Marrying the Sweet Story’s Melodramatic Villainess [Transmigration] - Chapter 37

In the afternoon, the warm sun grew increasingly mellow.

Pei Mingjiao and Gu Yue had worked up a sweat. They glided parallel across the ice, the cold wind brushing against their faces as they exhaled puffs of white mist. Gu Yue squinted her eyes, lazily savoring the afterglow of the exercise.

Suddenly, a calm sentence reached her ears: “Yueniang, do you like the title of Gongcao Langzhong (Official of Records)?”

The words hit Gu Yue like a physical blow, causing her to stumble. Fortunately, Pei Mingjiao reacted quickly and grabbed her. Gu Yue followed the strength in her arm and looked up to see Pei Mingjiao’s face full of worry. “Are you alright?”

Gu Yue’s frantic heartbeat seemed to settle instantly. To Pei Mingjiao’s surprise, Gu Yue burst into a hearty laugh. “I’m fine. I’m just too happy.”

Pei Mingjiao immediately became awkward. She let go once Gu Yue stood firm, her small face tensed as she slightly tilted her chin. “It’s nothing much; it’s not a big deal.”

A Gongcao Langzhong was a rank-five official position. To put it bluntly, Gu Yue’s own father was only a rank-five official himself. Although this position wasn’t as prestigious or “pure” as her father’s, it was an excellent start. Gu Yue couldn’t help but give Pei Mingjiao a fierce hug. With tears and smiles in her eyes, she said gratefully, “It’s I who am useless, making Jiaojiao worry for me.”

Pei Mingjiao returned home in a daze, the image of Gu Yue’s joyful expression constantly flashing through her mind. She asked Caizhu blankly, “Is Yueniang’s position a bit too low?”

Caizhu suppressed the envy in her eyes and comforted her, “Princess, too much is as bad as too little.”

Although Pei Mingjiao had personally promised the position, she was only a Princess Consort without real power. Since she dared to speak of it, there was naturally someone behind her to back it up. This matter would require Princess Royal Yan Linlang to step forward, but since Yan Linlang couldn’t do so directly, the task would ultimately fall to Pei Mingjiao’s grandfather, Grand Secretary Pei.

Hearing this, Pei Mingjiao nodded and said no more. After a while, she quietly glanced at Caizhu, who was sitting below her. Caizhu’s appearance was not striking, but she had a pair of exceptionally fine eyes—dark and bright. Though she was only a few years older than Pei Mingjiao, she was steady and reliable in everything she did.

As the carriage swayed, Pei Mingjiao’s none-too-bright head felt even more like a jumble of mush.

Cui Yi was practicing calligraphy when a maid came to report that Pei Mingjiao had returned.

Cui Yi’s brush dipped too heavily, leaving a flaw in the new character. She calmly set the brush down and folded the ruined paper, tossing it into the wastebasket. At that moment, the sound of disorganized footsteps rang out. Cui Yi looked up slightly, her voice faint: “You’re back.”

Pei Mingjiao was absent-minded. “Mm, I’m back.”

Cui Yi pursed her lips.

Pei Mingjiao’s distracted state lasted for a long time. She appeared listless, completely lacking her usual energy. Cui Yi finally spoke up: “What is it?”

Pei Mingjiao bit her lip and shook her head pitifully, saying nothing.

For no reason at all, Cui Yi began to feel agitated.

She was someone who pursued emotional stability and disliked interacting with people who carried a conspicuous air of gloom.

Cui Yi lowered her gaze, her long lashes shadowing her eyes. She set down her jade chopsticks and said coldly, “If the food is not to your taste, the Princess should not force herself.”

Pei Mingjiao indeed had little appetite. She obediently put down her chopsticks, rinsed her mouth, and wiped her lips with a handkerchief, truly not wanting to eat another bite.

Seeing this, the maids quickly cleared the table.

Dongzhi whispered to Caizhu, “Did something happen today?”

Caizhu shook her head slightly; at this moment, even she couldn’t guess what Pei Mingjiao was thinking.

Usually, at this time, Cui Yi’s ears would be filled with Pei Mingjiao’s constant chattering, making one restless. Today, however, it was so quiet that Cui Yi could hear the sound of Pei Mingjiao’s breathing as she leaned against her shoulder.

Cui Yi frowned, feeling even more irritated.

In the evening, after Cui Yi finished washing, she pulled back the covers to find the bed already warmed by Pei Mingjiao. As soon as she lay down, she was enveloped in warmth.

After a moment, Pei Mingjiao did not cling to her or hug her as she usually did.

The lights in the room were soon extinguished. Cui Yi, who usually had a regular sleep schedule, felt no drowsiness. On this moonless night, she closed her eyes, but the irregular breathing beside her annoyed her. She opened her eyes, her voice ringing out in the darkness: “Princess, if you don’t want to reveal what’s on your mind, that’s fine, but please do not disturb me.”

It took a moment for Pei Mingjiao to process the meaning of those words, and she instantly realized Cui Yi was angry.

Pei Mingjiao felt a surge of grievance. Tears fell immediately, and she spoke with a sob, “You… you’re actually being mean to me.”

Cui Yi was stunned by this choked accusation. A beat late, she propped herself up and leaned over Pei Mingjiao. It was hard to see in the dark, so she had to lean lower until their breaths mingled and their noses touched. Cui Yi reached out and felt her way from the forehead down to the thin eyelids. Her fingertips shifted, and a damp sensation was transmitted through her skin.

In the darkness, Cui Yi’s fingertips trembled. Attempting to coax someone for the first time, her voice sounded very unnatural: “Stop crying.”

Pei Mingjiao pouted. “But you were mean to me.”

Was my voice very mean? Cui Yi reflected. This time, her voice in the darkness was light and soft. “Stop crying. It was I who was too harsh.”

Pei Mingjiao suddenly pulled the leaning Cui Yi into her arms, opening her heart with a low sob: “Yi-niang, I am truly too wicked.”

Cui Yi listened quietly, not interrupting.

“Caizhu is so good, yet I don’t want her to leave.”

“We grew up together. I simply cannot do without her.”

As she spoke, Pei Mingjiao’s tears flowed even more fiercely, the wetness soaking into the skin of Cui Yi’s neck. Cui Yi gently patted Pei Mingjiao’s head. “Tell me slowly what happened, alright?”

“I will solve it for you.”

Pei Mingjiao’s heart settled instantly, and she poured out her worries.

She said that for the past ten years, she had never truly understood Caizhu’s ambitions. She had seen the envy in Caizhu’s eyes when she learned Gu Yue was becoming an official. But if Caizhu left, who would take care of her? She was used to Caizhu arranging everything perfectly; she never even had to speak for Caizhu to understand her. She only had to enjoy it. Caizhu was like an elder sister to her.

“I am so selfish, only thinking of myself.”

Cui Yi’s heart softened. She reached up to wipe away Pei Mingjiao’s tears. “Jiaojiao, you are already very good. This is only human nature. Besides, haven’t you already made your decision?”

Pei Mingjiao wiped her tears hard against Cui Yi’s shoulder and gave a heavy nod. “Yes.”

After crying, Pei Mingjiao felt as if she had dropped a heavy burden and fell into a peaceful sleep. Cui Yi listened to the steady breathing beside her for a long while before turning to embrace her. Scenting the familiar clear fragrance, drowsiness finally came, leading to a night of good sleep.

The next day.

Caizhu looked at the bright, smiling Pei Mingjiao with surprise. After a moment of silence, she performed a formal, deep bow. “Thank you, Princess, for fulfilling my wish.”

Pei Mingjiao quickly helped her up. “What are you doing? Are you trying to act like a stranger with me?”

Caizhu’s clear eyes watched the child she had looked after since childhood, her heart filled with joy and gratitude. “So, the Princess was worrying for my sake yesterday.”

Pei Mingjiao looked away bashfully.

“A great roc rises with the same wind one day, soaring ninety thousand miles high. Princess, from now on, my name shall be Fuyao—Lin Fuyao.”

Pei Mingjiao stared blankly at the person before her, who seemed as if reborn. For a moment, she was incredibly moved, yet she could also feel that shared joy. She was sincerely happy for her.

From that day on, the Bailu Academy gained a new student named Lin Fuyao.