Forbidden to Bully the Storybook’s Heroine – Chapter 5

Reward Silver

The more Murong Qing looked at Jiang Yao and Song Muyun, the more annoyed he became. Every other time he’d come here, it was to make Song Muyun weep and beg in misery, but this time Jiang Yao was here, and she was actually sticking up for Song Muyun!

His expression was dark, his eyes darting between the two of them. When he wasn’t speaking, even the women who attended him didn’t dare touch him.

Few of the flower girls at Yueshang House were unaware of the Seventh Prince’s true colors. Even if they hadn’t known at first, his frequent visits to Yueshang House, where he always requested Song Muyun and beat her until she was covered in injuries, would have made it clear.

Although none of them were close with Song Muyun, they were all women, after all. Quite a few of the sisters at Yueshang House felt their hearts ache for her.

They didn’t dare show their faces before the Seventh Prince, terrified that if he took a liking to them, they would suffer the same beatings and verbal abuse.

Jiang Yao, having had a few bites of pork knuckle skin, was starting to find it a bit rich. She leaned back in her chair with a devil-may-care air and ordered, “Pour me another cup of water.”

Song Muyun went to pour the water. Though silent, she performed these tasks of serving others very well.

Murong Qing watched with a gloomy expression, suddenly recalling a time he had told Song Muyun to pour him water, and she’d actually dared to splash the tea on his face!

He’d whipped her for it, but he was still furious. Why should she treat him like that, yet be so obedient to Jiang Yao, doing whatever she was told without the slightest resistance?

Murong Qing stared at Song Muyun’s eyes like a venomous snake from some dark, damp place.

Song Muyun, of course, sensed it. Her whole body went rigid as fear rose in her instinctively.

Jiang Yao glanced at her, then turned her head to look at Murong Qing.

Tsk, so he’s dropping the act?

Fucking disgusting.

Damn it, I requested Song Muyun today. Is Murong Qing going to come back tomorrow and torment her even more brutally?

No, no way. I have to come tomorrow, too. Otherwise, who knows what Murong Qing might do.

At first, Jiang Yao had only wanted to see if her dream was real. But now, she genuinely felt that Murong Qing was a psycho and that Song Muyun was too pitiful. To prevent the two from developing feelings for each other through this cycle of abuse, Jiang Yao made up her mind: she was coming back tomorrow!

She’d piss that bastard Murong Qing to death.

She drained her tea in one gulp and rose crisply to her feet. “It’s getting late.”

Murong Qing’s expression brightened. “You’re leaving?”

Jiang Yao looked at Murong Qing. Is he just waiting for me to leave so he can keep torturing Song Muyun? she thought.

She glanced again at Song Muyun, who was sitting on a chair not far from her, her gaze lowered, her expression unreadable.

She huffed lightly. “Your Highness, the Seventh Prince, aren’t you leaving with me? My little brother has been talking about you nonstop, you know. My father and mother haven’t seen you in a long time, either. Just a few days ago, they were asking about your studies. Why don’t you come over to my place for a visit?”

The corner of Murong Qing’s mouth twitched. He had little time left and had planned to spend it on Song Muyun. Who knew what had gotten into Jiang Yao today, sinking her teeth into him and refusing to let go.

“So, are you coming or not?”

Either way, she wasn’t leaving unless Murong Qing did.

Murong Qing hesitated for a moment before standing up, looking rather helpless. “Since you’ve put it that way, I’ll make a trip to the Jiang Residence to pay my respects to Lord Jiang.”

Song Muyun had fallen into the dust; he could deal with her whenever he wanted. But securing the Jiang family’s support could not be delayed.

He wanted the Jiang family on his side.

Although Song Muyun said nothing, Jiang Yao could see her breathe a sigh of relief as her rigid body gradually relaxed.

Jiang Yao was standing while Song Muyun was seated. From her higher vantage point, she caught a glimpse of a gruesome wound beneath the snow-white dress. Murong Qing was truly vicious.

He could bring himself to be so cruel to such a beauty.

The main point is, even after being beaten like this, Song Muyun could still be fond of Murong Qing!

She… she must be sick in the head, too!

The mere thought made Jiang Yao furious.

Hmph, whatever. I won’t hold it against someone who’s already so miserable.

She took a silver ingot from her robes, weighing about five taels¹, and tossed it to Song Muyun. “You did a good job serving me today. This is your reward.”

Murong Qing: ???

He couldn’t take it anymore. “Didn’t you say you had no money?!” he demanded.

Jiang Yao gave him a breezy glance, her tone perfectly righteous. “If This Young Miss had spent money to request them, then I wouldn’t have any left for a tip! The young lady of the Prime Minister’s Residence has someone attend to her but doesn’t even give a tip—wouldn’t that be humiliating if word got out?”

Jiang Yao had always cared about face², so her excuse was plausible, but Murong Qing was still angry.

He had come here so many times but had never once given Song Muyun a tip. It wasn’t that he was unaware of her predicament; he just wanted to humiliate her, to watch her grovel in the mud.

The money for requesting a flower girl went to the madam³, but any tips were split fifty-fifty between the flower girl and the madam.

If there was no tip, the flower girl earned nothing.

Song Muyun stared blankly at the silver ingot for a long time, not reacting, and certainly not reaching out to take it. Seeing this, Murong Qing sneered, “Jiang Yao, Young Miss Song is very proud. Giving her silver like this might be a humiliation to her, you know.”

His tone was dripping with sarcasm.

Jiang Yao had no patience for him, but she couldn’t help but hesitate. Would giving Song Muyun money really be seen as an insult in her eyes?

Tsk, why is cheering someone up so much trouble!

Before she could decide whether to take the money back, a flash of white passed before her, and the silver ingot was gone.

Song Muyun kept her head down, her profile still cool and distant, but she thanked her in a soft voice. “Thank you for your pity, Young Miss Jiang.”

She could tell that Jiang Yao was protecting her, whether intentionally or not. Though she didn’t know why, she’d just assume… that Jiang Yao wasn’t as cold and cruel as others said. That she was a gentle and kind woman.

Jiang Yao gave a casual nod or two, then turned and called for Murong Qing to leave with her.

Before he left, however, Murong Qing shot Song Muyun a vicious glare.

It seemed to hold a warning. Song Muyun’s heart clenched, and she only started to feel better after they had completely disappeared from the room.

The woman who had come to attend to Murong Qing today was named Yan Jin⁴. Once she was sure they were long gone, she flicked her handkerchief and complained, “And he calls himself a prince. Even Young Miss Jiang knows to give a tip, but when it’s his turn, a grand prince, we get absolutely nothing. No wonder none of the sisters in the house want to serve him.”

After her tirade, Yan Jin looked at the silver in Song Muyun’s hand with a touch of envy. “Young Miss Jiang gave you so much silver on her first time requesting you. If you serve her well, maybe she’ll become a regular patron. That’s got to be better than serving the Seventh Prince, right?”

Everyone in the house knew about the Seventh Prince’s habits. Every time Song Muyun finished serving him, she was covered in injuries. It was truly terrifying.

Song Muyun stared at the silver in her hand, lost in thought. Young Miss Jiang… Will she come again? Will she request me?

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