silent.
The freshly painted lantern slipped from her hand as she flung it aside, crashing onto the ground.
Blood seemed to surge backward through his veins; his limbs stiffened. Xie Shao could only watch helplessly as the fallen lantern brushed against another gauze lantern nearby and slowly began to burn. Yet he could muster no reaction at all.
At this point, Wen Shuse no longer wished to keep up the pretense with him. “I never truly wanted to endure hardship by your side.”
She felt his way of thinking was far too naive. “In this world, what young woman would willingly suffer for a lifetime? Perhaps there are some, but I am not one of them.”
As a child, she had known the days of going hungry. Her own mother, lacking money for medicine, had slowly fallen ill and passed away.
More than anyone, she understood the importance of wealth and power.
Even if she told him that the Xie family had not truly gone bankrupt, that he could continue to squander as he pleased, given his complete lack of ambition, the family fortune would sooner or later be spent into ruin by his own hands.
“The reason I can share hardship with you is only because you are the husband I married before the ancestral hall. I made a vow to spend my life with you, and I will not go back on it. Even if you wish to go on living like this in the future, I can remain by your side, never leaving you. But that is not what my heart desires, nor is it something I take pleasure in.”
Every word his wife spoke was like a blade.
So, from Fengcheng to the Eastern Capital, all the warmth and tenderness he had felt along the way had merely been a harmony she carefully crafted.
Cruel as it was, it was also more honest.
There had been no sudden blossoming of affection, no love born without reason. It was he who had been misled by the days that followed, who had thought too simply, forgetting how the two of them had begun.
There was no denying that as a wife, she had done exceptionally well, leaving him with nothing to fault.
Perhaps, hidden within her words, there was another truth. The person she had originally wished to spend her life with had never been him. It was only by accident, by force of circumstance, that she had no choice but to choose him.
His vision suddenly blurred. Xie Shao sat there without moving, not uttering a single word from beginning to end.
Now that things had been said to this point, there was no reason to stay any longer. Without looking at him, Wen Shuse left the main courtyard’s large bed to him and turned to walk toward the outer courtyard.
Only after stepping out of the corridor did she finally exhale the breath that had been stuck in her throat. Only then did she realize, belatedly, that at some point her chest had tightened to the point of pain.
Aunt Qing had just returned from selling gauze lanterns outside. When she saw Wen Shuse approaching, her face lit up with joy, but before she could report anything, she noticed something was wrong with her expression. Her heart leaped with alarm. “Madam, what’s wrong?”
Wen Shuse did not answer. Tears streamed down her face in torrents. Everything she had said earlier had come from the depths of her heart. Yet for some reason, it hurt this much.
Aunt Qing had never seen her like this and hurriedly asked, “Did the young master bully you?”
Wen Shuse shook her head, stepped into the side room, and sat down on a wooden stool. She wiped the tears from her face with the back of her hand, struggling to draw a breath, and choked out, “Aunt… my heart hurts so much.”
—
Early the next morning, Minzhang went to wait beneath the corridor of the main courtyard.
The night before, he had seen his master and the Second Young Madam sitting together in the courtyard making lanterns. Not wanting to disturb them, he had withdrawn to the outer courtyard and had no idea what had happened between them.
When he saw his master suddenly come out, he was about to ask whether they were going to sell lanterns when Xie Shao spoke first, his voice hoarse, “Take my appointment papers. We’re going to the Ministry of War.”
Minzhang was taken aback, then broke into a rare smile. “It’s wonderful that Master has come to your senses.”