Chapter 36 – Embarrassing Intentions

The Hundred Sons and Thousand Grandsons Embroidery, stitched with golden threads, was eventually hung on a wall where it could be seen with a mere glance.

After some laughter and chatter, Madam Pei intentionally invited her niece to stay for dinner. Dou Qingyue, however, did not want to witness her cousin and cousin’s wife’s displays of affection any longer. She coughed lightly into her handkerchief, prompting Madam Pei to express her concern repeatedly.

Under the watchful eyes of her aunt and cousin, Dou Qingyue boarded the carriage for her return journey. As the carriage curtains fell, her expression turned sour.

The carriage rumbled away from Furong Street. Inside, her maid inquired, “Miss?”

Dou Qingyue nervously twisted her handkerchief. “Do you think my cousin has figured it out? Why else would he look at me so oddly?”

Feeling guilty, Dou Qingyue’s maid thought back carefully, utterly confused. “Did he?”

Of course, he did!

Putting everything else aside, given Dou Qingyue’s affection for Pei Xuan, even a slight frown from Pei Xuan would have her pondering for ages. Over time, she had come to understand her cousin as well as her own aunt.

The more she thought about it, the more uneasy she became. She muttered to herself, “I hope my cousin doesn’t think I’m trying to stir up trouble.”

“…..”

Her maid was speechless but thought to herself: Are you doing a good deed? That huge embroidery, with all those different babies, anyone with eyes would be stressed out seeing so many joyous chubby children every day. It would drive anyone crazy thinking about having kids.

Dou Qingyue brushed away her worries and chuckled, “It’s not my problem to worry about, who cares about others?”

She changed her tone, and her maid obediently lowered her head.

……

Pei Xuan was staring blankly at the wall when footsteps sounded behind her, bringing her back to her senses.

“Is it beautiful?”

“No, it’s not.”

She was being honest. Her cousin was frail and had to be cared for constantly. Embroidery, a meticulous task, was draining. Her cousin’s skills were rudimentary, and her work couldn’t compare to even the least skilled embroiderers in the household.

Moreover, the meaning behind “Hundred Sons and Thousand Grandsons” didn’t sit well with Pei Xuan. The idea of countless offspring was exhausting to even think about.

Not wanting to sugarcoat her words, Cui Ti, fearing Pei Xuan’s bluntness might hurt her cousin’s feelings, hooked her hand and led her outside. Pei Xuan, not daring to be careless, supported her as they walked forward.

The night was calm and the sky was filled with stars like embers. Lanterns were hung throughout the Pei Residence, casting a warm glow. The sounds of insects and birds emerged from the greenery, adding a unique charm to the scene.

Pei Xuan was initially preoccupied with the thought of Cui Ti’s dream, where she had fallen into a lotus pond. After walking a while, she realized that contemplating such things under the moonlight spoiled the mood. Glancing at Cui Ti’s fair face tinged with a hint of red, she couldn’t help but smile.

Her seemingly random laughter couldn’t have been because of the chirping insects. Cui Ti wasn’t a child, nor a fool, so she kept her mouth shut and didn’t ask.

Seeing her “I won’t fall for that” smart look, Pei Xuan felt like she had found a treasure. Suddenly, she thought of the long dream her Niangzi had had and mused that the version of herself in the dream must have been quite dull, always pushing away the bright moon within reach.

In her opinion, the most elegant and captivating thing in the world was to embrace the moon and be enchanted by it.

No one paid attention to her silent joy, which made Cui Ti’s curiosity peak despite herself. “What are you laughing about?”

“I’m laughing at my good fortune.”

Cui Ti was taken aback and then nodded seriously. “You do have good fortune.”

Everyone has their own fate. Some are born into poverty, some into luxury. Some are born into noble families, living in grand palaces and enjoying fine delicacies, while others seem abandoned by fate, with no shelter or place to call home.

Pei Xuan’s fortune was indeed excellent. She had a chancellor father with immense power and an aristocratic mother from a prestigious family. She was talented from a young age, never having to worry about her talents being unrecognized. She had served under two wise Emperors and had a smooth path in her official career.

In her previous life, before Cui Ti’s death, Pei Xuan had already become one of the most prominent officials in Dazhao. It wouldn’t be long before she was granted noble titles and high positions.

Thinking about this, Cui Ti gave Pei Xuan a resentful look.

Pei Xuan, understanding her little temper, laughed and said, “My greatest fortune is marrying the best girl in the world. We are willing partners, supporting each other.”

“Who’s willing with you?”

“You are.”

These words, carried by the evening breeze, reached Cui Ti’s ears, causing a tingling sensation. Her earlobes turned red, but fortunately, the night concealed her blush.

Cui Ti also laughed, amused by Pei Xuan’s seemingly blessed fate. Not only was Pei Xuan’s career path smooth, but her romantic journey in this life was equally so. Cui Ti had fallen for her first, and fate had conveniently brought them together, just waiting for Pei Xuan to respond.

One could say Pei Xuan was truly a child of destiny.

Compared to her, Cui Ti felt almost pitiful.

Perhaps it was because she had been so unfortunate in her previous lifetime that an immortal had pitied her, granting her a spiritual eye to see her destined Fujun early on.

She stared intently at Pei Xuan. The beauty of Pei Xuan under the moonlight was as captivating as it was under the lamplight, the bright moonlight enhancing her graceful demeanor.

It was as if she could see straight into Pei Xuan’s heart, her entire soul drawn to Pei Xuan.

They stopped simultaneously, as if by some unspoken agreement.

The air was thick with honeyed sweetness, mixed with a strange fragrance.

Bai Tang pulled Haozhong by the sleeve, and the group quietly slipped away. The patrolling guards were softly called away by Raoliang.

With no one around, seven or eight rabbit lanterns illuminated the night. Pei Xuan, almost flustered, turned her face away and hooked her pinky with Cui Ti’s, continuing to walk forward.

Pei Xuan’s hesitant demeanor was too amusing; Cui Ti was ready to embrace her love, but it seemed Pei Xuan had only a tiny bit of courage.

In her previous lifetime, Pei Xuan’s restraint had been even more severe.

Back then, Cui Ti hadn’t understood her heart and had thought Pei Xuan didn’t care for her. But in truth, Pei Xuan had been smitten with her from the start. Despite sharing a bed for three years, they had never consummated their marriage. This made Cui Ti inexplicably pity the foolish Pei Xuan of her past life.

This made her want to tease her beloved in this life even more.

She asked knowingly, “What were you thinking just now?”

Pei Xuan stumbled, barely regaining her balance, her face flushing. “I wasn’t thinking anything.”

Her throat moved as she swallowed, her clear, passionate eyes glancing at the rabbit lanterns not far away. She thought to herself, this is bad; now every time she saw a rabbit, she would think of the soft, fluffy bunny.

They were only a day away from consummating their marriage, and the chaotic images in her mind became clearer.

Her face heated up, and her fingertips tingled. Cui Ti, with a mischievous glint, let out an “oh” and pretended to trip over a small stone, tumbling into Pei Xuan’s familiar embrace.

This startled Pei Xuan, instantly dispelling any amorous thoughts. She held Cui Ti’s shoulders, worriedly asking, “What’s wrong? Did you twist your ankle?”

She made a move to remove Cui Ti’s boots and socks, but Cui Ti, not wanting Pei Xuan to discover her little trick, quickly dodged, blushing and shy, like a startled young deer in the hunting grounds.

Pei Xuan’s heart wavered, swaying back and forth. After a moment, she understood that her Niangzi wanted to fall into her embrace. Reflecting for a bit, she felt annoyed with herself for missing the signal.

“Are you really not hurt?”

“No.”

“Are you tired from walking?”

Cui Ti nodded eagerly, looking hopeful.

Gentleman Pei, the frail scholar, also wanted to act like a heroic young man and sweep her beloved into her arms. This thought kept nudging her, giving her an unexpected surge of strength. She took a deep breath and said earnestly, “Niangzi, get on my back!”

Her frame was slender and delicate. Cui Ti, fearing she might crush her, hesitated.

Her hesitation only reminded Pei Xuan of the saying “scholars are useless,” which people often mentioned. She was a scholar, but did that mean she was useless?

“Hurry up!”

Clearly, she was taking this seriously.

Cui Ti, amused and helpless, climbed onto her back.

Last night, under the influence of the incense, her consciousness had been hazy. She couldn’t remember the details of how she had given herself to Pei Xuan. Now, with her chest pressed against Pei Xuan’s slender back and her nose filled with the faint scent of her, she felt that all those years of good food had gone to waste on Pei Xuan.

Tall as she was, there wasn’t much flesh on her.

She wrapped her arms around Pei Xuan’s neck and asked, “Am I heavy?”

Pei Xuan replied in a way that didn’t quite make sense: “I won’t drop you, Titi, don’t worry.”

“…”

Was that even the question?

Never mind!

Cui Ti held her tightly. Given that Pei Xuan couldn’t see her from behind, she felt a bit bolder. A soft laugh escaped her throat: “I know, you wanted to kiss me just now, didn’t you?”

“…”

Pei Xuan didn’t respond, but her breathing became noticeably quicker.

Tonight, her Niangzi seemed different from the one she had seen during the day. The darkness emboldened people. She turned her head slightly, sneaking a quick glance at Cui Ti, whose alluring face was now etched into her mind.

Suddenly, she felt a rush of joy and excitement.

How could Cui Ti not notice that someone was stealing glances at her? Her heart skipped a beat, and she said coyly, “You’re not allowed to look back at me.”

Pei Xuan agreed without hesitation.

The Chancellor’s Residence was vast, and this path seemed endless. Tiny beads of sweat formed, glistening like shattered spring dew. No matter how much she dressed as a man, Pei Xuan’s essence was unmistakably feminine, her scent fresh and clean, particularly pleasant.

A soft, silent kiss landed on the side of her neck, making Pei Xuan’s heart tremble and her pulse quicken.

Their breathing grew heavier.

Neither of them spoke.

The bashful Cui Ti dared only to lightly tease the person she had longed for over two lifetimes under the hazy moonlight.

She was willing to offer her most unwavering and loyal heart to her.

But with Pei Xuan’s reserved and proper nature, how could she expect her to make the first move?

The grievances of her past life—she wanted Pei Xuan to slowly make up for them.

The night breeze, understanding and gentle, came and went. Cui Ti’s cheeks were red, almost dripping with blood. “Do you like it?” she asked.

Pei Xuan’s throat felt like it was on fire, making her voice hoarse. “Yes!”

The person on her back was satisfied, lifting her face to let the night wind cool her heated cheeks.

When they returned to the courtyard, Pei Xuan’s forehead was still sweaty. She sat down, sipping tea slowly, occasionally glancing at the dazed Cui Ti. After putting down her teacup, she used her eyes to signal the servants to leave.

“Niangzi.”

Cui Ti looked up. “Yes?”

Her pure and innocent demeanor only made Pei Xuan’s mind more chaotic. The sweat sticking to her skin was unbearable, and she couldn’t stand it any longer. She earnestly invited Cui Ti: “Would you like to bathe?”

The servants had already prepared a hot bath in the bathing room. Cui Ti didn’t originally know this, but Bai Tang had whispered to her, hinting at what Pei Xuan had in mind.

She liked the intimate life of a married couple and enjoyed seeing Pei Xuan in difficult situations, especially when she awkwardly tried to get closer to her.

Pei Xuan was human, not a saint. After several silent invitations, the fire in her heart had almost gone out. She felt this act was too forward and had no face to continue.

“Shall I carry you there? When you’re done, you can call for me.”

Cui Ti nodded slowly.

Pei Xuan’s eyes sparkled with a smile as she helped her into the steaming bathing room.

Two bathing tubs of different sizes, one large and one small, had various petals floating on the surface of the hot water. The temperature was just right. Pei Xuan’s face was flushed from the steam, and after waiting a while without hearing anything from Cui Ti, she decided to make one last attempt.

“Titi, should we…”

“What?”

Cui Ti’s heart skipped a beat, echoing Bai Tang’s advice in her mind: “A couple who hasn’t bathed together isn’t truly intimate.”

Just thinking about it made her limbs go weak.

Seeing her blushing face, Pei Xuan had a sudden idea. She took the sachet from her waist and tossed it into the single-person tub. “Niangzi, the water on the left is dirty. Let’s bathe in this tub instead.”

One “let’s” and one “this tub” made Cui Ti want to cover her face in embarrassment. After a moment, she burst into laughter.