Chapter 23 - Love is Like Wine
White Peony Courtyard, Cui Dai miss who had just spent half a day putting on fake smiles went back to her room and flipped over the hot tea brought in by her maidservants. The scalding water splashed onto the chest and back of the maid's hands, and the scattered drops fell onto Cui Dai's cheeks. She let out a soft hiss, "That hurts!"
The old nanny tried to calm her anger from the side, but Cui Dai was extremely upset. She pointed at the offending servant girl, "Drag her out and give her thirty hard whips! Clumsy and unlucky thing!"
She was just finding excuses to vent her frustration. She could only let off some steam in her own little courtyard by scolding others. It relieved her stuffy chest a little, then another maid came in to report, "Miss, the Madam is here."
As soon as the Madam of Earl of Xining stepped into the White Peony Courtyard, she saw several sturdy old women holding down and whipping a crying and begging Xi. They were making a ruckus.
Seeing this, the old women quickly stuffed a gag into Xi's mouth to muffle her pleas for mercy. The Madam impatiently waved her hand, "Release her, what's with the mess?"
"Mother!" Cui Dai rushed out, still holding the wet towel to her face, "Why are you stopping them? She offended me, can't I punish her?"
The servants tactfully withdrew. Xi knelt down gratefully and kowtowed to the Madam.
"Who are you punishing? Don't you know right from wrong?" The Madam was about to continue scolding her daughter when she looked up in surprise and asked, "What happened to your face?"
"It's all because of Xi!"
"It doesn't look serious. Let Mother take a look."
Cui Dai was moved by her concern. Her eyes turned red as she obediently leaned in. When the wet towel was removed, her cheeks were revealed to be perfectly unharmed. The Madam laughed, "Oh you, making a fuss over nothing."
"It's not nothing!"
"Stop throwing tantrums. You can do it after the guests have left."
These words struck Cui Dai's sore spot. She gritted her teeth angrily, "Look how smug she is! A blind girl who married the heir of the Prime Minister and rose up in status, not knowing who raised and cared for her. What does Brother-in-Law see in her? I just can't understand!"
All because that girl had publicly embarrassed her at the banquet, and the intimate interactions between the couple kept replaying in her mind. Just thinking about it made her want to vomit out the leftover food.
The Madam of Earl of Xining fell silent for a moment. Let's not even talk about Pei Xuan's noble status, his haughty attitude was understandable. But now the Earl's manor was just an empty shell with no one serving as an official at court. It was worlds apart from the Prime Minister's family.
Pei Xuan's attitude was within her expectations, but his affection for Cui Ti exceeded everyone's imagination.
Mother and daughter unconsciously fell silent as they looked at each other, at a complete loss.
In the afternoon, the sun hung high in the sky. Agarwood Courtyard was silent. Pei Xuan lay reclined on the luxurious bed where Cui Ti used to sleep before her wedding, appreciating the beauty rolled up like a sleeping beauty amidst the sea of spring flowers outside the window.
She remembered when she first met Cui Ti sitting on the stone steps of the broken-tiled house in the south courtyard. She was wearing old clothes but her beauty was fresh and vivid, sitting there so quietly as if gentleness was ingrained in her bones. Pei Xuan was immediately stunned by the sight, her heart thumping rapidly, not daring to look a second time.
She was so unguarded that Pei Xuan found it hard to believe she was blind. Her heart sank when she later found out the girl in the small courtyard was born with an eye disease, feeling stifled and frustrated.
Cui Ti leaned her chin on her hand, drowsy. A pure white silk cloth covered her eyes. The wind blew strands of her hair as her head nodded down slightly. Her lips were moist, parted slightly as she breathed. Her cherry lips were full, looking completely satisfied and ready to fall asleep after a hearty meal.
Pei Xuan resisted the urge to laugh.
She seldom spied on others like this, yet after marrying, all sense of righteousness seemed to disappear before Cui Ti. She silently mouthed "Ti Ti", the bright orange color reminiscent of the sun and a plump orange cat.
Why doesn't she come to bed?
Pei Xuan was puzzled. She carefully turned over in bed. A faint scent lingered in the bedding, very similar to Cui Ti's.
She seemed to realize something. Perhaps in her wife's eyes, sleeping together on the same bed where she once slept as an unmarried girl felt too embarrassing.
Resisting her impure thoughts, she looked up again only to see Cui Ti's chin dip down once more. Pei Xuan threw off her covers and tiptoed over, "Wife?"
Cui Ti gave no reaction at all.
She was dreaming. In it, Pei Xuan caught her just as she was about to trip and fall. She looked at her affectionately, love and desire intermingled in her eyes...
"Wife?"
Pei Xuan called a few times with no response. Cui Ti's long lashes lightly fluttered. Her voice was especially gentle, "Wife, it's not comfortable here. Let me carry you back to bed to rest."
Her heart raced for a second. Her hands went under Cui Ti's ribs and lifted her up. A fresher, clearer scent lingered around her nose. Cui Ti felt extremely light in her arms, just skin and bones. Her hair brushed Pei Xuan's neck, tickling her.
Just like the feelings this girl evoked in her, one look was startling, but the more she observed her, the more her heart bubbled with pleasant tingles and numb excitement.
Bai Tang was carrying a vase towards the room when she suddenly had the good sense to detour and take a peek through the window. By chance, she saw Lord Pei buried in her miss's chest, stealing fragrances and caressing jade.
Her face flushed. She thought to herself, oh my, Lord Pei is overcome with lust! She forgot about the vase and covered her face as she scurried away.
Lord Pei looked proper and upright, who knew he would be so passionate. Her miss looked thin but was curvy in all the right places, delicate and shapely. That part of her body was also perky. Bai Tang shamelessly thought to herself that Lord Pei was blessed with a beautiful and tender flower.
"Xing Guang..."
Cui Ti woke up blushing, realizing she was nestled in her husband's embrace. Seeing him through the thin silk, she shyly said, "What are you, what are you doing?"
"Wife, wife, keep your voice down."
Cui Ti closed her mouth.
In her past life, she had been deeply harmed by Bai Ge. Although surprised by Pei Xuan's sudden lust, she was not against it having just woken up from an ambiguous dream.
The soft fingertips gently brushed over her chest. Cui Ti bit her lip, remembering Pei Xuan's instruction to "keep your voice down".
Sensing her arch upwards, Pei Xuan's face turned fiery red. She wrapped an arm around the slender waist in her grasp. Her throat involuntarily swallowed as she used some force to flick away the shameless honeybee that insisted on nestling there.
The sensitive spot suddenly hurt. Cui Ti frowned and let out a muffled grunt.
The little honeybee didn't dare offend the fierce, red-faced gentleman. It buzzed its wings and flew out the window towards the back garden to gather flower nectar.
Of course she couldn't see the little insect flying outside. She only knew her husband was probably drunk after drinking with her father.
"I, I didn't mean it...Wife, are you okay?" Pei Xuan was at a loss for words and could only apologize profusely.
Cui Ti did not blame her and let herself be carried to the bed by her.
This was truly a beautiful misunderstanding.
Seeing her take it seriously, the embarrassment on Pei Xuan's face did not fade. The lingering sensation on her fingertips tormented her. Looking down, her wife appeared drunk and disorderly. If she were to explain the misunderstanding now, how could she even open her mouth?
She truly hated that wretched honeybee.
After just a few breaths, she jumped down from the bed, extremely efficient as she closed the window.
The sound of the window closing caused Cui Ti's heart to shake. Why close the window in broad daylight?
She was so embarrassed she turned her back towards the latecomer, leaving only her elegant back view.
Pei Xuan touched her nose, realizing belatedly her actions were inappropriate. She was suddenly at a loss whether to laugh or cry, feeling hopeless. Her wife must have taken her for a lustful pervert!
...
Bai Tang, returning to the room, stared at the tightly shut windows. She quietly sucked in a breath. This is serious, has Lord Pei's lust completely flared up?
She picked up the vase hidden in the flowers and bushes and tiptoed away.
Indeed, she had said a normal man wouldn't be able to hold back when seeing her miss. Not to mention without clothes, just looking at her face could make him stand at attention.
It seems Lord Pei's thing was very capable. Tsk tsk, she silently mocked Pei Xuan in her heart. Only a real man dares do it in broad daylight!
Hao Zhong and Rao Liang were carrying freshly stewed chicken soup towards the courtyard. They bumped into Bai Tang who was hugging a vase and grinning lewdly. Hao Zhong said, "Why are you still holding that vase? Lord Pei needs—"
"Lord Pei doesn't need it now. Lord Pei is busy with the young mistress."
She winked suggestively at Hao Zhong. Hao Zhong's small face instantly turned red. She glared at Bai Tang, "Why are you being so vulgar and indecent? Don't act so foolish!"
"... "
Hao Zhong and Rao Liang walked away together, embarrassed. Bai Tang was scolded for no reason. She was confused, "How was I being foolish? Aren't I very clever?"
...
"Husband..."
Pei Xuan was being tormented in paradise. She thought over it again and again. To avoid Cui Ti misunderstanding her for a hungry ghost driven by lust, she hoarsely said, "Wife, your husband, your husband is drunk."
For an elegant wine lover who could drink thousands of cups without getting drunk to admit to 'getting drunk and acting crazy', it was harder than ascending to heaven.
To be able to intimately savor the beauty before her, she had brought herself to do this. If her drinking companions knew about it, who knows how they would mock her?
Pei Xuan had been proper and upright for eighteen years with a sterling reputation. She endured again and again but could not stand hearing her delicate wife call out to her repeatedly. Her gaze inadvertently fell upon the wine bag on the bedside table. It was a vintage that the Earl of Xining favored and gifted to curry favor with his son-in-law. Knowing his daughter's husband loved drinking and could hold his liquor, he reluctantly gave up this treasure to comfort her.
"Wife, would you, would you like to taste the wine?"
Cui Ti knew she spoke indirectly and acted with integrity. Upright people would inevitably feel awkward in bed. Not wanting to make things difficult for Pei Xuan, she nodded, "I'd like to."
The wooden plug popped open and the wine's fragrance dispersed.
Pei Xuan was unclear herself how they had gotten to this point. She thought of that rogue honeybee and her brows slightly knitted together. Her gaze fell upon Cui Ti's face and she was glad her eyes couldn't see.
Otherwise she would have been frightened.
When she was eight, a bee had stung her once and it hurt for many days after, leaving her afraid of these small winged insects that could sting people ever since. Cui Ti was petite, she imagined her courage must be small too. As her husband, it was only right that she be bolder.
The bold Pei Xuan lifted her head and drank a mouthful of the mellow fine wine. She lowered her head to feed her waiting and expecting wife.
The potent liquor lingered on her tongue. The unbearable burn slowly dissolved between their lips and teeth as Cui Ti awkwardly swallowed it all down. The wine entered her throat and the heat quickly rushed to her face.
This manner of feeding her was overly intimate, yet neither was willing to point it out.
In Cui Ti's perspective, Pei Xuan had taken the initiative today so she didn't feel right refusing her.
In Pei Xuan's perspective, her wife needed her and wanted her company.
"Is it good?"
The taste was velvety but with a burning spiciness. Cui Ti, tasting alcohol for the first time in her two lifetimes, responded with dreamy eyes, murmuring, "Delicious."
She relished such closeness, cherishing the drunken Pei Xing Guang.
Engaging in such intimate actions in a bride-to-be's chamber, Pei Xuan was irresistibly tempted. He softly touched her moisture-kissed lips with his fingertip. Normally a seasoned drinker, he now felt ethereal.
Her smile was graceful, reminiscent of the most exquisite pear blossom on a branch, her gaze carrying the freshness of spring rain, gradually melting Cui Ti's timid heart.
"So, would you like more?"
Cui Ti whimpered twice, hugging her tightly. After a moment, she really became drunk. "Husband, husband..."
She was weak and fragile as bamboo. Clinging onto the other, she spoke softly. Pei Xuan's heart felt warm. The fiery passion dispersed and loving feelings took over. She tirelessly responded by her ear, "I'm here, wife. I'm here with you."