Marrying the Sweet Story’s Melodramatic Villainess [Transmigration] - Chapter 26

Regarding the marriage between Cui Yi and Pei Mingjiao, the two mistresses of the households held a unified stance. What remained was the attitude of the masters.

Pei Heng had been a dandy for nearly forty years and had never suffered a day in his life. Before marriage, he relied on his parents; after marriage, he relied on his wife. He lived a life of leisure and elegance. Therefore, when he heard from his wife that his daughter wanted to marry the eldest daughter of the Cui family, he was stunned for a moment before saying easy-goingly, “As long as Jiao-niang likes it, it’s fine.”

Yan Linlang wasn’t surprised by her husband’s answer. She gave a small smile and sighed, “Time truly flies.”

Pei Heng felt the same. “Indeed.”

Compared to the harmony at the Pei residence, things were slightly more turbulent at the Cui house. The moment Cui Yan thought of the absurd affairs of the Grand Princess’s family, his head began to throb. “Yi-niang is still young.”

Madam Du shot him a look. “I think you just look down on the Grand Princess’s family.”

As a couple sharing a night-talk, there was naturally no need to hide their thoughts.

“It’s not quite that, it’s just that at this particular juncture…” Cui Yan always sought stability and was ultimately uneasy about his daughter getting mixed up in that circle.

Madam Du understood his concerns and sighed. “Ultimately, it is what Yi-niang requested.”

After a moment of silence, Cui Yan put his arm around Madam Du. “We have let San-lang down.”

Du Wenyu was the husband they had originally chosen for Cui Yi; the two families had a tacit understanding. Now that a variable had occurred, it was the Cui family that was in the wrong.

Madam Du slapped her husband playfully, saying in annoyance, “That is my own nephew; do you think I would mistreat him?”

Earlier that day, Madam Du had already sent a letter to her maiden home.

Hearing this, Cui Yan made up his mind to look after Du Wenyu more. Seeing that he had agreed, Madam Du sent a formal invitation to the Grand Princess’s mansion early the next morning. By coincidence, a servant from the Grand Princess’s mansion arrived at the same time to deliver an invitation.

In the end, they met at the Grand Princess’s mansion to talk.

The meeting between Madam Du and the Grand Princess was as harmonious as could be. Once the two families settled the details, the Grand Princess submitted her name tag to enter the palace.

When Emperor Qi heard that his niece, Pei Mingjiao, wanted to marry the daughter of Vice Minister Cui, he was momentarily astonished. He guessed, “Could it be because of a life-saving grace?”

“Indeed,” Yan Linlang admitted with a smile. “A life-saving grace repaid with one’s own body.”

Emperor Qi also laughed. “Truly a match made in heaven, a perfect pair.”

He immediately picked up his brush, wrote the imperial decree for the marriage, and stamped it with the imperial seal. Seeing this, the fine lines at the corners of Yan Linlang’s eyes deepened. “It is still you, her Uncle, who dotes on Jiao-niang the most.”

Thus, the marriage was no longer a secret in Chang’an. When Gu Yue found out, she felt a sense of things finally settling into place. Her mother, however, grumbled, unable to understand why Pei Mingjiao would be with a woman.

Gu Yue merely smiled.

The wedding was set for three months later—a bit hurried, but both families intended to hold the ceremony before the end of the year to share in the joy of the New Year.

Since ancient times, the marriage of dukes and marquises involved extremely tedious etiquette. Fortunately, the two brides didn’t need to worry about these matters.

Even with her marriage approaching, Cui Yi continued her usual routine. Meng Yishu had passed the palace examination, ranking first in the second class of the Jinshi. Fortune and fate were fickle, but Meng Yishu was open-minded. After passing the court examination, she was appointed as a compiler in the Hanlin Academy—a truly prestigious position.

Meng Yishu moved out of her rented room and into a larger, two-entry courtyard. Naturally, Cui Yi went to congratulate her. Meng Yishu had been busy with social engagements for several days and had only just finished settling in. Seeing Cui Yi arrive, the expression on her face became much more vivid. “I truly didn’t expect you to marry Commandery Princess Yongjia.”

A faint smile touched Cui Yi’s face. “Indeed.”

Seeing the smile on her face, Meng Yishu knew she must be satisfied with the marriage. She teased with a laugh, “Both you and the Princess have such fine features; being together will surely be a sight for sore eyes.”

Cui Yi was already used to Meng Yishu’s obsession with beauty. As they were talking, a servant came to report that Commandery Princess Yongjia had arrived for a visit.

Meng Yishu said jokingly, “I suspect the ‘drunkard’s intent is not in the wine’ but on the person here.”

Cui Yi’s expression was calm, her eyelashes lowered, carrying the elegant aura of a reserved noble lady. One look and Meng Yishu knew she wouldn’t be seeing any drama from her side.

When Pei Mingjiao entered, her eyes were only on her fiancée. It was only when Cui Yi looked up at her that she regained her composure, adopting her princess persona to exchange a few pleasantries with Meng Yishu. Meng Yishu didn’t mind, as Pei Mingjiao’s gifts were truly generous.

Watching Pei Mingjiao and Cui Yi sitting side-by-side—one quiet and one active, one cold and one hot—Meng Yishu found it incredibly interesting. She loved beauty and appreciated beauties of different styles. She thought to herself that she was right: the two of them together were indeed a treat for the eyes.

Pei Mingjiao didn’t find Meng Yishu offensive. She was naturally a bit narcissistic and extremely confident in her own looks. She felt a surge of pride. The pimple on her forehead had already disappeared, and she had dressed meticulously today, making her exceptionally glamorous. Under the table, she couldn’t resist reaching out.

A fingertip lightly poked Cui Yi’s thigh. Cui Yi, who was speaking with Meng Yishu, felt her eyelashes flicker. Her long, thick lashes swept up as her ink-black eyes cast a light, fleeting glance at the mischievous Pei Mingjiao. Pei Mingjiao felt inexplicably guilty but also a bit defiant. Cui Yi actually dared to give her attitude? They weren’t even married yet and she was already being so bold; wouldn’t she be climbing over her head in the future? She gave a silent huff, determined to win back some face. She spoke up coquettishly: “Yi-niang, I want to eat a peach crisp.”

The peach crisps were placed right in front of Cui Yi, but Pei Mingjiao could have easily reached them herself.

Meng Yishu sipped her tea and watched the show.

Cui Yi didn’t know what she was acting out. Seeing Pei Mingjiao tilting her pink-white face, her round, moist eyes staring straight at her with a hint of arrogance—as if it were only natural for Cui Yi to fulfill her request.

She was her fiancée after all; Cui Yi wouldn’t slight her in public. She lowered her eyes, used a handkerchief to wrap her hand, and picked up a piece of peach crisp to hand over. Her simple-colored sleeve pulled back with the movement, revealing a slender, fair wrist. Pei Mingjiao felt a tingling sensation in her heart and, as if bewitched, lowered her head and took a bite of the peach crisp directly.

So flaky, so sweet.

Cui Yi, who had intended for Pei Mingjiao to take it from her hand, felt her fingertip tremble. Crumbs from the peach crisp scattered into the handkerchief with the movement. Cui Yi was thin-skinned; this public display of intimacy caused a layer of crimson to crawl up her face. Amidst Meng Yishu’s playful gaze, Cui Yi rose to take her leave.

Pei Mingjiao, who had only taken one bite and wasn’t satisfied, was a bit reluctant. But when Cui Yi gave her a cold, clear look, Pei Mingjiao was instantly silenced. She thought a bit unhappily: I didn’t even provoke her, why is she angry at me?

Meng Yishu didn’t stop them, watching as Cui Yi and Pei Mingjiao left in a hurry.

Pei Mingjiao followed Cui Yi into the carriage. Seeing Cui Yi’s cold face, she let out a huff, choosing to strike first: “You meet with others but don’t come to see me. Are outsiders more important than me, your fiancée?”

Seeing her acting so righteous, Cui Yi looked at the peach crisp still held in her handkerchief. After a long silence, she handed the piece to Pei Mingjiao, saying coldly and faintly: “We are not yet married; we should maintain propriety.”

The peach crisp seemed wrapped in Cui Yi’s body heat. Pei Mingjiao felt strange as she bit into it. Hearing Cui Yi’s words, she said unhappily, “What propriety is there to maintain? It’s not like we did anything.”

Cui Yi pursed her lips, refusing to look at the girl eating the snack in small bites. She stated calmly: “If you cannot do it, then let us not meet again until the wedding.”

“I won’t have it,” Pei Mingjiao rejected immediately. She clung to Cui Yi’s arm and stared at her intently, confused and aggrieved. “I’m angry now.”

Cui Yi ignored her.

“I’m really angry.” Pei Mingjiao was almost face-to-face with Cui Yi, their breaths intermingling. She was practically leaning her entire weight into Cui Yi’s embrace, her body heat transferring through their clothes. Cui Yi turned her head away; she couldn’t adapt to this level of intimacy that exceeded social norms. She spoke softly and slowly about her overly intimate behavior at the Meng residence. “It is better to mind one’s manners in front of outsiders.”

Pei Mingjiao heard Cui Yi’s words in a daze. her eyes fell on the blue veins on the other’s slender, fair neck. The cold fragrance seemed to have seeped into the very flesh. Pei Mingjiao’s teeth suddenly felt itchy. She was always a willful person, and following her intuition, she bit down.

“Ngh…”

Cui Yi frowned in pain. She reached out and used force to push away the Pei Mingjiao buried in her neck. She said coldly, “Princess, what are you doing?”

Pei Mingjiao looked at the tooth marks on Cui Yi’s neck and apologized guiltily, “I don’t know what happened, my teeth just felt itchy.”

Cui Yi used a clean handkerchief to wipe away the damp marks on her neck, staring deeply at the culprit. Pei Mingjiao couldn’t bear Cui Yi’s gaze and tilted her head, offering her own neck to Cui Yi’s lips. “At worst, I’ll just let you bite me back.”

Cui Yi’s lips were almost pressed against Pei Mingjiao’s neck. To make it easier, the girl had sat directly in her lap—it was unavoidable. Having been tormented like this, Cui Yi also felt a surge of anger. However, her reason remained; she pinched Pei Mingjiao’s waist to push her away. Her brow was flushed with anger, and her voice was frozen. “I ask the Princess to conduct herself with self-respect.”

Seeing that she was truly angry, Pei Mingjiao didn’t dare make a fuss anymore. She obediently got off Cui Yi’s lap and asked timidly: “Are you angry?”