Forbidden to Bully the Storybook’s Heroine – Chapter 102

Extra 1: The Original Female Lead is Reborn (6)

Jiang Yao expertly scooped Song Muyun up, but when she saw her bare, snow-white feet and thin inner robes, she nearly choked with anger.

She couldn’t be bothered with Jiang Huai anymore. She rushed to carry Song Muyun back into the room as the young woman, her eyes filled with tears, sobbed pitifully against her shoulder.

            

Jiang Huai was stunned by the scene.

He didn’t know which was more shocking: that the usually aloof Song Muyun had actually thrown herself into his sister’s arms, or that his sister had swept her up and carried her away.

And Song Muyun had come out of his sister’s room?

            

Could it be that they had slept together last night?

Jiang Huai’s face changed, his shock palpable.

Inside the room, neither of them paid any mind to what Jiang Huai might be thinking. Song Muyun was burrowing her long limbs into Jiang Yao’s embrace, and Jiang Yao held her comfortingly, making sure she wouldn’t fall.

            

In the quiet that followed, the young woman sat in Jiang Yao’s lap with red-rimmed eyes, her slender, snow-white hands refusing to let go of Jiang Yao’s collar, as if she would run away the moment she loosened her grip.

This was the first day Jiang Yao had worn this set of clothes, and now it was wrinkled.

Feeling a bit helpless, she tightened her arm around the other woman’s waist and glanced down at her bare feet. “Didn’t we agree yesterday that no matter how urgent it is, you have to wear shoes?”

            

Song Muyun wrinkled her nose, displeased. “And you agreed that you’d still be here when I woke up, that you wouldn’t abandon me.”

Feeling that she had been abandoned by Jiang Yao, her eyes welled up, and she looked utterly wronged.

Jiang Yao froze and subconsciously retorted, “I didn’t abandon you. I was right outside.”

            

“But I didn’t see you when I woke up! You scared me to death. I thought it was all a dream.”

When she had woken up, the bedding was already cold, and she was all alone. Loneliness and desolation had nearly consumed her. She had been so terrified that she had rushed out to find her without a second thought.

“Then you could have at least called out. If you had called, wouldn’t I have come in?”

            

Jiang Yao casually grabbed the outer robe she had tossed on the soft couch yesterday and wrapped it snugly around the young woman, who was wearing only her undergarments.

Thank goodness it was only Jiang Huai who saw. He wouldn’t dare go around gossiping.

“How was I supposed to know where you went? What if you weren’t outside?” Song Muyun asked faintly, leaning against Jiang Yao’s shoulder.

            

After her deliberate attempts at intimacy yesterday, Jiang Yao was now quite used to this. When Song Muyun leaned in, she would naturally hold her and pat her back soothingly.

“How could I not be? I was right outside just now.”

“But what if you weren’t? You have to promise me that you’ll tell me whenever you go out from now on. If you don’t tell me, then I’ll know you’re nearby, and I’ll call for you when I want to see you.”

            

She tilted up her beautiful, jade-like face and looked at Jiang Yao with an expectation that was impossible to refuse.

Jiang Yao hesitated for a moment before speaking, offering an even greater promise. “I don’t have much to do anyway. I can take you with me when I go out in the future. You must have been cooped up in the residence for a long time, right?”

Given her brother’s despicable nature, he had deliberately imprisoned her and would certainly not have let her out.

            

As expected, Song Muyun’s eyes lit up at her words. She couldn’t help but think of the last time she had gone out, also with Jiang Yao. She had given Jiang Yao a farewell kiss. Her only regret was not getting to eat that sugar figurine.

A look of nostalgia filled the young woman’s features. Leaning against Jiang Yao, she unconsciously nuzzled her with her fluffy head. “Mhm, then you have to buy me a sugar figurine. I want to eat one.”

A sugar figurine? That thing was cheap. The young woman looked so delicate, but she was surprisingly easy to provide for.

            

“Alright,” she promised. “First, I’ll have someone make you a few sets of clothes, and then we’ll go out. How does that sound?”

Song Muyun nodded eagerly. “Mhm, mhm, okay. I’ll listen to you.”

She shifted her position to hug Jiang Yao’s arm instead, her heart filled with warmth. Jiang Yao was so good to her. Even though Jiang Yao didn’t know her at all and had just been inexplicably entangled by her, she was still so good to her.

            

Song Muyun was greedy for this kindness and couldn’t bear to let it go, no matter what.

“Why don’t you get dressed and put on some shoes first? I’ll have someone bring you my clothes. They’re new, but they might be a bit big.” As she spoke, she reached out to touch Song Muyun’s feet.

The woman’s jade-like feet were small, white, and tender, and felt wonderful to the touch. But Jiang Yao only dipped a handkerchief in the cold tea on the side and began to wipe her feet clean.

            

As she wiped, she chided her, “You can’t be so rash next time. I’m here; I’m not going to run away. You should at least throw on a robe and put on shoes before coming out.”

Song Muyun defended herself. “Well, I didn’t know. Now that I know, I won’t do it again.”

“Mhm. I’ll let it go this time, but don’t do it again.”

            

Jiang Yao remembered how Song Muyun used to dress in all white, so beautiful she didn’t seem of the mortal world, more like a fairy from the clouds. She probably suited white very well.

So, she called for a maidservant and rummaged through her own pile of clothes, finally finding an unworn, snow-white long dress. Every mother hopes for her child to be as beautiful as a fairy, and Madam Jiang, Liang Qingyin, had once shared this extravagant hope. When Jiang Yao had first returned, she had specially commissioned several ethereal-looking outfits for her. But Jiang Yao found white clothes too easy to get dirty and had long since packed them away at the bottom of a chest, never wearing them.

Today, it was perfect for the young woman she was raising.

            

The young woman was fair and tender all over, with a slender figure. When she walked, she had the grace of a weak willow supported by the wind. That white dress would surely suit her perfectly.

The reality was not far from her imagination. The white dress had been made a few years ago. Jiang Yao had grown taller since then and could no longer wear it, but it fit Song Muyun perfectly, except for being a little wide at the waist.

She was terribly thin. Jiang Yao could almost encircle her slender waist with one hand. It was utterly endearing.

            

For the first time, Jiang Yao realized she was also someone who could cherish the fragrant and pity the jade. In short, whenever she saw the lingering scars on Song Muyun’s body, she wanted to just beat Jiang Huai to death.

She was Jiang Huai’s older sister. Upon learning that Jiang Huai had dared to do such a thing, her first instinct was to find other reasons, suspecting that the people around him had led him astray.

But deep down, she had to admit that Jiang Huai was truly not a good person.

            

Before Jiang Yao could praise how beautiful Song Muyun looked, she had already approached with a smile, taking her hand. Her voice was soft. “Do I look good like this?”

She had forgotten what she used to be like. She only remembered fragments from her previous life and believed from the bottom of her heart that Jiang Yao would like that kind of person. So she wanted to try being like that, wanted to be liked by Jiang Yao.

That Song Muyun had her Jiang Yao’s love. And she, too, would have her own Jiang Yao.

            

The woman’s eyes were misty and shimmering. Jiang Yao was taken aback. She felt that if she said Song Muyun didn’t look good, she would burst into tears on the spot. How could she be such a crybaby!

Jiang Yao had never met such a crybaby in her life, man or woman. She was the first.

“You look good, you look good! You look absolutely beautiful like this, like a fairy. You’re the most beautiful person I’ve ever seen in my life.”

            

Jiang Yao tried her best to coax her with her barren vocabulary. Even though her praise was clumsy, Song Muyun was delighted just to hear it. She is the most beautiful person I’ve ever seen in my life, so she should like me the most, too.

Her unbound black hair swayed happily behind her head. A moment later, Song Muyun leaned in and whispered, “You’re also the most beautiful person I’ve ever seen in my life.”

She seemed to say it just to please Jiang Yao. After speaking, she turned her head away, her face blushing, not daring to look at her.

            

Jiang Yao took a deep breath. She deeply felt that some girls were born beautiful and knew how to say sweet things. They deserved to be held in her palm and spoiled.

Song Muyun pursed her thin lips, still blushing from her own bold words, and felt Jiang Yao’s gentle touch on her face.

She quickly looked over, her eyes filled with a hint of confusion, but mostly with a stunning brightness.

            

Jiang Yao pulled back her hand, clenched it into a fist, and held it to her lips and cleared her throat, feigning a serious expression. “Alright, enough of that. I need to see my father in a bit. Are you coming?” she asked Song Muyun.

Song Muyun’s figure stiffened, her expression hesitant.

After a moment, she said, “If you have important business with the Prime Minister, just go. I’ll wait for you at home.”

            

She called this courtyard their home.

Jiang Yao didn’t notice this little detail and just nodded at Song Muyun. “Alright, you wait for me here.”

With that, she was about to leave, but Song Muyun called out to her again. She turned back, puzzled, and saw the young woman open her arms to her, her expression obedient and soft. She said, “A hug before you go.”

            

Jiang Yao froze, completely baffled. If I’m leaving, I’m leaving. A simple goodbye is enough. Why a hug?

Was this the most fashionable way to say goodbye in the capital?

But she was just going to her father’s place and would be back soon.

            

Did that also require a hug?

Jiang Yao stood still. Song Muyun prompted her, “Hurry, come hug me.”

She held her arms open, chin tilted up, waiting silently.

            

She did it all so naturally, as if a hug was simply what was supposed to happen. Jiang Yao couldn’t help but wonder if she was the one with the problem.

Did all the noble ladies in the capital like to hug each other now?

Maybe, maybe that’s it.

            

Song Muyun frowned slightly, the urgency in her eyes clear.

Jiang Yao finally stopped thinking. She walked back a few steps and bent down to embrace the other woman. “Can I go now?” she asked in a low voice.

Having gotten what she wanted, Song Muyun finally showed a bit of shyness. She squirmed in her arms and said softly, “You can. You can go. Come back early.”

            

“Mhm, I know.”

Only then did Jiang Yao let her go and truly leave.

---

Jiang Huai was still standing dumbly in the courtyard. Without his sister’s command, he didn’t dare run off.

            

When he heard someone come out, he quickly looked up. It was indeed his sister. Just as he was about to ask if she had slept with Song Muyun, he heard her say, “Let’s go. Come with me to see Father.”

Jiang Huai was speechless.

His face fell. “Are you really going to tell Father about this?”

            

Jiang Yao snorted coldly. “You made a mistake, so you should bear the responsibility. Teaming up with Murong Qing is no different from asking a tiger for its skin.”​¹

She narrowed her eyes and walked ahead, beckoning for Jiang Huai to follow.

Jiang Huai followed miserably, pleading nonstop. “I won’t hang out with the Seventh Prince anymore, okay? Really! I just thought it was interesting. I know I was wrong now.”

            

“Wrong about what? Tell me.”

For him to say he just thought it was “interesting,” Jiang Yao didn’t believe for a second that Jiang Huai knew he was wrong.

He knew shit!

            

Naive and cruel—that was the state of most young masters from the capital’s noble families.

Jiang Yao pressed her lips together, displeased, but she couldn’t be bothered to waste extra time disciplining Jiang Huai. She was just his sister. It was better to let their old father beat him into submission first.

When they arrived at the front courtyard, Jiang Heng had just returned from the morning court session and was having breakfast with Madam Jiang. Seeing them, he even had someone arrange stools for them to sit and eat.

            

However, Jiang Yao wore a grave expression and said she had something important to discuss, something that concerned the very foundation of the Jiang Residence.

Jiang Heng was stunned. Liang Qingyin was also taken aback. What kind of major issue could possibly concern the foundation of the Jiang Residence?

Jiang Heng frowned. He knew his son and daughter very well. Seeing Jiang Yao’s serious face and Jiang Huai’s guilty, downcast head, he understood something.

            

He stood up. “Follow me to the study.”

“Ai, what’s so urgent you can’t even finish your meal?” Madam Jiang said with a helpless look, but she didn’t interfere. She ate by herself; Jiang Heng would tell her about it when he came back anyway.

In the study, Jiang Yao recounted everything she knew with a cold face, while Jiang Huai knelt on the floor, trembling.

            

The room was silent, save for the chirping of birds outside. After a long while, Jiang Heng finally spoke, his voice markedly different from the relaxed tone he’d had that morning. “Song Yunqian’s daughter is in our residence now?”

“Mhm. Yesterday, Jiang Huai punished her by making her wash clothes in the rain. She was probably terrified by the torment and ran into my courtyard in a panic. I let her stay.”

Jiang Heng nodded, then shot a cold look at Jiang Huai. “Is everything your sister said true?”

            

Jiang Huai gritted his teeth and nodded.

“Did the Seventh Prince teach you to do these things?”

“Yes, yes…”

            

“What else did the Seventh Prince have you do? Those poems and policy essays—did you really think they were good and wanted to show them to me?”

Jiang Heng suddenly recalled how Jiang Huai would bring him things to read every so often. Without exception, they were all written by the Seventh Prince, and Jiang Huai’s excuse was that he thought they were well-written and wanted his father to appreciate them.

That was very strange. Jiang Huai never read books, so how could he judge the quality of an essay?

            

Yet, he had never noticed anything amiss before. He had even developed a favorable impression of the Seventh Prince because of those rather good essays.

Jiang Heng’s face darkened. He suddenly felt as if his heart had been covered in lard​² for the past few months.

Jiang Huai was never good at lying, especially in front of his old father. He lowered his head as far as it would go and confessed everything honestly.

            

Their relationship hadn’t been particularly close, nor was it distant. The turning point was when Murong Qing brought Song Muyun, disguised as a maidservant, into the Jiang Residence. He had taught him that when he was in a foul mood, he could vent his frustrations and amuse himself by tormenting someone helpless.

Song Muyun had no parents or family. She was all alone in the capital, the easiest target imaginable. She couldn’t complain to anyone, and no one would stand up for her.

That was what they had thought. They never expected her to find Jiang Yao.

            

And they certainly never expected Jiang Yao to seek justice for her.

For some reason, as Jiang Heng listened to Jiang Huai slowly recount everything he and Murong Qing had discussed, his mind grew clearer and clearer. He saw at a glance what Murong Qing was after: he wanted the Jiang family’s support; he wanted him to see his talent.

He didn’t know what had been wrong with him before, but he had actually gone along with Murong Qing’s plans and truly thought the boy was promising and talented. He had even praised him in court.

            

Jiang Heng was so angry he was speechless. He was beginning to suspect Murong Qing had used some kind of witchcraft on him.

The subsequent developments were just as Jiang Yao had expected. Jiang Huai was given a beating with the family discipline by his old father. His ghosts’ wails and wolves’ howls​³ echoed from the study, the veins on his neck bulging as his buttocks blossomed.​⁴

Jiang Yao silently stood a little farther away to avoid being spattered by the sweat of pain flying off Jiang Huai.

            

After the beating, Jiang Heng was also covered in sweat, barely able to maintain his usual scholarly demeanor. He panted for a good while to calm down before asking Jiang Yao, “That Miss Song is with you now?”

Jiang Yao nodded. “Mhm. Jiang Huai wronged her. I promised to take care of her for the rest of her life.”

Jiang Heng was speechless.

            

He thought he had misheard and asked again, “Jiang Huai wronged her, so why are you taking care of her for the rest of her life?”

Jiang Yao gave him a look that said, you don’t even get this? “Jiang Huai is a member of our Jiang family. If he wronged her, isn’t that the same as our Jiang family wronging her? And if you really want to get to the bottom of it, the one who wronged her the most is you. Old man, you failed to raise your son properly.”​⁵

…

            

Jiang Heng hated it most when Jiang Yao criticized him. He was often unable to refute her!

“I will handle this matter. If you have time, once the young lady’s injuries have healed, bring her to see me.”

“Hmph. That will probably be a long time from now. Her body is covered in injuries your son inflicted. New wounds on top of old ones. Without some top-quality medicine, I’m afraid it will be difficult for her to recover.”

            

“So what you mean is…”

She was his daughter, after all. A few pointed words and Jiang Heng knew she had a request.

“I hear the imperial consorts in the palace have some Tianshan Snow Lotus Ointment​⁶ that’s most effective for removing scars. Father, could you thicken your skin and ask for a jar for me?”

            

Jiang Heng was speechless.

---

Soon, Jiang Yao got what she wanted. She declined her father’s invitation to stay for a meal and returned to her courtyard first.

She had promised Miss Song she would be back early; she couldn’t break her word.

            

The moment Jiang Yao entered the courtyard, a maidservant bowed to her. Hearing the sound, Song Muyun came running out from the inner room. The instant she saw Jiang Yao, her eyes lit up, and she called out cheerfully, “Jiang Yao!”

Then she flew straight into Jiang Yao’s arms.

Jiang Yao steadily caught her, holding her by the shoulders with a gentle and slightly teasing tone. “Miss Song, I wasn’t too late, was I?”

            

Hearing that distant form of address, Song Muyun’s movements paused for a moment. Then, she hugged Jiang Yao even tighter, a glint of moisture flashing in her eyes. She looked up at Jiang Yao and said earnestly, “I’m not Miss Song. My name is Song Muyun. You can just call me Yun’er.”

Through the thin fabric of her sleeve, Jiang Yao took Song Muyun’s wrist and led her inside, asking curiously, “You like people calling you that?”

Of course Song Muyun didn’t. She was naturally aloof and disliked being too close to people. It was just that Jiang Yao was different from everyone else.

            

The young woman lied against her nature. “Mhm, I like it. All my friends call me that.”

That’s a lie. Her friends only ever called her Muyun.

“Oh. Then I’ll call you that from now on?”

            

“Mhm, mhm.” She stopped walking and turned to look at Jiang Yao, her eyes filled with anticipation.

Jiang Yao inexplicably found the two syllables a little hard to say. A shy feeling coiled around her heart. But seeing Song Muyun’s expectant look, she couldn’t bear to disappoint her.

This woman was terrifying. Every time she was disappointed, it made Jiang Yao unhappy too.

            

So be it, Jiang Yao thought. She cleared her throat and called out softly, “Yun’er.”

She had chosen to indulge her. After calling her name, she reached out to stroke her soft, black hair.

Song Muyun’s eyes were incredibly bright. She pressed her thin lips together tightly and responded with a heavy, “Mhm! I’m here.”

            

She was being exceptionally well-behaved.

It was just a name, yet it made her so happy. Jiang Yao chuckled softly, took her hand again through her sleeve, and led her into the room. She asked if she had eaten breakfast, if she felt unwell anywhere else, if she had a fever, and if the scars on her body were itchy or painful.

The straightforward, unceremonious martial general was always exceptionally meticulous when it came to matters concerning her.

            

Song Muyun had noticed this long ago. But Jiang Yao herself remained completely oblivious. How dense.

---

Jiang Heng really did procure the Tianshan Snow Lotus Ointment from the palace and had it sent to Hengwu Courtyard. Jiang Yao’s eyes went wide. While Song Muyun was still hesitating, unsure if she should accept it, Jiang Yao had already reached out and taken it. “Come, let me apply some for you. From now on, we’ll apply it twice a day, and the scars will naturally fade.”

Hearing her say so, Song Muyun obediently walked over and stood before her, watching as she rolled up her sleeve. The cool ointment was dabbed onto her skin, bit by bit, the chill seeping into her flesh.

            

“Does it hurt?”

That was a funny question.

Song Muyun shook her head with a smile. “It’s just ointment. How could it hurt?”

            

“I don’t know. I’ve heard that some ointments can cause a burning sensation when applied.”

“It doesn’t. The ointment feels very comfortable. Thank you for going to so much trouble for me.”

The young woman’s eyes were clear and bright as she looked at Jiang Yao. After being well-cared-for for a few days, some color had returned to her face, which was gradually becoming rosy again. Her features looked even more exquisite and beautiful. Jiang Yao took a quick glance and was almost dazed.

            

Seriously. Why are some people born so beautiful? If she were a man, I’d definitely marry her and bring her home as a matrilocal husband.​⁷

The innocent Eldest Miss Jiang currently had little understanding of the term “mirror polishing.”

At Wei Hour​⁸ that same day, the custom-made clothes for Song Muyun were delivered. Jiang Yao had Song Muyun try them on, wanting to take her for a walk outside.

            

The young woman changed into a long dress made of Soft Smoke Gauze​⁹ that Jiang Yao had carefully selected. Her skin appeared snow-white and lustrous, and with her serene expression, she looked cool, aloof, and unapproachable.

But this aloofness would completely crumble in front of Jiang Yao. She would smile softly at Jiang Yao, ask for a hug, and act coquettishly with her.

She was deliberately trying to win Jiang Yao’s affection.

            

From the moment Jiang Yao had caught her, she knew she had escaped Murong Qing, escaped Jiang Huai. Jiang Yao would protect her. It turned out that in her first life, she had been so close to happiness, but she had never thought to seek out Jiang Yao.

The streets were bustling with people. The lively cries of vendors and the idle chatter of acquaintances added a touch of worldly warmth to the street.

Song Muyun loved this kind of worldly warmth. She loved being in a bustling market with Jiang Yao. It made her feel that she was still alive, that she possessed something.

            

“Look around some more. Is there anything else you want?”

Jiang Yao had brought Song Muyun out for no other reason than to buy her things. The young woman could have whatever she wanted, as long as it made her happy.

Jiang Yao had noticed that Song Muyun was sometimes melancholic, yet the moment she looked over, she would subconsciously force a smile for her. She couldn’t describe the feeling in her heart, but in short, it wasn’t pleasant. It shouldn’t be like this. She should be carefree and happy, not having to force a smile for others, but laughing when she wanted to and not laughing when she didn’t.

            

“I want you to buy me a sugar figurine!” she emphasized.

Being looked at with such expectation was really hard to refuse.

She seems to really like sugar figurines. I’ll just buy her some every time I come home from now on.

            

Jiang Yao did as she was told and bought a fox-shaped sugar figurine. Song Muyun held it, using both hands to grip its thin stick. She stuck out the red tip of her tongue and licked it lightly, again and again, then said in a sticky-sweet voice, “Can we go to a bookshop later? I want to buy a few books.”

Jiang Yao understood. Of course. Song Muyun was a talented woman, after all. In her courtyard, there were probably only sabers, swords, or storybooks. She must have been bored for a long time. It was about time she found some real books to read.

“Alright, I’ll take you. Tell me whatever books you want to buy. I’ll support your studies from now on. And if you like anyone’s calligraphy or paintings, don’t be secretive about it. Tell me, and I’ll get them for you.” Jiang Yao patted her chest, acting extremely generous and loyal.

            

A quarter of an hour later, she stared at the books Song Muyun was holding, her face frozen.

Although she didn’t like to read, she was literate…

But right now, she wished she couldn’t read at all. “This… this… what is this you’ve bought?” she asked, her eyes wide.

            

Song Muyun hugged the pile of books, her eyes full of innocence. “《The Female Prince Consort Marries the Princess》!​¹⁰ It looks really good. Do you want to read it with me?”

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