Forbidden to Bully the Storybook’s Heroine – Chapter 69

Eyes of Overwhelming Hatred

The days passed one by one. In the early spring season, all of nature was reviving, and Song Muyun’s nightmares had finally started to ease. But Jiang Yao didn’t dare relax her vigilance. Every day, she gave Song Muyun medicine to calm her spirit and nourish her body, and she took her out to practice martial arts to build up her strength.

Song Muyun was not at all proficient in the way of martial arts—in fact, she was completely clueless—but because Jiang Yao was teaching her, she learned.

Today, the two of them rose early to practice. After working up a sweat, Jiang Yao took her to bathe and change clothes. Song Muyun had never been exposed to martial arts before, and after a single session, she was lying on the bed, the whites of her eyes showing, completely unable to move. Jiang Yao walked over, casually scooped her up, and settled her into her embrace. She lightly licked the corner of the girl’s mouth. A bit sweet.

“Are you going to rest at the residence today, or come out with me?” she asked.

Hearing that she was going out, Song Muyun silently looked up, a little displeased. “Where are you going? How come I didn’t know you had something to do today?”

Hmph. Jiang Yao is always like this, only telling me about her plans at the last minute.

“I’m going to the nearby Chanxu Temple¹ to offer some prayers. Haven’t you been having nightmares and headaches? The doctors and imperial physicians can’t find a reason, so I’m going to ask the temple’s abbot².”

Everyone said that abbot was quite formidable, that he could comprehend all things and read the fates of all living beings. Although Jiang Yao didn’t really believe it, at this point she was treating a dead horse as if it were still alive³.

When Song Muyun heard it was for her sake, she quietly pressed her lips together, a little happy inside. She raised her hands to loop them around Jiang Yao’s neck and gave her a kiss on the lips as well, agreeing, “Mm, I want to go too. You’re going for me, so of course I can’t stay behind.”

“Alright, then I’ll take you with me. Such a good girl. Give me a kiss.”

Jiang Yao lowered her head and captured Song Muyun’s crimson, moist lips in her own, gently sucking. In no time, the girl’s eyes were shimmering with moisture, nearly teased to the point of tears.

Only then did Jiang Yao release those slightly swollen lips and nuzzle her cheek against Song Muyun’s.

Soon, the two of them appeared at the foot of the mountain. She had come to pray to the Buddha, so she naturally wouldn’t take a sedan chair. Instead, she took Song Muyun’s hand and began the climb, one step at a time.

The little miss had a weak constitution, and by the time they were halfway up, her face was already pale. Jiang Yao wanted to carry her on her back, but she refused. Her voice was as gentle as ever. “Jiang Yao, you came for me. I can’t let you carry me. That would be insincere. We’ve already come this far; it’s not much farther.”

Jiang Yao glanced up at the temple, which was so far away it was almost out of sight, and the corner of her mouth twitched. This is ‘not much farther’?

It’s going to kill you.

She felt helpless, but what Muyun said wasn’t wrong. In the end, she could only give that delicate, soft white hand a little shake. She would walk for a stretch and then have her rest for a bit to keep her from fainting from exhaustion.

Thankfully, she had brought plenty of water for her to drink.

Jiang Yao was used to walking mountain paths, so to her, this wasn’t a great distance. It was only exceptionally far for Song Muyun.

By the time the little miss finally reached the temple, her legs were trembling uncontrollably.

Jiang Yao helped her to a place to sit for a while. Soon, a little novice monk with round dots on his head came to lead the way for them.

The people coming and going were also pilgrims⁴, and every one of them looked disheveled and was covered in sweat. Jiang Yao took one look and felt reassured. She whispered to Song Muyun, “They’re all very tired too. It’s fine. You look beautiful even like this.”

Song Muyun had just been fussing about wanting to change her clothes, feeling that it was disrespectful to the Buddha to offer incense dressed like this.

Seeing her look up at the other pilgrims, Jiang Yao added, “See? They’re going in without changing their clothes either. Besides, if you changed your clothes and tidied yourself up to look all neat and clean, how would the Buddha know you climbed up here step by step?”

Song Muyun felt that she made a lot of sense. She nodded obediently and let the little novice monk lead her inside to offer incense and make a wish.

Jiang Yao followed her in, took some incense, and knelt beside Song Muyun on a prayer mat⁵ before the Buddha statue, her eyes shut tight.

This wasn’t her first time offering incense, but it was the first time she had ever come to pray and make a wish with such sincerity.

May my wife, Muyun, be free from sickness and pain, and may her life be smooth and successful.

She made her wish alongside Song Muyun, placed the incense in the burner, and added two portions of incense oil money⁶. Then she pulled her over to draw a fortune stick⁷.

Song Muyun gently shook the wooden container until a stick fell out. Jiang Yao held it by the back, added more incense oil money, and requested the temple’s abbot to come and interpret a fortune stick⁸ for her.

The abbot looked ancient, with a white beard that hung down to his neck and eyebrows that were also white. Jiang Yao felt a bit apologetic for troubling such an old man and adopted an even more respectful attitude.

“My wife has nightmares every day and sometimes gets headaches, so I came to draw a stick to see what the cause might be.”

Song Muyun suddenly pinched Jiang Yao’s arm.

Jiang Yao jolted. Only then did she realize she had called her by the name she used in her heart. It made the little miss hide behind her, not daring to come out at all.

Fortunately, the abbot was worldly and didn’t raise any objections to her words. He simply picked up the fortune stick and studied it with rapt attention for a moment before suddenly speaking. “A soul from another world.”

Jiang Yao: ???

I don’t like to study, so I don’t understand.

“Abbot, can you explain it more clearly?”

“The young miss’s wife has the soul of a deceased person clinging to her, which is what’s causing the frequent nightmares and headaches.”

Jiang Yao’s expression froze. What the fuck, my wife is being haunted by a ghost⁹???

In her shock, her face grew solemn. She asked the abbot again, “Then what can I do to stop this soul from clinging to my wife?”

Song Muyun hadn’t expected this answer either. Her face went white the moment she heard it. Forgetting that Jiang Yao had called her ‘wife’ again, she stared blankly at the abbot.

Under their gazes, the abbot slowly shook his head. “This soul is not of this world. Its resentment is extremely heavy and difficult to dispel. Moreover, it has an eternal karmic bond with you. Unless… she lets go of her hatred on her own, it will not dissipate.”

Jiang Yao was dumbfounded. What do you mean, it has a bond with me? An eternal one, at that? Bullshit. How could I have a bond with a ghost?

She wasn’t interested in whether there was a bond or not. She just wanted to know, “So it won’t work even if I hire a Daoist priest¹⁰?”

The abbot shook his head. “It’s not that it won’t work. It’s that it’s useless.”

She couldn’t help but tighten her grip on Song Muyun’s hand, feeling anxious and helpless.

“Is there really no other way?”

“None. Unless you can make her let go of her hatred.”

Jiang Yao: …

You’re pulling a calf¹¹. I don’t even know what this thing is. How am I supposed to make it let go of its hatred?

Isn’t this just a joke?

Full of worry, Jiang Yao drew a fortune stick for herself as well. Her mind was still preoccupied with what to do about Muyun when she heard the abbot exclaim in surprise, “Eh—this stick of yours…”

Compared to her own terrible fortune, Song Muyun was clearly more concerned about Jiang Yao’s stick. She quickly asked the abbot, “What’s wrong with her stick? Is there a problem?”

“To be reborn at death’s door¹², to go against the heavens and change one’s fate¹³? Young miss, this stick should have been a lowest fortune stick¹⁴, fated for severed ties with all six kin¹⁵ and to die with an unrighted wrong¹⁶. And yet, the face of the stick shows signs of going against the heavens and changing one’s fate, turning it into a highest fortune stick¹⁷. How strange, how very strange.”

When Song Muyun heard ‘severed ties with all six kin and to die with an unrighted wrong,’ her face instantly turned deathly pale. Jiang Yao’s round eyes also went wide, but she wasn’t anxious or afraid, just shocked. What the fuck, old man, you’ve got some skills. You even figured that out. In the storybook, wasn’t that exactly how she died with an unrighted wrong?

The Jiang family did nothing, yet they were framed and the whole family was killed. Isn’t that severed ties with all six kin?

So… there really is a ghost clinging to Muyun?

Jiang Yao was now even more worried than when she had drawn her own stick. She paid no mind to the part about being reborn at death’s door. Her father and Murong Qing were on bad terms; given her dad’s cautious nature, there was no way he would let Murong Qing become emperor, so naturally, she wouldn’t die. The most worrying thing right now was Muyun’s fortune. Since the abbot could speak of her original fate, then… could it be that there really was a ghost clinging to Muyun?

She had never believed in this stuff, but at this moment, she had no choice but to believe.

Song Muyun’s expression wasn’t good either, but not for herself—for Jiang Yao.

Severed ties with all six kin and to die with an unrighted wrong… that was her original fate?

But why!

Jiang Yao is such a good person. She shouldn’t have that kind of fate!

Only when she thought of the words on the stick—to go against the heavens and change one’s fate, to be reborn at death’s door—could Song Muyun feel a little more at ease. The so-called dying with an unrighted wrong… probably wouldn’t happen, right?

Song Muyun had been hanging her head, thinking about Jiang Yao’s fortune, but when she looked up, she saw that Jiang Yao also had a worried expression. There wasn’t a trace of a smile on the face of the girl who loved to laugh. She didn’t even need to ask to know she was troubled by her fortune. She immediately went forward and gave Jiang Yao’s hand a little shake, saying softly, “It’s alright, don’t worry about me. Haven’t I been free of nightmares lately? It’s you who should be careful, after hearing what the abbot said.”

The girl’s voice couldn’t have been gentler. She said, “I know what I’m doing. Don’t be afraid. I will live, and I will protect you forever.”

Jiang Yao pulled Song Muyun into her arms, and the two of them held each other tightly.

It was as if she were comforting her, and also comforting herself.

Although the abbot said they could only wait for the ghost clinging to Muyun’s side to let go of its hatred and leave on its own, Jiang Yao still hired a Daoist priest to perform a religious ritual¹⁸ at the Jiang Residence, wanting to see if she could drive away the so-called ghost.

She didn’t know if it was effective, but it was true that for the next few days, Muyun was no longer plagued by nightmares, and her spirits seemed better. Jiang Yao’s heart could finally rest a little. Perhaps that abbot was a half-baked alarmist after all?

“The weather is nice today. Shall I take you to tread on the green¹⁹?” Jiang Yao asked, straightening up to look at Song Muyun, who was curled up lazily in a chair.

Song Muyun opened her eyes just a crack and nodded in agreement, her voice a little soft. “Okay. You’ve been going out to play by yourself these past few days. Did you finally remember me today?”

“Haven’t I been busy? I’ve been helping to look for Meng Xia’s whereabouts.”

Meng Xia was very cautious. He had probably blended into the capital, but the clues they found had gone cold several times. Even Jiang Yao had gone to investigate a few times herself.

“Carry me. I want to go inside and change.”

Sitting in the reclining chair, Song Muyun stretched out her arms and gave her command, the picture of laziness.

Jiang Yao felt a bit helpless, but she was very obedient. She bent down, one hand supporting her back and the other slipping under the crook of her knees, and carried her horizontally in one’s arms²⁰.

Song Muyun hooked her arms around Jiang Yao’s neck. Her sleeve slid down, revealing a snow-white, smooth arm.

The little miss’s eyes crinkled with a smile. “From now on, even if you go out to catch people, take me with you, okay? Don’t leave me at home all by myself.”

Although everyone in the Jiang family was very, very good to her, she still wanted to be with her, to stick to her.

Jiang Yao, of course, couldn’t win against her. At first, she refused quite firmly, but after just a few pleas, she couldn’t help but agree.

A beauty is rubbing her lips against me. How could I possibly resist that? She directly admitted defeat²¹.

“If I take you out, I’ll just have to settle you somewhere when I get busy. You must remember not to run around, so I don’t lose you. Okay?” she asked.

Just being able to follow her and see her was already wonderful. Song Muyun naturally had no objections and nodded eagerly.

Only then did Jiang Yao gently place her on the bed and let her change, though her eyes remained fixed on her, taking in every detail.

Song Muyun’s face grew redder. When all her clothes were off, the purplish-blue marks on her skin were revealed, looking as if she had been bullied by someone.

Jiang Yao’s gaze darkened a layer. She had to force herself not to look in order to barely suppress the lust churning within her.

The little miss was still complaining in a sweet, soft voice, “It’s all your fault. My legs are still weak even now.”

“And wasn’t it you who seduced me?”

The moment the words left her mouth, she realized how hoarse her own voice was, just like the voice that spoke in her ear every night when passion flared.

Song Muyun bit her lip lightly and muttered, “Well, wasn’t it you who insisted on putting that bracelet and anklet on me? We agreed the bracelet was for you.”

Jiang Yao raised an eyebrow. “Isn’t what’s mine also yours? We’re so close, yet you’re still drawing such clear lines. You’ve truly broken my heart.”

She feigned disappointment.

The little miss pulled on a piece of clothing and said in a small voice, “Who… who’s drawing clear lines? I was just afraid that one day you’d find it too expensive to keep me.”

Jiang Yao, who had just turned her head away, snapped it back instantly, her eyes filled with displeasure. She immediately said, “I would find you a burden? Why would you think that? Did someone say something to you? I’m a crude person who likes to brandish swords and spears, and I don’t know the first thing about poetry or songs. I’m the one who’s worried you’ll find me lacking!”

She had always known her temper wasn’t the best, that she was always fierce with her. She lived a rough life, not refined like a little miss such as her, and often did things she couldn’t stand to watch. Muyun probably had to put up with a lot of grievances being with her. She often wondered if there would come a day when Muyun would stop liking her. She never expected that Muyun was also secretly worried she would find her a burden.

What does she have to worry about, the idiot. She’s so wonderful. The fact that I found her to be my wife means I’ve hit the jackpot.

Jiang Yao thought to herself, then lowered her head to meet the eyes of the girl sitting on the bed who refused to look up. She pressed her, “Why would you think I’d find it too expensive to keep you?”

Song Muyun tilted her head, not daring to look at her. In a very small voice, she said, “Because it’s true. Every time you take me to buy jewelry, you always buy such expensive things. Two hundred taels is several months of my father’s salary, yet you spend it so casually.”

“Two hundred taels may be several months of your father’s salary, but it’s nothing to me. Don’t you know about my assets?”

Ever since she and Jiang Huai turned fourteen, their mother had given them each two shops to manage on their own. Jiang Yao didn’t like to study, but she was decent at business and had earned quite a bit of silver. A mere two hundred taels, wasn’t that just a sprinkle of water?

Of course, Song Muyun didn’t know that, but she didn’t covet Jiang Yao’s assets either. She only said, “I’m kept at home by you every day. Will you think I’m useless?”

Her voice was soft and gentle, but hidden beneath it was a girl’s uneasy heart.

Jiang Yao didn’t know she had been so insecure, but thinking about it, it made sense. Those women who liked to recite poetry and compose couplets were all prone to melancholy. Her Yun’er was probably the same.

“Don’t you dare to improperly belittle yourself. You keep me company every day, how could you be useless? Are you just bored at home, which is why you like to think east and west²²?”

Song Muyun fell silent, raising a pair of watery, bright eyes to look at her.

Jiang Yao frowned and thought for a moment, then something suddenly occurred to her. “Why don’t you help me to manage accounts? I get a headache every time I look at the account books. From now on, you can help me, okay? You’re my wife, so I’ll let you manage my shops. With something to do, you can’t let your mind wander so much anymore.”

Jiang Yao stepped forward and wrapped Song Muyun in a hug.

Song Muyun’s eyes lit up, but a moment later, she hesitated. “But… I haven’t really looked at account books before. What if I mess it up…”

What if I miscalculate the accounts?

But Jiang Yao said, “It’s fine if you mess up. I’ll find someone to teach you, and I’ll stay by your side and watch with you, okay?”

“Mm!”

Song Muyun was happy now, the corners of her mouth turning up slightly. Having something to do at least made her feel like she wasn’t just taking Jiang Yao’s things for free.

Seeing her happy, Jiang Yao’s expression also relaxed. A huge weight lifted from her heart—one, because Muyun was happy, and two, because she no longer had to look at those thick account books. That was truly a fate worse than death.

With Song Muyun happy, Jiang Yao’s days became better too. The two went to the outskirts²³ for a spring outing and to ride horses. Not only did she get permission to ride the same horse as her little miss, but she could also occasionally lower her head to kiss her. She would nip the soft flesh of the girl’s cheek, grinding it gently with her teeth. By the time she let go, the area was already flushed red.

Song Muyun leaned against her chest, panting lightly, telling her not to do that anymore, that it wouldn’t be good if someone saw.

What you fear is what you get. No sooner had she said it than she heard someone call out to her. It was a tender, delicate female voice, calling her Eldest Sister²⁴.

The only one who would call her that was, of course, the youngest sister of the Song family, Song Yusheng.

Blushing, Song Muyun hurriedly looked around for her, finally spotting her somewhat restless sister in a pavilion not far away.

“Jiang Yao, my sister is out for a spring outing too. Let’s go over and see.”

“Mm, okay.”

Jiang Yao deftly dismounted, then raised her arms and, ignoring the astonished gazes of others, lifted Song Muyun down as well. She took the little miss’s hand and headed toward the pavilion behind the lush, large trees.

Song Yusheng wasn’t the only one in the pavilion; several of the other Song brothers were there as well.

As soon as Song Muyun rounded the tree, she called out, “Sheng’er, Yingdong, Qingdong, Xuandong, you’re here for a spring outing too? And this is…”

A tall, slender man had been standing with his back to them the whole time. He didn’t turn around even when he heard her voice.

It wasn’t until she asked that Song Yusheng trotted over to hide behind Song Muyun, and he slowly turned around.

The moment she saw Murong Qing, Song Muyun’s pupils contracted violently. An image of Murong Qing, a hypocritical smile on his face as he lashed her with a whip, flashed through her mind. Her body swayed, and she subconsciously tightened her grip on Jiang Yao’s hand.

As for Murong Qing, the gentle and refined smile on his face vanished the instant he turned and saw the red marks on Song Muyun’s face and neck. His expression gradually turned grim.

Jiang Yao felt the force on her hand. She shot a glare at Murong Qing without trying to hide it, then turned to hold the swaying Song Muyun. “What’s wrong?” she asked in a low voice.

Song Muyun’s face was as white as a sheet of paper. More images flooded her mind. In them, she was covered in blood, but she had a knife hidden in her robes. She took advantage of a moment of inattention to try and kill Murong Qing.

Naturally, she didn’t succeed. Instead, she was pierced through the heart by an arrow, dying before a stunned Murong Qing.

Why? Why do I keep seeing these things?

Either it’s Murong Qing hitting me, or it’s me trying every means possible to kill him.

When did she and Murong Qing ever have such a great enmity?

Song Muyun wanted to see more clearly, but her head was hurting terribly. Scene after scene flashed by like a shadow puppet play, so fast she sometimes couldn’t react, only feeling a splitting headache.

The anxious voices of Jiang Yao and her younger siblings echoed in her ears. It seemed Jiang Yao had carried her horizontally in one’s arms and was about to take her back to call for a doctor immediately.

She suddenly mustered a sliver of energy to grasp Jiang Yao’s hand and shook her head with difficulty. “No need. I just have a bit of a headache. It… it’ll be better in a moment. Don’t worry.”

Jiang Yao’s brows furrowed, her voice growing more urgent. “Your face is so pale, how can I not worry? Is it because you’re in a bad mood from seeing Murong Qing? There aren’t many people here anyway. How about I beat him up for you to let off some steam?”

The Song family members were dumbfounded. Murong Qing was just about to speak when he heard her say this and was instantly enraged. He’s still right here, and Jiang Yao dares to speak like that?!

On what grounds? What is she being so arrogant about?

“Jiang Yao! Don’t you dare disregard the imperial family!”

Jiang Yao shot him a cold glance. “Shut up. One more word and I’ll beat you.”

The Song siblings (starry-eyed): Wow!

Murong Qing: About to faint from rage.

Jiang Yao!

She truly doesn’t have an ounce of respect for him!

On what grounds is she so arrogant?

Murong Qing really couldn’t figure it out. The daughter of a court official, ordering a prince around—where did she get the courage?

“Feeling better? Want a sip of water?”

Song Muyun buried herself in Jiang Yao’s embrace, her legs also weak. She had to rely on Jiang Yao’s support to barely stand. She refused to lift her head, her mind buzzing with a splitting pain. It was the first time it had ever hurt this badly. She gripped Jiang Yao’s wrist so tightly she nearly left red marks on it.

Jiang Yao paid no mind to the pain in her hand. She held her close, patting her back and rubbing the back of her head, asking over and over, “Does it hurt? Does it still hurt?”

After a good while, a trembling, tearful voice finally came from her embrace, but what she said was, “Make Murong Qing leave. My head hurts when I see him, woo…”

That voice was so pitiful. How could Jiang Yao bear not to indulge her?

Her face instantly turned cold.

She turned to meet Murong Qing’s equally cold face, which held a hidden killing intent. The Song siblings had already huddled together, none of them daring to breathe too loudly, afraid the flames of war would spread to them.

They heard Jiang-jiejie say, “Seventh Prince, did you hear that? Muyun doesn’t want to see you. I must ask you to leave.”

The coldness and ferocity in her eyes told Murong Qing one thing: Get out before I make a move.

Murong Qing’s face alternated between green and white. “I only came to ask if Fifth Miss Song was having any trouble adjusting after returning to the capital. Miss Jiang and Miss Song need not treat me like floods and fierce beasts²⁵.”

So he’s not calling her Muyun now?

Hearing this form of address, Jiang Yao’s mood finally improved slightly, but it didn’t change the fact that she wanted Murong Qing to scram. What kind of thing are you, scaring my ancestor²⁶ like this? If you scare her, can you afford to compensate me?

“Hmph. Sheng’er has only been away from the capital for half a year. Even if she were having trouble adjusting, she has me, her older sister, to look after her. What business are you meddling in? Besides, there should be a distinction between men and women. You are about to marry the young miss from the Duke of Cheng’s family. You should be more concerned about Miss Li.”

Even the corners of Jiang Yao’s eyes dripped with disdain. Murong Qing’s face was grim, but he still refused to leave. “Miss Song says her head hurts when she sees me. Am I not allowed to ask about it? I don’t know when Qing has offended Miss Song again to make her despise me so.”

Murong Qing’s gaze was fixed tightly on Song Muyun.

Song Muyun buried her face deeper into Jiang Yao’s embrace, her voice laced with pain. For the first time, she lost her composure in front of others, her aversion to Murong Qing growing stronger. She choked out between sobs, “Jiang Yao, make him go. My head hurts so much. When I see him, I think of the things in my dreams. It scares me to death.”

The little miss looked so pitiful, on the verge of tears. How could Jiang Yao stand it?

The next second, she drew the soft sword²⁷ from her waist, startling Murong Qing so much his face lost all color. “Get lost. Don’t make me say it a second time. There’s no one around. Even if I beat you up, no one will know.”

It was Murong Qing’s own fault for choosing a secluded spot, afraid that people would find out he was seeking out the Song family’s sister. Now, with Jiang Yao being so disrespectful, he didn’t even have a witness!

Murong Qing was both shocked and furious, glaring at Jiang Yao, his refined facade once again failing to hold.

“This old lady is counting to three!”

She forcefully stabbed the sword into the ground, and it immediately sank halfway into the dirt. Murong Qing didn’t want to lose face and wanted to stay, but he was afraid Jiang Yao would actually hit him. A dignified prince, beaten by a woman—he might as well give up his reputation!

Murong Qing’s body trembled and trembled. Finally, as Jiang Yao counted to three, abandoned her sword, and drew a whip from her waist, he left with a cold expression.

Fine, I’ll go! Who wants to stay anyway!

After he left, Jiang Yao carried Song Muyun to the pavilion and sat her on her lap. The four younger siblings followed behind them step by step, looking worriedly at their eldest sister.

“Yun’er, does your head still hurt? Have a sip of water to calm down first, okay?”

After Murong Qing left, Song Muyun’s head suddenly stopped hurting, though her eyes felt a little sore. She obediently curled up in Jiang Yao’s arms and nodded. As she parted her red lips, Jiang Yao took out a gourd²⁸ and carefully fed her some water. Then she massaged the acupressure points²⁹ on her head and asked how she was feeling now.

Only her face was still pale; her body already felt much better. But her voice was still weak and listless. She tugged on Jiang Yao’s sleeve, sounding quite wronged. “I… it’s the first time it’s ever hurt so much. I thought I was going to die just now QAQ.”

This made Jiang Yao’s heart ache terribly. Disregarding the fact that her young siblings-in-law were present, she immediately hugged her tight, resting her chin on her shoulder, and chided gently, “What’s this talk of dying? How could you die? You won’t. Be good. I won’t let you die, and I won’t let anyone bully you. No more nonsense.”

Song Muyun’s eyes were glistening as she looked at Jiang Yao, so moved she felt like crying. It wasn’t until Song Yusheng called out to her with some uncertainty, “Eldest… Eldest Sister?”

From her tone, it was clear she suspected Muyun wasn’t herself.

But it did startle their eldest sister. Song Muyun nearly jumped out of Jiang Yao’s arms. She clutched Jiang Yao’s collar, looking at her silent siblings with panicked, helpless eyes. She turned her head and whispered to Jiang Yao, “I forgot they were here. How embarrassing.”

“What’s there to be embarrassed about? We’re all family here.”

While holding and comforting Song Muyun, Jiang Yao gestured for the four siblings to sit down.

Seeing that Muyun was too shy to speak to them, she asked on her behalf, “How did you all end up with Murong Qing?”

By now, the Song family members had grown accustomed to Jiang Yao’s lack of respect for authority. Compared to pointing a sword at a prince, simply calling him by his name was nothing.

The second son of the Song family, Song Yingdong, answered honestly, “The Seventh Prince said he hadn’t seen Sheng’er in a long time and wanted to invite her for tea. We were worried, so we came along.”

Jiang Yao frowned and looked at the reserved and quiet Song Yusheng. “Murong Qing and I don’t get along. It’s possible that has affected you all. Next time he invites you out, you don’t have to go. Just tell me, and I’ll take care of him.”

After speaking, Jiang Yao cracked her knuckles with a loud kachak, which was quite frightening.

Song Muyun quickly pressed down on her hand and whispered, “What are you doing? He’s a prince, after all. Don’t say such things.”

“Mm, I know.” I won’t say it. I’ll do it.

Jiang Yao put her arm around Song Muyun’s shoulder. Seeing her innocent, clear-eyed younger siblings, Song Muyun was naturally too embarrassed to continue lounging in Jiang Yao’s arms. She quickly stood up, intending to sit to the side.

But whether it was due to the earlier headache or because she stood up too quickly, her vision suddenly went black, and she nearly fainted. Jiang Yao caught her with quick eyes and fast hands.

Panicked cries of “Sister!” rang in her ears. She managed to force her eyes open again and said her body was still a little unwell. She had wanted to go on the spring outing with them, but now it seemed she couldn’t.

Jiang Yao couldn’t be bothered with much else. She told them to go to the Jiang Residence if they needed anything, then scooped up Song Muyun, mounted her horse, and rushed back.

The residence physician³⁰ was once again summoned to Hengwu Courtyard. Unlike in previous years when he didn’t even know where it was, he was now as familiar with the route as if he were driving a light carriage.

After all, Eldest Miss Jiang summoned him to Hengwu Courtyard for every little thing. Of course, it wasn’t for herself, but for the delicate young miss she was hiding in a golden house³¹.

The delicate young miss had poor health and was prone to headaches and fevers. And now, he had been called over for her again.

“I truly cannot understand Miss Song’s ailment. Her body shows no signs of illness, yet she always has these headaches for no reason. Did she sleep well last night?”

“She slept very well last night.”

“Tsk, that’s strange. How about we prescribe another dose of nourishing medicine for Miss Song to drink?”

Jiang Yao: …

All he knows is nourishing the body, nourishing the body. What’s the use of just nourishing the body? Muyun still gets headaches after drinking it, and she thinks it’s useless and doesn’t like to drink it. It takes a ton of effort to coax her to drink her medicine every day. Why prescribe useless medicine?

“Forget it. You may go back. There’s no need for the nourishing medicine.”

Song Muyun was forced to lie in bed, her figure growing even thinner. Jiang Yao’s heart ached. She went over to hug and caress her, then asked, “Was it because I troubled you for too long last night and tired you out, which is why you have a headache today?”

A soft fist thumped her chest. Song Muyun immediately denied it. “What are you talking about? What does it have to do with that? Don’t let your imagination run wild. That… that thing, I found it comfortable too. I wasn’t very tired.”

Jiang Yao was always very measured in her actions. How could she have tired her out?

Hearing this, Jiang Yao’s eyes lit up. “Really not tired? Was it comfortable?”

Those were all techniques she had spent a great deal of effort learning from storybooks and picture books, all for the sake of making Song Muyun comfortable. Her comfort was better than anything else to her.

Song Muyun’s face was as red as a cherry. She grumbled inwardly, Doesn’t Jiang Yao know herself whether it was comfortable or not? Why does she have to ask again? It’s so embarrassing.

She was completely shameless, still staring at her with a burning gaze. After a long while, a voice as faint as a mosquito’s buzz came from the person with her head buried. “Not tired. It was comfortable.”

After she said it, even her ears, hidden in her hair, turned red.

It really was very comfortable. If she said it wasn’t, Jiang Yao wouldn’t do it anymore, but she had never made her uncomfortable.

Seeing her shyness, Jiang Yao knew that those weren’t words spoken just to please her.

That’s good. Otherwise, I’d be afraid to play anymore.

At night, Song Muyun was placed on the bed. A small, bell-adorned anklet was fastened around her slender, snow-white ankle. One wrist wore a gold-inlaid jade bracelet, the other a silver-threaded jade bracelet. They contrasted with her snow-like skin, making Song Muyun’s complexion look like congealed fat, tender and delicate.

She wore not a stitch of clothing, hugging her knees pitifully, her pair of beautiful phoenix eyes³² looking timidly at Jiang Yao.

Jiang Yao was full of restrained patience. “Ahem, you weren’t feeling well today, so we’ll just do it once. I’ll be gentle.”

She sometimes complained that her hands were too heavy, that they chafed her and hurt.

Song Muyun lowered her eyes and said nothing, but it was as good as a tacit agreement.

Without another word, Jiang Yao kicked off her shoes and got on the bed. Her eyes were burning, and though her expression was eager, her movements were utterly gentle. She pressed down on her beloved beauty. Between breaths, her eyes grew moist, and her fingers clenched helplessly into fists. Even when it became unbearable, she was unwilling to grab Jiang Yao, lest she hurt her. As she lay on the bed with a vacant look in her eyes, the images from her dreams flashed by again and again. She was very, very sleepy. Vaguely, it was as if she saw a lonely figure bathed in blood, its clothes tattered, its resentment soaring to the heavens. Its back was to her, but it used all its strength to roar, “Murong Qing, you will not die a good death³³!”

Song Muyun was abruptly jolted from the comfortable handling, fragmented moans escaping her lips. The scenes from the dream were surprisingly forgotten, almost entirely.

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After one round, both of them were covered in sweat. After calling for hot water to bathe, a wave of drowsiness swept over them. This was especially true for Song Muyun, who inexplicably said she was sleepy and wanted to sleep while still in the bathing tub. With that, her head tilted to the side and she immediately fell asleep, leaving no time for anyone to react. In the end, it was Jiang Yao who finished washing her and carried her to the bed.

After they were settled, the two of them slept in each other’s arms. Neither of them noticed that in the darkness, the girl’s soft body trembled, and a pair of eyes, filled with overwhelming hatred, suddenly opened.

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The author has something to say:

Flower petals scattering. Finally reborn~ I’ll definitely fix my sleep schedule tomorrow.

I was thinking about something today. Between a Wicked and Unrestrained Demon Lord³⁴ and a Cool and Aloof Immortal Lord³⁵, which one do you like as the gong³⁶ and which one as the shou³⁷?

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