The Beauty Within the Gates
Chapter 76
As soon as the words fell, there came a loud bang! The window before him shook a few times. In the end, the little wife inside and that thin wooden latch could not withstand the strength of a hot-blooded young man.
The window was forced open. Wen Shuse looked in astonishment and wariness at her husband standing outside the window, his face full of resentment. Strangely, it resembled the scene from the outer courtyard just now.
Only, this time, the two of them had changed positions.
The vow he’d just made, Wen Shuse had heard it all right, full of menace, as though he meant to grind her into dust. She could not help feeling even guiltier. “Master Xie, in the middle of the night, what exactly are you trying to do?”
Behind her, Aunt Qing’s head was about to split. She never would have imagined that once her young lady got drunk, she would become this fierce. She could only do her best to persuade the sober one. “Young Master, Miss’s tolerance has never been good. Today, she even drank half a pot. If her words offended Young Master, please do not lower yourself to argue with a drunk person.”
Once the window was broken open, the night breeze flowed between them, and the faint scent of wine drifted from the little wife into his nose. Looking more closely, he saw that her face was flushed a soft red. She truly was not normal.
Before Xie Shao could speak, Wen Shuse was already unhappy to hear this and retorted, “Who says my tolerance is poor? With Zuixiang Tower’s wine, I can drink two or three pots without any problem. This Mi…”
Aunt Qing’s expression changed, and she hurriedly cut in, “Miss…”
Fortunately, Wen Shuse still had a bit of reason left and stopped herself in time.
Xie Shao worked hard to calm the swelling anger rushing through his chest.
To be angered until smoke nearly poured from all seven orifices by a drunkard in the middle of the night, she really was impressive. His expression turned defeated, and he rubbed his throbbing temples twice, no longer wanting to look at that infuriating face of hers.
Her tolerance was not merely poor. Her drunk manners were poor as well.
He turned and walked away without looking back, straight down through the passageway.
Why did he leave again?
Wen Shuse was startled. No matter how pleased she felt, in the end, she no longer dared to provoke him with more words. Leisurely, she closed the window. After all that commotion, her steps were somewhat unsteady, and even her head seemed to have been made dizzy by his arguing.
She walked to the bedside and collapsed onto it. Aunt Qing called for her from outside, but she did not hear at all. She slept deeply, and when she woke, the sun was already high in the sky.
The door had been bolted by her last night, so Aunt Qing could not enter. She had already come by several times. It was only on the last visit, when Wen Shuse heard her calling at the door, that she rose and went to draw the bolt.
Aunt Qing came in carrying a basin of water and looked at her with concern. “Miss, how do you feel? Does your head still hurt?”
The question alone was enough to bring last night flooding back, scene by scene. The color drained from Wen Shuse’s face, and she stood there frozen like a wooden stake.
What exactly had she done…
Losing one’s virtue after drinking. Those words were indeed not wrong.
This time, it was completely over.
The last matter had not even passed, and now she’d gone and offended him all over again. She was hollowed out with regret. “Uncle Wen was right. That wine really does have a strong aftereffect. From now on, I absolutely will not touch another drop.” She asked Aunt Qing in despair, “Where is he?”
Seeing her look so remorseful, Aunt Qing could not bear to mention it further and comforted her, “Miss, don’t worry. Young Master has already gone to duty. Before leaving, he even showed concern for Miss and told this servant to prepare sobering soup for you.”
That was not a concern for her. That was him reminding her that after drinking, she had lost all great virtue.
—
And indeed, that was precisely Xie Shao’s intent. She had carried on wildly under the influence of wine, leaving him to bear the lingering weight of her words. He hadn’t been able to close his eyes the entire night and only fell asleep when the rooster crowed.
He rose early in the morning, dizzy and muddle-headed, his eyelids so heavy he could hardly lift them.
By the time he reached the barracks, Chief Xu was already there. Knowing he had, in the end, returned to the residence the night before, and now seeing the dark circles under his eyes, Commander Xu could more or less guess which way the wind was blowing. He leaned over and said in a low voice, “No matter how impressive and dignified we may be outside, once the women at home start looking for trouble, you’re just the wooden peg sticking out of the pillar, left for her to hammer as she pleases.”
The comparison was far too vivid. Xie Shao managed a faint, weary smile.
Commander Xu patted his shoulder and comforted him, “Third Young Master, you must hold on.”
Naturally, he had to hold on. At home, there was still a young lady who recognized only money and not people, greedy for vanity and glory. That snobbish face of hers inspired his ambition in every possible way.
Last night, her disdainful tone still circled clearly in his ears. A fifth-rank post, only eighty strings…
Bitterness rose on his tongue. He gathered his spirits and entered the military camp.
Under his command as Commander of the Imperial Guard Cavalry Command were over three hundred men, already lined up in formation, waiting for him to complete his inspection so each could return to their duties.
Under the blazing summer sun, no one was willing to go out on scouting duty. The squad whose turn it was looked listless. They mounted their horses and were just about to leave when they looked back and saw that Xie Shao had followed as well. The complaints already at their lips could only be swallowed back into their stomachs.
Military officers were unlike civil officials. There were not so many hidden maneuvers behind the scenes. Positions were earned through sheer ability, especially among these men in the military camp, who spoke entirely through the spears in their hands.
The capable rose to a position. That had always been the rule in the military camp.
But Xie Shao had suddenly been dropped into the military camp from above, and into the not-insignificant post of Commander at that. Added to the considerable care Commander Xu showed him, quite a few people in the army were already feeling dissatisfied.
The lot from the Imperial Infantry Command had even taken to mocking him in private, saying he had come to the wrong place entirely, that he ought to serve as a Commander at the Palace Guard Command instead, since his looks would fit right in.
The Palace Guard Command was all eunuchs. The insult cut to the bone, and the men under his own command lost face by association. One of them had been swallowing his resentment for some time and now seized the opportunity to needle. “The sun’s harsh today. Deputy Commander Xie is fair-skinned and tender-fleshed. Better stay in the camp, lest your skin get dark.”
At those words, expressions shifted around the group. Most of them were settling in for a good show.
Xie Shao smiled faintly and said nothing. When they reached the gate, he didn’t ride straight out. He waited until the man behind him drew level with his horse, and then his silver spear came whipping across, leveled right in front of the man’s face.
The man’s color changed. He understood at once what Xie Shao meant. Having dared to say what he’d said, he wasn’t going to back down now. If anything, he was glad of it. “Deputy Commander Xie, don’t blame this subordinate for making you lose face.” With that, he flung himself sharply backward and lunged forward with his own silver spear, driving the point straight at Xie Shao.
Xie Shao likewise turned sideways and avoided it, but his silver spear didn’t withdraw. It came around in a flash, fast, relentless, giving the man no breath to recover.
After a few exchanges, the man’s expression slowly began to change. He no longer dared to underestimate his opponent. But even pouring everything he had into it, he couldn’t seem to claw the situation back. Just as he managed, with great effort, to evade one thrust, before he could even mount a counterattack, he was counterattacked by Xie Shao again.
Xie Shao’s silver spear constantly wove before and behind him, the spearhead cutting through the air and releasing wave after wave of whistling vibrations.
Not only were the hooves of the horse beneath him forced so that it could not advance even half a step, but even the body of the man on horseback had not once been able to straighten. In sudden humiliation and anger, he lifted his silver spear and brought it crashing down toward Xie Shao’s head.
Xie Shao bent low. His silver spear made one tight spin behind his back and came up to meet the blow head-on.
The instant the spearheads met, the man felt his wrist go numb. Before he could even register what had happened, his own spear had clattered to the ground.
For a soldier to lose his weapon on the battlefield was the same as losing his life.
That man sat on horseback, his face flushing red and white by turns. Xie Shao withdrew his silver spear, then squeezed his horse’s belly with his legs. “Pick it up. Your spirit isn’t bad. Train more, and in the future, you won’t have to worry about failing to rise in rank.”
This time, no one dared make a sound.
The man swung down from the saddle and went to retrieve his spear. Though his expression was not pleasant, he had lost fair and square and was convinced in his heart. Following behind Xie Shao, there was no longer any trace of contempt in his eyes.
The group left the military camp and headed toward Liang Gate. The sun baked down overhead, scorching hot, and very soon, they were drenched in sweat. Yet the number of pedestrians on the streets had not lessened at all; carriages and horses still flowed in an endless stream.
From a distance, he caught sight of a group of men and horses blocking the city gate. Seeing that the carts were laden with row upon row of wooden barrels, Xie Shao turned and asked the guard nearest him what they were.
Having seen his true skill with their own eyes, the men were all alert now. The man hurried to report, “Honey peaches sent up from Nanjing. Tribute every year at this time.”
Xie Shao asked again, “Where are they being delivered?”
“To the Empress’s chambers.”
Xie Shao took another look, then slowly rode forward. The guards posted at the gate, seeing it was the Imperial Guard Cavalry Command’s men come to inspect the goods, took the chance to steal a moment’s idleness, and shifted as a group out from under the sun into the shade.
Word had been going round earlier that a new Commander had taken up post at the Imperial Guard Cavalry Command, said to be more handsome than any woman. Now, seeing the man on the lead horse, with the blazing sun pouring down on him, the face beneath the silver crown pale and clear, both handsome and otherworldly. Wasn’t he indeed lovelier than a woman?
There was no need to guess. That had to be the man.
Ignoring the stares from the shadows, Xie Shao dismounted and personally stepped forward to lift the lid of a wooden barrel. Inside, sure enough, were fresh honey peaches. He turned to the guard and asked, “How many batches have been brought into the city?”
The guard’s eyes happened to be fixed on his face. Caught off guard by the sudden look, his heart gave two startled thumps the moment their eyes met.
How could the men of the Cavalry Command not see through these people’s filthy thoughts? Zhao Huai, whose silver spear had just been knocked down by Xie Shao earlier, stepped forward and kicked that guard in the backside. “You turtle grandson, he’s asking you a question. What are you blushing for?”
In all three of the Imperial Guard Commands, it was understood that the men of the Cavalry Command were the worst to cross. The guard ducked his head and didn’t dare let his eyes wander again. “This is the first batch today.”
Hearing that, Xie Shao set the lid back down and asked nothing more.
—
Ever since the Crown Prince had been deposed, the Empress had fallen ill. She’d been unable to keep food down.
By evening, when the palace attendants saw she still hadn’t called for her meal, they came in to coax her. “Your Majesty, if you don’t eat, how can your body bear it? If His Highness were to know, he’d be worried sick all over again.”
At the mention of the Crown Prince, the Empress did indeed find a flicker of strength.
From the time he was small until now, when had the Crown Prince ever been outside the palace? It was bad enough that the Emperor, with no regard for the bond between father and son, had hardened his heart and driven the boy out. Now he had stripped him of the title of Crown Prince as well.
People always said the heart of an emperor ran cold. At last, she understood the truth of it. Family bonds were thinner than paper. His own and only son had been deposed without a second thought, and not only that, he showed no concern for him whatsoever, while every day summoning that murky, unaccountable foster son of his to his side. He truly meant to raise that child of unclear birth of Madam Zhou.
A pity that the people she’d sent to Jingzhou had returned with nothing. Not a single shred of information. That Jing Wang might as well have leapt out of a crack in the rocks for all anyone could trace. He had no father at all.
She forced herself to sit up and nodded for them to bring the meal.
The dishes were set out on the table, but she had no appetite at all. She was just about to wave them away when the eunuch came in once more and said in a low voice, “Your Majesty, the honey peaches from Nanjing have arrived today. This servant has had them brought in for Your Majesty.”
The Crown Prince knew she loved honey peaches, and so he had had a great orchard of peach trees planted on his fief for her sake. Every year, when this season came round, the fruit was carried up to the palace.
How quickly the time had passed. The peach season had come round again, and yet there was no longer any trace of the Crown Prince at her side.
The Empress grieved for a while, then instructed, “Bring them in.”
A moment later, two eunuchs entered. Bending down, they placed a basket of honey peaches before the Empress. One withdrew, but the other remained standing there without moving.
The Empress was just feeling puzzled when she saw that the “eunuch” lifted his head.
The face before her was none other than that of her beloved son, the former Crown Prince Zhou Yan, whom she had been longing for.
The Empress was startled and rose in fright. She hurriedly dismissed everyone in the room and had people guard the door. Only then did she look nervously at the former Crown Prince. “How did you get in? Did anyone see you?”
His imperial father now wished he could beat him down into hell. If someone were to report this to the Emperor at this moment, he might very well take his life.
After only a few days apart, stubble had grown on the Crown Prince’s face. His first question to the Empress was, “Has Mother been well?”
“I am well.” The Empress nodded. She looked the former Crown Prince over and saw that he had grown much more haggard. Her heart ached all the more, and tears unknowingly flowed down. “How could your father be so heartless? It is all Mother’s fault for being useless. My son has such a bitter fate…”
Zhou Yan comforted her for a while, then asked about serious matters. “What plans has Father had lately?”
Ever since the Third Young Master Xie escaped from Nanjing last time, he had known he would not come to a good end. But he had not expected his father to be so truly heartless, deposing him as Crown Prince just like that.
When he received the imperial edict, he wished he could directly lead troops to attack the Eastern Capital. Only after several aides desperately advised against it did he temporarily suppress his anger.
But while he was in his fiefdom, he could not learn the situation in the palace in time. Exchanging letters risked being discovered, and sending someone to pass along only a sentence or two would not explain things clearly. It was better for him to come in person. Thus, borrowing the chance of transporting honey peaches, he secretly slipped into the palace.
The Empress had also been worrying that she could not send news out. She hurriedly told him everything happening in the palace. “Your father truly treats that one as his own son now, summoning him every day…”
Zhou Yan’s face turned ashen with fury, the corner of his mouth twitching. “I think he has gone muddled with age.”
The Empress froze, then hurriedly reached out to cover his mouth. “Crown Prince, mind your words!”
“I… what words am I supposed to mind? Am I still the Crown Prince?” Zhou Yan drew in a breath and began pacing anxiously. “I cannot wait any longer. If we keep waiting like this, this empire will truly fall into the hands of that child of unclear birth.”
The Empress heard the meaning behind his words. She herself had thought of it before, too, but this step was far too dangerous. Unless there was absolutely no other choice, it could not be taken. “Do not be anxious yet. I will think of another way.”
The reason the Emperor had deposed the Crown Prince was precisely because of Jing Wang.
Even if he was willing to hand this empire to that bastard, they still had to see whether the people under heaven would agree.
As long as one was born human, who did not have a father?
“This palace is too dangerous. Leave for now. Whatever you do, do not let anyone catch hold of a weakness. Tomorrow, just wait for my news.”
—
Early the next morning, the Emperor had just finished changing when the eunuch outside came in and reported in a low voice, “Your Majesty, Her Majesty has arrived. She says she personally cooked Your Majesty’s favorite fish congee.”
After the Crown Prince was deposed, the Emperor had also heard news of the Empress falling ill.
Seeing that over these past few days, aside from summoning Jing Wang once yesterday, she had not stirred up any trouble, he still remembered their bond as husband and wife.
“Let her in.”
A short while later, the Empress entered carrying a food box. After not seeing her for two or three days, the illness was plain on her face, and she had indeed grown much thinner.
She had worn herself into this state merely from worrying over her son. The Emperor’s heart softened, and he asked with concern, “I heard you’ve been unwell of late. Have you summoned the imperial physician?”
What use was such belated tenderness now?
These past two days, she had lain on her sickbed without taking so much as a grain of rice. Had he sent a single soul to ask after her? She might well have died, and he would not even have known. The Empress’s heart soured. Suppressing the emotions surging within her, she smiled and said, “I thank Your Majesty for your concern. I am fine.”
The Emperor granted her a seat.
Seeing that the two of them had sat down to a meal together for once, the Emperor kindly advised, “I told you long ago, a doting mother spoils her son. This incident should be allowed to teach him a lesson, so he may turn over a new leaf and conduct himself properly. You need not keep worrying over him.”
The Empress’s heart went cold by half in that instant.
That was his own flesh-and-blood son. Could he truly steel himself against him?
How pitiful her son was, abandoned by his own father, and now she, the mother, was being told to abandon him, too. Was she supposed to let that child of unclear birth ascend the throne, and then turn around and take her son’s life in the bargain?
This Zhou Yuan, when he had first seized the throne, what schemes and what poisons had he not known? She refused to believe he could not see through these things. He saw them. He chose to feign ignorance.
Even a tiger, savage as it was, would not devour its own cub.
“Your Majesty speaks rightly.” The Empress took up her jade chopsticks and served the Emperor a portion of the dishes. Then, in a soft voice, she said, “Your Majesty, I have, in fact, a piece of good news.”
The Emperor looked at her in puzzlement. “What good news?”
“Last night, I received a report from those below. They said there was a man from Jingzhou who had been coming and going at the city gate for several days, insisting at the top of his voice that he must see Your Majesty. When word reached me, I feared he might be of ill intent, and so I had him brought before me on Your Majesty’s behalf. I had meant to put him to harsh questioning. But the moment he was brought in, he fell to his knees and called out the name of Madam Zhou, again and again. After much questioning, your humble servant came to learn that this man is none other than the heartless scoundrel who had wronged Madam Zhou back then. Jing Wang’s biological father.”