Forbidden to Bully the Storybook’s Heroine – Chapter 121
by Little PandaExtra 2: The ‘What If’ Timeline
The undercurrents beneath the capital’s quiet surface finally erupted one day.
Just as the Emperor was about to issue an edict condemning the Song family, Jiang Heng presented evidence of their innocence—along with proof that the First Prince and Seventh Prince had been raising private armies.
The entire court was shocked. The First and Seventh Princes’ legs trembled like sifting chaff. The Emperor flew into a thunderous rage, unable to believe his two sons had orchestrated everything while keeping him completely in the dark!
A few days later, the Song family was released without charge and reinstated to their former posts.
Emerging from Dali Temple, Song Yunqian looked utterly bewildered. He couldn’t process the sudden turn of events, only finding a measure of relief when he saw the rest of his family.
Then… two large carriages pulled up in front of them.
Jiang Yao hopped down from the lead carriage. Her expression was respectful but threaded with obvious excitement as she called out, “Father-in-law, mother-in-law, uncles, aunts, younger brothers, and younger sisters! I’m here to take you home!”
Song Muyun gracefully stepped down after her. Hearing Jiang Yao’s chosen forms of address, her face burned bright red.
Song Yunqian: !!!
Madam Song: ???!!!
The others: !
“What… what did you just call us?”
Madam Song couldn’t help but ask. She was perfectly fine before, she thought. It’s only been half a month—how did the Jiang family’s daughter go mad?
The uncles and aunts exchanged glances, their expressions a mix of confusion and dismay.
Jiang Yao beamed. “I called you mother-in-law! Father-in-law already agreed to marry Muyun to me. Didn’t you know?”
Madam Song listened in sheer shock, then turned an equally horrified gaze toward Song Yunqian.
Song Yunqian was on the verge of dying from sheer fury.
At the time, he had believed his death was a certainty, which was why he had entrusted his daughter to the Jiang family. But now, their family was perfectly fine!
Remembering the betrothal contract Jiang Heng had made him sign, a sudden, blinding realization hit him. So that was his game!!!
He had been outplayed by that old fox Jiang Heng once again!
Jiang Heng stepped down from the second carriage. He offered the Song family a polite bow, acting exceedingly familiar. “In-laws, how have you been? I’ve already ordered the servants to prepare fire braziers and mugwort. Let’s head back and wash away the bad luck first, and then we can discuss the matter of our two children.”
The Song family elders were ushered into Jiang Heng’s carriage in a dizzy daze, while the younger generation stayed behind to ride in Jiang Yao’s.
Song Muyun guided her younger cousins into the carriage first, then anxiously asked if they had suffered any injuries while in prison.
In truth, Jiang Heng had already bribed and pressured the prison officials on the Song family’s behalf; the guards hadn’t dared to use torture on them.
The younger siblings shook their heads one after another. Then, they asked what on earth was going on between her and Jiang Yao.
Jiang Yao couldn’t suppress the grin tugging at the corners of her lips. She looked utterly smug.
Song Muyun was deeply embarrassed. Her thick eyelashes fluttered lightly as she murmured, “This is your saozi.”
Aside from the youngest, Song Yusheng, the rest of them looked as though their minds had simply snapped.
Song Yusheng blinked her big, bright eyes at Jiang Yao. Hearing her eldest sister call her ‘saozi,’ she immediately and obediently chimed in, “Saozi!”
Jiang Yao’s lips curved into a soft smile. “Mm. Sheng’er is such a good girl. Take this to play with.”
She unfastened a jade pendant from her waist and pressed it into Song Yusheng’s small palm.
Song Yusheng lowered her head, looking curiously at the jade pendant, then looked up at her sister. Her older brothers told her to return it, claiming it was too valuable, but she held on to it tightly, looking only at Song Muyun, as if she would only listen to her.
Song Muyun gently tugged Jiang Yao’s hand, but before she could speak, Jiang Yao pressed a finger to her lips. “Don’t say it’s too valuable. This is my meeting gift to our little sister. A few days ago, I saw a pair of jade pendants at Zhenbao Pavilion. When I have time, I’ll have someone buy them—one for you, one for me—and it’ll be the perfect excuse to replace this old one. What do you think?”
Song Muyun could never stop her. Hearing this, she could only nod obediently, looking at her with fond helplessness.
The three younger brothers, hearing of such a thing for the very first time, silently huddled in the corner to digest the revelation.
The atmosphere in the other carriage was far less pleasant. A carriage full of people, and no one spoke a word. They were steeped in heavy silence.
Madam Song still couldn’t believe what she had just heard.
Her rigidly traditional, stubborn husband had betrothed Yun’er to a woman!
And that Jiang Yao actually liked Yun’er!
No wonder… no wonder she ran over to the Song Residence every single day.
And they had been completely oblivious!
Madam Song found it incredibly difficult to accept. Her lips trembled, but no words came out.
How can a woman marry a woman? This goes against all ancestral rites and laws!
Song Yunqian’s expression was no better. With a dark scowl, he demanded of Jiang Heng, “You intentionally made me sign that betrothal contract, didn’t you?”
The others startled in shock. A betrothal contract? He even signed a betrothal contract?
Jiang Heng was unhurried, a polite smile on his face. “How could you say it was intentional? In the beginning, I wasn’t entirely sure I’d be able to clear your name, In-law. Wasn’t it just to be on the safe side?”
Song Yunqian’s furious, accusatory expression instantly froze. Having just stepped out of prison, he naturally had no idea what had transpired in the royal court. It was only at this moment that he realized Jiang Heng was the one who had overturned the Song family’s case.
Now this was just perfect. He owed Jiang Heng yet another debt, placing him a head lower once again.
Jiang Heng paid no mind to the Song family’s coldness. He asked, “Do you have any thoughts regarding the wedding date for our two children?”
Madam Song barely managed to recover from her shock, unable to hold back her protest. “How can two women marry? Won’t this make us a laughingstock?”
Jiang Heng disagreed. “So what if they are women? Madam Song, you mustn’t be so pedantic. As long as the children like it, we adults should help them achieve it if we can, rather than making excuses. We certainly can’t have them hiding away for the rest of their lives. Lord Song, wouldn’t you agree?”
Jiang Heng looked toward Song Yunqian, whom he had thoroughly scammed earlier.
Song Yunqian: …
He absolutely did not want to speak to this insidious villain!
Even if he didn’t speak, Jiang Heng would find words of his own. He said, “The seventh day of the twelfth month is an auspicious day for marriage. If you have no objections, In-law, shall we set it for then?”
Song Yunqian hadn’t wanted to engage with Jiang Heng at all, but he was afraid that if he ignored him, Jiang Heng would finalize the date unilaterally. Thus, with a dark expression, he said, “That is far too early! It’s too close to the Spring Festival. Every household will be busy preparing gifts and visiting relatives. Who would have the time to attend a wedding banquet!”
Having gotten a response, Jiang Heng chuckled softly. “Then according to you, which day would be suitable?”
Song Yunqian hesitated for a moment before offering a date in the coming year. Given his rigidly traditional mindset, being willing to cooperate at all was already quite an accomplishment.
“Then it is settled, In-law.”
Today, Jiang Heng completely lacked the sharp, adversarial edge he usually directed at Song Yunqian in the imperial court, but somehow, that only made him more infuriating.
Song Yunqian managed to plainly see the smug triumph hiding behind that refined, scholarly facade.
It was as if he were saying: Look at you. You fought me tooth and nail for so many years, and in the end, your daughter is still marrying into my family. Tsk, tsk.
Infuriated by the scene his own imagination had conjured, he finally decided to completely ignore Jiang Heng.
No matter what Jiang Heng said after that, he refused to engage.
Jiang Heng merely assumed Song Yunqian was in a foul temper and still struggling to accept his daughter marrying a woman. After a few comments went unanswered, he simply stopped bothering him as well.
Originally, while the Song family was imprisoned, Song Muyun had been staying at the Jiang Residence. But now that the Song family’s name was cleared and their posts restored, she naturally had to move back to the Song Residence.
Lord Song, who had always been rather amiable toward Jiang Yao, gave her a cold face for the very first time. He called for Song Muyun and left.
But fortunately, a cold face was just a cold face. He had no intention of breaking the betrothal contract.
When she went to see Muyun after that, the Song family didn’t deliberately try to stop her, though they always looked at her with extremely complicated expressions.
It was as if they were saying: I never expected you to be this kind of person!
She had swindled away their pampered, meticulously raised daughter; it was only natural for them to resent her a little.
Jiang Yao obediently accepted the resentment, then quickly grabbed Song Muyun’s hand and slipped away.
The two of them strolled idly through the streets. They visited Zhenbao Pavilion and bought quite a bit of jewelry. With Song Muyun there, Jiang Yao finally stopped buying gaudy things that couldn’t be worn in public.
However, even though those previous three items hadn’t been particularly beautiful, they were still the very first gifts she had ever picked out for someone.
Jiang Yao still gave them all to Song Muyun without hesitation—a set of red rose jewelry and a pair of purple grape earrings.
Song Muyun cherished them and carefully put them away. Then, on a snowy day, she wore them specifically for Jiang Yao to see.
A charcoal fire burned in the room, making it toasty and warm. She wore very few layers, revealing her snow-white, delicate collarbones, a faint red plum blossom mark peeking through. A jade peony was slotted at a slant into her hair.
Even such a tacky flower, when worn by her, somehow managed to look elegant and refined.
The more Jiang Yao looked, the more satisfied she felt. She knew she had good taste, yet Muyun had actually disdained it!
The young woman took two steps while wearing the flower before stopping in embarrassment. Her slender eyes were bashful and timid, the outer corners flushed with pink. She complained in a soft voice, “Why are you like this? Picking out this kind of clothing.”
The garment covered practically nothing and was terribly sheer.
Jiang Yao drank in the sight with immense relish and even waved a hand to beckon Song Muyun over.
The two had long since bared their hearts and bodies to each other on multiple occasions, so Song Muyun didn’t act overly coy. Seeing the gesture, she obediently walked over, sat on Jiang Yao’s lap, and lowered her head as a pretty blush swept across her cheeks.
The doors and windows of the room were tightly shut, illuminated only by a few lit candles. The young woman sat quietly on her lap, resting her chin against Jiang Yao’s shoulder. Her voice was light and gentle as she spoke.
“Tomorrow… tomorrow I want to eat tanghulu.”
Having reaped such lovely benefits, Jiang Yao was naturally willing to agree to anything. Her answer was brimming with tenderness. “Alright. Whatever you want to eat, I’ll take you.”
Street treats like tanghulu were things the Song family elders had previously forbidden her from eating. Knowing Jiang Yao was willing to take her made her eyes sparkle with obvious delight.
After a few rounds of passionate intimacy…
Jiang Yao lay draped over Song Muyun’s shoulder and asked, “The hairpin I gave you, does it look good? Is it suitable to be worn out?”
She was a petty creature. It had happened so long ago, yet she still hadn’t let it go.
Song Muyun’s cheeks were flushed. Hearing this, she shot Jiang Yao a sideways glance with misty eyes—a look so potent it nearly melted half of Jiang Yao’s bones.
A gaze like spun silk—that was probably what the old proverb meant.
Jiang Yao lowered her head, breathing in the faint, sweet fragrance from her neck, listening as Song Muyun breathed sweet, orchid-like sighs into her ear. Driven to soft, breathless sobs by Jiang Yao’s relentless questioning, Song Muyun hastily revised her previous stance. “It looks good, it looks good! It’s not unwearable, it’s very suitable to wear out! I like it very much, ngh…”
Jiang Yao murmured a soft hum of agreement against her skin, then leaned up to kiss her. Song Muyun was beautifully formed. Her plump, rosy lips were naturally pursed; her nose was elegantly sloped; her phoenix eyes shimmered with liquid light. Her skin rivaled snow, and even the sheen of sweat on her body tasted sweet, meticulously kissed away by Jiang Yao.
At some point, the jade peony slipped from her hair. Fortunately, Jiang Yao was quick enough to catch the hairpin. She then lazily gathered the girl into her arms and feigned dissatisfaction. “How could you drop the hairpin I gave you? Little troublemaker. You deserve to be punished.”
Hearing that she was to be punished, Song Muyun—who had been resting comfortably in her embrace—suddenly lifted her head and glared at her. Her voice was hoarse but filled with deep indignation. “Why should I be punished? I wasn’t the one who made it fall! It was clearly because of you.”
If Jiang Yao hadn’t touched her, how could the hairpin have fallen?
Yet Jiang Yao was actually trying to shift the blame. It was far too much!
“Who says? This hairpin was pinned in your hair. I didn’t even touch it, so how could it falling be my fault?”
True, she hadn’t touched the hairpin. But she had touched her!
Song Muyun knew she could never win an argument against her. Afraid that Jiang Yao would say something terribly shameless, she held her breath until her face turned an even deeper shade of red. She buried her face in Jiang Yao’s chest, gently nudging her, before finally admitting defeat in a muffled, aggrieved voice. “Fine. Then how do you want to punish me this time?”
A xifu’er1 so thoroughly endearing would surely make any kind-hearted person completely unable to bear punishing her.
Unfortunately, Jiang Yao had a rather wicked streak. She loved bullying people until they were brimming with grievances, just so she could watch them cry in her arms.
She knew she was bad, too. Thank goodness she had put on a good act early on and won the affections of the person on her heart; otherwise, no one would have wanted her in this lifetime.
Hearing her ask for punishment, the corners of Jiang Yao’s lips secretly turned up. She was in a rather good mood. The hands that had been resting on her waist slowly slid down, gripping the soft flesh of her rear. She lowered her voice to a whisper right by her ear. “Like this.”
Song Muyun instantly sat up straight, her eyes widening in sheer shock. Her toes involuntarily curled tight, hovering just above the floor. The expression on her face practically screamed: How can you be this kind of person?!
“It’s your fault for almost breaking the hairpin I gave you. This was the very first gift I ever bought for you, after all.”
She sounded entirely righteous and completely justified.
Jiang Yao loved reading storybooks. She also loved intricately detailed picture books of all varieties. Because of this… she had grown particularly fond of trying out novel, inventive things.
Every few days, she would introduce some new trick. Today, it was something new once again.
Song Muyun stared blankly ahead, her eyes glassy and brimming with moisture as her snow-white body trembled uncontrollably. Fortunately, they had dismissed everyone in the courtyard before coming inside; otherwise, the crisp, slapping sounds would have undoubtedly carried outside.
A quarter-hour later, the two of them collapsed together onto the soft couch. Song Muyun was covered in a sticky sheen of sweat. Her tender rear still burned—it was numb, aching, and carried a strange tingle—while Jiang Yao kept it covered with a hand, lazily massaging it.
She let out a low, rumbling laugh. Song Muyun shot her a look full of deep resentment and poked her, thoroughly displeased. “What are you laughing at?”
She felt that Jiang Yao was laughing at her, but she had no proof. Hmph. Villain.
Fearing that Song Muyun would get truly angry and refuse to see her again, Jiang Yao hastily apologized, though her voice still carried traces of amusement. “My mistake, my mistake. Did I hurt you? Does it ache, mm?”
As she asked, Song Muyun gave another soft hum. The soft, tender flesh of her rear unconsciously shifted against Jiang Yao’s palm before she pursed her lips and grumbled, “It doesn’t hurt. But it was so humiliating.”
It didn’t actually hurt much, but the noise had been exceptionally loud and crisp. If someone with good hearing had been nearby, they would have instantly known what they were doing. Didn’t Jiang Yao feel any shame at all?
She certainly didn’t. Her skin was incredibly thick; no ordinary person could compare.
Chuckling, Jiang Yao hugged Song Muyun tight and rolled around on the couch with her. However, some tea had been spilled on the mattress earlier, leaving it slightly damp.
They had only rolled twice before her bare, fair calf brushed against the cold dampness. She recoiled instantly, absolutely refusing to lie on this couch a moment longer.
Jiang Yao had no choice but to resign herself to getting up. She carried the girl to the bed, then tidied up the soft couch herself, bundling all the soiled blankets and mattresses together to take with her.
This was the Song Residence. She didn’t dare have the Song family’s servants wash these things. If her father-in-law found out, she would be dead meat.
Only after everything was completely tidied up did she return to the bed and lie down next to her.
Slender, delicate fingertips began to quietly draw circles on her chest. Song Muyun spoke up. “My father said that with the wedding date approaching, there will surely be a lot of gossip in the city. He wants the two of us to stop seeing each other and stop going out together for the time being.”
She seemed a little aggrieved.
Let alone her, Jiang Yao was aggrieved too! She blurted out instinctively, her face full of shock, “What? Father-in-law won’t let me see you? How can he do that! Who cares about some idle gossip? We certainly don’t!”
Song Muyun rested against her chest and murmured, “My father cares about face. He said that if we don’t follow the rules, he’ll delay the wedding date…”
It wasn’t just Jiang Yao whose elbows bent outward to favor outsiders; Muyun was no different. She had long been eagerly awaiting their marriage.
Hearing such a threat naturally made her extremely unhappy.
But she didn’t dare openly defy her father, so she could only come to Jiang Yao to air her grievances.
The two of them were completely helpless against Song Yunqian. They couldn’t beat him, and they couldn’t scold him. They had no choice but to obediently comply with his wishes.
Only when the yearning became absolutely unbearable would Jiang Yao secretly scale the walls and climb through the windows to seek her out.
Fortunately, time passed quickly. In the blink of an eye, the day of their wedding arrived.
Several days prior, Jiang Yao had frantically sent out a mountain of invitations. She wished she could shout it into the ears of every old friend: she was getting married, the bride was the girl of her heart, and her father had actually agreed to it!
But when the actual day arrived, she became surprisingly composed. Her wedding attire had been custom-made by the Jiang family. It wasn’t styled as a man’s garment; it was still a woman’s dress, adorned with beautiful embroidery and a fiery red skirt. It had merely been altered to be a bit more practical. After all, Jiang Yao had to ride a horse to retrieve the bride. If it were covered in excessive pearls and jade, it would be a disaster if they got tangled on the way.
Jiang Yao changed into her wedding robes and was escorted to the Song Residence, surrounded by her family.
The Song family had several younger members renowned for their literary talent. They had been ordered to give Jiang Yao a hard time. Knowing that Jiang Yao only understood martial arts and had no head for literature, they opened their mouths and spouted obscure poetry and essays that left people completely baffled.
Jiang Yao and Jiang Huai’s faces turned green.
Fortunately, hearing of her eldest sister’s wedding, Jiang Ru had rushed back from far away.
When it came to poetry and literature, Jiang Yao was completely out of her depth, but Jiang Ru was exceedingly skilled. Jiang Heng had anticipated that the Song family would try a stunt like this, so he had specifically told Jiang Ru to accompany them.
Thus, in almost no time at all, they easily dismantled the riddles and literary tests the Song family had meticulously prepared.
Song Yunqian felt even worse.
For two women to fall in love and even marry was simply world-shocking. He had suffered no small amount of open and veiled mockery from his colleagues. The most infuriating part was that they only mocked him! Absolutely no one dared to direct their sarcasm at Jiang Heng!
He had hoped to make things difficult for Jiang Yao today to vent some of his frustration, but he never expected that the Jiang family actually possessed a scholar in this generation.
Sitting in her room, Song Muyun was burning with anxiety. She had been constantly worried that Jiang Yao wouldn’t be able to answer the questions and would be embarrassed by her father and brothers. It wasn’t until she heard the good-natured laughter outside that she knew Jiang Yao had passed the tests.
She breathed a massive sigh of relief. The matchmaker bustled in, waving a red handkerchief, and helped Song Muyun—now covered with a red bridal veil2—step outside.
After so much time had passed, Madam Song had accepted everything she needed to accept. With red-rimmed eyes, she personally placed Song Muyun’s hand into Jiang Yao’s, earnestly urging her to treat Muyun well in the future.
Jiang Yao naturally promised with a resonant, unwavering voice. After helping her bride into the sedan chair, the wedding procession began the journey back.
No further disturbances arose. A marriage between two women mostly just required rewriting some of the officiant’s vows; everything else proceeded smoothly, virtually identical to a conventional wedding.
As the one “marrying” the bride, Jiang Yao—despite being a bride herself—was still dragged out by courtesy to drink a few rounds with the guests before she was finally allowed to return to the bridal chamber she shared with Muyun.
Her beloved girl sat obediently on the crimson bed, motionless beneath her red veil. The wide hem of her wedding dress cascaded over the floor behind her, looking utterly magnificent. Jiang Yao stared, spellbound. A moment later, she heard the person on her heart’s inquiring voice. “Jiang Yao, are you just going to stand there?”
That tone carried a hint of innocent confusion that made Jiang Yao unable to stop herself from chuckling.
She leaned in closer, sweet words spilling from her lips. “Yes. Yun’er is so beautiful, I was mesmerized from a mile away and couldn’t even walk.”
“I haven’t even lifted my veil yet. How do you know I look beautiful?”
Song Muyun’s voice was laced with doubt.
Jiang Yao sat down beside her, toying with the ruyi scale3 in her hands. She replied, “Can’t I tell just by looking at your figure? My Yun’er has such a wonderful figure. Even without seeing your face, I know you are a beauty.”
“You only know how to say pretty things.”
Even with the veil covering her face, it was obvious Song Muyun was incredibly shy. Her head tilted to the side.
Jiang Yao stopped teasing her. She finally stood up and used the ruyi scale to lift Song Muyun’s veil.
Just then, a maidservant entered through the door carrying a bowl of tangyuan4. She was smiling, ready to hand it to Song Muyun, but when she looked up, she instantly let out a gasp. “Ah! Why did Young Miss come in so early? The Young Madam hasn’t eaten her tangyuan yet!”
Usually, when ordinary people married, they would eat dumplings. But for a marriage between two women, eating tangyuan was perfectly fine—it was just to seek good fortune, symbolizing a complete and harmonious reunion.
Jiang Yao looked at the three lone tangyuan in the bowl with a measure of disdain. “Only three? Has the Jiang family run out of money?”
Maidservant: …
“It’s just for good luck. It’s not the only thing you’re going to eat. If Young Miss doesn’t understand, then please don’t speak.”
“Tsk. Fine, fine, fine, I’m the one who doesn’t understand. Go ahead and feed her now.”
Jiang Yao sat to the side, resting her chin in her hands, and watched as Song Muyun ate the tangyuan in small, delicate bites.
Her girl was naturally beautiful. She was gorgeous without makeup, and now, fully adorned, she was even more breathtaking. Every single movement she made hooked a person’s very soul.
Jiang Yao stared blankly once again, only snapping out of it when Song Muyun—having eaten two of the tangyuan—held the bowl out to her. Biting her red lip, Muyun asked softly, “Do you want to eat one too?”
Tangyuan symbolized completeness and reunion. She naturally wanted to be complete with Jiang Yao.
Jiang Yao wasn’t one to stand on ceremony. Seeing the leftover soup and the last tangyuan in the bowl, she simply took it and tipped it all into her mouth.
After drinking the nuptial wine5, only the two of them were left in the room.
Although the sky outside was still bright, Jiang Yao had never cared about such things.
Song Muyun was a little worried that Jiang Yao might start misbehaving.
But fortunately, she didn’t.
Likely because she had finally married the woman she loved, Jiang Yao wanted to leave them both with a beautiful memory, so she gritted her teeth and endured until nightfall.
The guests had all dispersed, leaving the courtyard in total silence. Jiang Yao leaned over, pressing Song Muyun down onto the soft couch. They were still clad in their fiery red wedding robes.
Song Muyun struggled, unwilling. “We’re still wearing our wedding robes, Jiang Yao! Don’t get the wedding robes dirty!”
This was her one and only set of wedding robes. She wanted to keep them pristine!
But Jiang Yao didn’t care. She lowered her head and kissed her, her voice heavily slurred. “It’s only fun if we wear the wedding robes.”
In the end, Song Muyun still couldn’t win against Jiang Yao. Two fiery red figures tangled together in a tight embrace, sleepless for the entire night.
When Jiang Yao groggily woke the next day, she realized that a window hadn’t been closed tightly, even letting a sliver of soft morning light filter in. Startled, she hurriedly shut the window tight, rejoicing that Muyun hadn’t noticed. Otherwise, the girl probably would have thrown a fit, and if Jiang Yao couldn’t coax her back into a good mood, the consequences would be dire.
A light penalty meant abstaining for half a month; a heavy penalty meant a full month!
Only after ensuring the windows were meticulously sealed did Jiang Yao lie back down beside Song Muyun, pulling her back into her arms.
The soft couch was narrow; they could only fit if they pressed tightly against each other.
After quite a while, Song Muyun finally woke. Her entire body ached with a heavy numbness. Her eyes were still clouded with sleep. Seeing Jiang Yao, she instinctively burrowed into her embrace and whined softly, “Jiang Yao, I’m so sleepy.”
“If you’re sleepy, sleep a little longer. I’ll stay with you.”
She shook her head. “Mm~ I won’t sleep anymore. It must be light outside. I need to get up.”
“It’s not that bright yet. If you’re getting up, I’m getting up too.” Jiang Yao had always pampered Song Muyun; seeing her sit up, she immediately followed suit.
However, after changing their clothes, the two of them returned to the soft couch. They pushed open the window and held each other as they gazed at the early morning sun just beginning to rise. Even the air seemed much fresher and sweeter than usual.
Song Muyun leaned against Jiang Yao’s chest. The corners of her lips were turned up high, brimming with contentment. “Sometimes I feel like my life right now is just like a dream.”
Jiang Yao chuckled softly and hugged her tighter. Looking at the still-dim sky, her voice sounded strangely surreal. “Isn’t it just like a dream? You might not believe it if I told you, but I’ve seen you in my dreams.”
Song Muyun turned her head in surprise to look at her. Jiang Yao kept her arms wrapped around her and continued, “Sometimes I think fate is truly predestined by heaven. After all, right after I dreamed of you, I saw you again so soon.”
The young woman leaned back against her chest, holding her securely and steadily, as if she were holding onto her entire lifetime. “No wonder you said I looked like an old friend back then. So it was because you dreamed of me. Does that mean we’re destined by fate?”
“Mm. We are.”
Song Muyun burst into happy laughter.
She believed Jiang Yao’s words without a shred of doubt. Their bond was undeniably destined by fate.
The author has something to say:
Tomorrow I’ll add one more extra chapter continuing from the main storyline, and then we’re officially complete! I need a break, a break for a whole month! The chapter got locked, you guys are so pitiful……
Footnotes
- An affectionate term for one's wife or beloved woman (xífu'er).
- A traditional Chinese wedding element. The bride's face is concealed by a square piece of red cloth, which the groom lifts only after the wedding ceremony has concluded.
- A traditional Chinese wedding implement. The groom uses a small scale or steelyard (chèng), often decorated or carved in the shape of a ruyi (a ceremonial scepter symbolizing 'as one wishes'), to lift the bride's red veil.
- Sweet glutinous rice balls (tāngyuán). The name sounds similar to 'tuányuán' (团圆), meaning reunion or completeness, making it an auspicious food for weddings to symbolize a perfect, harmonious marriage.
- Also known as cross-cupped wine (jiāobēi jiǔ). The bride and groom link arms and drink from their respective cups to symbolize the union of their two lives and the sealing of their marriage.
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