Forbidden to Bully the Storybook’s Heroine – Chapter 81

Waking Up

In Hengwu Courtyard, after seeing the Residence Physician out, Jiang Yao frowned at Song Muyun on the bed. Sima Jushan¹ also watched cautiously, saying hurriedly, “This wasn’t my doing! She wasn’t unconscious when I tried to stop her!”

Jiang Yao shot Sima Jushan a sideways glance, nearly gnashing her teeth. “What were you stopping her for? Do you want me to beat you up?”

“It’s because I heard the news about you being a mirror-rubber² as soon as I entered the capital! They said you liked this woman, so I just wanted to see what it was about her that you liked. I didn’t expect her to be so fragile…”

Sima Jushan’s voice grew less confident as he spoke. He didn’t know the inside story and thought Song Muyun’s fainting was really his fault. His eyes darted to the sky and the ground—anywhere but at Jiang Yao.

Jiang Yao sneered. “Who I like is none of your damn business. Don’t be nosy.”

At her words, Sima Jushan nearly jumped to his feet. “You! Jiang Yao, are you disowning me now? My father is your Master³! A master for a day is a father for life. That makes me half an older brother to you. You dare try to disown me?”

Jiang Yao rolled her eyes. “You’re only a month older than me. Don’t flatter yourself.”

“A month older is still older! A day older is still older!” Sima Jushan argued righteously.

“I can’t be bothered with you. When is Master coming back?” Jiang Yao asked.

Sima Jushan hesitated. “In a few days, I think. Soon, soon. I just came back early on my own.”

“Which border has been stabilized?”

“Hmph, with our dynasty’s Great General on the move, it was only natural. He beat them into submission long ago.” Sima Jushan was carefree and sloppy as he tossed a piece of golden-yellow pastry into his mouth.

Jiang Yao’s expression instantly turned cold. “Who gave you permission to eat my things?”

Sima Jushan: ???

He looked left and right but couldn’t see anything special about the pastry. Why couldn’t he eat it?

“What’s wrong with having a bite? Your little lady has fainted. It won’t taste good by the time she wakes up. I’m helping her eat it.”

…

“Who asked you to eat it for her? She’ll be awake in a moment. Put it down!”

Muyun hasn’t had pea flour cake⁴ in a long time. She’ll be craving it later. Jiang Yao always liked to have everything arranged perfectly for her.

Just then, a weak whimper came from the bed. Jiang Yao was instantly on alert. She kicked Sima Jushan. “Get out, quick! Don’t let her see you and get the wrong idea.”

Sima Jushan was shoved out, completely bewildered. It was only when he was in the courtyard that he started stomping his feet in frustration. What the hell? Doesn’t Jiang Yao like women? What’s there to misunderstand?

Inside, Jiang Yao sat on the edge of the bed, wanting to be the first thing Yun’er saw when she woke up.

Song Muyun’s head stirred on the pillow, a weak moan escaping her throat. After a long moment, she finally opened her eyes groggily. The instant she saw Jiang Yao, a light sparked in her eyes.

Her voice was faint as she called out, “Jiang Yao… what happened to me?”

Jiang Yao lovingly stroked her sweetheart’s sweat-dampened cheek, wiping away the moisture bit by bit. “You were startled by a friend of mine,” she said gently. “You fainted in my arms just now. Don’t you remember?”

Song Muyun furrowed her brow, trying to recall. In the end, her expression was blank.

She forgot?

Jiang Yao raised an eyebrow. “This is the sugar figurine⁵ you asked me to buy for you. Remember?”

At the sight of the sugar figurine, Song Muyun’s spirits suddenly lifted, and she sat up a little. But a moment later, her mood fell again. She looked uncertain, muttering, “Was it me who asked you to buy it? Why do I feel like it was someone else?”

Jiang Yao stiffened. My darling is pretty sharp, she thought.

She cleared her throat, patting Song Muyun’s head again before pulling her into an embrace. “It was you,” she said firmly. “If you hadn’t asked me to buy it, why would I have? Come on, eat it. Don’t you love sweets?”

Jiang Yao held her, coaxing. Song Muyun frowned. “I remember… I asked you to buy a sugar figurine, but… that doesn’t feel like it was me.”

…

Holy shit, if my wife finds out I’ve been spending all day and night with another person, is she going to kill me? Even though that was also her, it was another her. Knowing how my wife loves to eat vinegar⁶, she’s bound to throw a fit.

Jiang Yao’s heart was like dead ash. The hand holding the sugar figurine was frozen in mid-air. In the next second, Muyun suddenly stretched her neck and snatched the figurine with her mouth. Holding it there, she leaned her whole head against Jiang Yao and said softly, “I don’t want to think about it. I have no energy, and my mind is a mess. Will you stay and keep me company?”

Jiang Yao silently breathed a sigh of relief and nodded quickly. “Yes, yes, of course. I’ll stay with you. You rest for a bit. Do you want some pea flour cake?”

Song Muyun’s grip on Jiang Yao’s hand tightened, her eyes filled with anticipation. “Is there any?”

“I bought some for you. You forgot.”

She picked up the slightly cool pastry from the table by the bed. The pastry was delicious warm, but it had a different texture when it was cool. Song Muyun vaguely remembered going with her to buy pastries. That was her, but it also didn’t feel like her.

They were clearly the same person, yet when she recalled those moments, a strange sense of jealousy welled up for no reason.

She was jealous of herself. This was absurd.

Song Muyun bit her lip and lowered her head, not daring to say it out loud. Who on earth would eat their own vinegar?

Jiang Yao was busy wondering if Muyun knew something and didn’t notice these details. She just held her, gently stroking her back and shoulders.

Muyun seemed a little unhappy. Just as she was thinking of how to cheer her up, a certain big fool outside started shouting at the top of his lungs, “Jiang Yao, is she awake yet? You two don’t even like men, so what’s the problem with me being inside? What is it! It’s so boring out here. Let me in, I want to come in!”

The door to the room was open, but since Jiang Yao had told him to get out, he didn’t dare come in now.

Hearing the voice, Song Muyun looked at Jiang Yao with a blank expression. “The Young Master outside… who is he? I don’t think I know him.”

Her pale, jade-like hand, which had been hidden under the blanket, snuck out to tug on the corner of Jiang Yao’s clothes.

She should know everyone around Jiang Yao.

Why was this person’s tone so familiar with Jiang Yao, yet she didn’t recognize him?

“He’s the one who accidentally startled you. I told him to wait outside. When you’re feeling a bit better, I’ll have him apologize to you, alright?”

Song Muyun’s connection to some of her memories was not very deep. They were things that had happened to her, yet she didn’t feel like she was the one who had done them. It was as if… it was another soul.

This feeling was so strange.

Including fainting, and that stranger who appeared out of nowhere and said all those inexplicable things to her…

Oh, those words were quite infuriating.

What does he mean, ‘this is Jiang Yao’s taste?’ Am I not good enough?

At this thought, the young woman felt a little aggrieved. She burrowed into Jiang Yao’s embrace, nuzzling against her chest, and said in a soft, awkward voice, “Jiang Yao, I don’t like him. Don’t let him come in, okay?”

After saying that, perhaps afraid Jiang Yao would think she was being unreasonable, she quickly added, “He said on the street that your taste was bad…”

Her pouting and pitifully aggrieved expression made Jiang Yao’s heart melt.

Jiang Yao stroked Song Muyun’s soft head and frowned, taking her side. “That idiot’s brain really isn’t working right. All he does is talk nonsense. Being able to meet my little Yun’er was clearly my discerning eye recognizing a pearl⁷. I had a stroke of good luck. It’s alright, if you don’t want to see him, we won’t. I’ll go tell him to scram.”

With that, Jiang Yao stood up, her face cold, almost reaching for the whip at her waist. Her waist was slender, so carrying a flexible sword⁸ and a whip was no problem. Usually, she drew her sword to kill and her whip to beat people—exceptionally convenient.

When Jiang Yao walked outside with her arms crossed, Sima Jushan was having a rather comfortable time with a pastry in one hand and a teacup in the other. His eyes lit up when he saw her, and he called out loudly, “Jiang Yao!”

“Hah, what are you yelling for? My wife doesn’t want to see you. You can go back now.”

Sima Jushan: ???

“Why doesn’t she want to see me? We’re practically brother and sister! Since she loves you, shouldn’t she come and meet me, her big brother?” The young man flicked his neat ponytail, clearly thinking highly of himself.

Jiang Yao shot him an even more disgusted look. “What kind of big brother are you? Scram, and don’t make this old mother⁹ say it a second time, or I’ll beat you out of here.”

Jiang Yao’s ferocity was no less than it had been in the past. Sima Jushan’s hands trembled with anger. “You—you treat me like this! Does my Godfather¹⁰ know about this?”

His Godfather was the current Prime Minister, Jiang Yao’s own father. It was worth mentioning that he had unilaterally claimed this title for himself, just to have leverage over Jiang Yao and be her rightful big brother. The Prime Minister had never acknowledged it.

“Who’s your Godfather? If you want to tattle, then hurry up and go. Stop bothering me here.”

With that, Jiang Yao slammed the door shut with a bang, utterly cold and ruthless. Sima Jushan was so furious he started cursing in the street, but soon Jiang Yao opened the door and personally “saw” him out.

“Alright, he’s gone now. No one can bother you anymore. Don’t be angry, don’t be angry.”

She couldn’t bear to see Muyun looking wronged. It had always been this way. The moment Muyun was wronged, she felt that everyone else was at fault.

The young woman was currently nestled in Jiang Yao’s arms. Hearing her words, she secretly lifted her head and kissed Jiang Yao. After the first kiss, she felt it wasn’t enough and clung to Jiang Yao’s shoulders, kissing her again and again. Her voice was thick and sticky as she asked, “Do you think I have a bad temper?”

Jiang Yao made a questioning sound, disagreeing. “How is your temper bad? Isn’t it just right? It suits my heart’s desire perfectly.”

Her words became even sweeter as she pressed her cheek against Song Muyun’s slightly cool one, coaxing her.

Song Muyun’s cheeks were crimson as she obediently curled up in her arms. “The Young Master just now mentioned a ‘Godfather.’ Who is his Godfather?”

“Godfather? That’s my father. He just calls him that himself. My dad has no intention of getting another good big son¹¹.”

“Oh.” Song Muyun nodded in understanding. Then she asked, “Then who is he? Why haven’t I seen him before?”

Although the young woman tried her best to act casual, Jiang Yao still picked up on something and suddenly let out a soft laugh. “You want to know? He’s my Master’s son, Sima Jushan. You might have heard of my Master; he’s the dynasty’s Great General. My aptitude for martial arts was better than his son’s, so he took me in as his disciple.”

“Oh, so you’ve known each other since you were children?” Song Muyun probed secretly.

“Mhm, we met quite early. But in my eyes, he’s too stupid. Don’t worry, I’m not interested in someone so stupid.” Jiang Yao swore solemnly, wanting her darling to have a little more confidence in herself and not eat flying vinegar over some irrelevant person. Eating too much vinegar was bad for one’s health.

But it seemed she had said the wrong thing again, because the young woman’s lips soon turned down into a pout as she looked at her, aggrievedly pitiful. Her mood plummeted, and her voice grew soft, like a murmur. “But you used to say I was stupid too…”

Jiang Yao: …

“What do you mean, stupid? You’re not stupid at all. I say he’s stupid because he really is stupid. When I say you’re stupid, that’s just a bit of flavor between us wife-wife, a joke. Your reputation is so good, with poetry and prose¹² at your fingertips. If you’re still considered stupid, then what does that make me?”

Any bad feelings Song Muyun had been accumulating were immediately chased away by Jiang Yao. Suddenly being praised, she felt a little shy and snuggled deeper into Jiang Yao’s embrace.

Jiang Yao only found her wife adorable. Stroking the soft hair at the back of her head, her heart finally settled.

She had learned how tragic little Yun’er’s predetermined fate was, and she was suddenly grateful—grateful that she had arrived early enough, that she hadn’t let Yun’er suffer so much.

I hope the Yun’er from the predetermined timeline can also reincarnate into a good family and live a life of being cherished from now on. Jiang Yao thought this in her heart, holding Song Muyun even tighter.

Song Muyun looked up at her from her embrace and suddenly said, “Jiang Yao, it feels like you haven’t kissed me in a long time. Will you kiss me?”

Jiang Yao smiled and leaned in, obediently pressing a kiss to her soft lips. Finding the taste wonderful, she began to kiss her lingeringly, sometimes licking with her tongue, sometimes taking a lip between her own. She loved it so much that after a thorough round of kissing, Song Muyun’s mouth was successfully swollen.

Only then did Jiang Yao let her go. Her hands moved from the back of her head to her slender waist, holding her there. “What do you mean, a long time?” she said with a smile. “Don’t I kiss you all the time?”

Song Muyun rested her head on her shoulder, her voice a little muffled and unhappy. “But I always feel like that wasn’t me. I don’t even remember how it felt when you kissed me then.”

???

Jiang Yao had said the wrong thing again. A shiver ran through her, and she quickly sat up straight. As if to distract her, she pinched Song Muyun’s sharp, somewhat thin chin and planted a kiss on her, a brief touch before pulling away. “Then I’ll just kiss you a few more times now, to make it up to you.”

Before Song Muyun had a chance to speak, she leaned in and kissed her again, silencing all her words.

At first, Song Muyun’s eyes widened in surprise, but soon they slowly closed. She sank into the kiss, accepting it with a mixture of joy and reassurance.

So this is what it feels like to be truly kissed by her.

The young woman gradually lost control of her hands, which unconsciously climbed onto Jiang Yao’s shoulders as she eagerly returned the kiss.

Her hairpins had long been removed. A head of hair as soft and smooth as satin cascaded down, brushing against the back of Jiang Yao’s hand.

Jiang Yao found the taste of a woman to be exquisite, making one reluctant to part.

As they kissed, neither could hold back, and they tumbled onto the couch. Jiang Yao kicked off her brocade boots and lay down, holding Song Muyun.

She sniffed the young woman’s clothes and finally collapsed into her arms, her voice incredibly hoarse. “So fragrant… my Yun’er, you smell so good…”

She didn’t know where she had been teased, but Song Muyun was on the verge of tears. She didn’t know why she wanted to cry so much. Whimpering sounds escaped her throat, like a pitiful little puppy.

Her voice was thick with moisture as she pleaded softly, “Jiang Yao, hold me. Please, hold me.”

In a daze, she felt like it had been a very long time since Jiang Yao had held her.

The woman’s eyes were hazy with moisture as she stared blankly at the canopy above. One of her hands was intertwined with Jiang Yao’s, five fingers interlocked, incredibly intimate. Outside the window, a gentle rain had begun to fall. Jiang Yao’s hearing was exceptional; she could even hear the pitter-patter of the rain on the leaves.

It was truly the most wonderful sound in the world.

After a long while, things quieted down. Jiang Yao leaned over and gathered the woman into her arms, kissing away the tears at the corners of her eyes. Then, she called out, “Prepare water.”

The door was opened. Jiang Yao had already lowered the bed curtains, so the people outside couldn’t see the scene within.

Song Muyun’s body was limp, tingling all over, as Jiang Yao stole another kiss.

The young woman’s body immediately trembled again. A moment later, she burst into tears, pointing a delicate, trembling finger at Jiang Yao. “You—you’re bullying me!”

Jiang Yao’s face was full of satisfaction. She knew, but she wouldn’t admit it. A vibrant smile played on her lips. “How am I bullying you? I’m treating you so well. Is that also considered bullying?”

The young woman scrambled out of her embrace. Her long, trembling legs landed on the bed, and she grabbed the blanket to cover herself, only to find it was wet—almost half of it was soaked through. She threw it aside with a blush.

Out of Jiang Yao’s arms, she had nowhere to go. She could only wrap her arms around her knees, pitifully covering the vast expanse of her snowy-white skin. She let out a soft huff, ignoring Jiang Yao.

Seeing her pitiful appearance, Jiang Yao was filled with affection. Hearing a maidservant announce that the hot water was ready, she opened her arms to Song Muyun. “Do you want me to carry you over for your bath?”

The young woman was sticky and uncomfortable all over. She desperately wanted a bath, but her legs were weak. After a moment’s hesitation, she finally nodded. “Then you’re not allowed to bully me later.”

She always kept her from coming out, it was too much. And she always startled her at that moment, making her… making her come again.

Song Muyun’s thick, shy eyelashes trembled. Soon, she was swept entirely into Jiang Yao’s arms.

Jiang Yao had promised not to bully her, but she was bound to break her word. Her hand had somehow found its way to the woman’s fleshiest, softest little bottom, giving it a discreet squeeze. The shock nearly made Song Muyun jump, but Jiang Yao acted as if nothing had happened, even feigning seriousness. “Your butt is all wet. I’ll have to wash you properly later.”

In the quiet room, besides the sound of the rain, there was only the sound of a woman grinding her teeth in extreme anger.

Who was it that got her butt all wet? Who?!

By the time she was washed and refreshed, Song Muyun no longer had the energy to be angry with Jiang Yao.

In the bathtub, she had been held down and teased by Jiang Yao twice more. She clearly promised she wouldn’t!

Now her waist was sore and her legs were weak. Thankfully, Jiang Yao carried her to and from the bath; otherwise, she definitely wouldn’t have been able to stand.

Jiang Yao ordered someone to change the bedding on the couch, then placed Song Muyun on it and wrapped her snugly in a blanket.

Song Muyun was already growing drowsy. When Jiang Yao had finished everything and slipped into the blanket to hold her, she instantly felt a sense of security and fell into a deep sleep in her arms the next moment.

Jiang Yao’s eyes were filled with tenderness. She moved closer, gathering the woman’s slightly cool body into her embrace, and slept beside her.

They slept until the bright moon was high in the sky. Only a sliver of moonlight filled the room.

When Jiang Yao awoke, Song Muyun was still asleep.

She got up and asked the small kitchen¹³ to prepare some simple food. After standing in the courtyard to feel the night breeze for a while, she returned to find that the young woman who had been sleeping so soundly when she left was now sitting up, her eyes glistening with tears, frantically searching for something in a panic.

Jiang Yao frowned and hurried over.

Hearing the movement, Song Muyun looked at her. A sob immediately escaped her throat, and she opened her arms, waiting for Jiang Yao to pull her into an embrace.

“What’s wrong, what’s wrong? Why are you crying?”

Song Muyun nuzzled against her, her voice full of grievance. “Where… where did you go? I couldn’t find you when I woke up.”

Jiang Yao held her, wiping her tears while explaining, “I didn’t go anywhere. I went to have someone prepare a meal. You slept for so long, aren’t you hungry?”

She rubbed Song Muyun’s soft belly.

Song Muyun carefully considered it, then nodded shyly.

So she was hungry. Jiang Yao lifted her onto her lap and asked, “Which outfit do you want to wear today?”

The person in her arms precisely found the most comfortable spot she was used to lying in, leaning back naturally. Her voice was sweet and obedient, with a hint of laziness. “It’s already night. I’ll just wear something casual. It’s not like we’re going out.”

That was what she thought.

But Jiang Yao shook her head. “We slept for so long. Can you even fall back asleep now?”

Song Muyun checked her feelings again. She was full of energy, not a trace of sleepiness. So she shook her head honestly. “I can’t.”

“There you have it. You eat something to tide you over first, and tonight I’ll take you out to the flower street¹⁴ to have some fun, okay?”

Hearing she could go out and have fun, the young woman’s eyes lit up, and she nodded obediently.

“Then I want to wear the yellow one.”

“Alright, I’ll take you to have a look.”

Jiang Yao effortlessly picked up Song Muyun, who was wearing only a dudou¹⁵, and carried her to the wardrobe to let her choose.

She was no good at choosing. Every month, she had the embroideress make no shortage of clothes for Muyun; there were several yellow outfits alone.

Song Muyun chose an ethereal yellow gauze dress from the wardrobe and, blushing, asked Jiang Yao to put her down.

She didn’t dare change clothes with Jiang Yao.

Jiang Yao… Jiang Yao was the most shameless person.

The woman’s cheeks were as red as the evening clouds as she hastily slipped away.

That smooth, snowy-white slip of a person disappeared from her grasp.

Jiang Yao looked down at her palm and smiled. She went out and sat at the table, arranging the bowls and chopsticks.

By the time Song Muyun came out, her bowl was already filled with many of her favorite dishes.

“Finish this, then have a bowl of soup, and I’ll take you out.”

The soup today had some medicinal herbs added. It was supposed to have been stewing since the afternoon, but she hadn’t expected them to sleep so long, so it was moved to their late-night meal. But it was very nourishing.

“Oh, I know. You eat too.”

She placed a piece of shredded lotus leaf chicken¹⁶ in Jiang Yao’s bowl. For once, Jiang Yao lowered her head and ate properly, chewing slowly just like Song Muyun. It wasn’t until she had finished and put down her chopsticks that Jiang Yao quickly finished the rest. After washing up, she took Song Muyun out.

Standing on the flower street and seeing the lanterns that lit it up like day, Song Muyun’s face was filled with nostalgia. “Why does it feel like you haven’t taken me out in a long time?”

Jiang Yao: !!!

“Hah, has it been? If you like it, I’ll bring you out often from now on,” she coaxed.

Song Muyun glanced at her and reluctantly agreed, then emphasized, “You can’t be someone whose words don’t count.”

Jiang Yao smiled. “Don’t worry, I’m not that kind of person.”

Hearing her say that, the young woman’s face instantly clouded with worry. Her pretty little face scrunched up. She looked at Jiang Yao, then at the bustling, lively flower street. After a moment, she said hesitantly in a small voice, “You… you are that kind of person. If you don’t bring me out, I’ll come out by myself.”

Jiang Yao was about to retort, how am I that kind of person? when she suddenly remembered the absurd events of that afternoon. She fell into a strange silence.

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The author has something to say:

I’m late. I grabbed the wrong barbecue by mistake when I was getting a late-night snack with a friend’s friend. We had to meet up to switch back, otherwise I definitely wouldn’t have been late! This is the revised version, just make do with it.

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