Forbidden to Bully the Storybook’s Heroine – Chapter 52

Angering the Wife to Death

Murong Qing had long been jealous to the point of madness. Seeing them hugging together, and seeing Song Muyun reveal a reassured smile toward Jiang Yao, he couldn’t hold it back any longer. He said coldly, “Shameless!”

“I advise you to keep your mouth shut.”

Jiang Yao held Song Muyun in her arms and looked over, her sharp eyes carrying a ruthlessness as if she was about to beat him up right then and there.

Surrounded by guards and princes, Murong Qing naturally felt that Jiang Yao wouldn’t dare to hit him. He clenched his fists, intending to continue his provocation, but his body trembled involuntarily. He opened his mouth, yet not a single word came out.

Mother’s¹, what if Jiang Yao secretly sneaked into his courtyard and beat him up again!

He couldn’t produce any evidence, so he simply couldn’t do anything to Jiang Yao!

Another older prince, who didn’t look very familiar, suddenly spoke up with a smile. “Miss Jiang truly has a free-spirited nature and fears no power.”

Even the corners of his eyes wrinkled with his smile.

Jiang Yao thought for a good while before remembering who he was. Oh, wasn’t this the Second Prince?

“I heard from Little Eight that thanks to Miss Jiang saving him today, he is safe. I thank Miss Jiang on his behalf.”

“It was merely the effort of raising a hand². The Second Prince is too polite.”

“Is Miss Jiang’s relationship with Eighth Brother very good?”

Yet another prince suddenly spoke up. Jiang Yao really didn’t recognize this one. She hugged the person in her arms, glanced at him, and seeing that Song Muyun wasn’t crying or fussing, she looked up again to answer politely. “The Eighth Prince often comes to the Jiang family home to play, so this subject is somewhat familiar with him.”

“Is that so? Eighth Brother went to your home to learn riding and archery? I’ve long heard your riding and archery skills are excellent. When you have free time, could you teach this Prince as well?”

Originally, the princes wanted to pretend they weren’t fighting or scrambling for fame and profit, but seeing the brothers around them recruiting people so quickly, who could keep pretending!

If he kept pretending, he would truly let the throne slip through his fingers.

The 5th Prince thought with full confidence. He assumed Jiang Yao would agree. Although Jiang Yao gave the 7th Prince the cold shoulder, that was because the 7th Prince was fighting with her over a woman. He wasn’t fighting with her; a dignified prince personally showing goodwill—anyone would agree.

However, Jiang Yao tightened her hold on the soft little girl in her arms and rejected him immediately. “I want to go polishing mirrors³. I don’t have time. You should find someone else to teach you.”

The prince who spoke was stunned. Song Muyun was also stunned; a pair of beautiful phoenix eyes looked at Jiang Yao like a panicked little rabbit. After just two glances, she lowered her head in embarrassment and buried herself in Jiang Yao’s embrace.

Jiang Yao soothingly rubbed the little rabbit’s ears.

Everyone else: …

She really didn’t conceal it at all!

Everyone in the capital was now deeply convinced of Jiang Yao’s hobby of polishing mirrors, and she simply accepted the title herself.

Great Jin⁴‘s customs were considered relatively open. So what if she polished mirrors? Plenty of women loved polishing mirrors.

Rather than letting them laugh at her polishing mirrors outside every day, it was better for her to say it herself. She really didn’t know what was so funny about polishing mirrors; they were just bored out of their minds. Jiang Yao thought to herself.

Murong Qing didn’t speak, but his eyes looked at them gloomily. Amidst a group of enemies, he didn’t need to hide himself. Mainly, he was furiously angry—the woman he had exhausted his mind trying to get had actually run off with another woman!

Wait until he ascended the throne; he would definitely issue a law forbidding women from polishing mirrors!!!

The union of Yin and Yang⁵ was the righteous path!

Jiang Yao couldn’t be bothered with the delusions harboring in his heart. With her arm around Song Muyun, she went to the bedside. Jiang Ru had already asked once, so she asked again, “How is it? Are you feeling better?”

In front of Murong Ci, Song Muyun pursed her lips, her body tensing slightly. Her hanging hand moved to the side to hook Jiang Yao’s pinky finger. Jiang Yao noticed and pulled smoothly, holding that jade-like, cool, and moist hand in her palm.

Murong Ci was actually also stunned by that phrase “polishing mirrors.” She looked at Jiang Yao, then at Song Muyun. She had never believed Jiang Yao polished mirrors before, but today… she believed it a little bit.

Seeing her dazed, Jiang Yao frowned. “I’m talking to you. Did the Imperial Physician not give you medicine? Are you confused from the pain?”

A prince beside them chimed in, “Perhaps Eighth Brother’s injuries are too heavy and he doesn’t want to talk much. Why doesn’t Miss Jiang wait a bit before coming back?”

Jiang Yao looked up. It was another unfamiliar prince. She paused slightly, then suddenly asked him, “Is your face naturally this white?”

It was tragically pale, just as white as the Eighth Prince lying on the bed, as if he had suffered a fright or an injury.

That prince also paused. A moment later, he covered his lips and coughed a few times. “Perhaps I didn’t pay attention and caught a wind chill this morning, hence my complexion isn’t very good.”

Jiang Yao raised her eyebrows. “So that’s how it is. Then the Prince must pay attention to his body.”

“Many thanks for Miss Jiang’s concern.”

“Thanks for what? This is all something a subject should do.”

After Jiang Yao spoke, she still scrutinized that prince carefully for a few moments.

At this time, Murong Ci began weakly chasing people away. “Don’t Royal Brothers still have to go report today’s prey? Go quickly, don’t delay here on my account.”

The Second Prince shook his head very helplessly. “Wait until later, I’ll have someone roast some meat and send it over to you.”

“Mn, many thanks, Second Brother.” Second Brother was the one she had the best relationship with among all the siblings; usually, he cared for her like a real brother.

Murong Qing’s resentful gaze, like maggots on the bone⁶, stared at Jiang Yao until he left.

After they left, the others in the room were also chased out. Murong Ci finally seemed to sigh in relief. She looked much more spirited, not like the sickly appearance from just now where she looked ready to faint at any moment. “They’re finally gone. For this little bit of face-saving sentiment, I’m exhausted to death.”

Wow, she even has the energy to speak now.

Seeing she was fine, Jiang Yao first lowered her head and asked the obedient, soft beauty leaning actively against her, “Do you want to drink tea? I’ll go pour it for you.”

Song Muyun shook her head gently, her voice soft and melodious. “I’m not thirsty. Your clothes were messed up by me rubbing against them.”

Saying this, she rose a little and lowered her eyes to start tidying Jiang Yao’s clothes.

Jiang Yao was somewhat unaccustomed to it, but felt there was no problem with her doing this—friends, after all. If she didn’t let her do it, she might just cry again.

The tenacious and unyielding heroine in the storybook had been raised by her into a little crying bag⁷.

Jiang Yao shook her head helplessly. She didn’t know what was going on either; clearly, in the storybook, she never cried, but here with her—good heavens—she cried three times a day.

Murong Ci waited quietly for them to finish speaking. Only when Jiang Yao’s gaze fell back on her did she speak, her voice somewhat hoarse due to the injury. “What did you say to Imperial Father? He asked me if those assassins told me who sent them.”

Jiang Yao played with the soft, slender fingers in her palm and said very indifferently, “Oh, I wanted to go save you, but Murong Qing blocked me and wouldn’t let me go. So I said the assassins told me the 7th Prince sent them. How did you answer the Emperor?”

Murong Ci: …

She suddenly felt somewhat fortunate. “I said I fell on my head and couldn’t remember clearly.”

…

Jiang Ru frowned, her expression seeming somewhat disgusted. “Sister, did those assassins really say that?”

“No, I just said it randomly, but it’s likely not far off the mark.”

Jiang Ru was indignant. “Why would the 7th Prince do such a thing? Isn’t the Eighth Highness his… younger brother!”

Murong Ci lay on the bed, her pretty face pale, smiling helplessly. “He never regarded me as a younger brother.”

Of course, she also never regarded Murong Qing as an older brother.

In the struggle for the throne, the weak are prey to the strong. Even for the sake of her Mother Empress, she had to sit on that seat, regardless of who blocked the way.

“How could there be such a brother!”

Jiang Ru was filled with righteous indignation, as if they weren’t treating Murong Ci badly, but treating her badly.

Murong Ci shook her head and smiled faintly, speaking the truth. “It’s fine, I’m already used to it.”

However, this truth sounded even more heartbreaking.

Jiang Ru looked at her with eyes full of pity.

She didn’t quite dare to meet the little girl’s innocent gaze, so she couldn’t help looking at Jiang Yao asking, “Then do I have to tell Imperial Father that too?”

Jiang Yao waved her hand, continuing to lower her eyes and play with fingers. “Just say you hurt your head and can’t remember. They’ll investigate the rest. I caught quite a few of those assassins that day; they’re all locked in the prison. Something will be found eventually.”

“Mn, thanks to you this time.”

Jiang Yao glanced at Murong Ci, speaking pointedly. “I’m not running a charity. As long as you don’t forget what you promised me, that will do.”

Murong Ci endured the pain in her body and nodded with difficulty. After nodding, she hooked her lips and looked at Song Muyun. The emotion in her eyes was unclear—seemingly envious, seemingly friendly—making one feel uneasy.

Song Muyun frowned slightly. When the other party looked over, she immediately tightened her grip on Jiang Yao’s hand, sticking extremely close to her.

Very quickly, the other party withdrew her gaze, looked at Jiang Yao, and promised, “The matter I promised you, I will definitely accomplish.”

“Mn, then I didn’t save you for nothing.”

She had no intention of letting Murong Ci owe her any favors. After speaking, she stood up and looked at Jiang Ru. “Now that you’ve seen her and she’s fine, do you still have words to say to the Eighth Highness?”

Jiang Ru nodded. “Mn, Ru’er has some words she wishes to say to the Eighth Highness alone.”

“Fine, then we’ll wait for you outside.”

Jiang Yao pulled Song Muyun’s hand and went out together, thinking that since both were women and Jiang Ru didn’t have any friends, making an acquaintance was a good thing.

In the center of the courtyard, the little girl’s eyes were naturally bright, brighter than the moon at night. She lifted her eyes to look at Jiang Yao. “You left Sister Ru’er inside alone; aren’t you worried?”

Jiang Yao shrugged, as if it didn’t matter. “What’s there to be worried about? Ru’er likes Murong Ci, so just let them play together.”

Song Muyun was startled, her eyes full of disbelief, yet they became even brighter than before. “Ru’er likes the Eighth Prince?”

“Mn, she’s been chattering about it all day. She probably wants to be friends with the Eighth Prince. You and I don’t need to meddle; just let them be.”

Unknown when it happened, but the little girl had already stuck herself to Jiang Yao, even rubbing against her chest, whispering, “Okay, I’ll listen to you.”

But in her heart, she couldn’t help thinking: Could it be that the Eighth Prince likes Jiang Yao, but Jiang Ru likes the Eighth Prince? If only they could have mutual affection…

Her mind was full of romance and love now; she couldn’t think of anything else.

A moment later, Song Muyun remembered the riddles Jiang Yao and Murong Ci had spoken. She poked the woman’s soft waist. Jiang Yao’s eyes, which were watching the scenery, immediately retracted to look down at her. “What’s wrong?”

Song Muyun was somewhat coy, but she didn’t want Jiang Yao and Murong Ci to have affairs that were kept solely from her.

“What did the Eighth Prince promise you? Will you tell me?”

The little girl looked obedient, very well-behaved, but Jiang Yao knew that if she didn’t tell, Song Muyun would immediately show her red-rimmed eyes and cry for her to see. Being well-behaved was just on the surface.

Helpless, she could only explain in detail. “Weren’t your clansmen exiled? I told Murong Ci that when the truth of your family’s case comes to light, she must bring your clansmen back.”

Song Muyun was slightly stunned. She hadn’t expected that what she discussed with Murong Ci was this. At the moment of life and death, Jiang Yao hadn’t thought of anything else, only of bringing her family back.

How could there be such a good person…

The little girl’s eyes filled with tears, her rims turning red in an instant. The next moment, her vision went black. Before she had time to pour out her inner joy and emotion, she heard Jiang Yao say, “I really can’t stand seeing you cry. Luckily, I blocked it fast.”

Song Muyun: …

She couldn’t feel touched anymore.

Flying into a rage out of humiliation, she lightly kicked Jiang Yao. “I wasn’t going to cry. Let go quickly, I can’t see anything!”

It was pitch black in front of her; she could only smell the crisp, clean scent lingering on the woman’s body.

Song Muyun bit her lip gently, her cheeks flushing with an extremely subtle blush.

“Not letting go. If I let go, you’ll cry. Don’t I know you?”

Her voice was quite triumphant.

Song Muyun was about to die of anger. Even with her eyes covered, she had to argue for herself. “I won’t cry! How am I that fond of crying!”

“Tch, I don’t believe it. Saying you don’t like to cry, but isn’t the one who always cries for me to see at the slightest disagreement you?”

Song Muyun’s face turned redder—this time from anger. Her red lips were pressed tight. She hmphed and turned her head away.

Jiang Yao’s hand followed her turn, refusing to let go.

“If it weren’t for you always bullying me, I wouldn’t cry.”

The little girl complained about Jiang Yao in a low voice, pushing all the fault onto her. Yet every time this person cried, the one admitting fault was Jiang Yao. For a moment, it really made one unable to defend themselves, as if the fault really was all hers.

Jiang Yao touched the little girl’s soft, tender hand, feeling very helpless. “Okay, okay, okay. Before, it was me bullying you. This time I didn’t bully you, right?”

Song Muyun stopped speaking. A moment later, somewhat coyly pushing against the hand in front of her eyes, she moved closer to Jiang Yao. To cover her eyes, Jiang Yao subconsciously took a few steps back, only to be ordered by the flustered and exasperated little girl. “Don’t walk away! You’re covering my eyes; I can’t see you and can’t touch you. I’ll be scared.”

Her long eyelashes fanned Jiang Yao’s palm like small fans, seeming to still carry a bit of moisture.

Jiang Yao immediately stepped forward, walking to a position where Song Muyun could easily raise her hand to touch her. While being touched, she grinned and said to her, “You even know how to be fierce to me now. This is more like a seventeen-year-old girl. How good it is to be a bit lively.”

The little girl grabbed Jiang Yao’s arm with both hands and ignored her. The Song family had taught her rules and etiquette since childhood; even with close friends, it should be a friendship as pure as water. How would she dare to play around with someone like this? If Father saw it, this wouldn’t be lively; it would be having no manners, and she would be punished.

Thinking of Father, Song Muyun’s mood dropped slightly, but only for a second. The living must look forward.

“Stop covering my eyes. I really won’t cry.”

She was very touched just a moment ago, but after this fuss, she couldn’t muster up the emotion anymore.

“Then it’s agreed. You really can’t cry. I can’t stand you crying the most.”

Jiang Yao loosened her hand as she spoke.

Song Muyun finally saw the light again, but the sunlight was a bit glaring. She couldn’t help squinting, subconsciously using her palm to block it. Suddenly thinking of something, her eyes, avoiding the sun, flickered slightly. The next second, without any warning, she threw herself into Jiang Yao’s arms.

Jiang Yao was caught with an armful of person. Her hands were raised, not knowing where to put them for a moment.

The little girl in her arms was delicate and soft, burying her small face in her neck, complaining quietly, “It’s all your fault. My eyes can’t see; it’s so bright here.”

It took Jiang Yao a while to figure out why she had to hide in her arms because it was bright—turns out she was afraid the light would sting her eyes.

But… “Won’t you stay unaccustomed to it like this? It will still feel glaring later. Come out a little bit.”

She wanted Song Muyun to come out a bit and slowly adapt to the bright light.

Song Muyun became even more unwilling, her little head arching and arching, pressing tightly against Jiang Yao’s neck. Her trembling eyelashes brushed against the tender flesh of her neck.

“No, it shines on my eyes and hurts.”

She became increasingly delicate, but this side of her was something only Jiang Yao could see; no one else could.

Jiang Ru walked out from inside and saw the two hugging in such a strange posture. A trace of surprise crossed her face. “Sister, you two are…”

Hearing Jiang Ru’s voice, Song Muyun stood up instantly. The hairpins on her head collided, making a crisp sound.

A gentle, shallow smile appeared on her face again. She placed her hands in front of her abdomen, her back straight, looking extremely dignified. “Ru’er is out. Then let’s go back.”

Jiang Yao, Jiang Ru: …

Jiang Yao bent her finger and flicked Song Muyun’s forehead, her tone full of laughter. “Can you see now? Oho, your ears are red too. Are you shy?”

Song Muyun was so angry she wanted to beat Jiang Yao up, but she had been raised to be gentle and graceful since childhood and couldn’t do something like hitting people. At her angriest, she just widened her eyes and glared at Jiang Yao.

Jiang Yao first pinched the woman’s puffed-up cheeks, then pulled her arm, and she fell into her embrace without a shred of resistance.

“Alright, alright, I don’t dare scold you. I made your Muyun-jiejie angry just now, and now she’s making a fuss with me.”

The last sentence was said to Jiang Ru. Jiang Ru expressed understanding; usually, when she was angry, she also ignored people like this.

“Where do you want to go play next, or do you want to go back and rest a bit?”

Having experienced fleeing and falling off a cliff, Jiang Ru was physically and mentally exhausted. Before, holding onto a breath of energy kept her going, but now that the breath was released, she started to feel tired.

“I want to go back and sleep. So tired.”

Jiang Yao nodded. “Then I’ll go back and sleep for a while too.”

Song Muyun naturally wanted to be with her; she didn’t even ask if she wanted to go out and play.

If she didn’t go, Muyun definitely wouldn’t go either.

This was her understanding of how clingy Muyun was after knowing her for a long time.

“Mn-hm.”

The three of them went back to bathe and rest. Song Muyun went out to pick Jiang Yao up once and got some water on her. She was standing outside the screen talking to Jiang Yao, her voice light and slow. “Jiang Yao, I want to wash too, may I?”

Jiang Yao was reaching for a towel to scrub herself. Hearing this, she subconsciously replied, “If you want to wash, then wash. I’ll be done washing very soon; you can come in after I change.”

Song Muyun didn’t know why, but although she was clearly outside, her face looked red as if smoked by the heat. She twisted about outside for a long time before tentatively saying, “I… I’ll just wash casually. I don’t want to trouble the palace servants anymore. Can I wash together with you?”

The towel for wiping her body seemed to fall into the water, splashing water all over Jiang Yao’s face. She was somewhat dazed. The heroine wants to bathe with her?

This… this direction isn’t quite right, is it?

Even in the dream, after she fell in love with Murong Qing, she still refused to bathe with Murong Qing. She didn’t like letting anyone see her body.

Now she actively proposed… to bathe with her?

Jiang Yao only felt somewhat in a trance. Outside, hearing no response, Song Muyun spoke up to urge her again. “Can I? I wash very fast, and I’m so sleepy, I can’t wait for the servants to change the water. Jiang Yao~”

That last lingering note was drawn out, as if she was acting coquettishly with her.

By the time Jiang Yao reacted, she had already agreed.

Perhaps that coquettish voice was too soft and bewitching; she simply couldn’t hold out.

She easily went along with Song Muyun’s wish.

After she agreed, the person originally hiding outside the screen came in. Wearing white clothes, she stood before the wooden tub, her watery eyes looking at her with some shyness.

Jiang Yao inexplicably felt shy too, yet she confirmed again, “You really want to wash with me?”

Although Song Muyun was embarrassed, she remained firm. “Mn. T-this way is faster.”

She even found a reason for herself. After speaking, she untied her waist sash and began to carefully take off her outer robe, then the slightly thicker clothes inside. Taking them off piece by piece, until revealing a bright red bellyband⁸ and white, tender, rounded shoulders.

In the dimly lit bathroom, she was so white she glowed, almost blinding the onlooker’s eyes.

Looking at her, Jiang Yao couldn’t quite breathe. She didn’t know what was wrong with herself either; those eyes just stared unblinkingly at the other’s exposed skin, completely unwilling to look away! She was even waiting for her to take off the last piece of clothing.

Song Muyun’s jade-like fingers pressed on the knot behind the bellyband, hesitating whether to untie it. A moment later, she withdrew her hand, thinking with a flushed face: Too… too fast. Better to be slower. What if Jiang Yao thinks I’m frivolous and loose?

Seeing she didn’t untie the bellyband, Jiang Yao breathed a sigh of relief while also feeling faintly disappointed. It seemed… it seemed like she wanted to see something.

Realizing she had improper thoughts, Jiang Yao wished she could slap herself. Do you have no shame? Is the heroine someone you can fantasize about?

Honestly go find the best husband under heaven for the heroine. Put away those dirty thoughts of yours. She trusts you so much; you cannot betray her trust.

Jiang Yao persuaded herself thoroughly and suppressed her desires again. Looking over once more, her gaze was clear and her expression normal. “Come in quickly, don’t freeze.”

“Mn.”

It was Song Muyun’s first time bathing with someone too, so she was very embarrassed. Amidst trembling eyelashes, she didn’t even dare look at Jiang Yao much. She walked up the steps, stood on the edge of the tub, and carefully tested with arched toes whether to jump in. It was Jiang Yao who noticed she was having trouble getting in and actively stood up to hug her slender, tight calves, letting her sit on her arm. Amidst Song Muyun’s cry of surprise, she carefully carried her down, submerging her in the water.

The woman’s jet-black, thick hair also spread out in the water, almost surrounding both of them.

She sat inside, the water just reaching her chest, soaking the red bellyband. Jiang Yao swallowed her saliva and turned her head to stop looking at her, but she contributed her own towel.

Song Muyun obediently took the towel, dipped it in water, and scrubbed her body. During the process, she didn’t dare look up due to shyness. Jiang Yao’s body was very beautiful, with smooth lines, and her skin was equally white. If she looked one extra time, she would feel embarrassed…

However, it was also because she kept her head down that she didn’t realize until she finished scrubbing her front and looked up again—Jiang Yao wasn’t looking at her at all!

Jiang Yao had been staring at the decorative vase of winter plums in the room, not sparing her even half a peripheral glance!

Truly throwing flirtatious glances to a blind man⁹. Song Muyun was nearly angry enough to redden her eyes.

Was her body that ugly? Jiang Yao never looked at it more than once. Continuing like this, could she really make Jiang Yao fall in love with her?

Ignorant of romantic affairs, the little girl who liked someone for the first time was full of confusion. Her pearly teeth lightly bit her red, moist lip, but she absolutely would not hand Jiang Yao over to anyone.

No one else was allowed. Jiang Yao had to be hers.

The still-young girl had already discovered that she couldn’t bear to think of days without Jiang Yao, and even less could she bear to think of Jiang Yao sharing mutual wetness—and even the joy of fish and water¹⁰—with someone else, being more intimate than they were.

Song Muyun clenched her hands. Suddenly, the towel was handed in front of Jiang Yao, who was trying hard to pretend to watch the scenery. Between the changing expressions of the little girl, the dark emotions were put away. Suddenly, she seemed innocent without a shred of defensiveness, asking her, “I can’t scrub my back. Can you help me scrub it? I’ll scrub yours in a while too.”

This way, she could touch Jiang Yao too. After Song Muyun spoke, she secretly smiled until her eyes curved.

Jiang Yao’s body went stiff. Her heart screamed: Does Song Muyun know who she’s asking to scrub her back?!

A knave! A knave secretly coveting her beauty in her heart!

Are you crazy, asking her to scrub your back!

Jiang Yao knew her own self-control very well. She didn’t dare.

But Song Muyun knew nothing and continued looking at her with those pure eyes. Seeing she didn’t speak, she secretly started acting coquettishly again. “I can’t scrub the back myself; it won’t be clean. You scrub it for me, okay?”

Jiang Yao wanted to refuse, but she was about to rub into her embrace. That smooth, lustrous calf inadvertently brushed against her leg, further provoking thoughts one shouldn’t have.

Jiang Yao held her breath and focused, reciting the Heart-Calming Mantra¹¹ several times before letting her heart calm down.

And at this time, Song Muyun had become listless and disappointed from waiting too long.

She took a deep breath, took the towel, and seeing her become visibly happy, patted the woman’s slippery, tender shoulder. “Turn around. Wash faster, the water will get cold in a bit.”

“Oh.”

The person who got their wish was the most obedient. Without a second word, she turned around, revealing a snow-white, thin back that nevertheless had a few shallow scars.

Jiang Yao took the towel and carefully helped her scrub her back.

The girl’s flesh was tender; using just a little force made her back turn red.

Unfortunately, martial artists just had great strength. Jiang Yao endured until beads of fine sweat appeared on her forehead.

Only after a good while did she put down the towel and say to Song Muyun, “Scrubbed clean.”

Hearing this, Song Muyun still didn’t turn back. Instead, she sat back a bit, almost sitting into Jiang Yao’s lap, and said again, “Then help me look. Have the scars on my back faded? I can’t see them myself.”

The two were always lazy at night; there were a few times they didn’t apply the scar removal medicine.

Jiang Yao held her neck, preventing her from turning her head, and said softly, “Haven’t faded yet. Wait until we get out, I’ll wipe it for you again.”

Song Muyun placed two white, tender arms on the edge of the wooden tub, resting her chin on her arms. It was the appearance of a very innocent young girl. She agreed with a crisp voice, “Mn!”

“Scrubbed clean. You wash yourself a bit more.”

She had scars on both her front and back; they were left by Murong Qing. As long as these scars existed for a day, as long as she had one ounce of backbone and remembered the past pain and despair, it was impossible for her to like Murong Qing.

She would only like that person who treated her the best, protected her the most, and doted on her the most.

Hearing the sound, Song Muyun turned her head, but she held the towel in her hand, looking at Jiang Yao with bright eyes. “Then it should be your turn. I’ll scrub for you.”

Jiang Yao wanted to refuse, but she truly couldn’t scrub her back properly. When washing alone, she could use exaggerated and ugly postures to barely scrub it clean, but together with Song Muyun, she was somewhat resistant to those vulgar actions.

Hesitating for a moment, Jiang Yao turned her back, exposing her large back in front of Song Muyun as well.

It was the first time Song Muyun saw her back. Her eyelashes suddenly trembled. Her fingertips, warmed by the hot water, landed on a dark, dull scar amidst the snow-white skin. “How did this injury happen?”

“Mn? Oh, that was back when I was young and ignorant, following the crowd onto the battlefield. I got slashed by an enemy. But my Second Uncle came early, so I didn’t die.”

She spoke casually, as if this was just a small injury and what she encountered was just a small trouble. But the scar was so deep; it must have been very dangerous at the time.

Song Muyun touched it again and again with heartache, touching until Jiang Yao almost jumped up. Finally unable to bear it, she held her breath, face red. “Stop touching. Aren’t you going to scrub the back? Hurry up. I was lazy before and didn’t like applying medicine, that’s why the wound stayed. It’s really not that serious. Don’t you go secretly crying behind me, or I’ll laugh at you for a lifetime.”

Father’s¹², are the little girl’s fingers made of cotton? So soft, tickling her to death.

Song Muyun: …

Expressionlessly, she wiped away the water that had just gathered in her slightly red rims.

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