Chapter 16 – A Stolen Kiss

Before dawn had fully broken, the warbling of thrushes filled the air as the Chancellor’s Residence began to stir from its slumber.

Servants, yawning and stretching, emerged from their quarters to commence the day’s labor.

In the courtyard, some watered the plants, others pruned the branches, and still others swept the grounds, all bending low and keeping quiet as they went about their tasks.

With the Chancellor’s legitimate son now married, starting from yesterday, Pei Xuan, at eighteen years old, had established a household earlier than most of her peers in Xi Jing.

To the servants of the residence, the Young Madam was a blind woman. Anyone with such physical impairments was assumed to have a peculiar temperament. Not having truly paid respects to Cui Ti, their hearts were uneasy and restless.

Pei Xuan had an excellent disposition—graceful, well-mannered, and knowledgeable. The finest gentleman in Xi Jing had disregarded all for the sake of marrying a woman with such impairments. Some felt indignant on her behalf, while others, though silent, secretly envied Cui Ti.

A hundred people, a hundred thoughts. Those residing in the inner courtyard were generally good-hearted, but opinions in the outer courtyard were more unpredictable.

In the outer courtyard, a maid responsible for watering the flowers stood dazed, holding her watering can. Her companion, also holding a watering can, carefully tended to the vibrant blooms of the season. Noticing Xiaohong’s absent-mindedness, she asked in surprise, “Xiaohong, what’s wrong?”

“I… nothing, nothing at all.”

“Liar. You were downcast last night too. Look at your face; didn’t you sleep at all?”

The one speaking was Yunbi. In the outer courtyard, servants often prefixed each other’s names with “Xiao” (little). She glanced at the others bent over their tasks and lowered her voice, “Is it because the gentleman got married, and you’re unhappy?”

Xiaohong jolted, her face flustered, “What nonsense are you spouting? The gentleman’s marriage was approved by the Chancellor and the Madam. Who am I to be unhappy?”

Her reaction was overly intense.

Yunbi pouted, thinking Xiaohong was just putting on a dignified act.

Everyone in Xi Jing knew how good the gentleman was—a young Zhuangyuan, an Editor at the Hanlin Academy with a limitless future. Which woman wouldn’t want to catch the gentleman’s eye?

But the divine figure in their hearts and the sun in their skies had suddenly been claimed by someone else. And the one who won the gentleman’s favor was a blind woman, unloved by her parents.

Though Cui Ti brought a plentiful dowry into the Chancellor’s Residence, it wasn’t really for her sake. Count Xining and his wife had presented it with ingratiating smiles, aiming to please the Chancellor and the gentleman.

If the Young Madam had been an imperial princess or the legitimate daughter of a high-ranking official, there would be no complaints. Compared to such noble statuses, their efforts were insignificant.

But a blind woman? How could she possibly win the gentleman’s favor?

Yunbi, too, felt resentment in her heart. “It doesn’t matter. I’m not saying anything more, but you need to pull yourself together. The gentleman just got married; he won’t tolerate any carelessness.”

“Got it.”

Xiaohong clenched the brass watering can impatiently.

As dawn began to break, magpies chattered noisily on the branches.

Outside the bridal chamber in the rear courtyard, Bai Ge sat on the stone steps, yawning continuously, with sleep still in her eyes.

She hadn’t slept well all night, worrying incessantly. She feared Pei Xuan might bully her young lady, relying on her status as a man, or that Pei Xuan might lose interest after the novelty wore off and no longer care for her.

Men could be fickle.

Bai Ge rubbed her face.

In truth, she was most afraid that Cui Ti would be mistreated and wouldn’t call for help, being too accustomed to tolerating others.

Her mind raced with all kinds of thoughts, both serious and frivolous, until her drowsiness dissipated.

Just a door away, thin rays of light filtered through the window lattice. In this faint light, Cui Ti gazed intently at the face of the person sleeping beside her. She hadn’t slept all night but still felt energized, probably too excited to believe that such an extraordinary event had happened to her.

As dawn approached, she could still see Pei Xuan.

It seemed the immortal had truly heard her heartfelt plea.

Cui Ti’s joy was indescribable. The surprise of suddenly being able to ‘see’ last night had only now taken root.

Pei Xuan didn’t sleep peacefully, her brows slightly furrowed, lips pressed together as if enduring some unspoken discomfort. Her long hair cascaded over the pillow, her face pale. Despite any attempts at disguise, her delicate features betrayed her feminine nature.

The ‘legitimate son’ of the Chancellor’s Residence was actually a woman in disguise.

In their previous lifetime, when Cui Ti died, Pei Xuan was twenty-one and a trusted minister of the New Emperor.

A woman who had supported half of the Dazhao court, Cui Ti silently traced her graceful features with her eyes, wondering why no one had ever found it strange that Pei Xuan, with her delicate looks, was considered a paragon of valor.

After a moment of contemplation, she concluded: Pei Xuan must have exuded such an impeccable demeanor—graceful, unpretentious, mature beyond her years—that no one dared act out in her presence.

Moreover, who in the world would dare offend the all-powerful Chancellor?

Having a father in a high position had been Pei Xuan’s first step to soaring success.

Cui Ti placed one hand on Pei Xuan’s waist. Her waist was slender, the delicate kind that belonged to a woman. Cui Ti thought: Pei Xuan must have taken advantage of her blindness to brazenly deceive her for three years.

During those three years, Pei Xuan had countless opportunities to be honest, but she said nothing. No wonder the chancellor and Madam had agreed to let Pei Xuan marry her.

Quietly gathering her thoughts, Cui Ti pulled the brocade quilt up to cover Pei Xuan. As she did so, she accidentally brushed against Pei Xuan’s flat, wrapped chest.

The touch startled Pei Xuan awake. Instinctively, she was about to push away the offending hand but quickly remembered that the only person who could be lying beside her was the one she loved.

Ah, yes, she had married yesterday.

Instead of pushing the hand away, she caught it, holding onto the hand that was now trying to retreat. Her voice, still husky from sleep, called out, “Niangzi.”

In their previous lifetime, Cui Ti had heard Pei Xuan call her “Niangzi” thousands of times. Every time she heard it, it stirred subtle ripples in her heart.

This time was no different.

Taking advantage of her ability to see, Cui Ti watched Pei Xuan’s sleepy expression with a smile. “Did you sleep well?” she asked.

Pei Xuan held her wife’s hand in her palm, blinking her eyes slowly. Her eyelashes were long, and under Cui Ti’s affectionate gaze, it felt as if those eyelashes were sweeping across her heart.

Her heart trembled.

“Not enough sleep,” Pei Xuan replied.

“Then go back to sleep.”

“Stay with me.”

Cui Ti looked at her in disbelief, hesitating. “Me? Stay with you?”

Editor Pei from the Hanlin Academy, Master Pei, who was highly favored by the emperor, was thoroughly enjoying her rare marital leave. She gently hugged her blind wife, using her hand to block Cui Ti from touching places she shouldn’t. Her voice was soft and elegant. “Niangzi, will you sleep a little longer with me?”

Lying in bed together, Cui Ti’s face was pressed against Pei Xuan’s neck. Blushing, she thought: The Adam’s apple that Pei Xuan once let her feel, which symbolized masculinity, was probably fake too, something stuck on to deceive a blind person.

Being so close, Cui Ti couldn’t help but feel her face heat up. She placed a hand on Pei Xuan’s shoulder, trying to steady herself.

Pei Xuan silently admired Cui Ti’s blushing earlobes, her chest swelling with sweetness for quite a while.

Driven by her own selfish desires, she had married Cui Ti. Now that she had married her, slept with her, and held her in her arms, she felt an immense sense of fulfillment.

“Niangzi, will you sleep too?”

Cui Ti, deeply embarrassed, buried her face into Pei Xuan’s neck, exposing the back of her cute head. Pei Xuan’s playful side emerged as she gently touched her head, only to have her waist pinched in return.

It didn’t hurt, just gave a slight thrill.

No one had ever dared treat her so impudently.

She took this as a unique bedroom intimacy between her and Cui Ti, slowly closing her eyes and pretending to sleep.

“Xingguang?”

After a long time, Cui Ti, feeling anxious, called out to her. She didn’t know why she called, but it seemed that calling her might settle her chaotic heart.

Receiving no response, she mustered her courage and whispered closer to her ear, “Xingguang?”

Pei Xuan remained motionless.

Calling twice without an answer, Cui Ti obediently nestled back into her embrace. Not long after, she lifted herself and pressed her red lips against Pei Xuan’s.

Pei Xuan’s eyelashes fluttered.

They fluttered quite a bit.

Anyone with eyes could tell she wasn’t truly asleep.

Unfortunately for her, Cui Ti’s spiritual eye had opened last night. While she couldn’t see the outside world, her spiritual eye was opened specifically for Pei Xuan, allowing her to easily notice Pei Xuan’s subtle movements.

With the thought “Fujun is pretending to sleep” flooding her mind, Cui Ti didn’t dare say anything, opting instead to lie down and see who could keep up the act longer.

Her stolen kiss caused Pei Xuan’s heart to nearly boil over. To be kissed by the girl she liked was indescribably sweet.

Lying on the bed like a salted fish, Pei Xuan waited until she was almost certain the person beside her was asleep. She opened her eyes, her gaze tender and more captivating than the spring breeze of March or the gentle rain of June.

A moist kiss landed on Cui Ti’s lower lip.

It was quite amusing to think about. Pei Xuan had entered the Hanlin Academy at eighteen, handling matters with a calmness and steadiness beyond her years. Yet, a mere stolen kiss had her heart in turmoil, holding Cui Ti tightly one moment, reluctant to let go the next, awkwardly torn for half a moment.

Half of Cui Ti’s body felt stiff, the other half hot. Her heart was sweetly numb and soft, never expecting Pei Xuan to kiss her.

Pei Xuan had really kissed her.

She secretly rejoiced, deeply moved: So it wasn’t just her one-sided affection. This person indeed had feelings for her too, didn’t she?

As the rooster crowed and the red sun rose in the east, the morning began.

Compared to Pei Xuan, Cui Ti truly nestled against her and slept for another half an hour. When she woke, her face was flushed, with a few strands of hair sticking to her cheeks and some slipping into the slightly open collar of her nightclothes.

Although she was no longer truly blind, she had to pretend to be. She wanted to observe Pei Xuan’s feelings for her from the perspective of someone who could see.

“Awake?” Pei Xuan’s gaze was bright and open, not showing a hint of the shyness one might expect after secretly kissing someone. Perhaps she believed that Cui Ti, being blind, couldn’t detect her pretense or know what she had done while she was ‘asleep.’

Unaware and thus unashamed, Pei Xuan remained oblivious. However, Cui Ti was fully aware of what had transpired. Softly, she called, “Fujun.”

Whether it was “Xingguang” or “Fujun,” Pei Xuan adored both names immensely. Every time Cui Ti called her, it made her heart feel warm. Her smile was bright and gentle. “Niangzi, we need to get up and serve tea to Father and Mother.”

Considering Cui Ti’s blindness, Pei Xuan held new clothes in her hands, ready to assist her in getting dressed with meticulous care and attention.

In their previous lifetime, Pei Xuan had also served her when she first married into the family. It was hard to say who was more nervous. Cui Ti had accidentally bumped into Pei Xuan’s chin, causing Pei Xuan to shiver and awkwardly touch her chest, making the scene very embarrassing.

Now that she could see, Cui Ti vowed to be more careful, at least… at least to spare Pei Xuan’s attractive chin.

“Thank you, Fujun.”

“It’s—it’s my duty.”

Pei Xuan, holding the clothes, didn’t know where to start.

Cui Ti knew just how thin-skinned Pei Xuan was after three years together. In their previous lifetime, she would have already spoken up to ease her tension and nervousness. But now, she remained silent like a mute.

A trembling hand reached out.

Judging by the trembling, it seemed that Pei Xuan, young and vigorous, appeared more like a blind person than Cui Ti.

Throughout her life, Pei Xuan had never helped anyone change clothes. It was much harder than she had imagined.

“Fujun, why not call Bai Ge in?”

“No need!”

Pei Xuan closed her eyes and then opened them after a moment. “Niangzi, there’s no need for someone else. I’ll help you myself.”

Cui Ti raised her neck, watching as Pei Xuan’s trembling hands untied the long sash, slipping off her thin nightclothes…!