Forbidden to Bully the Storybook’s Heroine – Chapter 57

So Sweet

Song Muyun’s words had completely blown Jiang Yao’s mind. Even after she’d brought her back, she was still in a daze, turning one thought over and over. She… she likes women?

How is that possible?!

The dream never said anything about her liking women!

But years had passed since the dream. Why hadn’t she gotten married? If she liked men… she should have been married long ago. So why wasn’t she?

Could it be… could it be that she really does like women?

Jiang Yao glanced back by accident and saw Song Muyun’s cheeks, flushed red from the wind. Her heart seized with panic. She tried to hurry away, but her family’s own little ancestor¹ called out to her.

“Jiang Yao.”

Her voice was soft, yet it was enough to stop Jiang Yao in her tracks.

It took a long moment for her to turn around. She cleared her throat. “Wh-what is it?”

Song Muyun walked over and took her hand, her voice tinged with a hint of complaint. “Why are you walking so fast? I can’t even keep up with you.”

Jiang Yao was speechless.

All she wanted right now was to be alone.

“Okay, I’ll take you back first, then.”

The girl was beautiful, a vibrant and moving sight. Jiang Yao didn’t feel right letting her go back alone; she was always meticulous about these things.

“Take me back first? Do you have something else to do later?”

Jiang Yao paused. “Well, it’s nothing important. I was just going to go sit somewhere, have a drink, and look at the scenery.”

Hearing this, Song Muyun immediately latched onto her. “Then I’ll go with you. I don’t want to be by myself.”

Jiang Yao hesitated, but before she could even properly consider it, the girl’s expression fell. Her eyes glistened with unshed tears as she bit her lip and lowered her head. Her voice was faint. “What? You don’t want to take me?”

That single sound was all it took. Jiang Yao surrendered instantly. “No, no, no! What are you thinking? Of course I want to take you. I’ll take you, I’ll definitely take you.”

“Hmph. If you don’t want to, you don’t have to force yourself. Just say so.”

Anyone else would have recognized she was speaking in opposites, but Jiang Yao’s eyes lit up. She asked earnestly, “Really?”

Her mind was a complete mess from everything Muyun had said, her thoughts all tangled together. She desperately needed to sort them out.

Song Muyun froze, pinned by those big, round, luminous eyes. She was already cursing Jiang Yao in her head. You blockhead, you absolute blockhead! Why don’t you just infuriate me to death and get it over with!

“Fine, don’t take me. It’s not like I wanted to go with you anyway,” she snapped.

Furious, Song Muyun spun around and stalked off, leaving nothing but a crimson back in her wake.

Of course, Jiang Yao couldn’t possibly let her go back alone, so she followed. The girl told her to go away, not to follow. After she’d shouted it a few times, Jiang Yao finally relented and left.

Reason told her she wasn’t good with words and had probably angered her again. She should chase after her and coax her. But her thoughts were a tangled mess, and she just didn’t have the energy to coax anyone right now.

And how could she? Song Muyun said she liked women, and she actually felt… that Song Muyun wasn’t wrong. Especially when she looked at that flower-like face.

Could it be that I don’t just like women, but I like Muyun?

Have you lost your mind? The female lead isn’t someone trash like you is allowed to like.

Jiang Yao stood outside her own courtyard, trying to organize her thoughts while simultaneously giving herself a scolding that showered her in dog’s blood².

She truly felt she wasn’t worthy. This was the female protagonist, for heaven’s sake! The female lead! A woman who embodied every wonderful quality imaginable. Was she insane to think she could be paired with a notorious silk-pants³ from the Jing Capital⁴?

Never think about this again!

Muyun treated her with the intimacy of a dear friend. If she ever found out that Jiang Yao coveted her, she would surely sever all ties.

But is it impossible for Muyun to like me?

Yes, it was impossible. With Muyun’s temperament, looks, and knowledge, even if she liked women, she would deserve a scholarly woman! Not a coarse martial woman⁵ like her. She was careless and brash, always overlooking the finer details. She couldn’t recite poetry and compose couplets⁶ with her, or play chess and strum the zither⁷.

Jiang Yao swallowed hard. Deep down, she actually believed Muyun liked women, too. But that woman would most likely never be her.

After waiting outside a while longer to clear her head, she finally walked in. Song Muyun was sitting in the courtyard drinking tea. When she saw Jiang Yao enter, she gave her a cool glance, clearly in no mood to talk.

Jiang Yao coughed lightly and approached the girl, shamelessly asking, “Drinking tea? I want some, too. Pour me a cup, won’t you?”

The girl didn’t want to. She looked cold and distant. “If you want some, pour it yourself. Don’t order me around.”

She was angry that Jiang Yao had wanted to go out without her. It wasn’t that she had to go, but Jiang Yao couldn’t just decide to go out alone and not even invite her! It was too much.

Song Muyun’s eyes were red with anger. When she saw Jiang Yao actually sit down and pour her own tea, the frustration in her chest grew even tighter.

A moment later, with a soft huff, she stood up and left.

Even an idiot like Jiang Yao could sense the girl’s displeasure now. She remembered she hadn’t coaxed her before coming into the courtyard. She quickly stood up and followed, calling out, “Muyun, what’s wrong? You don’t want to talk to me?”

Song Muyun ignored her and continued walking toward the house, though she secretly expected Jiang Yao to chase her and say a few sweet things.

Just as she was thinking this, Jiang Yao’s voice suddenly rose. “If you don’t want to talk to me, I just won’t come back tonight. That way you won’t get annoyed seeing me.”

The truth was, she didn’t dare stay. She needed to go somewhere else and properly calm down. How could you develop feelings for the female lead? Are you a crazy ball⁸ or something?!

But Song Muyun was utterly shocked. She whirled around, the hairpins in her dark hair colliding with a crisp, ding ling dang lang⁹. She stared at Jiang Yao in disbelief.

She was waiting for Jiang Yao to coax her, and instead, Jiang Yao had decided to stay out all night?

“Jiang Yao!”

Song Muyun was beside herself. She was trying to get Jiang Yao interested in the idea of female-female joyous love¹⁰!

Standing in the courtyard, Jiang Yao saw her growing anger and just stood there like a fool. “Ah? Huh?”

“What is it?”

She still doesn’t know what’s wrong!

Song Muyun bit her lip, her eyes suddenly turning red as she demanded, “If you don’t come back tonight, where are you going to go?”

“Well… I haven’t really thought about it. Probably find a tree and make do for the night.”

Half of the anxiety in Song Muyun’s heart settled. At least she hadn’t heard another person’s name. If she had, she really would have lost her mind.

A rare, demanding look appeared on the beautiful fairy’s face as she glared at Jiang Yao. “No. You’re not allowed to go. If you dare not come back tonight, I’ll never speak to you again!”

When they first met, Song Muyun had been incredibly timid, startled by the slightest thing. But later, almost every time she was angry, upset, or sad, Jiang Yao would hold her and coax her. Jiang Yao always yielded for her. The more it happened, the bolder she became. A wild-flower that no one cares for can’t use the silent treatment as a threat.

Only a delicate flower that’s been thoroughly spoiled can.

Jiang Yao, as expected, paused. She quickly gave her answer. “You’re not angry anymore? Good. If you don’t want me to go out, then I’ll definitely come back.”

Song Muyun then asked, “Do you have anything else to do now?”

Jiang Yao honestly shook her head. The next second, her little ancestor opened her arms. “Then I’m tired. Will you sleep with me?”

Her tone had somehow turned soft again, even though she’d just been scolding her. A woman’s heart is a needle at the bottom of the sea¹¹, indeed.

“Okay, but it’ll be time for lunch soon.” Jiang Yao walked over, scooped Song Muyun into her arms, and looked down to speak to her.

Song Muyun’s arms wrapped naturally around Jiang Yao’s neck as she nuzzled against her. “I don’t want lunch. I want to sleep. You have to sleep with me.”

Jiang Yao knew that if she let her sleep alone, she would have nightmares.

“Alright, I’ll stay with you.”

The woman’s fair, slender arms were draped over her neck, the contact almost searing her skin.

I can’t take this anymore. The female lead must see me as a very good friend, otherwise why would she be so close? And here I am, feeling this way about her…

Jiang Yao’s eyes were filled with a complex mix of emotions. She silently turned her head away, not daring to let Song Muyun see.

They closed the door, drew the curtains, and set up the screen. The room was pitch-black, but with Jiang Yao’s eyesight, she could still see Song Muyun’s body, glowing white after she removed her clothes.

So… “Why did you take off your inner robe, too?”

Is that just a Dudou¹² left? Am I seeing things?

Jiang Yao stared hard, finally confirming that her eyes weren’t deceiving her. Song Muyun really had stripped down to nothing but her Dudou. She hugged her pale body, her watery eyes fixed on Jiang Yao.

When she heard Jiang Yao’s question, she just said softly, “I think it’s more comfortable to sleep this way.”

Jiang Yao had already taken off her own outer robes, but she didn’t dare approach the bed just yet. She coughed nervously. “Aren’t you… cold like that?”

Song Muyun looked at her and said faintly, “You’ll be holding me. How could I be cold?”

She… wasn’t wrong.

Jiang Yao felt they were growing closer and closer, and it wasn’t a good sign. But she couldn’t fight it. She couldn’t refuse her.

In the end, they slept together.

A woman wearing only a Dudou burrowed into another woman’s embrace, her two bare, snow-white arms hooking around her neck.

Jiang Yao gently unhooked them and tucked them into the blankets.

“Don’t leave them outside the covers. It’s cold,” she said.

Song Muyun gave a muffled, annoyed grunt. “Fine.”

He’s so hard to seduce. I’ve tried everything I’ve read about, but the people in the storybooks get seduced. Jiang Yao doesn’t.

How can she have so much self-control?

Feeling sullen, Song Muyun secretly kicked at Jiang Yao’s calf with her toes from under the blanket.

Her feet were ice-cold and she didn’t have much strength, but it was enough to make Jiang Yao shiver. A moment later, however, both of her feet were captured and held firmly between Jiang Yao’s legs.

“How did they get so cold? They’re like blocks of ice. I’ll have you soak your feet later.”

Song Muyun was completely enveloped in Jiang Yao’s arms, so comfortable she could only squint her eyes. She certainly had no objection. “Okay. You can soak them with me.”

“Mm.”

Jiang Yao wrapped an arm around Song Muyun’s back, pressing her deeper into her embrace. This was a technique born from long experience sleeping together; she knew this would make Muyun more comfortable.

Although Song Muyun hadn’t been sleepy, being held so carefully in the cocoon of warmth made her drowsy, and she quickly drifted off.

A little while later, when Jiang Yao called her name, there was no response.

Her entire face was buried in Jiang Yao’s chest, her feet tucked between her legs, the icy skin slowly being warmed.

Jiang Yao shifted back a little, just enough to see Song Muyun’s face. One cheek was squished into a chubby little mound, her lips puckered. Both cheeks were a little red, probably from the stuffy warmth. So cute.

The moment she had that thought, Song Muyun let out a soft whimper and burrowed deeper, her hands clutching Jiang Yao’s waist and refusing to let go. Jiang Yao hugged her back and dozed off for a while.

That afternoon, when Jiang Ru returned from her visit with the Eighth Prince, she immediately sensed that something was off. Something between her Jiejie and Muyun-jiejie was not right!

For instance, Muyun-jiejie was constantly ordering her Jiejie around, either to fetch things or pour tea, and her Jiejie would always do it without a word.

And for another, if her Jiejie was sitting still, Muyun-jiejie, who had been talking to her just fine, would walk over and sit right next to her, sometimes even holding out her hand for Jiejie to hold.

It’s so strange.

Jiang Yao thought it was strange, too, but she didn’t dare say anything.

Their hands were clasped so tightly she couldn’t even hold her storybook¹³ with one hand and turn the pages with the other.

“Ru’er, have you been going to His Eighth Highness’s rooms these past few days?” Unable to talk to Song Muyun, Jiang Yao turned to ask Jiang Ru instead.

Jiang Ru nodded. “Yes. I came over and sat across from you. Oh, right, Jiejie, His Eighth Highness asked me to give you a message.”

“A-a message?”

The delicate hand holding hers suddenly squeezed, nearly making her stutter.

Jiang Yao’s heart skipped a beat.

Jiang Ru glanced around to make sure no one else was there before whispering to Jiang Yao, “His Eighth Highness said that the Emperor has already started to suspect the Seventh Prince.”

Jiang Ru had never liked the Seventh Prince. Her Jiejie said he was not a good person, and the good-natured Eighth Prince was also on bad terms with him, so there was definitely something wrong with the Seventh Prince.

Jiang Yao knew it was because of what she had shouted that day. Someone had reported it to the Emperor. Although the assassins had denied everything, that only made it more suspicious. You’re an assassin, you’ve finally found a scapegoat for your master, and instead of letting him take the fall, you try to clear his name? That wasn’t how assassins operated.

On top of that, there was the time Murong Chun had kidnapped Song Muyun. Song Muyun had pointed the finger at Murong Qing, Murong Qing had denied it, and Murong Chun had cursed him out. A single incident wasn’t enough for the Emperor to suspect Murong Qing, but two incidents together was a different story.

How could there be such a coincidence in the world, where everything just happened to point to Murong Qing?

“Mm, I understand. We don’t need to do anything for now. We just need to wait for him to reveal a flaw.”

The situation was in their favor. All they had to do was maintain their advantage.

As Jiang Yao thought this, she gently squeezed Song Muyun’s thumb and worked her hand free. She picked up an orange from the table, peeled it, and habitually offered it to Song Muyun.

She used to always give the first piece to her sister, but now her mind was completely focused on Song Muyun.

Song Muyun was clearly enjoying this, but she still had to act coy. She took Jiang Yao’s hand, now sticky with orange juice, and rubbed it against her own. Her voice was shy. “Oh, my, Ru’er-meimei is still here. Don’t just pay attention to me, give some to Ru’er-meimei first.”

Her eyes were bashful and hesitant as she looked at Jiang Yao, whose heart instantly fluttered in panic. Her hand immediately followed the command and offered the entire peeled orange to Jiang Ru.

Jiang Ru was also taken aback. Just as she was about to wave her hand in refusal, she heard Muyun-jiejie’s voice grow even softer. Her hand, hidden under the table, seemed to lightly smack her Jiejie somewhere as she said with a playful pout, “What are you doing? You’re not even going to leave a single slice for me?”

Jiang Yao and Jiang Ru were speechless.

Jiang Ru quickly said, “It’s okay, Jiejie, I don’t want any. You should give it all to Muyun-jiejie.”

With that, Jiang Yao retracted her hand, took off a slice, carefully peeled away the white pith, and fed it to Song Muyun.

Song Muyun’s eyes shimmered as she obediently opened her mouth and accepted the orange slice.

Jiang Ru was dumbfounded. She had no idea what had happened in the two days she’d spent with His Eighth Highness. How had her Jiejie and Muyun-jiejie become so intimate? Her Jiejie was naturally careless; when had she ever been so meticulous with any woman?

It was truly baffling.

“So sweet,” Song Muyun praised, her eyes crinkling happily.

Jiang Yao replied in a low voice, “Mm, then you should have some more.”

With that, she fed her another slice.

Ever since she realized she might like women—and the female lead, at that—she found herself losing more and more control. She wanted to be good to Song Muyun. She wanted to be better and better to her.

“You try some, too.”

Song Muyun’s fingertips were round and lovely, the tips a faint pink. She picked up a slice of orange and held it in front of Jiang Yao, her eyes looking on in expectation.

Jiang Yao stiffened. After a moment, she opened her mouth and ate it.

Then she stopped her. “Don’t move. I don’t really like oranges. You eat them. Put your hands back in your sleeve covers¹⁴ so you don’t get cold.”

“Oh.”

Song Muyun obediently put her hands back. Jiang Yao continued to feed her orange slices, one after another. Soon, the orange was gone, and the girl finally spoke up, dissatisfied. “But like this, I can’t hold your hand.”

Her hands were ordered to be in her sleeve covers, and she had obeyed. But now she couldn’t hold Jiang Yao’s hand.

“If you can’t hold it, you can’t hold it. What’s so great about holding hands?”

Jiang Yao turned a page in her storybook. A moment later, she felt the air grow quiet, as if the day had suddenly gotten colder.

She swallowed nervously and peeked to the side. Sure enough, Song Muyun was staring at her with a blank expression. After a moment, probably because she didn’t get the response she wanted, the little fairy didn’t feel like talking either. With a soft huff, she turned her head away, flat-out refusing to acknowledge Jiang Yao.

Jiang Ru looked at her Jiejie, then at Muyun-jiejie, and sighed internally. Why are they both acting like children now?

Not wanting to get involved in a “children’s” squabble, she stood up to take her leave. “Jiejie, Muyun-jiejie, it’s getting late. I’ll go back and rest for a bit. I’ll come find you for dinner later?”

“Mm, okay. You go on back.”

Jiang Ru’s room was right across from theirs. She nodded lightly and walked away, leaving Jiang Yao alone in the courtyard with her little ancestor.

Jiang Yao reached out and poked Song Muyun. “What’s wrong? Unhappy?”

Does this girl really have such a temper?

“Heh.”

Song Muyun let out a cold laugh and moved to a stone stool one seat over, putting some distance between them.

Jiang Yao was speechless.

“Are you really angry with me?”

Jiang Yao moved to sit next to her. Song Muyun shot her a glare and moved to another spot. Jiang Yao had no choice but to follow again. This time, her little ancestor finally stayed put, allowing Jiang Yao to poke her shoulder and coax her in a low voice.

She was getting experienced at this. Her little ancestor got angry eight hundred times a day. As soon as she got upset this time, Jiang Yao knew exactly what she’d said wrong to displease her.

“That’s not what I meant. I was just worried your hands were cold. You know I’m not good with words.”

She had never been good with words. Unfortunately, her little ancestor was the type to bite texts and chew characters¹⁵, always getting angry over a single sentence and requiring a great deal of coaxing.

Song Muyun’s lips were pressed into a thin line as she continued to glare at her.

“But my body is cold. Don’t you know that? Even if I hide my hands, I won’t get warm.”

Jiang Yao frowned, skeptical. But when she pulled Song Muyun’s hand out of the sleeve cover, she found it really wasn’t much warmer. It was still ice-cold.

Damn it, what’s wrong with this girl’s constitution? How can she be this cold? Didn’t she ever take care of her health before?

“When we get back to the Jing Capital, I’ll find someone to help you regulate your health.”

Song Muyun pulled her hand back. “Who asked you to? I’m not talking to you.”

She was probably spoiled rotten. Seeing Jiang Yao trying to coax her only made her temper flare up even more.

When that slippery hand escaped her grasp, Jiang Yao froze for a moment. Then, she reached out again, took the hand, and began rubbing it between her palms. Gradually, it started to warm up.

Song Muyun didn’t pull her hand away this time. As Jiang Yao rubbed, a pink blush spread from her cheeks, and she quietly turned her head aside.

After warming one hand, Jiang Yao lifted her chin. “The other one.”

Seeing how patiently Jiang Yao was warming her hands, the little bit of anger in Song Muyun’s heart had long since vanished. She obediently held out her other hand, letting Jiang Yao rub it warm.

---

---