Forbidden to Bully the Storybook’s Heroine – Chapter 113
by Little PandaExtra 2: The ‘What If’ Timeline
Song Muyun soon discovered that Jiang Yao was ignoring her.
Jiang Yao would always show up to the poetry gatherings she attended, but though she came, she wouldn’t speak to her. Even when sitting right beside her, she would just eat with a cold expression on her face, fiddling with her chopsticks, pointedly refusing to look at her.
Somehow… she had made her angry.
The young woman bit her rosy lip. Jiang Yao was angry, but if she didn’t speak first, Song Muyun had no idea how to talk to her, how to ask her why she was upset. What was she to do?
Jiang Yao was indeed in a very bad mood. But even in a bad mood, she still came to see Song Muyun. It had mostly become a habit. The thought that Song Muyun detested her, and by extension detested her gift, was a persistent ache in her heart. It was unbearable. She couldn’t bring herself to initiate a conversation with Song Muyun again. That would be too pathetic.
The person already dislikes you. Why do you insist on forcing yourself on her?
Jiang Yao lowered her gaze to the teacup before her and suddenly pushed it away. She didn’t like tea. If she was going to drink, she’d drink wine.
If it weren’t for wanting to make a good impression on the person she admired, she would never drink tea at all.
But Song Muyun disliked her anyway. Perhaps scholars and soldiers were just naturally incompatible.1
A wave of indignation rose in Jiang Yao’s heart. She suppressed it, stood up, and asked the men’s side for a pot of wine.
The moment she poured it, a clear fragrance filled the air, drawing the curious gazes of several young women.
There had been many poetry gatherings lately, and Jiang Yao had attended every one. She was always polite and rarely got into conflicts, so the other ladies had gradually become less afraid of her.
A young woman in pink craned her neck to look over and asked, “Jiang Yao, do you usually drink wine?”
Jiang Yao’s voice was languid, indifferent. “Yeah, I do. Want to try some?”
She offered the wine pot in their direction, but the woman immediately waved her hands in refusal, her eyes curving into a smile. “No, no, my family doesn’t let me drink. If my mother smelled it on me, I’d be in for it.”
“Oh.”
Jiang Yao figured as much. The young ladies from these families were all under extremely strict supervision. Never mind drinking; even coming home a little late was forbidden.
She went back to drinking by herself. When she had a spare moment, she propped one leg up, resting an arm on her knee, and watched the people painting at the front with an air of utter ease.
She didn’t understand the art, but she watched anyway, sipping her wine one cup after another.
Song Muyun’s hand, hidden in her sleeve, clenched, then relaxed, then clenched again. Suddenly, she spoke. “Stop drinking.”
Jiang Yao looked up, about to retort: What does my drinking have to do with you? If you tell me not to drink, I can’t drink?
But when she met those clear, cool eyes, the words died in her throat. Sulking, she picked up her wine pot and left, not even forgetting to take her cup with her.
Song Muyun froze, instinctively rising to her feet. But Jiang Yao had already gone over to the men’s side and was sitting with Young Master Liang.
She sat back down, crestfallen, a dull ache spreading through her chest for reasons she couldn’t explain.
It was rare for Jiang Yao to treat Song Muyun this way, and she didn’t feel good about it either. Sitting beside Liang Yunhe, she poured a cup of wine and downed it in one go.
The young master sitting on Liang Yunhe’s other side smiled in praise. “Miss Jiang can really hold her liquor.”
Jiang Yao shot him a cool glance but said nothing, drinking another cup. Liang Yunhe leaned closer. “What’s wrong? Bad mood?”
She hadn’t even replied to Song Muyun, so she was even less inclined to bother with her eldest maternal cousin. Wasn’t it perfectly obvious she was in a bad mood?
Liang Yunhe didn’t get angry at her attitude. “Is it because of Miss Song?” he asked.
…
She gave Liang Yunhe a look that said, You even know that? but her eyes were tinged with impatience.
Liang Yunhe chuckled. “What happened between you and Miss Song? She seems to be looking at you.”
Hearing that Song Muyun was looking at her, a jolt went through Jiang Yao. Really? Song Muyun would look at me?
Though she was a little doubtful, not quite believing it, she couldn’t stop herself from looking up—and met that cool gaze head-on.
Unlike her, the other woman didn’t look away guiltily. She just kept watching her, steady and composed. When Jiang Yao gathered her courage and looked over again a moment later, she was still looking.
Jiang Yao’s whole body went stiff. What do I do? Song Muyun is looking at me. Does she have something to say? Should I go over and listen?
But that’s too…
She already dislikes me, and I’m still going to chase after her. I’ve always thought of myself as thick-skinned, but not this thick…
Jiang Yao’s expression was hesitant. She wanted to go, but she felt that it was always her scampering over eagerly, while the other person wouldn’t even spare her more than a few words. It was pointless.
“Did you have a misunderstanding with Miss Song?” Liang Yunhe asked.
Jiang Yao frowned, her voice laced with frustration. “It’s not a misunderstanding.”
How could it be a misunderstanding?!
Song Muyun refused to wear the gift she gave her. That was a fact!
She never wore it out, and she never wore it at home either. QAQ
At the thought, Jiang Yao felt a fresh wave of grievance. She lowered her head, no longer looking at Song Muyun, her expression cold.
Song Muyun’s hand tightened around her teacup. Not long ago, Jiang Yao had said she liked her very much, that she wanted to be friends. But suddenly, everything had changed. She didn’t like her anymore, and she didn’t want to be her friend.
“Muyun, Young Master Cui said he’s treating us to a meal later. Are you going?” Her friend’s voice sounded by her ear.
Song Muyun subconsciously glanced across to the other side of the seating area. Jiang Yao will probably go, she thought. She loves a lively crowd.
So she nodded lightly. “Yes, I’ll go.”
After the poetry gathering, Cui Hansu proposed treating everyone to a meal. Liang Yunhe coaxed Jiang Yao into coming along, and as expected, she didn’t refuse. But she thought, Muyun probably won’t go. This time, without me deliberately squeezing in to see her home, I wonder if she’ll feel more at ease.
It wasn’t until the large, sprawling group was about to leave the Cui Residence that Jiang Yao realized Song Muyun was going too.
She had never liked such boisterous occasions. Why was she going?
Perhaps sensing that familiar gaze, Song Muyun stiffened mid-stride. She only started walking again when the person beside her gave her a tug. She tried to relax her expression, to make herself seem less cold and distant than usual.
But Jiang Yao still didn’t come over to talk to her.
Why? Has she finally realized how boring I am? Does she not like me anymore?
The young woman bit her rosy lips tightly. A film of moisture suddenly appeared in her eyes, but she blinked it back in an instant.
She wasn’t a crier. She had known from a young age that tears solved nothing.
So be it. This is just my personality. It’s only normal that Jiang Yao doesn’t like me.
In the beginning, it was just a bit of interest because I resembled an old acquaintance of hers.
Song Muyun lowered her gaze faintly, her entire demeanor turning cold once more.
Her friend wanted to speak to her, but seeing her icy look, she didn’t quite dare to.
Cui Hansu had booked a private room at Zui Changchun. After all, Liang Yunhe was the young boss,2 so he could get them the best spot.
There were quite a few people, so they had to be split into three private rooms. Liang Yunhe asked Jiang Yao in a low voice, “Are you sitting with me, or with Miss Song?”
Jiang Yao instinctively looked up, only to find Song Muyun looking at her again.
She quickly averted her gaze, not daring to look any longer, and said faintly, “With you.”
“Alright, sounds good.”
The women were seated in the first private room, while Jiang Yao followed Liang Yunhe into the third.
Song Muyun watched her go without a word of protest. After all… she probably really didn’t want to see her anymore.
Her mood today was inexplicably awful. The attendant3 served wine to every room, but the women’s room only received a fragrant fruit wine4 that wouldn’t get one drunk.
Young ladies rarely drank strong liquor, but they could handle a bit of fruit wine.
Someone had already poured herself a small cup and was sipping it. The taste was indeed sweet, clear, and crisp, without a strong alcoholic flavor.
Suddenly, a hand as fair as jade took hold of the slender wine pot. They looked over, their eyes filled with surprise. “Muyun, you’re drinking too? Didn’t Uncle and Aunt forbid you from drinking?”
Song Muyun shook her head, her expression placid. “It’s fine. I want to drink.”
As a daughter of the Song family, she had never had a drop of alcohol. The family rules forbade the young women of the Song clan from drinking.
But today, seeing Jiang Yao downing cup after cup, she suddenly wanted to taste it for herself. What did wine taste like?
Was it really that good?
With that thought, Song Muyun poured a full cup. She touched the tip of her tongue to it; it was a little sweet. Without much hesitation, she tilted her head back and drank it all down. Someone next to her said with concern, “Don’t drink so fast, you’ll get drunk easily.”
“Mm, I know.”
She agreed verbally, but her actions didn’t quite follow.
In another room, Jiang Yao had also drunk a great deal. None of these noble young masters from the capital could hold their liquor; a few pots of wine and they were all sloshed.
Suddenly, she was the most sober person in the room, as if she hadn’t drunk at all.
Jiang Yao swept her gaze around the room. “Tsk,” she clicked her tongue and asked if they wanted to drink more.
With so many people present, they had their pride to consider. How could they let themselves get dead drunk in front of everyone?
They hurriedly waved their hands in refusal.
“No more, no more! Miss Jiang truly has the Great General’s flair for drinking a thousand cups without getting drunk.5 We are full of admiration.”
Jiang Yao: …
She was actually hearing about her master’s legendary drinking prowess.
To be honest, that was only because her master used his internal energy6 to expel the alcohol as he drank. What “thousand cups without getting drunk”? It was all just him bragging.
Jiang Yao shook her head. I’m much better than my master, she thought. At least I actually drink it.
After a round of drinking, it was time to eat. Jiang Yao had no appetite, but she still picked at her food listlessly. There were many dishes on the table, but the room was mostly full of men with large appetites, and the food was soon seven or eight-tenths gone.
A moment later, a young servant7 knocked on the door. He entered, bowed to Cui Hansu, and said, “The young ladies at that table are preparing to leave.”
Cui Hansu was also a little drunk, his face flushed. He propped his head on one hand and instructed, “Remember to send a few people to escort them home.”
“Yes.”
Hearing that Cui Hansu had sent people, Jiang Yao felt a little relieved. In that case, she wouldn’t go.
The meal lasted a long time, probably because of talkative people like Cui Hansu. Theirs was the last table to finish. Only when people from the other private room came to take their leave did they finally stand up and bid each other farewell.
Jiang Yao walked lazily at the very back, fiddling with the tassel on the hilt of her longsword.
Unexpectedly, someone up ahead suddenly called out, “Miss Song.”
Thanks to her lover in a dream, Jiang Yao was now exceptionally sensitive to the surname “Song.” The moment she heard it, she looked up instinctively.
And came face-to-face with Song Muyun, who was blocking the path.
The young woman’s eyes were watery for some reason. She was biting her lip, and it was unclear who she was waiting for.
Surely she’s not waiting for me?
Heh, what a nice thought.
She lowered her gaze, chiding herself for being so shameless as to still think Muyun would be waiting for her.
The people ahead were also asking, “Miss Song, why are you still here? Are you waiting for someone?”
Liang Yunhe turned to look at Jiang Yao.
“Is she waiting for you?” he asked her.
Jiang Yao was already in a bad mood, and his words made her even more impatient. “Are you nuts? Why would she be waiting for me? Who kno—”
Before she could finish, a clear voice came from the front. “Waiting. For. Jiang. Yao.”
The voice was exceptionally clear, each word enunciated.
Jiang Yao froze, instinctively straightening up and looking over again.
They locked eyes, with several people standing between them.
The moment she saw Jiang Yao, Song Muyun’s eyes visibly brightened. The corners of her lips curved up slightly, and she instinctively started to push through the crowd toward Jiang Yao.
The other young masters quickly cleared a path. Liang Yunhe made a tsking sound. “Looks like she’s drunk. Seems you two are really close. Are you going to keep fighting with her?”
Jiang Yao paused again. She wanted to say that she and Song Muyun weren’t fighting. To fight, you had to at least be friends, right? They weren’t even friends, so what was there to fight about? At most, it was… a failed attempt at friendship, and they were back to being strangers?
She didn’t speak, just watched as Song Muyun walked toward her. When the other woman’s steps faltered and she was about to fall, Jiang Yao shoved the too-close Liang Yunhe aside and reached out, easily catching her.
Liang Yunhe was forced back several steps before he could steady himself, a look of utter shock on his face.
But Jiang Yao was already holding the person securely in her arms. As Song Muyun fell against her, she caught the faint scent of wine.
A flicker of displeasure crossed her mind. “You’ve been drinking?”
Song Muyun’s eyes, prettier than the stars, were hazy with a watery mist. She raised a hand and made a small gesture. “A little bit. I only drank a little bit.”
Jiang Yao: …
A girl who had never drunk before would get drunk even on a little bit.
Her head ached.
Cui Hansu, at the head of the group, smiled. “Since Miss Song was looking for you, we’ll be heading back first. We’ll trouble you to see her home to the Song family in a bit.”
They were very much at ease leaving the task to Jiang Yao. After all, her fearsome reputation in the capital was widespread. Who would be blind enough to cross her?
Jiang Yao nodded, her gaze falling on the woman in her arms, whose eyes were bright and cheeks were flushed. She grew bold and reached out to pinch her soft cheek.
Perhaps because no one had ever pinched her like that, Song Muyun was also a little stunned. Soon, her rosy lips puckered into a slight pout. She shot Jiang Yao a light glare, then obediently leaned back against her chest.
Now it was Jiang Yao’s turn to be stunned.
She had never imagined Song Muyun could be this docile. She was almost identical to the girl in her dreams.
Jiang Yao looked down, her heart suddenly softening.
Liang Yunhe said his goodbyes and left as well. Jiang Yao wrapped an arm around Song Muyun’s slender waist and led her into the nearest private room.
Song Muyun was still watching her with bright, expectant eyes.
Jiang Yao tried to harden her softened heart again, prying the girl out of her arms. Song Muyun even struggled a little.
But it was no use. Jiang Yao had already pushed her down into a chair.
Jiang Yao stood before her. Sitting, Song Muyun could only tilt her head up to follow Jiang Yao’s face.
Her muddled brain heard Jiang Yao ask, “What were you waiting for me for?”
That face was cold, and it turned slightly to the side, as if it didn’t want to pay her any mind.
Song Muyun frowned deeply. Suddenly, she reached out a slender, jade-like hand, took hold of Jiang Yao’s chin, and, to Jiang Yao’s utter shock, moved her face. Once Jiang Yao was facing her squarely again, she seemed satisfied. She retracted her hand as if she had done nothing at all, looked at Jiang Yao obediently, and said in a soft, whispery voice, “I was waiting for you to take me home.”
Her tipsy mind couldn’t think too much. She only remembered that every time an event ended, Jiang Yao would personally see her home.
Jiang Yao: …
Seriously, what is wrong with me? You already dislike me, and I’m still supposed to take you home? Do I have nothing better to do?!
Probably because she was still angry, she looked at the girl and said, deliberately vicious, “Why should I take you home? Am I your family’s servant?”
Song Muyun started. The warmth and softness vanished from her face. She looked at Jiang Yao, clearly at a loss. A moment later, she lowered her head, her tone both disappointed and sad. “You… you’re not taking me home anymore?”
This was a side of Song Muyun that Jiang Yao had never seen before. She rarely showed such vulnerability. It made it impossible to say another harsh word.
Damn it. She’s only this docile when she’s drunk. Sober, she’s cold and distant. I should just leave. I shouldn’t care about her. I’m not some servant Song Muyun can summon and dismiss at will. Why should I do everything she wants?
She dislikes me when she’s sober, then comes looking for me when she’s drunk.
Jiang Yao was, at this moment, just a sixteen-year-old girl. It was the first time she’d liked someone, only to be disliked in return. If she hadn’t been on the battlefield and suffered injuries, if her temperament weren’t so resilient, she probably would have burst into tears by now.
But even so, the rims of her eyes were turning a little red.
And yet, she couldn’t bear to leave, couldn’t bear to see her sad, couldn’t bear to leave her here alone.
What if a bad person shows up?
What if someone takes advantage of her being drunk and bullies her?
Fine.
Just as Jiang Yao was about to give in with a cold face, she felt a tug on her sleeve.
The person in the chair was gripping her sleeve tightly, looking up at her nervously. Her red lips parted, and the words that came out were incredibly pitiful. She said, “Jiang Yao, you don’t want to be my friend anymore, do you? You’ve gone back on your word, haven’t you?”
Jiang Yao’s eyes widened. She was furious. Gone back on my word? Me?
It’s obviously you who doesn’t want to be my friend! I’ve tried hard enough to please you. Not only did you not get any closer to me, you even started to dislike me. And in the end, you have the nerve to say I’m the one going back on my word!
She was so angry.
She took several deep breaths before she managed to calm down.
In an extremely level voice, she told her, “It’s you who doesn’t want to be my friend.”
She had never not wanted to be friends with Song Muyun.
The young woman’s pretty eyes blinked. Only then did she speak her heart, denying it. “No, I don’t. I don’t not want to be your friend.”
Jiang Yao was about to scoff and ask her how she could say that, but then she suddenly remembered an old saying: in wine, there is truth.8
She looked down at Song Muyun in shock. Abruptly, she reached out and pinched her soft, tender cheek. “Are you really that drunk?” she asked in amazement.
Song Muyun frowned, as if displeased. Her hand flailed a few times before it accurately caught Jiang Yao’s hand and pushed it down. “I’m not drunk,” she stressed.
Right. People who are drunk always say they’re not drunk.
She lowered her long, thick lashes, her gaze on the girl’s clear, lovely face. Suddenly, she asked, “Why don’t you wear the hairpin I gave you?”
Song Muyun looked confused at first, blinking her eyes. But soon, as if remembering something, she tugged on Jiang Yao’s sleeve and swayed it back and forth. “That hairpin can’t be worn outside,” she said in a small voice.
Hearing this, Jiang Yao’s expression turned a little cold. “Why can’t it be worn?”
She was particularly indignant. Gifts from other people can be worn, but mine can’t?
Song Muyun had a bracelet on her wrist. The other day, Jiang Yao had subtly asked her about it, and she’d said it was a birthday gift from a friend.
She can wear gifts from others, but not mine?
Who does she think she’s looking down on!
Song Muyun hesitated for a moment. When she was drunk, she was completely different from her usual self. When she thought, her brow would furrow instinctively, but her expression was incredibly docile and soft, without a trace of her sober coldness.
It made Jiang Yao want to touch her again.
But fearing the girl would remember it after sobering up and get angry with her, she refrained.
She just let her think.
A moment later, she seemed to have finally figured it out. “If I wear it out,” she said sullenly, “people will laugh at me.”
Jiang Yao’s eyes flew open. She was practically incandescent with rage. She snapped at her, “Don’t make up these far-fetched9 excuses to trick me just so you don’t have to wear my hairpin! How would they laugh! It’s just a hairpin, how would they laugh, you tell me!”
She was getting emotional. She already had a fierce look about her, and this made her even more intimidating. The slender, petite girl flinched in fear, and the rims of her eyes immediately turned red.
The ferocity on Jiang Yao’s face froze, then receded like a tide. Now it was her turn to be at a loss. She didn’t even know where to put her hands. She fumbled to wipe the girl’s wet eyelashes, cooing with infinite regret, “Don’t cry, don’t cry. Did I scare you just now? Okay, okay, it’s my fault, my fault. Don’t cry, please don’t cry. I’ll never be fierce with you again.”
Song Muyun sobbed and dodged her hand. How similar this scene was to the one in Jiang Yao’s dream.
She couldn’t even tell if she was still in a dream.
It must be a dream. Only the Muyun in my dreams is like this.
As she was lost in a daze, she heard the voice grow even more aggrieved. “I’m not tricking you. The flower is too big. If I wear it out, people will laugh.”
She herself didn’t dislike it, but others would definitely stare at the flower on her head. She wasn’t used to being the kind of person who drew attention.
Even though quite a few people had watched her since she was a child.
Jiang Yao didn’t believe her. “Big flowers are what make it pretty! How could people laugh!”
Song Muyun’s words were about to overturn her long-held beliefs.
She had always felt that large flowers were prettier than small ones, and the same should apply to jewelry. But Song Muyun was saying that a large one would be laughed at?
Impossible, absolutely impossible!
The young woman was muddle-headed, and her head was aching terribly, but she still forced herself to explain to Jiang Yao. She had a vague feeling that if she didn’t explain clearly, she would definitely regret it.
“Really. No one wears such a big jade flower. And it falls out easily, it would mess up my hairstyle.”
Her eyes were glistening, making her look extremely pitiable. She was explaining so earnestly that Jiang Yao’s heart instantly softened. Though she was still a bit peeved, feeling that these were all just excuses, she still grudgingly agreed. “Alright, alright. Since you’ve said so, then let’s just forget it.”
Song Muyun looked at her and pressed, “So you’re not angry anymore?”
Jiang Yao was still a little angry, but she said she wasn’t.
The drunk girl couldn’t tell the difference. A faint smile immediately bloomed on her lips.
She was smiling at her, and it was so, so sweet.
Jiang Yao couldn’t hold back after all. One paw shot out and grabbed the soft flesh of the girl’s face.
Song Muyun looked at her blankly, as if she didn’t understand why she always did this. When her slow-moving brain finally caught up, she raised her hand to catch the one kneading her face, her voice muffled. “You… you can’t rub it. People will say I have no manners.”
Jiang Yao: …
How could rubbing a face have anything to do with manners?
This Song family really lived and breathed for their rules.
“Okay, okay, I won’t rub it anymore. So, shall I take you home now?” she asked.
Song Muyun, sitting in the chair, nodded obediently. Then she stood up, but whether it was the alcohol still in her system or something else, she didn’t get her footing and tumbled back down.
Jiang Yao: …
Meeting those innocent, watery eyes, she gritted her teeth and thought, She can’t stand up on her own. Only a bastard wouldn’t take an advantage when it’s offered.10
Even as she was plotting to take advantage, she still asked, “Can you stand up by yourself?”
Song Muyun shook her head obediently.
She asked again, “Do you want me to support you or carry you?”
She held out her hands, her voice softened and soaked through with alcohol. “I want to be carried.”
At this moment, she was almost exactly like the girl in her dreams. Did drinking wine really turn her into this?
Or was this her true nature, just usually suppressed by all the rules?
Jiang Yao steadily carried her out of Zui Changchun. Song Muyun buried her face in Jiang Yao’s chest, not forgetting to mumble a reminder, “You… you have to put me down outside my gate.”
“Why?”
Song Muyun’s face was pressed against Jiang Yao’s chest, and she could clearly feel the vibrations when she spoke.
A faint blush inexplicably crept over her face.
Her voice was very soft and small. “If my family’s elders see, it might not be good.”
Jiang Yao: …
“Oh, got it.”
She felt like she was being completely selfless and uncomplaining. She had been so angry when she left home, and still upset during the poetry gathering, but now she was fine. Not only was she fine, she was obediently taking the person to her doorstep and then putting her down.
“Do you want me to help you inside?”
She was afraid she wouldn’t be able to stand steadily.
Song Muyun leaned against Jiang Yao’s chest, unconsciously nuzzling her. She looked up, and when she saw the words “Song Residence,” she suddenly shivered, as if she had sobered up in an instant. She clutched Jiang Yao’s arm in a panic. “H-how did I get home?”
Jiang Yao: ???
“The meal is over. Where would you go if not home?”
“B-but I drank wine…”
The young woman’s face was filled with apprehension. Jiang Yao couldn’t help but ask, “So?”
You drank wine, so what?
The hand gripping her arm tightened. “Mother… Mother will punish me.”
“??!!”
“Why would she punish you? Because you drank? That’s… a bit much, isn’t it?”
Towards the end, Jiang Yao was also a little unsure. After all, the Song family’s rules were truly excessive.
“Well… should I sneak you in?”
She couldn’t help but worry for her. She couldn’t imagine Muyun being punished. A beauty so precious and lovely should be cherished and doted on for a lifetime.
“How do we sneak in?”
Song Muyun was a little confused. The next second, she was swept up into a princess carry again and spirited away to the back of the Song Residence.
Then she heard the person explain, “I got in this way last time. It’s really close to your courtyard.”
Song Muyun: …
Before she could speak, the scenery in front of her changed in a flash. The next second, they landed steadily inside the Song Residence.
Song Muyun was stunned, experiencing the benefits of martial arts for the first time.
Flying around like this gave one a feeling of the vastness of heaven and earth, a sense of soaring freely.
Her eyes lit up as she grabbed Jiang Yao’s hand, the meaning in her gaze couldn’t be more obvious.
I want to fly again.
Jiang Yao was helpless. She could only carry her as they flew quietly into her courtyard. Taking advantage of a moment when the servants weren’t looking, they opened the door and slipped Song Muyun inside.
There was still tea left from the morning. She poured a cup for Song Muyun and coaxed, “Drink some tea first to sober up.”
She was a little more clear-headed, but not completely. You could tell from her soft face.
She was most docile when drunk. The ice and snow on her beautiful face had melted away, and her eyes were filled with trust. She would answer any question, and her voice was soft and sweet.
After feeding her a cup of tea, Jiang Yao stood up and looked around the woman’s boudoir. Suddenly, she spotted the large peony hairpin on the dressing table.
She walked over, picked up the hairpin, and returned to Song Muyun. “Since you’re worried people will laugh at you for wearing it out,” she said hesitantly, “why don’t I just take it back? I can get you something else another day.”
Song Muyun listened with a dazed expression. Jiang Yao was patient, watching her, waiting for her reply.
Finally, she seemed to understand. Her expression instantly turned fierce. She grabbed the large flower of the hairpin and said unhappily, “You gave it to me. No giving it back.”
Her other hand kept pushing at Jiang Yao’s body, as if she were a villain going back on her word, trying to shove her out.
Footnotes
- A reference to the traditional dichotomy between ‘wén’ (文), the civil or scholarly arts, and ‘wǔ’ (武), the martial arts. The two are often seen as opposing forces or temperaments.
- Original: shàodōngjiā (少东家), the son of the owner, or the young master of the establishment.
- Original: xiǎo’èr (小二), a term for a waiter or attendant in an old-fashioned inn or restaurant.
- Original: guǒjiǔ (果酒), a mild alcoholic beverage made from fermented fruit, generally lower in alcohol content and sweeter than grain-based liquors.
- A Chinese idiom, ‘qiān bēi bù zuì’ (千杯不醉), used to describe someone who can drink a massive amount of alcohol without getting drunk.
- Original: nèilì (内力), the cultivated life-force energy used by martial artists in wuxia stories to perform superhuman feats.
- Original: xiǎosī (小厮), a young male servant or attendant.
- A reference to the idiom ‘jiǔ hòu tǔ zhēn yán’ (酒后吐真言), which means that people are more likely to speak their true feelings when intoxicated.
- Original: bā gānzi dǎ bu dào (八竿子打不到), literally ‘can’t be hit with an eight-pole-length stick’, an idiom for something completely unrelated or far-fetched.
- Original: yǒu piányi bù zhàn wángbādàn (有便宜不占王八蛋), a very colloquial and slightly vulgar phrase meaning that one would be a fool or a ‘turtle’s egg’ (a strong insult) not to seize a good opportunity when it presents itself.
0 Comments