Forbidden to Bully the Storybook’s Heroine – Chapter 12

The Porcelain Shards That Injured a Hand

Zui Changchun was the largest restaurant in the capital city. Rumors whispered that its backer was some prince from the palace, so no one dared to cause trouble at Zui Changchun.

Because the restaurant was bustling with people coming and going, Jiang Yao was afraid of losing the person with her. As they entered, she subconsciously reached out and grasped Song Muyun’s slender, snow-white wrist, tilting her head slightly to say to her, “Stay close to me.”

Song Muyun’s gaze fell upon that hand, and she stared, unable to move her eyes away.

Two hands, so white they were dazzling, were intertwined.

Jiang Yao booked a private room on the second floor and settled Song Muyun inside. Just as she was about to call the waiter over to order, for some unknown reason, the Seventh Prince came up from downstairs.

Upon seeing her, the corner of his mouth hooked into a gentle smile, and he walked over. “Miss Jiang isn’t going to Yueshang House to see that daughter of a disgraced minister today?”

Only Jiang Yao, standing face-to-face with him, could see the dark coldness in his eyes.

Murong Qing had always been excellent at concealing his true nature in front of others; no one would ever think that he would secretly beat and bully a weak woman.

Jiang Yao didn’t want to bother with him, her gaze landing lazily on the floor. “The Seventh Prince should mind his own business more. The Autumn Hunt¹ is approaching. You wouldn’t want to embarrass yourself during the hunt, would you?”

The Seventh Prince, Murong Qing, was heavy on literature, light on martial arts². He only knew some ordinary skills that couldn’t compare to anyone else’s. The teachers who taught him literature often praised his intelligence, but the generals who taught him martial arts wished they could resign and return to their hometowns, just to avoid having to instruct this prince who was heavy on literature, light on martial arts³ when it came to martial studies.

Murong Qing’s expression stiffened. It was true that his martial skills were mediocre, and he had already been thoroughly mocked by his many brothers these past few days. He never expected that now, even Jiang Yao would dare to mock him!

Murong Qing’s face instantly turned gloomy, but he was, after all, someone capable of being the male lead. He quickly composed himself and gave a faint smile. “I appreciate Miss Jiang’s concern.”

Only then did Jiang Yao raise her eyes to look at Murong Qing, the annoyance on her face barely contained. She was a straightforward person and had no desire to put on an act with Murong Qing here.

Murong Qing clearly detested her as well, yet he was able to endure it and maintain a harmonious facade with her.

“If the Seventh Prince has no other business, I will go in to eat.”

If her father hadn’t told her to be more respectful to the Seventh Prince when outside, she wouldn’t even be bothering with Murong Qing right now. She would just shut the door directly. What could Murong Qing do to her?

Just as she was speaking, the sound of porcelain hitting the floor suddenly came from inside the private room. Jiang Yao’s heart jumped. She turned to look and met Song Muyun’s somewhat panicked, hazy like misty rain⁴ eyes. Before she could speak, the other woman had already crouched down to pick up the pieces. Jiang Yao could only call out urgently, “Don’t pick them up! I’ll have someone come clean it. If Your Seventh Highness has no other business, Jiang Yao will not keep you company.”

After speaking, without even a glance at Murong Qing’s darkened face, she slammed the door shut.

Outside the room, Murong Qing clenched his fists tightly, fury appearing on his face. If he hadn’t been mistaken, the person who had just appeared inside, in that fleeting glimpse, was none other than Song Muyun!

It was one thing for Jiang Yao to just play around with Song Muyun at Yueshang House, but she actually dared to bring her out?

Was she not afraid of being blamed by their Imperial Father, implicating the Prime Minister and causing him to be disfavored!

Jiang Yao paid no mind to what Murong Qing was thinking outside. She hurried inside and saw Song Muyun squatting on the floor, staring blankly at the porcelain shards.

She quickly walked over and squatted down. “How is it? Did you hurt your hand? I’ll have the waiter come clean this up, don’t…”

Jiang Yao paused. A finger dripping with blood entered her line of sight. Her heart suddenly tightened, and her tone was subconsciously fierce. “Didn’t I tell you not to pick them up? Why did you still do it? Does it hurt? There’s a clinic on the street, I’ll take you there to get it treated.”

Song Muyun’s finger was cut, and vibrant red blood welled up from the wound. Her skin was delicate and fair, her fingers as slender as jade. Even the slightest injury was enough to make Jiang Yao’s heart ache.

“There’s no need.”

Unexpectedly, Song Muyun used her uninjured hand to pull on Jiang Yao, who was about to stand up. Her voice was a little soft. “There’s no need to go. It’s not a serious injury. You said you would take me out to eat. I’m hungry, can we eat first?”

“But your hand is bleeding.”

Jiang Yao frowned, clearly disapproving.

A moment ago, Song Muyun had deliberately shown her wound to Jiang Yao, but now she seemed completely unconcerned. She took out a small porcelain bottle from within her robes, wiped the blood away, and poured some white powder onto her finger. Then, she wrapped it casually with a handkerchief, looked up at Jiang Yao again, and curved her lips into a gentle, faint smile. “It’s done.”

Jiang Yao was stunned. The Song Muyun before her now was completely different from the one she had seen in her dreams. That woman in her dreams rarely smiled and always had a cold expression, yet she was smiling at her so gently now.

“Ahem, cough cough, then, then be careful. Don’t let it touch water for the next few days.”

“Mm, I know.”

Song Muyun lowered her head and was pulled to her feet by Jiang Yao.

She just didn’t want Jiang Yao to keep talking to Murong Qing, which is why she had “accidentally” knocked over the tea set. The cut on her finger was an accident from when she was lost in thought; it wasn’t intentional. When Jiang Yao asked if she was hurt, she had shown it to her without thinking.

Although Jiang Yao’s tone was fierce, it couldn’t hide her concern.

Song Muyun gently pursed her lips, a smile of pure joy slowly spreading across her face.

The waiter came in to wait for their order. Jiang Yao told him to have someone clean up the broken porcelain on the floor, then looked at the little fairy she had brought out. “What do you want to eat? My treat today, order whatever you like.”

Song Muyun held the new celadon⁵ cup the waiter had just brought in, her head lowered, her voice as gentle as water. “Miss Jiang can decide. Muyun can eat anything.”

“Today is the first time I’m taking you out to eat, so of course, we have to go with what you like. Quick, let me see what dishes you usually like to eat.”

She was also trying to understand the female lead’s heart. To know what she likes to eat so she could cater to her preferences in the future. Though she didn’t know why she wanted to cater to Song Muyun’s preferences. It seemed she just wanted to make her happy?

After several attempts to decline, Song Muyun finally nodded lightly and ordered four dishes—a mix of meat and vegetables, plus a clear-stewed whole chicken to warm their stomachs first.

“Is just ordering this much enough?”

Song Muyun lowered her head slightly, revealing a snow-white and delicate⁶ side profile. A lock of dark hair fell by her forehead, making her look pure and gentle. “Mm, it’s just the two of us eating, it should be enough. We shouldn’t be wasteful.”

The elders of the Song family had taught her since she was young that the current Da Jin Kingdom was plagued by constant wars and frequent natural disasters. Many common people couldn’t even get enough to eat. The fact that she could eat her fill was something to be grateful to the heavens for; she must never be wasteful.

Afraid that Song Muyun would think she was an extravagant and wasteful person, Jiang Yao quickly nodded in agreement. “You’re right. I’ll listen to you.”

Her saying this prompted Song Muyun to glance at her again, after which she pursed her lips, somewhat shyly, and lowered her head.

The dishes arrived one by one, and the private room was instantly filled with a rich aroma. A thick, red sauce was poured over a whole, fragrant, pan-fried fish, making one’s ⁷.

Jiang Yao had barely eaten a few bites early in the morning before heading to Yueshang House. She hadn’t brought anyone with her and had walked the whole way. It was fine when she couldn’t smell the fragrance, but now that she could, her stomach immediately let out a loud growl, scaring her so much she almost rolled off her stool.

It’s fine to be useless at other times, but can’t you be a little more useful in front of a beauty?

Do you really have to lose face like this?!

Song Muyun also heard the stomach growl. She lowered her head and chuckled lightly. To avoid embarrassing Jiang Yao, she quickly hid her smile and picked up a piece of zui paigu⁸ for her. “Try this. I’ve heard that Zui Changchun’s zui paigu is the most tender and delicious.”

The beauty’s snow-white hand held jade-colored chopsticks, her fingertips round and pink. They looked even more delicious than the zui paigu.

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The author has something to say:

The author, riding a little donkey, gallops over to stand up for Yaoyao: If it’s delicious, take a few more bites!

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