The Beauty Within the Gates
Chapter 112
The young lady standing beneath the cold wind wore a dark-blue cloak that covered her down to her ankles. Hearing his voice, she trembled lightly as she stared at the face peering out from inside the carriage. Last night, when they parted, the things that ought to be done had been done, and the words that ought to be said had been said. There was nothing more she needed to remind him of.
She stood there hesitating for a moment, but in the end, she still did not go forward. She was afraid that if she looked at him one more time, she would be unable to resist dragging him down from the carriage, going back on everything, and defying the imperial edict.
Her lips moved, and she replied, “Be careful on the road.”
Her husband seemed unsatisfied and did not lower the curtain.
“Come back soon.” Wen Shuse’s heart suddenly soured, and she turned her head away.
“All right.” Xie Shao answered brightly. Only then did the curtain in his hand finally fall.
In order to avoid drawing attention and accurately probe into the interior of Hexi and Hebei, Xie Shao did not ride on the official ship. Instead, he entered the two regions under the identity of a merchant.
There were three carriages traveling ahead. The people beside him were all men who had originally come from the Cavalry Office. Zhao Huai had become Xie Shao’s driver. Only after hearing him command, “Let’s go,” did he raise the whip and set off.
The horses’ hooves stepped forward, and the carriage wheels beneath him creaked several times, slowly rolling ahead. Very soon, they disappeared into the night.
As the wind blew, Wen Shuse felt a hollow emptiness in her heart.
Since marrying her husband, the two of them had never once been separated. In Southern City, although their situation had been difficult and they had been fleeing for their lives every day, at least the two of them had been together, and that gave her a sense of security. But now, how many nights would it be before they met again?
On the way back, Wen Shuse kept her head lowered and said nothing. Wen Huai knew she could not let go in her heart, so he comforted her, “You are in the Eastern Capital. He knows what he is doing.”
On his first day in the Eastern Capital, he had already witnessed the deep affection between the two of them. Now that Xie Shao had a family and household, even if he wanted to put his neck beneath a blade, he would always have something to consider.
“If you have been idle recently, come to the restaurant and lend a hand. Don’t just sit around collecting dividends.” With things to keep him busy, the days would pass faster.
“Which eye of yours saw that I was idle?” Wen Shuse retorted, annoyed.
With Cui Nian’s several shops having opened in the Eastern Capital, he had patted his backside and left, while she took his two hundred taels of monthly commission. Not only did she have to check accounts for him, but she also had to handle disputes.
The Old Madams of the Xie and Wen families were constantly busy looking for her to chatter with. A’Yuan summoned her into the palace every few days to relieve boredom. On ordinary days, she also had to deal with noble ladies who came to pay visits.
And now, at the end of the month, there was also an autumn society gathering. Who said she was not busy?
Thinking of the question Xie Shao had just asked him, she suddenly looked at Wen Huai. “Brother, did you receive an invitation to the Autumn Festival as well?”
Wen Huai nodded. “Young Master Yang invited me several times. If I did not accept, I would be failing to appreciate kindness.”
In Mixian Tower, his face carried weight. Whoever came would greet him. But once he walked outside, those people in official circles immediately put on another face. This was the difference between merchants and officials. Because of this, although those high-ranking young masters were affectionate with him and boasted before him in Mixian Tower, very few people would send him invitations to social occasions like this.
This time, Young Master Yang was an exception.
As for the purpose, he knew it in his heart, and Wen Shuse understood as well.
The autumn society gathering was hosted by Madam Marquis Yang and was set at the Yang family’s plum grove estate in the suburbs. Those invited were all high officials and nobles of the Eastern Capital. They were looking for a husband for the Sixth Young Lady Yang.
Sixth Young Lady was born in the Shizi’s household. After three sons in a row, the Shizi had finally obtained this one daughter, so he especially doted on her. After she reached marriageable age, they had originally intended to rely on the Imperial Concubine Dowager’s help to send her into the Eastern Palace. Who would have known that on the second day after the Crown Prince’s wedding, the late Emperor would pass away? When the matter was raised again, the Crown Prince used the excuse of observing mourning and said he would not fill the rear palace for three years.
Three years. By then, Sixth Young Lady Yang would be eighteen. How could she still enter the palace? If she could not enter the palace, then they could only find a husband of good family background, character, and appearance. Among the deeply rooted high-ranking households in the Eastern Capital, one could scoop up a handful.
The Wen family had money, yes, but who did not know that the second branch was only a merchant household? The two official titles in the family had both bought their titles with money.
Sixth Young Lady Yang absolutely would not be promised to the Wen family. But the Yang family did not have only this one girl. There were several concubine-born daughters as well. Even if the Yang family had no daughters, there were still female cousins from related families. There was no crack for them to cling to in the Xie family, so they would not even let go of the in-laws. This was them thinking of every possible way to tie down the Xie family.
“Brother, now that you’ve been in the capital a while, have you taken a liking to any young lady?” Wen Shuse asked very directly.
As an elder brother, he had been overtaken by his own younger sister, and now she was worrying over him in return. Wen Huai’s face was somewhat embarrassed, and he answered vaguely, “I am busy with the restaurant all day. Where would I have the mind to think of anything else?”
“Brother may not have thought about it before, but now you must. If you think about it now, you can still find someone you like. If it is any later, Grandmother and Father will choose for you. I only fear that in the end, Brother, Father, and Grandmother, none of you will be able to choose.”
Wen Huai was already in his early twenties and understood what was at stake. Even though Wen Shuse was already married, in his heart, she was still that little girl crying for their mother. He did not need her to lecture him.
“As long as you are not idle, that is fine. Find some things to do, and the days will pass quickly. I know my own matters. No need for you to worry.”
—
After returning to the Xie residence, Wen Shuse went to see Old Madam Xie.
After the Old Madam’s illness, although her body had recovered, she was still getting on in years and was no longer as nimble as before. Every day, she had Nanzhi accompany her as she walked around the courtyard, wishing someone would come talk with her.
After chatting away, it was already noon. Wen Shuse ate lunch at Old Madam’s place. Just as she came out, the household steward came looking for her. Once autumn passed, winter would immediately arrive, so silver-bone charcoal had to be prepared in advance, and autumn clothes for everyone.
During the day, she was busy from morning to night, and the time passed in a blink. Her heart did not feel much. But at night, lying alone on the bed, everything was cold and lonely. The lamp oil in the oil lamp was nearly burned dry, and she still could not fall asleep. When she closed her eyes, the loneliness felt even stronger.
She and her husband had only shared a pillow for half a year or so. She truly did not know how she had survived the ten-plus years before marriage. She endured until the end of the hour of hai, then had Xiangyun come in to extinguish the lamp, forcing herself to sleep.
Once autumn entered the nights, they grew colder and colder. The bedding on the bed had already been changed by Aunt Qing and Xiangyun to thick cotton bedding. When her husband had been there, she had not felt cold. Now that she was alone, everything around her was chilly. And this was only the first night…
She wondered where her husband had reached. Her mind was filled with him. Tossing and turning, she didn’t know when she finally fell asleep.
The next day, it was the same as before. During the day, she was so busy that her feet barely touched the ground. At night, she could not sleep.
After ten-some days passed like this, it was the end of the month, and the autumn society gathering arrived.
It was said that there would be archery and polo today. Although Wen Shuse had seen them before in Fengcheng, she had not yet seen how people in the Eastern Capital played. She got up early, finished dressing, and took Xiangyun with her into the carriage.
With the golden autumn sun shining down, the weather was just right, neither cold nor hot. When the carriage reached the outskirts, Wen Shuse had Xiangyun lift the curtain. Looking all the way out, everything around them was golden. She also saw the red leaves her husband had spoken of and immediately muttered, “That mouth of his is becoming less and less trustworthy.”
Xiangyun had seen all of Wen Shuse’s discomfort these past few days. For a person, the hardest thing to endure was longing. Thinking back to when she herself had been left behind in Fengcheng by her mistress, how tormenting had that been?
She could not help comforting her. “Young Master is away fighting for your title. Miss should look forward to it properly. When he returns, everyone will envy you…”
As she spoke, she lifted her head and saw a carriage at the bend ahead. The carriages of various households were mostly the same, but the young master on the horse beside it looked very familiar.
Was that not the Eldest Young Master Wen?
Ever since the divine shrimp incident caused by Eldest Madam Wen last time, the Wen family had also become somewhat famous in the Eastern Capital. Eldest Madam Wu had stirred up a mess and left, but life for the Wen family’s eldest branch in the Eastern Capital had become difficult. Not only the Yang family, but even some officials who had usually interacted with Eldest Master Wen also kept their distance.
Eldest Master Wen’s position as Assistant Minister at the Ministry of Works seemed insignificant compared with someone like General Yang or Chancellor Xie. But looking across the court, aside from the few officials who had once followed the late Emperor to war, Eldest Master Wen still had some prestige among the rising generation.
A few years ago, corruption in the Ministry of Works’ water conservancy projects was severe. The late Emperor had seen that Eldest Master Wen had served as county magistrate in Fengcheng for more than ten years without complaint, with every account clear and not a single coin embezzled. The few people recommended by the former Crown Prince and Noble Consort Yang were all rejected by the late Emperor. He directly transferred Eldest Master Wen over, parachuting him into the Ministry of Works and appointing him Assistant Minister.
After one year in office, the atmosphere in the Ministry of Works had slowly been corrected, and the late Emperor was quite satisfied.
Because of this, Eldest Master Wen had also formed ties with some like-minded people in court. The new Emperor had ascended the throne and was likewise a wise ruler. If nothing unexpected happened, after working hard for a few more years, striving for the noble title of Founding Count would not be impossible.
Yet such a family scandal had happened. Assistant Minister Wen, who had been known for frugality, had eaten the divine shrimp originally meant for Noble Consort Yang. Although the late Emperor and Noble Consort Yang had not said anything, in the ever-sensitive official world, a single glance or expression could stir up a storm.
Not only could Eldest Master Wen not lift his head in court, but his children were the same. Wherever they went, people would secretly size them up with their eyes.
When the late Emperor was still alive, the Wen family’s people could only stay indoors to avoid the storm. After the late Emperor passed away and Noble Consort Yang became an Imperial Concubine Dowager, and after the new Emperor ascended the throne, the Wen family’s eldest branch finally let out a breath of relief.
But although the late Emperor was gone, the Yang family’s power was still there. No one was willing to offend the Yang family.
At first, families that had been close to the Wen family’s eldest branch would still send invitations to banquets out of consideration for face. Seeing that the Wen family was too ashamed to come out and move around, gradually, they stopped sending even invitations.
Today, however, was strange. The Yang family had actually taken the initiative to invite them.
The person on horseback was the Eldest Young Master Wen, so inside the carriage should be the Eldest Young Lady and Third Young Lady Wen, neither of whom had yet been betrothed. Then that meant the concubine must have come too?
After Eldest Madam Wu was driven back to Fengcheng, the affairs of the Wen family’s inner residence were all managed by Concubine Xue. Concubine Xue did not have Madam Wu’s forcefulness. Though her temperament was proper and honest, she was also weak.
Back in Fengcheng, she had feared lively crowds most. Now that she had come to the Eastern Capital, she would only fear them more. But with Madam Wu gone, someone had to carry the Wen family’s inner residence.
Eldest Master Wen had not divorced Madam Wu and did not intend to take another concubine. On an occasion like this, Old Madam Wen could not walk about. If they wanted the younger generation to gain experience, they could only rely on Concubine Xue.
As she was watching, Eldest Young Master Wen ahead seemed to sense something and turned back to look over. From afar, he nodded at Wen Shuse but did not deliberately stop to wait for her.
When they arrived at the estate and got down from the carriage, Wen Shuse finally went forward.
The one who came was indeed Concubine Xue, leading Eldest Young Lady Wen Suning and Third Young Lady Wen Suying. The moment Concubine Xue got out of the carriage and glanced at the crowd in all its bright colors, her legs instantly went weak, and she did not know where she should go.
Concubine Xue’s background was not poor either. She was the daughter of a scholar.
When at home, she was all right, slow and gentle, able to chatter with Old Madam Wen for an entire day. But the moment she encountered a crowd, she did not know what to do, and she disliked striking up conversations with others even more. But thinking of Old Madam Wen’s instructions before she left, Concubine Xue gritted her teeth, pinched her thigh, and forced herself to walk inside.
Just as she turned around, she heard Wen Shuse call from behind, “Eldest Sister, Third Sister.”
Concubine Xue turned back along with the two Wen young ladies. Wen Shuse lifted her skirt and caught up. Today, her hair was arranged in a falling-horse bun, and she wore a pomegranate-red skirt in autumn crimson. Her rosy cheeks were as lively as ever. Standing before the people of the Wen family’s eldest branch, she looked noble and bright. The difference in status could be seen at a glance.
Wen Suning smiled faintly, with little to say.
After Wen Suying went to the Wen residence last time and chatted with Wen Shuse, she was no longer as distant as before. Seeing her now, there was even some happiness in her eyes. She pursed her lips and called, “Second Sister.”
Earlier on the road, Concubine Xue had already heard from Eldest Young Master that Second Young Lady was also coming. Because of the Wen family’s eldest branch’s current reputation, before they set off, Old Madam Wen had instructed them that today, they must not cause trouble for Second Young Lady. The only thing they had to do was bring Wen Suning out to show her face.
After the new year, Eldest Young Lady would be eighteen. Previously, after missing out on the Wei family, they regretted it so much that their intestines had turned green. After that, several families had indeed come to the Wen family to discuss marriage, but never mind Eldest Young Master Wei, they could not even compare to the former Eldest Young Master Xie. Eldest Young Lady had remained depressed in her heart and had not taken a liking to any of them.
A few days ago, Eldest Master had lost his temper and asked exactly how long she intended to keep choosing. Wen Suning, however, had said, “Father may as well send me to be a nun.”
Who did not wish well for their own children and grandchildren?
If Old Madam Wen had not switched the bride on the Eldest Young Lady’s wedding night, the Eldest Young Lady’s marriage would not have been delayed until now.
Old Madam Wen felt guilty after all. It just so happened that the Yang family had sent an invitation, so she thickened her face and accepted it, having Concubine Xue and Eldest Young Master bring Eldest Young Lady and Third Young Lady out together to show their faces.
Today, in order to choose a husband for the Sixth Young Lady, the Yang family had invited all the noble and powerful families of the Eastern Capital. With more people, there were more opportunities and also more choices.
If they still could not find someone satisfactory, then they could only let Old Madam Wen decide.
Concubine Xue feared strangers and had originally planned to go directly to the Wen family’s seats, then let Eldest Young Master lead the two girls around. Seeing Wen Shuse take the initiative to come greet them, she bowed slightly to her. “Second Young Lady.”
“Aunt need not be so distant.” They were all of the Wen family. Even if bones were broken, the tendons were still connected. She could not truly ignore them. Wen Shuse stepped onto the stairs. “Let us go in together.”