Is It Forbidden to Bully the Heroine of the Novel? - Chapter 54
Chapter 54
Both of them went to the main hall together. Accompanying them was the legitimate daughter of Duke Chengguo, who stood trembling slightly in her light yellow trailing gown.
As she emerged from the crowd and saw Jiang Yao, she couldn’t even manage a smile. Without uttering a word, she quickly lowered her head and just followed behind the eunuch.
Jiang Yao couldn’t be bothered to pay her any attention. Although she knew the girl’s sudden appearance must have a reason, she left it to others to investigate.
If she couldn’t expose Murong Qing immediately, she had no interest in getting involved. After all, she hadn’t yet entered the court as an official, preferring to avoid upsetting the Emperor.
Several black-clad figures knelt in the center of the main hall, captured by Jiang Yao that day.
Jiang Yao glanced at them and, along with the person beside her, saluted, “Your servant (this humble girl) pays respect to Your Majesty.”
Seeing them, the Emperor’s stern face relaxed slightly. He waved his hand, “Rise.”
Jiang Yao and Song Muyun stood up. The Duke’s daughter tried to do the same but seemed to have weak legs and stumbled again.
The Emperor frowned but didn’t reprimand her for her impropriety in the hall. Instead, he looked at Jiang Yao and Song Muyun and suddenly smiled, “You two are always together.”
He didn’t want to see Song Muyun, but whenever he saw Jiang Yao, Song Muyun was always by her side.
Jiang Yao slightly lowered her eyes, glancing sideways at Song Muyun, who was dressed in a greenish-blue gown, looking somewhat cold and aloof, even reluctant to smile. She thought, naturally, she would follow me.
“To His Majesty, Muyun knows few people, so I don’t feel at ease leaving her alone.”
Few acquaintances?
She used to be famous in the capital for her poetry, calligraphy, painting, and music, and almost every noble lady in the city wanted to be her friend. How could she have few acquaintances?
It was only because she had been to the music hall and associated with Jiang Yao, a notorious person, that others were afraid of tarnishing their reputations and dared not contact her much.
The Emperor nodded slightly, finally addressing the matter at hand, “Today’s incident in the hunting forest, only you and Xiao Ba know. Xiao Ba is seriously injured and can’t speak much, so you tell us.”
Jiang Yao bowed her head, “Yes, Your Majesty. What would you like to know?”
The Emperor signaled a nearby eunuch, who understood the Emperor’s intentions very well. The eunuch, with a calm demeanor, stepped forward and asked Jiang Yao on behalf of the Emperor, “Today, when you encountered the Eighth Prince in the hunting forest, was he alone?”
“Yes, when I met him, he was alone on a horse.”
“What about the guards accompanying the Prince?”
Jiang Yao glanced lightly at Li Xiting, who was standing aside pale-faced, “The Prince told me that Miss from the Duke Chengguo’s house had accidentally entered the hunting forest, was frightened, so he sent his guards to escort her back.”
The eunuch turned to Li Xiting. Unlike his respectful and gentle tone towards Jiang Yao, his tone was much colder towards Li Xiting.
“Miss Li, why did you go to the hunting forest today? Did you participate in the hunt?”
Li Xiting’s involvement in today’s incident was undeniable. If at least one guard had been with the Prince, they could have protected him from the assassins or informed others earlier, possibly preventing such serious injuries to the Prince.
Li Xiting, already trembling, tried to remain calm. Her voice quivered, and she appeared pitiful as she gave her prepared explanation, “I… I didn’t participate in the hunt or go to the hunting forest. I was just curious and wanted to take a look. I didn’t know it would be so dangerous with arrows flying indiscriminately. I regretted entering as soon as I did, but fortunately, I met the Eighth Prince. He told me it was dangerous and asked me to leave. I was afraid to go back alone, so he ordered his guards to escort me. I… I didn’t know this would harm the Eighth Prince…”
She couldn’t hold back her tears and started crying.
A beauty in tears should be a pitiful sight, but Jiang Yao only felt sympathy for Song Muyun. The others in the hall, having seen many beauties, naturally would not pity her in this inappropriate situation.
The eunuch remained expressionless, ignoring her tears, and turned back to Jiang Yao with a gentle tone, “Were there two groups of assassins attempting to kill the Eighth Prince today?”
Jiang Yao replied, “They didn’t seem to be from the same group, but I can’t
be sure. First, someone hidden tried to kill the Prince with arrows and ran away after three unsuccessful shots. Then, many black-clothed figures appeared, who didn’t seem to be together.”
“Did you injure the archer?”
“Yes, I think I hit his arm. Has anyone checked the area? There were bloodstains on the ground.”
The eunuch didn’t hide anything, “The blood trail ended at the stream, and General Longhu didn’t find anyone with an arrow wound in the palace.”
Jiang Yao frowned, considering two possibilities: first, the injured person was of high status, unlikely to be searched, as she glanced at the princes standing aside; second, the assassin didn’t return to the palace after being injured, which seemed unlikely. The entire mountain was surrounded upon the Emperor’s arrival; if not returning to the palace, where else could he go? Was he waiting in the hunting forest for her to capture him the next day, ready to abandon his arm?
Perhaps the first possibility was more likely.
“Understood. If the eunuch has more questions, please ask.”
“Did you and the Eighth Prince separate ways afterward?”
“I helped her fend off the assassins while she fled in the other direction. When I couldn’t hold them off any longer, I came back to report.”
“Why was Miss Jiang Ru in the hunting forest?”
Jiang Zhi, worried about Jiang Ru being frightened, didn’t call her over, but they were well aware of the situation.
He spoke gravely, “Ru’er went near the hunting forest to pick up a kite. Someone tried to kill her and lured her into the forest.”
“Do you think, General, that those who lured Miss Jiang into the forest and the assassins trying to kill the Eighth Prince are the same people?”
“Hmph, of course they are. Just wait until I find out who it is.”
Even in the presence of the Emperor, Jiang Zhi couldn’t control his anger, his voice carrying a hint of ruthlessness.
But everyone understood his reaction. After all, Jiang Ru is the only daughter of General Longhu, his precious child who he waited many years for. It’s no surprise he’s infuriated, especially since she narrowly escaped death. Anyone would be enraged in his place.
The eunuch then asked Jiang Yao where she found the Eighth Prince and Jiang Ru. Jiang Yao explained everything, and seeing the Emperor nod, respectfully withdrew.
The Emperor signaled towards the kneeling assassins, their jaws dislocated to prevent suicide by biting their tongues.
Jiang Zhi stepped forward and searched the assassins, finding a token on each. He ordered the tokens to be presented to the Emperor.
“This is what I found on them.”
The eunuch presenting the tokens inadvertently saw the characters on them, his eyes widening in shock, his arms trembling slightly.
He couldn’t believe what he was seeing.
When the tokens were presented to the Emperor, his calm demeanor changed instantly upon seeing them. He stood up abruptly, enraged, “Him? How dare he! Brother against brother! Is he trying to infuriate me to death?!”
The head eunuch by the Emperor’s side hurried to support him, calling for the Emperor to calm down, but he too glanced at the tokens. Each one bore the character “Chun”, implicating the Eldest Prince Murong Chun, who was both linked to the Eighth Prince and at odds with the Jiang family.
It was shocking that even while confined, the Eldest Prince could orchestrate such a ruthless plot to directly take the life of the Eighth Prince. If the plot had succeeded, it would be one thing, but now that it’s exposed, the Eldest Prince was in dire straits.
The eunuch remained silent, continuously urging the Emperor to take care of his health and not to get angry.
Song Muyun also saw the character “Chun” on the tokens and knew it represented Murong Chun. However, she felt something was amiss. If Murong Chun was behind this, why would he leave tokens on the assassins?
Unless, he never expected the assassins to be captured alive, nor did he think Murong Ci would survive.
Song Muyun, feeling anxious, tightly held Jiang Yao’s hand. If it weren’t for Jiang Yao today, Murong Ci would have died. Everyone was clear on this.
The Emperor’s face was livid with rage, wishing he could immediately sentence the Eldest Prince to death. Jiang Zhi and Jiang Yao remained silent.
Jiang Yao’s gaze swept over Murong Qing, who was sitting silently to one side in the main hall. Murong Qing had always been skilled in using others to achieve his ends.
If Murong Chun was in cahoots with him, he would probably be skinned alive.
Jiang Yao scrutinized all the princes and sharply noticed one was missing – the one with the particularly pale face she had seen in Murong Ci’s room, seemingly Murong Ci’s younger brother.
With the investigation reaching this point, the Emperor already had a suspicion, but still wanted to hear a confession from the assassins’ mouths. They tried to fix one assassin’s jaw, but he immediately committed suicide by biting his tongue.
The Emperor’s face grew even darker. After they fixed another’s jaw, he too bit his tongue and died, blood gushing from his mouth.
The Emperor furiously ordered, “Take them all away for strict interrogation. When they are ready to speak, bring them before me!”
The Emperor was furious, and after his outburst, slumped back into his throne. The eunuch quickly came to massage his head, a chronic issue aggravated, he felt, by these troublesome princes.
Jiang Yao and others were dismissed. With the tokens implicating the Eldest Prince in the assassination attempt on Murong Ci, the Emperor was convinced and didn’t wish to investigate further. Even Li Xiting wasn’t questioned and they were sent away.
The Emperor’s handling of the case was hasty, as evident from the Song family case. Jiang Yao, expressionless, led Song Muyun out.
Outside the main hall, Li Xiting patted her chest as if she had narrowly escaped death. Her face showed relief from surviving a calamity, and she had wiped away all her tears. Her eyes were clear and beautiful, showing none of the regret and crying from inside the hall.
Jiang Yao glanced at her and was about to leave when several princes came from behind. The one walking the fastest was the Seventh Prince, so she stood aside, lazily making way for the princes.
Murong Qing, whether intentionally or not, paused briefly as he passed by them but didn’t look at them. Instead, he approached Li Xiting and feigned a gentle smile at her. Li Xiting couldn’t take her eyes off him, gazing at him infatuatedly until he walked away, and then she continued to stare blankly at his departing figure.
Jiang Yao wondered if the legitimate daughter of Duke Chengguo was infatuated with Murong Qing. How could such a hypocritical and vile person have so many admirers? She naturally thought of Song Muyun, who eventually fell for Murong Qing in her dream, and her mother’s cousin from her maternal family.
Thinking this, she suddenly flicked Song Muyun’s forehead. Song Muyun, feeling a slight pain, lost the cold expression on her face and turned to Jiang Yao, confused like a startled rabbit, “Why did you hit me?”
She genuinely didn’t understand why Jiang Yao had flicked her suddenly.
Jiang Yao hummed softly, walking ahead and leaving behind a comment, “That’s for having bad taste.”
Song Muyun couldn’t understand the remark, but she figured out one thing: Jiang Yao was deliberately finding an excuse to tease her.
The green skirt fluttered as the young girl hurried after Jiang Yao, stopping beside her and giving her a gentle push, “How do I have bad taste? Tell me clearly.”
“You guess.”
It was something from her dream; how could she tell her?
Song Muyun was upset, her cheeks puffing up in annoyance, “Why are you like this, always making me guess?”
She touched the slightly reddened spot on her forehead. It wasn’t really painful, and she wasn’t that angry.
“Just guess,” Jiang Yao responded, then casually reached back and grabbed Song Muyun’s hand, “Alright, alright, I don’t want to argue with you.”
Song Muyun’s eyes widened in surprise, watching her from behind. Jiang Yao was the one who started the conversation and then said she didn’t want to argue. Why did she get to dictate everything?
Song Muyun wanted to retort, but Jiang Yao diverted her attention, pointing at the stars, “Look at those stars.”
“Hmph.”
“The moon is also very bright tonight. Shall we go to the rooftop to enjoy it?”
They had already rested in the afternoon, and now it would be hard for her to sleep again. They could spend time admiring the moon.
The young girl’s beautiful eyes glared at Jiang Yao, “Who wants to watch the moon with you? Go find someone else. I don’t want to see it with you.”
“Ah, if you don’t watch with me, who else will? Should I go ask Murong Ci? But she’s lying in bed, half dead…”
Before she could finish, her arm was grabbed tightly. The young girl, almost pinching the flesh on Jiang Yao’s arm, threatened coldly, “Dare to go find him and see!”
Song Muyun disliked Murong Ci, or rather, she was afraid Jiang Yao liked Murong Ci. So, she didn’t want them to have any contact.
Jiang Yao didn’t really intend to find Murong Ci. If the little fairy didn’t want to accompany her for drinks and moon viewing, she could just find Ru’er instead. However, mentioning Murong Ci casually had elicited such a strong reaction from Song Muyun. Was this… possessiveness among friends?
Jiang Yao raised an eyebrow.
“Okay, I won’t look for her. Will you accompany me to watch the moon?”
Song Muyun was still angry that Jiang Yao thought of Murong Ci immediately after her, but she couldn’t really let her go find Murong Ci either, so she agreed, “I’ll accompany you, but tomorrow you must take me hunting!”
Although Jiang Yao had promised her before, she was still not reassured, fearing Jiang Yao would find excuses to leave her behind the next day, citing danger. So, she took this opportunity to remind her again.
“Alright, alright, I’ll take you hunting,” Jiang Yao agreed readily.
“From now on, don’t mention the Eighth Prince.”
Song Muyun, head down with her long lashes casting shadows, made another request.
Jiang Yao was surprised, “You don’t like the Eighth Prince?”
The two had reached a secluded corner, and Song Muyun was more candid, “I don’t like him. I don’t like you being with him.”
Jiang Yao smiled and gently stroked Song Muyun’s temple, “What did she do to upset you? Tell me.”
There must be a reason for disliking someone, right? Had Murong Ci bullied Muyun?
Thinking this, her smile slightly faded as she looked seriously at Song Muyun.
Song Muyun turned away, not looking at Jiang Yao, unaware of the faint anger hidden under her smile, muttering softly, “Do I need a reason to dislike him? I just don’t like him. I don’t like any princes.”
Jiang Yao’s initially raised concerns were immediately quelled. It wasn’t a case of bullying.
Hmm, disliking princes was normal, especially since Murong Qing was so hypocritical and disgusting, and the Eldest
Prince was no good either. They must have left a bad impression on her.
She gently ran her fingers through Song Muyun’s soft, black hair, “Alright, I’ll be more careful.”
She didn’t promise never to be with Murong Ci again, as it was difficult to achieve, but she could try to be more cautious and not upset the little girl in her household.
The little girl disliked her being with Murong Ci. Although Murong Ci was also a good person to befriend, her place in Jiang Yao’s heart couldn’t compare to that of her little girl. Keeping the little girl happy was most important.
With this assurance, Song Muyun’s lips curled into a smile, her eyes twinkling like the bright moon.
The two returned to their courtyard. Jiang Yao fetched a pot of warm wine from the kitchen and took Song Muyun to the rooftop. It was a bit colder there, and the young girl curled up into a ball, but still lifted her bright eyes to gaze at the moon.
“Is it pretty?”
Jiang Yao took a sip of wine without turning back and asked Song Muyun.
The young girl, who rarely admired the moon like this, soon relaxed, her eyes and mouth curving into a smile filled with joy, “Yes, it’s beautiful.”
“Do you want to try some wine to warm up?”
The wine was heated in the kitchen and wouldn’t be cold and harsh on the stomach.
“What does wine taste like?”
As a well-bred young lady, she naturally hadn’t tasted wine before and was full of curiosity.
“Wine’s taste? It’s just that taste. Try it and you’ll know. Shall I pour you some?”
She showed her the wine pot.
“No need, no need to pour; it’s too much trouble.”
She said this while gently holding the pot, imitating Jiang Yao and drinking directly from the spout.
Jiang Yao’s hand was also on the pot, their grips overlapping, easily touching each other.
Drinking from the spout Jiang Yao had used, she took a sip. Soon, Song Muyun almost spat it out. It was so spicy that tears came to her eyes. She covered her mouth awkwardly but still managed to swallow the wine, feeling a burning sensation in her throat.
“How can it be so spicy? It’s hard to drink.”
The wine made her throat hoarse, but even her hoarse voice sounded pleasant.
“Is it hard to drink? I find it quite enjoyable. Don’t you feel warmer after drinking it?”
Song Muyun shook her head, feeling only the spiciness and discomfort in her throat.
“Maybe you didn’t drink enough. Want to try a few more sips?”
Jiang Yao offered the wine again.
Song Muyun, looking alarmed, quickly backed away, “I don’t want to drink anymore. You drink it yourself.”
Her eyes teared up from the spiciness, and her eyes were red. If anyone else were there, they might think Jiang Yao had bullied Song Muyun.
“If you don’t want to drink, I will.”
Jiang Yao drank the wine, some of it trickling down her chin and staining her dress with a strong aroma.
As the night grew colder, the chill seemed to seep into their bones.
Song Muyun soon couldn’t bear it. She looked at Jiang Yao, who was still enjoying the wine and moon.
She had no idea how to be tender and considerate. Such a beautiful moon — in the past, she might have been inspired to draw it, but now, all her attention was on Jiang Yao.
She could only gaze at Jiang Yao, but Jiang Yao had too many things and people to focus on.
Song Muyun’s expression turned slightly cold, and a chill flashed in her eyes.
Jiang Yao, unaware of the change in her companion’s mood, continued to admire the moon. To her, the moon wasn’t exceptionally beautiful; she just felt that drinking at night should be accompanied by moon gazing.
As Jiang Yao was about to take another sip of the spicy wine, Song Muyun’s soft voice came through.
“Jiang Yao, I’m cold.”
Jiang Yao turned, not quite catching what was said, “Hm? What did you say?”
Song Muyun repeated softly, “I’m a bit cold.”
“Shall I take you down?”
That wasn’t the answer Song Muyun wanted. She didn’t readily agree, “But I still want to enjoy the moon. Besides, I won’t be able to sleep if we go down now.”
They had slept too much in the afternoon, making it hard to sleep now.
Jiang Yao frowned, then suggested, “Shall I get you a cloak to wear?”
Song Muyun shook her head again, “That’s too much trouble. Don’t go down. I’ll be scared alone up here.”
The chilly wind and dark night made her want someone by her side for comfort.
“What’s there to be afraid of? You really are a scaredy-cat.”
Jiang Yao reached out to pinch Song Muyun’s face, but when she touched her icy-cold cheek, she realized how cold she was.
Usually warm and soft, now her face was cold to the touch.
Jiang Yao’s casual attitude changed instantly, “Why didn’t you say earlier that you were so cold? Let’s go down.”
She tried to pull Song Muyun up, but Song Muyun stayed put, using Jiang Yao’s momentum to sway her hand, “But we said we’d watch the moon. Why go down so early?”
“But you’re cold.”
Jiang Yao’s lips formed a straight line, and she looked visibly concerned.
Song Muyun’s cheeks flushed slightly, hiding her thoughts. She was a woman and, traditionally, shouldn’t be the one to initiate. But the person she liked was also a woman who didn’t return her feelings and saw her only as a close friend.
She had to take the initiative.
Song Muyun’s long lashes trembled, and she said softly, her face red, “I’m cold, but if you hold me, I won’t be.”
Jiang Yao was taken aback, her eyes wide with surprise. “Hold you?”
It was the first time someone had made such a request to her — to hold them because they were cold and to watch the moon together.
Song Muyun nodded slightly, her voice still soft and faint, “I’m very cold, would you hold me? I won’t be cold then.”
Jiang Yao, unable to refuse her and genuinely worried about her being cold, didn’t hesitate long before sitting down and holding her in her arms.
Once she got the response she wanted, Song Muyun immediately adjusted her position, snuggling comfortably into Jiang Yao’s embrace.
Jiang Yao let her move about until she settled down, then wrapped her arms around her and used her warm face to touch Song Muyun’s cold one.
Despite being so close, Song Muyun felt they weren’t close enough. Their bodies were near, but their hearts were far apart. Jiang Yao was oblivious to her feelings.
Leaning on Jiang Yao’s chest, Song Muyun suddenly thought of
something and asked, “Will your mother arrange a marriage for you? Most girls your age in the capital are already married.”
Girls in the capital often married as early as fourteen, and even the later ones were usually married by nineteen. Jiang Yao was almost nineteen.
Song Muyun bit her lip, worry and longing in her eyes.
Jiang Yao, reminded of the prospect of marriage, felt a bit troubled, “I suppose she will.”
But she couldn’t imagine marrying any of the men in the capital. None matched her in combat, and what joy would there be in marrying such a man?
Feeling a sudden tight grip on her hand, Jiang Yao looked down, then held Song Muyun tighter, “What’s wrong? Are you still cold?”
Song Muyun had to hide the darkness in her eyes, her voice hoarse, “Who’s only thinking about love? When are you planning to go to the battlefield?”
Lying in Jiang Yao’s arms, her voice was soft and husky.
“Hard to say. I’ll go to the frontier whenever there’s a battle. Maybe tomorrow, maybe next year. Why, do you want to go with me?”
Jiang Yao held Song Muyun with one hand and sipped wine with the other, her hair fluttering in the wind.
Looking up at Jiang Yao, Song Muyun said, “Yes, I want to go with you. Will you take me?”
She wanted to be by Jiang Yao’s side, no matter what.
The author’s note:
Feeling anxious for their union? It seems they are about to be together, and then comes the rebirth! I know you’re eager for the rebirth storyline. I recently read a story about an attacker reborn into another’s body, a romance, and I was also anxious waiting for the other party to recognize her. Luckily, it was a completed story, so I jumped to the chapter where they recognized each other, haha.