Chapter 30 - Offering Affection
Cui Ti held the rabbit in her arms and waited outside for about a quarter of an hour. Bai Tang made a show of fetching an oiled paper umbrella, "How strange, why hasn't M'lord come out yet?"
It was the transition between spring and summer, the weather was just right, the sunlight was warm without the annoyance of heat. Hao Zhong only glanced at the sun in the sky with the corner of his eye, then looked at Bai Tang holding the umbrella over the young mistress's head, and the corner of his mouth twitched, "The mistress and M'lord share a deep mother-son bond, it's understandable for them to talk a while longer."
Bai Tang uttered an "Oh", and shifted the umbrella with carps painted on its surface, completely covering Cui Ti's head. Cui Ti didn't know what she was doing, but as she felt the sunlight being blocked, she laughed and shook her head, "I'm not hot, just hold it for yourself."
"M'lord is here!" Rao Liang exclaimed softly before Bai Tang could speak.
Pei Xuan walked over, his clothes and sash billowing elegantly in the wind. Even though they just saw each other briefly, when Cui Ti saw him, her heart leaped like a fish spotting water.
"Dear wife."
"Dear husband."
The honest Pei Xuan suddenly froze, thinking of the lies his mother had fabricated to pave the way for them. Her cheeks flushed slightly as she took the oiled paper umbrella from Bai Tang and held it properly, "Shall we talk as we walk?"
Cui Ti rarely disobeyed her words. Both harbored things in their hearts as they strolled in the sprawling backyard of the manor. The breeze was pleasant too, and the scent of flowers from the garden was refreshing.
If Pei Xuan was a real man, facing a wife who knew of his 'condition', he naturally wouldn't be able to hold his head high.
But she was a woman, a delicate, introverted woman. Even being forcibly labeled as 'incapable' by her mother-in-law, she still held herself upright, trying her best to remain expressionless, "The wedding leave ends tomorrow, I should report to the Hanlin Academy."
She took the imperial exam route, placing first in the provincial exam to become a compiler at the Hanlin Academy. This marriage was a favor bestowed by His Majesty to his subject.
Since she lived with the identity of the 'eldest young master' of Marquis Pei, she had to make a name for herself.
She seemed to feel guilty for being unable to accompany Cui Ti daily after marrying.
"I don't mind, go ahead."
Her voice was gentle and firm.
Pei Xuan was grateful for her thoughtful understanding. Thinking of the harsh words her mother had left off with, the guilt in her heart for her wife grew.
She was still a woman, and Cui Ti's 'husband'. Not consummating their marriage was one thing, but if they did, Cui Ti could only be with her. As long as she lived, no one else could touch her wife.
Ever since she came out of that room, her attitude was strange. Cui Ti secretly guessed the content of the conversation between her mother-in-law and her.
What was said that made the usually calm and composed Pei Xuan seem restless?
"I'm on duty tomorrow, so I can indulge a little today."
Cui Ti's fingertips trembled, "How...indulge?"
Pei Xuan's brow rose as she smiled, "Wait a little longer and you'll know."
Cui Ti had thought she would have to wait until nightfall, and was anxious and nervous for a long time, unable to concentrate on speaking or anything.
At noon, a rich fragrance wafted over. A large bowl of spicy rabbit heads was served. Pei Xuan's eyes lit up as she tilted her head to whisper, "This is the 'indulgence' I mentioned to you."
"..."
Cui Ti's lips parted, seeming incredulous as she uttered an "Ah", then realizing she had gotten a definite answer, she suddenly felt like she had been floating on a cloud and then crashing down to earth gracelessly.
Lowering her head silently, slowly getting annoyed and embarrassed, she clutched at the corners of her clothes, lowering her eyes without a word.
"Dear wife?"
Pei Xuan's tone lifted lightly, clearly in high spirits.
Not wanting to dampen her mood, Cui Ti swallowed her resentment and said sullenly, "Hm?"
"Dear wife, are you unhappy?"
"I'm very happy."
To prove her happiness, she smiled.
Pei Xuan blinked, the scroll tucked close to her seemed to scorch her heart again. She was already feeling guilty, her gaze drifting before finally settling on the fragrant rabbit heads.
"Dear wife, shall we eat together?"
"Eat what?"
"Rabbit heads, spicy flavored, very delicious."
Pei Xuan enthusiastically introduced how tasty the rabbit heads were. Turning her head, she saw the snowy white rabbit nestled on Cui Ti's lap.
Her eyes sank slightly as she reached out to take the rabbit from Hao Zhong, then carefully cleaned her hands before returning to the table.
Bai Tang was barely holding back her laughter. M'lord is so cruel, eating his own kind right in front of the little rabbit?
"Dear wife?"
Cui Ti was spacing out again, her eyes flashing shyly as she scolded herself for thinking randomly. Pulling her mind back, she focused wholly on Pei Xuan again.
Seeing those earnest eyes eager to share, Cui Ti felt that Pei Xuan was trying to appease her with clumsy methods.
In her past life it was the same too. Every time she made Cui Ti cry, Pei Xuan would come to curry favor, and bringing spicy rabbit heads to the table happened twice when she was currying favor.
She suspected Pei Xuan had done or wanted to do something to wrong her.
So she made a rabbit meet its end prematurely.
Pei Xuan's talented hands could write elegant chapters and easily dismantle the delicacies on the table. But Cui Ti saw her slender, fair hands casually snap the rabbit's jaw with some effort, separating the upper and lower bones. "Please have the first taste, dear wife."
"..."
In her past life, her husband had loved these bony rabbit heads dearly. But Cui Ti could not appreciate the taste. Firstly she found it troublesome, secondly she liked lively jumping rabbits, how could she bear to tear their tendons and bones and chew them down?
Pei Xuan loved eating them herself, only allowing herself this indulgence once a month.
Seeing Cui Ti frozen and unmoving, she gradually came to her senses, suddenly feeling disappointed in her heart - what she liked, her wife may not like.
"Can you...feed me?"
In a flash, the brightness returned to Pei Xuan's eyes, "Okay!"
Cui Ti felt indulgent yet helpless in her heart, but from her experience in her past life - to love her, one had to accompany her in eating rabbit heads, this was the most interesting and quickest way to Pei Xuan's inner heart.