Chapter 34 – Dumbfounded

“Has the gentleman returned?”

The doorman warmly welcomed the master of the house back.

Pei Xuan, lost in thought, nodded and walked into the courtyard.

People have eyes, but if they don’t look, how can they see? Was she overthinking? Was it her overthinking, or…

She walked through the long corridor, her face solemn, and the young servant behind her didn’t dare make a sound.

The weather was nice this time of year, and as dusk fell, Bai Tang was supporting the Young Madam for some fresh air. She spotted the gentleman entering the courtyard and was about to speak when she saw Pei Xuan place a finger to her lips, clearly signaling for her to keep quiet and give the Young Madam a surprise.

Bai Tang was happy to oblige.

Cui Ti, who was delicate and frail, had been resting for almost a whole day. Now, as she walked, her waist and hips still moved a bit awkwardly. This scene caught Pei Xuan’s eyes, and she nervously bit her lip, cautiously sneaking glances at her Niangzi.

Everywhere she went, she needed Bai Tang’s support, looking unmistakably blind. Pei Xuan began to have doubts. Could it really be just a coincidence?

If it wasn’t a coincidence, then what was it? Niangzi was born blind, and because of this imperfection, the Cui Family had always treated her harshly.

Pei Xuan felt like she was losing her mind.

How could she doubt Titi?

Under the tree, Cui Ti sat calmly in a chair, a fluffy rabbit on her lap. Pei Xuan looked at the rabbit and remembered that day when she had teased her Niangzi and then played with the rabbit’s body and ears…

Her mind flashed to the image of Cui Ti blushing and running off with the rabbit.

The doubts lingered in her mind, unresolved. Pei Xuan tiptoed over.

“Has Fujun returned yet?”

Bai Tang glanced at the person walking over and lied with a straight face, “He probably hasn’t returned yet.”

Cui Ti, holding the rabbit, stayed silent, clearly thinking about someone.

Haozhong, Raoliang, and the others quietly left with Bai Tang, leaving just the couple in the courtyard. The soft footsteps reached Cui Ti’s ears, and she looked up.

Pei Xuan stood still, holding her breath, eyes fixed on her.

“Who? Who’s there?”

Cui Ti saw her but wasn’t ready to be completely honest with her yet.

She really can’t see me, can she? The thought struck Pei Xuan as absurd. How could she ever think a blind person might suddenly regain their sight?

“Who’s there? Is it Xingguang?”

Cui Ti clutched her clothing, anxiously asking.

“It’s me.”

Pei Xuan quickly walked to her side and held her hand. “Niangzi, it’s me.”

“Why didn’t you speak earlier?”

“I…” Pei Xuan smiled. “I was just mesmerized.”

She waved her hand in front of Cui Ti’s eyes but got no response, and her hopeful, suspicious heart sank.

Her mind must really be playing tricks on her.

It was just a coincidence. It wasn’t possible for all the good things in the world to belong to her alone. Niangzi was already good enough.

Pei Xuan squeezed into the small pearwood chair with her. “I bought some glutinous rice cake. Are you hungry? Would you like to try a bite?”

She opened the paper package.

The freshly made glutinous rice cake was sweet and soft. Cui Ti took a small bite, and Pei Xuan ate from the same spot.

“Feeling any better?”

Cui Ti was very shy about this. Pei Xuan was so gentle and meticulous, but the night’s activities had left her uncomfortable even now. A big part of it was because she had been so clingy last night. She had never consummated her marriage before and didn’t expect the first time to be so awkward.

“Much better.”

Her voice was muffled, but thankfully, Pei Xuan was close enough to hear her clearly.

Both of them blushed at the same time.

“Another bite?”

Cui Ti liked squeezing into small spaces with her. Her lips parted slightly, showing a coquettish demeanor that begged to be fed.

This made Pei Xuan start to have wild thoughts. “Shall we go back to our room?”

She wanted to kiss Cui Ti but didn’t want to be inappropriate in the courtyard.

Understanding her implication, Cui Ti wanted to scold her for being frivolous, but the words turned into a soft acquiescence.

The door closed behind them.

Cui Ti’s back was against the door, her heart pounding. She mentally chided herself for being so weak. Even after consummating their marriage, her legs still felt like jelly.

“Titi…”

“Hmm?”

Pei Xuan kissed the glutinous rice crumbs stuck to her lips. “You’ve turned into a little cat.”

Blushing furiously, Cui Ti didn’t know how she had managed that. “Ah, really?”

She used her tongue to lick the corner of her lips, unaware of how enticing she looked.

“Shall I help you?”

Pei Xuan’s intentions were clear, and Cui Ti, feeling both annoyed and affectionate, wrapped her arms around her neck and whispered, “You’re so troublesome. If you want to kiss me, just do it…”

She didn’t need to be teased on purpose.

A day without seeing Pei Xuan, without holding her, without feeling her warmth, and Cui Ti felt as if she had been lonely for an eternity.

When it was time for dinner, Chancellor Pei and Madam Pei were already seated, and the dishes were laid out on the table. The two of them arrived late.

“Father, Mother, I…”

“Alright, sit down quickly. We’ve been waiting for you.”

One sentence was enough to make the young couple, who had been up to mischief behind closed doors, hang their heads in embarrassment.

The sky was completely dark.

Pei Xuan was called to Chancellor Pei’s study to discuss political matters, while Cui Ti accompanied her mother-in-law for a walk to aid digestion.

“Ti’er, I must apologize to you,” Madam Pei said frankly.

She admitted that she had someone place Heart-binding Incense in the purple-gold censer the previous night.

Upon learning the use of the incense, Cui Ti felt relieved. It was a legitimate item, after all. With her good nature, she didn’t mind the matter, but she did make a mental note of it.

Night fell, and the sky was adorned with stars. After bathing, Pei Xuan took on the role of a teacher, instructing her Niangzi in literature and literacy. After half an hour of lessons, Cui Ti was too tired to hold anyone accountable, and sleepiness overtook her as Pei Xuan carried her to the bed.

With their relationship having made significant progress, there was no need to put any more incense in the censer, saving them a lot of trouble.

Her sleeve was tugged.

Pei Xuan looked down to see a face flushed with a thin red hue.

“Another kiss?”

Having gotten used to falling asleep with kisses the past few nights, even when she was sleepy, Cui Ti didn’t forget to make a demand. In both her past and present lives, she had only ever longed for Pei Xingguang. Now that her wish had come true, she felt rightfully justified as Young Madam Pei.

Pei Xuan planted a kiss on her forehead.

Cui Ti rolled into her embrace and continued to tug at her sleeve.

It wasn’t enough.

This thought was clearly conveyed, making Pei Xuan blush. She leaned close to her ear and whispered, “No more, or I won’t be able to resist…”

Soft laughter floated through the inner chamber, where incense was burning. Cui Ti thought to herself: Are you really a woman? You dared to tease me at dusk, but now you’ve lost your nerve.

Pei Xuan was so flustered by her laughter that she didn’t know where to put her hands and feet.

But her heart was full of joy.

She said seriously, “You need to recover your health first. Don’t worry, Niangzi, I can manage.”

She could endure it.

Unless she really couldn’t.

Seeing Pei Xuan hold back, Cui Ti could only cling to her and think. It wasn’t that she was overly improper or hard to satisfy—it was just that after consummating their marriage with Xingguang only once, it felt too little, leaving her with a dreamlike sense of unreality.

The best “gentleman” in Xi Jing was hers.

With the silent, bright moon hanging high, Pei Xuan confirmed that Cui Ti was asleep. She kissed her lower lip, cautiously licked it, and then closed her eyes guiltily.

In her dreams, there were many rabbits, some with long tails, some with short tails. A girl holding a rabbit covered her mouth and laughed, “Fool, I saw you a long time ago!”

At dawn, Pei Xuan laughed out loud in her dream.

“If you saw me, why didn’t you tell me? Niangzi, I must punish you!”

“Punish me for what?”

Pei Xuan paced and then suddenly smiled, “I punish you to stay with me forever, whether I am a man or a woman, you will always be my Niangzi.”

“Alright, nothing would make me happier.”

The dream suddenly darkened, a black cloud overhead, and the rabbits transformed into a rabbit spirit that kidnapped her beloved girl. Pei Xuan chased after them in a panic.

“Let go of my Niangzi!”

“Let her go!”

With a thud, Pei Xuan fell out of bed.

The noise startled Cui Ti. Her instinct as a blind person was to reach out with her hands. The warmth beside her was still there, but the person was not.

She woke up immediately!

“Xingguang?”

The inner chamber was dim. The fall was enough to fully wake Pei Xuan, who, fearing Cui Ti might get hurt in the confusion, hurriedly said, “I’m here! I’m fine!”

Without thinking, Cui Ti threw off the covers and got out of bed. Seeing Pei Xuan struggling to get up from the floor, she felt a pang of heartache. “Xingguang?”

“Hey? Don’t-“

Before Pei Xuan could finish her sentence, Cui Ti was already holding onto her arm. “Are you hurt?”

“I’m not made of dough, I’m not that easy to break,” Pei Xuan said. She saw Cui Ti wearing only a thin hibiscus-colored undergarment, her body frail and her face full of worry. All her resolute thoughts turned gentle, and she resisted her trembling heart to hug Cui Ti slowly.

She held her so tightly that Cui Ti could hardly breathe.

“Niangzi.” She released the person in her arms, stared intently into her eyes, and asked with a glimmer of hope, “Titi, can you really see me?”

“……”

Cui Ti instantly turned into a timid kitten, feeling cold all over. “I…”

Pei Xuan placed her palm on Cui Ti’s chest, feeling the chaotic, rapid heartbeat.

Everything was clear without words.

With a heartbeat like that, she must have guessed right.

This was too unbelievable.

She was dumbfounded.