Is It Forbidden to Bully the Heroine of the Novel? - Chapter 31
Chapter 31
Jiang Yao carried a bunch of candied haws to the Moon Market the next day. Following the usual custom, she tossed a silver coin to the old madam and upon hearing that M Yun had not yet risen, she shook her head, refusing the idea of sending someone to call for Song Muyun. Instead, she decided to go to the backyard herself.
The backyard was quiet, occasionally a few people would come out of the houses and upon seeing Jiang Yao, they greeted her warmly. After yesterday’s incident, everyone knew that the daughter of the Prime Minister’s mansion had taken a liking to the daughter of a criminal in their neighborhood. Not only did she visit every day, but even on the days when the girl performed, she would spend a hefty sum to secure her time. This act made all the courtesans and young workers envy her endlessly.
But what of the girl? She seemed much more reliable than the men.
Song Muyun’s room was located a bit further back. Jiang Yao walked over and knocked on the door.
Voices sounded from inside, somewhat hoarse and weak. “Come in.”
Frowning at the sound, Jiang Yao was about to push the door open when, after a few attempts, found that the door was locked from the inside. She had to call out, “MuYun, why is the door locked?”
Upon her question, a sudden commotion ensued inside. First, Song Muyun called out her name, then there was a thud, as if something heavy had fallen.
Jiang Yao’s heart tightened. Her impulsive nature, honed through years of martial arts training, emerged. Without thinking, she kicked the door open and stepped inside.
The inner room was pitch black, no lights were on, and the windows were closed with the curtains drawn. Hurrying past the screen, she strained her eyes to find Song Muyun lying on the floor.
Indeed, she had fallen. Clumsy.
Miss Jiang sighed, approached, pressed down the struggling person attempting to get up, and lifted her into her arms, sitting them both on the bed. Her tone carried a hint of helplessness. “How did you manage to fall getting out of bed? Did you hurt yourself anywhere?”
Even in the midst of the chaos earlier, she hadn’t forgotten to protect the candied haws. Now she stuffed them into Song Muyun’s hand, signaling her to eat.
Outside, the daylight had already flooded in from the moment the door was kicked open.
Song Muyun stared blankly outside, clutching the candied haws tightly, attempting to bury herself entirely in Jiang Yao’s embrace.
Her voice sounded distant, as if not quite present. “So it’s already morning.”
Jiang Yao’s frown deepened. “What’s wrong with you today? Feeling unwell?” She raised her hand to feel Song Muyun’s forehead and discovered that she was sweating coldly.
Song Muyun looked up at her with watery eyes, pitifully, “Jiang Yao…”
But she only called out her name.
Jiang Yao held her in her arms, patting her back one after another to comfort her. “What happened after I left yesterday? Did Rongqing come to see you?” Of all the people who could be troubling Song Muyun right now, she could only think of Rongqing.
Song Muyun, in thin inner clothing, nestled in Jiang Yao’s embrace, trembling slightly, nodded slightly. Her voice carried a hint of timidity and inexplicable fear. “Last night, after Rongqing left, I had a nightmare. I kept having nightmares every time I fell asleep. I’m afraid to sleep…”
Every time in her dreams, Rongqing appeared. He humiliated her, bullied her, and in those dreams… there was no Jiang Yao.
Song Muyun was scared, not by those terrifying torture instruments, but by the absence of Jiang Yao in her dreams.
No one would save her, protect her, or cherish her.
Hearing her talk about nightmares and her fear of sleeping, Jiang Yao held her even tighter, her anger towards Rongqing multiplying. While inwardly cursing him a thousand times, she tried to console Song Muyun. “Don’t be afraid, I’m here. Rongqing won’t dare to bully you. What did he say to you? Did he scare you? Should I go beat him up for you?”
Jiang Yao suggested, she had wanted to beat up Rongqing for a long time!
But as she was about to do so, Song Muyun gently pulled on her sleeve. Lying in her arms, her eyes watery, she seemed wronged but still shook her head. “No, don’t go. He’s still a prince.”
In her dreams, the Seventh Prince wore dragon robes, causing a sense of fear to grow in her heart. She finally realized that the sinister thing was a prince, a prince who could potentially ascend the throne. If he did ascend, and she had been antagonizing him all this while, he wouldn’t spare her.
This person had a narrow mind; he would seek revenge.
Song Muyun, with her delicate figure, shrank into Jiang Yao’s embrace, her eyes slightly teary. Jiang Yao frowned, deeply worried, and asked, “Is it that you always have nightmares as soon as you fall asleep?”
Song Muyun nodded gently, then rested her head on Jiang Yao’s shoulder, sounding somewhat aggrieved. “It’s all pitch black in the dream, I can’t find you. It’s scary, I couldn’t sleep well the whole night.”
Her pitiful expression made Jiang Yao unable to help but feel compassion for her. She gently caressed her back, and touching their foreheads together, she said, “Sorry for not being there for you.”
To comfort her, she took it as her own fault.
Song Muyun shook her head, refuting for her, “You don’t have to apologize, it’s just a dream. It’s me being scared.”
Jiang Yao skipped over this topic and noticed that Song Muyun’s face was pale, her once rosy lips now dry, almost peeling. It made her heart ache. “Don’t be afraid. It’s just a dream, and dreams are always the opposite. What you dream of will never happen. I’ll always be here, never out of your reach.”
Jiang Yao promised, already considering whether to stay by Song Muyun’s side, so that she wouldn’t be bullied by Rongqing when she wasn’t around.
Seeming slightly comforted by Jiang Yao’s words, Song Muyun’s slender body, at least, stopped trembling. Nestled in Jiang Yao’s embrace, her voice remained delicate, fitting her ladylike demeanor. “Mm, then you mustn’t lie to me. You have to stay.”
The woman who was initially aloof surprisingly had moments of clinging like this.
Jiang Yao felt an unusual sense of satisfaction, followed by a sense of guilt. What satisfaction? Couldn’t she see how frightened the other was? She scolded herself silently and continued to comfort her!
Internally criticizing herself, Jiang Yao lowered her head and asked the curled-up Song Muyun in her arms, “Do you want me to accompany you to sleep for a while?”
Before she arrived, Song Muyun curled up in bed, too afraid to sleep, fearing she would fall into a dark nightmare. But now that she was here, some of her fears seemed to have dissipated, as daylight shone in. Drowsiness started to creep in. Song Muyun blinked and snuggled closer to Jiang Yao, “Okay, if you stay with me, I won’t be afraid.”
Jiang Yao shuddered all over and silently held Song Muyun tighter. What she said was so comforting. What did it mean that with her around, she wouldn’t be scared?
Song Muyun had a discerning eye!
Feeling content inside, Jiang Yao removed her outer garment without hesitation, leaving only a red embroidered lily-patterned bellyband, and then gently laid down in the bed, embracing Song Muyun in the process.
Song Muyun was a little bewildered. She didn’t expect Jiang Yao to act so swiftly that she was already tucked in within a few breaths.
After a moment, feeling somewhat embarrassed, Song Muyun lowered her head, burying it into Jiang Yao’s neck. Her warm breath gently brushed against Jiang Yao’s fair skin. Her lips, moist with a hint of warmth, almost touched Jiang Yao’s snow-white neck. Jiang Yao held her, saying, “Just sleep like this. Is it okay? You seem less afraid this way.”
Without much hesitation, Jiang Yao reached out, embracing Song Muyun’s slender waist. She was only wearing a thin inner garment. Jiang Yao carefully tucked her in with the quilt to prevent her from catching a cold. After settling her, Jiang Yao reassured her, “Okay, go to sleep. I’ll stay here watching over you.”