CH 42

"Miss?"

"Leave!.”

Shortly after, complete silence enveloped the area outside the boudoir door.

Dou Qingyue sat on the small mahogany stool with anger, deeply resenting the unfortunate timing of her return. If only she had arrived  earlier, her cousin would not have married that blind woman!

But it was futile to dwell on such thoughts now.

It was too late.

If this was her destiny, she would defy it.

How long had Cui Ti known Pei Xuan? For Dou Qingyue, she had been in love with her cousin for over a decade.

Since the day she accidentally discovered that Pei Xuan was a woman, Dou Qingyue had resolved to become her future wife. She wanted to be by her side, to dress her warmly in the cold and prepare a bowl of sour plum soup for her in the heat.

She wanted to be the closest lover in the world, the most loyal, and the protector of the Pei family's secret that fooled His Majesty and the world.

Dou Qingyue coughed twice, clutching her handkerchief as her face turned pale.

Immortals may not concern themselves with worldly matters, but now that her senior had departed, it was up to her to fight openly and in secret.

She refused to accept defeat.

Cui Ti, just wait and see!

"Yue'er?.”

Madam Dou stood outside with worry etched on her face. She raised her hand and knocked on the door gently, "Yue'er, it's your mother."

The door opened, revealing Dou Qingyue dressed in plain white clothes, her eyes and brows reflecting a sickly appearance.

"Mother, why are you here?" she asked, leaning forward to invite her mother inside.

Concerned for her own child, Madam Dou examined her from head to toe. "You've been staying away from home for several days. Can a mother not worry?.”

Being born as the daughter of a military general and marrying a renowned general in the court, she had only one daughter after many years, and Madam Dou suffered an injury during her pregnancy with her.

To compensate for their sick daughter, both Mr. and Mrs. Dou showered her with unconditional love.

Dou Qingyue nestled empathetically in her mother's arms. "I heard that my cousin is unwell, and she took seven days off because of it. Mother, I feel uneasy."

Spoiled and doted upon since childhood, she desired the impossible and faced numerous challenges due to her frailty. While everyone at home relied on her, she experienced a major setback in her own marriage.

Madam Dou understood that her daughter's heart was completely entwined with Pei Xuan. However, she was already married, and it would be inappropriate for a daughter of the Dou family to become a concubine.

She offered comfort, saying, "That is someone else's life. We must focus on living our own lives well."

"But I can't help feeling unhappy. I’m envious of my sister-in-law," Dou Qingyue expressed with a hint of jealousy.

Whenever Dou Qingyue displayed her stubbornness, her mother never truly grasped the underlying resentment in her daughter's eyes.

Madam Dou patted Dou Qingyue on the back and said, "Yue'er, even though mother loves you, let me say this first: don't cause trouble for your cousin."

"Mother!"

"Yue'er, stop fixating on your cousin all the time. There are plenty of good men in Xijing. Shall I help you find a suitable match?," Madam Dou suggested.

Dou Qingyue was skilled in melting hearts and her illness was not a pretense. She tilted her head and coughed once more, saying, "If I were to search again, I would still end up with my cousin, alright?.”

Pei Xuan was already the most outstanding young man in Xijing, and Mrs. Dou had great affection for her nephew. She couldn't go against her conscience and gently persuaded, "Someone else would be more suitable for you than your cousin."

Regardless of how exceptional her nephew was, ‘he’ was already married. How could her daughter still pursue her love without considering her own self-worth?.

Unable to see eye to eye, Dou Qingyue appeared despondent, her eyebrows drooping, evoking a pitiable look. "Mother, considering my current condition, is there anyone else?.”

Due to her fragile health, she was destined to be unable to bear children for her husband. Marrying into another family would only bring endless troubles. Even if someone coveted her youthful beauty and glory for a while, her youthful skin would eventually age.

She dared not put all her hopes in one basket.

Pei Xuan was her ideal match. She admired her character, appearance, talent, and gender.

She may appear scholarly, but she brings her an unparalleled sense of security. With her by her side, Dou Qingyue feels as though she can walk under the gentle light of a spring breeze. It's as if she is kissed, illuminated, nourished, and cared for.

Dou Qingyue couldn't resist such a compelling temptation. In a daze, she lightly tugged at her mother's sleeve and said, "Mother, I want to go to the Pei family residence."

Her stubbornness was evident in her eyes, and it pained Madam Dou's heart. She regretted her past temperamental behavior, which had caused Dou Qingyue to suffer both physically and emotionally.

Filled with love, Madam Dou tightly embraced her daughter and said, "Yue'er, I'm sorry for everything you've been through."

"Mother..." Dou Qingyue held her mother tightly. "Does Mother agree to let me go?.”

"..."

What else could she do?

It's better to allow some freedom than to restrict her completely.

Madam Dou smiled helplessly and replied, "If your heart isn't here, can your mother still keep you tied down?.”

After talking for a while, the mother and daughter bid farewell, and Dou Qingyue respectfully sent her mother off. The day was sunny with light clouds and a gentle breeze.

Dou Qingyue turned around and said, "Prepare the carriage. We're going to the prime minister's residence."

Meanwhile, at the Pei residence, Pei Xuan had no idea that her cousin still yearned for her in this life as she was occupied with writing an unfinished letter of accountability.

Once she finished writing the letter, Pei Xuan instructed her servants to go to the Xining mansion.

She believed that Cui Ti's suffering had not been in vain. No matter how peculiar the Xining couple were, they would have to provide her with a satisfactory explanation this time.

If not...

She furrowed her brow, contemplating the consequences. Like a desperate rabbit, she knew how to bite when pushed to the limit. However, she disliked overpowering people, not because she lacked the ability to do so.

Rubbing her sore wrist, Pei Xuan acknowledged that Cui Ti had endured six days of anguish. If she had awakened any later, Pei Xuan couldn't guarantee that her hands would still possess the same agility as before.

"Where is my wife?" she asked Bai Tang as she passed by.

Bai Tang, witnessing Pei Xuan's pious expression, regarded her as if she had encountered a deity. After all, it was ‘him’ who had accomplished such extraordinary feats as "using sleep to cure sleep." ‘He’ was truly amazing!.

"The young mistress is in the backyard, feeding the rabbits," Bai Tang responded.

Feeding the rabbits?

The hunger in Pei Xuan's stomach was noticeable, and the thought of eating spicy rabbit head made her mouth salivate.

In the backyard, Rou accompanied Cui Ti from her left side and Shou who walked by her right side.

Cui Ti, who was "sick" for a while, caused great concern among the people in the mansion. The rabbits kept in the yard were well-fed, but they visibly lost weight, noticeable to the naked eye.

Hearing from Rou that the once fluffy rabbits had slimmed down, Cui Ti grew curious and decided to feed them herself.

Just as Pei Xuan approached, she witnessed her wife offering radish shoots to the small rabbits.

"Come on, eat quickly," she softly urged the little rabbits.

Noticing Pei Xuan, Rou and Shou quietly retreated, and Pei Xuan approached her wife with light footsteps, "Do you want to see the rabbits?.”

Suddenly, the boundless world seemed to brighten up, illuminating Cui Ti's eyes.

Cui Ti feeling a bit bashful after the events of the past few days, nodded her head. "Yes."

Each time she uttered the word "yes," it was like a gentle willow branch sweeping across a calm lake, stirring ripples in the depths of the heart.

Pei Xuan, a true scholar, who was known for her delicate nature. She bent down with flushed ears to caress the small group of rabbits.

The fragrance of her presence filled the air. In the vast rabbit pen, Cui Ti could only see her and couldn't tear her gaze away. Her ears turned red as if on fire, and the young and charming "Pei Family Son" became clumsy due to her awkwardness, nearly getting bitten by a small rabbit.

After six days of laborious work, the top scholar Pei Xuan had learned the importance of hands.

Sensing the situation was becoming unfavorable, she hastily withdrew her hand.

The ferocious, slightly chubby rabbit glared at her with fiery red eyes, its short tail thrashing wildly. Pei Xuan, who had been enjoying rabbits as a delicacy for many years, never expected to be attacked by one.

Meanwhile, Cui Ti continued to observe the scene with a smile.

Embarrassed and unconvinced, Pei Xuan made another attempt. The rabbit grew even angrier, stomping its feet inside the cage and gasping for breath.

"..."

Apologies to the heavens, but she didn't desire spicy rabbit head anymore. All she wanted was to cuddle the rabbit and bring joy to her beloved wife.

For this, Pei Xuan wore an innocent expression.

Standing beside her, Cui Ti furrowed her brows. Illuminated by Pei Xuan's gentle presence, she also noticed the rabbit's intense anger and asked in amusement, "What's wrong with you?.”

"It's your pet. What can I do about it?"

This rabbit seemed determined to cause chaos.

Could it be a female rabbit?

Secretly harboring suspicions, Cui Ti began to feel a hint of grievance. Even if it was a mother rabbit, it shouldn't take out its frustrations on them.

"Or perhaps, could you coax it for me?.”

Pei Xuan sought Cui Ti's help.

Cui Ti nodded and said, "I'll give it a try."

Pei Xuan took her hand and together they sought out the rabbit. To their surprise, the rabbit responded differently to Cui Ti. It would leap when she touched it, but in Cui Ti's presence, it turned as soft as a fluffy ball of cotton, yielding to her every touch.

It was strange. Was she so unpopular?

Pei Xuan, the most sought-after ‘man’ in Xijing, experienced a brief moment of self-doubt. Cui Ti placed the rabbit in her arms, and Pei Xuan embraced both the rabbit and her wife.

Her brows softened like the gentle flow of a spring stream as she said, "If you like it, you can touch it more."

So Cui Ti continued to caress the rabbit, a smile gracing her face as she looked at her husband. The sun bathed them in a romantic glow, creating an atmosphere of rare tranquility.

Her gaze, sincere and filled with anticipation, locked onto her face and shoulders. Cui Ti's body subtly heated up, and those hidden, profound emotions blossomed on her skin, as if the passion left by Pei Xuan was still fermenting within her.

Cui Ti’s legs trembled, and the discomfort grew increasingly difficult to ignore. Suddenly, she raised her eyes, and they met Pei Xuan’s clear and passionate gaze.

"Wife, you are so beautiful."

"..."

The awe and surprise one experiences upon seeing something truly captivating for the first time in their life does not fade over time. Instead, it is renewed day by day and night by night.

With just one glimpse, the soul can be enraptured in the most perfect way.

It is what Cui Ti loves and can't bear to miss. It feels like she has missed it too many times already. If she doesn't hold on to it completely, she would have no courage left to face herself.

She bit her lip and extended her legs, determined not to let herself collapse. The hand that was initially touching the rabbit's head somehow found its way to rest on Pei Xuan's shoulder. "You...please help me back to rest," she managed to say.

She couldn't stay any longer. She needed to leave, to say no.

Something dreadful was happening.

Her legs were on the verge of giving out.

It turns out that desire, when unchecked, can be truly overwhelming. When passion is not kept in check, the body remembers the sensations and reminds you how deeply you love someone at the most inappropriate times.

The irritated rabbit was returned to its cage, and Pei Xuan, holding Cui Ti's hand, was about to head back to their room.

At that moment, a maid came to report, "Mr. Pei, Young Madam, Miss Qingyue is here."

Dou Qingyue had come to the residence under the pretense of visiting her cousin, and Mrs. Pei warmly received her. During their conversation, she subtly mentioned Cui Ti's 'illness,' her words filled with hidden meaning.

Observing Ms. Pei’s expression, Dou Qingyue tactfully refrained from asking any further questions.

She knew precisely where the root cause of the illness lay.

"Your cousin is here, so you two go ahead and talk. I'll be back when I finish some matters I have to attend to."

"Please, Auntie take care."

Mrs. Pei stopped her daughter at the doorway, saying, "Treat your cousin well, don't mistreat her."

Pei Xuan smiled and nodded in agreement.

Seizing the opportunity, Dou Qingyue took a good look at Cui Ti.

But what she saw was a sister-in-law with a glowing complexion, seemingly unfazed after escaping from the brink of despair. There was an indescribable charm in her eyes, as if someone had opened her up, giving her a newfound vitality.

Dou Qingyue observed her sister-in-law’s slim waist and her poised posture, with a delicate demeanor that yearned to be held in the arms of her "cousin." She was at a loss, unable to determine if the two of them had a genuine husband and wife relationship.

She doubted their relationship because her cousin was a woman. Besides Dou Qingyue, who else could be so accepting of her identity?.

“Cousin? Cousin, are you there?,” Pei Xuan called out.

"Ah, yes?,” she replied.

Pei Xuan looked at her worriedly: "What's wrong with you?.”

“Oh, it's nothing," Dou Qingyue quickly lowered her head. "I haven't seen you in a few days. I heard you were unwell, and I was really worried. When I came here, I was thinking about how to keep you company and alleviate your boredom. But seeing you today..."

She playfully smiled, "Why is it that my sister-in-law looks so impressive after being sick?.”

Cui Ti's face radiated with beauty, captivating not just men, but even Dou Qingyue, a woman who only intended to date her "cousin."

Dou Qingyue couldn't help but sigh at the fact that such a gentle and delicate girl exists in the world.

And the girl became her rival.

Dou Qingyue's lips turned pale, but she continued to joke around.

She was a woman who Pei Xuan couldn't refuse communicating with, her face flushed as she helped Cui Ti sit down. Turning around, she exclaimed in anger, "Alright, you know I'm foolish. If you continue to joke around, I'll lose my temper."

"What's foolish about you? Cousin, you're narrow-minded," Dou Qingyue retorted. "Even when you're unwell, you still remember to care about me. My cousin doesn't find me annoying, but you're the only one who vexes me. You truly have no conscience."

Pei Xuan, with a lack of conscience, smiled apologetically as she brought her a cup of tea, while Cui Ti played the role of mediator from the sidelines.

After half an hour, the formalities were over, and Dou Qingyue stood up to bid farewell.

Despite the discomfort, Cui Ti insisted on seeing her off. With her graceful figure and slender waist, she walked with an irresistible charm. Pei Xuan saw her as perfection in every aspect.

To the discerning eye, this sight fueled Dou Qingyue's jealousy.

She felt an urge to strangle Cui Ti to death.

Home-wrecking fox!

Furious, Dou Qingyue clenched her teeth, unprepared for Cui Ti's accidental eye contact and faint smile.

In an instant, Dou Qingyue understood.

She had been provoked.

It wouldn't be accurate to call it provocation. To be precise, she had already lost to Cui Ti long ago in her quest for romance.

Now, Cui Ti openly proclaimed her victory under the title of Madam Cui.

She was simply deluding herself.

Dou Qingyue gritted her teeth, suppressing her anger.

The unspoken war between the two women reached its conclusion, while Pei Xuan, unaware of the situation, tilted her head and asked affectionately, "Wife, are you tired?.”

Cui Ti, bidding farewell to Dou Qingyue in frustration, found herself wanting to seek solace from someone. To her surprise, that person approached her willingly.

A smile formed on the corners of her lips. "I'm tired. Hug me, husband~.”