CH 15

Stealing A Kiss

At dawn, the sweet chirping of birds filled the air as the Prime Minister's Mansion slowly stirred to life. 

The servants emerged from their quarters, rubbing the sleep from their eyes and preparing for the busy day ahead. In the courtyards, there were those who watered the plants, trimmed the branches, and swept the floors. They bent over, performing their duties with diligence and respect, not daring to make a sound.

The news of the marriage of Pei Xuan, the only ‘son’ of the Prime Minister, had spread throughout the mansion, with whispers of his success at such a young age of eighteen, and being ahead of his peers.

To the servants in the mansion, the new young Madam was blind and had an odd temperament, which made them feel uneasy.

Although some felt sympathy for her disability, others were envious of her marriage with Pei Xuan, a man of excellent temperament, gentle and sophisticated, knowledgeable and fair.

The servants had mixed feelings about the marriage, with some being happy for the couple and others being uncertain. However, the inner courtyard maids treated Cui Ti with kindness, but the ones in the outer courtyards were unsure.

One of the maids in charge of watering the flowers in the outer courtyard stood in a daze, a watering can in hand, while her co-worker tended to the blooming flowers with care. She turned her head and saw that she was lost in thought, not knowing where to pour the water. 

Surprised by this, she asked, "Little girl, what's wrong with you?.”

The girl responded with a meek voice, "I, no, nothing."

"Liar, you were depressed last night, look at your face, have you slept?.”

The person who initially spoke was called Yun Bi and she cast her gaze over the people who were hard at work, lowering her voice, "Are you upset because the master got married?.”

The young girl was taken aback, her face flushing. "What are you talking about? Who am I to be upset over the master's marriage?” she responded, feigning innocence.

Yun Bi raised an eyebrow, thinking to herself that the young girl was pretending to be prudish.

Everyone in Xijing knew that Pei Xuan was a kind and charming man—a young, talented scholar who worked at the Imperial Academy. Who wouldn't want his attention?.

The heartache and frustration Yun Bi felt was akin to the sun suddenly disappearing from the sky. Surprisingly, it was a blind woman who captured Pei Xuan's heart, despite the fact that neither her father nor her mother ever loved her.

Sure Cui Ti brought a generous dowry to the Pei family, but wealth seemed to be her only advantage to gain their master's heart.

If Pei Xuan had married a princess from the emperor's family or the daughter of an important minister, that would have made sense.

But what ability does a blind woman have to win the favor of the master?.

Yun Bi was discontent, but she reminded the young girl, "No matter what, you need to pull yourself together. The master is newly wed, so be careful.”

“Understood," replied the young girl named Xiao Hong, gripping the copper pot impatiently.

…

As the first rays of the sun glazed through the horizon, the sweet melodies of magpies perched on the trees echoed through the air.

Outside the wedding room in the backyard, Bai Ge sat on the stone steps, yawning constantly with sleepy eyes.

She didn't sleep well all night, as she was afraid that Pei Xuan would bully her mistress unscrupulously because he is a man, but also concerned since he had now tasted something new would turn around and no longer like the mistress.

However, her greater fear was that Cui Ti, who was blind and fragile, would not stand up for herself if mistreated. 

These thoughts kept her mind racing, but after walking in circles around the yard, she eventually began to calm down.

Meanwhile, on the other side of the wedding room door, the soft light illuminated the lattice window, and Cui Ti stared at Pei Xuan's sleeping face. Overwhelmed with happiness and excitement, she couldn't bring herself to close her eyes.

What’s more, her marriage with Pei Xuan yesterday hadn't fully settled in yet.

Pei Xuan, on the other hand, tossed and turned in her sleep, her troubled expression belying her attempt to maintain a stoic facade. Despite her attempts to appear strong and masculine, the tenderness and sincerity of her actions could not be hidden.

The beautiful mystery of the love shared between Cui Ti and Pei Xuan was something that outsiders could never fully comprehend. It was a bond so strong, so magical, that it seemed to have been blessed by the gods themselves. No one could predict what the future held for them, but one thing was certain - their love was here to stay.

Gathering her thoughts, Cui Ti couldn't help but ponder why Pei Xuan felt the need to conceal her true identity by masquerading as a man

In her previous life, before she died, Pei Xuan was twenty-one, and she was the newly appointed prime minister for the new emperor.

As she observed Pei Xuan's features, Cui Ti silently traced the contours of her face with her eyes, marveling at her beauty and wondering how no one had ever suspected her gender. 

However, upon further reflection, Cui Ti realized that Pei Xuan's impeccable temperament, honesty, generosity, and precociousness had all contributed to her convincing disguise, not to mention her father's influential position as the Prime Minister.

Cui Ti placed her hand on her slim waist, which was a telltale sign of her feminine figure, and couldn't help but think about how Pei Xuan had playfully teased her for being blind yet didn’t reveal her true gender. 

In her past life, Pei Xuan had plenty of opportunities to reveal her true self, but she had remained silent.

It was no wonder that even the Prime Minister and his wife had agreed to let her marry Cui Ti.

As Cui Ti tenderly tucked Pei Xuan under a luxurious brocade quilt, her hand accidentally brushed against Pei Xuan's chest, causing her to startle awake. 

At first, Pei Xuan was on high alert, but then she remembered that the only person allowed to sleep beside her was the one she loved. 

Yes, they had gotten married just the day before.

Upon realizing it was her beloved wife's touch, Pei Xuan immediately reached out and took her hand in hers, softly whispering "Wife" in a hoarse voice. 

Although she had heard Pei Xuan call her "Wife" countless times in her past life, Cui Ti was still moved by her words and touch, causing her to tremble with emotion. 

As she gazed into Pei Xuan's exquisite eyes, her heart raced and her chest swelled with a profound intimacy.

"Did you sleep well?" Cui Ti asked with a gentle smile, admiring Pei Xuan's long lashes and delicate neck.

Pei Xuan wrapped her wife's hands in her own, her eyes sparkling with warmth and affection. She beamed a smile so stunning, soft, and radiant that it was akin to the first rays of sunshine after a long, cold winter.

"I didn't get enough sleep," Pei Xuan complained, rubbing her tired eyes.

"Then, please continue to sleep," Cui Ti offered, concerned for her wife's well-being.

"Hmm, I want my wife to accompany me," Pei Xuan replied with a playful smile, her gaze fixed on Cui Ti.

Cui Ti was taken aback by the request, but her heart skipped a beat with excitement. "You want me to accompany you?" she asked, feeling a flutter in her chest.

Pei Xuan, an accomplished editor at the Imperial Academy, had been granted a rare wedding leave by the emperor. She gently pulled Cui Ti closer, ensuring that her blind wife didn't touch any inappropriate places, and asked in a soft, gentle tone, "My wife, will you sleep with me?.”

As they settled into bed together, Cui Ti felt her face growing hot with embarrassment. 

She buried her small face into Pei Xuan's neck, and now knew that the manly Adam's apple that Pei Xuan let her touch before must also be a fake, it was truly maddening to be born blind.

Pei Xuan admired her wife's shyness and reveled in the intimacy of their closeness. As they cuddled, their chests were filled with the sweet warmth of their love.

She married Cui Ti out of her own selfishness, and now that she is married, she couldn't put into words the sensations that she felt. Pei Xuan hugged her tightly, feeling a sense of great satisfaction and contentment in her arms.

"Wife, have you fallen asleep?.”

Cui Ti felt so embarrassed that she buried her head in Pei Xuan's neck, revealing the back of her cute head, and soon she pinched her waist.

It did not hurt one bit.

Instead, Pei Xuan felt a thrilling sensation overcome her heart.

No one had ever dared to be so bold with her.

Taking it as a unique boudoir interest of hers and Cui Ti's, Pei Xuan closed her eyes and pretended to sleep.

"Husband?.”

After waiting for a long time, Cui Ti called her with a restless heart, and she didn't know why she called her, as if trying to calm down her muddled heart.

She called out and got no response, so she moved closer and summoned up the courage to whisper next to her ear, "Husband~?.”

Pei Xuan remained motionless. Cui Ti settled down in her arms, and after a while, she raised her body and kissed Pei Xuan's lips with her own, causing her eyebrows to twitch.

Anyone with a discerning eye would know that she wasn't really asleep.

Unfortunately, since Cui Ti's eyes opened last night, she couldn't see the wind, clouds, mountains and rivers outside, but these spiritual eyes somehow granted her wish to see Pei Xuan, so she could easily witness the small movements that Pei Xuan wanted to hide.

The scenario of “Husband is pretending to be asleep" came to her mind, she didn't dare to say anything, and also pretended that she had fallen asleep, to see who could pretend better.

Her sneaky kiss made Pei Xuan's heart boil. The sweetness of being kissed by a girl she likes cannot be expressed in words.

Lying on the bed like a salted fish, she waited until she could confirm that the person next to her pillow was asleep, then she opened her eyes gazing at her wife with such gentleness.

Seeing Cui Ti’s red luscious lips, Pei Xuan lowered her head and kissed them.

It's really funny putting it into context, Pei Xuan entered the Imperial Academy at the age of eighteen, and behaved calmly and gentle with her peers, but right now because of a sneaky kiss, she couldn’t settle her infatuation down, and wrapped Cui Ti tight to her chest, not letting her loose, leaving Cui Ti in a awkward position for a quarter of an hour.

Cui Ti's body was stiff on one side, hot on the other side, and her heart was numb and soft. She didn't expect Pei Xuan to kiss her.

Pei Xuan really kissed her!.

She quietly raised her hand in joy, thinking to herself, ‘So it wasn't my wishful thinking, then does this person really have me in her heart?.’

As the rooster crowed and the sun rose, Cui Ti snuggled up to Pei Xuan and slept for an hour. 

When she woke up, her face was flushed, her hair was sticking to her face, and a few strands had fallen into the neckline of her pajamas.

Though she was still blind, she wanted to see Pei Xuan's feelings for her from a "normal person's" perspective.

Pei Xuan's eyes gleamed with a bright intensity that concealed the shyness of her actions. Perhaps she assumed that Cui Ti, being blind, couldn't detect the inconsistencies in her fake slumber, unaware that her actions had been uncovered.

"Are you awake?.”

Cui Ti, knowing the truth, called out to her softly, “Husband”.

Regardless of whether she was addressed as "Husband," Pei Xuan cherished Cui Ti dearly, and every time she heard her voice, her heart overflowed with warmth.

Pei Xuan missed Cui Ti dearly, and even the simple task of caring for her daily needs brought her joy. 

In her previous life, Pei Xuan had helped her change clothes after they got married, but her nerves had gotten the best of her, and she accidentally bumped Pei Xuan's chin, leading to an awkward situation. 

This time, Cui Ti made a vow to be more attentive and prevent any future mishaps, at least to not bump Pei Xuan’s chin…

“Master, the new clothes are here”, a maid outside the door called.

"Okay”, Pei Xuan opened the door, grabbed the clothes and then ordered the maid to leave.

Cui Ti knew how sensitive she was after spending her life with Pei Xuan and in her past life, she would have offered comforting words to ease Pei Xuan’s nerves. 

However, now she felt like she couldn't speak, and her hand trembled as she reached out to touch Pei Xuan.

As Pei Xuan looked at Cui Ti's youthful energy, she couldn't help but feel that she, a young and healthy person, looked more like the blind one

Despite the enormity of the task at hand, Pei Xuan had never assisted anyone with changing their clothes, making it easier to think about than to actually do it.

"Why don't we call Bai Ge to come in and help?," suggested Cui Ti.

"No need to!" Pei Xuan replied, closing her eyes briefly before reopening them. "My love, let me help you."

Cui Ti tilted her head and watched as Pei Xuan's hands trembled while undoing her slender belt and carefully removing her thin pajamas….