Forbidden to Bully the Storybook’s Heroine – Chapter 19

A Chance Encounter with Didi at the Pleasure Quarter

The two lay on the bed together for a while before Jiang Yao got up, hands on her hips, and changed back into the white, close-fitting martial attire she had worn today. Song Muyun also changed into a snow-white, simple dress. Her vermilion lips were red without being dotted on, and her face was without a trace of powder or kohl, yet she still looked as if she were an immortal drifting on air.

“Why so plain? Where’s the buyao¹ I gave you yesterday? Quick, take it out and put it on.”

Jiang Yao’s gaze fell upon the small dressing table, where, neatly placed in a box, was a red butterfly dangling pearl buyao.

Stared at by her, Song Muyun had no choice but to reach out, pick up the buyao, and gently insert it into her hair. As she did, she explained in a small voice, “There are a lot of people on the street. I was afraid I’d lose it.”

The small, round pearls on the buyao dangled down by the woman’s swan-like neck. It was very beautiful.

Gulp. Jiang Yao couldn’t help but swallow.

It was one thing when she hadn’t paid close attention to Song Muyun in the past, but now, every time she looked at her seriously, she was mesmerized anew. How could someone so beautiful have fallen into the hands of that bastard Murong Qing?

Fuck his father.

Jiang Yao couldn’t accept it.

Song Muyun had already arranged her hair ornaments and clothes. A pair of shimmering, beautiful eyes looked toward Jiang Yao. “I, I’m ready. Shall we go?”

Just as Jiang Yao was about to lead her away, she seemed to remember something and looked her over from head to toe. “How are your injuries? Can you walk? Or should I bring some food back for you?”

The wounds from last night had still been very painful when she woke up this morning, but after using the medicine she was given, it was much more comfortable. As long as she didn’t move too vigorously, she couldn’t feel the pain.

Murong Qing ultimately didn’t dare to actually beat her to death; they were all just superficial injuries.

Song Muyun spread her hands slightly and spun in a circle in front of Jiang Yao. “I’m already much better. Let’s go eat together.”

Jiang Yao had spent silver to come in and order her; how could she let Jiang Yao bring food back for her to eat?

Wouldn’t that be spending silver to come and take care of her?

And… she also somewhat wanted to dine with Jiang Yao.

Her temperament was soft, and she ate with the most gusto; watching her made Jiang Yao feel particularly gluttonous as well.

Considering Song Muyun’s physical condition, Jiang Yao didn’t go too far to eat. She just booked a private room at Yueshang House², ordered some dishes, and had them sent over.

However, just as they reached the door of the private room, a burst of laughter from some young lads drifted up from downstairs. “Jiang-xiong³ must have suffered all sorts of grievances at home! It’s a rare day for you to come out and unwind, so you must enjoy yourself to the fullest!”

Jiang Yao inexplicably found the voice somewhat familiar, but she didn’t have many friends in the capital, and even fewer who would frequent a brothel. For a moment, she couldn’t recall who was speaking, until another young lad’s voice followed, tinged with displeasure. “Who said this young master has suffered all sorts of grievances at home? At home, this young master’s word has always been law. How could I possibly suffer any grievances!”

The gentle smile Jiang Yao wore when facing Song Muyun cracked.

She had lingered at the door for too long. Song Muyun looked over in surprise and asked her softly why she wasn’t coming in.

“Hehe, you sit here for a bit first. I have something to take care of. I’ll be right back.”

Jiang Yao said the last sentence practically through gritted teeth.

Song Muyun looked at her blankly, not knowing what business she had, but Jiang Yao had no time to explain. Her face cold, she turned and walked a few quick steps to lean against the railing and look down. There, she saw Jiang Huai, laughing and joking with his friends.

Jiang Huai hadn’t seen her at first. It was a youth in green clothes beside him who, sensing a piercing gaze, looked up in confusion, only to come face-to-face with Jiang Yao’s ferocious eyes.

The green-clothed youth was so startled he nearly tumbled down the stairs. The hand he raised trembled. At the Jiang Residence that day, he had watched Jiang Yao raise a whip and chase Jiang Huai around to beat him!

Before that day, he had always thought that Jiang Huai’s older sister was a highly skilled martial artist, but also a gentle, virtuous, kind, and courteous young woman. It wasn’t until that day, when he watched with his own eyes as Miss Jiang took a whip and lashed Jiang Huai until he scurried all over the courtyard, that she also managed to lash him to the ground in the process. From then on, Miss Jiang’s image as a fierce and evil god was established. Truly terrifying.

As Jiang Huai was walking, he was suddenly pulled back. He turned to look at his stupefied friend, displeased. “What’s wrong? Let’s go. The food service here is super slow. Let’s hurry up and order a couple of dishes first.”

Saying that, he prepared to walk again, only to be pulled back once more.

His handsome face fell as he looked over impatiently. “What are you doing? Are you going up or not?”

The green-clothed youth didn’t dare to look at Jiang Yao’s vicious eyes. He lowered his head, and with a trembling body, raised his other hand and gestured upwards a few times.

Jiang Huai frowned and, along with several other bewildered youths, looked up, meeting Jiang Yao’s teasing eyes and the slight hook of her lips.

In that instant, all the youths trembled. The next second, Jiang Yao stood up straight and walked directly toward the stairs.

Pairs upon pairs of eyes stared at her in unison, watching her walk to the top of the stairs.

She fiddled with the whip at her waist. Having been disciplined since childhood, Jiang Huai was terrified. He subconsciously shrank his shoulders and wanted to retreat, but he was pinned in place by Jiang Yao’s sharp eyes, unable to move. After a long moment, all he could do was force a guilty, fawning smile.

“Your word is law at home?”

Jiang Yao asked.

Jiang Huai hadn’t expected her to have heard that line. He wished he could just die. He kept his mouth shut, not daring to speak at all. His companions kept poking him, waiting to be saved. After a long while, Jiang Huai finally squeezed out a sentence to change the subject, “Jie⁴, what are you doing here?”

Jiang Yao sneered, “You can be here, but I can’t?”

Jiang Huai immediately clammed up again, too cowardly to make a peep.

She swept her gaze over all the young lads, her voice cold and harsh, carrying the natural, ferocious aura of a martial artist. “All of you, over here! How old are you lot? Each and every one of you dares to frequent a pleasure quarter?!”

Right in front of the madam⁵, who had hurried over upon hearing the commotion, Jiang Yao led the group of youths back to the private room she had booked.

Song Muyun was waiting inside, sitting restlessly. Seeing people enter, she quickly stood up and looked over. “Jiang Yao, this is…”

She stared blankly at the line of youths walking in. One of them recognized Song Muyun and, seeing her inside, was somewhat surprised. “You, aren’t you Song-jiejie⁶? Why are you…”

Halfway through his sentence, he remembered where they were. Song Muyun being here seemed perfectly reasonable.

Jiang Yao unceremoniously went over and pulled Song Muyun down to sit. When facing the young woman, her voice couldn’t help but soften again. “What, you know him?”

That youth didn’t dare to speak. Song Muyun lowered her head, revealing her snow-white, slender neck, where beautiful, faint blue veins were vaguely visible.

“We’ve met a few times. He is Li-didi⁷. He used to come to my house to play.”

“Oh, he often looks for my didi to play, too.”

As Jiang Yao spoke, she naturally squeezed Song Muyun’s hand, which was soft as if boneless, with skin like congealed fat⁸. She sighed, “Why is it a little cold? Are you not wearing enough?”

Being treated like this by her in front of others, Song Muyun suddenly felt a little embarrassed. She hastily tried to pull her hand back, whispering, “My body has always been constitutionally cold.”

Jiang Yao frowned. “That won’t do. When I have time, I’ll find some medicine for you to warm and nourish your body.”

Perhaps because the two had the bond of sharing a bed⁹, in Jiang Yao’s eyes, this was a very close relationship. She rubbed Song Muyun’s hand a couple more times, rubbing her fingertips until they were a little warm before finally letting go.

As for Song Muyun, having been treated so intimately by her in front of so many “didis,” her face was already flushed red with shyness. She turned her head away, not daring to look at her.

Jiang Huai looked with a complicated expression at his jiejie, who had been a fierce and evil god to him since childhood, yet treated an outsider with such gentleness. He couldn’t help but ask, “Jie, are you sick?”

Jiang Yao shot a ferocious glare his way, and he immediately shut his mouth again.

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The author has something to say:

The double-standard jiejie, the doted-on Yunyun, the didi eating dog food¹⁰

I was originally going to take a day off today because I thought the ranking list only required ten thousand characters. Damn it, I looked during the day and found out I have to write fifteen thousand, so I can’t take a day off QAQ

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