Forbidden to Bully the Storybook’s Heroine – Chapter 104

Extra 1: The Original Female Lead is Reborn (8)

During the days when Jiang Heng had held a favorable impression of the Seventh Prince, he had granted him many conveniences. Now that he had suddenly come to his senses, he found it hard to believe he had been so insistent on helping the prince.

He had always been impartial. How could he have given a junior special treatment simply because he had a good feeling about him?

            

It was absurd. The Seventh Prince must have placed a gu curse on him!​¹

Though he had no proof, Jiang Heng’s opinion of Murong Qing had plummeted to rock bottom. For several days in a row, not only did he refute Murong Qing in court, but he also rescinded every convenience he had ever offered.

After court, Murong Qing tried several times to exchange a few words with Jiang Heng, but the Prime Minister simply offered a perfunctory salute and left, showing no intention of waiting for him to speak.

            

Murong Qing’s face was livid with rage. That very day, he paid a visit to the Jiang Residence—to find Jiang Huai, of course.

He had leveraged his close friendship with Jiang Huai, their daily amusements, and the occasional study sessions he encouraged to win the Prime Minister’s favor. Jiang Heng had always treated him with more warmth than his other brothers, but recently, he had abruptly begun to suppress him at court. He had to ask Jiang Huai for a reason.

That was his plan, but upon entering the Jiang Residence, he was met with a closed door at Jiang Huai’s courtyard.

            

A maidservant politely informed him that Jiang Huai was not in; he had gone out to play.

Was that even possible? Jiang Huai would go out without him?

And this early in the morning? Could he even get out of bed?

            

Murong Qing’s brow furrowed. A bad feeling crept into his heart, as if something important was about to slip from his control.

He asked again, “What about Song Muyun, then? She must be here. This prince wants to see her.”

Jiang Huai saw Song Muyun every day. She might know something.

            

At the mention of Song Muyun’s name, the maidservant’s expression flickered. A moment later, she lowered her head and stated in a stiff, detached tone, “Miss Song is not here.”

Murong Qing was baffled.

He had been in the room that rainy day when Song Muyun tried to escape, so he knew about it. But he had to leave on urgent business and never imagined Jiang Huai would fail to catch her. So what did she mean, not here?

            

“If she’s not here, then where did she go?” Murong Qing asked, his face cold. “Did Jiang Huai send her away?”

That was unacceptable.

He had given the woman to Jiang Huai, confident that Jiang Huai wouldn’t touch her. But… what if Jiang Huai gave her to someone else?

            

Then all bets were off.

At this thought, Murong Qing’s expression turned frightful. The maidservant’s hesitant look seemed to confirm his suspicions.

A tremendous rage engulfed him, his eyes practically shooting fire. He wanted to question her further but figured she was just a maidservant; what could she possibly know? It was better to ask Jiang Huai directly.

            

Murong Qing left Jiang Huai’s courtyard. When the maidservant reported back, Jiang Huai let out a huge sigh of relief. His ass was still sore; how could he dare to hang out with Murong Qing again? His father and sister would kill him.

Unaware of what had transpired in his absence, and with no idea why Song Muyun had been suddenly sent away without a word to him, Murong Qing walked back with a sense of unease. Suddenly, a familiar, crisp voice reached his ears—a bright tone he hadn’t heard in a long time. “Jiang Yao, over here! Let’s pick some roses to make rose pastries, okay? We can eat them while we read our storybooks.”

Another, equally familiar voice immediately followed, its usually cool tone now laced with a hint of gentleness. “Alright. Walk slower, don’t fall.”

            

He couldn’t help but turn his head. There, standing before him in the flesh, was the very same Song Muyun who had just been on his mind.

She was smiling, bright and unrestrained, flitting like a butterfly to a rose bush. It was a side of her he had never seen before.

Even when the Song family was still standing, he had never seen her smile with such joy.

            

Murong Qing’s fists clenched, his sharp gaze fixed on them.

Jiang Yao had noticed him long ago. She shot him a cool glance and gave a rough salute, straightening up before she had even fully bent down. “Is the Seventh Prince leaving? This female subject won’t see you out.”

Murong Qing was speechless.

            

Hearing Jiang Yao’s words, the smile on Song Muyun’s face froze. Only then did she notice the person who had inexplicably appeared nearby. The corners of her lips, once upturned, slowly pressed into a thin line, replaced by a deep and heavy hatred.

Murong Qing’s heart jolted, and an even deeper anger surged within him. Why could she smile so happily for Jiang Yao, but always pull a long face for him?

Song Muyun didn’t even salute him. She just shot him a look filled with profound hatred and scurried to Jiang Yao’s side. Like a young animal seeking protection from an adult, she tugged on Jiang Yao’s sleeve, her face full of fear, not daring to look at him.

            

Jiang Yao did not disappoint her. She shifted her body slightly, shielding Song Muyun behind her, and looked at Murong Qing with cold eyes.

Murong Qing hadn’t visited the Jiang Residence in days, so he had no idea what had happened.

Why was Song Muyun with Jiang Yao? And why did they seem so close?

            

The people at Jiang Huai’s courtyard said Song Muyun wasn’t there. Could it be that she had come to Jiang Yao’s?

But what would Jiang Yao want with Song Muyun? She wasn’t the type to be moved by pity.

“Did Jiang Huai give her to you?” Murong Qing asked, his face dark.

            

After thinking it over, it was the only possibility he could come up with.

Jiang Yao raised her eyes at his words, giving him a measured look. “Is the Seventh Prince referring to Yun’er? Jiang Huai was cruel and ruthless, bullying a weak woman in every way possible. I couldn’t stand by and watch, so I took her away. Is there a problem?”

Murong Qing’s face grew even uglier. “Do you know that she is my person?!”

            

“You must be joking. Jiang Huai said you already gave her to him. As a prince, do you plan on taking back what you’ve given away?”

Jiang Yao’s hand moved imperceptibly to the flexible sword at her waist. If Murong Qing insisted on fighting her for Song Muyun, she wouldn’t shy away from using force. But before that, she simply lowered her voice and said, “If the Seventh Prince has no other business, please leave. My father is in a very bad mood after learning that you and Jiang Huai were involved in bullying women together.”

From the moment he saw Song Muyun at Jiang Yao’s side, acting so intimately with her, Murong Qing had suspected the Prime Minister knew something. Now that Jiang Yao had laid it bare, a shadow crossed his eyes. So that was the reason for the Prime Minister’s recent impatience with him!

            

But Song Muyun was just the daughter of a convicted official, while Jiang Huai was the Prime Minister’s son. So what if he bullied her? To fall out with him over her—was it really necessary?

The sleeve behind Jiang Yao was tugged. Song Muyun had finally managed to compose the hatred on her face, though a hint of disgust remained as she pulled on Jiang Yao’s sleeve.

When Jiang Yao turned her head to listen, she whispered, “Let’s go back. I’m tired.”

            

“No rose pastries?” Jiang Yao asked.

Song Muyun shook her head. “No, I don’t want any now.”

Jiang Yao figured Murong Qing’s presence had ruined her appetite. Fine, they could come back and pick the roses after he left.

            

“Alright, I’ll take you back then.”

With that, Jiang Yao turned back to Murong Qing. “If the Seventh Prince doesn’t wish to leave yet, feel free to look around a little longer. This female subject has matters to attend to and will take her leave.”

She gave a cursory salute. Song Muyun, however, refused to even offer that much, unwilling to spare Murong Qing a single glance. She followed closely behind Jiang Yao, step for step, as she was led away.

            

She didn’t give him so much as a backward glance.

Murong Qing stood rooted to the spot, his hands clenched so tightly behind his back that he nearly drew blood from his palms.

Jiang Yao! Did she have to oppose him in everything?

            

And Song Muyun! He was the one who had taken her out of the Music House!

Without him, she would probably be in there fawning over someone else. Now that she had found a new backer, did she look down on him?

It never occurred to Murong Qing that Song Muyun had always looked down on him. He had assumed he had complete control over her, that she could only survive by depending on him. He never expected a Jiang Yao to appear out of nowhere.

            

How long had she been with Jiang Yao? And they were already this close.

She had never shown him a pleasant expression!

Murong Qing was livid. When she was in Jiang Huai’s hands, he could have easily gotten her back. But in Jiang Yao’s hands?

            

Jiang Yao wasn’t as easy to fool as Jiang Huai!

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In Hengwu Courtyard, after the encounter with Murong Qing, her young lady’s expression had remained cold. She wasn’t speaking to her, nor was she smiling.

That unlucky bastard Murong Qing, Jiang Yao thought. Nothing good ever happens when he’s around.

            

A maidservant approached with tea and pastries, asking softly, “Young Miss, Miss, these are freshly made from the small kitchen. Would you like to try some?”

Jiang Yao rubbed her brow. “Mm, bring them inside. We’ll eat in a bit.”

“Yes.”

            

She moved closer to the distracted Song Muyun and waved a hand in front of her face.

The hand was caught. Song Muyun glanced at her listlessly, her lips still pressed together in silence.

“Are you unhappy?” Jiang Yao asked.

            

In front of Jiang Yao, she didn’t need to hide her emotions. Hearing the question, she nodded obediently.

Her pair of phoenix eyes welled up with moisture as she looked at Jiang Yao pitifully.

Jiang Yao’s heart melted completely, and her voice grew even gentler. “Then how can I cheer you up? Should I go buy you a sugar figurine?”

            

Her young lady loved sweets, especially sugar figurines. Every time Jiang Yao went out with friends, she would always bring back all sorts of them for her. She never tired of them and would ask for more the next time.

Although Song Muyun was upset, her anger was directed at Murong Qing; it had nothing to do with Jiang Yao. Moreover, Jiang Yao was trying to coax her in such a soft, warm voice.

In an instant, her mood lifted. But it would be foolish not to take advantage of the situation. The young woman held up two fingers and made a sweet demand. “I want two!”

            

She was so easy to coax.

Jiang Yao couldn’t help but lower her head and chuckle. “Alright, two it is. I’ll go buy them for you in a bit.”

Hearing that she was going out, Song Muyun wrinkled her nose again and instinctively hugged Jiang Yao’s arm, her voice muffled as she refused. “Then never mind. I’d rather you stay and keep me company.”

            

“Alright. Should I have someone else go buy them?”

Yun’er’s emotions were unstable. It was better for Jiang Yao to stay by her side.

She had never thought she would be so devoted to a young woman, treating her like her own daughter, showing concern and consideration for her in every way, terrified that a bad mood might affect the body she had spent so long nursing back to health.

            

The residence physician would write a new prescription every few days, having someone brew restorative tonics for Song Muyun. After several doses, her complexion had finally improved. She no longer looked so pale and frail, as she had when they first met.

Song Muyun wasn’t too keen on having someone else buy them, either. She tugged on Jiang Yao’s sleeve in protest. “No, I only eat the ones you buy.”

“So picky?”

            

“I don’t want anyone else to be good to me. I only want you to be good to me.”

The young woman’s bright eyes were fixed on Jiang Yao. Jiang Yao looked down at her, and for some reason, her heart gave a little flutter.

She feigned composure, pulling her gaze away as she wrapped an arm around Song Muyun’s waist. “Then I’ll take you to the flower street tonight to buy them. For now, I’ll watch storybooks with you.”

            

Yun’er had taken a particular liking to storybooks recently. At first, Jiang Yao had no interest in these ‘mirror polishing’​² stories she’d never read before, but after watching them with her for a while, she found them interesting too.

Song Muyun giggled and agreed. “Okay! So, should we read about the widow and the young miss, the courtesan and the princess, or the empress and her heart’s beloved?”

Jiang Yao was at a loss for words.

            

She was getting wilder and wilder. Who knew that beneath Yun’er’s obedient exterior lay such a person?

Jiang Yao was shocked.

Song Muyun nudged her with her body, urging her, “Hurry up and say it. What do you want to read?”

            

I want to read something subtle…

She used to hate how scholars were so subtle and reserved, how she had to ponder a single sentence eight hundred times to understand it. Only now did she realize what a wonderful virtue subtlety was. It was all her fault for not cherishing it.

The young miss of the Song family used to be so well-behaved and refined. How had she become like this?

            

Am I raising her the wrong way?

With a head full of questions, Jiang Yao chose the one about the courtesan and the princess.

After all, it sounded relatively normal.

            

But she never expected that appearances were just that—appearances. By the first page, Jiang Yao was already stunned.

What was this about a princess spending a fortune to buy out a courtesan, only to have a good time with her on horseback?

What was this about ‘soft breasts half-exposed, hesitating to speak’?

            

How could there be such indecent storybooks on the market! And Muyun was actually reading them!

Jiang Yao looked at Song Muyun in disbelief. Seeing the two blushes that had appeared on her cheeks, she comforted herself with the thought that perhaps Song Muyun didn’t know what the book was about either. It wasn’t her fault.

Jiang Yao cleared her throat, then abruptly pressed a long, slender, well-defined hand onto the storybook, feigning disgust. “What is this trash? It’s so poorly written. Do you have anything else we can look at?”

            

She tried to get Song Muyun to give up on the book by disparaging it.

The young woman lifted her innocent eyes. Though her cheeks were flushed with embarrassment, she still protested, “Is it not good? I think it’s very well-written.”

For a rare moment, Jiang Yao was the one who felt embarrassed. She lowered her head, not daring to look at the book, and didn’t notice the fleeting glint of mischief in Song Muyun’s eyes.

            

When Song Muyun had first read this kind of content, she had indeed been a little shy. But seeing that Jiang Yao was just as shy, she instantly felt better.

In fact, it sparked a desire to tease her.

She snuggled against Jiang Yao’s chest. Hearing her say it was poorly written and wanted to read something else, she pleaded sweetly, “But I want to read this one. Jiang Yao~ I really want to read it. Will you read it with me? Please?”

            

Jiang Yao was speechless.

“You… like to read this?” she asked with great difficulty, her eyes frozen in place.

Song Muyun was a little embarrassed. She pressed her fluffy head against Jiang Yao’s shoulder, her eyelashes trembling shyly as she whispered, “I’ve never read anything like this before. I just want to see what it’s like.”

            

She vaguely remembered that it used to be Jiang Yao who liked to read such lewd things, but now it was her.

It wasn’t that she particularly liked reading it; she just wanted Jiang Yao to read it.

Perhaps if Jiang Yao read enough of it, she might develop some desire for her?

            

People often develop love from desire.

Song Muyun was desperate. But she had always been proper, studying the Four Books and Five Classics, learning rules and etiquette. She had absolutely no experience in seduction and didn’t know how. In her haste and panic, this was the only idea she could come up with.

She had even bought these storybooks herself, sneaking out in a veiled hat to avoid being seen.

            

At the thought, a wave of heat rose to Song Muyun’s face, and she felt extremely shy.

Jiang Yao’s expression was incredibly stiff. She subconsciously wanted to say, You’re still young, it’s not good to read this, but then she remembered that Song Muyun was already nineteen. She wasn’t that young.

“Do you… really have to read it?” she hesitated.

            

Song Muyun nodded firmly. Jiang Yao couldn’t win against her, so she could only sit there with a cold face, uncomfortably reading along.

The storybook was a good one, and the author was talented. It was just… there were far too many scenes of the princess and the courtesan making love with heaven as their curtain and the earth as their mat.​³ Jiang Yao’s ears turned red as she read, marveling to herself. So that’s how it’s done between women. It seems… kind of interesting.

Halfway through the book, it was time for lunch.

            

The storybook in front of them was closed. To her horror, Jiang Yao found that she was still wanting more.

Have I gone mad?

Not daring to think about the debauched scenes in the book any longer, Jiang Yao heard the maidservants bringing in the dishes. She stood up, about to call Song Muyun to eat, only to see that her face was also beet red, looking even more embarrassed than she was.

            

She’s clearly this shy, yet she still insists on reading it.

Jiang Yao shook her head, not knowing what to say.

“After we eat, you’re not allowed to make me read that again. This afternoon, we’re reading something proper, understand?”

            

To avoid reading such indecent material and disturbing her steadfast mind, Jiang Yao would rather read a collection of poems by some famous scholar.

Song Muyun saw her distracted expression, her eyes darting everywhere but at her. She felt a little more at ease; it seemed Jiang Yao wasn’t entirely unaffected.

But on the surface, she nodded obediently. “Mm, okay. How about I read military treatises with you this afternoon?”

            

Jiang Yao’s eyes lit up. Her little lady was becoming more and more considerate.

Military treatises were far more interesting than those stuffy literary works. If she could read those, she certainly didn’t want to read poetry.

Jiang Yao smiled and ladled a bowl of soup for Song Muyun. “Then it’s settled. If you want to read storybooks tomorrow, I’ll read with you again. But I might have to go out the day after. I’ll bring you back a sugar figurine, okay?”

            

She really was like a father raising a daughter in Hengwu Courtyard. Ever since she learned that Yun’er liked it when she used affectionate nicknames, spoke to her in the softest tone, and coaxed her gently, she had indulged her in every way. Now, it was exactly like placating a child.

Hearing that she was going out, Song Muyun was a little unhappy and subconsciously asked about her plans.

Jiang Yao had no intention of hiding it. “A few friends are coming back from the borderlands. I’m treating them to a meal.”

            

“A meal? Can’t I go?”

Song Muyun’s eyes were filled with confusion. It was just a meal; what was wrong with her tagging along? Who was she eating with that was so important she had to be left behind?

The young woman was a little resentful and shot Jiang Yao a quiet glare.

            

Being pampered day after day, she had become quite bold. She was no longer the person who had to act pitiful and obedient to beg for shelter.

Jiang Yao looked hesitant but still refused. “They’re all a bunch of rough brutes. It wouldn’t be any fun for you.”

Those men had been in the army for years without seeing a woman. If they suddenly saw a peerless beauty like Song Muyun, wouldn’t their eyes glow green?​⁴

            

For some reason, Jiang Yao didn’t like other people looking at Song Muyun that way. To avoid beating them up right after they returned with military honors from a hard-fought campaign, it was better not to bring Yun’er along.

The refusal in her words was obvious. Song Muyun was annoyed and glared at her again before lowering her head to drink her soup.

The chicken soup was delicious, with a faint medicinal taste from the restorative herbs it had been simmered with.

            

She had just finished one bowl when Jiang Yao immediately ladled her another. “This was made especially for you. Drink up.”

“You made so much. How can I possibly finish it all?” Song Muyun complained, sipping the soup until tiny beads of sweat formed on her nose.

Jiang Yao took over. “If you can’t finish it, I will. What are you worried about?”

            

“I know you’ll help me drink it.”

She was just saying.

The woman’s beautiful eyes blinked, filled with obvious affection and trust. Jiang Yao felt inexplicably pleased and smiled as well.

            

The day passed quickly. Even though Song Muyun couldn’t understand the military treatises, she stayed with Jiang Yao the entire afternoon, nestled in her arms without changing her position. When a maidservant came to call them for dinner, she stood up and realized her butt was sore from sitting for so long.

She immediately shot Jiang Yao a resentful look.

But Jiang Yao, hearing that there was food, was already impatient. She pulled Song Muyun by the hand toward the steaming, fragrant table.

            

She didn’t notice the way Song Muyun stumbled when she was first pulled up.

What a careless martial artist, Song Muyun thought. Not considerate at all.

After dinner and a bath, Song Muyun finally lay on the bed, too lazy to move.

            

She rested her chin on a fine jade pillow, watching Jiang Yao bustle about, polishing her precious swords and sabers.

After a while, she suddenly asked, “Don’t you polish your weapons every five days? It hasn’t been five days yet. Why are you polishing them again?”

Her eyes were filled with confusion.

            

Jiang Yao explained, “The ones coming this time are my old martial general brothers. They’ll definitely want to spar with me. I want to polish my weapons up to welcome them properly.”

This was the greatest respect one martial artist could show another.

Song Muyun nodded, half-understanding. Then she urged, “Then hurry up. I can barely keep my eyes open.”

            

Having spent their days and nights together, Song Muyun had mastered the art of playing pitiful. She had told Jiang Yao that ever since she was bullied in the Music House, her body was always cold. She couldn’t sleep unless Jiang Yao held her.

At first, Jiang Yao didn’t believe her and gave her a bed warmer to try. But Song Muyun stayed awake until dawn, secretly pinching herself under the covers to make herself cry out, blaming her own frailty and saying she deserved to be disliked and shouldn’t ask for too much.

Jiang Yao had lived in military camps for years, rarely encountering a young woman who would cry like pear blossoms in the rain at the drop of a hat.​⁵ How could she be a match for her? Before long, she had thrown down her armor and surrendered, successfully letting Song Muyun crawl into her bed night after night.

            

She cared for her and cherished her. To ensure Song Muyun rested early and nourished her body, she went to bed early with her. It was a love that could move heaven and earth.

At least, Jiang Yao herself was quite moved.

Hearing Song Muyun call for her, she didn’t hesitate. She rose, set her weapons aside, and got into bed, naturally pulling Song Muyun into her arms with one hand on the woman’s soft, slender waist.

            

Perhaps she had gotten up too hastily, because her hand wasn’t in the right place. It was a little low, half-resting on Song Muyun’s perky bottom.

This could already be considered taking liberties.

However, only the one whose liberties were being taken was aware of it, her cheeks silently flushing red. The one taking the liberties was completely oblivious.

            

She even told her to sleep early.

Song Muyun bit her lip, hesitating. At this rate, when would she and Jiang Yao ever truly be together? She couldn’t wait much longer.

The slender, graceful woman shifted in the other’s arms. Her pale, lustrous thighs brushed against Jiang Yao’s from time to time. Her feet were ice-cold, and the moment they touched Jiang Yao, it sent a shiver through her. Jiang Yao immediately clamped her own legs around them, holding them still.

            

“Your feet are so cold. Let me warm them up for you.”

Jiang Yao paid no mind to her squirming; she was a clingy person by nature. She was only concerned about how cold her feet were. After drinking so many tonics, her constitution hadn’t improved at all. Quack doctors!

Song Muyun lifted her shimmering, watery eyes to look at her, biting her lip in conflict, her thoughts a mystery. Jiang Yao thought she was feeling unwell and asked with concern, only to receive the woman’s reply: “Jiang Yao, my butt hurts from sitting for so long this afternoon. What should I do?”

            

…

How could a celestial fairy say the word ‘butt’! Take it back, take it back right now!!!

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