Forbidden to Bully the Storybook’s Heroine – Chapter 60

Growing More Intimate

Later, when Jiang Yao looked up, she realized it wasn’t just the little girl’s neck that had turned red—her eyes were rimmed with red too, staring at her pitifully.

The sight immediately tugged at Jiang Yao’s heart. She quickly cupped Muyun’s face in her hands and asked anxiously, “What’s wrong, what’s wrong? Don’t cry. Didn’t you say you wanted to marry me? I’ll marry you—I’ll marry you, okay? Please don’t cry. It breaks my heart to see you like this.”

Jiang Yao’s heart truly ached. She couldn’t stand seeing Muyun cry.

Song Muyun sniffled, her nose bright red, and let out a soft hum. “You… you clearly like me, but you kept telling me to marry someone else.”

She felt so wronged. Just thinking about it made the tears fall again. These were all things Jiang Yao had done, and Jiang Yao couldn’t deny it. All she could do was comfort her. “It’s all my fault. I thought you wouldn’t like me. I’ll never do it again, I promise. Forgive me, okay?”

Song Muyun still couldn’t stop crying, sniffling miserably. Jiang Yao pulled her into her arms, pressing her own face against Muyun’s tear-streaked cheek, the coolness soothing as she coaxed her. The position was intimate enough. After a long while, she finally managed to calm the little girl down. Muyun sat there shyly, fidgeting with her fingers. Jiang Yao quietly breathed a sigh of relief and reached out to wipe the dampness from her lashes. “When I first met you, I never imagined you’d be such a crybaby.”

Now that they’d confessed their feelings to each other, Song Muyun’s temper seemed even bigger than before. At those words, she glared at Jiang Yao. “I only cry because you bully me! If it weren’t for you, I wouldn’t cry at all!”

She refused to admit her crybaby nature, insisting it was all Jiang Yao’s fault.

Jiang Yao ran her hand up and down Muyun’s back, eating tofu¹ as she silently took the blame.

“It’s all my fault. I apologize. I won’t bully you anymore, okay?”

Hearing her apologize, Song Muyun felt a twinge of guilt. She did often make unreasonable demands, but Jiang Yao always indulged her. Even now, she was indulging her.

Jiang Yao treated her so well. She’d never find anyone better than Jiang Yao.

Song Muyun gradually wrapped her arms around Jiang Yao’s neck, her voice soft and coquettish. “That’s more like it. Now carry me back.”

She pressed her face against Jiang Yao’s, her voice soft and sweet.

She’d wanted this for so long—to have Jiang Yao carry her through the streets for everyone to see.

“Jiang Yao…”

She called out softly. Jiang Yao scooped her up horizontally while looking down to respond. “What is it? Are you that happy to be with me?”

She was certainly happy—her smile wouldn’t stop spreading across her face no matter how hard she tried to suppress it.

Song Muyun shot her a light glare, her face flushed, and said nothing as she held on.

They didn’t encounter anyone on the way back. Jiang Yao carried her all the way to the courtyard and gently placed her on the soft couch².

The little girl was wearing so many layers—it had taken considerable effort to carry her.

“This afternoon I’ll take you to buy pastries and tanghulu³, and I’ll get you a sugar figurine⁴ as a reward.”

“Mm, okay.”

Song Muyun sat on the couch radiating obedience.

Seeing her like this made Jiang Yao’s lips itch. They itched terribly.

After a moment, she leaned in close and asked carefully, clearing her throat solemnly first. “Muyun.”

Song Muyun looked up at her, only to hear her say, “Can I kiss you?”

???

Who asks something like that out loud?!

Her face turned impossibly red, but there was no deterrence power in it at all as she shot Jiang Yao a coquettish glare.

Jiang Yao didn’t understand what that look meant. Seeing no response, she grew anxious. “Just tell me yes or no, okay?”

“Why… why are you even asking me?”

She turned her head away. Jiang Yao was confused. Who else would I ask if not you? “I’m asking you. Just say if it’s okay or not. You kissed me last night, and I haven’t kissed you back yet!”

The little girl’s lips had been cool and soft, comfortable and pleasant. She didn’t want to just be kissed—she wanted to hold her head and kiss her back.

Reminded of last night again, Song Muyun’s face grew even redder. She deliberately hid in her fluffy cloak⁵, only her shy, timid eyes peeking out. Her voice carried embarrassment and annoyance. “If you want to kiss me, just kiss me. Why ask so many questions? It’s annoying.”

Jiang Yao’s eyes lit up. She pulled the little girl into her arms, saying repeatedly, “Not annoying, not annoying at all. You said I could kiss you, so you can’t get mad afterward.”

Song Muyun thought, What’s there to get mad about over a kiss? Before she could finish the thought, that fluffy round head was pressed down by a hand, and those tempting red lips were captured. She instinctively held her breath.

Having received permission, Jiang Yao moved quickly, giving her no time to adjust.

In an instant, Muyun lost all her strength and melted into Jiang Yao’s embrace.

Her hands weakly pressed against Jiang Yao’s shoulders, but one hand caught her wrist while the other gripped her pointed chin, forcing her head up for the kiss.

Those red lips tasted wonderful. Last night Song Muyun had stolen a kiss with just the tip of her tongue. Now Jiang Yao was drawing a gourd from a model⁶—the little girl was inexperienced at kissing. After holding her breath for too long, she parted her lips urgently to breathe, and Jiang Yao seized the opportunity to slip her tongue inside. The little girl’s eyes flew wide open, her thick lashes trembling as her body went even softer, turning to water. Jiang Yao caught those lips, sucking again and again until they were somewhat swollen before reluctantly withdrawing⁷. But then her gaze fell on the beauty’s snow-white chin.

She carefully pecked at it once, then again, before gently sucking, leaving a faint red mark.

The little girl’s skin was so delicate—the slightest pressure left traces.

They didn’t know how long they kissed or how many positions they changed. Only when a maidservant coming to change the tea dropped an entire tea set in shock did Jiang Yao finally release her.

She glanced coolly at the extremely flustered Cuizhu. Cuizhu quickly waved her hands. “Miss, Miss, I didn’t see anything! I really didn’t see anything!”

She kept her head down, refusing to look up, crying internally. I finally worked my way up to being Miss’s personal maidservant with such good monthly wages, but why did I have to see something I shouldn’t have? Miss won’t silence me, will she? Please no, I haven’t even collected this month’s wages yet QAQ.

But Jiang Yao paid no mind to her thoughts and waved dismissively. “Go down and bring up a fresh pot of hot tea.”

“Yes, yes.”

Thank heavens Miss isn’t angry.

After the maidservant left, Jiang Yao looked down at the beauty in her arms, now completely soft and boneless. Her lashes were wet with tears, clumped together in little clusters. The corners of her eyes were tinged with a pitiful red. She’d been kissed until she was gasping for air⁸ and was still trying to catch her breath. Once she’d evened out her breathing, she pitifully pounded Jiang Yao’s chest. “You’re terrible. I couldn’t breathe.”

Jiang Yao lowered her head to kiss her again, biting her lips. Now the already somewhat swollen lips became even more red and swollen.

Song Muyun was angry and didn’t want to pay attention to her, but Jiang Yao held her tight and wouldn’t let go.

Having learned something from that kissing session, Jiang Yao whispered in Muyun’s ear, “If kissing is okay, then I want to do some other things too. That should be fine, right?”

The little girl’s eyes flew open wide. She was about to ask what else she wanted to do when, in the next second, Jiang Yao’s kiss fell on her eyelids, carefully kissing away all the moisture there. It tasted salty.

Song Muyun’s hand, pressed against her chest, slowly curled into a fist. Her breathing became unsteady as she said hoarsely, “Don’t… don’t kiss anymore.”

Her heart was beating so fast, so fast—it was about to jump out.

But Jiang Yao didn’t listen. She’d said kissing didn’t require permission, so she’d just keep kissing.

She let herself kiss both eyes thoroughly before finally releasing her, resting her chin on Muyun’s shoulder, simply holding her. Just that was enough to feel satisfied.

Two women newly acquainted with love couldn’t bear to be apart, wanting to stick together wherever they went. But overall, it was Song Muyun who was more clingy, not wanting to leave Jiang Yao’s side for even a moment.

During lunch, she was already counting on her fingers, setting rules.

“I’ll let the past go, but from now on, you can’t go see the Eighth Prince behind my back. You can’t go out to play alone. Wherever you go, you have to tell me—and it’s best if you take me with you.”

The little girl raised her chin making demands, looking rather spoiled and adorable.

Jiang Yao had a wife now and was feeling elated. She could agree to anything.

“Okay, whatever you say. I’ll listen to you.”

“That’s more like it.”

Song Muyun’s expression brightened with joy. She obediently picked up some food with her chopsticks and placed it in Jiang Yao’s bowl. “Eat more. We’re going out to play this afternoon. You promised to buy me pastries, tanghulu, and a sugar figurine.”

She remembered everything Jiang Yao had promised her, repeatedly emphasizing it as if afraid Jiang Yao would forget.

But Jiang Yao wouldn’t dare forget. She even added something. “And candied fruit too.”

Song Muyun’s lips curved up happily. “Mm! And candied fruit!”

So cute. Her own wife was truly adorable. Jiang Yao patted her head—so soft and nice to ruffle.

“You should try this meat too. It’s pretty good. Eat more meat. Look how thin you are.”

The beauty looked delicate just standing there, willowy⁹ and slender.

It wasn’t that Jiang Yao disliked how she looked now, but she thought she’d be better with more weight—her health would improve too.

Song Muyun obediently lowered her head to eat, her eyes brimming with countless smiles.

This is so wonderful. She actually had someone who truly cared for her.

Not because of her family background, not because of her appearance—just because she was Song Muyun.

She kept her head down eating, and Jiang Yao didn’t even notice the little girl’s eyes had reddened again, using the meal as cover so she wouldn’t be discovered.

Jiang Yao ate quickly, downing a bowl of rice in a few bites. Then her gaze fell on the plate of shrimp. She pulled it over—it was covered in thick sauce, but she didn’t care. She took out a shrimp and began carefully removing the head and peeling the shell, extracting the firm, fresh meat and placing it on a small dish. She continued until she’d accumulated a full dish of shrimp meat, then pushed it in front of Song Muyun. She took a napkin and carefully wiped her hands. “Try it.”

Song Muyun froze when she saw the dish of shrimp meat. “This is… for me?”

Jiang Yao had only eaten one bowl of rice, so she’d assumed the shrimp was for herself.

She hadn’t expected that after peeling them, Jiang Yao would give them to her.

Jiang Yao carefully wiped the sauce from between her fingers, her voice casual. “Mm, try it. The flavor’s pretty good.”

Her fingers tightened around the chopsticks, the knuckles suddenly whitening. Her voice grew tense too as she asked again, “For me?”

“Yeah, what’s wrong?”

Jiang Yao looked up at her curiously.

As if peeling shrimp for her was the most natural thing in the world.

Song Muyun’s lashes trembled lightly, emotion showing on her face. She slowly picked up a shrimp and put it in her mouth, chewing slowly, her eyes glistening. “It’s delicious. Really delicious. Better than any shrimp I’ve ever had.”

She’d met many people, but she’d never seen anyone willing to peel shrimp for someone else—because peeling shrimp dirties your hands and isn’t very elegant. Well-bred young ladies and gentlemen from aristocratic families weren’t willing to do it. So in her heart, if someone was willing to peel shrimp for another person, that person must be extremely important to them.

“If it’s good, eat more. I’ll peel more for you later, okay?”

“Okay. You eat too.”

She picked up one and brought it to Jiang Yao’s lips. Jiang Yao opened her mouth and took the shrimp, the tender texture bursting between her teeth. Hand-peeled shrimp really did taste better.

“Eat a bit more rice. You’ll get hungry later.”

The little girl looked worried.

Jiang Yao pressed down on the back of her delicate hand and rubbed it. “Later I’ll take you out for wontons¹⁰. I can eat less now, okay?”

“Wontons? Sounds good.”

For the first sixteen years of her life, raised in the inner chambers¹¹, she’d never eaten a meal at a street stall. For someone of her status as a noble lady, it would have been considered undignified and would have invited mockery and parental scolding.

But after meeting Jiang Yao, she could do whatever she wanted.

Jiang Yao cherished her, doted on her, treated her so well.

Song Muyun’s cheeks flushed with traces of pink. Her hand, being held by Jiang Yao, would secretly hook around Jiang Yao’s fingers.

Jiang Yao’s hands were somewhat rough from years of martial arts practice, but they were slender and strong. She really liked them.

After finishing the plate of shrimp, not wanting to waste food, they ate most of the other dishes too. Then, taking their purses¹², they went out together. Jiang Yao kept her promise and first took her to buy sweet candied fruit.

There was no helping it—the little girl’s body was always ice-cold. She had to drink medicine every day for treatment. Without candied fruit, she’d surely cry.

Jiang Yao knew this.

“What pastries do you want?”

They stood outside the Baiyu Workshop.

“Pea cakes¹³.”

Jiang Yao had always known she loved pea cakes, so she asked the shopkeeper for several pieces, along with some lotus pastries¹⁴ to wrap together.

“Want anything else?”

The street vendors displayed such a dazzling array¹⁵ that Jiang Yao was overwhelmed. She could only turn her head to ask Song Muyun.

But Song Muyun looked somewhat dissatisfied. The hand in her palm shook. “You promised to buy me tanghulu. Don’t tell me you forgot?”

Jiang Yao certainly hadn’t forgotten. Muyun was quite obsessed with tanghulu. Last night when she’d stolen that kiss, she’d even said that if Jiang Yao dared forget, she’d never speak to her again.

“I didn’t. Let’s browse first. When we see some, I’ll buy it for you.”

“And sugar figurines!”

Song Muyun emphasized.

“Mm, and sugar figurines.”

Before long, Jiang Yao’s hands were full of various things—all items that had caught the little ancestor’s¹⁶ eye while browsing.

She couldn’t help but start to regret. Why had she brought Muyun out without any attendants? How could they not have anyone with them?

If they kept shopping, two hands wouldn’t be enough to carry everything.

Helplessly, Jiang Yao had to first pull Song Muyun aside to pay someone to deliver the items back to the residence before continuing their browsing.

They’d walked quite a bit. The food they’d eaten at noon was nothing by now. Jiang Yao found the wonton stall she frequented and sat down with Song Muyun, calling out to the elderly couple making and cooking wontons, “Two bowls of fresh meat wontons.”

“Coming right up!”

When she looked down, Song Muyun had already obediently taken out a handkerchief and started carefully wiping the table. After wiping, she rinsed the chopsticks with tea.

She was particular about cleanliness.

Jiang Yao sat beside her, reaching out to ruffle her hair. “Later we’ll go to a bookshop.”

“Mm, okay.”

“Then we’ll go to the Eighth Prince’s to ask about your family’s case¹⁷.”

Song Muyun’s eyes lit up, her grip on Jiang Yao’s hand tightening. “Mm!”

The person her heart belonged to cared so much even about her family matters—she was such a good, good person.

The wontons arrived quickly. Thin wrappers enclosed perfectly-sized portions of meat. The broth was clear, with lard melted into it and scallions sprinkled on top, plus two small vegetables as garnish.

Jiang Yao’s mouth was practically watering. She couldn’t wait to eat. “Try it. If you like it, I’ll bring you here again.”

“Mm.”

Song Muyun ate slowly and carefully. She first scooped up a crystal-clear little wonton in her spoon, leaned in close to blow on it gently, cooling it down, then popped it into her mouth in one bite.

Even her chewing was extremely graceful.

Unfortunately, her appetite was small. What seemed like very little to Jiang Yao was actually quite a lot for her. Now after eating three or four wontons, she was full and could only sip the broth in small mouthfuls while sneaking glances at Jiang Yao.

Jiang Yao practiced martial arts daily and had a bigger appetite than ordinary people. She quickly finished her bowl of wontons, leaving only those two vegetables and the broth.

Those vegetables were exactly the kind she didn’t like eating, so she couldn’t even name them.

Seeing this, Song Muyun spoke up to remind her. “You’re done? But you left the vegetables.”

Jiang Yao lazily propped her chin on one hand while twirling the chopsticks in her other hand. “I don’t like those vegetables. I only like eating meat.”

The little girl’s eyes brightened, her voice carrying a hint of softness as she asked again, “Are you full now?”

Jiang Yao paused, turning to look at her. She seemed very embarrassed, her face completely red. After speaking, she felt it was too improper and quickly shook her head. “Never mind, pretend I didn’t say anything. If you’re still hungry, you can order another bowl.”

She lowered her eyes and covered her face, saying quietly, “I was just being thoughtful.”

But Jiang Yao could tell with one glance what she’d wanted to say.

She naturally reached out and pulled Song Muyun’s still-half-full bowl of wontons over.

“Ah.”

Song Muyun hadn’t expected her to do that and instinctively tried to stop her, but Jiang Yao had already lowered her head to eat one…

The little girl probably couldn’t break this lifetime habit of blushing. Her face immediately turned red again.

She didn’t dare look at her, murmuring softly, “Why… why did you eat it? I already ate from that.”

Jiang Yao’s throat moved as she swallowed the two wontons in her mouth. She turned and flicked Song Muyun’s forehead. “So what if you ate from it? I don’t mind. We’ve already kissed—what’s there to worry about?”

Song Muyun’s face grew even redder. She kept shaking her head. “Don’t… don’t say that. We’re still outside. What are you saying?!”

She was dying of embarrassment, afraid someone might overhear. She’d imagined it countless times—Jiang Yao taking her boldly through the streets, letting everyone know about their relationship. But when it came down to it, she didn’t dare. She felt so shy inside.

Jiang Yao didn’t like being secretive about things. She was more straightforward. The same went for their mutual feelings—she hadn’t planned to hide it from anyone. It didn’t matter who saw or knew. Others couldn’t dictate her decisions anyway.

“So what if we’re outside? Do you not want to marry me just because we’re outside?”

Song Muyun had said this herself today. Out loud!

She couldn’t go back on her word.

Song Muyun lowered her head, her face red and her whole body warm with embarrassment. She tugged lightly on Jiang Yao’s hand, her voice as thin and weak as mosquitoes and flies¹⁸. “Don’t talk like that. I don’t want others to hear.”

How could anyone talk about marrying and such on the street? If others heard, wouldn’t she die of shame?

Jiang Yao wanted everyone to know she had such a beautiful, obedient wife, but unfortunately, the wife herself didn’t want that.

She could only suppress her resentful thoughts and responded, then obediently lowered her head to eat the wontons.

The wontons had cooled a bit, but they were still fresh and delicious. The small size meant Jiang Yao could eat two in one bite.

Not only did she eat Song Muyun’s food, but Muyun also, not wanting to waste anything, used the last bit of space in her stomach to eat the two vegetables from Jiang Yao’s bowl.

Jiang Yao didn’t mind her, and she didn’t mind Jiang Yao either.

After splitting the two bowls of wontons between them, Jiang Yao pulled Song Muyun’s hand to stand up. Then, with lightning speed¹⁹, she lowered her head and kissed her. Song Muyun hadn’t even processed what happened yet—her eyes still held a dazed, confused look.

It wasn’t until Jiang Yao had paid silver and pulled her onto the street that she finally came to her senses. She squeezed Jiang Yao’s hand hard, her cheeks puffing up slightly in anger. “What were you doing just now? We’re still on the street—how could you, how could you kiss me?!”

The little girl was reserved and restrained, incapable of doing such things. She was nearly in tears from embarrassment.

Jiang Yao let go of her hand and instead wrapped an arm halfway around her waist, pulling her into an embrace. “What’s wrong with kissing you? There wasn’t anyone we knew on that street just now. What are you afraid of?”

Her tone was lazy and unconcerned.

Song Muyun had long known this was her personality, but she still pinched her hand. “It’s improper to do that on the street.”

She couldn’t accept it.

The little girl had so many rules. Jiang Yao took a deep breath, somewhat helpless, but still accepted it. “Fine, fine, fine. I won’t dare do it again. Young Miss, please forgive me this once. Stop scolding me.”

If she couldn’t do it outside, she’d just wait until they got home to see how she’d kiss her.

“Why are you saying that? I’m just telling you. Just be more careful next time. When there’s no one around, you can do whatever you want.”

She’d set the boundary.

Jiang Yao nodded in understanding, patting the back of Song Muyun’s head. “What if I just touch you?”

Touching was naturally fine. Jiang Yao always touched her—didn’t that prove she liked her, that her heart was moved by her?

The little girl nodded with a red face, then immediately turned her head away, looking extremely flustered.

Jiang Yao laughed softly. Her hand around Muyun’s waist gave a light pinch, and instantly the little girl lost all strength, collapsing into her embrace. Her eyes filled with misty moisture as she looked at Jiang Yao helplessly, her brows slightly furrowed. “Don’t… don’t pinch randomly.”

Her voice carried hints of coquettishness and complaint. Jiang Yao was thoroughly satisfied. “Okay, okay, I won’t pinch randomly anymore.”

After being scolded, she immediately backed off, but she’d already taken full advantage. Jiang Yao contentedly held Song Muyun as they headed to the bookshop.

The bookshop had storybooks²⁰ for men and women, for men with men, and naturally for women with women too.

Previously, Jiang Yao had only bought those about men and women, just to pass the time and to let Muyun see what those men were really like. But now she needed to buy ones about women with women.

Song Muyun was too embarrassed to choose, so she sat at a distance drinking tea while her eyes, full of scattered stars, gently followed Jiang Yao’s movements.

A somewhat unfamiliar voice suddenly sounded beside her. “Mu… Muyun?”

The woman spoke hesitantly. Song Muyun looked up, paused for a moment, then stood up and replied politely, “Zhaozhao, it’s been a long time.”

Seeing that Muyun would speak with her, Wu Zhaozhao’s nervousness eased somewhat. She smiled. “You’re here to look at books too?”

“To buy books.”

“Oh, then why aren’t you buying? “

She saw Muyun sitting there drinking tea, looking quite leisurely.

So Muyun looked toward the person who was currently selecting books, already holding several volumes.

Wu Zhaozhao followed her gaze and, seeing Jiang Yao, looked quite surprised as she covered her mouth.

“You’re still together with her? Didn’t my brother go to Jiang Residence to find you?”

Wu Yan was Wu Zhaozhao’s older brother. He’d told her he wanted to take Song Muyun into his household and had also told the family elders, receiving their permission before going to Jiang Residence.

Wu Zhaozhao had been very close with Song Muyun before. Knowing her brother liked her, she’d even arranged several introductions for him.

But ever since the Song family fell into trouble, her parents forbade her from seeing Muyun again. She was a young lady from the Duke Residence—if she went to Yuefang House, it would damage her reputation.

Wu Zhaozhao had always felt somewhat guilty toward Song Muyun. Learning she’d been taken away by Jiang Yao, she’d wanted to find her but didn’t dare. That Jiang Yao was an extremely ruthless woman—what if she hit her?

Now that the Song family case was being overturned, her brother still had lingering feelings for Muyun and wanted to marry her as a concubine. Though the status was lower, after all, Song Muyun’s father had passed away and she’d been in an entertainment house. Being able to become her brother’s concubine was already the result of his pleading. She’d also thought that once Muyun entered the household, she would make it up to her and repair their relationship.

Hearing her speak this way, Song Muyun’s expression turned cold. The dislike for Jiang Yao in her words was almost undisguised.

Her tone also became distant. “Who I’m with has nothing to do with you.”

“What?”

Though Song Muyun was cool by nature, she rarely spoke words so impolite they left no face, making people unable to respond. Wu Zhaozhao couldn’t believe what she’d just heard, staring at her in shock.

Song Muyun merely gave her a cold glance, unwilling to sit there drinking tea alone anymore. She called out, “Jiang Yao.”

Her voice was neither light nor heavy, falling just right into Jiang Yao’s ears.

When the wife calls, of course you respond immediately.

“Muyun?”

Jiang Yao turned her head and saw Song Muyun standing there with a somewhat panicked woman beside her.

“Is this your friend?”

She walked over with her selected storybooks in hand.

Song Muyun took a few steps to stand beside her, her tone flat. “Don’t know her. Are you done choosing? If you’re done, let’s go.”

Don’t know her?

But judging by the other person’s expression, it didn’t look like they didn’t know each other.

Jiang Yao said nothing and nodded. She took Song Muyun’s hand. “I’ll pick a few more. Come with me?”

She could tell her little ancestor didn’t want to stay with this unknown woman.

“Mm, I’ll go with you.”

Their relationship was extremely close. Speaking together, they walked away. Wu Zhaozhao stood there as if stunned.

She’d thought Muyun would agree to marry her brother and then return to the household with him. But…

Had she refused?

Wu Zhaozhao looked utterly incredulous, but neither of them paid her any attention, finding a spot on their own to choose illustrated books²¹.

After all, illustrated books weren’t something proper, so you had to ask the bookshop owner and be led to a private room where they were sold.

Song Muyun hadn’t expected that when Jiang Yao said she’d pick a few more, she meant illustrated books. And she was specifically picking the most lewd ones!

At this moment, she wished she hadn’t come with her.

It would have been better than being dragged along to choose these obscene materials now. Jiang Yao had thick skin and didn’t care, but she didn’t consider her at all!

Song Muyun was thin-skinned and refused to help choose no matter what.

Jiang Yao had to select a few she liked on her own.

Like those with several women together—she didn’t pick any of those. She specifically chose ones with two women living happily ever after together.

Hmph. She wasn’t the type who liked novelty and tired of the old²², always wanting more and more.

“Little Yun’er, come look. I’ll buy just these few, okay?”

Song Muyun’s feet didn’t move. No matter what, she wouldn’t go over. She kept her head down, covering her face, saying quietly, “Buy whichever ones you want. Why are you asking me? I don’t care. Hurry up and buy them so we can leave.”

She was so embarrassed she could barely breathe.

“Okay, okay. Just these few then. Let’s go.”

When they came back out, Wu Zhaozhao was no longer outside. Just as well.

Song Muyun had once been good friends with Wu Zhaozhao, but now they had no affection left. She didn’t want to see her anyway.

Jiang Yao paid and asked the owner to send the books to Jiang Residence, then took Song Muyun to the Eighth Prince’s Residence.

Surprisingly, Jiang Ru was also at the Eighth Prince Residence.

The Eighth Prince had been recovering for so long that the injuries had actually healed long ago. She’d just been playing it up until today when she finally attended morning court²³.

When Jiang Yao arrived, she and Jiang Ru were sitting in the courtyard playing Go²⁴.

A servant led them in, and all four pairs of eyes met²⁵, everyone stunned.

“Ru’er? Why are you here?”

Seeing Jiang Yao, Jiang Ru naturally broke into a smile. “Jiejie, you’re here. I came to visit the Eighth Prince. Muyun-jiejie and Jiejie really are inseparable²⁶.”

“Mm.” Jiang Yao pulled Song Muyun’s hand and had her sit beside her. That game had just ended. Murong Ci was clearing the board and ordered someone to take it away before looking at Jiang Yao. “Why are you here? Didn’t you just come yesterday?”

“Mm, I came yesterday without telling Muyun, and she was quite upset with me when she got back. I just barely managed to calm her down, so today I brought her along to visit and also to ask you about something.”

Murong Ci looked somewhat surprised at the woman whose expression was barely maintaining composure. Jiang Yao had come to see her alone, and Miss Song got angry?

Suddenly, the Eighth Prince laughed softly. She says she doesn’t like her, but Jiang Yao is just caught up in it and can’t see clearly.

Just as the Eighth Prince was about to speak, she suddenly heard an “Ow!” Jiang Yao clutched her thigh, tears in her eyes, looking quite aggrieved at Song Muyun. “Why… why did you pinch me?!”

Song Muyun couldn’t hold back anymore. The blush she’d been forcefully suppressing climbed up her cheeks. She wished she could cover Jiang Yao’s mouth. How could she say such things in front of others?!

But Jiang Yao didn’t understand at all. After being pinched, she still tried to touch and hug her, right in front of the Eighth Prince and Ru’er…

Song Muyun pushed back with a red face, but in the end, she was forcibly pulled into an embrace as Jiang Yao asked what was wrong.

The Eighth Prince hadn’t expected their progress to be so fast. Just yesterday she’d said Miss Song liked her, and Jiang Yao had called her crazy. Today they could already embrace like this? The affection and joy in her eyes was practically overflowing.

The most shocked was Jiang Ru. For the first time, her mouth fell open in astonishment. She thought in a daze, Jiejie… and Muyun-jiejie are growing more and more intimate.

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