Chapter 44 – You Need to Be Punished

The newlywed couple, Cui Ti and Pei Xuan, stole a moment of leisure amidst their busy lives. They exchanged affectionate glances and whispered sweet nothings that outsiders couldn’t understand. Upon noticing some curious gazes, Cui Ti nestled into Pei Xuan’s embrace, her face flushing red.

Sunlight kissed her soft, rosy earlobes as Pei Xuan looked down, adoring the playful Titi. She enjoyed seeing her Niangzi live freely and without restraint. Whereas once she had been so cautious, now, with Pei Xuan, she could afford to be a little more willful and spoiled.

Like a sunflower turning towards the sun, she beamed with joy every day, untouched by the world’s sorrows.

Niangzi wasn’t particularly fond of her younger female cousin. Observing this, Pei Xuan decided to keep her distance from the cousin to avoid unnecessary family conflicts.

“Watch the road, not me,” Cui Ti said, overwhelmed with shyness. Pei Xuan chuckled softly, holding her close and making sure each step was steady.

In Dazhao, strict gender segregation was emphasized. Even among ordinary couples, it was rare to see them holding hands in public; mutual respect was considered the epitome of a loving relationship.

During the day, many servants at the Pei Residence witnessed how the gentleman doted on the Young Madam. Their faces showed surprise, and they couldn’t help but gossip internally.

Previously, no one would have guessed the gentleman was so infatuated. But since meeting the Young Madam, it was as if even a block of wood could blossom into flowers.

Chancellor Pei, known for his stern demeanor, was secretly hiding behind a flowering tree. He stroked his recently grown short beard and, once Pei Xuan had carried Cui Ti far enough, asked, “Does she smile like that often?”

The steward shook his head. Their gentleman was the epitome of propriety, more mature and composed than his peers. According to his own words, he lived like a little saint, detached from worldly pleasures. Though admirable, it lacked the vibrancy of youth.

Young men of this age were often busy doing foolish things, indulging in worldly pleasures, and boasting about their abilities. At most, they might achieve some academic success and bring honor to their families.

But Pei Xuan? With her genuine talent and learning, she was already capable of being the Crown Prince’s tutor. Her abilities were evident, and though her demeanor seemed gentle, she had always maintained a sense of propriety and distance from others.

She was often warm, rarely radiant. More rational than foolish.

The steward of the Pei Residence knew some of the details about how the Young Madam had awakened. The gentleman, in desperation, had tried every possible remedy, no matter how absurd the suggestion, showing just how important the Young Madam was to her.

Pei Rufeng was lost in thought. Only when he could no longer see his daughter’s figure did he wave his sleeve and say, “Let’s go back.”

A few days ago, Cui Ti had been in a coma, and Pei Xuan’s worried expression was still vivid in his memory. Chancellor Pei had grown concerned; deep affection could sometimes become a hindrance, turning good things into bad.

But after seeing his daughter’s smile today, he thought perhaps this was not so bad after all. He had already taken away her chance to live as a woman. He couldn’t also deprive her of the right to love someone just because of what might happen.

The servants passing by the Pei Residence saw the gentleman carrying the Young Madam from afar and wisely stepped aside to avoid them. Pei Xuan returned to the rear courtyard without any obstacles.

At that moment, Bai Tang was playing cards with Haozhong and Raoliang, losing miserably. Her forehead was covered with strips of white paper, and if she lost any more, there wouldn’t be any space left to stick new ones.

It was quite a comical sight, resembling a mischievous and eerie Bai Wuchang.

A gentle breeze blew, making the white strips on Bai Tang’s forehead flutter. She was about to cheat when she suddenly called out crisply, “Gentleman!”

Pei Xuan was baffled by her shout. “What’s wrong?”

The group stood up and greeted her. Bai Tang was quick to speak. “Gentleman, do you want to play cards?”

“No.”

“Then we won’t disturb you.”

She ruined the card game, pulling the two confused players away. Cui Ti, with her sharp ears, heard Raoliang complaining about Tangtang’s cheating. She nestled in Pei Xuan’s embrace, laughing. “You really don’t want to play?”

Pei Xuan made a quick decision. “Not with them, but with you.”

Cui Ti looked serious. “But I have never played these games before. Will you teach me?”

Ordinarily, Cui Ti, being blind and having lived in the neglected south courtyard before marriage, wouldn’t know how to play cards. But sometimes, common sense is meant to be broken.

Cui Ti didn’t know how to play cards, but Bai Tang, who loved exploring various hobbies, was often around her. During those tough years, when she wasn’t working, Bai Tang would sneak out to watch others play. Though she wasn’t very good, she was familiar with the basic rules. After hearing Bai Tang talk about it so often, Cui Ti, although never having played, had a good understanding of how it worked.

By chance, there was a nearly new set of cards messily spread out on the stone table under the tree. Pei Xuan carried Cui Ti into the room and then went back to fetch the cards.

One dared to teach, and the other dared to learn. The elegant Gentleman Pei spent the entire afternoon engrossed in this activity.

Cui Ti sat cross-legged on the bed, her slender fingers holding a playing card, showing it to Pei Xuan.

Pei Xuan acted as her eyes, her gaze lighting up with joy as she saw the card. “Niangzi, you lost again.”

“…”

Losing didn’t feel great. Cui Ti was unconvinced. “Did you look carefully?”

“I did,” Pei Xuan replied smugly. “My card is higher than yours. Niangzi, if you lose, you have to accept the punishment.”

Cui Ti lightly bit her red lips, a hint of frustration hanging on her brows. “I was the one who taught you. How come I always lose?”

Blushing, Pei Xuan leaned in and gave her a loud kiss on the cheek. “Maybe I’m luckier than you.”

This time, the kiss was blatant. Cui Ti silently counted in her heart, “the eleventh time,” her toes curling slightly. She also wanted to kiss back just as forcefully.

It would be best to kiss Xingguang’s collarbone.

With these mischievous thoughts swirling in her mind, she was distracted and ended up winning this round.

“Did I lose again?” she asked.

Pei Xuan’s mouth went dry. “No, I lost.”

She took the card from Cui Ti’s hand and handed it back to her as proof that she wasn’t lying.

The joy in Cui Ti’s eyes was unmistakable, her voice soft and gentle. “Come here. I need to punish you.”

At the word “punish,” a steamy, fiery image flashed through Pei Xuan’s mind, her ears turning a suspicious shade of red.

Just a few days ago, she had been a pure-hearted scholar. She hadn’t expected that in such a short time, the sight of Cui Ti would make her think of her tearfully passionate moments.

She felt she had become corrupted.

Her heart had become corrupted.

Those days and nights were etched deeply in her heart, impossible to forget, always surfacing to disrupt her thoughts. Pei Xuan’s throat moved as she prepared herself to be kissed.

Cui Ti, with clear intentions, saw Pei Xuan’s shy, hesitant demeanor and felt a mix of shyness and excitement herself.

She draped her arms softly over Pei Xuan, listening to her slightly erratic breathing, feeling immensely satisfied. “Xingguang, why won’t you look at me?”

Pei Xingguang’s eyes darted evasively, making her seem less like a gentleman. Her simple attire, adorned with a few embroidered white pear blossoms on the chest, contrasted with the clear sound of the jade belt at her waist being deftly undone.

The crisp sound echoed through the quiet, elegant room, causing Cui Ti to pause and then blush deeply. She tried to argue, but after a moment of struggle, she admitted honestly, “Alright, maybe I overdid it a bit.”

It was just a kiss; there was no need to undress. Her explanation was soft and gentle, like peach blossoms carried away by flowing water, slowly winding its way into Pei Xuan’s heart.

Young love is uncontrollable. Pei Xuan gathered her courage to look at Cui Ti’s downcast eyes and said, “I don’t mind.”

Cui Ti smiled brightly.

She liked that Pei Xuan didn’t mind.

“Then I’ll kiss you?”

“…”

Even though they had done more intimate things, at this moment, Pei Xuan still straightened her back, her youthful face carefully hiding her excitement and nervousness.

This side of Pei Xingguang, even though she had shown a playful side in the past few days, was even more charming.

Her tightly pressed lips, flushed face, the occasional swallowing of her throat, and even the fake Adam’s apple used to deceive the world—all of these constantly stirred Cui Ti’s deeply suppressed love and desire.

She loved Pei Xuan so much.

The elegant pear blossom robe was peeled away, revealing a delicate, straight collarbone. Cui Ti smiled softly. “Shall I really kiss you?”

In an instant, Pei Xuan’s expression changed multiple times, looking both aggrieved and innocent. “Niangzi, you…”

Her voice abruptly stopped.

She tilted her head back, her hands instinctively placed on Cui Ti’s back. Time seemed to stretch infinitely, like sticky honey threads extending forward, each inch carrying its inherent resilience and sweetness.

Just like Cui Ti.

If she loved, it was with unabashed adoration.

The sweetness could be overwhelming, driving one to madness.

Pei Xuan’s temples began to sweat slightly.

Cui Ti shyly released her, looking at the marks left behind, her eyebrows lifting in joy. “We keep doing this, is it not proper?”

The day wasn’t even over, and yet such thoughts were rushing in.

She couldn’t control them.

Pei Xuan, after a moment, gradually recovered from the tingling sensation in her head. She looked at Cui Ti and asked, “What’s improper? Is it you or me?”

Cui Ti wrapped her arms around Pei Xuan’s waist, leaning against her like she had no bones. “If we don’t leave the room, do you think Bai Tang and the others will make fun of us?”

“They won’t.”

Pei Xuan spoke with confidence. “Others would be envious if they found someone who made them not want to leave the house.”

Not wanting to leave, not even wanting to get out of bed—compared to the years before, these days after marriage were filled with new experiences.

All of this was thanks to Cui Ti.

“Do you not like it?” Pei Xuan asked.

“I do.”

She liked it too much, which is why she couldn’t help herself.

Cui Ti’s chest swelled with emotion, her feelings piling up inside. She straightened up slightly, shyly whispering into Pei Xuan’s ear.

Seeing the sparkle in her eyes, it seemed like she was softly complaining.

The afternoon stretched on, with birds gathering in threes and fours on the trees, and the rabbits in the courtyard growing bored and starting to fight in their cages.

Bai Tang yawned and stretched lazily. Nearby, Haozhong and Raoliang, faces flushed and breathing heavily, were engrossed in a friend’s treasured book.

“So, what do you think? Is it good?”

Her sudden voice startled them, causing the book they were sharing to drop to the ground, landing open on a page titled ‘The Fox Spirit Battles the Northwestern Wolf.’

Haozhong and Raoliang froze, then fled in panic before Bai Tang could react.