The Beauty Within the Gates
Chapter 119
Although the letter had come somewhat late, it was several thick pages long, filled with his present situation and his longing for Wen Shuse. All the worry and yearning of these past months seemed to be made up for at once. Knowing that he was safe, her heart settled considerably.
Second Madam had once said to her, “Before your father clipped his wings, that pride of his could reach the heavens.”
Just as Wen Shuse had thought before, Xie Shao’s ambition had not been forced out later. It had been buried in his heart since childhood. Now that the fish had entered the sea and been given space to stretch himself, before Hexi and Hebei had a chance to see a result, with his temperament, he would not come back.
Perhaps to steady her heart, the letter also wrote about the prices of seafood and plans for the silk business. His hopes for the future leapt vividly from the paper. The whole family was waiting for him to return victorious.
After Old Madam Xie finished reading the letter, she handed it back to Wen Shuse and sighed. “In the past, seeing him idle with nothing to do, always wandering beneath my eyes, I worried he would have no prospects in this life. Now he has prospects, but he is no longer by my side. I do not know whether that pressure I put on him was right or wrong.”
Unpromising descendants had their advantages too. At least they could always stay by one’s side.
After Master Xie’s incident, Old Madam Xie’s health had become much worse than before. Though she still smiled and laughed, she no longer had her former spirit.
Was the family important, or was human life important? Having lived a whole lifetime, perhaps even at death, she still would not be able to see through it.
Afraid she would worry too much, Chancellor Xie comforted her. “Since ancient times, life rarely allows both sides to be complete. He is already a grown man and knows what he wants. Mother need not think too much.”
Several months had passed since the new Emperor ascended the throne. The situation at court looked calm on the surface, but undercurrents surged constantly beneath.
Once the Yuan clan fell, those in court who liked forming factions and finding someone to rely on suddenly lost direction, like headless flies. Some hurried to attach themselves to new patrons, while others ran about everywhere, probing the situation. And now, the powers in court were nothing beyond the Xie and Yang families.
In one dynasty, two chancellors balancing each other had been an unchanging rule for a hundred years. In the face of interest and political circumstances, the Xie and Yang families, once allies, had now become opposing sides.
General Yang might still hold some old affection for the Xie family, but the other Yang family members did not. After the late Emperor passed away, General Yang’s body had also deteriorated greatly. Most matters of the Marquis Mansion were now handled by Shizi Yang.
Shizi Yang’s temperament differed from General Yang’s. A child raised in peaceful times had never seen war, so all his thoughts were spent on family interests, treating the court as a battlefield. On one hand, he wanted to draw people in and form marriage ties with the Xie family, so that at critical moments, he could restrain them. On the other hand, he was eager to seize important court positions for the Yang family’s younger generation before the Xie family could.
Last time, Xie Shao had taken the initiative to request an imperial order from the Emperor to rectify Hexi and Hebei. By the time the Yang family understood the deeper meaning behind it, they had already lost the first move and could only exert their influence in the palace.
Before the imperial examination, the Imperial Concubine Dowager used her own birthday as an excuse to present the Emperor with a birthday poem written by Shizi Yang. That poem not only congratulated the Imperial Concubine Dowager on her birthday it also praised the Emperor’s filial piety toward her.
Although Imperial Concubine Dowager Yang had not been named Empress Dowager, the late Emperor also had not named anyone else Empress Dowager. If the Emperor wanted to establish his filial reputation before all under heaven, only the Imperial Concubine Dowager could complete it.
The Imperial Concubine Dowager wanted to transfer Shizi Yang to the Chanceller Office. After the Yuan clan was destroyed, the late Emperor had General Yang take over the Chanceller Office. Now, General Yang was already old, especially after falling ill. Whether he could recover was unknown. If he could not rise again, the Yang family’s chancellor position could not fall into someone else’s hands.
Whether the Yang family could return to its former glory depended on whether Shizi Yang could enter the Chanceller Office this time and serve as Supervising Secretary. The Emperor gave a smooth, evasive reply and delayed the matter until next year.
Though he did not agree, he also gave the Yang family an opportunity. His meaning was very clear: he was willing to give the chance, but Shizi Yang had to have a proper reason for the Emperor to promote him.
Shizi Yang had been busy beyond measure these past few months. Dressed in plain clothes, he went to the streets to observe the people’s conditions. He donated grain and silk, and even built a rest academy for students taking the imperial examination. Not only did it provide food and clothing, but it also freely offered all kinds of books useful for the examination. After the examination, Shizi Yang indeed gained a good reputation. But if he wanted to enter the Chancellor Office, the fire was still not quite hot enough.
The Xie family’s side was not anxious. That brat had seen the first opportunity and gambled with his life. If he could return with merit, never mind entering Chancellor Xie’s Ministry of State Affairs, he could even be granted a title and honors. If he had not first walked once along the edge of a blade, what would he use in the future to bear these honors?
Before he left, Chancellor Xie had been ten thousand times reluctant. Now, the more he thought about it, the more open-minded he became. He was someone with a family and household. His own wife and child were still waiting for him. Without a certain degree of confidence, he would not act rashly.
After the whole family took turns reading the letter, everyone’s hearts loosened somewhat.
On New Year’s Eve, they had to keep vigil. Old Madam Xie, Chancellor Xie, and Second Madam sat around the brazier, intending to stay up all night. Wen Shuse was pregnant, and after the morning sickness passed, she was especially prone to sleep.
After sitting for a while, she could no longer endure it. Propping up her head, she began dozing off. When Second Madam saw this, she quickly had Aunt Qing and Xiangyun send her back to her courtyard.
It was still snowing outside. Inside the warm chamber, the heated floor was lit, making everything warm and cozy, without the slightest chill. After bathing and changing clothes, Xiangyun helped Wen Shuse lie down.
Just as she was about to leave, Wen Shuse called Xiangyun back and asked her to bring in that letter.
After Xiangyun blew out the lamp and went out, Wen Shuse covered her belly with the letter and said softly, “This is your father. Come, wish him a happy New Year.”
What blessing should they give?
“May Husband be safe and smooth and return soon.”
—
The Eastern Capital’s New Year was much livelier than Fengcheng’s. From New Year’s Eve until the Lantern Festival, the streets were decorated with lanterns and colored banners everywhere and were packed with crowds.
When everything finally quieted, the willow trees on both sides of the street had unknowingly sprouted green shoots.
Now that she was pregnant, Wen Shuse rarely went out anymore. The only place she could move about every day was the Xie residence’s courtyard. Knowing she was bored, Xiangyun racked her brains to bring outside news to her ears.
“Last year, after Eldest Madam learned that Eldest Young Lady had also returned to Fengcheng, she cried for several days and nights. She cursed Eldest Master from head to toe, saying that Eldest Master was heartless, that it was one thing for him not to acknowledge his wife, who had shared hardship with him, but now he did not even want his own daughter. She even ran to the governor to make a scene, saying that Eldest Young Master Xie must have used some shameful method to trick Eldest Young Lady into coming back.”
On the day Wen Suning returned to Fengcheng, Eldest Young Master Xie had personally gone to the harbor to receive her. Many people had seen it. In others’ eyes, the two of them were deeply affectionate and loyal. But Eldest Madam knew everything clearly. She cursed Wen Suning for having a muddled brain, saying the Eastern Capital was good, yet she insisted on returning to Fengcheng to jump into a pit of fire.
“She made endless noise every day. Her crying could be heard from across the street. Eldest Young Lady is also quite formidable. She actually went and invited Old Master An over.”
The entire Wen family had moved to the Eastern Capital. Back when Eldest Madam alone returned to Fengcheng, she had smashed the lock on the Wen Mansion gate before entering. Old Master An had long heard of this matter and guessed in his heart that something must have happened. But since his son-in-law, Eldest Master Wen, had said nothing, for the sake of face, he pretended not to know anything.
Yet Eldest Madam showed no restraint at all and remained unrepentant. If she continued making trouble like this, the An family’s face would sooner or later be impossible to protect. When Old Master An arrived at the Wen Mansion, he did not say a single extra word. He had the Eldest Young Master An present a length of white silk. “For the sake of more than ten years of raising you, allow me some peace.”
“After Old Master An left, Eldest Madam completely shut her mouth and never made trouble again. When Eldest Young Master Xie came again to propose marriage, Eldest Madam did not make a sound either and readily handed over the birth characters.”
Xiangyun spoke vividly.
“The two young ladies in the Xie Mansion were also subdued until they were perfectly obedient. Before the New Year, had they not both become engaged and spent all day pestering Eldest Young Master Xie for dowries? After Eldest Young Lady learned of it, she sent each of the two young ladies a kitchen knife and left word that if they wanted as much as they pleased, they could go outside and rob people by their own ability.”
The Xie family’s eldest branch had fallen to this state because Eldest Master Xie had plotted rebellion. That knife was nothing more than a reminder for the two of them to know their place, recognize their own identity, and not drag the Xie family further into the abyss.
In the end, the dowries for both were decided by Wen Suning, half a carrying pole each, taken from Eldest Madam Xie’s jewelry box. The two young ladies were unwilling and made a fuss, asking Eldest Young Master Xie to add more. Wen Suning’s attitude was firm, and she flatly refused.
“When daughters marry, the parents prepare the dowry. This has been the rule for a hundred years. Where is there any logic in asking an elder brother to provide it?”
Who knew whether Eldest Young Lady, when saying this, would think of what happened between her and Madam back then?
Only when a matter landed on one’s own head, and one experienced the taste of it personally, could one understand another person’s suffering.
Presumably, she now understood.
In just a few months, nearly everyone in the Xie family’s eldest branch had become afraid of Wen Suning.
That Second Young Madam Xie, who had never touched spring water with her fingers, now knew how to wash clothes, cook, and care for the child herself. Second Young Master was even more so; copying books and pulling carts, he did it with exceptional vigor. Each month, he handed over silver on time, terrified that being late by even one day would upset his sister-in-law.
“Speaking of it, it is strange. That entire mess of the Xie family, once Eldest Young Lady went there, was all cured.”
Wen Shuse had not expected it either, and sighed. “Eldest Sister’s abilities have finally found a place to be used.”
They all said that a marriage determined by Heaven could not be scattered even by thunder. After going around in circles, she still married Eldest Young Master Xie.
On the day of the wedding, aside from Old Madam Wen and Wen Shuse, who were unsuitable for travel, everyone in the Wen family returned to Fengcheng. Wen Shuse also entrusted Wen Huai with bringing congratulatory gifts. That wedding that she and Xie Shao had once taken over was ultimately returned to her and the Eldest Young Master.
By the time Wen Huai returned from Fengcheng, the Eastern Capital was full of spring.
When Wen Shuse went out, she no longer needed to wear a thick cloak, so her swollen belly became increasingly obvious.
Wen Huai handed a bundle to her. “This is something Wangye entrusted me to bring you. He said it is the mute girl’s heartfelt gift.”
Wen Shuse froze. “The mute girl?”
“In a while, we may have to call her Wangfei.”
As soon as he entered Fengcheng, he heard rumors about the newly appointed Wangye and the mute girl. They said that after Wangye entered Fengcheng, in that vast rear courtyard of his, he had only settled one mute girl. For several months, the two had eaten and lived together, inseparable.
On the day Wen Huai went to the mansion to pay respects, he saw Zhou An leading a graceful young lady out by the hand and knew the rumors were true. Though the mute girl could not speak, the understanding between the two of them was extremely deep. With one look or one movement, they could know what the other was thinking.
When they parted in the deep mountains of Southern City, Wen Shuse had thought there would never be any further connection. No matter what, she had not expected Pei Qing to go find the mute girl.
She opened the bundle. Inside were all things for an infant: shoes, socks, hats, clothes, an entire set. The mute girl had embroidered them herself.
The feudal princes could not enter the capital without a summons.
“Wangye said that after Brother-in-law returns, he will submit a memorial to Southern City and have you carry the child out for him to see.”