CH 3

Pei Xuan’s Confusion

On a sunny day in early spring, a magpie perched on a branch, its small round head poking out as it opened its eyes, as large as mung beans, to gaze at a handsome gentleman who had foolishly fallen from the wall. 

This spring would forever be etched in Pei Xuan's memory. As he looked up, all the sounds, colors, and images around him faded into the background, and he saw a young woman sitting on an old wooden chair. 

She was dressed in a vibrant red dress, her thin, delicate legs adorned with old embroidered shoes. Her black hair was pulled back with a pear wood hairpin and her quiet, serene demeanor was captivating. She exuded a beauty that was not just skin-deep, but one that brought a sense of peace and tranquility.

Pei Xuan was stunned.

Then he saw the girl smile.

Her smile was soft and gentle, her lips curling upwards at the corners, and Pei Xuan felt a warmth spread through him. 

The two acted as if no one was around them, and Bai Ge who was standing behind Cui Ti wanted to curse depressingly—Who is this person!?

Climbing up the wall like a thief and falling clumsily, you should be grateful you didn't fall headfirst, yet the first thing you do is stare at the mistress.

But, how come the mistress knew?

Bai Ge remembered that it had rained the previous night, and Cui Ti had asked her to lay straw mats near the base of the wall to protect it, but instead, it had been used to cushion the young man's fall.

Imagine you're sitting in a garden, and out of nowhere, someone falls from the wall. 

Regardless of whether the person is attractive or not, you would at least shout in surprise, but the mistress laughed gently.

To this, Bai Ge’s temples twitched.

To be honest, she felt that both of them were more or less abnormal.

Bai Ge looked at Pei Xuan with suspicion, as if she were guarding against a thief. She was ordered by Cui Ti not to make any noise earlier, so she held back her words.

"I'm sorry if I offended you," Pei Xuan said as he leaned forward and bowed. His white spring shirt was adorned with delicate white pear flowers cascading from the courtyard branches, creating a soft and picturesque sight.

Bai Ge couldn't help but let out a sigh from the bottom of her heart and silently murmured to herself: "You're good-looking. If all flower pickers looked like you, why would anyone worry about the flowers?.”

Cui Ti couldn't see him, she 'looked' along the source of the sound, smiling peacefully.

Pei Xuan didn't know how to alleviate the tension as Cui Ti stood before him in silence. 

His fingers were slick with sweat and he lowered himself to bow to her, "Thank you, I may have broken something if it weren't for this mat." 

Cui Ti simply nodded in response.

In her previous life, Bai Ge yelled very loudly, causing Pei Xuan to fall down and hurt his left wrist.

For a normal person, a hand injury would have little impact, but for Pei Xuan, who had always been praised for his exceptional left-handed calligraphy, the injury was a significant concern. 

If left unhealed, he would have to attend the palace examination with it, which would not have been ideal as the emperor in the Golden Palace was particularly interested in seeing Pei Xuan's left-handed calligraphy.

Unfortunately, the injury persisted and Pei Xuan's writing was not as good as it had been before, resulting in the No. 1 scholar title being given to someone else.

This was Pei Xuan's major regret in his heart, and it was a regret she shared as well.

"Is there any pain from the fall? Is your hand okay?.” Her voice was soft and filled with concern, like the soothing sounds of nature. 

Cui Ti spoke to Pei Xuan as if he were a fragile child, to which he replied, "It's fine, there's no pain, lady."

Then he waved his hands in front of Cui Ti.

Bai Ge opened her eyes and closed them again, feeling very perplexed. ‘Why is this person acting so foolishly? My mistress can't see, can't he tell?,’ she thought to herself.

Cui Ti regretted not being able to see the ridiculous look on Pei Xuan's face, an expression that he rarely had in his life, but was also happy that he hadn’t found out that she was blind.

Pei Xuan, known for his reserved and stoic nature, had a brief adolescence, unlike other boys who loved to play, make jokes, travel to flower houses, drink and flirt with courtesans. 

What’s more, while his peers were indulging in playing the zither and other leisurely activities, Pei Xuan devoted himself to serving the country.

When Cui Ti married him, he was already the most prestigious son of the Pei family in Xijing, and before her tragic fall into the lotus pond, he was a highly respected and accomplished minister, cultivated and supported by the first emperor, and trusted by the new emperor.

"That's good." Her voice is full of care. 

Pei Xuan wanted to know more about her, but he didn't know where to start. It was extremely rude of him to fall off the wall, and it would not be appropriate to stay any longer.

"Lady, my kite..."

"Is this kite yours?" Bai Ge couldn't help but reply on behalf of her mistress: "Take it away quickly, it's not good for my mistress to be seen."

Pei Xuan blushed in embarrassment as he bent down to pick up the kite lying on the ground, turned around, and his eyes were misty. 

"Bai Ge, go and bring the ladder over here." 

She went to move the ladder, and was on guard against the 'flower picker' who seemed to want to take advantage of her mistress. 

Pei Xuan blamed himself for a while after being glared at like a thief by her, regretting carelessly entering into other people's courtyards. He understood that if Cui Ti's reputation was harmed, he would be devastated for the rest of his life.

After the ladder was placed, Pei Xuan held the kite and began to climb up without looking back.

Bai Ge clicked her tongue in disapproval, "Now that you've seen the mistress, why are you leaving so quickly?.”

Pei Xuan nearly slipped at the sound of her words. 

Cui Ti, sensing his distress, spoke softly, "Bai Ge, please don't talk."

Hearing her mistress' response, Bai Ge kept her mouth shut.

As Pei Xuan reached the summit of the wall, his servant sprinted back to their residence and returned with a ladder in order to lower him down safely. When the servant saw that Pei Xuan was not hurt, his anxious heart finally calmed, "Young Master, please take it easy. If your precious body were to fall, how could this old servant face my master?.”

"He has already fallen!" Bai Ge, who stood on the other side of the wall, couldn't help but shout.

The old servant's face paled and tears began to spill from his eyes, "Your Majesty!.”

Hearing his response, Bai Ge immediately smiled.

Cui Ti wanted to say something, but she remained silent. Bai Ge had suffered alongside her for many years, had protected her, and had been loyal to her. She was no longer just a servant, but a younger sister to her.

Pei Xuan, who was irritated by the constant nagging of his servant, stared at the wall for a long time after his feet touched the ground.

The old servant wiped away his own tears and noticed Pei Xuan's expression, "Young Master, are you—.”

"Keep your voice down," Pei Xuan hushed him. 

Then, hearing Bai Ge's complaints from the other side of the wall, Pei Xuan felt ashamed and hugged the kite, whispering to his servant, "Let's go!."

After walking for a while, Pei Xuan turned his head and looked back, but he couldn't see through the wall, feeling a sense of loss as if his soul had been left behind.

"Young Master, the palace examination is approaching soon. Let's return home early and have a doctor examine your body. You shouldn't be going out anymore," the old servant urged.

"I know."

Pei Xuan was feeling weird, as he ran his fingers through his hair in a combination of delight and annoyance, "Which family lives here?.”

The old servant let out a sigh of sorrow, his gaze lingering on the walls and surroundings of the courtyard for a moment, before responding uncertainly, "It appears to be the residence of the Xining family, but the walls we're seeing appear to be quite ancient."

"Is it decaying?.”

"Yes."

Pei Xuan carefully recalled the girl's appearance and the condition of her home, and felt a deep sense of dissatisfaction towards the heir of the Xining family, "Is their family poor? How could he allow such a beautiful girl to live in such a dilapidated courtyard?.”

The old servant spoke in a hushed tone, "The Xining family is not poor. In fact, they held a grand banquet today to celebrate their daughter's birthday, and even the Madam was invited. However, Young Master, you should not concern yourself with this."

"Then, what do you think I should worry about?"

"Naturally, your focus should be on the imperial examination, as you aim to become an official. If you were to attain the top spot in the palace examination, you would be the youngest scholar in our generation."

Pei Xuan smiled and ran his fingers along the kite's string as he walked forward. "Help me find out who lives in that courtyard and tell me before the palace examination. If you don't tell me, I won't be able to perform well and I'll blame you."

"Eh!?.”

The old servant's expression grew somber as he realized the weight of the responsibility that was now on his shoulders, "Why are you going to blame me? Young Master, please don't be so self-centered. Do you realize how many people are eagerly awaiting your examination?.”

"I know. That’s why help me as I can't wait a moment later."

“Okay- I’ll check it out!."

The old servant followed the instructions and began to turn halfway back before glancing at the young master and said, “Can I ask why you want to investigate the members of the Xining Family?.”

"I do not know the reason.”

"..."

"Maybe, do you just want to get acquainted?.”

Hearing the servant's question, the young man laughed loudly: "Let's go practice. After so many questions being asked, I won't be able to sleep well tonight."

Immediately, the old servant's knees felt weak, wondering why these words felt directed at him.

In the rundown small courtyard, Cui Ti felt a sense of loneliness, but as soon as she thought of Pei Xuan, she couldn't help but smile.

Bai Ge, on the other hand, had a look of shock on her face as if she had seen a ghost and took a deep breath, "Mistress, what happened today? How did someone fall after the straw mat was placed?"

Cui Ti’s smile widened, "Maybe...it's God's will."

It was clearly a lie, but no one could make her say anything she didn't want to.

Bai Ge lingered in curiosity for a while before giving up and suddenly saying, "Mistress, you are eighteen years old now, you can't laugh carelessly when you meet a man in the future, or else it might lead to a misunderstanding."

"Misunderstanding what?.”

"They may erroneously assume you are interested in them. If you meet a lustful person, he will come and pounce on you!.”

Bai Ge purposely spoke seriously, but Cui Ti didn't expect that not only did she not feel scared, but she also seemed a little confused.

"They will not."

"Not?.”

Cui Ti replied softly: "He won't do that.”

Bai Ge laughed at her naivety. Although she was slightly younger than Cui Ti, she had seen all types of people and their true nature, "Why? You can see a person's face, but not their heart."

“Why? Was he not good-looking?" Cui Ti questioned.

Bai Ge hesitated and was at a loss for words.

Cui Ti then frowned: "He must be very good-looking and kind-hearted, that's why you didn't sweep him out with a broom."

"..."

Unable to come up with a clever response, Bai Ge sheepishly went to tidy up their home, leaving Cui Ti alone to savor the beauty of the spring breeze.

..

From what Cui Ti could recall from her past life, Pei Xuan is not a womanizer. In fact, he didn’t even seem to be a man sometimes.

It is typical for men to take advantage of a woman when she is inebriated, but Pei Xuan did not do so. Instead, he only bit Cui Ti's lip and then sobered up.

But Cui Ti did respond by biting softly, if she hadn't responded, would Pei Xuan have continued?

If yes, what would he do?.

Bai Ge believes that Cui Ti doesn't understand the nature of men, but in fact, she does.

What’s more, Pei Xuan treated her so well that she had nothing to repay him except promising her body and bearing children for him.

However, her husband appeared to be virtuous and ascetic, making her seem like a cunning and immoral woman. 

Because of this, she felt resentful and Pei Xuan came to comfort her once again. 

At that moment, Cui Ti crossed her legs and rested her chin on one hand, thinking to herself, 'Pei Xuan is truly annoying.'