Chapter 38 - The Birth of Nightmare
"M'lord."
A young servant hurriedly approached and whispered in her ear.
Pei Xuan gave a discreet nod, "Alright, I understand. You can go now."
After the servant left, Song Zizhen at his side curiously asked, "What's happened? Is there a problem?"
Finishing the last sip from his wine jug, Zheng Wuji raised an eyebrow, "Xing Guang, if you have matters to attend to, don't worry about us."
"Ah, yes, go attend to your matters. Wuji and I will be just fine."
The two seemed in sync, and a faint smile reflected in Pei Xuan's eyes as he explained honestly, "A servant just reported that there's a minor disturbance at home that requires my attention. I won't stand on ceremony with you two any longer."
He emptied his cup and then turned to descend the staircase.
Watching her hastened silhouette, Song Zizhen stroked his chin and mused to himself, "A family matter? A minor disturbance?"
His eyes shifted in thought, "Could it be that his little darling has been wronged?"
Zheng Wuji lazily spun his wine cup on the table, responding nonchalantly, "Hard to say."
The carriage raced back to the Pei residence, and the doorkeeper bowed as he welcomed her in.
Pei Xuan moved swiftly, the wind seemingly following him, "Is Miss Cui Ti alright?"
Hao Zhong replied, "Miss Cui Ti is unharmed, just a little shaken. She's now resting with Bai Tang and Rao Liang by her side."
Learning that Cui Ti was unharmed, her furrowed brow slowly relaxed, but a fire of anger was still burning in her heart, "Where is the perpetrator?"
"The traitor, Xiao Hong, is currently locked in the woodshed in the backyard. Lady Pei said she won't interfere in this matter. Whether to sell or hand over this two-faced servant to the authorities, Miss Cui Ti will decide."
She saw this incident as an opportunity to establish Cui Ti's authority in front of everyone in the Pei household.
Pei Xuan's lips tightened, his previous gentle demeanor was nowhere to be found, as if blown away during his journey back.
A storm was brewing.
In the backyard, the door to the woodshed was flung open. The bright sunlight shone inside, illuminating Xiao Hong's pale and terrified face.
Upon seeing Pei Xuan, her lips trembled, and with a thud, she fell to her knees, "M'lord, spare me!"
"Spare you?"
Pei Xuan looked down at her from above.
To be honest, with hundreds of servants inside and outside the Pei residence, it was impossible for her to remember each one clearly. However, she indeed recognized the one before her.
Xiao Hong's full name was Yun Hong. She was a poor orphan whom Pei Xuan took pity on and bought into the mansion three years ago. Since her arrival, she had been working in the outer courtyard, watering plants and weeding, never getting a chance to serve in the inner courtyard.
She had seen her a couple of times around the mansion and never would have suspected someone with such an innocent face to have a sinister heart hidden underneath.
If it weren't for the secret protection, who knows what this wicked servant might have done?
A feeling of dread washed over Pei Xuan, her expression turning icy, "Bring her out."
"Yes!"
A strong household guard grabbed Xiao Hong by the arm and pulled her out. She hung her head and gave up any resistance, her eyes constantly fixed on Pei Xuan, as if trying to etch his image permanently into her mind.
Blinded by the sunlight, she raised her hand to shield her eyes and slowly knelt down, pulling at her gown.
Pei Xuan sat on a pearwood chair, his long legs crossed, and the hem of his garment embroidered with birds and insects fell gracefully, "Do you have anything else to say?"
Xiao Hong looked at his black boots with red trim and gave a bitter smile, "M'lord is as refined as jade and accomplished at such a young age. Miss Cui Ti truly doesn't deserve you. How can rubble ever be a constant companion to jewels? I couldn't bear it, so I wished for her death."
Before even considering Pei Xuan's reaction to this, Hao Zhong standing by his side retorted, "Miss Cui Ti and M'lord are together out of mutual affection. Who do you think you are to disapprove?"
"I'm truly nothing. Without M'lord's rescue, I would have turned into a puddle of mud on the ground years ago, trampled upon by everyone."
She tilted her head back defiantly, "Yet, I still have a pair of eyes that can see. What does she have? A blind woman, daring to lay her hands on the heir of the Pei family? Is she worthy?"
"You ungrateful wretch, so you've harbored such delusions all along!"
"..."
The two of them started to argue fiercely.
Pei Xuan sat there silently, feeling the entire situation was absurd.
From a young age, she studied literature, imbibed in sage teachings, learned honor, and understood propriety. Many loved her, and some loved the dazzling veneer of the 'rightful heir of the Pei family.'
She couldn't help but wonder if Xiao Hong knew of her true female identity, would she still think that Cui Ti was marrying above her station?
A deceiver who fooled the world, and a girl born blind.
Was it Cui Ti who was marrying up, or was it Pei Xuan?
On the contrary, it was Pei Xuan who first lost control of her heart.
"You're wrong."
She suddenly spoke, and the maid named Yun Hong anxiously clutched the corner of her dress.
"I sought the marriage alliance with the Earl of Xining's household. It was Cui Ti whom I admired and whose affection I passionately pursued during my youth, to have and to hold. You shouldn't have tried to harm her. Knowing what I know now, I regret bringing you into the mansion."
"M'lord!"
There was no punishment crueler than this.
Yun Hong's body trembled, disbelief evident in her eyes.
But Pei Xuan didn't give her a chance to redeem herself and stood up to leave.
Cold and relentless, like a gust of wind.
"M'lord!!"
"Enough!"
Hao Zhong, losing patience, brushed off his sleeves, "Wait for Miss Cui Ti to deal with you."
He gestured, and the guards on either side dragged her back into the woodshed.
The door to the woodshed closed with a bang. Hao Zhong looked up at the clear blue sky, cursing his bad luck internally.
"Little Wolf?"
"Here!"
The rustling of grass and leaves followed, and out stepped a young girl in black, a sword at her side. "Yun Hong was instigated by someone else to target Lady Pei. M'lord, do not be deceived."
Pei Xuan's expression remained unchanged, as if he had anticipated this. "Who instigated her?"
"The third Miss from the Earl of Xining's residence, Cui Dai. Cui Dai was unhappy that her older sister married into a prestigious family and wanted to give Lady Pei some trouble. She never expected Yun Hong to be so bold as to attempt murder."
It involved the Cui family of the Earl of Xining?
After a lengthy silence, she whispered, "Understood."
The girl in black gave a respectful bow and, in a blink of an eye, disappeared mysteriously into the wind.
Pei Xuan took a deep breath, adjusting his collar, with thoughts revolving around the 'death in the dream' that Cui Ti had previously mentioned.
Could Cui Dai have been the one to push Ti into the lotus pond?
If so, this would undoubtedly be a valuable lead. However, it's hardly a pleasant surprise. With an aunt as willful and thoughtless as Cui Dai, Pei Xuan suppressed his deep annoyance and stepped into the courtyard.
In the afternoon, Bai Tang and Rao Liang stood guard on either side of Lady Pei.
On the large bed, Cui Ti was lost in a chaotic, prolonged dream. Cold sweat beaded on her forehead, "No---"
"Lady Pei?"
"Ti!"
Upon hearing the commotion, Pei Xuan rushed in anxiously.
Bai Tang and Rao Liang exchanged glances, tactfully excusing themselves, leaving the couple some privacy.
"What happened? Did you have a nightmare?" Pei Xuan took a cloth and gently wiped the sweat from her forehead.
Cui Ti's breath was shallow, and upon seeing him, the sudden fear she felt slowly sunk away, her voice filled with vulnerability, "Xing Guang."
"I'm here."
Pei Xuan gazed at her for a moment, then leaned down and placed a gentle kiss on the corner of her lips. "Don't be afraid, the culprit has been caught."
"Why did she want to harm me?"
Recalling the close call she had today, nearly being pushed into the pond again, she felt an inexplicable sense of injustice. In all her lives, past and present, she had never wronged anyone. Why did some always find her obtrusive, wishing to get rid of her?
"It's not your fault." He chided himself silently, hesitated a moment, and then told her about Cui Dai's instigation of Yun Hong.
"It was my third sister?"
"She might not have intended to take your life, but she's undeniably malicious and devious. We should distance ourselves from her in the future."
Lost in her thoughts, Cui Ti's mind wandered back to the hopelessness and pain she felt in her previous life, sending chills down her spine.
"It's okay, don't think about it anymore. I'll write a letter to the Earl of Xining, asking him to discipline his daughter properly. As for Yun Hong, you can decide her fate."
Given the traditions of noble families in Xi Jing, those who dare harm their masters typically face a brutal beating, if not death.
"You'll let me decide?"
"Yes, my mother feels the same way. It's up to you."
Cui Ti pondered, her face pale. "Then, let's turn her over to the authorities. Let the truth be revealed. If she had no intention to harm, even if she was instigated, why would she fall for it so easily?"
She looked at Pei Xuan uncertainly, whispering, "Is this a proper judgment?"
Pei Xuan hugged her with a smile, "It is. Just a bit compassionate."
"Is being compassionate a hindrance to being Lady Pei?"
"Not at all."
"Then let's avoid more bloodshed, okay?"
Pei Xuan was helpless. Out of pity for Cui Ti, who had suffered an unwarranted ordeal, he spent the entire afternoon comforting her, trying to alleviate the shock she had experienced.
But the shock turned out to be more severe than imagined.
Yun Hong was handed over to the authorities and was sentenced to exile.
That night, while Pei Xuan was in his study drafting the letter of reprimand, Bai Tang rushed in with a look of panic. "M'lord, something's wrong!"
Cui Ti suddenly developed a high fever. Throughout the latter half of the night, she rambled on, sometimes calling out for "Xing Guang", sometimes for "my husband", or she would cry silently, her face contorted in pain, as if having a nightmare.
The medicinal soup they gave her had no effect. Pei Xuan was beside himself with worry. "Mother, what do we do? Why hasn't Ti woken up?"
Lady Pei softly tried to console him.
Just then, the chime of a brass bell rang through the quiet night, echoing in front of the Pei residence.