Forbidden to Bully the Storybook’s Heroine – Chapter 84
by Little PandaBirthday Banquet
Jiang Yao coaxed Muyun for a long time before finally getting her to set the matter aside for now.
After all, the departure date for the campaign hadn’t even been set. If the two of them started fighting now, they probably wouldn’t have a single good day during this period. There was no need for that; what a waste it would be.
Song Muyun had stopped crying by now, as Jiang Yao had licked away all her tears. But… she was still frantic and helpless over the matter of Jiang Yao joining the army.
Jiang Yao was going to join the army. She didn’t want to take her along. She had begged her, but Jiang Yao had only placated her, saying they would discuss it later. She had pleaded, but Jiang Yao still wouldn’t agree.
Song Muyun knew that Jiang Yao probably wasn’t going to agree.
She silently tightened her grip on a hairpin on the dressing table, finally choosing a simple jade hairpin and inserting it into her hair.
Jiang Yao walked over, leaned down to press her cheek against Song Muyun’s, and then suddenly turned her head to kiss her. “My wife is so beautiful,” she said with a smile.
Song Muyun’s movements paused. Very slowly, a smile also appeared on her face. Looking at the person in the bronze mirror who was so reluctant to part from her, she opened her mouth and said softly, “You’re very beautiful too.”
Jiang Yao was very beautiful. She had a dazzling beauty. If not for her bad temper and her fondness for hitting people, the suitors seeking her hand would have worn down the threshold of the Jiang Residence.
But Jiang Yao’s temper was very good toward her, always pampering her and coaxing her, rarely ever getting angry.
Song Muyun’s eyes shone brightly. At this thought, her mood lifted again.
She took Jiang Yao’s hand, held it in her palm, and said softly, “Let’s go.”
There was a family banquet in the evening. It was always Jiang Yao who dragged her feet, too lazy to get moving and wanting to go later. Muyun was never willing to delay on such matters, terrified of displeasing the Prime Minister and Madam Jiang.
“I know, I know. Wait a moment, I’ll go change my clothes and be right there.”
Once they had both changed, they ambled toward the front courtyard as if on a stroll.
Jiang Yao had never been one to arrive early in the past and was in no hurry, but Song Muyun tugged on her hand, saying she didn’t want to be so late, as it would be too conspicuous. Jiang Yao had no choice but to quicken her pace. The two soon arrived at the front hall. The elders hadn’t arrived yet, but Jiang Ru was already there.
Her eyes lit up when she saw Jiang Yao, and she proactively stood to greet her. “Jiejie!”
“Mm, you’re here so early. I’ll reward you with a tanghulu.”
Jiang Yao lazily handed over a tanghulu she had carefully selected from a straw target. Jiang Ru accepted it gleefully, said, “Thank you, jiejie,” then lowered her head and carefully sucked on it, drawing the sweetness into her mouth bit by bit.
Sima Jushan had been completely ignored. Now that he had a chance to interject, he immediately scooted over to demand his share. “Where’s mine? Where’s mine? I went with you to buy this!”
He was convinced he should get one too.
But Jiang Yao just glanced at him and asked, “Why haven’t you left yet?”
“Left to where? I count as godfather’s half-son. Isn’t this a family banquet? Of course I have to attend!”
The young man puffed out his chest, looking extremely pleased with himself.
…
Jiang Yao found a spot and had Muyun sit down first, then turned to bicker with Sima Jushan for a couple of sentences.
Jiang Ru also knew Sima Jushan and watched them talk with a gentle look on her face.
Jiang Huai arrived soon after. The moment he appeared, Sima Jushan’s sharp eyes spotted him. Sima Jushan stood up happily and called out in a loud voice, “Little bro, it’s been a while. You’ve gotten taller.”
Jiang Huai: …
“Why are you back?”
Jiang Huai’s expression was complicated. His nightmares were returning one after another.
“The army returned to the capital, of course. What, not happy to see your big bro?”
The moment Sima Jushan saw Jiang Huai, he immediately gave up on talking to Jiang Yao and bounded over in a few steps to sling an arm around Jiang Huai’s shoulders, acting like they were bosom buddies.2
He had always considered himself the eldest brother of the Jiang family because he was a month older than Jiang Yao. He would often run rampant in the Jiang Residence, only to be subdued by either Jiang Yao or Jiang Heng.
Someone like Jiang Huai could only be bullied and teased by him, which was why he was very unhappy to see him.
But since the question was asked, he couldn’t very well tell the truth. His expression was a little sullen, but his words were, “How could that be? I’ve missed seeing you so much, I even dream about it.”
Miss you my ass. I don’t. Get lost.
Hearing this, Sima Jushan grew even more smug. He had just been gently rebuffed3 by Jiang Yao, but Jiang Huai was tolerating him. In his mind, he had already decided to teach Jiang Huai martial arts later.
A unilateral decision.
Jiang Huai looked as if he had eaten shit. He didn’t want to practice martial arts at all. Was Sima Jushan sick in the head?!
Annoying, but he couldn’t say it.
Jiang Yao saw Jiang Huai’s pleading gaze, but she pretended not to, turning her head to whisper in Muyun’s ear.4
The Jiang family elders arrived soon after. When Jiang Heng saw Sima Jushan calling him “Godfather” with a cheeky grin, the corner of his mouth twitched.
If he hadn’t considered that this kid would be going to war with Jiang Yao and that the two of them could look out for each other, he would never have acknowledged this cheap son.
Dish after dish, each a feast for the senses, was brought to the table. Jiang Zhi had long since received news of the unrest in the Northwest, but the Emperor had no intention of letting him lead the troops. It seemed he wouldn’t be able to go. He could only use the next few days to train Jiang Yao as much as possible so she could go over and earn some military merits.
When Jiang Yao heard she had to go to Jiang Zhi’s for martial arts practice every afternoon, her face immediately fell. She wanted to refuse, but one look at her old father’s stern expression and she thought, Forget it, forget it, this is what I deserve.
“Fine, fine, I’ll go. I’ll go every day.”
She exchanged a look with Song Muyun, her eyes filled with helplessness. It was Muyun who comforted her, telling her it was alright and that she would make her a late-night snack and wait for her to come back and eat.
Her wife was so well-behaved, sensible, and virtuous. Jiang Yao’s heart filled with joy as she looked at her.
Jiang Heng and Liang Qingyin had been alive for nearly forty years. Although Muyun had been coaxed into a better mood long ago and had stopped crying, they could still tell something from her slightly red eyelids. After the family banquet ended, they suddenly called Jiang Yao over, summoning her to the study to ask about it.
Song Yunqian had been framed and died an innocent man. Although Jiang Heng didn’t approve of the two of them grinding mirrors,5 he still felt a measure of pity for his daughter and wouldn’t allow Jiang Yao to bully her. Thus, the questioning began.
Jiang Yao was helpless. How could she bully Muyun? Did she not want her wife anymore?
But she had to protect her wife’s pride. She didn’t say that Muyun had cried because she insisted on following her to war and wouldn’t take no for an answer. She only said that Muyun had a nightmare during a nap and was frightened into tears.
The entire Jiang household knew that Muyun was prone to nightmares.
Jiang Heng nodded, and only then did he drop the matter, instead bringing up the war in the Northwest.
“The battle situation is tense, but your mother and I don’t care how many merits you achieve. We only hope you return safely. Remember, do not throw yourself into danger and cause your family grief.”
A sage has no selfish desires, but he, Jiang Heng, did. No matter what, he did not want anything to happen to his child.
The battlefield was dangerous. If Jiang Yao hadn’t been utterly devoid of talent for scholarship, he would never have agreed to let her go to war.
While Jiang Heng was here frowning with worry for her, Jiang Yao seemed rather unconcerned. “The battlefield is ever-changing. How can there truly be no danger? You shouldn’t worry. My wife is still in the capital. I can’t bear to leave her, so I will definitely return safely.”
Jiang Heng: …
This little brat had eyes for no one but her wife.
“You’re not taking your wife with you?”
He was rather surprised. The two had always been inseparable. He thought Jiang Yao couldn’t bear to be apart from that young lady of the Song family, that she had to have her tied to her belt6 wherever she went.
Jiang Yao said, full of righteous indignation, “War isn’t a children’s game of playing house.7 It’s so dangerous, how could Muyun go!”
She had been born with great courage and feared little. That was, until she met Song Muyun. After meeting Muyun, she became afraid. She was afraid something would happen to her, leaving Muyun with no one to protect her. Even more, she was afraid something would happen to Muyun, leaving her all alone. What would she do then?
Jiang Yao couldn’t imagine it.
She only knew that she wanted to be with Muyun, to have a very long time to be with Muyun.
Once she had adapted to life on the battlefield and secured an official post, she would bring Muyun to her side. But not now.
“You… have you told that young lady of the Song family about this? Does she agree?”
From Jiang Heng’s years of experience in judging people, the Song family’s young lady was very fond of his daughter and likely couldn’t bear to be apart from her for even a moment. If she knew his daughter was going to war without her, she would probably throw a fit.
His wife knew everything that happened in the residence, including the fact that the two young ladies in the small courtyard often had tiffs. Of course, it was mainly his daughter who made the Song family’s young lady unhappy, and then had to spend all her energy coaxing her. The maidservants couldn’t help but laugh when they spoke of it.
With Miss Song’s temperament, she would certainly not let Jiang Yao go off to war by herself so easily.
Jiang Heng had a headache on Jiang Yao’s behalf for a moment, but on second thought, children have their own fortunes. A little concern was enough; there was no need to meddle any further.
When Jiang Yao heard her father’s question, her face twisted for a second. Looking rather unnatural, she said guiltily, “There’s nothing to be done even if she doesn’t agree. I can’t just watch her put herself in danger…”
“Then you must speak with her properly. Don’t be stubborn. Explain it well.”
“I know, Father. I’ve never been stubborn with her.”
She was as compliant as could be with Muyun, never stubborn at all.
Jiang Yao agreed, looking dejected. On her way back, Muyun was still waiting for her on the path between the front courtyard and Hengwu Courtyard.
The young lady was standing before a cluster of rose bushes, admiring the flowers. Her long, fair fingers rested on a lush, tender bud, making them look even whiter and more delicate.
Jiang Yao paused, then quickened her pace. Her voice was tinged with a gentle softness as she approached. “Yun’er, are you waiting for me?”
Song Muyun shot her a reproachful glance. “Of course. If I wasn’t waiting for you, I would have left long ago.”
“Have you been waiting long?”
“No, only a little while,” Muyun said meekly.
Jiang Yao reached out and rubbed the soft back of the young woman’s head. Then she heard her ask, “What did Uncle say to you? Aunt came to see me just now, too. She said if you bully me, I shouldn’t endure it and should tell her, and she would stand up for me.”
After saying this, the young lady seemed to have found a new source of confidence, and she looked at Jiang Yao with a coquettish air. “You’re not allowed to bully me anymore. Otherwise, I’ll go tell Aunt and have her deal with you.”
Jiang Yao laughed. When had she ever bullied her?
Clearly, it was she who bullied her.
But her wife had never been one for reason, she knew that, so she could only go along with what she said.
“Mm, I know. I’ll never dare to bully you again. Otherwise, you can have my mother punish me.”
Song Muyun’s face lit up with a smile, thoroughly pleased by the coaxing. She continued to ask what Jiang Heng had said to her.
Jiang Yao had no intention of hiding it and told her directly that her parents had seen Muyun’s red eyes, guessed she had been crying, and had specially called her away for questioning.
Song Muyun was instantly stunned. The coquettish smile from just a moment ago vanished completely.
Her eyes widened slightly in a daze, as if in disbelief. Even her voice stuttered. “U-Uncle and Aunt could tell?”
She had never thought anyone would notice, let alone the elders. A wave of shame and indignation instantly bloomed within her.
A blush spread from her neck all the way to her cheeks, and her toes curled inside her embroidered shoes. It was too humiliating. How… how could she cry once and have others see it…
No wonder Aunt had said those things to her. She must have misunderstood.
The young lady was mortified.
But while she found it humiliating, Jiang Yao didn’t think it was a big deal. Her expression was normal, tinged only with a tenderness reserved for her alone.
However, when Muyun looked up and saw her so unfazed, not even trying to comfort her, she was instantly enraged. She threw herself into Jiang Yao’s arms and started pounding on her chest with her fists, utterly furious.
“It’s all your fault! All your fault!”
She was being completely unreasonable, blaming Jiang Yao for embarrassing her in front of the elders.
The gentle smile on Jiang Yao’s face immediately turned into one of helplessness.
“How can you blame me for this? It wasn’t me who made you cry. I was trying to coax you not to cry the whole time.”
Jiang Yao tried her best to defend herself.
Song Muyun didn’t listen to a single word. Her eyes were rimmed with red from embarrassment. After hitting Jiang Yao a few times, she buried her face in her chest, unwilling to look at anyone.
Jiang Yao had no choice but to hold her and continue coaxing. “It’s okay, it’s okay. My father and mother don’t mind. They even told me not to bully you. They won’t secretly laugh at you, so what are you so embarrassed about?”
Song Muyun looked up and glared at her. “It’s clearly you who is shameless! You made me sad, and now you’re trying to argue your way out of it!”
Jiang Yao: …
“Is this how a talented lady is supposed to talk nonsense?”
Jiang Yao stroked the fluffy, dark head of hair in her arms and chuckled.
The talented Miss Song refused to face reality and pretended to be dead, nestling in Jiang Yao’s arms without moving.
This continued until Jiang Yao wrapped one arm around her shoulders, placed the other under her soft bottom, and lifted her up.
Song Muyun was shocked to find herself moving!
“Wh-what are you doing? Put me down! I can walk by myself!”
“Then why weren’t you walking just now? If word of this gets back to my mother’s ears, I’m really afraid you’ll die of shame.”
Jiang Yao teased her.
Song Muyun, afraid she would fall, had no choice but to cling tightly to Jiang Yao, though she still protested, “You can’t carry me like this! I-if someone sees you carrying me like this, how improper would that be!”
How embarrassing that would be for her.
Jiang Yao knew the young lady was a stickler for rules and cared a great deal about her reputation. Hearing this, she nodded and set her down. The next second, she swept her up into a princess carry. Song Muyun yelped in surprise, her wide sleeves fluttering as she hastily wrapped her arms around Jiang Yao’s neck. “Y-you, slow down.”
She complained, but she didn’t struggle anymore, staying obediently in Jiang Yao’s arms as she was carried back.
Ever since Murong Qing’s death, Song Muyun felt that life had become increasingly peaceful and beautiful.
If only she didn’t have to think about Jiang Yao abandoning her to go to war alone.
In any case, she would not let Jiang Yao leave her behind!
Hmph.
Song Muyun hugged Jiang Yao’s neck, her chin resting on her shoulder as she schemed.
Soon, it was time for Jiang Ru’s birthday banquet.
Jiang Yao had specially asked Jiang Ru’s mother, the Jiang family’s Second Madam Jiang Yi, and was relieved to learn that the Eighth Prince had not come to her for an invitation.
Today was Jiang Ru’s seventeenth birthday banquet. At seventeen, she was a young woman of marriageable age. If Murong Ci insisted on attending, she would really start to suspect that she had misjudged,8 that her father’s suspicions were correct, and that Murong Ci harbored improper thoughts toward Ru’er.
Fortunately, that wasn’t the case.
Jiang Yao felt a little relieved. If the two of them really got together, it would infuriate her. She had let them be alone together quite a few times, and had even tried to prove their innocence when her father and the others were suspicious. She hoped Murong Ci would not betray her trust…
Just as she was thinking this, the sound of a guest being announced9 came from the entrance, and the entire venue fell silent. “His Highness the Eighth Prince has arrived—”
Jiang Yao: …
The once-confident Second Madam Jiang Yi: …
The two exchanged a look, and both saw shock in the other’s eyes.
Wait, how could the Eighth Prince be here?
She hadn’t sent the Eighth Prince an invitation!
Jiang Yi was bewildered. She subconsciously looked toward her daughter, and then she saw her daughter, upon hearing the words “Eighth Prince,” walk out to greet him…
Her daughter, who had always been so proper and so careful about maintaining her distance from men, was proactively going to welcome the Eighth Prince.
Her vision went black. The old mother nearly fainted.
She knew her own daughter. If Jiang Ru had no feelings for Murong Ci, how could she be so close with him? Not only did she always chat with him, she had even secretly gone to the Eighth Prince’s Residence to find him!
Her eldest sister-in-law had told her all of this.
Knowing was one thing, but Jiang Yi found it hard to accept. The imperial palace was a place that devoured people. Any mother who cared for her daughter in the slightest, how could she bear to let her enter the imperial palace?
This birthday banquet was a gathering for the younger generation. The guests were all Jiang Ru’s peers from the capital, mostly young women. Therefore, neither Jiang Heng nor Jiang Zhi attended. Liang Qingyin was helping entertain some of the younger guests, but was pulled away by Jiang Yi a moment later to discuss Jiang Ru’s matter elsewhere.
Jiang Yao stood by the rockery, watching with a frown. She lowered her head and asked Song Muyun, who was leaning against her side, “Yun’er, what do you think Murong Ci is playing at? She asked me for an invitation to Ru’er’s birthday banquet before, and I didn’t give her one. How did she get one now?”
Song Muyun tugged on Jiang Yao’s arm, leaned in close, and whispered her guess, “Do you think the Eighth Prince likes Ru’er? He used to always talk to you, but now he only seeks out Ru’er to talk to.”
This was also what she had been jealous about. The Eighth Prince was always talking to Jiang Yao. The two of them weren’t related in any way, yet Jiang Yao was exceptionally gentle with him.
How could that not make one suspicious?
She had thought that Jiang Yao treated the Eighth Prince with some special regard, and the Eighth Prince was a man, which was, in the end, more suitable than a woman like herself…
At this thought, Song Muyun lowered her head, about to get upset, when she suddenly felt a pinch on her bottom. Jiang Yao looked at her warily. “You’re letting your imagination run wild again, aren’t you? There are so many people here today. If you overthink things and cry yourself into a state, you’ll be thoroughly embarrassed!”
After hearing her out, Song Muyun stomped her foot in exasperation. “Wh-who’s letting their imagination run wild? I wasn’t thinking about anything just now! You stop talking nonsense and slandering me!”
“Alright, alright, I won’t slander you. But since you weren’t thinking about anything, you’re not allowed to cry.”
Jiang Yao raised her hands in surrender. Her Muyun cared a lot about her pride, so she couldn’t insist on saying such things and embarrass her, or she would ignore her. But she still had to emphasize it, lest a golden bean10 suddenly fall from those slightly red-rimmed eyes.
The little lady huffily fell into Jiang Yao’s arms and was held tight. Jiang Yao continued to coax her. “Okay, I was just saying. Besides, I’ve already explained everything that happened in the past. You won’t misunderstand again, right?” she asked.
Song Muyun’s voice was a little muffled, but she finally agreed.
She wasn’t an unreasonable person, she was just prone to jealousy.
“Good. Then let’s continue talking about the Eighth Prince and Ru’er.”
Jiang Yao looked at the two of them with genuine concern and asked Song Muyun, “Could the Eighth Prince really like Ru’er? But she’s…”
She was about to say it, but stopped halfway, forcing the words back down.
Fortunately, Muyun didn’t grow suspicious. She just continued from the previous sentence. “Ru’er is beautiful and talented. It would be perfectly normal for the Eighth Prince to like her.”
“But… but it’s not appropriate!”
Jiang Yao’s brows were tightly furrowed. That Murong Ci is a woman!
Could it be that she is a mirror grinder, just like me?
That… that’s not appropriate either!
How could a prince be the same as an ordinary person?
And if nothing unexpected happened, Murong Ci was the legitimate child of the Empress, had an excellent reputation, and would inherit the throne in the future. There was a ninety percent chance. If Ru’er were to marry her, they wouldn’t be able to produce a child, and the court officials would definitely go and trouble Ru’er!
As the Emperor, no one would dare say anything to Murong Ci, but Ru’er was different.
At this moment, Jiang Yao deeply regretted her lack of vigilance toward Murong Ci. She shouldn’t have, just because Murong Ci was a woman, allowed the two of them to spend time together. She needed to remember that if she could fall in love with a woman, so could others!
She was full of regret.
She frowned, watching the two people sitting on a stone bench a short distance away, chatting and smiling. In the meantime, other young masters and misses tried to go over and join their conversation, but they all left after just a few sentences for some unknown reason.
The longer she watched, the more uncomfortable she felt.
Song Muyun shook Jiang Yao’s hand. “Then what should we do? If you don’t like it, should I go talk to Ru’er to separate them?”
Jiang Yao stared at the pair, fuming. She suddenly threw an arm around Song Muyun’s shoulders and said to her, “Come on, let’s go over and see what they’re talking about.”
The young lady had always listened to Jiang Yao. The moment Jiang Yao said it, she nodded in agreement, obediently leaning against her.
Jiang Yao led her over, her expression not particularly pleasant the entire way. She walked up behind Jiang Ru.
Seeing Jiang Yao approach, Murong Ci subconsciously stood, his eyes gentle and smiling. “Jiang Yao, what brings you here?”
“This female subject (this female commoner) greets the Eighth Prince.”
Hearing her older sister’s voice, Jiang Ru also stood up at once, turning around with a smile to greet them. “Jiejie, saozi,11 what are you two doing here?”
After rising from her bow, Jiang Yao offered a smile that didn’t reach her eyes.12 “Today is your birthday banquet, and here you are, the guest of honor, sneaking away for some peace and quiet. Did you think I wouldn’t come and check on you?”
“Aren’t Aunt and my mother here? Why would they need me?” Jiang Ru said, then looked up, her eyes showing her confusion. “Hm? Where are Aunt and my mother? Where did they go?”
Jiang Yao: “Mother and Second Aunt have something to attend to. I came to tell you to entertain the guests. It’s a good chance to make a couple of new friends, hm?”
“Oh, alright then. In that case, jiejie, saozi, could you help me entertain His Highness the Eighth Prince? I’ll go entertain the other young masters and misses first, so as not to be impolite.”
Jiang Ru placed the highest importance on etiquette. Naturally, she wouldn’t let these young masters and misses go unattended and have them go back saying the Jiang family lacked courtesy.
Jiang Yao nodded with a smile. After Jiang Ru had left, she turned her gaze to Murong Ci.
Murong Ci’s line of sight had followed Jiang Ru the whole time she was leaving. That look…
It was just like how Muyun usually looked at her, only with less meekness and a bit more gentleness.
She stared for so long that she was noticed. Murong Ci seemed a little surprised. “Jiang Yao? What are you looking at me for? The weather is so nice today, aren’t you going to take Miss Song out to have some fun?”
Ever since Jiang Yao realized she might have designs on her cousin, she really didn’t want to give her a pleasant look. “It’s my cousin’s birthday,” she said peevishly. “How could I abandon her to go have fun by myself? It’s not like today is the only day with good weather. On the other hand, Eighth Prince, what brings you here?” she asked probingly.
Murong Ci understood. His expression was frank and open. With a hook of his lips, he said directly, “Ru’er and I can be considered good friends. It’s her birthday, so naturally I had to come and congratulate her.”
…
“Then where did you get your invitation?”
“Ru’er granted my request and gave it to me.”
…
Jiang Ru, are you okay, Jiang Ru! Do you have any idea that she might be harboring ill intentions and ruthless ambition,13 yet you just go along with her like this?
Jiang Yao’s expression was not good. Seeing this, Murong Ci chuckled, then asked, “Have you misunderstood something?”
“Does the Eighth Prince have nothing to do all day? Why are you always with Ru’er? This female subject often sees the Eighth Prince, and I happen to see Ru’er as well.”
Murong Ci was certain that if he dared to reveal even a hint of an untoward thought, he would be doomed. Whether he could ever enter the Jiang Residence again would be another question entirely.
Until everything was settled and Jiang Ru’s attitude was clear, he could not reveal his intentions to Jiang Yao.
“Ru’er and I both like Qing Tan’s paintings, so we have a lot to talk about. I rarely meet someone with the same hobby, so I can’t help but seek out Ru’er to talk more. Don’t misunderstand. I’m the same as you, am I not?”
Song Muyun didn’t understand what that last sentence meant, just as Jiang Yao didn’t understand what the hell a Qing Tan was. And rarely meet someone with the same hobby? How is that possible!
There are so many people in the world. What you, a prince, likes can’t be something bad, can it?
How could you not find a fellow enthusiast!
Jiang Yao didn’t believe it, until her little wife whispered in her ear, “Qing Tan is a niche painter who specializes in painting all kinds of rocks. Very few people actually like his work.”
…
Wait, what’s so good about painting rocks?
Jiang Yao’s expression was complicated. “So you two talk about paintings every day?”
“We talk about other things too. Do you know of Qing Lü?”
…
“I do not,” Jiang Yao spat out, her face ashen.
Song Muyun’s heart ached seeing Jiang Yao’s bewildered look, and she quickly told her, “That’s Qing Tan’s younger brother. He writes very good poetry and is revered by many scholars as a poetic immortal.”
This line of inquiry was getting nowhere. Why did they always have to talk about such scholarly things? What was the point!
“My Yun’er is still the best.”
She suddenly turned and hugged Song Muyun.
Her Yun’er knew so much, yet she never talked to her about these things. It must be because she was being considerate of her, who didn’t understand much!
Yun’er was so good.
To be able to marry Yun’er was her good fortune for three lifetimes.
Jiang Yao’s face was filled with emotion.
Murong Ci didn’t know what had come to her mind to suddenly start showing off his wifely affection in front of him, but he couldn’t help but feel a thread of envy. His gaze passed over Jiang Yao to land on Jiang Ru, who was entertaining guests in the distance. He thought, he needed to speed things up, otherwise he would always feel uneasy, worried that he would be thwarted by others.
If Ru’er wasn’t on his side, he probably wouldn’t be able to overcome the opposition.
The woman’s fingertips kneaded gently within her ink-black sleeve.
Footnotes
- The original is “你算锤子的半个儿子” (nǐ suàn chuízi de bàn ge érzi). “Chuizi,” literally “hammer,” is slang for “bullshit” or “the hell,” similar to “my ass” in English. It’s a blunt dismissal.
- The original is “哥俩好似的” (gē liǎ hǎo shì de), an expression describing a very close, brotherly relationship.
- The original is “碰了软钉子” (pèng le ruǎn dīngzi), literally “hit a soft nail,” an idiom for being refused politely but firmly.
- The original is “咬耳朵” (yǎo ěr duo), literally “to bite ears,” a common and vivid expression for whispering intimately to someone.
- “Grinding mirrors,” or “磨镜” (mó jìng), is a classical Chinese euphemism for lesbianism.
- The phrase “tied to her belt,” or “拴腰带上” (shuān yāo dài shàng), is a vivid metaphor for inseparability—keeping someone so close they might as well be physically attached.
- “Playing house,” or “过家家” (guò jiā jiā), is a common children’s game of make-believe, used here to contrast with the seriousness of war.
- “Misjudged,” or “看走眼了” (kàn zǒu yǎn le), literally means “eyes walked away,” an idiom for making an error in judgment about someone or something.
- “Announced,” or “叫号” (jiào hào), refers to the practice at formal events where an announcer calls out the names of arriving guests.
- “Golden bean,” or “金豆豆” (jīn dòu dòu), is a poetic and affectionate term for a teardrop.
- “Saozi” (嫂子) means “sister-in-law,” specifically used to address an older brother’s or male cousin’s wife.
- “A smile that doesn’t reach the eyes,” or “皮笑肉不笑” (pí xiào ròu bù xiào), literally “skin smiles but flesh doesn’t smile,” is a common idiom for a fake or forced smile.
- “Ruthless ambition,” or “狼子野心” (láng zǐ yě xīn), literally “wolf cub’s wild heart,” is an idiom for someone with cruel and savage ambitions.
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