CH 14

The groom has arrived!.” The announcement rang out.

Mr. Xining, who had been a distant parent to his eldest daughter for 18 years, felt a mixture of emotions. Despite his strained relationship with Cui Ti, he was still her flesh and blood, and sending her off to be married was a complex moment for him.

Seeing his strained expression, Mrs. Xining pinched his waist in annoyance.

Cui Ti, who had no biological elder brother, declined her mother's offer to have someone from the Cui family serve as her sedan chair bearer. 

As the sedan chair made its eighth stop, Pei Xuan dismounted from her horse, the large red flowers in her chest fluttered in the wind.

Being the only ‘son’ of the prime minister, her marriage to the blind girl who lived in the south courtyard and raised by Mr. Xining was a significant event for the Cui family, so she came here without any delay.

Song Zizhen and Zheng Wuji stood by Pei Xuan’s side in their best clothing.

With the sounds of trumpets and drums surrounding the street, many onlookers were gathered to observe the spectacle. As the sun began to set, casting an orange glow over the earth, Song Zizhen whispered, "Here comes the bride."

Cui Ti, dressed in a vibrant red wedding gown and hijab, was supported by Mrs. Xining and Bai Ge as she walked out of the pristine Xining Mansion.

The warm breeze of May rustled the willows, and Cui Dai, standing behind her mother, finally caught a glimpse of her future 'brother-in-law.' To her surprise, he was a young man with rosy lips and a bright smile.

"This son-in-law welcomes his father-in-law and mother-in-law." Pei Xuan bowed, and respectfully addressed them.

Mr. Xining's eyes lit up with excitement as he gazed at Pei Xuan, but suddenly he found himself at a loss for words in the face of Pei Xuan’s gentle and sincere gaze.

However, after a few moments, he let out a soft sigh and said, "I entrust my daughter to your care. She was born blind and has faced many difficulties, so please take good care of her."

"Of course!."

Mrs. Xining saw Pei Xuan’s gentle, courteous, and radiant face, as she smiled and handed Cui Ti's hand: "Son-in-law, this is your wife."

Pei Xuan gazed cautiously, then he called out "Cui" softly, and soon there was a soft answer from under the red hijab.

It was Cui Ti’s voice, and her smile grew wider with each passing moment.

Cui Dai, who was standing shyly in the background, went pale with jealousy.

Despite her mother's refusal to allow her to take Cui Ti's place as a bride, this man at the pinnacle of society had married the blind woman.

Mr. Xining tried squeezing out a couple tears, and Mrs. Xining couldn't shed a single tear.

She was still thinking about the words that Cui Ti had told her yesterday.

To this sight, Pei Xuan's face remained unchanged.

She is confident that she will do better than them, and she will cherish the bright moon in the sky and the pearl that will soon be in her palms.

"Slow down and be careful."

With a few graceful steps, Pei Xuan escorted her soon-to-be wife into the sedan chair, eliciting jealous looks from many onlookers. 

While doing so, she asked with concern, "Are you feeling okay?.”

Cui Ti, her cheeks blushing, replied, "It's much better now, nothing to worry about." 

Her words eased Pei Xuan's mind. 

As the couple stepped out of the wedding sedan chair, they bid farewell to Mr. Xining and his wife.

"Let's go," Pei Xuan said as the sky began to darken and stars twinkled in the sky, the moon casting a soft glow. 

It was a surprising sight to see a blind person being welcomed into the Prime Minister's mansion with such dignity and pride, a scene that had never crossed the minds of the people of Xijing

But nevertheless, it happened.

As Cui Ti entered the wedding hall, she felt as though she was floating on clouds, surrounded by the warm praises of those around her.

Pei Xuan's soft voice gently pulled her back to reality, "Cui, it's time for the husband and wife to exchange their vows.”

Cui Ti's heart fluttered and her cheeks blushed a rosy hue.

The couple stood before each other, with reverence in their eyes, and knelt down to conclude the meaningful and thrilling wedding ceremony. 

Pei Xuan let out a quiet sigh of relief, realizing that Cui Ti had not declined her proposal as she remained quiet until the vows.

As she wiped the sweat from the crevices of her fingers, Pei Xuan quickly escorted the bride back to the wedding room, not daring to linger in the wedding hall. Then, she emerged blushing and heart racing, holding a wedding banquet to entertain the guests.

"Coming back so soon?" Song Zizhen touched her arm. "Did you both have a proper conversation?.”

“No…," Pei Xuan replied, absent-minded. 

Zheng Wuji smiled and said, "There's time for everything, you will have the chance later. So, for now let us drink!.”

"Why are you drinking? We're here to protect Jinshi from drinking. I'm not married, but my good brother must stay sober to spend the spring night joyously!" Song Zizhen's eyebrows danced with excitement.

Spending the spring night?

Before Pei Xuan could even taste the fine wine, she was already feeling dizzy, worrying about her wedding night.

She didn’t want to break Cui Ti’s heart, or neglect her, but also to not get too close, and expose her true gender.

But how can her colleagues from the Imperial Academy let go of the proud bridegroom?.

They all soon raised their glasses to toast.

As Song Zizhen and Zheng Wuzhi drank to their heart's content, they stumbled and slurred, "Trouble in the bridal chamber...Trouble in the bridal chamber..."

At the end of the lively wedding feast, Pei Xuan arranged for someone to escort the drunken duo to their guest room.    

Afterwards, Pei Xuan made her way to the secluded backyard, her heart fluttering with anticipation.

"You may all leave now," Pei Xuan commanded the guards, and they obliged.

As she gently pushed open the door, she caught sight of Bai Ge, who was standing tall and proud under the warm candlelight.

Bai Ge who also saw Pei Xuan coming in acknowledged that he was no longer the bumbling fool he once was, he moved with delicate care, like a graceful deer, his eyes were clear and his silhouette was indescribably soft under the candlelight.

It was no wonder that the people of Xijing constantly mentioned Pei Xuan having a feminine appearance. If he wasn't the well-known son of the prime minister and the top scholar, Bai Ge might have been suspicious of his gender.

"Hello, son-in-law.” Bai Ge spoke, jolting Pei Xuan out of his trance.

He then ordered her: "Go prepare the tub, I'll be taking a shower later."

Bai Ge looked at her mistress who was sitting motionless on the edge of the bed, and seeing that Cui Ti had no objection, she had no choice but to leave.

“You all may leave too," Pei Xuan told the maids and women guarding the wedding room, and with that, the room fell into silence.

Pei Xuan gazed around, feeling both nervous and excited to finally be in the bridal chamber, and she couldn't help but wonder why Cui Ti wasn't nervous like her.

People change constantly, but Cui Ti has found herself marrying the same person twice in two lifetimes. 

Holding a handkerchief tightly in her hand, she nervously crumpled the brocade cloth that was embroidered with two mandarin ducks playing in the water.

The wine goblet was placed on the jade tray, and Pei Xuan’s hand trembled with emotion, her cheeks flushing with a rosy hue.

As the veil was lifted, Cui Ti's pretty face was illuminated by the dim light in the room.

Pei Xuan couldn't help but smile upon seeing her, her eyes filled with affection: "Did you wait long?.”

The bright red ribbon that symbolized the joy of the newlyweds covered Cui Ti's blind eyes, and as she gently shook her head, the phoenix crown atop her head trembled: "No."

As per the traditional wedding ritual of Xijing, the next step was for the couple to drink Heji wine.

Cui Ti nervously took a sip of the wine, she was filled with worries about what could go wrong. Her nerves were getting the better of her, making her feel unsure of where to place her hands and feet.

Noticing her discomfort, Pei Xuan gently guided her, taking a sip of the wine before handing Cui Ti the remaining half.

As the wine flowed down their throats, their faces flushed with a rosy hue, the sweet nectar warming their bodies.

"Did you drink too much?" Cui Ti asked, clinging onto Pei Xuan's sleeve.

Pei Xuan took a moment to sniff her clothing, her elegant demeanor belied her heavy drinking capacity. She couldn't be certain how much more she needed to drink to feel the effects of the alcohol.

The smell of alcohol on the wedding night was unavoidable, and she thought Cui Ti did not like it and suggested: “I'll wash off the smell.”

“Would you like to accompany me?.”

"Ok…"

Pei Xuan looked at her expression: "I will drive the maids out, no one will accompany you, so don't worry."

In her previous life, she also bathed with him, even though she couldn't see Pei Xuan, she was still very ashamed.

But thinking that she had already experienced it once, she hoped to have a new development, and nodded: "Let’s bathe.”

Soon, Bai Ge ordered someone to enter the room with a bathtub half a person's height, and then, she stood in her mistress’s wedding room, being thin-skinned: "The maid will retreat first."

After closing the door, Bai Ge rubbed her face—

So exciting! I didn’t think the mistress would actually do that!

Her mind was full of unnecessary fantasies.

Inside the wedding room, Pei Xuan thoughtfully removed the phoenix crown from her wife's head.

After the heavy decorations were removed, Cui Ti felt much more relaxed, and said softly: "Go quickly."

"I'll be there soon, you wait for me."

’’Good.”

Pei Xuan was delighted to have a few more moments to chat with Cui Ti. She briskly removed her clothing behind the thin screen and stepped into the warm bathtub. 

The sound of splashing echoed through the room as Cui Ti bit her lip slowly.

She had heard that Pei Xuan was well-mannered and good-looking in her previous life, and she had longed to see it for herself.

Cui Ti wanted to grow old with Pei Xuan, to treat him well, to repay his kindness of saving and sympathizing with her.

The atmosphere of the wedding night was thick with anticipation, and the scent of the bathwater filled the air. Cui Ti sniffed the fragrance, realizing that Pei Xuan was indeed a noble man, with a level of grooming that rivaled even the pickiest of ladies. 

She wondered if, in this life, Pei Xuan would still be unwilling to touch her?.

As she sat in stillness, her thoughts wandering, the candlelight flickered against the intricate screen and illuminated Pei Xuan's graceful silhouette as she bathed. Cui Ti raised her head and gazed blankly at the other side of the screen.

"Husband, husband..." she called out softly.

Pei Xuan’s body tensed as she listened closely, certain she heard someone calling her. 

"Wife?,” she anxiously asked.

Suddenly, Cui Ti's eyes watered and the red ribbon fell from her hair as she undid it. 

Driven by her instincts, she sought the comfort and security of someone's touch. As she took a few steps forward, her knee collided with a desk, causing her to let out a muffled groan.

"Wife?.”

Pei Xuan came out of the bathtub in a panic, hastily wrapping a white bathrobe around her waist.

Cui Ti felt a sudden, intense pain shoot through her eyes, followed by a rush of sensations as her eyes fluttered open. The scene before her was obscured by a thick fog, but she could make out a figure rushing towards her.

"Wife? My Wife!?.”

Soon, a hand caressed her face.

Cui Ti was taken aback as she gazed at the face before her, which was filled with worry and eagerness.

Wife?

She looked straight at 'him', unable to believe what she saw.

Seeing the red circles under her eyes, Pei Xuan raised her voice in concern, “Does your eyes hurt again? Is it better now?.”

She had come in a hurry, the dampness of the bath clinging to her thin garment and the water droplets cascading down her collarbone to reveal the dazzling sight of her white plump chest.

Seeing the waterfall-like long hair of her “Good Husband” and the graceful and hot body that cannot be concealed by her towel, Cui Ti trembled physically and mentally, blushed and felt hot, and soon realized…