Is It Forbidden to Bully the Heroine of the Novel? - Chapter 41
Chapter 41
Jiang Yao woke up from a dream, wrapped completely by Song Muyun’s long arms and legs. Almost her entire body was hanging onto her, her furry head buried in her chest, softly crying with a sense of fear, pleading to be held, not to be left alone.
It took her about the time of a cup of tea to fully wake up. Jiang Yao heard the person in her arms speaking and her expression became complicated. She said she didn’t want to be held, yet she was asking her to hold her!
Damn it, but she was crying so miserably, and Jiang Yao’s heart softened. Jiang Yao reached out from under the covers and hugged Song Muyun tightly. She must have crawled over from her own bed because her entire body was now outside, and Jiang Yao felt the cold when her hand touched her. Jiang Yao held her while pulling the blanket to cover her.
This action required Song Muyun to first loosen the leg that was entangled under the blanket. Jiang Yao looked down and, with her good eyesight, under a bit of moonlight, she could see the pants entangled at her knees, her legs fair as jade, tightly wrapped around her.
“Loosen up first, then we can talk inside the blanket.”
Her voice was still hoarse from just waking up, as she tugged at Song Muyun’s leg. But instead of loosening it, it became tighter. Jiang Yao frowned and called, “Muyun?”
The person in her arms made a muffled response, the sound of crying still evident.
“What did you dream about to be this scared?” She didn’t even try to loosen her.
“Same as a few days ago, I was so scared.”
“Didn’t you say you wouldn’t have nightmares when I’m around?”
“I’m scared if you’re not holding me.”
She cuddled closer in Jiang Yao’s embrace, her voice soft and teary.
Jiang Yao was speechless for a moment. “But yesterday, you didn’t want me to hold you.”
Song Muyun’s body tensed but she didn’t speak. Instead, she hugged Jiang Yao even tighter, obviously regretting her previous actions.
She felt ashamed of her behavior. She had already decided not to tarnish Jiang Yao’s reputation, not to repay kindness with enmity, but she couldn’t help herself. When Jiang Yao treated her coldly, it hurt her just like a knife.
“Just a brief hug is enough, I don’t expect—”
Song Muyun’s eyes were misty, wetting Jiang Yao’s chest.
Jiang Yao was awakened in the middle of the night and was a bit tired. However, when the wetness penetrated her thin clothes, coldness ran through her body, instantly dispelling her drowsiness and leaving only tension.
“What, what are you doing? You didn’t say I couldn’t hold you. What do you mean by ‘expect’ or ‘not expect’? Just hug, as many times as you want, is that not enough for you?”
After saying this, she touched Song Muyun’s back and the legs that were tightly entwined. With no other choice, she said, “At least come inside. If you stay outside, you might catch a cold.”
Song Muyun murmured softly, still sniffing, like a kitten scratching at Jiang Yao’s heart, “Then you’re not allowed to chase me out.”
Jiang Yao: …
What was she dreaming about? When did she ever chase her out? Wasn’t she the one who was always being driven away?
Jiang Yao wanted to argue for herself, but seeing Song Muyun trembling in the cold, she agreed first. She just wanted to bring her inside. “Alright, alright, I won’t chase you. First, loosen your legs so I can cover you with the blanket.”
After receiving the promise, Song Muyun slowly removed her legs from around Jiang Yao’s waist. Her long black hair scattered casually behind her, covering the bed, then she looked up at Jiang Yao with a pair of pitiful and moist eyes, as if saying, ‘You promised not to throw me out when I relax.’
Jiang Yao was not that kind of person. Seeing Song Muyun loosening her legs, she quickly pulled the blanket to wrap her up.
The warm and fragrant smell lingered around Song Muyun’s nose. She hugged Jiang Yao even tighter, her legs immediately entwining around Jiang Yao’s again, and she nestled her head against her chest.
“What exactly did you dream about? Were they all the same as before?” Jiang Yao asked as she gently rubbed her back.
Song Muyun heard her question, her eyes teary, and shook her head. “There’s… a slight difference.”
“What’s different?”
Jiang Yao asked softly, as if afraid of scaring her.
“I dreamt that you had better friends and didn’t come to Yue Shang Fang anymore. When I went to the Jiang residence to find you, you ordered people to drive me out.”
This was the real place that frightened and aggrieved her. In the pitch-black room, she wasn’t scared awake by being whipped, but by Jiang Yao’s cold and heartless command to drive her away. She was only trying to protect Jiang Yao’s reputation, not to let anyone slander her. That’s why she didn’t want Jiang Yao to hold her, but she didn’t expect Jiang Yao to make friends with others, and she never expected that Jiang Yao would treat her like a stranger one day.
Fortunately, it was just a dream. Now that she was awake, Jiang Yao was still as caring and kind as usual.
Tears filled Song Muyun’s eyes.
Jiang Yao was speechless for a while. Finally, she said, “During the time you’ve known me, have you seen me making friends? And driving you out, it’s impossible even if you heard it. Why would you believe that? Why be scared like this?”
She thought the little fairy was somewhat silly.
Song Muyun didn’t look up and only spoke with her pitiful voice, “But in my dream, you were very mean to me. I was terrified.”
To be scared like this by a nightmare was rare among women. But what could Jiang Yao do? She could only soothe her; this person would burst into tears at the slightest provocation, pitiful to the extreme. Her friends in the military camps used to say she was tough-mouthed but tender-hearted. She hadn’t realized it before, but now she found it to be true. She always ended up being soft-hearted toward Song Muyun.
Jiang Yao gently patted Song Muyun’s back, comforting her. “Alright, alright, stop crying. Dreams are the opposite of reality. I won’t have better friends, and I won’t drive you away. If you come to the Jiang residence, I’d be more than happy to welcome you. How could I ever drive you away?”
Song Muyun raised her gaze, her long eyelashes already dampened by tears, sticking together.
“Jiang Yao, am I your best friend?”
She asked, her eyes flashing with fragile vulnerability. It seemed that if Jiang Yao said no, she would be extremely upset.
Jiang Yao paused. She didn’t want to blurt out something without thinking, so she carefully thought about it. Even muttering a few names, the more she said, the colder Song Muyun’s heart became. Why were there so many people? Was I ranked behind all of them?
But Jiang Yao was willing to sleep with me side by side. Would she be willing to do the same for those people?
Just as Song Muyun’s mood hit rock bottom and her eyes were about to brim with tears, Jiang Yao finally finished counting. She felt a bit embarrassed and cleared her throat, trying to sound composed. “I just thought about all my friends. If you all fell off a cliff at the same time and I had to save someone… well, I’d save you. You’re all that matters to me, and I like you the most.”
For Jiang Yao, being with Song Muyun day and night, protecting her, had become a habit. She couldn’t accept being friendly with others and then treating her harshly when they weren’t together.
Chasing her away was an absolute impossibility, almost as improbable as chasing Murong Qing away.
After speaking, Jiang Yao looked down at Song Muyun. Though she wasn’t looking at her face, she was observing that fuzzy, furry head that nestled into her chest in the middle of the night.
“Tired?”
She reached out to pat that head, completely unaware that her words about liking her the most had made the person’s lips curve higher and higher. She buried her head deeper into Jiang Yao’s embrace, fearing that this unguarded appearance might be seen.
Jiang Yao thought of her being startled awake in the middle of the night, feeling physically and mentally exhausted. She was tired and no longer cared that Song Muyun had been inconsistent in allowing her to hold her. She rubbed her head, telling her to sleep without worrying about anything else.
Once the surroundings quieted down again and drowsiness slowly enveloped her, Jiang Yao leaned against Song Muyun’s shoulder, holding her tightly. She was about to drift off when she vaguely heard someone say, “You’re also my best friend.”
For some reason, the word “friend” didn’t sit well with Jiang Yao when it fell on her ears. But she only grumbled a couple of words before falling into a deep sleep, holding the person close.
Because of the nightmare in the middle of the night, neither Jiang Yao nor Song Muyun woke up the next day. They slept until mid-morning, only stirred when someone knocked on Song Muyun’s door.
The knocks were incessant, but Jiang Yao’s senses were sharp. Her ears picked up the faint sounds from the beginning, yet she didn’t want to get up. She hoped whoever was outside would leave, not wanting to disturb her intense sleepiness. If she didn’t respond, they would surely understand her intention. So, paying no attention, she turned over with Song Muyun and continued sleeping. Who would have thought the knocking on the door would become more insistent, and, whether real or a sensation, Jiang Yao felt the bed was trembling slightly.
The continuous banging by her ear, the soft whimpering of the person beside her when she was disturbed, made Jiang Yao unable to continue sleeping. She abruptly opened her eyes, looked toward the door, and shouted, “Whoever doesn’t have eyes and disturbs this early morning, your mom didn’t raise you well! She didn’t give you money to bother people like this! Knock, knock, knock!”
Song Muyun was shaken by this outburst and groggily opened her eyes. At that moment, the knocking ceased.
Jiang Yao had keen hearing and knew the person outside hadn’t left yet.
She lost her sleepiness, snorted, and patted Song Muyun. “Get up, let’s see who’s being so bothersome early in the morning.”
She was about to get up and change her clothes to go out and check when her lips were covered by two jade-like fingers. The person was still half-asleep, but they managed to prop up their slender body wrapped in white clothes, slightly embarrassed. They murmured, “Don’t use vulgar language.”
Jiang Yao was taken aback. She wondered how someone who hadn’t fully woken up could start ordering. Besides, she felt wronged, “When did I use vulgar language? Don’t take advantage of the fact that I like you and keep accusing me!”
That word “like” was enough to wake Song Muyun up. She blushed and lowered her head, her voice carrying a hint of tenderness as she gently pulled Jiang Yao’s sleeve. “Don’t say those vulgar things, it’s not good if others hear. It’s very impolite.”
She was someone who held decorum in high regard.
Damn it, she only realized it was a bit vulgar when someone mentioned it. Jiang Yao didn’t need to oppose her on this matter. She had picked up quite a few bad habits while stationed at the border. If it made the little fairy feel comfortable, she’d change those habits.
Jiang Yao mumbled in agreement a couple of times, then sat on the couch, feeling helpless. “Okay, okay, I’ll listen to you. Isn’t it enough that I listen to everything you say?”
The young girl had dreamed of being chased out of the residence by her last night, which had frightened her. However, this morning, she was treated so indulgently and was even promised affection. The curve of her lips couldn’t be suppressed, and embarrassed that Jiang Yao might notice, she silently turned her head, her face blushing lightly. She tugged at Jiang Yao’s sleeve shyly. “Didn’t you say you were going to get up? Change your clothes quickly.”
Only then did Jiang Yao get up, change her clothes, and Song Muyun, with her long black hair cascading down her waist, lightly flicked it before standing up. However, she didn’t hurry to put on her clothes. Instead, she stood in front of Jiang Yao, helping her straighten her clothes.
Whether it was the woman’s slender and dense eyelashes, rosy lips, or the attractive snow-white fingers, they were all close to Jiang Yao and exceptionally striking.
Jiang Yao inexplicably felt a bit flustered. She nervously looked around, neither of them speaking. Their soft breaths sprayed over Jiang Yao, creating an awkward atmosphere. Unable to bear this strange vibe, she awkwardly smiled and spoke, “Um, you’re quite thoughtful. Whoever marries you is truly lucky. Hehehe.”
Song Muyun’s action of adjusting Jiang Yao’s collar paused. The next moment, she abruptly let go and almost pushed Jiang Yao down. The smile on her face faded, replaced by a cold expression as she looked at Jiang Yao.
Jiang Yao was bewildered and dared not say a word. She heard the other person’s indifferent voice, “Muyun has fallen to the Le Fang. Now, she’s just a lowly woman. Miss Jiang, please refrain from making jokes.”
Seeing her displeasure, Jiang Yao didn’t dare to speak anymore. She knew her praise probably wasn’t in the right place.
She silently tied her hair into a ponytail and adorned it with a jade crown. Seeing Song Muyun still coldly dressing herself on the side, Jiang Yao hesitated before trying to coax her, “It’s okay. In my eyes, you’re not a lowly woman at all. You’re like a fairy from the Moon Palace. I will find someone trustworthy for you. Trust me, okay?”
She held Song Muyun’s slender shoulders firmly, her eyes determined.
Song Muyun was furious inside. Who wanted to hear this? Who was going to get married again?
She glared at Jiang Yao, her cold demeanor cracking, “Shut up. I don’t want to hear you speak anymore!”
Jiang Yao was taken aback. Instinctively, she pointed out, “You’re cursing?”
Song Muyun bit her red lips, feeling somewhat embarrassed. After a moment, as if giving up her dignity, she said, “Yes, I’m cursing. So what? Don’t bother about me!”
She was so grumpy today, nothing like the soft and alluring person from last night.
This unexpectedly scared Jiang Yao. She hadn’t seen Song Muyun this fierce before. Normally, she might have given her the cold shoulder, but she had never told her to shut up and not bother her.
Jiang Yao felt a bit at a loss. After a while, she took a step back and said, “Sorry, I didn’t mean to meddle. I just wanted to make you happier. If I said something I shouldn’t have, please don’t be angry. Can I speak casually?”
She reached out to touch Song Muyun’s face. The joy from being embraced by her yesterday continued today, making her in a somewhat good mood, willing to accommodate her.
Song Muyun lightly bit her lip. She couldn’t understand why Jiang Yao’s seemingly ordinary words had suddenly made her angry. She felt as if Jiang Yao wanted her to get married, which was something she found extremely hard to accept.
But wasn’t that normal?
In the eyes of the world, women were supposed to get married. If someone else said the same to her, she wouldn’t get angry, just dismiss it with a smile. Why was it different when Jiang Yao said it?
Song Muyun lowered her head, hiding her inexplicable haze in her eyes.
After a while, she spoke again, her voice somewhat hoarse, “Don’t say those things again. I don’t like hearing them.”
Her thoughts were tangled up, and she couldn’t understand why. The same words from someone else were acceptable, so why couldn’t Jiang Yao say them?
She vaguely sensed that something was wrong but didn’t dare to think about it.
Jiang Yao didn’t intend to upset her. She dryly acknowledged, finished dressing, and walked out of the room.
The person was still standing at the door, tall and composed, a hint of rage in their eyes. Jiang Yao, who had been cautious after Song Muyun’s anger, was now equally angry with her. When Song Muyun was upset, she had been trying to figure out how to soothe her. But when others were upset, she didn’t care at all.
As Jiang Yao relaxed a bit, she became somewhat audacious. Taking another step forward, she was very close to the person in front of her and sneered, “Who’s disturbing people’s sleep so early in the morning? Oh, it’s Prince Seven. I heard you angered the Emperor in court a few days ago and got confined. Now you’re out?”
As she spoke, another figure emerged from behind her. With the wind blowing, the woman’s naturally fragrant scent diffused. Song Muyun’s expression remained cold, not even offering a greeting. She just blankly called out, “Prince Seven.”
Murong Qing’s gaze was venomous, as if he wished to tear her into pieces, as if she had done something terribly wrong.
Probably having sorted out her emotions inside, Song Muyun was much gentler when facing Jiang Yao. “Why did you come out by yourself? You didn’t wait for me.”
Jiang Yao was taken aback and instinctively said, “You didn’t say I had to wait for you.”
Song Muyun: …
Murong Qing couldn’t stand the intimate banter between the two, akin to lovers, and interrupted through gritted teeth, “Miss Jiang is not involved in court matters, yet she seems well-informed about them.”
Jiang Yao looked at Murong Qing with a dumbfounded expression. “You were scolded by the Emperor in front of so many people. I couldn’t help but wonder. The streets are filled with rumors that Prince Seven has lost favor. Aren’t you worried?”
Murong Qing’s face paled. He had rushed to Song Muyun immediately after being released from confinement, not even having the chance to meet his own advisors. Naturally, he had no idea about the rumors spreading around town.
But he composed himself, pretending not to care, “What’s the hurry for me? I came to Moon Pavilion for a reason. A simple investigation by Father will reveal it. Besides, it’s the Prime Minister who’s being reprimanded daily by Father. Even General Longhu, who just returned to the capital, hasn’t been rewarded. You better focus on your own Jiang family!”
Jiang Yao squinted. Her father rarely discussed court matters with her. If this were true, she needed to go back and ask about it.
“No need to bother, Prince Seven. Did you come here today just to talk to me about these things?”
Leaning against the door frame, despite some concern inside, Jiang Yao remained composed. Murong Qing couldn’t see through her, which frustrated him even more.
He abandoned all pretense in front of Jiang Yao, his expression turning fierce and his gaze dark as he swept over the two. Suddenly, he sneered but didn’t provoke Jiang Yao again. Instead, he turned to Song Muyun, using a disdainful tone, “I thought you were so noble and proud, which is why, despite hating you, I loved you deeply. I never touched you, but now, with a mere beckon from Jiang Yao, you comply. Lady Song, under the Nine Springs, do you realize what a despicable daughter you’ve birthed?!”
He used harsh words to insult Song Muyun. Just as he finished speaking, Jiang Yao kicked him out into the courtyard.
And in his mind, he cursed, I should have kicked the hell out of him the moment he opened his mouth. I dote on that little fairy every day. How dare he insult her?
Song Muyun was so enraged that her whole body trembled. She wanted to slap Murong Qing, but the next moment, he was kicked out so far. She was startled and rushed to hold Jiang Yao’s hand, “Why did you act? He’s still a prince. What if something happens to him?”
Jiang Yao craned her neck to look outside, thinking that he was a man after all, so a single kick wouldn’t kill him.
Sure enough, Murong Qing quickly got up. A tinge of red appeared at the corner of his mouth as he stared at Jiang Yao in disbelief. “You… dare to hurt me, I am a prince! Aren’t you afraid I’ll punish you for this crime?”
Jiang Yao glanced at him from head to toe, then turned to pat Song Muyun’s back, reassuring her, “He’s not dead. It won’t implicate us. Don’t worry.”
Song Muyun didn’t notice the dirt and leaves still stuck to Murong Qing’s body. She just gently looked at Jiang Yao with her phoenix-like eyes, whispering, “Okay, that’s good. If something happened, I’d be worried for you.”
She wasn’t worried about herself; she’d already resigned herself to a doomed life. She was worried that Jiang Yao might get involved because of her.
Thinking about Jiang Yao’s firm and ruthless kick just now, Song Muyun’s white-as-jade ears turned pink. It was to protect her, all because of Murong Qing’s hurtful words.
In less than twenty years of her life, Song Muyun was certain that there was no one in the world who treated her better than Jiang Yao.
She drew closer to Jiang Yao, almost hiding behind her. It was obvious to anyone that they had an excellent relationship.
Murong Qing was quite shrewd. He knew a bit of everything, and he had a cousin from the Mo family, a well-known diviner, so he was quite informed about this matter. From the way Song Muyun looked at Jiang Yao, he could sense something was wrong.
“Song Muyun! Is this how the Song family behaves? Trying to take Jiang Yao away from Moon Pavilion? Let me tell you, it won’t happen!!”
He seemed somewhat on the edge, screaming until his voice cracked, his eyes bloodshot.
A young servant boy had opened the window to see what was happening outside. When he saw Murong Qing in the courtyard, he hurriedly closed the window in panic.
Jiang Yao furrowed her brow tightly. She had always considered taking Song Muyun away from Moon Pavilion, and Murong Qing was a hindrance, as were the influential figures behind Moon Pavilion.
Her father had mentioned that the influential figures behind Moon Pavilion were… Crown Prince Murong Chun.
“Whether she can leave Moon Pavilion or not is my business. It’s none of your concern. If you don’t want to get tossed out by me, leave now. I’ll tell you, there’s no one else here, so if I hit you, you won’t have anyone to complain to.”
Jiang Yao didn’t want to be so domineering, but Murong Qing hadn’t said a single good word. Even a little fairy she pampered, who claimed to be her mother, couldn’t stand hearing those unpleasant words.
“Are you not afraid of bringing trouble to the Jiang family?”
Nonsense. The biggest trouble for the Jiang family is my foolish brother befriending you.
“Please, don’t make me throw you out myself. You’d be very embarrassed.”
Jiang Yao reminded him, and Murong Qing’s face indeed stiffened. He didn’t want to leave, but from what he knew about Jiang Yao, if she really threw him out, it would be a huge disgrace for him in public.
He also knew that with Jiang Yao around, he couldn’t take Song Muyun away this time, so reluctantly, he had to leave.
This matter would probably need the Crown Prince’s assistance.
Murong Qing’s eyes grew more intense. Song Muyun, you’ve forced me to this point!
Author’s note:
Yao Yao will soon bring Yun Yun back home to cultivate their relationship. The rebirth happens in Yao Yao’s family.