The Beauty Within the Gates
Chapter 82
The woman wore a smoke-purple long skirt with a half-sleeved jacket over it, her hair drawn up in a high coil. Before Wen Shuse could guess who she was, she was stunned into blankness by the words “daughter-in-law” that had come first.
At the very moment the woman lifted her leg, the door that had been tightly shut swung open from inside. Min Zhang stood there with a panicked look, bowing deeply. “Second Master, Second Madam.”
“Oh, so you know to open the door now.” The woman withdrew her extended foot, swept a glance toward the inner room, and then slowly turned around.
The moment that gaze met hers, Wen Shuse hastily lowered her head.
She tugged her rolled-up sleeves down in a flurry, retreated two steps, and bowed to the pair before her. “Father, Mother.”
Heaven above and earth below… what had she done?
This time, there was no blaming anyone else. It had all fallen apart by her own hand.
She had known her parents-in-law would arrive within these few days, and only today had she been secretly rehearsing on how to speak, how to bow, how to stand, how to sit, all carefully rehearsed. But who knew her timing would be so off, rendering all her efforts useless.
Her grandmother often taught her that a first impression was crucial. One must always be mindful of one’s words and actions, because one never knows when someone might catch a glimpse of one’s worst side, and then all one’s usual efforts would be for nothing.
Wasn’t that exactly her situation? She had always been so careful and now, of all times…
There was no concealing it now. Her parents-in-law already knew husband and wife were sleeping apart, and had caught her in this shrewish moment. Going by how Xie Shao spoke of the two of them, today they would likely press him to divorce her tonight.
She did not even know whether the Old Madam Xie had come along…
Her heart was full of anxiety and torment, especially as the silence around her lengthened. She knew her parents-in-law were sizing her up, and the shame grew unbearable.
The woman tilted aside so that the light of the gauze lantern overhead would not fall on her face, then leaned her head and stole a look at her. She caught a general impression of her appearance and chuckled softly. “All along the way, everyone kept saying our son had found good fortune in misfortune. I’d thought it was others’ jealousy. Now I’ve seen my daughter-in-law, I understand. As expected, Third Xie has truly gotten the better end of the bargain.”
Wen Shuse froze.
Today’s arrival had been a hurried one, and Second Madam had not expected to walk into such a scene. Sensing that the child must be frightened no end, she did not speak further to her but turned to step inside, to take a look at this “Eldest Master” of hers.
To see what gift he had, locking his own wife out of doors.
Chancellor Xie had also held back earlier, not wanting to embarrass Wen Shuse further. Now that his wife had entered, he came over from the side, looked at the young lady who seemed ready to bury her head in the ground, and spoke gently, afraid of startling her. “You’re Shuse, aren’t you?”
Wen Shuse’s head drooped even lower.
Chancellor Xie smiled. “Don’t worry. Your mother will set things right for you.”
He turned and followed his wife into the room.
The pair of them seemed to be nothing like what she had imagined. Wen Shuse, for a moment, could not collect her wits and stayed bowed dumbly where she was, until Aunt Qing at her side tugged at her in time. “Miss…”
Wen Shuse came to and hurried after them.
Inside, Xie Shao hadn’t expected them to arrive so soon either, especially in the middle of the night like this, about as untimely as could be.
He hoped his little wife was not too badly off out there.
He had been craning his neck for a look outside when he saw the Second Madam, whom he had not seen in nearly half a year, lift the curtain. Her gaze drifted lightly over him, taking him in.
Xie Shao clapped a hand to his shoulder, knit his brows tight, and struggled to rise. “Mother.”
Second Madam matched his movement and gave a soft “hiss.” After entering the room and walking up to him, she raised her hand and, ignoring his attempt to stop her, pulled open his collar wide open.
The wound had already been redressed. Today, the bruised blood had just been cleared out, and fresh blood had seeped past the gauze. Looking at it, the injury was indeed not light. Second Madam looked at him in surprise. “When did you start fighting this desperately?”
Xie Shao did not answer. He quickly pulled his collar closed and sat back down on the bed. “Mother, why have you come back? Is Grandmother’s injury any better?”
“She took a fall. It was nothing serious, but she broke the fingernails she’d spent half her life cultivating. She sulked for several days and couldn’t eat…”
Chancellor Xie came in just in time to add, “Her knee was injured, too. It was bruised for several days.”
Xie Shao lifted his head.
So, for the sake of Grandmother’s broken fingernail, the two of them had hidden away in Yangzhou for several months, watching him lose his entire fortune, watching Eldest Master Xie act like a fool and plot rebellion, and watching him and his little wife get hunted down the whole way?
What about the promise they had made back then?
The dogs must have eaten it.
Chancellor Xie, being stared at by his son like that, knew he was in the wrong and quickly shifted the blame elsewhere. “Don’t look at me like that. I urged your mother several times. She wasn’t in a hurry. What could I do?”
“Would being in a hurry have helped?” Second Madam smoothly took over. Standing before the bed, her expression calm and composed, she said, “The two of us come back, get captured along with you, and then the whole family gets wiped out together? He’s already a grown man. He’s even married. If someone comes to kill him, he knows how to run. He’s not a fool…” After saying this, her gaze even flicked lightly toward Xie Shao.
Xie Shao was already used to it.
When he was young and ignorant, he liked stuffing everything into his mouth. Chancellor Xie was the sort who would loudly scold him, while Second Madam would always stand calmly at the side and say, “Why are you fussing over him? Once he eats it and finds out it doesn’t taste good, he won’t eat it next time. Until it’s in his mouth, how would he know if you tell him it’s sweet or foul?”
Xie Shao did not want to discuss this with them, nor did he look at Second Madam. He only fixed on Chancellor Xie. “Father once gave me a promise worth a thousand pieces of gold. How do you intend to explain that?”
Chancellor Xie looked ashamed, but there was really nothing he could explain. In the end, he simply turned his head aside and lifted his chin.
Back then, his trip to Fengcheng had been made under the emperor’s secret decree. Could he say that? Surely he could not leave while keeping a son behind, letting him remain in a wolf’s den and fight with that dog Yuan Ming’an.
When Xie Shao was eight years old, Yuan Ming’an had schemed against him and locked him in a room with two wolfhounds.
Had Chancellor Xie not rushed there in time, would he still have had his life?
Besides, at first, the Emperor had never truly considered making Jing Wang the Crown Prince. He had merely left Chancellor Xie as a fallback for Jing Wang.
If Chancellor Xie had continued staying in the eastern capital and been held hostage by the Crown Prince, then once Xie Shao grew up and turned against his own father, it would have been better to raise him into a useless good-for-nothing instead.
Second Madam glanced at Chancellor Xie, who had now clearly given up trying to defend himself. Then she turned back to Xie Shao, whose face was dark with anger, and sighed. “Isn’t it quite good? I heard people say you’ve already become Commander of the Imperial Guard. A rank-three official position, and you were even rewarded with a thousand taels of gold.” She laughed softly. “A man with a wife really is different. You even know how to risk your life now.”
Hearing the movement of the beaded curtain, she turned her head and just happened to see Wen Shuse coming in quietly. She beckoned to her gently. “Daughter-in-law, come here.”
Xie Shao’s eyes paused, and he also turned his head.
Yet he saw that the person who had just been acting so arrogantly and domineeringly toward him now had her head lowered, practically shrinking into her own stomach.
Was she that frightened?
Where had her tiger’s courage gone? So, it turned out she only aimed it at him alone. Feeling rather disappointed that she failed to live up to her boldness, he could only protect his own calf himself. Before Second Madam could ask her anything, he took the initiative to stop the argument. “It’s late tonight. You two should settle down first. We can talk tomorrow.”
Second Madam, however, acted as though she had not heard. Waiting until Wen Shuse came before her, she said in a warm, gentle voice, “Grandmother praised you to the skies long ago, saying this was a blessing born from misfortune. This granddaughter-in-law, whom we married into the family, couldn’t be found even with a lantern. Not only are you beautiful, but you’re also clever and quick-witted, capable of managing a household. You are the Xie family’s blessing…”
Second Madam turned her head and slanted a glance at Xie Shao. This little brat had actually locked her outside the door. Did he know what was good for him or not?
But when Second Madam’s expression fell into Xie Shao’s eyes, the meaning was entirely different.
In that whole string of words, aside from “beautiful,” every other phrase used on Wen Shuse was practically sarcasm.
His little wife was already too terrified to make a sound. If the charge of being a spendthrift were now added on top of that, she might never straighten her back again.
Unable to do anything about Second Madam, he could only turn on Chancellor Xie and first take all the blame onto himself. “All of your gold was spent by me. I was the one who wanted to buy the grain, and I was also the one who wanted to donate it. Ten thousand taels of gold, exchanged for a good name for the Xie family, consider it fulfilling Father’s dream of serving the family and the nation.”
This completely unrelated remark made Second Madam pause on the spot. She turned and exchanged a look with Chancellor Xie. Both were old foxes of a thousand years; without needing to speak, they understood what had happened.
So, he still did not know.
Second Madam’s eyes brightened, and she could not help looking even more highly upon the young lady before her.
She had thought as much. Why else would he suddenly be willing to risk his life?
This son of hers was different from ordinary people. If he had truly married some prim and proper noble young lady, who knew how badly she might be bullied by him.
Every force has its counterforce. It had to be an unconventional young lady like this to keep him under control.
Wasn’t he being perfectly obedient now?
Previously, Wen Shuse had hidden the truth because she had promised Old Madam Xie that she would help him become an official and make something of himself. Now that he held a third-rank official post, and her parents-in-law had also arrived, if her unjust reputation as a spendthrift were not cleared, she would truly be thrown out. She opened her mouth to explain, “Father, Mother, I…”
Second Madam suddenly squeezed her hand, stopping her from continuing. Then she looked toward the young man on the bed. “Then what about my money? The person who made a promise to you back then was not me. Those shops of mine were dowries given to me by your maternal grandfather and grandmother. Surely they shouldn’t count as yours too?”
Xie Shao was quite generous. “I’ll compensate you.”
Second Madam was equally straightforward and nodded. “Good.”
It was already late. In order to hurry along, the two of them had not traveled by water with Old Madam Xie. Instead, they had ridden hard through the night to reach the eastern capital and find this place. By now, they were already exhausted, so they did not disturb him any further. “Rest well. As for everything else, we can discuss it slowly tomorrow.”
After saying this, she turned and pulled Wen Shuse along, walking toward the door with Chancellor Xie.
Wen Shuse’s hand had been held in Second Madam’s the whole time. Her heart was uneasy and anxious, and for a moment, she could not guess what Second Madam meant. Only after they crossed the threshold did Second Madam release her and say softly to her, “Your grandmother told us everything about the silver and money. You’ve been wronged.”
Wen Shuse was startled. She raised her head, and only then did she clearly see Second Madam’s appearance.
Her features were distinct and well-defined, bearing fifty or sixty percent resemblance to Xie Shao. Her skin was fair and delicate, and one could not tell at all that she was a woman nearing forty.
Seeing that she was finally willing to raise her head, Second Madam also studied her.
There was no fault to be found with her features and appearance. Seeing those eyes of hers fall on her face and slowly grow lively, shifting from shock to amazement, though Wen Shuse did not speak, Second Madam knew what she was thinking. She smiled and praised her aloud, “Shuse is beautiful too.”
Wen Shuse’s face reddened. Realizing she had been rude, she immediately moved her gaze away.
Second Madam had initially intended to be gentle for this first meeting, not wanting to frighten her. Who would have thought she would run straight into the sight of her own son shutting the girl outside the door? This anger had to be vented on her behalf. “Since he has the ability to shut the door, he must be taught a lesson. Next time he dares drive you out again, raise the rent and let him sleep on the streets himself…”
Wen Shuse stared at her in astonishment.
Second Madam did not let her keep following. “It’s getting late. Hurry back inside and sleep. Minzhang and the maids will tidy the room. You don’t need to worry about it. Your father and I are tired, too. We’ll talk about everything else tomorrow.”
—
When Wen Shuse returned to the room, this time her husband had already very consciously risen to his feet and was standing beside the bed, leaving the inner side of the bed for her.
No matter how great the grievance, Wen Shuse no longer had the heart to quarrel with him. She had already bathed and changed. Taking off her outer robe, she climbed onto the bed by herself in her inner garments, pulled the quilt over herself, closed her eyes, and said, “Husband, hurry and sleep. Call me if anything happens.”
Xie Shao assumed she had been scared senseless. He lay down as well, turned his head, and looked at her motionless side profile. His heart softened, and he comforted her, “You are my lawfully wedded wife, married to me, Xie Shao, with all the proper rites. What are you afraid of? As for the family fortune, didn’t I already promise you I wouldn’t blame you? It is all my responsibility. You need not care about them, and you need not be afraid.”
Wen Shuse was silently weighing things in her heart.
She was grateful that her husband could say that. But hearing was empty, while seeing was believing. She could not help turning her head to look at him, too. “Husband, why do I feel that they are different from what you said?”
Xie Shao was startled. “What did she say to you?”
Wen Shuse suddenly pursed her lips into a smile, her eyes brightening. Half shy and half pleased with herself, she said, “Husband, Mother praised me for being beautiful.”
All the comforting words Xie Shao had been ready to offer were choked back by that one sentence.
Such little ambition. One bit of praise, and even her stance had changed. He muttered, “I’ve praised you for being beautiful, too. Why haven’t I seen you this happy then?”
The young lady looked surprised. “Husband has praised me before?”
Xie Shao felt that the way her head worked was truly wondrous. Things she should not remember, she never forgot. Things she should remember, she remembered none of them.
Being stared at by him like this, Wen Shuse also began to think back. Very quickly, she remembered, and with great disdain said, “Husband was only tricking me into buying fewer clothes. It wasn’t sincere at all. Mother is different. I could tell from her eyes that she truly likes me.”
These words pierced him even more deeply.
To say she had no heart, yet she could distinguish sincerity from pretense perfectly clearly, and she knew exactly where to dig on his weak points. But that “like” she had said tonight, when had that carried any sincerity?
She could see affection in the eyes of someone she had only just met, yet he spent every day swaying right beneath her eyelids, and she was heart-blind and eye-blind, unable to see a thing.
He could not think about it. The more he thought, the colder his heart felt.
He turned his head back and lay flat on the embroidered pillow, closing his eyes. “Sleep early.”
Perhaps the young lady had been too nervous and excited and had no time to torment him, for she obediently lay on one side without moving. The night passed peacefully. Early the next morning, when he woke, the young lady was still asleep. Without needing to guess, he knew she must have only fallen asleep deep into the night.
Then he lowered his head and looked. The quilt on his body had been reduced to a single corner, precariously draped over one side of his leg. The rest had all been wrapped around the young lady’s body.
So, this was what she called sleeping properly.
The room was open to drafts on all four sides, and it was rather cool in the morning and evening. He reached out, wanting to tug a little of the quilt back, but stopped himself in time. He could not destroy the evidence at the scene. He had to wait until his little wife woke and saw it for herself.
After enduring the cold for a while, footsteps suddenly sounded in the corridor outside, followed soon by Second Madam’s voice. “I’ve made lotus root soup. Take it in to them…”
Xie Shao’s heart jumped. Quick-eyed and quick-handed, he yanked the quilt out of the young lady’s arms and draped it over himself.
His tug finally woke Wen Shuse. Realizing she had overslept, she scrambled out of bed and hurried to get dressed, not sparing him a glance. “Why didn’t you wake me, Husband…”
Xie Shao looked at the covers now firmly spread over his own body. All his evidence was gone. He said nothing.
Aunt Qing was already standing outside the inner room’s curtain, holding a soup tureen. She called inside, “Second Madam just simmered some soup and said that once Young Master and Young Madam are awake, you can have it right away.”
Her first night’s impression hadn’t been good, and it would take effort to turn things around. Now she had overslept again. Wen Shuse slapped her forehead in frustration. “Look at me. I can’t get a single thing right.”
Seeing how nervous she was, Xie Shao kindly tried to let her off the hook. “If you’re afraid to face them, you don’t have to go anywhere. Just stay here. I’ll handle them for you.”
Wen Shuse didn’t appreciate it. She finished dressing quickly before glancing at him. “You stay in bed and rest. Call Min Zhang if you need anything. I’ve also assigned two maids for you. They’re right outside. Just call, and they’ll come in. I’ll go busy myself first…”
As she went out, she instructed Aunt Qing, “Take the soup inside. Husband is awake.” Then, without looking back, she left the courtyard.
After that, she didn’t reappear until evening. Not only that, but even Minzhang and Aunt Qing were nowhere to be found in the residence.
At dinnertime, Xie Shao sat before the low wooden table, looking at the sumptuous dishes laid out before him. At last, unable to bear it any longer, he raised his head and swept his gaze toward the two maids standing in front of him, asking in a low voice, “Where is Third Young Madam?”
Gone without a trace all day long. Had she forgotten there was still an invalid husband lying in bed?
She was busy… was she really that busy? For the past two days, at least, she would come over to accompany him for dinner, no matter what. But today, for all three meals, he had not seen even her shadow.
One maid quickly lowered her eyes and reported, “Replying to Young Master, Third Young Madam, and Second Madam went out to look for a house.”
Last night, Chancellor Xie and Second Madam arrived in a rush. They could make do for one night in the outer courtyard, but this residence was ultimately too small. They could not keep living here.
Xie Shao held back a breath of anger.
Fine. The moment those two elders arrived in the eastern capital, one snatched his manservant away to report back at the palace, and the other snatched his wife away to look for a house.
How were they so good at stirring things up?
And his little wife too. The person she had married was him. He was the one who would spend a lifetime with her. Yet now she had abandoned him here alone. Wasn’t she somewhat confusing the root with the branches?
“Call her back.” He needed to properly tell her who her most important person was.
Seeing that his expression was extremely ugly, the maid hurried out to deliver the message.
But even after night fell, no figure appeared. Instead, Minzhang and Chancellor Xie returned first.
After entering the room, Chancellor Xie sat across from him, picked up the teapot, poured himself a cup of tea, and gulped it down in one go. “Your eldest uncle died in Fengcheng.”
Xie Shao was not surprised.
Last time, the moment the fake edict for abolishing the feudal lords had come out, the Emperor immediately sent people to Fengcheng to arrest Xie Daoyuan.
Those men belonged to the Crown Prince. Once they reached Fengcheng, they would only silence him for good.
Eldest Master Xie had been full of grand ambitions. After surrounding the Prince Mansion, he waited two days but did not receive the imperial court’s reinforcements, and his heart began to grow anxious.
By the fifth and sixth days, he was already burning with impatience. On one hand, he guessed that he had likely fallen into a trap. On the other hand, he still held on to hope. After waiting seven or eight days, he finally saw people from the imperial court arrive. In his excitement, he did not even ask any questions and impatiently ordered someone to open the city gates.
Before he could even celebrate, the blades in the officers’ hands were turned toward him. They surrounded him on all sides and read out the true imperial decree.
Xie Daoyuan had committed insubordination and attempted rebellion. He was to be seized at once.
Eldest Master Xie’s legs went weak on the spot, and he could only flee in panic.
The officers chased him out of the city, and just as they were about to kill him, a group of men and horses appeared in time and protected his life.
The Emperor had long guessed that the false imperial decree had been the work of the former Crown Prince. The people he had sent out openly were members of the former Crown Prince’s faction, and his purpose had only been to test the former Crown Prince. In truth, he had secretly sent men as well, with orders to preserve Xie Daoyuan’s life no matter what and bring him back alive.
The two groups fought all the way on the road from Fengcheng to the eastern capital.
It was at this time that Chancellor Xie appeared. In order to preserve Xie Daoyuan’s life, he could only retreat in order to advance, secretly bringing Xie Daoyuan back to Fengcheng again.
Only then did Xie Daoyuan realize that he had been tricked.
But everything was already too late.
Whether the imperial decree was real or false, he, Xie Daoyuan, had pointed his blade at his own master. He could not escape death. Not only him, but the entire Xie family would have no path to survival.
Knowing that he had committed a grave crime that could exterminate the entire clan, Xie Daoyuan knelt before Old Madam Xie and repented in anguish. Then he went to the ancestral hall and knelt for an entire night, readying himself to die.
When the Crown Prince’s men attacked Fengcheng, he was the first to rush forward and resist them, dying in battle outside the city gates.
After Xie Daoyuan died, Madam Zhou also made a public statement: “Deputy Commander Xie was harmed by treacherous men and was not a rebel. Now, by dying to defend the city, he has atoned for his crime through merit.”
With this single sentence, the lives of the people in the Xie family’s eldest branch were preserved.
“Today, I went to meet the Emperor. The Emperor also granted the Xie family grace, and disaster will not extend to the family. But your eldest aunt…”
Ever since she had been sent back to the Xie family by Madam Zhou, Madam Wu’s mind had begun to fall into disorder.
Once Eldest Master Xie died, she went completely mad.
Now the whole family remained in Fengcheng, and their days were not easy either. The household was in utter chaos, and not a single person was capable of taking charge. Chancellor Xie could not manage it, nor would he manage it again. He had brought Old Madam Xie into the Eastern Capital. As for the others, they could only depend on their own fortunes.
After Xie Shao finished listening, his expression remained calm. It was not as though he had stood by and done nothing. He had tried to stop it. Since Eldest Master Xie had insisted on seeking death, there was nothing he could do about that.
He raised his head and looked at Chancellor Xie. “And then?”
Was this the explanation he was giving him?
Chancellor Xie knew what he wanted to ask.
Back then, at the very moment when Xie Shao had been at his most glorious and triumphant, Chancellor Xie had clipped his wings and forcibly taken him from the Eastern Capital to Fengcheng, refusing to let him display his talent and using gold and silver to corrode him. But what kind of character his own son had, he knew clearly. The seedling was good; it could not be raised crooked.
Deliberately pretending not to understand, he did not answer him. Instead, he revealed a hint of pride and ingratiation. “I heard from the Emperor that you captured the former Crown Prince alive? Not bad. Tell Father, how did you discover the former Crown Prince’s suspicious signs?”
To be able to remain composed and to know how to use this merit of his to its fullest extent, he was worthy of being the son of Xie Daolin.
Xie Shao’s expression did not soften in the slightest. His gaze remained fixed on him, unrelenting.
Just like back then, when Xie Daolin had smashed his calligraphy treasure, broken his sword, and angrily told him that the Xie family did not need him to win glory for them. In this life, he only needed to eat, drink, and amuse himself.
Then what was this now?
Xie Daolin could be shameless, could forget whenever he wanted to forget, but Xie Shao could not. He remembered it all clearly.
Seeing him like this, Chancellor Xie lost his temper no more. “All right. What father and son have an overnight grudge? Don’t think I don’t know. These years, didn’t you also never give up? You visited Shizi Zhou’s armory plenty of times. Otherwise, how could you have such fine skills today and be able to capture the former Crown Prince alive? Commander of the Imperial Guard, that is a rank-two position. They granted you a rank-three post only to hide people’s eyes and ears and avoid giving others something to gossip about. In the future, if you climb any higher, you’ll be pressing down on your father’s head. What else are you dissatisfied with?”
Chancellor Xie guiltily averted his gaze. “Even if you had stayed in the Eastern Capital back then, you might not necessarily have achieved what you have now. Though, indeed, you did suffer quite a bit…”
Xie Shao’s brow twitched several times and sneered, “Chancellor Xie has gone several years without serving as an official, and now he no longer even wants his dignity.”
Things had already come to this, and there were no outsiders here anyway. “I’m in front of my own son. What dignity do I still need? Wrong is wrong. I just need to show the proper attitude and face it.” He lifted his eyes and looked over. “Tell me, how do you want your father to compensate you?”
In his early years, Chancellor Xie had been highly respected, with countless students under him, all of whom admired him. He had not been this shameless, roguish sort of man. Presumably, after spending too long with Second Madam, he had followed her into losing all sense of shame.
There was no reasoning with someone who intended to be shameless, unless one became shameless too. But clearly, Xie Shao disdained joining him in that. “I want to hear the truth.”
Chancellor Xie’s expression paused, and he looked at him in confusion. “Isn’t this the truth? I was muddleheaded and ruined my own son’s future.”
“Xie Daolin.” Xie Shao suddenly stood up. “Do you think I’m so easy to fool?”
“Who are you calling by name!” Chancellor Xie also grew anxious. “Unfilial son…”
Xie Shao lifted his foot and walked out. “Fine. I’ll enter the palace immediately and resign from office.”
The corner of Chancellor Xie’s eye twitched. In the end, he gave in and softened. Facing his back, he said, “Jing Wang is His Majesty’s biological son. His mother was a daughter of the Zhou family, your own grandaunt.”
—
Only when the moon had risen above the treetops did Wen Shuse return with Second Madam.
Early that morning, the two of them had gone out to find Uncle Wen. Among the residences purchased from the Xie family, they selected the one Wen Shuse had mentioned before.
It was near Xiangguo Temple, a large, seven-courtyard residence. Though newly built, as long as they were willing to spend money, decorating it would be simple enough.
In the future, the whole family would live there, so they could not be careless. The mother-in-law and daughter-in-law personally went to the residence, explained the results and details they wanted, chose furniture, selected beds, picked out decorative pieces…
As it happened, the mother-in-law and daughter-in-law had extremely similar tastes. After spending half a day together, Wen Shuse became thoroughly familiar with Second Madam and was no longer nervous. She called her “Mother” again and again with remarkable ease.
The two of them walked through three streets and had both lunch and dinner at restaurants outside.
After dinner, as they returned, the carriage passed by a theater. Hearing the lively sounds from inside, Wen Shuse could not hold back and lifted the carriage curtain.
Second Madam asked her, “Want to go watch?”
“Another day. It’s too late today, and Mother must be tired too…”
“I’m not tired. Better today than some other day. Who knows when we’ll have time again?” Second Madam had also come from a merchant family and did not have so many rigid rules. “Let’s go take a look.”
After listening to the opera, the two of them talked the whole way back. When they entered the gate, Wen Shuse was still holding a skewer of candied hawthorn. Lifting her skirt, she followed Second Madam across the threshold.
Wen Shuse offered it to her again. “Mother, you really don’t want any?”
Second Madam shook her head. “When I was young, I liked sweets too. But in recent years, I’ve had toothaches a few times, so I no longer have much desire for them. After you finish eating, remember to rinse your mouth properly, lest you get cavities. That would be suffering…”
Wen Shuse obediently nodded. “I will.”
Aunt Qing carried a lantern and led the way ahead. The opera today had sounded rather dull while they were listening, yet its lingering force was quite strong. Second Madam gave a soft sigh. “Yao Shiniang was truly pitiful.”
Wen Shuse also agreed. “In the end, she even jumped into the river. Didn’t that let that fox-like temptress off too easily?”
Second Madam glanced at her. Seeing her indignant expression, she felt the girl was still somewhat young and did not begrudge giving her some guidance. “A concubine is certainly hateful, but in the end, the root of it is that the husband is not upright. A hundred words from his mouth aren’t worth one look at what he does. So whether a girl gets a peaceful life of it or not, it all rests on that one clear-eyed look she takes before she’s married, whether she’s truly seen the man for what he is…”
She suddenly realized that she had perhaps, by sheer coincidence, poked her daughter-in-law’s sore spot. Before marriage, Wen Shuse had indeed kept her eyes sharp, but she had not been able to withstand an accident no one could have foreseen…
Second Madam’s expression stiffened slightly, and she hurriedly stopped speaking. “Go back to your room early and rest. If he dares shut you outside again, by tomorrow we won’t need that door at all.”
There was no need for Second Madam to personally take action. This time, as soon as Wen Shuse entered the courtyard, she saw from afar that the room door was wide open.
Not only had the door been left open, but there was even a lamp lit inside.
Earlier, Second Madam had already sent someone back to inform Chancellor Xie and her husband, so Wen Shuse was not in a hurry. Her steps were unhurried as she entered the room. Seeing that her husband was lying on the bed reading a book, she placed the pile of things she had bought onto the low wooden table while turning her head to ask with concern, “Husband, does it still hurt today?”
The person on the bed did not answer her.
Wen Shuse did not understand what had happened and was slightly surprised. After putting down her things, she walked over, bent down, and called him, “Husband…”
Seeing that he still did not lift his head, she simply placed her face over the pages of his book and smiled at him. “Husband, I’m back.”
Xie Shao was forced to look at his little wife before him, who had disappeared for an entire day. At last, he spoke. “I’m afraid I’m not your husband.”
Wen Shuse was startled. Her gaze fell on his face and carefully studied him for a while. Suppressing a smile, she asked, “If you’re not my husband, then who are you?”
When the maid had returned today and reported that her wife and Second Madam had entered the theater, he had practically wanted to cut her into a thousand pieces. Yet now, seeing this face, his temper instantly vanished again. Powerless, he asked her, “What time is it?”
Wen Shuse turned her head and glanced at the water clock. “The hour of Hai.”
“You still knew how to come back.”
So, it was because of this. “Today I went with Mother-in-law to look at residences. Mother-in-law truly isn’t like what Husband said. She likes watching opera too…”
Xie Shao did not want to listen and turned his head away, interrupting her. “Mm.”
“Has Father returned? I heard from Mother that he likes drinking sorghum wine. Tomorrow, I’ll go buy him a few jars…”
The stuffy breath lodged in his chest truly could not be held back any longer. Xie Shao suddenly let out a scoff. “Wen Shuse, is there anyone in the world you can’t take to heart?”
Looking at her stunned expression, his heart suddenly clenched. His gaze was calm as he asked, “Only I cannot?”