Chapter 20 - Slender Fingers
"The young male and female lead actors of the Pear Flower Troupe, they flirt and make eyes at each other on stage. But off stage, they are even more intimate."
The voice was tender and charming. She smiled behind her hand, "Sister-in-law, there has always been stories of 'severed sleeves' and 'grinding mirrors'. Do you know what intimate things two women can do?"
She raised Cui Ti's soft and tender fingers that have never done farm work. Her hands concealed sharp edges, "Love is like the moon in the mirror. With one harsh poke, it shatters, no?"
"Wife?"
Not knowing why she was lost in thought, Pei Xuan picked up a bouquet of flowers and deliberately teased her with it under her nose.
Smelling the fragrance of the flowers, Cui Ti vaguely understood. The intimacy between women must involve using their hands.
Thinking about it, it was no wonder her husband would get so angry that he scolded his 'cousin' Dou Qingyue despite their familial ties, when he occasionally overheard such things.
She still remembered, in her previous life, Dou Qingyue was known as a talented woman in Xi Jing. Knowledgeable and reasonable, as well as being from a prestigious family, countless young men were fond of her, yet there were never rumors of her getting close with any gentleman.
Dou's parents treated their daughter like a pearl in their palm. Even her mother-in-law dearly loved this rather talented but sickly niece, hosting her stay over at the Pei residence several times.
Lost in thought, when Cui Ti regained awareness, she realized she was still staring at Pei Xuan's fingers. Her eyes stung as if burnt, and she hastily looked away.
Pei Xuan said, "Wife, do you not like the flowers I picked for you?"
Unable to see the colors, just smelling the fragrance is nice too.
She was not discouraged and continued to tease her shy wife with fresh flowers, leaving Cui Ti's nose and hair tips scented with gardenia fragrance. Unwilling to rebuke her, yet also unable to let her 'overstep', she softly said, "I like them. But don't make trouble."
"Then will you give the flowers a kiss?"
What an odd request!
Cui Ti was very clear that the husband before her had yet to grow into the decisive minister of state he would become in their past life. He still retained a youthful innocence, just like his teasing with flowers earlier, something the Pei Xuan of their past life would never do.
With a quick turn of her thoughts, she cherished the Pei Xuan of this moment even more, unable to resist doing as she asked. Smelling the floral scent, her soft lips pecked the pure white petals.
Pei Xuan's gaze deepened slightly as she gripped the flowers tighter, "I'll go put these in a vase."
Cui Ti pressed her lips together, only catching a glimpse of her turning back.
The upright and just Pei Xuan soon found a suitable all-white jade vase and turned back to glance at Cui Ti, hesitating again and again before removing the flower that was kissed by his wife and placing it to the side separately.
Cui Ti pretended not to see, curious to see what she would do next.
"I've put them in, I'll go water the flowers."
Carrying the vase, she walked out. Cui Ti groped and stood up, lightly pushing the curtain aside and saw the silly girl lowering her head to kiss the flower at the door.
After kissing that flower, Pei Xuan looked left and right nonchalantly before tucking the flower into her waist, carrying the vase to fetch water.
Not long after she left, Bai Ge scurried over, "Mistress, has M'lord blamed this servant?"
Cui Ti's heart and mind were still filled with the scene of Pei Xuan secretly kissing the same flower as her. Not paying attention to what she said, seeing her not reply, Bai Ge's small face paled, "He wouldn't, would he? M'lord won't be angry and drive this servant away?!"
"Nothing of the sort."
She reached out her hand and Bai Ge hurried over to support her, swearing to the heavens, "I truly didn't mean M'lord was inadequate in any way!"
"That's why, don't speak recklessly in the future. Overhearing you maligning people behind their backs, if it were others, they would certainly take issue with you to the end."
"Yes, yes! Mistress is right, I'll remember!"
She forgets after being hit. Cui Ti could only remind her more and returned to the room. "I was thinking of asking my husband to give you a new name."
"A new name?" Bai Ge looked puzzled, "Why change my name? Doesn't 'Bai Ge' sound nice?"
"Wife? I'm back."
To avoid repeating the previous awkwardness, Pei Xuan called out in advance to announce her return. Hearing her voice, Bai Ge immediately scurried to lift the curtain for the young master, a proper young lady acting just like a toady.
Cui Ti could not see how her little maidservant acted, but Pei Xuan saw it clear as day.
As the Prime Minister's daughter, she was raised with proper etiquette and enjoyed the finest education Da Zhao had to offer. Her interactions were only with learned and cultivated friends. In her eyes, the lady she fancied should be different from other ladies. She didn't expect her wife's handmaiden would be no different from any other maid.
Because of Cui Ti, she held a special gratitude towards Bai Ge. She jokingly teased, "This isn't the time for Bai Ge miss to vex or annoy me."
Embarrassed, Bai Ge also relaxed her guard recalling their first meeting.
Who would've thought a perfect, supremely honorable gentleman would fall into their shabby courtyard?
"What were you two talking about just now?" She put the vase down admiring it for a bit before sitting next to Cui Ti.
"We were talking about giving Bai Bai a new name." All her learning came from Pei Xuan, far inferior, she suggested, "Husband, won't you bestow her a new name?"
Pei Xuan pondered briefly, "Hong Zhong, Rao Liang, those names are inspired by the four great zithers of antiquity. Do you want something similar, or something different?"
Knowing she had to change her name, Bai Ge blurted without thinking, "Something different!"
"Do you like your current name Bai Ge a lot?"
Bai Ge seemed to think of something, her face suddenly blushing, "It's alright."
"Then we'll call you Bai Tang, the Chinese flowering crabapple. It likes sunlight and symbolizes longevity. Tang also sounds similar to sugar, sounding sweet and pleasant. What do you think?"
To be named by the youngest Top Scholar of Da Zhao was naturally great, it would be very impressive to say it out. Seeing how impressive it was, Bai Ge reluctantly bid farewell to "Bai Ge" and bowed in gratitude, "This servant, Bai Tang, thanks Master for the name!"
"Bai Tang is a good name," Cui Ti praised.
Likes sunlight, longevity. It was also her sincere wishes for Bai Ge.
Pei Xuan took out a silver ingot from her sleeve pocket, "This is a 'suppressing coin' for you, keep it safe."
Bai Tang received it in pleasant surprise, saying auspicious blessings. She got up to brew tea for her masters.
The so-called 'suppressing coin' was a unique custom in Da Zhao. Changing one's name contains the subtle meaning of changing one's fate. Commoners rarely change the names given by their parents, but once it is changed, one needs a senior of higher status to bestow money to suppress potential disasters that may appear in one's fate.
"She doesn't seem very fond of this new name," Cui Ti concealed a laugh.
"She will grow to like it," Pei Xuan said.
Sure enough, in the time Bai Tang took to boil water and return, almost everyone in the residence knew the young master had changed her name. From today onward, she was no longer Bai Ge, but Bai Tang!
Pei Xuan was eager to chat more with his wife. Talking about "Bai Ge" and "Bai Tang" inadvertently reminded Cui Ti of an incident.
The reason why Bai Ge liked the name "Bai Ge" was twofold. First, she had been called "Bai Ge" for over ten years and was used to it. Second, talented scholars often used the term "tender pigeon" to describe a woman's full, tender breasts. Bai Ge thought this was quite glamorous - her name sounded pleasing to the ear, chubby and white. Secretly she took pride in this.
When she first learned about this from Bai Ge in her past life, Cui Ti was shocked speechless. Fortunately, "Bai Ge" finally became "Bai Tang."
Refined and elegant, yet also too proper, contrasting with the frivolousness of the little maid.
Thinking about it, she laughed. Pei Xuan naturally loved seeing her laugh and asked why she laughed. Cui Ti hemmed and hawed, unwilling to say until her face turned red, shyly begging for mercy before Pei Xuan stopped asking.
At the door, Hao Zhong announced, "Young Master, Young Mistress, cousin is here."
...
Before even entering the main hall, joyous laughter could be heard. Pei Xuan said, "My cousin is Uncle and Auntie's only daughter. Sickly since childhood, she's well-known for her talents. Mother dotes on her greatly, sometimes even more than me, her son."
"But don't worry, Qingyue is very kind, considerate and gentle. You two will get along."
Very kind, considerate and gentle.
Cui Ti slowly savored those eight characters, thinking to herself: In a few years you won't say that anymore. You'll say you're very disappointed, even cutting ties with her.
"Mistress, cousin and young master and mistress are here."
In the Songzhi Hall, the young girl wearing a red bead and pearl swaying crown and a warm white gauze robe lifted her eyes upon hearing the announcement. Seeing Pei Xuan for the first time, the pale cheeks flushed with a different vitality, "Cousin!"
She couldn't wait to call him over. Seeing the blind woman dressed in matching colors next to Pei Xuan, her expression froze for a second before fine sympathy gathered in her eyes.
"Auntie, this must be my sister-in-law you mentioned? She really is a beauty, standing together with cousin, they look just like fairies descended from heaven."
Lady Pei smiled happily hearing her flattery. "Don't exaggerate so."
But she was still glad to hear praise for her daughter-in-law.
Pei Xuan supported Cui Ti forward, "Cousin, come greet your sister-in-law."
Dou Qingyue obediently complied, gently curtsying, "Qingyue pays her respects to sister-in-law. I've long heard sister-in-law possesses breathtaking beauty, as beautiful as to sink fishes and drop geese. Seeing you today, the rumors fall short by three parts."
"Cousin flatters too much." Cui Ti took out prepared gifts to give her.
Receiving the gifts, Dou Qingyue glanced at Pei Xuan then their intimate dependence on each other. She laughed, "Cousin is heartless. If I knew earlier about your marriage, I would've rushed back to celebrate no matter what. But now, everyone is here except me. How embarrassing."
Her tone changed, "But who told me to care for cousin so? Quickly present my gifts for cousin and sister-in-law."
Lady Pei was there smilingly watching them bicker. Pei Xuan, as a man who must make his way in the world and the elder brother, could not quibble with his younger sister. He was no match for Dou Qingyue, repeatedly apologizing until she finally asked about Cui Ti's illness.
"If I had known, I wouldn't have gone to Lingnan to seek treatment, and missed cousin's wedding for nothing."
The disappointment and regret on Dou Qingyue's face were genuine. Pei Xuan was awkward with women, mumbling clumsily. Cui Ti timely spoke: "Cousin, Xing Guang and I truly appreciate your thoughts."
"So sister-in-law is quite satisfied with my cousin here?" Her manner was entirely teasing and curious, leaving one unable to chide or scold. Pei Xuan was helpless, while Cui Ti silently blushed to her ears.
It was Lady Pei who stopped her eccentric niece, newly recovered from illness, from pestering the newlyweds further.
The servants brought in the embroidered wedding gifts one after another, diverting everyone's attention.
The red cloth was removed, revealing a picture of a hundred sons and grandsons embroidered in gold thread!
Lady Pei's smile froze. She blinked, pained for Dou Qingyue. Noticing the extra needle marks on her fingertips, her brows furrowed more, "Why worry yourself with this? I told you, don't do things that tax your mind and body. You—"
"Auntie," she cozied up to Lady Pei acting coy, "This is my heartfelt gift as a younger sister. I'm not useless, everyone can congratulate cousin, why can't I do the same?"
"Oh you, sophistry. If your father saw this, your cousin would also get in trouble!"
Dou Qingyue gave a naive smile and looked at Pei Xuan. Seeing her tall and beautiful, she whispered to Lady Pei, "Father would be reluctant to scold."
Although Cui Ti could not see their interaction, just listening she could tell the aunt truly cherished her niece from the heart. While the person standing next to her did not speak much, the Pei Xuan of this time, also sincerely cared for her cousin.
In this family, once Dou Qingyue appeared, she, Pei's young wife, once again receded to a forgotten, neglected corner.
Having lived two lifetimes, she still didn't dare say she completely understood this cousin.
At lunch, the Prime Minister was pulled away by His Majesty to play chess in the palace. The Pei family chef prepared a full table of dishes. As the new bride, Cui Ti sat right beside Lady Pei, while Dou Qingyue sat to Lady Pei's right. Thus, Pei Xuan could only sit between his wife and cousin.
Dou Qingyue suffered from heart disease and rarely went out all year. She was only close with the Pei family.
Listening to their back and forth, the ease Cui Ti felt earlier vanished without reason, replaced by faint unease. Amidst the joyful sounds filling the hall, she couldn't even do small things like serving food to Pei Xuan.
The rice in her mouth was tasteless. Not wanting others to be reminded of her blindness at this occasion, Cui Ti's face maintained a gentle, polite smile.
Eating together at the same table, with the aunt and cousin present, she could not keep looking at Pei Xuan and lowered her gaze, her eyes somewhat distracted.
Pei Xuan was caught off guard and pricked by a shrimp shell. Turning to see Bai Tang peel shrimp nimbly and swiftly, her breathing hitched as she visibly sped up peeling the shrimp.
Dou Qingyue watched longingly at her beautiful, fluttering fingers.
She loved eating the big red shrimp made by the manor chef, but shrimp was not elegant to eat with the shells on. It needed to be peeled first to be proper.
Using her status as cousin before, she managed to wheedle Pei Xuan twice to peel them for her. Unfortunately, while Pei Xuan had outstanding literary talents, she was clumsy at mundane tasks.
Moreover, this person appeared gentle like the spring breeze but actually had an unyielding competitive streak.
After that, she grew to hate foods that needed handling before eating.
But two plates of red shrimp were on the table today.
Glancing again at the little maid beside sister-in-law peeling shrimp swiftly and nimbly, it was easy to guess who else loved eating shellfish.
Her eyes shifted, thinking with the plate piled high there must be some shrimp left for her. Anticipation rose in her heart.
Just as the last shrimp was crudely peeled, she opened her mouth—
"Wife?" Pei Xuan beat Bai Tang and slid the plate heaped with shrimp meat over as if presenting a treasure.
Seeing it was her, Cui Ti's mood immediately lifted.
Soon the small sauce plate was also moved to her hand. Pei Xuan relaxed as if a weight was lifted, her voice very low, "Wife, did I peel fast enough?!"