The Beauty Within the Gates
Chapter 94
Back when Wen Shuse had squandered the Wen family fortune, the people of the second branch, along with the Old Madam, had become so poor they could not even afford a meal. When Third Young Master Wen returned, not only was he penniless, but he had even come to her and opened his mouth to ask for silver, telling her to provide the Old Madam with a good life. Yet he had never told her that Second Master had made a fortune outside.
She could only blame herself for being shortsighted. Provoked by Wen Shuse, she had looked down on the second branch.
This restaurant before her, how much silver must it have cost? The daily income alone was probably enough to match half a year of the Eldest Master’s salary.
She did not know when exactly Second Master had bought it…
Wen Shuse had actually pretended to be poor in front of her and the Eldest Young Lady. Was she deliberately guarding against them?
A sourness and regret surged up in her heart, mixed with endless resentment, burning in her chest like boiling water. She strode quickly to the entrance and, without waiting for the servant to ask, immediately said, “I am Eldest Madam Wen. Where is your manager?”
Although Wen Shuse had not deliberately concealed her identity as a young lady boss, she had not intentionally spread it either. The servant guarding the door had only recently entered the restaurant and did not know who the owner was.
Hearing her announce herself as Eldest Madam Wen, he still did not let her in and asked instead, “Has Madam reserved a seat?”
Eldest Madam’s expression changed. Restraining herself, she smiled. “What seat would I reserve? Doesn’t this restaurant belong to my own second brother-in-law?”
The servant froze and was just about to go ask the steward inside when he turned and saw Wen Shuse and Uncle Wen coming out. “Manager…”
Uncle Wen and Wen Shuse also saw Eldest Madam.
In past years, whenever Second Master returned to Fengcheng, Uncle Wen was always at his side. Everyone in the Wen family knew him. He quickly stepped forward and greeted her. “Eldest Madam, what brings you here today?”
Still simmering with anger, the Eldest Madam replied with mockery. “If I had not come, I still would not have known that our Wen family owned such a grand restaurant.”
Uncle Wen smiled, said nothing, and stepped aside.
Wen Shuse’s expression was calm. She smiled and said, “Aunt has come.”
Eldest Madam could vent her anger on a servant, but she dared not make a scene with Wen Shuse. A smile immediately appeared on her face, and she stepped forward warmly, intending to take Wen Shuse’s arm.
Just then, Wen Shuse happened to raise her hand and adjust her high coiled bun, so Eldest Madam’s hand caught only air, but she did not mind and said, “You girl, why didn’t you tell us? When did Second Master acquire such a large property in the Eastern Capital? We are all one family. We could have come over to lend a hand.”
“It isn’t that busy. No need to trouble Aunt.”
Eldest Madam looked around inside and outside the building. “With so many people, how could it not be busy? And with Second Master away, a young lady like you can’t handle everything alone. People’s hearts are hard to predict. How can one feel at ease using outsiders? Who knows whether they are scheming behind your back? Tomorrow, I’ll call your second elder brother to come…”
“Who is an outsider?” Wen Shuse asked in puzzlement. “Uncle Wen?”
She turned back to look at Uncle Wen.
Uncle Wen lowered his head and said nothing.
“Aunt has misspoken. He is not an outsider. He’s our second branch’s benefactor. Half of Father’s business was built by Uncle Wen.” She smiled. “Forget others, even if Eldest Brother Wen Huai were here today, Father might not necessarily trust him.”
Eldest Madam had meant to whisper this to her, but she had not expected Wen Shuse to point it out aloud. Her expression turned awkward. “Look at this girl. When did I ever suspect Uncle Wen? What I meant was to have your second elder brother…”
“Second Elder Brother’s ambition lies in officialdom. In the future, he is someone destined to rise to the highest ranks. How could he do such lowly work? Has Aunt asked Eldest Uncle and Second Elder Brother about this?”
She had come here today without the Eldest Master knowing. If he knew what she was thinking, he would most likely lose his temper again. “Then your eldest sister could also…”
“Eldest Sister has not yet been betrothed. She cannot very well come out and show her face in public.”
Wen Shuse interrupted unhurriedly with a smile. “Has Aunt eaten?”
The moment Eldest Madam Wen heard the news from the Countess, she rushed over without stopping. How could she have eaten? It was mealtime now, and since she had already come, naturally she would have a meal at the restaurant.
Wen Shuse asked Uncle Wen to bring her to a private room on the second floor. “Aunt should eat first.”
The Eldest Madam was not in any hurry. The restaurant was right here, and as long as it belonged to the Wen family, it could not run away.
After entering the private room, she looked east and west. Every single decorative item was worth more than the things in her own room. Her heart was already filled with astonishment.
Good heavens! Just how much silver had Second Master hidden from them?
When the golden pot of tea arrived, even the small dishes for side plates were made of silver. She had been in the Eastern Capital for several months now, yet had never known there could be such luxury. She had never seen anything like it in her life.
Wen Shuse did not follow her inside. The Old Madam of the Xie family had arrived at the harbor, and Second Madam had already gone to receive her. She still had to hurry back, so she instructed Uncle Wen, “Give her whatever she wants to eat.”
Uncle Wen hesitated. Given the Eldest Madam’s nature, if they followed her requests, this meal would likely cost them quite a bit.
Wen Shuse did not say much, only adding, “When people gain fame, they draw attention; when pigs grow fat, they’re marked for slaughter.”
Uncle Wen understood. “All right. Second Young Lady, go handle your matters without worry.”
Just as Uncle Wen expected, Eldest Madam sat inside a room piled high with silver and gold. When she thought that all of this belonged to the Wen family, her spirit rose as well. She ordered every famous dish in the restaurant once over.
“Since I’m here, it would be a shame to only think of myself. Later, pack some more boxes for Eldest Master and the young masters and young ladies to take back.”
Uncle Wen said yes and followed her instructions.
Mixian Tower’s specialty was food. Every dish was crafted with care, and its flavor was first-rate. Eldest Madam tasted each one, and as the flavor spread over her tongue, it made saliva gather despite herself.
Fighting to keep her composure, she cursed Second Master Wen and Wen Shuse countless times in her heart. In past years, the eldest branch had looked after Old Madam for so long, yet the second branch had actually hidden behind their backs and eaten alone.
So many fine things, she could have had them at her fingertips…
While feeling jealous, she was also unwilling. Even though the food on the plates was made up of rare delicacies, it suddenly lost its flavor.
No. She had to see just how grand this restaurant really was. She needed to know exactly what she was dealing with. Leaving the private room, she asked Uncle Wen to take her to the kitchen.
With Wen Shuse’s earlier instruction, Uncle Wen did not refuse and led her to the rear kitchen.
Just now, Wen Shuse and Uncle Wen had already settled on the dishes to be presented at the crown prince’s palace banquet. Most of the chosen dishes were Mixian Tower’s specialty seafood.
The day after tomorrow would be the crown prince’s palace banquet, so all the seafood had to be brought out in advance and inspected one by one to ensure freshness before being sent into the palace.
As soon as Eldest Madam entered, she saw two things in the water tank that looked very much like prawns.
They were more than three feet long, with front claws over two inches in length. Their red whiskers were over a foot long. They had two eyes and twelve legs, and markings like those of tigers and leopards were painted across their bodies, displaying all five colors. Their forms were imposing and extraordinarily strange.
Eldest Madam’s eyes lit up. “Oh my, what is that?”
Uncle Wen replied, “Divine prawns.”
Eldest Madam had only heard of them before and had never seen one. She immediately sighed. “Heavens, so these things really do exist…”
Who knew what they tasted like?
“Can this truly be eaten?”
Uncle Wen nodded. “Divine prawns from the deep sea are exceedingly rare. Even a thousand taels may not buy one. Their flavor is fresh and exquisite, incomparable to anything else.”
Even a thousand taels might not buy one. There were three in this tank. With such a restaurant this grand, money was secondary now.
Last time, she had heard the Countess mention that in her early years, she had eaten one once in the palace. It had only been a tiny piece of meat, yet the moment it entered her mouth, it seemed like food for immortals, and she had never forgotten it after all these years.
Now, her family’s restaurant had far more than a single bite. There were several huge ones. If she could taste this, it would give her enough face to boast of.
Eldest Madam turned to look at Uncle Wen and smiled. “Then help me prepare one. Eldest Master and I have never tasted it before…”
Uncle Wen froze. “Eldest Madam, I’m afraid this one will not do. This sort of thing is meant to be sent to the…”
“How exactly will it not do? This is my Wen family’s own property. What is wrong with me eating one?”
“Eldest Madam may have anything else, but this alone…”
“Today, I insist on having this.” Eldest Madam impatiently cut him off. “Why was Second Master able to quietly make such a fortune? Was it not because he had no worries behind him, because my eldest branch was looking after Old Madam? What, now that my eldest branch wants to eat one prawn, even that is not allowed?”
Not allowing Uncle Wen to say more, she continued, “One must understand clearly who is master and who is servant. You only need to prepare it. If anything happens, I will bear the responsibility…”
—
Eldest Master Wen had just returned from duty when Eldest Madam called him into the room.
Seeing the table full of dishes, Eldest Master Wen froze, but quickly understood what had happened.
After Sixth Young Lady Yang’s coming-of-age ceremony that day, the news had spread even through the palace. Upon learning that the owner of Mixian Tower was Second Master Wen, many colleagues came to ask him about it, praising him for keeping a low profile.
Though he too had been shocked, when he thought back to the words Wen Shuse had said when she came to his door that day, after so many years in officialdom, how could he not understand her meaning?
The second branch had likely long since seen through the eldest branch’s opportunism and was testing them. In the end, his wife had disappointed them utterly.
From now on, no matter how wealthy or honored the eldest branch became, the second branch would not come to cling to them for advantage. By the same principle, no matter how prosperous the second branch became, the eldest branch should not go asking for benefits.
Thus, he had explained to his colleagues that the two families had already divided the household long ago.
He had only warned Eldest Madam the other day not to go to their door again. Looking at this scene today, she had most likely treated his words as wind passing by her ears.
Eldest Master Wen’s face darkened. Before the words of rebuke in his mouth could come out, Eldest Madam first said in astonishment, “Master, did you know? Mixian Tower in the Eastern Capital belongs to Second Master.”
Seeing that Eldest Master Wen’s expression was calm and without the slightest surprise, she knew that he had probably already heard of it. Afraid of touching his sore spot again, she explained in a low voice, “Today, I happened to run into Second Young Lady. Second Young Lady invited me into the restaurant and said I could order whatever I liked…”
Eldest Madam had the maidservants open the remaining food boxes, while she herself carried over the steamed lobster. In front of the Eldest Master, she mysteriously lifted the lid. “Master, have you ever seen such a divine prawn…”
Eldest Master froze. This thing was exceedingly rare. His expression darkened once more, and he scolded, “Have you gone and done something disgraceful again?”
“By Heaven and Earth, I only kindly had Mixian Tower’s chef prepare it and brought it back for you to eat. Why must you lose such a temper?” The Eldest Madam felt wronged too. “Second Master kept this whole grand restaurant from us, making who knows how much silver every day. Is it so wrong for us to have just one meal from them?”
Ignoring Eldest Master’s expression, she called over all the younger members of the household to gather around. Each person received a piece of the divine prawn and tasted it.
—
Today, Old Madam Xie had arrived in the Eastern Capital, and the Xie family was reunited. Wen Shuse had been accompanying them the entire time and could not free herself.
By the time she received the news, it was already dusk.
Uncle Wen was so anxious that his back was drenched in sweat. “There were only three divine prawns altogether, one each for His Majesty, the crown prince, and the Noble Consort. Originally, it was just right. This old servant had already delivered the menu to the Court of Imperial Entertainments. Then Eldest Madam went into the rear kitchen and insisted on eating one, no matter what. This old servant could not stop her, so I could only have it prepared for her.”
What sort of person Eldest Madam was, Wen Shuse naturally knew clearly. She was probably wishing she could put the entire restaurant into her own pocket. But now that things had come to this, what other option could there be?
“Two it is, then. Go report it to the Court of Imperial Entertainments. As for how to allocate them, they will know in their own hearts.”
Uncle Wen reported it as she said. The Court of Imperial Entertainments was also placed in a difficult position. “Weren’t there supposed to be three?”
Uncle Wen could not very well say that one had gone into the mouths of the Wen family’s eldest branch, so he only said, “One died.”
If it had died, then there was nothing to be done. The Court of Imperial Entertainments crossed the Noble Consort’s name off the list, leaving one for His Majesty and one for the crown prince.
Originally, the matter would have passed like this. But though Uncle Wen concealed it, he could not withstand Eldest Madam Wen spreading it herself. The next day, she arranged to go look at fabrics with the Countess and began discussing the taste of the divine prawn with her.
When the Countess spread the story further, the gesture of her hands added several more inches to the Eldest Madam’s original description. “Eldest Madam Wen said that the divine prawn was four feet long. Have any of you ever seen such a thing?”
This rumor soon reached the Yang family’s ears.
Last time, Sixth Young Lady Yang had suffered a great loss at Wen Shuse’s hands. Though Second Young Madam of the Earl Mansion had also been at fault, in the end, if one traced it to the source, it had all been because Eldest Madam Wen had deliberately spread false news.
“Just the other day, she said that the family could barely afford food and clothing. Today, she says she went to the restaurant and ate an entire divine prawn. Of the words coming out of her mouth, which are true and which are false?”
How could a divine prawn be something ordinary people could afford to eat?
She had never seen one before. She had only heard her father speak of them. When His Majesty ascended the throne, he had once obtained five. He kept one for himself, and the remaining four were distributed to meritorious noble families.
The Yang family had received one, and Father had always taken pride in it.
At first, Sixth Young Lady Yang thought Eldest Madam was merely boasting for the sake of face. It was only the next day, when she entered the palace to attend the crown prince’s celebratory banquet and saw the two divine prawns placed before His Majesty and the crown prince, that she realized Eldest Madam’s words were not false.
But immediately afterward, she sensed something wrong.
His Majesty had one. The crown prince had one. Yet Noble Consort Yang did not.
And it was not only her. The others also noticed. The circle of high-ranking noble madams was neither especially small nor especially large. Over the course of yesterday, quite a few people had heard that Eldest Madam Wen had gone to Mixian Tower and eaten a divine prawn.
Originally, that would have been something worth showing off to everyone. But under the present circumstances, it was no longer a good thing.
Even the Noble Consort did not have one, yet Eldest Madam Wen had eaten one.
At the banquet, people immediately began discussing it. The Court of Imperial Entertainments soon heard the news and hurriedly had Uncle Wen summoned over. “Did you not say that divine prawn had died? Why is Eldest Madam Wen saying she ate one the day before yesterday?”
Uncle Wen had never expected Eldest Madam to take the matter out and boast about it. He could only sweat as he explained, “It did indeed die. That was why it was prepared for Eldest Madam.”
The Court of Imperial Entertainments gave a cold laugh and did not bother going in circles with him. “I heard that Eldest Madam has been telling everyone she meets that the divine prawn was four feet long and still lively and jumping when it was hauled up. Today at the palace banquet, everyone has seen it. Noble Consort Yang has no divine prawn, while Eldest Madam Wen ate one. This matter’s consequences will not affect me very much. As for who will have difficulty in the future, you ought to understand clearly.”
How could Uncle Wen not understand?
He had already advised her and had even found an excuse for her, but he could not stop Eldest Madam Wen from seeking death herself.
After coming out of the Court of Imperial Entertainments, he sent someone to inform Wen Shuse.
Today’s palace banquet was held to celebrate the crown prince. Every official in court with even a little face had been invited, and Wen Shuse, as the wife of the Commander, had also come.
During the banquet, she sat beside Xie Shao, not far from the main seats, and she saw that there was no divine prawn before the Noble Consort.
There were only two in total. One could easily guess how the Court of Imperial Entertainments would arrange them.
Today was the crown prince’s occasion, and His Majesty could not be left without one either. They could only remove the Noble Consort’s portion. Her gaze moved toward where Eldest Master Wen sat farther back. Eldest Master Wen’s face had already lost every trace of color.
Eldest Madam was even worse. She sat there blankly, as though she had turned foolish.
How could she have known that the divine prawns were today’s final grand dish, meant to be presented to the imperial family? That day, she had seen with her own eyes that there were only three in the tank. She had eaten one, leaving two.
She had actually eaten the Noble Consort’s share.
The moment the dishes were served, shock flashed across Eldest Master Wen’s face. Later, when he saw that no divine prawn was placed before the Noble Consort for a long while, a bad premonition rose in his heart. He turned and stared hard at Eldest Madam, lowering his voice to question her. “What exactly happened with that divine prawn?”
Eldest Madam no longer had the mind to pay attention to Eldest Master.
Worse than this was the fact that she had already spread the news that she had eaten the divine prawn. Everyone seated here today likely knew.
It was over.
She was completely finished.
Too terrified to confess to the Eldest Master, she sat there trembling, muttering under her breath, “That wretched girl has malicious intentions. She wants to kill me…”
Wen Shuse’s expression remained calm. She withdrew her gaze and quietly continued eating. The banquet appeared lively and grand on the surface, yet in truth, it was weighed down with formality.
As the new rising star of the court this year, her husband attracted a great deal of attention. Busy handling official circles, he not only had ministers constantly coming over to speak with him, but His Majesty and the crown prince also questioned him in turn.
“Minister Xie, you are truly worthy of being a meritorious official. Though you yourself have grown old, you have raised such an outstanding son, who will continue bringing benefit to the people of Great Feng. When it comes to merit today, you should be counted first.”
Chancellor Xie quickly rose, bent at the waist, and cupped his hands. “To share His Majesty’s burdens is this subject’s blessing. How could it be called merit? My unworthy son has only just entered court, so his temperament is inevitably still somewhat wild. If there are shortcomings, may His Majesty and His Highness the Crown Prince discipline him freely.”
…
A wife rose with her husband’s status, so everyone’s gaze inevitably turned toward Wen Shuse as well.
Though His Majesty had never met this young lady of the Wen family before, the crown prince had.
And he understood her quite well.
Before the gathered officials, he offered generous praise. “This prince has personally witnessed Young Madam Xie’s intelligence and decisiveness. In all of Great Feng, there are few young ladies with both talent and beauty. She is no less capable than any man. Young Madam Xie deserves such praise.”
Wen Shuse rose and gave her thanks.
They were all ceremonial words. Listening to them was noisy and tiresome, but sometimes, such things could not be lacking. A single word from the current emperor, a single glance from the new crown prince, could change a person’s fate.
Once the banquet ended, her husband was called away by the crown prince to continue speaking. On Wen Shuse’s side, she did not need to find a place herself as a group of noble madams naturally brought her to the imperial garden.
Wen Shuse was not someone who feared strangers. No matter whom she met, she could smile calmly and generously.
Eldest Madam Wei watched all of this. Only after the people around Wen Shuse had mostly finished speaking did she walk over to greet her. The Eldest Madam Wei was the mother of Young Master Wei Yun. She had heard her son mention this Third Young Madam Xie and praise her without end.
After Sixth Young Lady Yang’s banquet ended that day, Eldest Madam Wei had pulled Second Young Master Wei aside and said to him, “That sixth cousin of yours from the Yang family has had her pride raised too high over the years. You cannot afford to provoke her.”
Wei Yun nodded. Knowing that Madam Wei was looking over marriage prospects for him, he blushed and said, “If possible, Mother, please help me find a young lady like Third Young Madam Xie.”
But finding such a girl would not be easy.
Second Young Lady Wen was not an option, but there were still the Eldest Young Lady and Third Young Lady of the Wen family. She had long heard of Eldest Young Lady’s virtuous reputation, so the other day, she had entrusted a matchmaker to go to the Wen family. Yet for some reason, Eldest Madam Wen had never sent back a reply.
She had neither agreed nor refused.
Eldest Madam Wei had planned to wait until after the palace banquet and personally visit the Wen family to ask Eldest Madam’s intention. But then she heard about the divine prawn matter from the Countess.
The eldest branch of the Wen family had been in the capital for less than a year, and she had rarely interacted with the Eldest Madam Wen. Though the Countess spoke very poorly of her, hearing was false and seeing was true, Madam Wei had never been one to easily believe another person’s slander.
But once the divine prawns were served, she understood. There was no need for her to make another trip to the Wen family.
The consequences of the Eldest Madam Wen’s actions were plain to see. Most likely, even Eldest Master Wen would be implicated. She was not the sort of person who climbed toward power and influence, but she could not knowingly jump into a firepit either. This marriage could simply be forgotten.