The Beauty Within the Gates
Chapter 99
Two hundred taels…
The sweetness in his throat suddenly vanished. His monthly salary was ten taels. Two hundred taels… he calculated how long it would take him to earn that. Nearly two years’ salary had been drunk away by him in a single meal.
He should not have asked, but he truly could not help worrying. He did not know whether Xie Shao had brought enough silver today. The one or two taels he had on him were his travel expenses for returning to Fengcheng and could not be touched.
“Commander Xie, how much is your monthly salary?”
Xie Shao took a sip of wine. “Three hundred strings.”
The corner of Wen Huai’s eye twitched. Were officials in the Eastern Capital all paid so much?
“Grain salary, tea and wine, cloth, and other allowances are calculated separately.” Not enough to compare with those above him, but more than enough compared with those below.
Xie Shao glanced at Wen Huai’s pale-blue face, and the satisfaction in his heart finally smoothed over the wounds he had suffered these past two days. “Brother Wen, eat and drink well. There is no need to mind it.”
Xie Shao picked up the two-hundred-tael pot of wine and filled his cup again.
The pot had already been opened, and he had already drunk a cup. It could not be returned now. With three hundred strings a month, plus an allowance for wine, this meal would not eat him into bankruptcy.
Wen Huai gradually relaxed. After two cups of wine entered his stomach, the dishes also arrived. Ordinarily, whenever he ate meat, he would pinch and calculate, then calculate again. Most of the meat he bought would go to the Old Madam and his father, leaving him barely a taste.
But today, this table was filled with fish, beef, mutton, seafood—everything one could wish for. It was even more luxurious and abundant than what he had eaten before the Wen family went bankrupt.
In earlier years, he had once heard of this Third Young Master Xie’s reputation. Wherever there was excitement, there was his shadow. He was skilled in every sort of eating, drinking, and amusement.
Previously, after his younger sister had ruined the Xie family fortune, Xie Shao had had no chance to continue displaying such talents. Now that he had become Commander and had some silver in his pocket again, it was most likely burning a hole in his pocket.
On this point, he really was exactly like that spendthrift sister of his. As an elder brother, Wen Huai had a duty to advise him. “Brother-in-law, although your salary is high, there are still many places where the family must spend money. Prices in the Eastern Capital are high as well. When living day to day, it is still best to be frugal. What one eats at a restaurant like this is merely grandeur and face. If we speak of taste, a small shop tucked away in a deep alley may not necessarily be worse than this.”
He spoke with painstaking sincerity, yet the young master across from him replied only, “Last time, when I captured the former Crown Prince, I received a thousand taels in reward money. I haven’t been able to spend it all.”
Wen Huai sat there dazed and said nothing. He shut his mouth completely.
A thousand taels in reward money…
Xie Shao picked up the chopsticks and handed them to him. “Brother, try the food first. One cannot judge on an empty stomach. For Mixian Tower to have such fame, there is naturally a reason for it.”
Wen Huai was relieved. With a brother-in-law of immense wealth, what else did he have to hesitate over? He ate to his heart’s content.
After a single breakfast had cost several hundred taels of silver, Xie Shao saw that the time was about right and figured Wen Shuse should be awake. He instructed the servant, “Make a bowl of fish congee and stir-fry a plate of clams. I will take them away later.”
The servant nodded. “Yes.”
Xie Shao turned back to Wen Huai and explained, “Once one is married, this is how it is. When Brother marries in the future, you will understand.”
The moment this matter was mentioned, Wen Huai had a bad feeling.
Sure enough, Xie Shao asked, “Has Brother been betrothed yet?”
The last time he had returned, Grandmother had found a match for him. If it had been the Wen family of the past, perhaps there might have been a chance. But now that the Wen family had gone bankrupt, the other side looked down on the Wen family for being too poor, and the matter had not gone through.
“Brother Wen is twenty-two this year?”
Wen Huai did not want to discuss his age, so he vaguely nodded. “You are indeed older than me.”
With this jab, even the delicacies from mountain and sea, the fine wine and splendid dishes, all lost their taste.
“Let us go. Gao Xian is still waiting.” Wen Huai had made up his mind. In the future, if his younger sister is not present, he absolutely must not be alone with this brother-in-law again.
When he poked at a person’s sore spot, he left them no path to survival.
He didn’t want to say another word to someone like that. “Thank you for the meal, Brother-in-law.” He rose and was about to leave when the door suddenly swung open from the outside. A man entered, hurried over, and looked up at Wen Huai with excitement. “Third Young Master! You’ve finally come!”
Wen Huai recognized him immediately. “Uncle Wen?”
What was he doing here? Hadn’t Father said the boat capsized, all the staff were let go, and Uncle Wen had returned to his hometown? Maybe times were hard, and he had found work elsewhere.
Uncle Wen had been with Father for many years and had always gotten along well with him. Wen Huai had felt sorry to see him go. Now that they’d met again in a foreign place, the least he could do was catch up.
But Xie Shao couldn’t wait. “You two chat first. Fish congee will not be fresh if left too long. I’ll take it back to Gao Xian first.”
Before Wen Huai could respond, Uncle Wen said, “Of course. The crabs Second Young Lady likes have come in too. Tell her to come by in the next couple of days. Steamed and dipped in vinegar, it has a flavor all its own.”
Xie Shao nodded, glanced at Wen Huai, and said, “Brother, take your time. I’ll leave first.”
In any case, Wen Huai knew where the residence was. He could go there later on his own. So, he paid Xie Shao no further attention and gestured for Uncle Wen to sit across from him. “Uncle Wen, when did you arrive in the Eastern Capital? Have you been well…”
Xie Shao carried the fish congee out the door and returned to the Wen residence. Wen Shuse had just gotten up and finished washing. Staring at the marks on her neck in the bronze mirror, she was grateful they hadn’t returned to the Xie residence last night.
That dog of a man. He was simply a donkey. He did not know tiredness and even bit people…
Even Aunt Qing, who had been through marriage herself, could not help blushing when she came in that morning and saw the scene.
When this young master started tormenting someone, he truly had endless methods.
The room had been cleaned, and the bedding on the couch had been changed. Only the marks on the young lady’s body wouldn’t fade anytime soon. Aunt Qing applied a bruise-removing ointment as she murmured with concern, “Miss has such delicate skin. Once a mark appears, it looks especially obvious. Recently, there has not been much happening at the Xie residence, and Old Madam’s health has also improved. Now, Third Young Master has come over as well. Madam should simply stay at the Wen residence for a few more days and return only after these marks fade.”
No kidding. If she were told to return now with her neck and shoulders covered in marks, where would she put her face?
She could only imagine how her petty-minded husband had treated her brother at the restaurant. It was probably nothing good.
Her brother was also a pitiful person. “Tomorrow, go to the employment market and bring in a few more servants. Change the plaque at the gate as well. Though this residence is not large, its scenery and layout are excellent. It is warm in winter and cool in summer, suitable for Grandmother to live in. In the future, once Brother is engaged and has children, it will not be too late to change to a larger place.”
Aunt Qing nodded, then asked, “This time, now that Third Young Master has come to the Eastern Capital, does he still plan to return to Fengcheng? Such a large restaurant cannot be managed by Miss alone. There must be someone who can take charge and support it.”
When Father had bought the restaurant in the Eastern Capital back then, he had already planned to come to the Eastern Capital. Since the whole family had come over, there was no reason for Wen Huai to return alone.
Wen Shuse smiled. “Father didn’t tell him when he left. Brother still thinks he’s going back to his military post.”
Aunt Qing paused, then sighed. “Back then, Miss came up with that plan only to guard against thieves within the family. In the end, you ended up trapping the Third Young Masters of both the Xie and Wen families in it. Even now, they are still kept in the dark.”
At this point, the only one still in the dark was her own brother. “Yesterday, Uncle An went to the Xie residence. Old Madam Xie told him everything.”
Aunt Qing’s hand paused. She looked toward her young lady and immediately understood why all these marks had appeared on her body. “Miss endured all that humiliation and burden for Young Master’s sake as well. Young Master should be grateful to you.”
Aunt Qing only knew one side of the matter and not the other. Affairs between husband and wife could not be fully understood by outsiders.
Wen Shuse touched the red mark below her earlobe. Her eyes were bright, reflecting a dazzling light, and she said softly, “He blames me for not feeling sorry for him.”
Aunt Qing did not quite understand, but seeing her expression, she knew she had worried for nothing. “When Old Madam Wen and Second Master come next time and see you as you are today, who knows how happy they will be, especially Old Madam. In the past, I dared not say it, for fear Miss would worry. But according to Aunt Cao, when Old Madam first learned that the person Miss had married was Young Master, she fainted on the spot. When she woke, she cried and kept blaming herself, saying she had harmed you. Who could have known that by mistake, you would end up with such fortune today? In ability and appearance, Young Master is a figure of great influence in the Eastern Capital. Who knows how many people envy you? As for that Eldest Young Master instead…”
Back then, the Eldest Young Master Xie had gone through great effort to reach the Eastern Capital, only to be held there as a hostage by the Yuan family and the Crown Prince. Once Eldest Master Xie’s usefulness had been exhausted, the Eldest Young Master became an abandoned pawn.
Last time, Wen Shuse had heard Xie Shao mention that Eldest Young Master Xie had served as a Supervising Secretary for less than half a month. After Eldest Master Xie plotted rebellion, Yuan Ming’an cried thief while being the thief himself and demoted him to a mere errand-runner in the Ministry of Revenue.
Later, when the Crown Prince rebelled, the Yuan family was destroyed along with him. Although Eldest Young Master no longer suffered from cold eyes and bullying, because Eldest Master Xie had once committed treason, he no longer had any chance to rise again.
When Xie Shao was injured last time, Eldest Young Master Xie had not come to visit either. He had only sent someone over with a few kinds of blood-replenishing medicinal herbs.
His state of mind was understandable, too.
In the past, whenever people in Fengcheng mentioned the Xie family, who did not praise Eldest Young Master Xie as promising? And whenever they spoke of the Third Young Master Xie, every one of them shook their heads. Behind his back, they called him a wastrel and cursed him as mud that could not be plastered on a wall.
But now, the most promising person in the Xie family was precisely that lump of mud. The moon that had once been held high in the heavens had instead fallen down, covered in dust, without the slightest trace of radiance left.
Xie Shao had been appointed Commander Xie. Chancellor Xie had been restored to his former post. The second branch had recovered its former glory.
Looking again at the eldest branch, there was no longer any path for them to turn things around. The household was in disarray, with madness and chaos, never a moment’s peace.
One branch was in heaven, the other in the abyss. No matter who it was, such a thing would be hard to accept.
Old Madam Xie had still been murmuring about it these past two days, asking why he had not come to visit. Chancellor Xie had agreed to her request and said he would bring him over. Most likely, he will come to the residence within the next two days.
Wen Shuse did not know what kind of days she would be living now if, on the wedding night, the Xie family had not switched the groom and the one she married had been Eldest Young Master Xie. But at this moment, she was incomparably glad that the Xie family had also switched the marriage.
Aunt Qing inserted the hairpin into her high coiffure. Reflected in the bronze mirror was a face smiling like the spring breeze.
Wen Shuse suddenly said softly, “Before, I wanted to marry Second Young Master Ming because I wanted something simple. I knew Second Young Master Ming’s background well, and with Ming Wanrou there too, if I married over in the future, I could live comfortably and freely. Later, when Grandmother wanted me to switch the marriage, although I had never met the Eldest Young Master Xie, I admired his reputation and also thought I would be able to live good days in the future. But those kinds of happiness were like flowers in a mirror, and the moon reflected in water. The moment one touched them, they vanished. Only with Husband is it different. My liking for him was carved into my heart little by little, bit by bit.”
Outside the beaded curtain, a hand had just been raised. Hearing these words, it paused. Then slowly, it withdrew.
“Mother passed away early, and Grandmother raised me into someone spoiled and delicate. I fear hardship and sweat. With others, all I ever wanted was to seek a share of comfort and happiness. But with Husband, I am willing to accompany him through both sweetness and bitterness.”
“That time in the Southern City, when I went to find someone to save Husband, I truly was terrified. It was not fear of suffering or exhaustion. I was afraid I would never see Husband again. I waded out through the mountain rain, not daring to delay for even half a moment. The greatest courage and ability I will ever have in this life were all used on that day.”
“Yesterday, when I went to the palace banquet, the Madam of the Yang family spoke to me and mentioned a line: Unlike back then, beneath the little bridge in rushing rain, only two people knew that hidden sorrow.”
“The Yang family has shown kindness to the Crown Prince, and now they wish to climb another step higher. They even want to bind the Xie family to them. They spared no effort and even told me a story about a principal wife and an equal wife living together in harmony. How could I not understand what they meant? Her Second Princess is such a dignified and respectable person. If she can disregard worldly judgment and lower herself to become my equal wife, then in everyone’s eyes, it would be giving me face. But why must I accept this face from her?”
“When Husband was being pointed at and scolded in Fengcheng, where was she? When Husband was being hunted by the Crown Prince and nearly lost his life, where was she?”
“What she loves is Husband’s brilliance and glory. What I love is all of Husband. This great melon was raised with life itself after walking through wind and rain. Whoever wants to snatch it away can forget about it.”
Even if she were a princess, she could not.
Yesterday, this was also how she had refused Madam Marquis. “I have only ever heard of one Marchioness in the General’s household, and that is you, Madam. I have never heard that the Yang family has a second Marchioness.”
If her husband could risk his life to seek an official career for her, how could she possibly allow others to covet him?
The Marchioness Yang was not wrong. Now, bright sunlight shone upon golden chambers, and spring color rested on peach branches. It was no longer like back then, beneath the little bridge in rushing rain, when only two people knew that hidden sorrow.
But even if their days became as plain as water, she still had faith that she and her husband could walk forward hand in hand.
“I have a strong constitution. In the future, I can bear children for the Xie family. If one day he truly grows tired of me and wants to take a concubine, it is not impossible. I will go find the concubine’s clothes and wear them. Whatever kind he wants, I will dress up as that. Surely, I can satisfy him.”
The young lady’s words wandered from east to west, and outside, her husband’s mood rose and fell along with them.
Every word and sentence was like an endless spring feeling, overflowing into his heart, soft and sweet, enough to make him proud and pleased, enough for him to lift his head fully before the young lady from now on.
Yet he felt not the slightest happiness. Instead, the corners of his eyes reddened.
How fortunate had he, Xie Shao, been in this lifetime to meet his wife and win her heart?
Only after the young lady had calmed down and begun speaking with Aunt Qing about the Wen family’s affairs did he lift the beaded curtain. Pretending he had heard nothing, he walked in as if nothing had happened and smiled dotingly at her half-turned profile. “Wife, are you awake?”
He did not need her to confess her feelings to him. All she needed to know was that he loved her.
Her makeup was already finished. Seeing that he had returned, Aunt Qing dipped in a curtsy and said, “Young Master.”
Then she withdrew first.
Xie Shao set the food box on the table and lifted the lid, calling his little wife over to eat. Along the carriage ride, he had held the food box in his arms the entire way. The fish congee was still warm, and not a single drop had spilled.
When he looked up, he saw his little wife covering her neck with both hands as though she had strained it. He asked with concern, “What is wrong with Wife’s neck?”
He still had the nerve to ask.
Wen Shuse’s face reddened. She grabbed a nearby cushion and threw it at him. He dodged, but then noticed the marks on her neck and grinned shamelessly. “Is Wife trying to murder her own husband? Come…” He placed both hands on his knees and took the initiative to lean his head toward her. “Pick any spot you like; it’s yours.”
With him stretching out his neck and allowing her to slaughter him, Wen Shuse’s anger instead faded.
When that face darkened, even dogs would be afraid. But once he smiled, he was warm and gentle as jade. What young lady could resist him? Back then, it was precisely his smiling face that had enchanted the Second Princess until she lost all sense of direction and wanted to become sisters with her.
“Husband’s face is truly a disaster…” Wen Shuse reached out and pinched one side of his cheek. She had hardly used any strength at all, yet her husband began hissing.
“So painful, so painful… Wife, spare my life.”
Wen Shuse was amused by him. “I did not even use any strength. Could you be any more fake?”
A ray of light from outside the window fell between her brows and eyes. Her face was like a peach blossom blooming in the third month, dusted with a layer of soft, shy pink. She was even more delicate and beautiful than flowers.
Xie Shao stared at her steadily for a while. “Then Wife should give me a kiss.”
“Shameless.”
Wen Shuse pushed his face away and asked about proper matters. “Did Brother go to Mixian Tower?”
“Wife, rest assured. I have already handed him over to Uncle Wen.” He placed the fish congee before her. “Wife, eat quickly. It is about to thicken…”
That day, Wen Huai did not return to the Wen residence. He stayed at the restaurant and spent half the night looking over account books.
Early the next morning, Uncle Wen took him to meet the necessary officials and contacts. By the time he had a moment to himself, three days had passed. When he finally stormed over to the Wen residence, ready to settle scores with that scheming pair, but by then, Xie Shao and Wen Shuse had already returned to the Xie residence.
Wen Huai was so angry that he stomped his foot, cursing even his own younger sister along with him. “Wolf-hearted and dog-lunged. They are simply a perfect match. Neither one is any good.”
Unfortunately, neither of them heard him.
—
Two days later, the Eldest Young Master Xie came to visit.
Xie Shao was sending Wen Shuse out to go to the Ming family. They had just reached the gate when they saw the Eldest Young Master Xie happening to step down from his carriage.
He was still the same person, yet his face no longer held the spirited brilliance of the past. He was like gold covered in dust; his radiance suddenly faded. His whole person had become quiet and subdued.