Forbidden to Bully the Storybook’s Heroine – Chapter 77

To Kill Him

When she heard the news that the First Prince and the Seventh Prince were to be released from the Dali Temple¹, Song Muyun’s expression soured. Seeing this, Jiang Yao did not even need to be asked before she took the initiative and went to her father’s study.

She quickly returned with the good news Song Muyun wanted to hear.

“The two princes are likely to die. Even if they do not, the best outcome for them will be to be stripped of their princely status and confined for life. They are being released from the Dali Temple only so they can see their families one last time and arrange their matters after death².”

Song Muyun was stunned. This was the first time she had ever heard that a death row prisoner could go home to see their family before their execution.

What was this?

The Emperor’s final tenderness?

The corner of Song Muyun’s mouth twitched, but the heart that had been worried they would not die was finally put at ease.

Jiang Yao wrapped her arms around her. “Do you have any other unfulfilled wishes? Let me help you fulfill them, alright?”

The young woman was held in her embrace, pressed against her powerfully rising and falling chest. She shook her head obediently. “There are no more.”

There are no more. It turned out that the only obsession deep in her heart was the desire for Murong Qing to die.

But Jiang Huai had clearly harmed her as well.

What a kind little lady. She has let Jiang Huai go, and she has let the Jiang family go.

Jiang Yao tilted her head, her lips rubbing wantonly against the woman’s soft cheek. Song Muyun gasped for breath in small pants, staying 乖乖 in place and letting Jiang Yao nuzzle her.

“Tomorrow is the Hundred Flowers Banquet³ in the palace. Shall I take you with me?” Her earlobe, like white jade, was being kissed delicately, the voice by her ear husky and enchanting.

When Song Muyun heard that she could enter the palace tomorrow, a light suddenly flashed in her eyes.

She agreed softly, “Alright, then we will go to the palace together.”

I am thinking, she thought, if I go to the palace, can I ask Murong Qing to meet me?

“Jiang Yao, can you teach me a few more sets of moves?” the young woman suddenly requested.

“Mm, alright. Wait here, I will go get a sword.”

For Muyun’s safety, she had always used a wooden sword to teach her.

But this time, Song Muyun did not let her get the wooden sword. Instead, she carefully took her hand and asked, “Can I learn how to wound someone with a dagger? It is better for taking someone by surprise, and it is easier to hide.”

“With a dagger?”

The young woman lowered her head and nodded shyly.

Although Jiang Yao found it a bit strange, she rarely refused Xiao Yun’er.

“Alright, a dagger it is. It is indeed very suitable for your self-defense.” You are so gentle and beautiful, the average person would never even imagine you could suddenly draw a dagger.

As Jiang Yao spoke, she drew the custom-made dagger from her brocade boots. It was incomparably sharp, able to cut iron as if it were mud⁴. She twirled it into a beautiful flower⁵ at her fingertips and handed it to Song Muyun. “Take it. I will teach you.”

…

This time, Song Muyun was exceptionally diligent. She practiced until even Jiang Yao felt a little tired, only then rubbing her fingers and saying she needed to rest.

The two of them practiced from day to night, their bodies covered in sticky, damp sweat. Jiang Yao called for hot water, and after they had washed themselves clean, they both lay on the bed, utterly exhausted.

Jiang Yao, who practiced with her sword properly every day, was the best sleeper. She had only just lain down when she fell asleep.

Half a shichen⁶ passed. The person who had her eyes closed, seemingly already asleep, suddenly opened them.

She looked at Jiang Yao with a gentle expression, then rose a moment later and walked to a corner of the courtyard. She clapped her hands, and a female Shadow Guard landed silently, without a sound or a breath.

She looked at the Shadow Guard and asked, “Did you get the items?”

The Shadow Guard did not speak, only handed over a piece of paper filled with the voluminous and fluent, lewd and romantic poems Murong Chun had once written, along with an ornate dagger.

Song Muyun’s lips slowly curved into a smile, the shy demeanor she usually wore around Jiang Yao completely gone. She took a clean paper slip from her waist, leaned over the stone table, and under the cover of night, imitated Murong Chun’s handwriting: Hundred Flowers Banquet, meet at the Cold Palace⁷.

The current Emperor was a lecherous man; he could not bear to send any beauty to the Cold Palace, so that place was the quietest and most deserted in the entire palace.

After a moment’s thought, afraid that Murong Qing would not come, Song Muyun signed her own name at the bottom.

She handed it to the Shadow Guard and said, “Deliver this paper slip to Murong Qing tomorrow. Do not let him discover you, and do not tell Jiang Yao about this.”

The Shadow Guard hesitated for a moment. Song Muyun’s eyes narrowed, suddenly emitting a piercingly cold aura. “Jiang Yao said that my orders are higher than hers!”

At these words, the Shadow Guard’s back straightened, and she immediately knelt. “Yes!”

“Go, and do not forget your task.”

The Shadow Guard quickly vanished. Song Muyun, however, called out another Shadow Guard. “Tomorrow, at the Hundred Flowers Banquet, after I go out, find a way to get Murong Chun to the Cold Palace.”

She had a plan in her heart. It might not succeed, but she wanted to try.

Once all the arrangements were made, Song Muyun returned to the room, carrying a chill with her.

Perhaps because she was somewhat exhausted, Jiang Yao did not notice that the person beside her pillow had left. It was not until she returned and the bed sank anew that Jiang Yao slightly lifted an eyelid, rolled over to the inner side of the bed, and pulled the person into a tight embrace. She buried her face in her neck and took a deep breath, then asked in a muffled voice, “Why are you so cold?”

Song Muyun’s heart leaped into her throat. A moment later, she whispered, “I… I just went out to the toilet.”

“Oh.”

Jiang Yao responded again, holding the person securely in her arms.

“I am warm, do not run around.”

Fighting off her sleepiness, Jiang Yao said one more thing.

Song Muyun had already arranged everything and was now extremely docile.

She nodded obediently, nestling in Jiang Yao’s embrace.

Her gentle gaze traced Jiang Yao’s features, and for the first time, a feeling of attachment arose.

But she… would not be staying permanently.

She had a feeling. Ever since the Song family’s verdict was reversed, she had often been the recipient of sympathetic and kind gazes from others. Sometimes when she bought things, even the street vendors would refuse her silver money, saying she had suffered, that the Song family had suffered, and that she should keep the money to take good care of herself.

Her resentment was disappearing, bit by bit, and at the same time, her control over this body seemed to be weakening, bit by bit.

She probably… would not be able to watch over Jiang Yao and accompany Jiang Yao forever.

If only, in her previous life, she had not listened to Murong Qing and tried to kill Jiang Huai.

Then the Jiang family would not have died, she would still be alive, and she would have been able to discover that there was such a wonderful person in this world.

If she had sought Jiang Yao’s help earlier, would everything have been different?

It certainly would have. Someone as good as Jiang Yao would not have allowed her to be bullied.

With a heart full of fantasies, Song Muyun snuggled into Jiang Yao’s embrace and fell into a deep sleep.

In the blink of an eye, it was dawn. After a dreamless night, Jiang Yao woke up a bit earlier. When she awoke, her Little Ancestor⁸ was still asleep in her arms, pinning down one of her arms. Her cheeks were soft and rosy, her breathing steady. She was sleeping soundly.

In an instant, Jiang Yao’s heart softened uncontrollably. She did not get up, but shifted her body, moving over a little to completely envelop Song Muyun in her embrace. She said nothing, but her actions were fiercely gentle.

Bit by bit, she gathered Song Muyun close, delicately licking and kissing her long, beautiful neck. She only stopped when the person she was licking became aware and let out a soft whimper.

She lay with her for a good while, only reluctantly waking Song Muyun when the servants from the main courtyard came to hurry them.

The young woman had practiced with the dagger for a whole day yesterday and was also extremely tired. When Jiang Yao woke her, she was still unwilling to get out of bed.

It was not until Jiang Yao said the Hundred Flowers Banquet was about to begin.

Hearing the words “Hundred Flowers Banquet,” her eyes flew open as she remembered what she had to do today.

The young woman hugged the quilt, her eyes misty, but she still sat up obediently. Jiang Yao scooped her up by the waist and carried her behind the screen to change her clothes.

As she had requested, Jiang Yao chose a dark cyan long dress for her.

Feeling the supple fabric of the dress, she suddenly smiled. “I seem to recall you once said this color makes one look a bit old.”

Song Muyun also smiled as she touched the dress, her voice as gentle as water. “Did I? But looking at it now, it is quite nice. Do I not look good in it?”

She raised a pair of sparkling, beautiful eyes to look at Jiang Yao.

The emotion in her eyes was enough to bewitch the soul and snatch the spirit⁹. Jiang Yao almost lost control.

It took her a long while to come to her senses. She coughed lightly and lowered her head, not daring to look at her, but her voice was tinged with helplessness. “You look good. As long as you are the one wearing it, of course you look good.”

Whether it was romantic love at work, Jiang Yao felt that Song Muyun was the most beautiful woman she had ever seen in her life, even more beautiful than the cousin she had once favored most in her heart.

Although Song Muyun’s face was shy, she actually loved hearing her say sweet words and honeyed phrases¹⁰. Her mood was always excellent after hearing them.

Her eyes shone brightly as she looked at Jiang Yao.

Jiang Yao raised a hand and ruffled her head. “My Yun’er is truly a great beauty.”

She could only take advantage of this moment, before her hair was put up in a bun¹¹, to touch Song Muyun’s smooth, soft hair. In a little while, she would not be able to touch it, or she would be scolded.

A maidservant styled a simple hair bun for Song Muyun. Jiang Yao picked a magnolia hairpin from the dressing case and handed it to her. “Wear this today?”

Song Muyun shook her head and took out the most inconspicuous wooden hairpin from inside, placing it in her hair.

Jiang Yao frowned. “You are being too plain.”

Song Muyun only said, “I do not wish to wear anything too valuable today. I just want to be simple.”

“Alright then. Do you want to wear the earrings I gave you?”

Jiang Yao picked up the pair of small pearl earrings. She felt they were not very conspicuous and quite plain, but she was rejected again. “No. We are only going to the palace. Anything will do.”

She chose not to wear earrings, appearing in her plain attire outside the Jiang Residence and greeting Madam Jiang obediently.

Madam Jiang stared at her again and again, finally pulling Jiang Yao aside to ask in a low voice if she had run out of silver money.

Jiang Yao looked baffled. “No, I have not. The shops you gave me are doing very well.”

Madam Jiang did not believe her, frowning as she asked again, “Really?”

“Of course. Why would I lie to you? You know me. If I were out of money, I would have asked you for some long ago.”

Liang Qingyin paused, thinking, That is true. If this daughter of mine were out of silver money, she would have asked me for it long ago. Why would she wait for me to ask?

But…

“Then why is your wife dressed so simply? Did you not buy her any jewelry?”

Look how plain she was. Even the maids wore more jewelry than her.

Madam Jiang looked her over again and then retracted her gaze, completely unaware that her term of address for Song Muyun had already followed Jiang Yao’s lead.

Jiang Yao said, “I bought her some. She just does not like to wear it. She looks quite good plain like this, too.”

She genuinely thought she looked good. Muyun looked good no matter what.

She turned her head and met Muyun’s sparkling eyes. She curved her lips into a faint smile, and Jiang Yao could not help but grin foolishly back.

Madam Jiang simply could not bear to look. She slapped Jiang Yao on the back, her tone utterly helpless. “Forget it, forget it. Do as you please. Hurry back now.”

She herself went to Jiang Heng’s side. The two exchanged a smile, as in love as they were many years ago.

The Jiang family’s carriage slowly made its way towards the Imperial Palace. Song Muyun’s expression changed from a charming smile at the beginning to a somewhat silent and cold demeanor later on. Only when Jiang Yao looked down at her would the gentle color return to her face.

It was not that Jiang Yao did not notice the change in the woman’s mood beside her, but she assumed Muyun simply detested the Imperial Palace. After all… this place held not a single beautiful memory for her.

She could not persuade Muyun to be happy, so she could only reach out and wrap an arm around her, using the warmth of her palm to tell her that she was here for everything.

The Hundred Flowers Banquet was hosted by the Empress.

Ever since Jiang Yao discovered that Murong Ci was a woman, she and the Empress had become somewhat acquainted.

This was evident when the Empress called Jiang Yao forward to speak as soon as she arrived, praising her with a gentle expression for a whole basketful of qualities, leaving the noble ladies of the capital staring in a daze. How had they never discovered that Jiang Yao possessed so many wonderful qualities?

Was she not very fierce, completely lacking the demeanor of a lady from a noble family?

Jiang Yao was still dizzy from the praise when she returned, and the next second, Song Muyun was called up.

The Empress pressed a handkerchief to the corner of her eye, her face full of pity. “You poor thing. To be born so beautiful… the First Prince and the Seventh Prince are truly wicked.”

She then said many more pitying words. Song Muyun, however, behaved in a way that was neither servile nor overbearing¹², merely lowering her head and accepting it in silence.

In my past life, she thought, the Empress was discovered for poisoning Murong Qing, thrown into the Cold Palace by the Emperor, and in the end, it seems she accidentally fell into a well and died…

In this life, Murong Ci did not die, and neither did I. So this is what the Empress is like.

Even after receiving a great deal of praise, Song Muyun did not become arrogant. Her expression remained as usual. After kneeling and performing a salute, she stood up again and walked back towards Jiang Yao.

Jiang Yao’s expression was gentle. Before she had even arrived, she had already extended a hand, waiting to receive her.

Song Muyun’s eyes held a smile as she placed her own hand into that strong palm.

The last to be called up was also a member of the Jiang family.

Jiang Ru’s every step was exquisitely graceful. She walked at an unhurried pace, her step-shake hairpin¹³ swaying with each step, but not by much. It was clear she was a girl with a very calm mind. When she reached the center of the hall, a faint smile appeared on her face as she stepped forward to salute. “Your female subject¹⁴ pays her respects to the Empress.”

“This must be Ru’er, yes?”

Facing Jiang Ru, the Empress’s smile became even more affectionate. Forgetting the rules, she beckoned with her hand. “Quick, come up and let this one have a look at you. Truly a striking beauty, and your etiquette is excellent. I hear from Ci’er that you love to read?”

Jiang Ru had thought that, like her two older cousins, she would just go up, receive some praise, and return. She had not expected the Empress to call her closer for questioning.

Her face tensed for a moment, but she managed to remain composed. She quickly calmed down and walked forward step by step. Only when she was near did she salute and answer in a low voice, “Your female subject enjoys reading in her spare time. I have made a fool of myself before Your Majesty.”

The Empress shook her head, smiling with great kindness. “How could it be making a fool of yourself? You love to read, that is a good thing. Ci’er also loves to read. If you have a mind to enter the academy, perhaps you could even be a classmate¹⁵ of hers.”

“It would be your female subject’s honor.”

The Empress then asked Jiang Ru what book she was currently reading. Upon hearing the title, she became even more pleased, saying that Murong Ci was also reading that very book recently.

Jiang Yao could see that the Empress was quite fond of Jiang Ru and nodded in reassurance. But when she looked around, her father and her Second Uncle had expressions uglier than the last.

Her mother was doing better, even pouring a cup of tea for her Second Aunt, but her Second Aunt did not drink it, her face filled with worry.

Not understanding why, Jiang Yao leaned in and asked, “Father, why do you look unhappy?”

Her father was indeed unhappy. He turned his head and glared at Jiang Yao. “Should I be happy?”

“Why should you not be? Our cousin has gained the Empress’s admiration. This is a good thing.”

“Heh. If it were truly just admiration, that would be one thing. I am afraid the Empress wants your cousin to be the Eighth Prince’s Consort!”

Jiang Yao was completely stunned. It took her a long moment to come to her senses, and she subconsciously retorted, “How could that be? You must have misunderstood. Ru’er and the Eighth Prince are just ordinary friends!”

The Eighth Prince is a woman.

If she had not known the Eighth Prince was a woman, she would not have so readily allowed her cousin to interact with her so frequently.

“You are talking nonsense! If they were just ordinary friends, why would the Eighth Prince so often mention Ru’er to the Empress? Did you not hear? The Empress knows everything!”

Jiang Yao thought about it. That is right, what is going on?

But Murong Ci is a woman. She… should not like women, right?

At this moment, Jiang Yao completely forgot about her own far-and-wide reputation for rubbing mirrors¹⁶, only thinking that others probably would not. She does not look like she is into rubbing mirrors.

She asked uneasily, “Could it be that you have all misunderstood? The Eighth Prince does not seem like that kind of person.”

The Prime Minister could not be bothered to speak with her, but in the end, he was too angry not to. He turned and glared at her. “You may know a person’s face, but not their heart¹⁷. How many times must I tell you this?”

“Oh, oh.”

Jiang Yao shrank her neck and did not dare to speak again, turning back to hug Song Muyun aggrievedly¹⁸.

Song Muyun softly soothed her, gradually calming Jiang Yao’s “wronged” spirit. She soon bent her head to kiss Song Muyun, then took her cold hand and warmed it as she always did.

The banquet continued. As the wealthiest place in the Great Jin Nation, the Imperial Palace naturally had many rare flower species to admire. Pot after pot of different varieties were brought out, enough to open one’s eyes wide.

Even Jiang Yao, who had no interest in flowers and plants, could not help but stare.

Song Muyun watched with her, but her mind was not on the flowers at all. Just as she was thinking of an excuse to leave, the Eighth Prince, Murong Ci, appeared from somewhere.

She was smiling and talking to Jiang Ru.

Seeing this, Song Muyun tugged on Jiang Yao’s sleeve. “Jiang Yao, the Eighth Prince is here. Is she looking for you?”

Jiang Yao looked over and saw Murong Ci talking with Ru’er.

Before, she would not have sensed anything wrong, but with her father and Second Uncle’s family’s worries fresh in her mind, Jiang Yao finally began to feel that something was amiss.

Just as Jiang Zhi’s eyes were about to bulge out of his head with fire, she called out to Murong Ci.

“Your Eighth Highness, are you looking for me?”

Murong Ci looked up, smiled gently, nodded to Jiang Ru, and then walked towards Jiang Yao.

“Have you been feeling gratified these past few days?” she asked, alluding to Murong Qing and Murong Chun being locked up.

Although it was rather undignified, Jiang Yao still nodded honestly. The people she cared about most, the ones who might have killed her whole family in the future, had fallen. How could she not be gratified?

“And you? Have you been well?”

“Naturally. Oh, right, it seems your younger cousin’s birthday is approaching. Will the Jiang family be holding a birthday banquet for her?”

Just as Jiang Yao was about to speak, she suddenly remembered her father saying that the Empress wanted Ru’er to be the Eighth Prince’s Consort, and that Murong Ci often mentioned Ru’er to the Empress.

In that instant, a shiver ran down Jiang Yao’s spine. She sat up straight and frowned. “We will. But why do you ask?”

Murong Ci smiled faintly. “Ru’er and I have known each other for a long time. Might I be thick-skinned enough to ask for an invitation card¹⁹?”

Jiang Yao was dumbfounded.

This is truly being thick-skinned, she thought.

Who asks for an invitation card on their own initiative?

And for a girl’s birthday banquet, what is a man, at least on the surface, going for?!

Jiang Heng was pretending to admire the flowers, but in reality, his ears were pricked up, waiting for Jiang Yao’s reply.

This generation of the Jiang family had more daughters than sons, but that did not mean the daughters were not doted on. Marriage was the most important event in a woman’s life. The Jiang family’s lineage was thin, so Jiang Heng and Jiang Zhi paid extra attention to the marriage of each of their children.

Before having a deep conversation with Murong Ci, Jiang Yao could not be sure of her intentions, so she had to grit her teeth and refuse. “The invitation cards are not with me, but with my Second Aunt. Even I have to ask her for one.”

That reply was acceptable. Jiang Heng nodded in satisfaction.

Murong Ci’s smile faded slightly. Her mother was not favored by the Emperor, which had led her to learn how to observe words and watch expressions and understand people’s hearts from a young age.

She sensed the sudden wariness that had risen in Jiang Yao. Had she said something wrong just now?

While she hesitated, Song Muyun’s voice sounded first.

She saw that the time was about right; she had already sent the Shadow Guard out.

Murong Qing and Murong Chun were in the palace right now, spending their last few days with their mothers. This was her only chance. She could not miss it.

Song Muyun took Jiang Yao’s hand, her voice gentle. A flash of nervousness crossed her face as she tried to appear calm, calling out, “Jiang Yao.”

Jiang Yao immediately looked down. The young woman tugged her hand, and she leaned in understandingly to listen to her.

Song Muyun did not want Murong Ci to hear what she was about to say. She was practically pressed against Jiang Yao’s ear, her breath like an orchid²⁰, as she whispered, “I need to go to the toilet. You stay here and chat with the Eighth Prince. I will be right back, alright?”

Jiang Yao frowned upon hearing this and subconsciously refused. “No. You are not familiar with the palace. I will go with you.”

“You do not need to accompany me. I can go by myself. You should keep the Eighth Prince company.”

She had never been so gentle and polite to the Eighth Prince before. The Eighth Prince was practically overwhelmed by the favor and quickly waved her hands. “No, no, if you have something to attend to, you do not need to mind me.”

She could just find Jiang Yao another day. It was no trouble.

How could Song Muyun, having finally found an opportunity, let Murong Ci refuse? Her voice grew a little firmer, and she knitted her willow-like brows. “How can we do that? It is not a major issue. You two can continue chatting. I am not a child; I will not get lost in the palace. You do not need to worry about me. I will go and come back right away.”

Song Muyun said it again and again, her meaning clear. Jiang Yao frowned. Though she did not understand, she still agreed, only rubbing that soft, snow-white hand and asking softly, “Are your people with you?”

She was referring to the highly skilled Shadow Guards.

Song Muyun nodded affirmatively. “Yes, they are with me. You do not need to mind me. Keep the Eighth Prince company. I will go and come back right away.”

With that, Song Muyun lifted the hem of her dark cyan skirt and went out. She already had an excuse ready in her mind: if she returned late, she would tell Jiang Yao she got lost and had a hard time finding her way back. Jiang Yao would definitely not blame her.

Thanks to the good fortune of that her, she also knew that she could be pampered, that she would not be blamed.

Song Muyun’s eyes softened for a moment. But as she walked out of the flower appreciation banquet, her expression quickly turned cold again, her body exuding a faint killing intent. She avoided the palace staff and went alone to the outside of the Cold Palace…

Murong Ci was a prince, after all, and had always been on good terms with the Jiang family, so Jiang Yao would not neglect her. Once Song Muyun’s figure disappeared from her line of sight, she began to chat idly with Murong Ci.

Murong Ci mentioned that there seemed to be fighting at the borderlands²¹. The barbarian tribes²² had invaded several times, harassing the people at the border, but they would retreat after raiding, which seemed more like a provocation. The Imperial Court²³ was still deciding whether to go to war directly.

“If we really go to war, will you go?”

“Mm. If war breaks out, I will go. I have to earn some military merit²⁴ to support my family.”

Thinking of the extremely difficult-to-raise, delicate person at home, Jiang Yao could not help but smile faintly. Then she heard Murong Ci ask, “If you go, what will Miss Song do?”

The borderlands were harsh and cold. Would she be willing to take Miss Song there?

As expected, Jiang Yao answered without hesitation, “Naturally, she will stay in the capital. The capital is prosperous and has a pleasant climate, perfect for raising a young lady. I will come back for her when the war is over.”

She truly seemed to think so. When she mentioned Song Muyun, her eyes softened with a gentle smile.

Murong Ci raised an eyebrow after hearing this and asked her, “Have you discussed it with her?”

“No. There is no need to.”

She considered it a very normal thing. Who goes to march and fight a war with their wife by their side? Would that not just make one’s wife suffer from anxiety and fear?

She could not bear to do that.

Murong Ci had wanted to ask if Song Muyun would be unwilling to stay in the capital alone, but when she looked up and saw Jiang Yao’s confident expression, she swallowed her words. Forget it, let her tell her herself. Whether she is willing or not is a matter for the little wife-wife couple.

The two chatted for a while longer. Seeing that the topic had successfully shifted away from Jiang Ru, Jiang Yao finally breathed a sigh of relief. Her hand habitually reached to her side, but this time it found nothing. She froze, then came to her senses. “Why has Muyun not returned yet?”

Murong Ci also felt she had been gone for a while. “Could she have gotten lost in the palace? Shall I send someone to look for her?”

“No need. I will go look for her. Please excuse me.”

Knowing how nervous she was about the young lady from the Song family, always pampering her like a treasure, Murong Ci nodded. “Mm, go quickly and come back quickly. If you need anything, send someone to call me.”

Jiang Yao did not say yes or no. She informed Jiang Heng and Madam Jiang and then left.

In the Cold Palace, Murong Qing finally saw the person he had been thinking of day and night. It had taken him a long time, but he still could not accept the fact that Song Muyun was about to belong to someone else.

He never expected that just when he thought he could never have her in his life, she would take the initiative to invite him for a meeting.

In fact, at first, Murong Qing was not sure if the paper slip was really written by Song Muyun. He admired Song Muyun’s beauty and her talent and knowledge, but he had rarely seen her handwriting. However, he did not want to miss this opportunity. What if it was real?

Murong Qing stood by a dry well²⁵ in the Cold Palace, his smile growing more wicked and unrestrained, the joy in his heart impossible to contain. “I never thought you would one day invite me to a meeting.”

He walked impatiently towards Song Muyun, saying as he went, “What, is that Jiang Yao unable to satisfy—ugh!”

He could not speak another word. A sharp pain shot through him. Murong Qing’s eyes widened in an instant. He slowly looked down, staring in disbelief at the dagger piercing his chest. Following the trembling hand that held it, he met Song Muyun’s eyes, which were filled with hatred.

So… she had summoned him here to kill him.

---

The author has something to say:

Every time I want to update early, something gets in my way! The shower head at home stopped working, and my little sister asked me to fix it. She actually asked me to fix it!!! I worked on it for a good while before I could get the water running QAQ

---

---