The Beauty Within the Gates
Chapter 90
At dusk, a carriage carried the young lady and the young master slowly toward Mixian Lou.
Mixian Lou was located at the bustling market near the city gate, connected to Old Cao Gate, the liveliest night market in the Eastern Capital.
The last time the two of them had gone shopping together was on the day they first entered the city. The young master had carried ten taels of silver in his pouch, enough to sustain the three of them, and barely enough to buy his young lady a couple of new outfits.
Now, the young master has become a third-rank, second-class high official. Though he could not be called extremely wealthy, at the very least, he was no longer constrained at every turn. With silver in his pocket and confidence in his heart.
He lifted the carriage curtain and looked at the stalls lining both sides of the road. Remembering how much she liked these novel tricks and amusements, and being in high spirits from recent happiness, all he wanted tonight was to make the young lady happy.
“Whatever you desire tonight, Wife, I will buy it all for you.”
For a man who had once been reluctant to waste even a plate of sweet-and-sour pork, it was truly rare that he was now willing to spend extravagantly.
After sitting indoors for most of the day, her legs had recovered somewhat. Yet now, as the carriage jolted along, an aching soreness still pulsed faintly between her legs. Not wanting her husband to be unable to sleep tonight, Wen Shuse shook her head. “I don’t really care for those things. These little tricks and toys are only interesting for a moment. Once bought and taken home, won’t they just pile up there? After enough time passes, they’ll become clutter, wasting money and making it difficult to sort through…”
She had suddenly become frugal, and Xie Shao was somewhat unused to it. In his heart, he had already decided that he would raise her like an immortal being enshrined for worship. Yet she wanted to return to ordinary days, which instead left him feeling a little disappointed. Shamelessly encouraging her appetite, he said, “So long as my wife likes it, what does it matter if it’s wasteful?”
Sure enough, no wife starved to death, only husbands who were willing or unwilling to spend silver on her. Seeing that he insisted on buying her something, Wen Shuse pointed toward a stall selling seaside ornaments and chose a conch shell.
She placed her mouth against the opening and called softly, “Husband.”
Then she held it to her husband’s ear. Her sweet, delicate echo drifted out from within the conch, lingering for a long while and sending a tingling softness through his heart.
He hadn’t expected that such a simple thing could be played this way. Having just tasted pleasure, the young master’s mind was clouded with desire, and his thoughts could no longer remain pure.
He was indulging in wild imaginings, while his little wife knew nothing of it. Her fingers ran over the conch gently as she said in a soft voice, “The first time Father went to Fuzhou, he brought me back a conch like this. I liked it very much and thought it was the most marvelous thing. Every day, I would shout into it beside Mother’s ear and insist that she answer me. Only when Mother’s voice came through the conch could I hear even the slightest bit of strength in it…”
Touching on her sorrowful memories, all impure thoughts fled his mind. He reached out and took the conch from her hand. “Let me try.”
Seeing that her husband was about to call into it, the young lady cooperatively leaned her ear close.
“Gao Xian.”
A warm, gentle voice, low and magnetic, called straight into her heart. Her heart suddenly trembled along with it.
From the other end, his voice came again. “I like you.”
Very much.
The carriage beneath them continued forward. The glow of countless lanterns spilled in through the swaying gap in the carriage curtain, sweeping across the young lady’s eyes.
Her lively pupils seemed to freeze in place, unmoving for a long while. The light passed. Her ears fell quiet, too. Only her husband’s voice remained, echoing inside the conch.
A kiss landed softly on the side of her face, like the spring breeze of the third month, gently stirring the strings of one’s heart.
—
Once night fell in the Eastern Capital, the major restaurants were packed with guests.
Among them, Mixian Tower lived up to its name, with its focus on atmosphere. Built by the water, the establishment had a pond in the back courtyard that, for reasons unknown, was perpetually shrouded in mist. When the mist grew thick, the entire building seemed to float amid clouds and vapor, dreamlike and immortal.
By night, with the lanterns aglow and songs drifting from within, it seemed less like a restaurant and more like a celestial realm.
Tonight, the Second Princess was hosting a birthday celebration for Sixth Young Lady Yang and did not want any unrelated people present, so she had reserved the entire restaurant. As soon as the sky darkened, carriages lined up in a long queue before the restaurant. Those who came to attend the banquet were all nobles and dignitaries of the capital.
Minzhang parked the carriage, and the young master led his little wife down by the hand, following the crowd ahead.
Relying on the prestige of the Noble Consort and General Yang, the Yang family had always held a high position in the Eastern Capital. This time, with the Second Princess personally hosting the celebration for Sixth Young Lady Yang’s coming-of-age ceremony, everyone who came had to give them face. Though it was called a birthday banquet, most of the guests had come for the sake of making connections.
If any family’s young master could win Sixth Young Lady Yang’s favor, it would be like a carp leaping through the dragon gate. Thus, those attending today were not all female guests; there were also respectable young masters from various families.
Everyone attending the birthday banquet today received invitations in advance. Worried that all sorts of riffraff might sneak in, Mixian Tower had three or five young servants standing guard at the entrance, checking invitations before allowing guests inside.
The people ahead of them passed all the way smoothly through. But when it came to Xie Shao and Wen Shuse, both of them were empty-handed. The doorkeeper paused, then, seeing that the two were clearly of extraordinary bearing and not wanting to offend, spoke politely, “Would you please present your invitation?”
“We do not have one.” Xie Shao held his little wife’s hand, open and composed, his words humble and courteous. “Today, I have brought my wife here not for Sixth Young Lady Yang’s birthday, but only to occupy one small pavilion belonging to the establishment. I hope the manager might make an exception.”
So, they didn’t have an invitation.
The servant at the entrance looked troubled. “Honored guest, you may not know, but the Second Princess has reserved the entire venue today. Unless you have an invitation, we servants truly do not dare let anyone inside.”
“Where is the Second Princess? Could you inform her for us?”
People continued arriving behind them. Seeing that something had gone wrong, their gazes all turned over.
Xie Shao had only recently returned to the capital. After entering the Cavalry Command, he had not served there many days before being injured, so very few people recognized him.
Before the servant at the door could speak, a young master behind them suddenly said, “I say, this friend here, stop blocking everyone’s way. If you have an invitation, go in. If not, step aside and don’t waste everyone’s time. Take my advice, go home and work hard for a few more decades. Who knows, next time the Second Princess hosts a banquet, you might just have a shot.”
The capital was full of high officials, and there was no shortage of those who bullied others with their status and looked down on people like dogs, judging others.
Xie Shao’s expression remained calm, and he ignored the man. Seeing the doorkeeper’s difficulty, he introduced himself. “My surname is Xie, and my given name is Shao. My wife has long admired your restaurant’s reputation and wished to come today to appreciate its elegance. I hope you might make an exception.”
Once his name was given, the young master behind him lost every trace of mockery and arrogance and fell silent.
Who else in the capital could be surnamed Xie and named Shao? Was he not the son of the current Chancellor Xie, the newly meritorious Deputy Commander Xie who had just gained imperial favor?
With the Yuan family fallen, only the Xie family and the Yang family remained in court.
The Second Princess’s invitations today were part of social dealings among the womenfolk. Young Master Xie had only just arrived in the Eastern Capital, so perhaps he had simply not been considered in time.
No one dared speak, but their hearts were already eager to watch the excitement. The Xie family had left the Eastern Capital for several years. Now that they had returned, could things still be as they once were?
The status of merchants in Great Feng had long since changed from what it had been. His Majesty had greatly promoted trade and encouraged everyone to grow wealthy. Whether one was the Xie family or the Yang family, if they caused trouble by force, not only would they lose face, but the authorities would also make a note of it.
For a restaurant to establish itself in a place like the capital, where one could trip and fall onto an official, the first requirement was integrity.
The servant nearly bent his head all the way to his chest. “To receive Madam’s appreciation is our Mixian Tower’s fortune. But today, we gave our word to the Second Princess first, and the rules have already been set. We truly apologize. If Commander Xie and Madam may come again tomorrow. Mixian Tower will prepare fine wine and dishes and will not charge a single coin, as an apology to Commander Xie.”
With things having been said to this extent, continuing to insist would not look good. But if they simply left like this, it would probably become a joke by tomorrow.
Whether the Second Princess could bring the matter to a proper close was not something they needed to worry about. When people lived comfortable lives and had too much leisure, who did not hope for a little excitement?
Xie Shao was not the sort of person who made unreasonable trouble, but today, he had already promised his young lady, and he had to fulfill it. That stubborn, reckless streak in his heart had not appeared for a long time. Back in Fengcheng, whenever he so much as stepped through the doors of a restaurant, which establishment would not give him face?
After being an honest man for too long, he had nearly forgotten that he, too, had once been a wastrel young master. He did not buy the servant’s explanation in the slightest. Smiling, he said, “And what if I insist on entering today?”
Wen Shuse’s heart jumped. This madman, once he grew ruthless, might just tear the whole place down. She quickly pulled him back behind her, stepped forward, and said to the servant, “Go call Uncle Wen over. I’ll reason with him…”
Minzhang had witnessed Third Young Madam’s skill at reasoning before.
Harmony was best in all things. If reasoning failed, then his master could resort to force.
The servant froze again when he heard her mention Uncle Wen. Before he could decide what to do, a voice suddenly called from behind, “Young… Second Young Lady has come.”
There was no need to call Uncle Wen after all. The same servant who had received Wen Shuse and Minzhang last time came out and exclaimed in surprise, “Second Young Lady, why did you come today without sending word ahead? This little one could have arranged for someone to escort you.”
He swept a sideways glance over the servants at the entrance and more or less understood what had happened. Completely forgetting how arrogant he himself had been the first time, he scolded them, “What is going on here? If your eyes are useless, you might as well dig them out.”
Then he turned back to Wen Shuse and Xie Shao with an extremely warm attitude. “Young Master, Second Young Lady, please. The front hall has been reserved by the Second Princess today, but I’ll have someone clear out a small pavilion for you…”
The sudden change left all those watching the excitement unable to understand what had happened. Even the Xie family name had not worked, yet with a single word from Third Young Madam Xie, Second Young Lady Wen, they were allowed inside.
Everyone exchanged looks, but no one dared ask too much. If there was no spectacle to watch, at most, they had lost a bit of amusement. But offending the Xie family was a matter that could concern the fate of an entire clan.
—
The crowd did not understand, and Xie Shao was equally puzzled. Walking behind Wen Shuse, he watched as his little wife began chatting with the servant. “Have there been many guests lately?”
“Second Young Lady may rest assured. Mixian Tower has never lacked guests. Once we open, whether it’s the small pavilions or the main hall, every seat is booked by morning…”
Judging from this, the two seemed quite familiar. Xie Shao turned to look at Minzhang.
This was clearly a demand for an explanation. Minzhang understood and reported quietly, “The Third Young Madam came here once before. She convinced them through reason and became acquainted with the servants here. In addition, the meals we usually order are all from Mixian Tower, so they must have become familiar with her.”
So that was why they had given her a face tonight.
The Eastern Capital truly was strange. Even a third-rank official’s title was of no use, but a silver tongue got everything done.
The servant led them to a separate small pavilion in the rear courtyard, then turned back and bowed again to Wen Shuse and Xie Shao. “Commander Xie, Second Young Lady, please wait here and take a seat first. This little one will go arrange the wine and dishes at once.”
Once the man left, Xie Shao looked at Wen Shuse with suspicion written all over his face.
Wen Shuse took the initiative to explain. “He’s a waiter at Mixian Tower. I’m acquainted with him.”
She did not need to say that. He had already seen it for himself. “My wife’s face carries more weight than mine today.”
Wen Shuse smiled and arranged his teacup properly for him. “Isn’t that only natural? The one who spends money is the true master. Husband should come out and walk around more in the future.”
—
On the other side, the Second Princess was accompanying Sixth Young Lady Yang in laughter and conversation when several noble madams came in. After paying their respects to the Second Princess and presenting their birthday gifts to Sixth Young Lady Yang, they took their seats and began speaking of the scene at the entrance just now.
“Today really was strange. What background does that Young Lady Wen have? Exactly…”
The Second Princess had an easygoing temperament and did not put on airs, so the womenfolk of the capital all liked being close to her. The one speaking was the Second Young Madam of the Marquis Yongchang’s household. She frowned and said, “The Xie family’s name didn’t work, but the moment Young Lady Wen opened her mouth, Mixian Tower’s servant immediately invited them in. Your Highness cleared the venue today, and the rules were set firmly. Logically speaking, without an invitation, they shouldn’t have let anyone enter…”
The Second Princess had never expected Xie Shao to come. Had his injury healed?
After a brief pause, she blamed herself. “It was my oversight.”
She quickly instructed the palace maid beside her, “Go find someone from Mixian Tower and have them send a few dishes over. Say that I did not know Young Master Xie would be coming tonight, and that I am apologizing to him. If there was any discourtesy, I hope he will not take it to heart.”
The palace maid soon went out.
Conversation continued inside the room, most of it centered on Third Young Madam Xie, the Young Lady Wen.
“How did a family as distinguished as the Xies end up marrying into such a declining household? The Eldest Master Wen is an Assistant Minister, isn’t he…”
The Assistant Minister of the Ministry of Works was the pride of the Wen family’s eldest branch. But in these circles of noble ladies with hereditary titles, it was hardly impressive. Moreover, this Second Young Lady Wen was not even born of Eldest Master Wen. She was the daughter of the Wen family’s second branch, an ordinary merchant household.
Had it been before, Old Master Wen’s former title as Grand Tutor might still have allowed them to count as a scholarly family. But now Great Feng had been founded for more than twenty years, and the plaque bestowed upon the Wen family by Emperor Wenchang had long since been taken down.
What honor did they still have to speak of?
“I’ve also heard a piece of news, though I don’t know whether it’s accurate.”
Talk among women had always been built on hearsay and shadows. Who cared whether it was accurate? They only feared there would be no fresh gossip to hear.
“I heard that the one who married in the first place wasn’t the Third Young Master Xie at all, but the Eldest Young Master Xie. And it was the same with the Wen family. The one who should have married into the Xie family was the Eldest Young Lady Wen, but the one carried into the residence was the Second Young Lady…”
The news was so startling that everyone was dumbstruck.
“Heavens above, that such a thing could even happen.” It was scarcely believable. “When newlyweds marry, are the names not registered with the magistrate’s office?”
“How could a fief have as many rules and procedures as the Eastern Capital?” someone said. “I do know this much: the custom in Fengcheng is for the newlyweds to go to the authorities and establish their household only after the wedding night…”
“Is this news of yours reliable?” Sixth Young Lady Yang asked the Second Young Madam Zhu of the Marquis of Yongchang’s household.
“It should be reliable. Yesterday, my mother-in-law saw Eldest Madam Wen, and Eldest Madam Wen brought it up at the table and even wiped away tears… “
Since Eldest Madam Wen had said it herself, there could be no mistake.
The same swapping of peach for plum, and in the end, the only one pitied was the one of high rank and weighty position. ” Poor Third Young Master. Wasn’t he forced into this marriage? In terms of family background and personal ability, Third Young Master Xie would even be qualified to marry a princess…”
That sort of remark only Sixth Young Lady Yang would dare say aloud.
A few of them stole a glance toward the Second Princess, who seemed not to have heard, sitting there blankly, her mind wandering off for the moment.
Sixth Young Lady Yang took one look at the distracted Second Princess, knowing her heart better than anyone, and after a while said suddenly, in a low voice at her ear, “Cousin, you still haven’t gotten over him…”