Is It Forbidden to Bully the Heroine of the Novel? - Chapter 22
**Chapter 22**
As someone who had also beaten up Murong Qing, Jiang Yao didn’t speak. Instead, Jiang Heng spoke up, telling Jiang Huai not to discuss royal matters during meals. The Seventh Prince, no matter what, was still a prince, not someone to be discussed casually among subjects.
At home, everyone feared Jiang Heng. As soon as he spoke, Jiang Huai immediately covered his mouth, not saying a word.
During the meal, Jiang Heng asked Jiang Yao, “Do you still remember your younger sister, Ru’er?”
Jiang Yao was momentarily stunned and after a moment of recollection, remembered, “Of course, I remember Ru’er. Is she and Second Uncle coming back?”
Ru’er was Jiang Ru, the only daughter of Jiang’s Second Uncle. A few years ago, she accompanied her Second Uncle to the border. With the border conflicts gradually settling down, the Emperor intended to summon them back.
Jiang Heng nodded, “In these coming days, the Emperor will issue an edict summoning them two back.”
Jiang Yao raised an eyebrow, knowing the Emperor of this dynasty was suspicious. Her father had very high prestige among civil officials, and her Second Uncle held military power at the border, having high prestige among military generals. He was worried about this.
“Ru’er hasn’t been back to the capital for a long time. She might find it uncomfortable. You should take her around when the time comes.”
Jiang Yao assured, “Rest assured, I will definitely take good care of Ru’er.”
Jiang Heng glanced at her, lightly frowned, and after a while suddenly said, “Don’t take her to any questionable places.”
…
Her Mother was serving dishes to her daughter when she heard this and raised her head, casting a reproachful look at Jiang Heng, “What are you saying? How could Yao take Ru’er to bad places? Yao has always been sensible and well-behaved.”
Jiang Mother had a natural fondness for her daughter. No matter how rough and fierce she seemed, in her mother’s eyes, she was just lively.
Jiang Heng looked at Jiang Yao. Seeing her guilty expression as she lowered her head, he helplessly said, “I haven’t seen her being sensible; I only see how she brings trouble to me.”
The Song family’s matter was nothing but trouble.
When he didn’t know about it, he could ignore it. But now that he knew, he couldn’t just let the Song family suffer unjustly. He didn’t want an innocent girl to face humiliation in a place like a brothel.”
Jiang Mother scolded Jiang Heng for always speaking ill of their daughter, rolling her eyes at him and skipping serving him soup.
Jiang Yao silently drank her soup, not getting involved in her parents’ squabble.
After finishing the meal, she walked in the backyard to aid digestion. Jiang Huai quietly approached her, walking by her side, nervously glancing at her.
Jiang Yao couldn’t be bothered with him and walked on at her own pace.
Jiang Huai nudged her arm, “Hey, sis.”
“What?”
Jiang Yao couldn’t care less about him and absentmindedly asked, “What’s the matter?”
“Um, it’s about me going to the Pleasure Pavilion.”
“Tsk, now you’re afraid? Weren’t you arrogant during the day?”
“Oh, my dear sister, I’ve realized it now. Please, please, don’t tell our parents I went to the Pleasure Pavilion, or they’ll definitely punish me!”
In the family hierarchy, Jiang Huai was at the bottom mainly because he had the lowest martial prowess.
If Jiang Yao was to be punished, she’d have already used her light skills to escape, but Jiang Huai couldn’t do that… he had to obediently accept punishment.
“Do you know it’s wrong to go to the Pleasure Pavilion?”
Jiang Yao glanced at him with a sidelong glance.
Jiang Huai murmured softly, “Well, it’s all because of someone named Lin who deceived me. They said the food at Moonrise Pavilion is delicious, and the women playing the zither there are as good as contemporary masters. I just wanted to go and experience it.”
He felt aggrieved thinking about it. He just wanted to have a meal and listen to a woman playing the zither as well as the great masters. What did he do wrong? He was just caught and scolded by his elder sister.
Jiang Yao glanced at his aggrieved and silly look, feeling speechless.
No wonder he got duped by Murong Qing and couldn’t win Song Muyun’s heart. With such dullness, did he deserve it?!
Jiang Yao sighed internally, “In the future, stop associating with that Lin person. They deceive you, and you’re here smiling.”
Is delicious food the only thing there?
Would someone who plays the zither better than the great masters still stay in the Pleasure Pavilion?
Jiang Huai looked bewildered, still wanting to ask what Lin had deceived him about.
Jiang Yao couldn’t be bothered to explain, quickly walked back to the courtyard, and asked him to do whatever he wanted and not bother her.
The next day, she arrived at Moonrise Pavilion as planned, paid silver, and chatted with Song Muyun. She also brought up the matter of the Seventh Prince being beaten up.
Song Muyun seemed somewhat surprised but didn’t suspect Jiang Yao. She simply said, “Perhaps the Seventh Prince offended someone.”
Jiang Yao raised an eyebrow; of course, he offended someone, namely her.
“Don’t worry about irrelevant people. Do you want to read the book?”
Sitting on a rocking chair by the window, Jiang Yao felt the breeze on her face and reached out to Song Muyun.
Song Muyun wouldn’t refuse her, nodded lightly, and was about to get a chair when someone interrupted, “Hey, come here, we can squeeze together. No need to trouble yourself.”
“Squeeze together?”
Song Muyun repeated, seeming a bit puzzled. She looked uncertain until Jiang Yao reached out to pull her, causing her to fall into the chair following Jiang Yao’s force.
Jiang Yao wrapped her arm around Song Muyun’s waist and brought her closer. They were shoulder to shoulder, very close.
“Jiang, Jiang Yao…”
Song Muyun was a bit absent-minded; she hadn’t expected to get squeezed in this way.
Blushing, she turned her head, easily burying it in Jiang Yao’s shoulder.
Hearing her call, Jiang Yao also turned her head, seeing Song Muyun burying her head on her. Puzzled, she asked her, “Feeling sleepy? Shall we not read the book and rest for a while?”
Song Muyun raised a pair of watery eyes, a touch of pink at the corners, appearing shy and timid as she shook her head, “Not sleepy, let’s read.”
“Okay.”
Jiang Yao shifted her hand upwards, hugging Song Muyun’s shoulder and placed the book in front of her. She casually mentioned, “I have something to attend to this afternoon. You wait for me obediently in the room, alright?”
Song Muyun’s gaze was fixed on the book, but her thoughts were following Jiang Yao. She asked subconsciously, “Where are you going?”
Lately, they had been together every day, and she was getting used to having her around.
Beside her floated the fragrant beauty who relied on her greatly. Jiang Yao narrowed her eyes with some delight and explained to her, “Didn’t they say Murong Qing got injured? He has an archery class this afternoon, so I’m going to check on him.”
Actually, she was going to watch a spectacle and clear herself of suspicion at the same time.
Although Murong Qing had gathered many enemies, she was the one with the best martial arts skills among them. It was only natural for her to guide him a bit, making Murong Qing think someone else had hired a highly skilled martial artist to teach him a lesson. After all, he wasn’t likable, and he should realize that himself, right?
Looks like it’s time for some entertainment!