Chapter 57 - Flowers in the Mist
Cui Ti and the chubby rabbit in her arms both paused in unison. The main pet and its owner almost simultaneously turned their gaze to the person standing outside the door. Pei Xuan was taken aback by such harmony and synchrony, a lump forming in her throat, rendering her speechless for a while.
"Xing Guang?"
Cui Ti saw her clearly and asked with concern, "Are you feeling unwell?"
She then instructed Hao Zhong beside her to fetch a bowl of pear soup from the kitchen.
Hearing this, Pei Xuan's expression softened, and a warmth spread through her heart. She approached, casting a sidelong glance at the audacious chubby rabbit, instantly recognizing it as the silly rabbit that had tried to bite her finger a few months ago. "I'm fine; it's just a cold day."
Saying so, she tightened her clothing. Cui Ti immediately handed the rabbit to the steward and said, "Let me accompany you to your room. You should take a bath and warm up."
Pei Xuan was delighted upon hearing this.
The young lady acted promptly. Saying she'd come, she'd come; saying she'd go, she quickly hooked her little finger with M'lord's and departed swiftly. The limping steward was puzzled, thinking, "Is it my imagination? It always seems M'lord doesn't like these fluffy little creatures."
The aromatic bath in the purity chamber was ready. Cui Ti undressed her beloved, a routine she'd grown accustomed to, yet still with a hint of shyness, her ear tips turning slightly red.
Having regained her memories, Pei Xuan relished being a true, genuine mortal, enjoying the pleasures of worldly life. As her clothes were being undone and just before her inner garment fell to the ground, Cui Ti averted her eyes. Pei Xuan stared directly at the bashful little rabbit and asked, "Isn't Ti Ti joining me?"
"Huh?"
Cui Ti's ears seemed to catch fire, as if she had heard something unthinkable.
"Aren't you joining me?"
She hooked Cui Ti's finger, gently swaying it twice, making Cui Ti's heart feel as if it had been dipped in a honey jar.
When a usually serious person starts to act coquettishly, the effect is overwhelming, especially when that person is Pei Xuan, the one Cui Ti has loved for two lifetimes. Stammering, she replied, "Okay, okay."
The autumn rain was cold. Birds flying by made an extra effort to head towards eaves. In the courtyard, a lazy cat curled up on the windowsill. Occasionally, stray raindrops would wet its fluffy fur. The cat yawned, reluctantly moving to a drier spot.
Outside, the chilling embrace of autumn prevailed, but inside the purity chamber, it was as warm and intimate as spring.
High-quality incense burned in a purple-gold burner, sending out wisps of blue smoke and white steam. Upon closer look, two people, as radiant as jade, sat facing each other, their long hair cascading down and their skin as white as snow, looking exactly like beauties.
At eighteen, ever since Pei Xuan started being honest with Cui Ti, she would always prefer to be free from any restrictive clothing when in her room. As her nature flourished, so did her physical development.
Cui Ti found it hard to keep her gaze in check.
"Ti Ti..."
"Hmm?"
Cui Ti's ears turned a deep shade of red.
Even though they'd shared the most intimate moments, the current atmosphere still made her heart race, her chest heaving. The inherent modesty deep within her bones seemed to be soaked away in this square hot spring. Her eyelashes quivered as she mustered the courage to look at Pei Xuan.
Accidentally catching a glimpse of Pei Xuan's radiant beauty, she hurriedly looked away, reminiscent of a nimble moonlit rabbit in the mountains.
Pei Xuan was reminded of their first meeting, separated by countless distances, seeing each other in a mirror. A newly transformed rabbit spirit, arms wrapped around herself, gradually became lively as her timidness faded away.
She had looked into the mirror for eight hundred years, feeling the burning gaze for all those years. This young girl wasn't unaware; it's just that her every attempt to probe was met with silence since no one responded.
Pei Xuan saw Cui Ti, unusually lost in thought, while Cui Ti seized the opportunity to openly admire the beauty beside her. The more she looked, the more she felt an urge, making her shyly curl her toes and blush, sinking further into the water to hide.
"Huh?"
Snapping out of her reverie, Wenqu smiled, "What are you hiding from?"
She decisively joined Cui Ti underwater to play a game of 'hide and seek'. Before long, the chamber echoed with their laughter.
After laughing, they started to playfully tease each other again. Who knows how Pei Xuan managed to annoy someone, but once she did, the usually serious Wenqu Star from the heavens, who had stepped into the realm of romance, inevitably had moments of being bullied by the rabbit.
Annoyed, Cui Ti caught her and bit her.
The person being bitten felt a thrilling pleasure, her head tingling with delight.
Naughty thoughts irrepressibly surged in Pei Xuan's mind. Her slender leg brushed against Cui Ti's, who, with bright eyes, remarked, "You're up to no good."
Maintaining her dignity, Pei Xuan responded, "You're right."
"..."
Cui Ti's face changed color in an instant, and then she pinned down Pei Xuan, taking the upper hand.
This playful fight went on for quite a while.
As the clouds cleared and the rain stopped, the leisurely Wenqu Star's eyes shimmered with a hint of affection. Taking advantage of Cui Ti's embarrassed trip to the kitchen, she ordered someone to pick an 'exceptionally good rabbit' from the rabbit room.
The head servant, knowing that Pei Xuan liked eating rabbit heads, worried about the fate of the gifted rabbit. He decided to personally deliver a two-month-old baby rabbit.
Such a small creature, it looked so pitiable that surely Pei Xuan wouldn't harm this young one!
Pei Xuan was quite pleased with the little bunny and generously rewarded the servant, who left with peace of mind.
As Pei Xuan petted the rabbit, she reminisced about the lingering passionate moments they had shared. She felt that she indeed was a bit mischievous when it came to bullying rabbits.
If one were to describe it in human terms, perhaps it was like an old sage chasing after a young rabbit?
She pinched her own young and smooth cheek, her face radiating a gentle smile.
After Cui Ti had playfully 'bullied' Pei Xuan over and over again, until she was exhausted, she finally composed herself and walked in to see Pei Xuan holding a two-month-old bunny like a child. Cui Ti's emotions became a bit complicated.
"This rabbit has such nice fur."
Pei Xuan unexpectedly remarked, praising the rabbit.
Cui Ti carefully approached, leaning on her bamboo cane. She noticed the rabbit sleeping in her arms with its little legs pointed skyward and uttered a gentle "Oh."
"That rabbit's tail is quite cute."
Tail?
Rabbits have short tails, and Cui Ti couldn't immediately locate the tail amidst its fluffy white fur.
She chimed in, "It is cute."
Who doesn't love an adorable bunny?
Before she turned eighteen and while living in the dilapidated tiled house in the southern courtyard of the Earl of Xining's residence, she loved raising rabbits. Still, with caution, she remarked, "This rabbit is still young."
As the rabbit grows bigger and fatter, it becomes even more endearing!
Pei Xuan glanced at her, "Ah, such a nice touch."
"..."
Cui Ti was taken aback, recalling not so long ago when he had said the same thing, praising her for her fair skin, excellent texture, calling her cute and complimenting her touch.
She blushed uncontrollably, giving him a mock glare.
Pei Xuan chuckled, "Tonight, I want to sleep with this little bunny."
"!"
Bai Tang stood there, enjoying the show with a teasing expression. He felt that his M'lord was out of his mind. Wasn't he purposely trying to provoke her? Couldn't he see that the young lady's expression was already one of frustration?
Cui Ti was indeed feeling vexed.
She even began to wonder if Pei Xuan's sudden antics were a subtle protest against her techniques being unsatisfactory.
If they truly were, she would certainly practice more in the future.
But such words couldn't be said out loud, not even hinted at.
She frowned in frustration. Usually, when she frowned, Xing Guang would act as if the sky was falling. But now, he sat there calmly, holding the rabbit, as steady as Mount Tai.
She glanced at the rabbit, then at him, feeling like a gourd drowned in a sea of jealousy. And the gourd felt like it had its mouth sawed off.
A shadow loomed over her.
Pei Xuan raised an eyebrow, surprised, "Ti? "
Without another word, Cui Ti snatched away her bunny, standing there defiantly.
Pei Xuan, having lost the bunny, saw his wife throwing a small tantrum. He laughed, his eyes curving into pleasant crescents, voice gentle, "Look, I was just teasing you. Why are you really upset?"
"..."
Realizing, Cui Ti felt like stomping her foot, "You... you're teasing me again!"
She even thought about not raising rabbits at home in the future!
She couldn't stand Pei Xuan's doting gaze, especially when it wasn't directed at her.
Not even for a rabbit!
This overwhelming sense of possessiveness erupted from her chest. In Pei Xuan's gentle laughter, Cui Ti felt momentarily dazed, as if she had been embraced. Shaking her head, before her eyes stood the one she truly loved.
"What's wrong? Tired?"
Cui Ti bit her lip, "No."
It's just that he should love only her, like a deity would cherish his unique pet bunny.
Having been the young lady of the Pei household for a while, perhaps even Cui Ti didn't realize that the initial caution she had was gone, replaced with a willowy softness and feather-like entitlement.
This entitlement was all due to one person's indulgence.
That night, the baby bunny went back to its room, while Pei Xuan embraced his adorable, big Cui Ti bunny to sleep. Cui Ti, recalling the day's events, was determined to practice with the reincarnated Wenqu.
It's unclear whether Pei Xuan gained or lost from that night.
For several consecutive days, his back was sore.
Deep inside the sunken cave, the lone fairy watched the 'blooming through the mist' scene for several nights with a numb face, wishing she could dig a hole and bury herself in embarrassment.
Oh heavens!
Why did she foolishly decide to watch this lovey-dovey couple with her arch-nemesis?
Although they couldn't see the essential scenes due to the misty cover, the foggy reflection combined with the intermittent cold and mocking laughter made her feel as if she were imprisoned.
She was so careless!