Forbidden to Bully the Storybook’s Heroine – Chapter 49

Stirring Restlessly¹

The next day, all the silk-pants² Jiang Yao had taught a lesson to came to Jiang Residence one after another to apologize. The spectacle was so grand that Li Yun thought they had made up with Jiang Huai and were all going to Jiang Residence to have fun.

Song Muyun hadn’t expected that group of half-grown boys to be looking for her to apologize. Seeing them stand before her with their heads bowed obediently, she looked at Jiang Yao with some unease.

She knew why Jiang Yao had gone to Qinglü Academy. It wasn’t to stand up for her younger brother; it was for her. It was to make her happy, to stand up for her.

The woman’s heart began to beat joyfully again, impossible to suppress.

After the group of young masters had left, Jiang Yao was still leaning against a willow tree with her arms crossed over her sword, a twig she’d gotten from who-knows-where dangling from her mouth. It was a very improper look, even a bit like a silk-pants herself, but it delighted Song Muyun. Without hesitation, she took small steps and ran, rushing into Jiang Yao’s arms.

Jiang Yao had just shifted her position and was idly fiddling with her sword tassel³ when a gentle breeze suddenly came toward her. She didn’t hesitate either. Without even lifting her head, as if she already knew who it was, she opened her arms and embraced the person.

The woman was terribly slender; no matter how she was fed, she never seemed to gain weight. Jiang Yao frowned as she felt that thin waist, then moved to touch the snow-white wrist that looked as if it would snap with a single twist.

She’s too thin. I feed her so carefully every day, so how is she still this skinny?

Song Muyun was proud and stubborn by nature, but when facing Jiang Yao, she had another nature: submissive.

Jiang Yao liked to touch and pinch, so she would let her, allowing her to touch and pinch as she pleased.

“Are you tired? If you are, I’ll take you back to rest,” she asked.

Song Muyun shook her head. “I’ve only walked a few laps. I’m not very tired.”

Good that she wasn’t tired. “Then would you like to watch me practice my sword?”

“En⁴, I’ll watch from here.”

Jiang Yao drew her sword and began to practice in the spacious garden. Song Muyun noticed the sword tassel on the hilt; its color had faded a bit, like an old item that had been used for a long time. It was probably time to replace it. En, I’ll make one for her.

---

The dates for the autumn hunt⁵ were scheduled tightly, and the day arrived quickly. The morning was still very cold, but every courtyard was already busy packing. The maids in Jiang Yao’s courtyard were packing as well. Unlike other courtyards that only had to pack for one master, they had to pack for three. Everyone was rushing about, extremely anxious, afraid something would be left behind.

Jiang Yao was no good at such delicate work. She dressed in simple clothes and stood waiting in the courtyard. Song Muyun was about to follow her out but was required to put on a fox fur cloak, wear rabbit fur sleeve covers, and hold a small hand warmer⁶. She was bundled up so tightly that only her beautiful, jade-like face was exposed before she was allowed out.

She was naturally pure and stunning, her cheeks pale with a hint of pink. She was utterly beautiful.

Jiang Yao was dying to go up and give them a couple of pinches, but if she left marks on her face right now, she’d definitely make her angry. It’s better to leave it. No need to poke the tiger on its whiskers.

Song Muyun walked over and stood beside her, her voice light and soft. “Are you riding in the carriage with us?”

There weren’t many carriages accompanying them; most people would follow on horseback.

Jiang Yao shook her head. “You and Ru’er⁷ will definitely be reading. I think I’ll ride my horse.”

“O⁸.”

Song Muyun lowered her head, looking a little disappointed, but she quickly recovered. She pulled a green sword tassel from her robes.

A piece of green jade dangled from it, looking very sharp and handsome.

Jiang Yao stared blankly and asked subconsciously, “This is…”

Song Muyun reached out and touched her sword hilt, removing the somewhat faded tassel and replacing it with the one in her hand.

She said, “This is my gift to you.”

“You made it yourself?”

No wonder she’d seen her secretly weaving something for the past few days. So it was a sword tassel for her.

“En. Your birthday is coming up soon, isn’t it? This is an early gift.”

“Then will I still get a gift on my birthday?”

“Of course.”

Jiang Yao raised an eyebrow and looked at the sword in her hand. Her favorite sword, now adorned with a sword tassel handmade by her good friend, truly looked much better.

She was very pleased and felt even more anticipation for this so-called birthday gift.

What will she give me? Will it be something she made herself, too?

Jiang Yao didn’t lack for gold or silver, but sincerity was something everyone lacked.

The long procession moved along the official road. Song Muyun, Jiang Ru, and Jiang Huai all sat in the same carriage. Jiang Yao rode her horse, loitering outside their carriage. Occasionally, when she saw a pretty wildflower on the roadside, she would go and pick it, then lift the window curtain to pass it inside.

At this, Jiang Ru would pop her head out in pleasant surprise and ask, “Jiejie⁹, is this for me?”

“I picked two. One for you and one for Muyun.”

Her voice was neither loud nor soft, just enough for those inside the carriage to hear. To Jiang Huai, this was like a bolt from the blue¹⁰. He couldn’t help but squeeze over, fighting with Jiang Ru for the window, and shouted, “Jiejie, you’re playing favorites! Why do they get one and I don’t? There are three people in this carriage, three! Look closely!”

Jiang Huai felt deeply ostracized.

Although he knew his status in the family would drop a bit after his Jiejie returned, who could have expected that even this Song-jiejie, who wasn’t related to them by blood, was more important than him!

He no longer knew how far back he’d been pushed. Now the three sisters were all harmonious and beautiful, but they were all ganging up on him!

Jiang Yao sat atop her tall horse, looking down from a superior position¹¹ at Jiang Huai, but she paid his jealousy no mind. Instead, she said, “Move over. Let Muyun sit here.”

Jiang Huai: …

Damn it!

He indignantly¹² gave up his seat. Song Muyun came over, revealing only half of her snow-white face. Jiang Yao asked with concern, “Are you getting used to it? Are you uncomfortable anywhere?”

Song Muyun wasn’t. She shook her head obediently. “How much farther is it?”

Jiang Yao looked at the road. “It’ll still be a while. Are you sleepy? You can take a nap.”

Song Muyun shook her head again. Jiang Yao looked up and saw a fruit tree ahead. Even though it was late autumn, she was surprised to see there were still fruits to be picked. “Then you wait in here. I’ll go get you something to eat.”

With that, she urged her horse forward and picked two dark red fruits from the tree. It really wasn’t that she was excluding Jiang Huai; there were truly only two fruits left on the tree. She didn’t even get one for herself.

The people ahead had probably picked most of them.

Jiang Yao wiped the two fruits clean and passed them inside, which predictably drew Jiang Huai’s dissatisfaction again. But dissatisfied was dissatisfied; it wasn’t like he could fight back.

After the better part of the day had passed, they finally arrived at the temporary imperial palace¹³.

Jiang Yao dismounted first, then went to help her two younger sisters down. En, Muyun is a year younger than me, so of course she counts as a younger sister. As for that brat who screams all day, he doesn’t need any attention.

Jiang Yao helped Song Muyun out of the carriage. There were many other families around, their gazes sizing them up covertly.

This was the first time Song Muyun had appeared so open and aboveboard¹⁴ in front of everyone since her father’s incident, and she was even participating in the autumn hunt.

It was said that the Prime Minister had asked her to come.

Anyone with half a brain knew that the reversal of the Song family’s verdict was inseparable from the Prime Minister’s Residence. It was Jiang Heng who had been pulling the strings from behind.

Why had no one ever known that Jiang Heng and Song Yunqian had such a close relationship?

Jiang Yao and Song Muyun were staying in the same courtyard, as was Jiang Ru.

Jiang Heng had his biases. The courtyard for his two children was naturally large and bright, surrounded by flowers and trees. Even if they didn’t go out during the day, just sitting and looking at the scenery was very relaxing.

Jiang Yao carried in her large and small bags and immediately lay down upon entering the room.

The room had already been cleaned in advance by the maids and was spotless.

Song Muyun kept her head down, arranging her customary tea set piece by piece, then went to boil some water for tea.

Jiang Yao was so tired that only her mouth could move. When she saw her boiling tea, her eyes lit up and she called out, “Yunyun!”

Song Muyun’s movements paused. She was calling her that again.

“If you have something to say, say it. Don’t just call me names.”

The young lady was shy and didn’t allow Jiang Yao to call her that.

Jiang Yao lay flat on her back on the bed, ignoring her, and continued to draw out her voice in a coquettish manner. “Yunyun~ I’m thirsty. Pour me a cup of water.”

Song Muyun was used to it. She didn’t say anything more and obediently poured her some water. She used the cup lid to gently fan it, dispersing some of the heat, then brought the warm tea to her before complaining, “You’re not even willing to walk two steps.”

Jiang Yao sat up and pulled Song Muyun down to sit beside her. She drank the tea while saying, “Isn’t that because I have you here?”

Song Muyun didn’t speak, only watching her drink the tea with her watery eyes.

The young masters and misses of the capital rarely had the chance to leave the city, let alone travel so far. They were all incredibly excited to be out for once.

Once Jiang Yao had rested enough, she took Song Muyun and Jiang Ru out for a stroll.

One was the daughter of the Prime Minister, the other the daughter of the Longhu General. Naturally, there were plenty of people willing to spend time with them. The only one who made people hesitate was Song Muyun of the Song family.

She was once considered a daughter of heaven with outstanding literary talent, an existence that many found too far behind to catch up¹⁵ to. But now, she had fallen to the mortal world¹⁶ and had even been in a pleasure house. While people felt it was a pity, they also didn’t dare get too close.

Therefore, the moment Jiang Yao and the others came out, they attracted a great deal of attention.

“Do you want to go horseback riding?” she asked her two little sisters.

Jiang Ru’s father was a general, after all. Though she didn’t know martial arts, she had ridden a horse before and knew a little. Song Muyun, however, didn’t know how to ride at all.

Both of them looked at her. The latter hesitated, clutching Jiang Yao’s sleeve and moving closer, her posture one of complete reliance. “Can I ride? I don’t know how. Will you teach me, please?”

What was the problem with that? Jiang Yao nodded and took her hand, leading her forward. The horses here were all unremarkable, just for fun, so she hadn’t brought her own horse out.

“Get on. I’ll lead the horse for you.”

Song Muyun hadn’t expected to be taught like this. She looked at a pair in the distance riding the same horse; she had thought it would be taught like that.

“I can’t get on,” she said honestly.

Jiang Yao looked at the height of the horse and found it truly difficult to understand what she meant by “can’t get on.”

After a long pause, she finally spoke, giving directions. “Put your foot here. It’s very easy to get on. I’ll support you so you won’t fall.”

Song Muyun looked at the stirrup and pressed her lips together lightly. She was thin-skinned and found it hard to say more, so she nodded. She placed one foot there and was helped onto the horse by Jiang Yao.

It was the young lady’s first time riding, so Jiang Yao didn’t dare let the horse go too fast. She just led it, walking slowly across the wide meadow. Everyone else riding past them was a little faster.

Jiang Ru also rode her horse alongside them. She was a person who valued etiquette. Even on horseback, she kept her back straight, never allowing herself the slightest imperfection in her posture.

Suddenly, her voice rose a couple of notches. “Jiejie, it’s the Eighth Prince! The Eighth Prince is up ahead.”

Song Muyun’s hand, which was gripping the horse’s mane, tightened. The horse beneath her snorted in dissatisfaction.

Jiang Yao looked up and indeed saw the Eighth Prince not far away. With her was the Seventh Prince, Murong Qing.

“Let’s go. We’ll go over and say hello.”

She hadn’t seen him since she’d snuck into the prince’s residence to beat him up that day. He had probably been hiding in his residence to recover.

The two groups approached each other. Murong Ci looked at Jiang Yao in surprise, a smile she couldn’t suppress on her face. “How did you end up as a horse-leader?”

“I’m teaching my Xiao Yun’er¹⁷ how to ride a horse. Can’t you tell?”

Murong Qing’s expression, which had been sour since he first saw them, turned even uglier when he heard Jiang Yao’s form of address.

But he didn’t say a word, only using his cold and gloomy gaze to look at Song Muyun again and again.

When Song Muyun saw him, the pain of being whipped in the dungeon assaulted her again. Her body tensed up. Jiang Yao helped her off the horse, and she habitually moved behind her, taking a corner of her robe in her hand.

Jiang Yao instinctively shifted her body, blocking Murong Qing’s view of Song Muyun. Then she looked lazily at Murong Qing. “Seventh Highness, it’s been a while. Have you been well?”

Murong Qing’s expression grew even colder. Even in front of Murong Ci, he could barely maintain his refined facade. “Thanks to Young Miss Jiang, everything is fine.”

He remembered the days he spent recovering. The person who had beaten him had been extremely vicious; he had been in pain for days. Damn it.

Murong Qing still suspected that Jiang Yao had done it. Only she was capable of it, and only she had a grudge against him.

Jiang Yao seemed oblivious to his suspicious gaze, smiling without saying anything more.

Jiang Ru dismounted and gave the two a proper curtsy. Then, she glanced around and saw that the spot next to her Jiejie was already occupied by Muyun-jiejie, so she subconsciously stood behind Murong Ci.

Jiejie had told her that the Seventh Prince was not a good person and that she should stay far away from him. She naturally had to obey.

Murong Ci turned and gave Jiang Ru a light smile, lowering her head to ask if she was getting used to the temporary imperial palace.

Murong Qing narrowed his eyes, watching the two of them talk. He knew that Murong Ci often visited the Jiang Residence these days. So this was her plan. If one wanted to sit on that throne, borrowing military power was indeed the most direct and convenient way.

“The hunt is tomorrow. Have you decided what you want to hunt?” After chatting with Jiang Ru, Murong Ci asked Jiang Yao.

“The hunt? I’ll just shoot whatever. Whatever I see, I’ll shoot. I don’t have anything particular in mind.”

Murong Ci chuckled. “I’ve heard that many noble ladies ask their family members participating in the hunt to hunt foxes for them to make fox fur cloaks. Don’t Second Miss and Miss Song want one?”

Song Muyun gently tugged on Jiang Yao’s sleeve and said in a small voice, “I don’t want any fox. Just be careful tomorrow, and don’t get hurt.”

She didn’t want anything. She just wanted Jiang Yao to be well.

Jiang Yao knew she was obedient and sensible. She stroked the young lady’s soft fingers and promised her, “En, I’ll be careful. When I get back, I’ll roast some meat for you, okay?”

She spoke so gently, as if coaxing a small child. Song Muyun couldn’t help but lift a pair of sparkling eyes. “Okay, I’ll wait for you.”

Jiang Ru looked curiously at her own Jiejie and Muyun-jiejie. She always felt that there was something strange about their interactions, but she couldn’t put her finger on what it was. She felt that Jiejie treated Muyun-jiejie even better than she treated her, being meticulous in every way, afraid that Muyun-jiejie would suffer the slightest grievance. Every time Muyun-jiejie was happy, Jiejie would be happy too. Why was that? Was this how good friends were with each other?

Murong Ci saw Jiang Ru looking at them and thought she wanted some too. She had troubled Jiang Ru’s father a lot recently and had seen Jiang Ru many times. She was a polite and sensible girl. She lowered her head slightly. “Do you want some roasted meat? I’ll hunt some tomorrow and have it sent to you?”

The two pairs were talking amongst themselves, seemingly excluding Murong Qing. With a dark face, Murong Qing interjected, though his voice still sounded cheerful. “Eighth Younger Brother¹⁸, are you confident you can hunt any prey? Don’t speak too soon. Your prey in previous years wasn’t exactly impressive. You might not have anything presentable.”

Murong Ci was initially quite polite to Murong Qing, but after spending more time with Jiang Yao and the others, she had gradually become united by a common hatred for the enemy¹⁹, feeling that this Seventh Elder Brother was hypocritical to the extreme. Hearing this, she retorted without hesitation, “Don’t worry, Seventh Elder Brother. You’ve been in last place every year. No matter how bad I am, I can still do a little better than you.”

She was still a bit cunning, not mentioning that she had been second to last in previous years, lest she lose face in front of the young lady.

Murong Qing was so angry his teeth itched, but he didn’t know how to refute her. Fortunately, before he could speak, a sweet and charming female voice came from their direction.

“Seventh Elder Brother!”

Everyone looked up to see a woman in a yellow dress approaching cheerfully, followed by another woman in a pink dress.

The coldness on Murong Qing’s face completely vanished, replaced by a gentle and amiable expression. He waved at the person. “He Yi²⁰, what are you doing out here?”

The newcomer was none other than Princess He Yi. It was only when she got closer that she saw Murong Ci was also there. She quickly curtsied again and greeted her, “Eighth Huangxiong.”

The Eighth Prince nodded with a smile. “He Yi is here.”

The woman in the pink dress behind He Yi also followed suit and curtsied. “Liang Suqiu²¹ pays her respects to His Highness the Seventh Prince and His Highness the Eighth Prince.”

“There’s no need for such formalities.”

After curtsying, Liang Suqiu stood up and looked at Jiang Yao, saying in a gentle and graceful manner, “Biaojie²², it’s been a long time. Do you still remember me?”

Liang Suqiu, the youngest daughter of Jiang Yao’s mother, Liang Qingyin’s, older brother. They often met during new year and holiday visits.

Jiang Yao’s attitude toward her was decent, her smile warm and not distant. “Of course I wouldn’t forget Suqiu-meimei²³. Are you here to ride horses?”

Liang Suqiu shook her head gently. “He Yi wanted to find His Seventh Highness, so I accompanied her.”

Liang Suqiu was He Yi’s study companion²⁴. They were of similar age and had always been on good terms.

He Yi, however, was displeased upon hearing this. She threw herself at Liang Suqiu and started playing around with her. “What do you mean you came with me? Don’t you want to see Seventh Elder Brother too?”

Jiang Yao’s brow suddenly furrowed at these words, and the warm smile on her face slowly faded. Liang Suqiu pushed at He Yi, her face flushed red. “Aiya, you… don’t talk nonsense.”

He Yi didn’t dare look at the fierce Jiang Yao from their last meeting and just focused on laughing and playing with her, her voice filled with joy. “What’s wrong? What’s wrong? How am I talking nonsense? Don’t you want to be my sister-in-law?”

The smile on Jiang Yao’s face nearly froze. Were those words that could be said in a public place? She had even less decorum than her!

Murong Qing’s lips, however, curved high, and he watched the two girls with a look of indulgence and doting.

It wasn’t until Song Muyun found Jiang Yao’s hand from within her sleeve and tugged it gently that Jiang Yao came back to her senses, clasping that hand in her own.

Forget it. She couldn’t control what others wanted to do.

Jiang Yao remained silent, which was fine. She just thought she would go back and mention it to her father.

“Do you want to eat roasted fish? I’ll take you to catch some.”

As soon as she said it, He Yi looked over with considerable surprise, her curiosity overriding the little bit of fear in her heart. “Are you guys going to roast fish? I haven’t had any in a long time either. Seventh Elder Brother, take us to catch and roast fish too.”

The young girl looked very expectant, her eyes sparkling. In her eyes, her Seventh Elder Brother was omnipotent. How could a few mere fish possibly trouble him?

In reality, however, Murong Qing could barely manage a smile. Catch fish? He was a dignified prince. How could he personally catch and roast fish? Besides, how could he have such good eyesight? He wouldn’t be able to catch any at all!

Jiang Yao had no desire to go catch fish with this group of princes and princesses, but for now, she had to give Princess He Yi some face. She had already decided in her heart that if they went, she wouldn’t.

Fortunately, Murong Qing still had some sense. “He Yi, did you tell your Mother Consort²⁵ you were going to catch fish when you came out? You’re not a child anymore. You can’t be as willful as you used to be.”

His words made Jiang Yao want to roll her eyes, but He Yi and Liang Suqiu were very convinced. Although they were both a little disappointed, they didn’t mention going to catch and roast fish again.

“Ru’er, you don’t like roasted fish, so you can stay here and play?”

Roasting fish required starting a fire and cooking it until it was fragrant and charred, but eating it always made one a bit disheveled, with greasy hands and an easily smudged face. The Second Miss of the Jiang family, who had to maintain her image from a young age and was extremely proper, never ate roasted fish.

Jiang Ru nodded obediently and tugged on the reins of the horse behind her. Jiang Yao then instructed Murong Ci, “Eighth Highness, I’ll leave Ru’er in your care then. If she wants to go back, please trouble yourself to escort her.”

She thought that since the Eighth Prince was both a woman and a royal, she was the most suitable person to look after Jiang Ru. At the very least, she wouldn’t let Jiang Ru be tricked away by some suddenly appearing wolf cub.

Murong Ci naturally wouldn’t refuse such a small matter and readily agreed.

Jiang Ru was also very willing to spend time with Murong Ci.

Murong Ci was well-spoken and had an extraordinary temperament, and her personality was gentle and polite. Chatting with her was never boring.

With that, Jiang Yao was reassured. She turned and mounted the horse Song Muyun had ridden over, then extended a hand to Song Muyun. “Get on. I’ll take you for a ride.”

Song Muyun’s eyes lit up, her mood suddenly brightening as if her wish had been granted.

She raised her hand and grasped that slender, strong hand. Immediately, she felt a force from above pulling her onto the horse, seating her securely in front of Jiang Yao, with Jiang Yao’s arms wrapped around her waist.

Jiang Yao squeezed the horse’s belly with her legs and lowered her head to whisper in Song Muyun’s ear, “Hold on tight.”

Song Muyun nodded. She squeezed the horse’s belly hard and flicked the reins, and the horse started to run, carrying them toward the distant woods.

The temporary imperial palace had a back mountain. In the spring, the mountains were green and the water was clear, and the scenery was pleasant.

But now it was late autumn. It was still nice, just with more withered, fallen leaves.

The stream in late autumn was exceptionally cold. After Jiang Yao let her down, she trotted to the stream’s edge and dipped her hand in. The moment it went in, she was so cold she pulled it back. The young lady held her own icy fingers and looked up at Jiang Yao, her brow furrowed slightly. “This water is so cold. Let’s not eat roasted fish. What if you catch a cold?”

Song Muyun was extremely worried.

Jiang Yao tied up the horse and walked over, taking the girl’s cold hand and rubbing it in her own palm to warm it. “I’m in great health. I’ve never caught a cold. You should worry more about yourself. Your body is so delicate. What would you do if I weren’t by your side one day?”

She reached out and poked Song Muyun on the head.

But Song Muyun was suddenly flustered. She grabbed Jiang Yao’s finger, her brow tightly furrowed. “Why wouldn’t you be here? You… didn’t you say you’d always be with me?”

“No one knows what will happen in the future. What if you get married someday and don’t want me around anymore?”

The thought of Song Muyun getting married made her feel a little sour. But when she looked down, Song Muyun’s expression was even worse. She slapped Jiang Yao’s hand away, not letting her touch her, and her expression was not happy. “Who would marry a woman who has been in a pleasure house? Young Miss Jiang must be joking.”

Jiang Yao’s heart skipped a beat. Crap, she’s angry again.

She quickly reached out and pulled the girl into her arms, hastily comforting her. “Alright, alright, just pretend I didn’t say anything. You know I’m not good with words. Just listen to what you like to hear, and pretend you didn’t hear what you don’t like. Getting angry is bad for your health. Don’t be angry, don’t be angry. I’ll go catch a fish for you.”

With that, she pressed her down onto a clean, large rock, took off her shoes and socks, and waded into the water to catch fish. Her movements were truly swift, as if she was counting on that fish to win the beauty’s favor.

Late autumn was indeed cold, but for her, it wasn’t that cold.

One second Song Muyun was angry, the next she saw her get into the water without a word and became anxious again. “You… what are you doing? Get out of there, quickly! The water is so cold. I don’t want to eat fish anymore. Hurry up and get out! There’s no…”

Before she could finish, Jiang Yao had already plunged a hand into the water with speed and precision. When she pulled it out, a lively, fat fish was struggling and flapping its tail in her palm.

She turned her head, her smile brilliant, and asked loudly, “What did you say?”

Song Muyun: …

She’d already caught it. What else could she say?

The young lady cupped her hands around her mouth like a megaphone, afraid she wouldn’t hear her again. “I said, one is enough to eat! Get out of the water, quickly! Don’t stay in there!”

She had just been angry, and now her shouting sounded a bit angry too. Jiang Yao didn’t dare go against her and hurried ashore.

Although she had lifted her skirt, it still got a little wet. Song Muyun anxiously took out a handkerchief to wipe the water stains off for her. Jiang Yao’s round, snow-white toes curled up unnaturally, and she took half a step back. “What are you doing? You can’t dry it anyway. Don’t worry about it. I’ll just dry it by the fire in a bit.”

“You should at least put your shoes on.”

She looked down at the woman’s feet, which were as white as snow from rarely seeing the sun.

Jiang Yao, who was usually the most thick-skinned, was actually a little embarrassed now. She let her skirt fall completely, just barely covering her feet, then let out a “Ze²⁶” and pretended to be impatient. “Stop looking, stop looking. They’re not as pretty as yours anyway.”

Hers were just the feet of an ordinary woman. Song Muyun’s feet were the ones that were truly beautiful—snow-white, lustrous, small, and cute. The “jade feet” in storybooks²⁷ must have been like that.

Song Muyun’s face suddenly flushed red from being teased by these words. She stood up and turned her back. “You… you’re talking nonsense again. If you keep this up, I’m not going to talk to you anymore.”

“Aiya²⁸, why are you angry again? Alright, alright, I won’t say it. Is it okay if I don’t say it anymore? It was just the truth, and you’re still not happy.”

Jiang Yao washed her feet herself before putting her shoes on. She took out a fire starter²⁹ to light a fire and roast the fish. During this time, Song Muyun didn’t say another word to her. It wasn’t until the fish was finally skewered and roasting that she had a free moment. She walked over and sat down next to Song Muyun, her voice softening. “Still angry? Your feet are naturally beautiful, but you won’t let anyone say it. You get angry as soon as someone mentions it. You’re getting more and more petty.”

She held Song Muyun’s hand in her own. It was a little cold and needed to be warmed up.

“I’m not angry.”

The young lady kept her head down. Though she said she wasn’t angry, her face was still red with anger. She pressed her lips together slightly and turned her head, looking unwilling to talk.

Jiang Yao: …

“Then come over and watch me roast the fish.”

She was a little angry, angry at her for speaking without restraint, but it was mostly out of shyness. The thought that she had secretly looked at her feet, and perhaps even observed them carefully when she didn’t know—otherwise, how would she know her feet were pretty? Just thinking about it made her blush, and she felt even more embarrassed to talk to Jiang Yao. Therefore, Song Muyun refused. “I don’t want to watch. You go by yourself.”

She said she wouldn’t go. Jiang Yao’s movements paused. A moment later, she stood up silently, let go of her hand, and really went back to turning her fish.

She had been coaxing her for a while, and one side of the fish was already burnt, but it was still edible.

She could live a rough life; she could eat a few bites of anything, good or bad.

While one person was calmly roasting the fish, Song Muyun, from whom the warmth at her side had suddenly disappeared, was stunned. It was clearly she who had told Jiang Yao to leave, but when Jiang Yao really listened to her and left, she felt unhappy again. She peeked over secretly. Jiang Yao was carefully turning the branch to roast the fish.

But her red lips were slightly pouted, as if she was a little unhappy.

Song Muyun was an expert at reading moods and expressions³⁰. She knew she had just made Jiang Yao unhappy.

That heart, which had been burning hot, suddenly turned cold.

She couldn’t bear Jiang Yao’s cold treatment, not even a little bit.

Therefore, she didn’t wait long before getting up and walking toward the fire.

Jiang Yao’s hearing was sharp; she naturally knew she was coming over, but she ignored her, her heart heavy and stifled. She thought, perhaps Song Muyun doesn’t like roasted fish, so she doesn’t even want to look at it. She had even told her several times not to roast it. Forget it. I just won’t bring her here again in the future.

“Jiang Yao, how much longer until this fish is done? I’m hungry.”

The person who had been unhappy and didn’t want to look at her just a moment ago was now speaking softly, her mood changing so quickly.

Jiang Yao looked at the fish and said flatly, “It’ll be a little while longer. If you don’t want to eat this, you don’t have to. I can take you back to eat something else.”

Song Muyun’s phoenix eyes widened slightly, and she subconsciously clenched her sleeves. She misunderstood me.

Her voice carried an extra note of apprehension as she explained drily, “No, I don’t not want to eat it. I want to eat it.”

When Jiang Yao heard her say she wanted to eat it, her expression didn’t improve in the slightest. She was still sullen. She nodded and continued to roast the fish, completely lacking her usual liveliness and cheerful conversation.

Song Muyun stared blankly at her cold demeanor, a dull ache spreading in her heart. She always took advantage of her kindness, willfully bullying her and making her coax her. It was like this every time. She wanted to change, but she never had…

After a while, the fish was finally cooked, steaming hot. She blew on the charred part, tore it off to eat herself, and handed the rest to Song Muyun.

“Just try some. I didn’t put any salt on it, so it doesn’t taste very good. Just have a little and then stop. I’ll take you back to eat.”

She seemed to have lost all interest. Although she knew it was her own fault, Song Muyun still felt wronged. She had been coaxing her just a moment ago, but just because I told her to go roast the fish by herself, she got angry.

The woman’s red lips were bitten so hard they could have left a deep mark. Residencell of grievance and confusion, she tightened her grip on the wooden stick skewering the fish and said in a small voice tinged with tears, “I… I don’t think it tastes bad.”

With that, she extended her fair, pink fingers, gently pinched off a piece of fish meat, and put it in her mouth. It only had a slight fishy taste and no saltiness, but it was fresh and very tender, so it wasn’t bad.

“It’s delicious.”

She said softly again, the sound of her sniffing seeming to grow louder, coming one after another, sounding extremely wronged.

Jiang Yao couldn’t help but turn her head to look at her. This one look was a shock. She saw the heroine she had been cherishing in the palm of her hand with red-rimmed eyes, filled with shimmering tears. The tip of her small nose was also red, looking as if she had suffered a great injustice. “You… what are you doing? What did I do to you now?”

She had barely said anything! How could she still make her cry?

Seeing her surprise, Song Muyun quickly wiped her tears, lowered her head, and continued to eat the fish, her voice muffled. “No, I’m fine.”

She didn’t want to talk. Jiang Yao fell silent again. Her whole body was warm, but she still reached her hands out to warm them by the fire, her eyes reflecting the burning flames, quieter than ever before.

“If you don’t like it here, if you don’t like roasted fish, I just won’t bring you here again. There’s no need to be so unhappy.”

She even cried from anger. Had I not treated her well enough usually? If she doesn’t like something, she can just say so. It’s not like I’ll do anything to her.

However, as soon as she finished speaking, that slightly cool hand urgently grasped her warm, hot one.

A flash of panic appeared in Song Muyun’s eyes. She finally understood why Jiang Yao was displeased. It was because she had been throwing a tantrum, not talking to her, not looking at her. She thought I didn’t like it here, didn’t like the things she liked. No, it wasn’t like that.

The translucent tears in the young lady’s red-rimmed eyes instantly fell in streams, landing on the back of Jiang Yao’s hand. Jiang Yao stared, and in her flustered confusion, she was suddenly pulled into an embrace and held tightly.

Song Muyun’s body was cool, and her face was cool too. Pressed against her neck, it made her shiver. Her heart inexplicably leaped high in her chest, exceptionally nervous. She stammered for a long time, but what came out was, “The fish… don’t drop the fish! If you’re not going to eat it, give it to me…”

As soon as she said it, she wanted to slap herself. What kind of thing was that to say? How could I be so bad with words? No wonder the heroine is always angry with me.

However, the person in her arms wouldn’t let go. Her voice was both wronged and soft. “It didn’t fall. I’m holding it. I never said I wouldn’t eat it. It’s delicious, I like it. Why do you keep telling me not to eat it? You just like to bully me.”

The coquettish tone in those words somehow reminded Jiang Yao of the numerous storybooks she had read. When two people’s hearts were connected, the heroine would become particularly fond of acting spoiled.

But… how had she bullied her? Hadn’t it always been her bullying her?

Jiang Yao was dizzy, holding the person in a fluster, unable to speak. Then she heard the person in her arms say with a sob, “You deliberately said things to embarrass me, and then you won’t even let me be angry. I… I was only mad for a little while, and you started ignoring me. I won’t get angry anymore, okay?”

She was terribly wronged, terrified that Jiang Yao would ignore her. The desire that had been firmly locked away in her heart was now stirring restlessly…

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The author has something to say:

We’ll be moving the plot along a bit these next few days, ha. Someone is about to completely become enlightened³¹.

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