Is It Forbidden to Bully the Heroine of the Novel? - Chapter 51
Chapter 51
Jiang Yao’s heart had long been softened by Song Muyun’s tears. Hearing her words, she roughly embraced her, wanting to pat her head but then thought better of it, considering her hands were rather dirty.
She put down her hand and coaxed with a smile, “What’s there to be afraid of? I’m fine, aren’t I? Stop crying.”
Song Muyun, with eyes red from crying, looked at her pitifully and whispered, “But you are hurt, does it hurt a lot?”
She had examined every wound very closely, her eyes filled with unstoppable sorrow.
Jiang Yao’s heart softened even more under her gaze, and her voice grew gentler. She shook her head, “I’m fine, it doesn’t hurt. Let me go, so I can wash up, okay?”
Hearing that she wanted to wash up, Song Muyun, concerned about the stickiness on her, nodded lightly and carefully let go of her.
Jiang Yao was very dirty, and her unreserved embrace had transferred some dust onto Song Muyun as well.
“Who asked you to hug me? Now you’ve gotten dirty too.” The woman in front of her, dirty yet still poised, chuckled lightly, flicking the mud off her clothes.
Song Muyun bit her thin lip, tilting her head slightly to reveal her slender, fair neck. Her voice, clear and cold like a mountain spring, carried a hint of sarcasm, “I wanted to hug you. If I get dirty, I can just wash it off. You can block injuries for the Eighth Prince, but can’t you let me hug you?”
At this, she turned her head, her eyes still red, filled with unshed tears. This scared Jiang Yao enough to quickly agree, “Of course, of course, I was just joking. You can hug me however you want, how could I not let you?”
Satisfied by her indulgence, Song Muyun finally showed a soft smile.
Jiang Yao was spellbound by her smile.
“Okay.”
She said, about to hug her again, but Jiang Yao quickly dodged. Seeing Song Muyun’s expression turn cold, Jiang Yao smiled helplessly, “What’s the rush? Let me wash up first. I’m really dirty. Once I’m clean, you can hug me as much as you want.”
The girl then relaxed her expression, but still muttered softly, “I don’t mind you being dirty.”
Jiang Yao loved her soft, tender manner.
“It’s not about you minding, I mind being dirty myself.”
After a day in the mud and blood splattered on her, she really couldn’t stand not washing.
Jiang Yao called for a servant to prepare hot water and thoroughly washed herself, getting rid of all the dust and blood. Then, she dressed in clean, white undergarments.
Song Muyun also bathed and changed her clothes, her natural fragrance even more apparent and pleasant.
Jiang Yao hugged Song Muyun, nuzzling her slightly damp neck, and whispered, “Yunyun, you smell so good.”
Song Muyun’s cheeks turned red, and she shyly turned her head away.
Jiang Yao, thinking she would be pushed away for her impudent words, was surprised when Song Muyun didn’t, but instead snuggled closer.
Today’s little fairy… seemed a bit strange.
Jiang Yao thought, but didn’t voice it out, thinking it was wise to take advantage of the situation. She had long felt that the little fairy was soft and malleable, like dough.
After holding her for a while, Jiang Yao let go, and putting an arm around her waist, said, “Wait for me in the courtyard. I need to go out and check something. There was an assassination attempt on Murong Ci in the hunting forest. I helped her block it, but there were too many attackers and I couldn’t beat them all. Fearing for my own life, I came back first. Those people went after Murong Ci again, I need to go see.”
Song Muyun, clinging to Jiang Yao’s hand, subconsciously followed her, “I want to go too.”
She always loved following Jiang Yao wherever she went.
Jiang Yao was startled and then gently patted her hand, frowning slightly in disapproval, “Why would you go? You don’t know martial arts. If you come, I’ll have to protect you. Besides, I suspect these people are sent by Murong Qing. What if they try to capture you? It’s safest for you to stay in the courtyard.”
Song Muyun didn’t want to stay in the courtyard; she wanted to follow her. But she also knew that she would only be a burden to Jiang Yao. She lowered her head, her lips tightly pressed together, and fell silent.
Jiang Yao knew she was clingy, but today she seemed even
more so than usual.
After a moment, when Jiang Yao thought the girl was upset, Song Muyun’s voice came, soft and sullen, “Then hug me, and I’ll let you go.”
Jiang Yao was startled, thinking she was going to get angry, but instead, she was asking for a hug?
Without speaking, Song Muyun looked a bit aggrieved, raising her reddened eyes to glare at her, “Can’t you even give me a hug?”
Jiang Yao was shaken, almost without thinking, she embraced her, hurriedly explaining, “Of course I can hug you, of course. Little ancestor, please don’t cry.”
Her words were filled with endless indulgence and helplessness.
Song Muyun hummed softly, snuggling in her embrace, then seriously warned, “You can go, but you must be careful. If you encounter those assassins and can’t beat them, just run. Don’t think running is shameful. I’m still waiting for you at home, so don’t get hurt again.”
Her words were full of concern. Jiang Yao thought of the scenes in storybooks where a wife would tenderly instruct her departing husband.
It was a bit strange, but very cute.
“Mm, I know. You’re waiting for me at home. I need to come back to protect you, so naturally, I won’t get into trouble.”
Jiang Yao wouldn’t put herself in danger. Murong Qing hadn’t been dealt with by her yet. If she died, Murong Qing would become the emperor and then bully her little Yunyun. How could she allow that?
Just the thought was unbearable.
Her little Yunyun was so pretty and lovable; no one was allowed to bully her.
Hearing this, Song Muyun felt a bit more at ease, knowing that Jiang Yao would stay by her side.
“Mm, still, be very careful.”
After applying medicine in the room, Jiang Yao changed into neat martial attire and left.
But not long after, a palace maid came running, telling her that Jiang Ru was missing.
All the noble girls were accounted for, except for Jiang Ru. The maid didn’t dare to create a fuss and came to find her, knowing she was Jiang Ru’s sister.
Jiang Yao almost blacked out upon hearing this, asking with a cold expression, “Have you searched everywhere?”
The maid was certain, “This servant has searched everywhere. There’s no trace of the second miss. The other noble girls said she went to pick up a kite but never returned.”
Picking up a kite, Jiang Yao’s heart chilled.
Without saying much to the maid, she left quickly, even using light footwork.
Jiang Zhi, who was still patrolling to protect the emperor, was stopped by Jiang Yao, who blurted out before he could ask, “Uncle, Ru’er is missing.”
Jiang Zhi’s sunburnt face paled in disbelief, “What happened! Wasn’t Ru’er playing with those ladies?!”
“She went to pick up a kite and then didn’t come back. Today’s wind…”
Jiang Zhi’s expression darkened. Today’s wind was blowing towards the hunting forest. Despite the slim possibility, they couldn’t help but think, had Jiang Ru mistakenly entered the forest and gotten involved in the Eighth Prince’s incident?
“I’ll take people to search immediately.”
“What about the emperor?”
“My lieutenant will stay. I can’t be at peace until Ru’er is found, nor can I protect the emperor properly. I believe he will understand.”
Jiang Zhi said coldly. He and his wife cherished their only daughter, Jiang Ru, treating her like a treasure. Now that she was missing, with assassins in the forest, he was naturally anxious, wishing he could appear at her side immediately.
“I’m going with Uncle,” Jiang Yao declared, fearing the worst for her sister who might have encountered the Eighth Prince and become entangled in his troubles.
Originally, she was only slightly worried about the Eighth Prince’s ability to escape, but now with Jiang Ru missing, her concern escalated tenfold.
As they were leaving, they encountered Murong Qing, who was carrying a meager catch from the hunt. His brows were furrowed with worry. “I heard there are assassins in the forest. Dragon Tiger General, shouldn’t you be protecting the emperor instead of leaving?”
Jiang Yao, already suspicious of Murong Qing, became even more so after his words. Jiang Zhi, maintaining a semblance of respect, informed him that they were going to rescue the Eighth Prince from the numerous assassins.
He couldn’t reveal that they were actually going to find Jiang Ru, as it would reflect poorly on her.
Murong Qing, however, stood in their way, arguing, “As much as I worry for my younger brother, you, General, are responsible for the emperor’s safety. With assassins around, you should stay here. Leaving your post so hastily is not advisable.”
Jiang Yao, now utterly convinced of Murong Qing’s guilt, responded with scorn and feigned surprise, “What? Seventh Prince, the Eighth Prince is your own brother, and you’re telling us not to rescue him? The assassins claimed you sent them, telling us to surrender without a fight. I always thought they were lying in your name, but your reluctance to save the Eighth Prince makes me wonder…”
She left her accusation hanging, allowing others to speculate. The nearby nobles and ladies were shocked.
Murong Qing, infuriated and feeling wronged, insisted, “What nonsense! I have always treated my younger brother as close kin. I would never do such a thing!”
Jiang Yao lazily replied, “Is that so? But the assassins said otherwise.”
Murong Qing argued that someone must be framing him, and left in anger.
Jiang Yao, confident in her accusation, urged him to step aside so they could catch the assassins and clear his name.
Murong Qing, unable to retort or stop them without incriminating himself, could only watch them leave.
Jiang Zhi, leading a group of soldiers, searched the kite-flying area before heading into the forest. He asked Jiang Yao if the assassins really said what she claimed.
Jiang Yao admitted to fabricating the story to push Murong Qing aside, focusing on finding Jiang Ru.
They split up to cover more ground, searching the surrounding forest and foothills.
Jiang Yao, in a rage over her missing sister, either captured or killed any black-clad figures she encountered.
Upon finding her sister’s accessory near a cliff, she nearly fainted from shock, ordering an immediate search below.
As if in a storybook, rain began to pour, blinding Jiang Yao and washing away the blood on her.
Descending the cliff, she hoped to find her sister there. The fall would injure a non-martial artist like her sister.
The forest was littered with bodies. Jiang Yao’s group shouted for Jiang Ru and the Eighth Prince, hoping for a response.
Surprisingly, a frail figure appeared in the rain – Jiang Ru, calling out for her sister.
Jiang Yao, thinking of storybooks, was surprised at how easily they found her.
Rushing to her sister, Jiang Ru clung to her, leaving a muddy imprint.
Jiang Yao asked how she ended up there, going to fetch a kite.
Jiang Ru, disheveled and unguarded, shouted that someone tried to kill her, but the Eighth Prince saved her. She urged Jiang Yao to check on him.
Confused, Jiang Yao allowed herself to be pulled along, skeptical of Murong Ci’s ability to save anyone.
Following Jiang Ru, they found Murong Ci in a small shelter, barely protected from the rain. She was covered in mud and scratches, barely breathing. Jiang Yao wondered how Murong Ci, who she had protected from assassins for so long, appeared to be more injured.
Jiang Yao frowned as Jiang Ru hurriedly helped Murong Ci, placing her head in her shoulder nook, reassuring her, “Eighth Prince, it’s okay now. My sister is here. She will protect us, don’t worry.”
The sixteen-year-old girl had immense trust in her sister, believing her to be the most capable person in the world after their father.
Hearing Jiang Yao’s arrival, Murong Ci slightly regained consciousness, “Jiang Yao, you’re here. Ah, can you help me up? I can’t stand properly.”
Jiang Yao handed her sword to someone else and helped Murong Ci up, her expression stern, “This is not the place to talk. We should go back. Should I have someone carry you?”
“No, don’t let anyone carry me. Just help me walk.”
Jiang Yao was puzzled by the Eighth Prince’s insistence but complied.
She looked at her sister, who had just been through a tough time with the Eighth Prince, hoping she could convince her to be more sensible. To her surprise, Jiang Ru also sided with Murong Ci, offering to help her.
Firmly, Jiang Yao carried Murong Ci, not willing to let her delicate sister handle the task.
As they emerged from the cliff, a group of dead assassins lay scattered around, a shocking sight for Murong Ci.
Jiang Yao sent for Jiang Zhi to come back, while she escorted Murong Ci and Jiang Ru.
Despite the heavy rain, a crowd had gathered at the entrance to the royal residence, waiting for them.
Jiang Yao made sure to handle Murong Ci more gently to avoid worsening her already tarnished reputation.
Song Muyun was the first to meet them with an umbrella, concerned about Jiang Yao getting drenched. Another noble lady helped Jiang Ru, wiping the mud off her clothes.
Jiang Ru explained the events simply, thanking the Eighth Prince for saving her.
Jiang Yao, upon entering the house, was immediately bombarded with questions from Jiang’s mother, concerned about the encounter with the assassins and any injuries.
Jiang Yao reassured her mother, downplaying her own injuries to avoid causing worry. She then turned to Jiang Ru for a clearer explanation of the events.
Jiang Ru narrated how she ended up in the forest with Murong Ci and how they fell off the cliff. Jiang Yao was alarmed to hear they had fallen off a cliff.
Song Muyun inquired about how Jiang Yao found Jiang Ru. Jiang Yao explained that she called for her sister and found her below the cliff.
Jiang Zhi arrived, calling out for Jiang Ru, who reassured him she was fine and would come out after changing.
Song Muyun, concerned for Jiang Yao, asked for spare clothes, which Jiang’s mother readily provided.
As Jiang Yao changed, she overheard conversations about her temperament, playfully protesting that she was quite amiable.
Jiang Ru came out in clothes slightly too short for Jiang Yao, but they all found humor in the situation.
Song Muyun meticulously helped Jiang Yao dress, creating an intimate and somewhat unusual moment for Jiang Yao, reminiscent of the closeness usually shared between parents.
Jiang Yao felt a bit uneasy with the close physical contact and gently tried to move away, saying softly, “Alright, Uncle is still waiting outside. It’s just family; he won’t mind if something is not quite right.”
Song Muyun, after adjusting Jiang Yao’s waistband into a beautiful knot, stood beside her, smiling, “I’ve done it. It’s always good to be neat, to not lose manners.”
Jiang Yao felt something was off, yet also not, and could only nod in agreement.
Jiang’s mother watched Song Muyun with a gentle smile, thinking to herself that Jiang Yao was lucky to have someone so attentive by her side. Given Jiang Yao’s rough nature, someone meticulous like Song Muyun was a good balance.
Outside, Jiang Zhi was waiting. He didn’t bother to change his wet clothes and first checked Jiang Ru and Jiang Yao for injuries. Upon learning that Jiang Ru was protected by Murong Ci, he expressed frustration, blaming Murong Ci for her involvement in the incident.
Jiang Ru defended Murong Ci, tearfully insisting that she was targeted and saved by Murong Ci. Seeing his daughter upset, Jiang Zhi reluctantly allowed her to visit Murong Ci later but insisted Jiang Yao accompany her.
After the elders left, Jiang Ru eagerly asked to visit Murong Ci, to which Jiang Yao agreed. Song Muyun, who had been holding Jiang Yao’s hand, insisted on joining, not wanting to leave Jiang Yao alone with Murong Ci.
Inside Murong Ci’s room, packed with important figures, Jiang Yao and Song Muyun’s intertwined hands attracted a cold sneer from Murong Qing, who spitefully commented on their closeness. This upset Song Muyun, who tearfully worried she was tarnishing Jiang Yao’s reputation. Jiang Yao quickly reassured her, dismissing Murong Qing’s words and promising to stand by her side.
Overwhelmed by Jiang Yao’s protective words, Song Muyun stopped crying and leaned into her embrace, much to the astonishment of everyone in the room. Even Murong Qing, who had long harbored feelings for Song Muyun, was shocked and pained by the scene.
Jiang Yao, feeling a mix of irritation and protectiveness, comforted Song Muyun and suggested challenging Murong Qing in the upcoming martial arts competition as a way to defend her honor. This brought a sense of relief to Song Muyun, who sought assurance in Jiang Yao’s promise of protection.