Marrying the Sweet Story’s Melodramatic Villainess [Transmigration] - Chapter 33

Wild winds swirled with torrential snow; overnight, heaven and earth blended into a single hue of silvery white.

Inside the room, the floor heating was burning steadily, causing a rosy flush to bloom on Cui Yi’s face from the warmth. Pei Mingjiao, who was never one to fear the cold, was wrapped in a blue-gray mink fur cloak, busily building a snowman outside with Caizhu and Dong Zhi.

Cui Yi leaned against the couch by the window. Though the wooden shutters were tightly closed, the cheerful voices from outside were impossible to mask, punctuated frequently by Pei Mingjiao calling her name.

“Yi-niang, Yi-niang, come quickly and look at the ‘Longevity’ I built…”

“Yi-niang, Yi-niang, come here, come here! Caizhu says the one I built looks nothing like Longevity…”

“…Yi-niang, even your maids are bullying me… I’m being bullied to death…”

“Yi-niang, Yi-niang…”

One call followed another without a moment of peace. Disturbed by the noise, Cui Yi could no longer focus on her book. She set it down, draped a white mink cloak over her shoulders, and walked light-footed to the eaves of the porch.

Amidst the vast expanse of white snow, a splash of brilliant color leapt into Cui Yi’s vision.

Pei Mingjiao, who was in the middle of her frolic, sensed a gaze upon her. She looked up to see her wife, her pale face framed by fluffy white fur, watching her with a focused gaze—like a watchful civet cat.

Pei Mingjiao’s heart stirred. She flashed a sly smile at Cui Yi and threw the snowball in her hand toward her. She had expected to startle her, but the other woman stood there with an air of calm indifference, her feet not moving an inch.

In truth, Cui Yi’s judgment was remarkably accurate. The snowball landed half a step away from her, splashing up tiny, fluffy flakes of snow. Cui Yi’s eyes, however, did not linger for a second on the fallen snow; her gaze was fixed intently on the bright, beautiful lady in red standing under the ginkgo tree, swathed in fur.

Seeing her young wife wear a face of disappointment over the failed prank, Cui Yi’s features shifted. She took half a step backward and said in a flat voice: “Fortunately, it did not hit me.”

Pei Mingjiao: “…”

Pei Mingjiao blinked. She had never expected Cui Yi to use such clumsy acting; it was a blatant, transparent attempt at indulgence. Pei Mingjiao let out a huff of annoyance and ran over impetuously. The gold threads on her red robes shimmered under the snowy light like a nimble deer, hopping lightheartedly before Cui Yi. Her cheeks were flushed red from the exertion, and her warm breath misted around her eyes. She spoke forcefully, her words clear and resonant: “Ah, Yi-niang, you are too much! Do you take me for a fool? Did you think I would actually believe that?”

Cui Yi reached out to brush the powdery snow off Pei Mingjiao’s cloak. A hint of a smile appeared at the corners of her eyes and lips, her usual coldness fading to reveal a hazy, shimmering tenderness. She asked in return: “Is it not true that you didn’t want to hit me either?”

Pei Mingjiao’s indignation vanished instantly. Without any affectation, she admitted: “Well, yes. It would hurt if it hit you, and that wouldn’t be good.”

Then, shifting her tone, she spoke with total conviction: “Even so, Yi-niang, you were too fake. It wasn’t fun at all.”

Cui Yi cooperated by lowering her eyes, assuming a look of one admitting fault: “I will improve next time.”

For some reason, Pei Mingjiao’s heart suddenly felt soft and tingly. She desperately wanted to pull the current Cui Yi into her arms and nuzzle her, but she had been outside for a long time and her body was cold. She could only restrain herself, her eyes shining bright as she gave Cui Yi a kiss.

Cui Yi had long since grown accustomed to such displays of public intimacy. Her gaze fell upon the snowman not far away, and she offered a sharp critique: “They were right. It looks nothing like Longevity.”

“Furthermore, it is hideously ugly.”

Having said her piece, she turned and headed back into the inner chamber, leaving Pei Mingjiao to shout indignantly behind her, “I don’t believe you! Yi-niang, you’re just speaking out of spite. Is it just because I kissed you in front of everyone?”

Cui Yi’s slow pace quickened, her cloak fluttering in a sharp arc.

Pei Mingjiao let out a sigh, acting like a mature elder. Yi-niang is still too thin-skinned, she thought, before familiarly heading inside to coax her.

Caizhu and Dong Zhi, who had been ignored throughout, exchanged a glance and continued building their snowman.

While Cui Yi and Pei Mingjiao were immersed in their sweet affections, Madame Li of the Gu Residence looked at the leisurely Gu Yue and could not stop her growing anxiety. Pei Mingjiao was already married, yet Gu Yue’s future prospects and marriage remained unsettled. As a mother, it was inevitable for her to feel the heat of worry. Gu Yue, however, was quite relaxed. “Mother, you can rest easy. The Princess will not treat me poorly.”

Madame Li believed those words, but until things were set in stone, she remained uneasy.

Gu Yue sighed and was about to offer some words of comfort when a maid hurried in to report: “Madam, the Eldest Miss has returned.”

This news startled both Madame Li and Gu Yue. Madame Li’s brows shot up: “What is the meaning of this?”

Gu Ning had committed a grave error; it was impossible for Father Gu to allow her return.

The maid reported what she knew: “It was the Master who allowed the Eldest Miss to return.”

It was actually Father Gu who had allowed Gu Ning back, even at the risk of offending the Eldest Princess. Madame Li and Gu Yue exchanged a look, and Madame Li immediately came to a decision: “Yue-niang, in the future, avoid the Eldest Miss whenever possible.”

Gu Yue nodded solemnly, praying in her heart that her elder sister would not cause any more trouble.

After nearly half a year, Gu Ning had finally returned to the prosperous city of Chang’an. Her once-rounded cheeks had thinned, and her whole figure appeared more fragile—it was clear she had suffered quite a bit.

Seeing this, Madame Li sighed inwardly, though she maintained the facade of a kind stepmother on the surface. “It is good that you are back. You must be exhausted from the journey; go and rest quickly.”

Gu Ning gave her a cold, indifferent glance and led her people back to her former courtyard. The elderly nanny beside Madame Li was indignant on her behalf, but Madame Li merely gave a faint smile, unbothered. She whispered an order: “Remember to keep a close watch on her.”

Looking at the familiar courtyard, Gu Ning nearly couldn’t hold back her tears. When she first arrived at Father Gu’s ancestral home, the Gu clan had been somewhat polite to her. But later, seeing that Father Gu truly ignored her, they became increasingly neglectful. She was even bullied by the young ladies and gentlemen of her generation. No one stood up for her. She had sought help from the Male Lead, but he ignored her entirely. Gu Ning had no choice but to demonstrate her value to him, but the result was that the Male Lead took all the benefits without saving her—he didn’t even provide the slightest bit of financial relief.

From then on, Gu Ning knew that men were unreliable, and the Male Lead was no exception.

Just when she was at her wit’s end, she met a certain person.

Gu Ning’s gaze darkened, carrying a hint of feigned innocence. She secretly resolved that this time, she would turn the world upside down.

Cui Yi had no idea that the Female Lead had returned. She was currently being pestered by the “Villainess” to go to the western suburbs for the hot springs. This was something she had already promised, so she wouldn’t go back on her word. But Pei Mingjiao had accidentally “let slip” her true intentions. Cui Yi truly didn’t understand what was going on in the head of a young girl this age. When she was that age, she was never curious about such meaningless things; her pursuit of sensory pleasure was practically non-existent. Yet her wife, a proper ancient woman, had a curiosity that was filled to the brim and a passion that never faded.

It was truly baffling to Cui Yi.

The girl who had just reached adulthood was currently pillowed against Cui Yi. Watching Cui Yi’s thin skin flush a deep red, she was equally baffled: “What is the big deal?”

As someone who required a retinue even to go to the washroom, Pei Mingjiao truly did not understand the fuss.

Cui Yi was not one for excessive coy behavior. she let out a long, slow sigh. She looked at the servants in the distance who stood with lowered heads and held breaths, quiet as if they didn’t exist, then looked at the innocent Pei Mingjiao sprawled across her lap. She reached out and patted her head, her features softening slightly: “Get up, my legs are going numb.”

Pei Mingjiao gave an “oh” and rose obediently.

Cui Yi placed a white stone on the board and spoke: “Then let us go.”

Pei Mingjiao’s eyes lit up instantly.

Naturally, they had to inform Madame Du about the trip to the western suburbs. Looking at the accumulated snow outside and thinking of how Cui Yi and Pei Mingjiao were currently in the “honey in oil” phase of their relationship, Madame Du merely instructed the servants to take extra care and did not stop them.

By the time Cui Yan, the father, found out, it was already the next day, right as they were departing.

Cui Yan: “…”