On the Wedding Night, Ms. Cui Realized

Cui Ti stood there in a state of shock. The mother-in-law she had known to be kind and gentle had suddenly transformed into someone who spoke nonsense with a serious face. 

IIf it weren't for her spiritual eyes being opened by an immortal riding a crane, she wouldn't have believed every word of it, but only about 80%.

Besides, why would a mother dare to spread rumors about this?.

Cui Ti was dazed, and Mrs. Pei seemed to think that she couldn't handle the weight of the news, so she gave her some time to process her shock.

However, instead of processing the shock, she immediately came to a conclusion.

Her mother-in-law is trying to fool her.

Mrs. Pei coughed lightly, her voice laced with a sense of helpless sadness. "Pei is a very kind-hearted and talented man. He is the only son of the prime minister, thus he will have a bright future. From now on, you would be perceived by outsiders as Mrs. Pei, and Pei Xuan would be your only support. So if you want to blame anymore, blame me, his mother.”

As she spoke, she knelt down to Cui Ti, and halfway through kneeling, she remembered that her daughter-in-law was blind and could not see her movements.

Maintaining a half-kneeling posture, Mrs. Pei sighed in her heart that she had miscalculated. It was the first time in decades that she did such a deceitful thing, and she lacked experience in such matters.

Deceiving such a kind and lovely girl, Mrs. Pei's conscience pricked at her.

If only Cui Ti wasn't blind and came from a poor family, she would be perfect in every way.

"Niang, why do you say such things? The Pei family has treated me very well, and my husband is the best husband in the world. I cannot blame Niang for trying to share these secrets. Besides, Niang wouldn’t wish for my husband to suffer like this."

[T/N: Niang (娘) is basically used to say mother in ancient chinese)

"Is that really how you feel?" Mrs. Pei eagerly grasped her daughter-in-law's hand.

Cui Ti thought to herself: even if Pei Xuan was not a woman, but a real eunuch, she would still love her.

"I was able to marry into the Pei family and become my husband's wife. It is a blessing from my previous life, and I only wish to stay with Pei Xuan forever and live a life of love.”

"Very well!" Mrs. Pei, having lived to her age, could tell sincerity from deception in an instant. She sensed that Cui Ti's love was genuine and felt a different kind of joy spreading across her face. "You are a good girl. I have wronged you."

"I have not been wronged, but my husband has been wronged, and it is he who has suffered." 

These words touched Mrs. Pei's heart. 

Back then, Mr. Pei insisted on letting his newborn daughter pretend to be a man out of sheer anger.

Mrs. Pei couldn't stop him, and thus resulted in Pei Xuan to live as a man for eighteen years.

A woman, who had endured more than what an ordinary person could bear since childhood, had to tie her own hair in places hidden from the world when she grew old. 

She had to protect her biological daughter day and night. The thought of her struggles brought tears to Mrs. Pei's eyes.

When Pei Xuan mentioned she wanted to marry a woman, Mrs. Pei did not stop her, although she knew it would be difficult for her daughter to be accepted by others if her true gender were to ever be revealed.

"Pei is fortunate to have someone as compassionate as you in her life. She has faced many hardships, and her temperament can be difficult at times. But you must be patient and understanding, my dear. She even knelt all night at the ancestral hall to persuade her father to agree to this marriage. Besides, we are all satisfied with you as our daughter-in-law. Please forgive her if she does anything excessive in the future, for my sake." Mrs. Pei's words carried a deep affection for her daughter and her daughter-in-law.

At that moment, Cui Ti felt a pang of envy for Pei Xuan, who had such a caring mother. 

She couldn't help but think of her own mother and felt a deep sadness

What’s more, Cui Ti felt pain in her heart, and was moved by the words "kneeling all night", and then replied in a voice choked with emotion, "Okay, I promise Niang. I will not get angry with her, and I will not stop caring about her."

Mrs. Pei, deeply moved, knelt down and kowtowed to Cui Ti, "On behalf of the Pei family, we thank you."

Shortly after, Cui Ti heard the muffled sound of her mother-in-law knocking her head on the ground and felt puzzled. She quickly turned away, not daring to accept the heavy gift from Mrs. Pei, but decided to kneel down and said, "This daughter-in-law can't accept this. Madam, please get up!.”

Mrs. Pei straightened up after she realized that Cui Ti was worried, and she did not forget to help Cui Ti who was kneeling on the ground, and she sincerely said: "It felt strange that Pei fell in love at first sight, but I understand now.”

Cui Ti blushed with embarrassment, not knowing what to say in response. 

Seeing that her face was red and she refused to lift her head, Mrs. Pei let her go for the time being, and stopped teasing her daughter-in-law, and kindly ordered: "Let’s clean your face. Maid, help the young lady out."

"Yes, ma'am."

A maid named Xiu Rong stepped forward to support Cui Ti.

Mrs. Pei smiled and said, "Call Pei in for me. Mother has something to say to her."

"Yes." Cui Ti respectfully replied, "This daughter-in-law is retiring."

Mrs. Pei realized that despite her blindness, Cui Ti possessed excellent character, knowledge of etiquette, and a sense of humor. It was likely these traits that had prevented her from being abandoned by the Xining couple for over seventeen years of her life.

Thinking about it this way, she was indeed a good match for her daughter.

Xiu Rong assisted the young lady as she walked out and Bai Tang, Shou and Ruou who were guarding outside the door, immediately approached to greet them.

Not seeing Pei Xuan, Cui Ti asked softly, "Where is my husband?.”

"Young Master went to bathe the rabbit."

"..."

Cui Ti's heart skipped a beat, and she was extremely envious of that fluffy bunny.

"Niang is looking for her. Bai Tang, you go and call him."

Bai Tang nodded and left. 

As Cui Ti waited, she faced the wind with her face up, quietly relishing the cool breeze that blew away the heat from her cheeks.

In her past life, Pei Xuan had fallen from a wall and injured her wrist, losing the title of the number one scholar in the palace examination. Many people felt sorry for the talented person who failed to meet everyone's expectations.

Pei Xuan herself regretted it, and Mr. Pei, who was wholeheartedly waiting for her to become the top scholar, felt even more disappointed.

When Cui Ti had married into the Pei family, her mother-in-law was not as easy to talk to as she is now. She had probably still been bitter that Pei Xuan had fallen from the wall of her house, and had viewed Cui Ti as unlucky. 

However, it didn't take long for her mother-in-law's attitude to change drastically, becoming gentle and loving, and full of adoration.

Cui Ti guessed that Pei Xuan had said a lot of good things about her, which had helped to change her mother-in-law's opinion.

What’s more, Cui Ti and Pei Xuan got married without fully understanding each other's intentions, and her mother-in-law didn't pressure them to consummate their marriage. 

The beginning changed, thus the whole development was altered.

But Cui Ti likes this change.

It's just that the enthusiasm on her face lingered for a bit, and when she thought of the word "consummation", she panicked. She tried her best to think about other things, and thought of her mother-in-law's cruel smearing of her 'son', so she couldn't help laughing.

At this moment, Pei Xuan walked towards her with the wiped rabbit in her arms, and was attracted by her wife's peaceful and beautiful smile.Seeing she was in a good mood, she asked, "How is it, what did Mother tell you?.”

Cui Ti thought for a while, then slowly shook her head, holding back her words.

She was afraid that if she said it, Pei Xuan would lose face, become angry from embarrassment, and begin rambling on embarrassing things.

So, instead she decided to say, "Niang is waiting for you inside, go quickly."

"How mysterious." Pei Xuan patted the rabbit she was holding and placed it into Cui Ti’s palm: "Play with it first, and I'll come back as soon as possible." Her tone was natural and pampering. 

When Cui Ti touched the rabbit's ears, Pei Xuan walked briskly towards the door.

The trio, Bai Tang, Shou, and Rou walked towards Cui Ti.

Bai Tang grinned from ear to ear, her eyes squinted with joy. "It's rare to find a man who is as gentle and thoughtful as Young Master, who loves small animals and is infatuated with his wife. You won't find a better husband even if you search all over earth.”

Ruo and Shou also praised Pei Xuan in front of Cui Ti, admiring him for his kindness and love towards his wife.

…

"Mother, are you looking for me?,” Pei Xuan asked as she approached Mrs. Pei.

Mrs. Pei took a sip of fragrant tea to moisten her throat before raising her head slightly, "Pei, follow me.”

Pei Xuan followed after.

After they walked to a safer and more private space, Mrs. Pei supported a vase with one hand and spoke with satisfaction, "The thorny woman on the road ahead has already been dealt with. Now, it's up to you to finish the job."

"What do you mean, Mother?" Pei Xuan asked, sensing that there was more to the conversation.

"If you really love her, you must make her yours and not delay in consummating the marriage," Mrs. Pei replied bluntly. "Only when she becomes your wife, will she be recognized as a member of our Pei family. Otherwise, she will always be an outsider with potential dangers."

Pei Xuan's expression darkened as she spoke up for Cui Ti. "Isn't it unfair to her if I’m so hasty?.”

"In this world, there is no absolute justice," Mrs. Pei countered. "As the head of the Pei family, you carry the honor and disgrace of the whole family. I only want you to fulfill your duties as a husband. If you can't do that, then what's the point of having a wife?.”

Mrs. Pei didn't want to force her, so she thought for a moment, then changed her tone,"I believe she treats you with deep affection. Besides, she is the woman you begged to marry. So, don’t you want to share the joy of intimacy with her?.”

Mrs. Pei took advantage of Pei Xuan’s silence and continued her persuasion: "Men and women are different, and if you're worried about her finding out during intercourse, don't worry. I've already talked to her about it."

Pei Xuan's heart sank at the mention of this, and she asked nervously, "What did you say?.”

"..."

Mrs. Pei hesitated for a moment, feeling a sense of shame even though she was talking to her own daughter. However, in comparison to the welfare of the family, this shame was nothing.

Putting on a brave face, she downplayed the situation, saying, "You contracted a disease and it left you as a useless man.”

As a person who dealt with other men regularly, Pei Xuan knew exactly what her mother meant by calling her a "useless person." 

A ball of heat rushed to her face, and she felt ashamed: "Mother, you, how could you..."

"What's wrong with me? I'm only thinking of you and this family," Mrs. Pei retorted. "Are you going to let this opportunity slip away because of your pride? Without that thing, you can still use your hands, your tongue, or whatever you want."

Mrs. Pei pulled out a booklet from her sleeve pocket and handed it to Pei Xuan. "Study this carefully, and remember to always wash your mouth after."

"..."

Pei Xuan was left in a daze by her mother's words, struggling to catch her breath. She frowned, feeling a mixture of anger and bitterness surge within her. "Mother, how could you do this to your own child? How can I face Ti’er when I go out?.”

Mrs. Pei was taken aback by the use of “Ti’er” which was a nickname for Cui Ti, wondering when her once obedient daughter had become so rebellious. She felt a twinge of regret for her harsh words but quickly suppressed it, knowing that her desire for power and control was greater than any maternal instinct. 

"In any case, you must find a solution. Don't disappoint your mother and your wife's expectations of you," she said, her voice low and cold.

"This, I..."

Pei Xuan's heart sank as she realized the gravity of the situation. "But...how can I do this? It's not fair to Cui Ti.”

Mrs. Pei sighed, exasperated by her daughter's soft-heartedness. "It's too late to back out now. If you want to eliminate this threat to our family, you must be ruthless. 

She turned her back, her voice was cold, "Whether you want to do it yourself, or mother sends someone to do it, you think carefully."

Hearing someone else can touch Cui Ti, the heat on Pei Xuan's face faded away in an instant. Her face turned pale as she imagined the consequences of either choice.

She clutched the thick booklet tightly, feeling beads of sweat forming on her forehead. "I will follow your instructions, but no one is allowed to touch Cui Ti except for me!," she said, her voice resolute.

Mrs. Pei beamed with satisfaction, "If you want her, she's yours. She's an esteemed young lady, known as one of the most beautiful women. She'll belong to our Pei family once you consummate.”

She waved her sleeves and left, her long skirt swaying across the smooth floor tiles, creating a soft rustling sound.

The room fell into a heavy silence, and Pei Xuan furrowed her brow in annoyance. She was lost in thought while staring at the photo album, but she had only managed to open the cover when she was met with explicit pictures.

With a loud snap, the album fell to the ground.

Pei Xuan, usually so composed and serious, let out an uncharacteristic hiss, as if the booklet had burned her hands.