Chapter 20 – Delicate Fingers

“The Pear Tree Troupe’s young scholars and flower maidens, their flirtations on stage are nothing compared to their closeness off stage.”

The voice, gentle and soft, accompanied by a delicate laugh, said, “Cui Ti, since ancient times, there’s been talk of Duan Xiu1 and Mo Jing2. Do you know how two women engage in intimate acts?”

She lifted Cui Ti’s slender, tender fingers, unused to farm work, her words carrying a hidden sharpness: “Love is like the moon in a mirror, a cruel poke, and it shatters.”

“Niangzi?”

Noticing her daze, Pei Xuan picked up a bouquet of flowers and playfully teased her by brushing them against her nose.

Smelling the fragrance, Cui Ti vaguely understood that the intimacy between women likely involved the use of fingers.

Thinking along these lines, it was no wonder her fujun, upon overhearing such talk, had angrily reprimanded Dou Qingyue, who had been pampered since childhood, disregarding their bond as cousins.

She still remembered that in her previous lifetime, Dou Qingyue was known in Xi Jing as a talented and well-read woman from a prestigious family. Many young men admired her, but there was never any gossip about her being close to any gentleman.

The Dou Family cherished their daughter like a precious gem, and even her mother-in-law adored this talented but frail niece, often inviting her to stay at the Pei Residence.

Lost in these thoughts, Cui Ti realized she had been staring at Pei Xuan’s fingers. Embarrassed, she quickly averted her gaze as if her eyes had been burned.

Pei Xuan chuckled, “Niangzi, do you not like the flowers I picked for you?”

Even if she couldn’t see the colors, the scent was pleasing.

Undeterred, Pei Xuan continued to tease her shy niangzi with fresh flowers. The scent of gardenias clung to Cui Ti’s nose and hair. Unwilling to get angry but unable to let her ‘misbehave,’ she softly said, “I like them, but please stop messing around.”

“Then kiss the flowers?”

What a strange request!

Cui Ti knew in her heart that the fujun before her had not yet grown into the uncompromising stateswoman of her previous life. She still retained the youthful innocence and playfulness, as evidenced by the flower teasing, something the Pei Xuan of the past life would never do.

With this thought, she cherished the present Pei Xuan even more and couldn’t resist doing as she was asked. She brought the flowers to her lips, inhaling their scent, and gently kissed the pure white petals.

Pei Xuan’s eyes darkened slightly, her grip on the flowers tightening. “I’ll go put these in a vase.”

Cui Ti pressed her lips together, only catching a glimpse of Pei Xuan’s retreating back.

The dignified and upright Editor Pei quickly found an all-white jade vase. After a moment of hesitation, she took out the flower that Niangzi had kissed and set it aside separately.

Cui Ti pretended not to notice, curious to see what Pei Xuan would do next.

“All done. I’ll go water the flowers.”

As Pei Xuan walked out holding the vase, Cui Ti stood up quietly, gently parting the curtains to peek outside. She saw the silly girl kissing the flower.

After kissing the flower, Pei Xuan nonchalantly tucked it into her waist and carried the vase to fetch water.

Not long after Pei Xuan left, Bai Ge hurried over. “Young Madam, did Fujun blame me?”

Cui Ti, still lost in the memory of Pei Xuan secretly kissing the same flower, didn’t catch what Bai Ge said. Seeing no response, Bai Ge’s face paled. “No, right? Fujun won’t be angry and dismiss me, right?!”

“Of course not.”

Cui Ti reached out, and Bai Ge quickly came to support her, almost swearing an oath. “Heaven and earth as my witness, I never meant to imply any disrespect towards Fujun.”

“That’s why you must be careful with your words. Speaking ill of others behind their backs can lead to trouble. Fortunately, it was her this time. If it were someone else, they’d definitely hold a grudge.”

“Yes, yes, Young Madam is right. I’ll remember!”

Bai Ge had a tendency to learn lessons the hard way, so Cui Ti knew she needed to look out for her more. Back in the room, Cui Ti said slowly, “I intend to ask Fujun to give you a new name.”

“A new name?” Bai Ge looked puzzled. “What’s wrong with ‘Bai Ge’? Isn’t it nice?”

“Niangzi? I’m back.”

To avoid the previous awkward situation, Pei Xuan called out before entering with the vase. Bai Ge, without needing a prompt, quickly ran to lift the curtain for Fujun, acting more like an eager servant than a proper young maid.

Cui Ti couldn’t see how her little maid behaved, but Pei Xuan saw everything clearly.

As the chancellor’s daughter, raised with strict family discipline and receiving Dazhao’s highest education, Pei Xuan was accustomed to the company of well-mannered and scholarly friends. In her eyes, the girl she loved should be different from other girls, but she didn’t expect her beloved’s maid to be so unlike the others.

Because of Cui Ti, Pei Xuan felt a unique gratitude towards Bai Ge and teased, “This is no time for Bai Ge to be upset with me.”

Bai Ge felt embarrassed but also relaxed a bit as Pei Xuan mentioned their first encounter.

After all, who would have thought that such a distinguished gentleman would end up in their humble courtyard?

“What were you talking about just now?” Pei Xuan asked as she placed the vase and admired it for a moment before sitting beside Cui Ti.

“We were discussing giving Bai Ge a new name,” Cui Ti, whose knowledge came mostly from Pei Xuan, suggested. “Fujun, how about you gift her a new name?”

Pei Xuan pondered briefly. “Haozhong and Raoliang are names derived from the four great ancient zithers. Do you want a name like theirs or something different?”

Knowing she would get a new name, Bai Ge answered without hesitation, “Something different!”

“Do you really like the name Bai Ge?”

Bai Ge blushed, thinking of something. “It’s okay, I suppose.”

“Then how about Bai Tang? The Tang in Bai Tang refers to the crabapple tree, which loves sunlight and has a long life. Tang also sounds like ‘sugar,’ giving it a sweet ring. How does that sound?”

Receiving a name from Dazhao’s youngest Zhuangyuan was a great honor. Thinking of the prestige it brought, Bai Ge accepted the change despite her attachment to her old name. She bowed deeply, “Thank you, Fujun. I am now Bai Tang.”

“Bai Tang is a lovely name,” Cui Ti praised.

Loves sunlight, long life. This was also Cui Ti’s heartfelt wish for Bai Ge.

Pei Xuan took a piece of silver from her sleeve. “This is your ‘Zhenqian.’ Keep it safe.”

Bai Tang accepted it with surprise and gratitude, saying a few auspicious words before rising to make tea for her masters.

The concept of ‘Zhenqian’ is a unique custom in Dazhao. Changing one’s name symbolically alters one’s fate. Typically, names given by parents are rarely changed. When they are, it requires someone of higher status to bestow silver, symbolically protecting against potential misfortune.

“I don’t think she looks very pleased with the new name,” Pei Xuan observed.

Cui Ti covered her mouth with a smile. “She will grow to like it.”

Sure enough, while Bai Tang was away boiling water, word quickly spread throughout the courtyard. Everyone knew that from today on, she was no longer called Bai Ge but Bai Tang!

Pei Xuan was eager to chat more with her Niangzi. The two talked about the names “Bai Ge” and “Bai Tang,” which inadvertently reminded Cui Ti of a past incident.

The reason Bai Ge liked the name “Bai Ge” was twofold: first, she had been called “Bai Ge” for over ten years and was used to it; second, many romantic scholars often used “dove” to describe a woman’s soft bosom, which Bai Ge found flattering. She secretly took pride in having a name that everyone seemed to love.

When Cui Ti first learned this in her previous lifetime, she was speechless. Fortunately, “Bai Ge” had finally become “Bai Tang.”

Though elegant and refined, the new name made her little servant maid seem even more unruly by contrast.

Lost in her thoughts, Cui Ti started to laugh. Pei Xuan, who loved seeing her smile, asked why she was laughing. Cui Ti hesitated and wouldn’t say, ending up blushing and shyly pleading, which finally made Pei Xuan stop asking.

Just then, Haozhong reported from outside the door, “Gentleman, Young Madam, Cousin Miss has arrived.”

…

Before they reached the main hall, they could already hear laughter and cheerful voices. Pei Xuan explained, “My younger female cousin is the only daughter of my maternal uncle and aunt. She has been frail since childhood but is very talented. Mom holds her in high regard, sometimes even more than her own ‘son.'”

“But you needn’t worry. A Yue has a great temperament-she’s considerate and kind. You two should get along well.”

Considerate and kind.

Cui Ti slowly savored these words, thinking, “In a few years, you won’t say that. You’ll say you’re disappointed and even want to cut ties with her.”

“Madam, Cousin Miss, the gentleman and Young Madam have arrived.”

In Songzhi Hall, a young girl wearing a warm white silk dress and a red jade hairpin with dangling pearls looked up at the sound. Seeing Pei Xuan, her pale cheeks flushed with excitement. “Older male cousin!”

She eagerly called out, but when she saw the blind woman beside Pei Xuan, dressed in a matching color, her expression slightly froze. Quickly, her eyes filled with a subtle pity.

“Aunt, this must be my cousin’s wife, right? She’s truly a remarkable person. Standing next to my cousin, they look just like celestial beings descended from the heavens.”

Madam Pei was beaming with joy from the praise. “Oh, it’s not as exaggerated as you say.”

Still, having someone praise her daughter-in-law brought her undeniable happiness.

Pei Xuan supported Cui Ti as they stepped forward. “Qingyue, Cousin, come and meet my wife, Cui Ti.”

Dou Qingyue obediently responded and gracefully greeted her. “Qingyue greets Sister-in-law. I’ve long heard of your stunning beauty, likened to that of sunken fish and fallen geese. Seeing you today, I realize the rumors fall short by three points.”

“Your praise is too generous, A Yue,” Cui Ti replied, taking out a prepared gift for her.

Receiving the gift, Dou Qingyue glanced at Pei Xuan and then at the affectionate couple, smiling, “Older male cousin, you’re not very considerate. If I had known about your marriage earlier, I would have rushed back to celebrate. Now, everyone was here except me; it’s really quite disappointing.”

She then shifted the topic, “But, since I cherish my cousin, bring out the gifts I prepared for my cousin and cousin’s wife.”

Madam Pei watched their playful banter with a smile. Pei Xuan, living as a gentleman and being the elder cousin, couldn’t argue with his younger female cousin. Failing to match Dou Qingyue’s wit, she apologized repeatedly and soon inquired about her health.

“If I had known, I wouldn’t have gone to the southern region for treatment and missed my cousin’s wedding.”

The disappointment on Dou Qingyue’s face was genuine. Pei Xuan, not adept at interacting with women, stumbled over her words, prompting Cui Ti to interject at the right moment, “your thoughts are deeply appreciated by Xingguang and me.”

“It seems cousin’s wife is quite satisfied with my cousin?” Dou Qingyue’s teasing curiosity left no room for scolding or blaming. Pei Xuan looked helpless while Cui Ti’s ears quietly turned red.

Madam Pei finally intervened, pulling her frail niece away to give the newlyweds some respite.

Servants entered one after another, carrying the embroidered gifts. The attention in the room shifted.

As the red cloth was pulled away, it revealed a Hundred Sons and Thousand Grandsons Embroidery made with gold thread!

Madam Pei’s smile faltered slightly, replaced by concern for Dou Qingyue. Noticing the extra needle marks on her niece’s fingertips, she frowned even more, “Why worry yourself with this? Haven’t I told you that such exhausting tasks aren’t for you? You-“

“Aunt,” Dou Qingyue nestled in Madam Pei’s embrace, acting spoiled, “this is my heartfelt gift as a younger sister. I’m not useless. Everyone else can celebrate my cousin; why can’t I?”

“You, always with your clever arguments. If your father sees this, your cousin will also get scolded!”

Dou Qingyue playfully smiled, glancing at Pei Xuan. Observing her tall, elegant figure and gentle demeanor, she whispered to Madam Pei, “Father wouldn’t bear to do that.”

Even though Cui Ti couldn’t see their interactions, just by listening, she could tell that her mother-in-law was genuinely fond of her niece. Standing beside her, Pei Xuan, though not speaking much, was undoubtedly kind to her younger female cousin.

Amidst the family reunion, with Dou Qingyue’s arrival, Cui Ti, the Young Madam Pei, once again found herself in the unnoticed corners.

Having lived two lifetimes, she still couldn’t claim to fully understand this younger female cousin.

At lunch, the Chancellor was playing chess with Your Majesty in the palace. The Pei Family’s chef prepared a table full of dishes. As the new bride, Cui Ti sat next to Madam Pei, while Dou Qingyue sat on Madam Pei’s right, leaving Pei Xuan to sit between her Niangzi and her younger female cousin.

Dou Qingyue had a heart condition and rarely went out, only getting close to the Pei Family.

Listening to their lively conversation, Cui Ti, who had felt at ease for half a day, now found herself inexplicably uneasy. Amid the festive voices, she couldn’t even manage the small task of picking food for Pei Xuan.

The rice in her mouth tasted bland. Not wanting to remind everyone of her blindness in this setting, Cui Ti maintained a gentle and courteous smile.

Sitting at the same table, with her mother-in-law and younger female cousin present, she couldn’t keep looking at Pei Xuan. Lowering her gaze, she found herself a bit distracted.

Pei Xuan, not paying attention, got pricked by a shrimp shell. Turning around, she saw Bai Tang deftly peeling shrimp, her movements swift. With a frown, Pei Xuan quickened her pace in peeling the shrimp.

Dou Qingyue watched her cousin’s nimble fingers with envy.

She loved the large red shrimp prepared by the household chef, but eating shrimp wasn’t elegant, as someone had to peel them first.

In the past, she had taken advantage of her cousin’s name to get some benefits from Pei Xuan. However, Pei Xuan, despite her outstanding talent in literature and writing, was clumsy with mundane tasks.

Moreover, though Pei Xuan appeared gentle as a spring breeze, she had a deeply ingrained competitive spirit.

Since then, Dou Qingyue had disliked eating food that required manual effort.

But today, there were two plates of red shrimp on the table.

Glancing at the small maid beside her cousin’s wife, whose shrimp-peeling was so fast it was dizzying, it was clear who shared her love for these shelled delicacies.

Her eyes darting, she thought that surely some of the piled shrimp meat would be shared with her, filling her with anticipation.

As the last shrimp was roughly peeled, she opened her mouth.

“Niangzi?” Pei Xuan, quicker than Bai Tang, pushed the plate piled with shrimp meat over like presenting a treasure.

Seeing it was her, Cui Ti’s mood brightened.

Soon, the small dish of dipping sauce was placed beside her hand. Pei Xuan, relieved, whispered, “Niangzi, was I fast enough?”

Footnote:

• Duan Xiu(断袖): A term from ancient China referring to a romantic relationship between two men.

1. Mo Jing(磨镜): A term from ancient China referring to a romantic relationship between two women.