Chapter 47 – Tales of the Strange

Time quickly slipped into late June, and the weather grew increasingly hot. The cicadas in the trees chirped incessantly. Pei Xuan decided to take Cui Ti to the villa to escape the heat.

Boxes were carried out one by one, and the carriages were parked outside. Bai Tang, Haozhong, and Raoliang followed dutifully behind their masters.

Pei Xuan helped her beloved Niangzi into the carriage. The curtain was drawn, and the ice chest inside emitted a refreshing chill, making the spacious interior a world apart from the sweltering outside.

A convoy of over a dozen people set off in an orderly manner. The roads of Xijing City were smooth, and the carriages rolled smoothly down the straight streets. Inside the carriage, Cui Ti nestled in Pei Xuan’s arms, her delicate hand brushing over the silver-embroidered collar of Pei Xuan’s robe. “Why did you think of going to the villa? Isn’t it comfortable at home?”

Given the Chancellor’s Residence’s grandeur, there was no worry about winter cold or summer heat. Not only did the residence have its own ice stockpile, but the palace also sent ice as a token of favor during the hot days.

Her question hit the mark. Pei Xuan’s fair face turned slightly red. “We were caught being intimate in the courtyard under the moon last night by my mother.”

Cui Ti’s face flushed instantly. After a moment’s thought, she understood. It must have been Pei Xuan’s mother who found their affection too much to handle and decided to send them away for a while.

Being caught in such an intimate act by an elder was deeply embarrassing for her. She retorted with a hint of reproach, “I told you we shouldn’t be so reckless, but you insisted…”

The stars were exceptionally beautiful last night, and the moonlight was gentle. Though Cui Ti couldn’t see the stars and moon, she vividly remembered the brilliance in Pei Xuan’s eyes.

Originally, they were just chatting and enjoying the breeze, but somehow they ended up hiding behind the flower bed.

She remembered Pei Xuan biting her, causing her to cry out in pain, unable to control herself. They couldn’t even wait to return to their room, utterly lost in each other.

There was a brief moment of clarity, but Pei Xuan’s sweet coaxing and kisses under the night sky made her forget everything again.

Since their marriage, after those indulgent days and nights, Pei Xuan remained the most sought-after “Gentleman” in Xijing City. Yet, in front of Cui Ti, even a gentleman could have desires and moments of reckless abandon.

The Dazhao’s strict etiquette was unlike the previous dynasties where men and women could openly express their love under the sky. Without experiencing it firsthand, who would have thought that the usually restrained and composed Gentleman Pei harbored such a hidden, domineering side?

Pei Xuan was a spirited eighteen-year-old, thriving in her career and deeply in love with her partner. Occasionally, she acted impulsively, but she discovered that sometimes, impulsiveness brought its own rewards.

At least last night, Titi was as beautiful as a painting. The mood was perfect, and doing nothing would have ruined it.

Thinking about it made her heart race, her eyes glowing with warmth. “Actually, it’s good that she saw us. At least now, Mom won’t come and go from our courtyard so freely.”

A daughter growing up and having a wife meant that certain boundaries needed to be respected.

Cui Ti was annoyed by her sophistry and turned her back, refusing to respond.

“Niangzi?”

Pei Xuan poked Cui Ti’s waist, almost making her collapse. Cui Ti bit her lip to avoid making a sound.

“Titi?”

Still no response.

Unaccustomed to being ignored, Pei Xuan found it refreshing. She tried to coax her a bit, but Cui Ti only got angrier. “You did the same thing last night, and now you’re doing it again. Do you really think I’ll forgive you so easily?”

Last night, Pei Xuan was a lovesick woman, captivated by beauty. Today, she genuinely enjoyed seeing her Niangzi sulk. With a playful smile, she said, “Anger can harm your health. How about hitting me to vent your frustration?”

She took Cui Ti’s delicate fist and lightly punched her own shoulder. Once wasn’t enough, so she did it a few more times.

Seeing Pei Xuan willingly take the blows, Cui Ti couldn’t stay mad. She tried to pull her hand back, but when she looked up and met those passionate eyes, her heart felt as if it was gently held by a large hand. She couldn’t resist and felt flustered under Pei Xuan’s gaze.

A soft laugh escaped.

Pei Xuan released her and adopted a sincere tone. “Niangzi, I was wrong.”

Cui Ti knew there was more to her words but didn’t dare ask, “What exactly were you wrong about?” Her face turned red, and she couldn’t help but notice their intertwined legs. She murmured a soft reprimand, calling Pei Xuan clingy, but a smile crept onto her lips.

Some things come naturally once you cross a certain threshold.

Ning Hehuan’s bold approach had opened Pei Xuan’s eyes to the subtleties of romance, making her exude a sweet charm.

Pei Xuan glanced at Cui Ti and caught her sneaking a look. She opened her arms and said gently, “Come here.”

The sulking lasted less than a minute. Cui Ti, smiling, nestled back into Pei Xuan’s soft embrace. “But being seen by mother… it’s still so embarrassing. It’s all your fault.”

“My fault,” Pei Xuan agreed.

Reflecting on it, she felt she shouldn’t take advantage of her favor and wrongfully blame others. She admitted, “It’s partly my fault too.”

If she hadn’t been so soft-hearted, Xingguang wouldn’t have dared to force her.

Late at night, under the moonlight, in the garden, with suppressed moans and rapid breaths, the image of two slender figures intertwined appeared in Cui Ti’s mind. Her throat felt dry, and she traced circles on Pei Xuan’s back with her fingers. “Have you gotten bolder?”

They had been married for only a few months, transitioning from expressing their feelings to consummating the marriage, and now to flirting under the moon.

It was all too fast.

Too audacious.

Even in a respectable relationship, the nation’s strict atmosphere made any public display of affection feel shameful, as if they were sneaking around.

Her toes curled, inevitably feeling a secret thrill and an indescribable shyness.

“I don’t know, but I just like it,” Pei Xuan replied softly, her words like a gentle spring breeze blowing into Cui Ti’s love-filled heart.

The air in the carriage was filled with tender affection. Outside the curtain, the sky was a brilliant blue.

The servants lined up outside the gates, awaiting the arrival of the gentleman and the Young Madam. The plaque inscribed with “Sushe Villa” had been freshly polished, the gates wide open, and the carriage slowly came to a stop.

The curtain was lifted.

The villa’s servants cautiously half-raised their heads, catching a glimpse of the Young Madam, who seemed to have struck it lucky, and were stunned by the beauty of the woman beside the gentleman.

What a delicate beauty!

The items brought from the Chancellor’s Residence were gradually moved inside.

In the study, the steward diligently reported, “Those who serve here have all been carefully trained. There won’t be another incident like the one with Yunhong. Rest assured, gentleman, Young Madam.”

This was one of the reasons Pei Xuan agreed to come here.

The bizarre dreams Cui Ti had, and the incident in the dream where she was pushed into the lotus pond, remained a heavy burden on her heart. Until this burden was lifted, she couldn’t sleep or eat in peace.

Not to mention the dreams, even in reality, there were curses and Yunhong’s attempt to harm her miss. Living in the Chancellor’s Residence was inconvenient and crowded with prying eyes. It was better to move out, lure the snake out of its hole, and see whether the hidden evil was human or ghost!

“Dismissed.”

“Yes.”

Pei Xuan stood up and selected a book from the shelf, her spirits high as she stepped outside.

At Sushe Villa, in the Tranquility Pavilion, Cui Ti sat idly, enjoying the cool breeze. A variety of fresh, delicate pastries were spread out on the stone table, while Bai Tang stood to the side, fanning her.

“That’s enough; you should take a break,” Cui Ti said.

Bai Tang, who was always diligent and couldn’t stand idleness, replied, “The sun is so harsh, and the Young Madam is sweating.”

They had arrived in a hurry, and the main courtyard still needed another half hour of tidying before it could be habitable. Moreover, Cui Ti, being blind, had grown increasingly averse to confined spaces after being cooped up in a small courtyard for so long.

Rather than feeling stifled indoors, she preferred to enjoy the breeze and the sense of freedom it brought.

She wasn’t afraid of the heat.

But compared to others, she seemed to be made of water. Even sitting there without much movement, a light sheen of sweat appeared on her temples and neck.

It was the same when she and Pei Xuan frolicked on the bed—they would often end up covered in fragrant sweat, appearing quite sensual, which Pei Xuan particularly enjoyed.

In her thin summer attire, Cui Ti’s slender figure was modestly covered, revealing just a sliver of her snowy neck and occasionally her fair wrists. She let her mind wander as she faced the breeze.

The wind was warm too, and the world felt like a furnace.

Pei Xuan arrived quickly.

Seeing her, Bai Tang and the others sensibly withdrew.

Pei Xuan brought with her a faint floral fragrance. Cui Ti, groping slightly, picked up a piece of pastry and fed it to Pei Xuan, nearly choking her.

“…”

After swallowing it down with some tea, Pei Xuan looked at Cui Ti’s embarrassed expression and laughed, “Would you like to try it too?”

She fed a piece to Cui Ti, who also found the pastry dry and tried to change the subject by asking, “Why did you come?”

“To keep you company. I found an old book I had left here. If you’re feeling bored, I can read it to you.”

Curious about the book, Cui Ti nodded lightly. “Read it to me.”

With the summer breeze gently blowing, the two of them, not minding the heat, sat shoulder to shoulder, listening to the story.

This was a book of fantastical love stories, depicting the yearning and unfulfilled desires across multiple lifetimes. Cui Ti was so engrossed that her eyes welled up with tears.

As Pei Xuan read the last word, she felt a surge of indescribable emotion. She looked up to see a tear fall from Cui Ti’s chin, hitting the smooth stone table with a soft splash. Cui Ti’s voice was choked with emotion. “That immortal lord is so foolish.”

Pei Xuan agreed. How else could the immortal lord have pursued the rabbit spirit for so many lifetimes without ever earning her affection?

“And the rabbit spirit suffered so much. Just as she began to understand, each lifetime ended, repeating the cycle as if she was forever kept in the dark.” Cui Ti’s heart felt heavy. Grasping Pei Xuan’s sleeve, she asked, “Is that it?”

“That’s it.”

Cui Ti was visibly disappointed. “It shouldn’t end like that.”

She preferred stories where lovers ended up together.

“Who is the author of this book?”

Pei Xuan asked softly, “How did you find it?”

“Not good.” She shook her head. “The immortal lord was clumsy and didn’t know how to make her beloved happy, like a block of wood—not even half as good as you.”

“…”

This comment was both laughable and frustrating.

This book was written by Pei Xuan when she was fifteen years old.

Each story compiled into the book ended without fulfillment. Yet, she felt compelled to write them.

The reserved and awkward immortal lord, unaware of love, and the alluring but oblivious rabbit spirit—each time their paths crossed, each time they felt a spark, they couldn’t even utter words of affection.

It was as if this story had been lingering in her heart. Every time she finished writing one of those lifetimes, she couldn’t feel at ease; her heart felt blocked. She even dreamt one night that she had become the immortal lord, suffering from endless unrequited love.

When she finally woke from the dream, she was drenched in cold sweat.

“Actually, they have another lifetime.”

“Do they still miss each other?”

Pei Xuan looked at her steadily. “No, they end up together.”

Before, she didn’t know how to write a perfect ending. But now, with Cui Ti, she seemed to understand. She decided she would write herself as the immortal lord, and as for the rabbit spirit’s original, she smiled—she could only be her Titi.

“I’ll urge the author to finish it, and then I’ll read it to you.”

Storybooks are ultimately not considered high literature. Many renowned scholars in Xi Jing would secretly write under pseudonyms. Cui Ti understood the mystery of the ‘author’ and nodded, still musing over the amusing and bittersweet love between the immortal lord and the rabbit spirit.

As she pondered, the moon rose, and stars filled the sky.

She clung to Pei Xuan’s shoulder, her hot sweat quietly trickling down.

A wave of unbearable longing surged through her, and her voice quivered with a hint of tears, “In the future, can you not eat rabbit heads anymore?”

Pei Xuan, withdrawing her hand, gently comforted her trembling back. “Why bring this up all of a sudden?”

Cui Ti, acting extremely spoiled, wrapped her legs tightly around her. “Xingguang…”

The desire that had just subsided began to rise again. Pei Xuan licked her lips, “Alright, alright, I won’t eat them anymore.”

She lowered her head, “Can I ask why?”

Cui Ti couldn’t bear her loving gaze and shyly hid away. “The rabbit spirit is too pitiful. She admires the immortal lord, but she’s too timid, and the immortal lord is too cautious to take that step…”

She mumbled the story she had heard during the day, looking incredibly adorable.

Pei Xuan felt secretly enchanted and moved, but thinking about her beloved spicy rabbit head being so ‘killed off,’ she hugged Cui Ti and laughed helplessly. “It’s just a story.”

“But I would really be sad.”

She whispered softly, “If I could have you but lost you time and time again, I would be in unbearable pain.”

Out of pity for the rabbit spirit’s unfulfilled love, she forbade Pei Xuan from eating spicy rabbit heads. This was quite irrational, but Pei Xuan indulged her whims.

Cui Ti couldn’t help but feel a surge of love. “Can you tell that ‘author’ that you want to see the rabbit spirit and the immortal lord have a happy ending, newlywed bliss?”

“…”

Huh?

Pei Xuan looked bewildered.

Young Madam Pei softened her body and kissed her collarbone, “Please? Author.”