Is It Forbidden to Bully the Heroine of the Novel? - Chapter 69
Chapter 69
As days passed by, with the arrival of early spring, everything came back to life. Song Muyun’s nightmares finally began to improve, but Jiang Yao did not dare to let her guard down, continuing to feed her medicine to calm her nerves and strengthen her body every day, and took her to practice martial arts to build her physical strength.
Song Muyun was not skilled in martial arts, in fact, she knew nothing about it, but she learned because Jiang Yao taught her.
Today, the two of them got up early to practice martial arts. After working up a sweat, Jiang Yao took her to bathe and change clothes. Song Muyun, who had never been exposed to martial arts, ended up lying on the bed, so exhausted she couldn’t move, her eyes blank. Jiang Yao went over, casually picked her up into her arms, and lightly licked the corner of the girl’s mouth, finding it somewhat sweet.
“Do you want to rest at home today, or come out with me?” she asked.
Hearing Jiang Yao was going out, Song Muyun silently looked up, clearly unhappy, “Where are you going? Why didn’t I know you had plans today?”
Hmph, Jiang Yao always did this, only telling her things at the last minute.
“I’m going to the nearby Chanxu Temple to pray. You’ve been having nightmares and headaches, and even the imperial doctors can’t find the cause. I’m going to ask the abbot there for advice.”
Everyone said the abbot was somewhat remarkable, able to understand all things and predict the lives of people. Although she didn’t quite believe it, at this point, she was willing to try anything.
Hearing it was for her sake, Song Muyun quietly pursed her lips, feeling somewhat pleased. She reached up to hook Jiang Yao’s neck and kissed her on the lips in response, “Mm, I want to go too. If you’re going for me, I naturally can’t not go.”
“Alright, then I’ll take you with me. Such a good girl, give me a kiss.”
Jiang Yao bent down, capturing Song Muyun’s moist, reddish lips in hers, gently kissing. It didn’t take long for Song Muyun’s eyes to well up with tears, almost crying from the emotion.
Only then did Jiang Yao release those slightly swollen lips and gently nuzzled Song Muyun’s face.
Soon, the two appeared at the foot of the mountain. Since Jiang Yao was there to seek blessings from Buddha, naturally, they wouldn’t take a sedan chair but walked up step by step instead.
The young girl was frail and turned pale halfway up the mountain. Jiang Yao wanted to carry her, but she refused, her voice as gentle as usual, “Jiang Yao, you came here for me. I can’t let you carry me. It wouldn’t be sincere. We’ve come this far; a little more distance doesn’t matter.”
Jiang Yao looked up at the temple that seemed almost out of sight and sighed internally. This was no “little distance.”
It wouldn’t kill you, but it was a struggle.
Reluctantly, but knowing Song Muyun was right, she gently shook the delicate, soft hand she was holding, taking breaks along the way to prevent her from fainting from exhaustion.
Fortunately, they brought plenty of water for her to drink.
Jiang Yao was used to walking mountain paths, and this distance was not too far for her, but for Song Muyun, it was exceptionally challenging.
When the young girl finally reached the temple, her legs were trembling from exhaustion.
Jiang Yao helped her sit down for a while, and soon a young monk with a shaved head came to guide them.
The other visitors were also devotees, each looking exhausted and sweaty. Jiang Yao glanced at them and felt relieved, whispering to Song Muyun, “Others are just as tired. It’s okay, you look good this way.”
Song Muyun had just been fussing about wanting to change her clothes, feeling that wearing such attire to offer incense was disrespectful to the Buddha.
Seeing her look at the other devotees, Jiang Yao added, “See, they also go in without changing. Besides, you’re already dressed neatly and look clean and tidy. How would the Buddha know you climbed all the way up here?”
Song Muyun found her words very reasonable, nodded obediently, and followed the young monk inside to offer incense and make a wish.
Jiang Yao followed, taking incense and kneeling beside Song Muyun in front of the Buddha, closing her eyes.
This wasn’t her first time offering incense, but it was her first time doing so with such sincerity.
She wished for her wife, Muyun, to be free from illness and pain and to have a smooth life.
After making their wishes, they inserted the incense sticks and donated extra money for the oil, then went to draw lots.
Song Muyun shook the wooden barrel until a stick fell out. Jiang Yao, following the instructions on the back of the stick and adding more money for the oil, asked the temple’s abbot to interpret the lot.
The abbot, a very old man with a white beard hanging down to his neck and white eyebrows, made Jiang Yao feel somewhat apologetic for bothering such an elderly person, so she was even more respectful.
“My lady has nightmares and headaches daily, so we’ve come to draw a lot to see the cause.”
Suddenly, Song Muyun pinched Jiang Yao’s arm.
Jiang Yao shivered, realizing she had unintentionally used the intimate term she thought of her in her heart, causing the young girl to hide behind her, too shy to come forward.
Fortunately, the abbot, being wise and experienced, didn’t take issue with her words and just looked at the stick intently before suddenly saying, “A soul from another world.”
Jiang Yao was puzzled.
She wasn’t well-read and didn’t understand.
“Abbot, could you explain a bit more clearly?”
“The lady’s wife is entwined with the soul of someone who has passed away, causing frequent nightmares and headaches.”
Jiang Yao’s expression hardened. My wife is entangled with a ghost???
Shocked, she asked the abbot, “How can we make this soul stop bothering my wife?”
Song Muyun hadn’t expected this answer either. Hearing it, she turned pale and couldn’t even focus on Jiang Yao calling her “wife” again, just staring at the abbot in shock.
The abbot slowly shook his head under their gaze, “This soul is not from this world and is filled with deep resentment, difficult to dispel. It’s tied to you by a bond that spans lifetimes. Unless… she lets go of her hatred, the entanglement will not cease.”
Jiang Yao was stunned. What bond with me? How can I have a bond with a ghost?
She wasn’t interested in whether there was a fate or not; she just wanted to know, “So, even inviting a Taoist priest won’t work?”
The abbot shook his head, “It’s not that it won’t work; it’s that it would be useless.”
She couldn’t help but grip Song Muyun’s hand tighter, feeling anxious and helpless.
“Is there really no way at all?”
“There is none, unless you can make her let go of her hatred.”
Jiang Yao was at a loss. How could I possibly make it let go of its hatred when I don’t even know what it is? This is ridiculous.
Worried for Song Muyun, Jiang Yao also drew a lot for herself, still pondering what to do about Muyun, when the abbot suddenly exclaimed, “Oh—this lot of yours…”
Compared to her own lot, Song Muyun was more concerned about Jiang Yao’s, quickly asking the abbot, “What’s wrong with her lot? Is there a problem?”
“From dire straits to a reversal of fate? This lot of the young lady’s was supposed to be an extremely inauspicious one, indicating severance from all kin and dying with grievances. Yet, there’s an aspect of reversing fate against the heavens on it, turning it into an extremely auspicious one. Quite strange indeed.”
Hearing about severance from all kin and dying with grievances, Song Muyun’s face instantly turned pale. Jiang Yao too was taken aback, not from fear or worry, but shock. “Damn, this old man’s got something. He saw through that, huh? In the story, wasn’t I wronged and killed?”
The Jiang family was wrongfully accused and executed, wasn’t that severance from all kin?
So… is there really a ghost spirit entangling Muyun?
Jiang Yao was even more concerned than when she drew her own lot, not caring at all about her own supposed escape from dire circumstances. Given her father’s enmity with Murong Qing, and with her father’s cautious habits, it was unlikely for Murong Qing to become emperor, meaning she herself wouldn’t die. The real concern now was Muyun’s lot. If the abbot could reveal her original fate, then… could it be true that a ghost spirit was entangling Muyun?
She had never believed in this, but at this moment, she couldn’t help but believe.
Song Muyun’s complexion wasn’t looking good either, but not for herself, it was for Jiang Yao.
What does it mean by severance from all kin and dying with grievances? Was her original fate supposed to be like this?
But why should it be so!
Jiang Yao is such a good person; she shouldn’t have such a fate!
Only when she thought about the reversal of fate and surviving a desperate situation on the lot did Song Muyun feel somewhat relieved. The supposed dying with grievances… that shouldn’t happen, right?
Song Muyun was also somewhat disheartened, thinking about Jiang Yao’s lot, but when she looked up and saw Jiang Yao’s concerned face, the usually smiling woman without a trace of smile, she knew without asking that it was because of her own lot. She immediately stepped forward, shaking Jiang Yao’s hand gently, and said softly, “It’s okay, don’t worry about me. I haven’t had nightmares recently. But you, having heard the abbot’s interpretation of your lot, you need to be careful.”
Her voice couldn’t be more gentle as she said, “I know what’s in my heart, don’t be afraid, I will live and always protect you.”
Jiang Yao pulled Song Muyun into her arms, the two holding each other tightly.
It was as if she was comforting her, as well as comforting herself.
Although the abbot said they could only wait for the ghost spirit entangling Muyun to let go of its hatred and leave on its own, Jiang Yao still invited a Taoist priest to perform a ritual at the Jiang residence, hoping to drive away the so-called ghost spirit.
Whether it worked or not was uncertain, but indeed, in the following days, Muyun was no longer plagued by nightmares, and her spirits seemed to improve. Jiang Yao finally felt relieved, perhaps the abbot was just half-baked, spouting intimidating nonsense?
“The weather is nice today. Shall I take you out for a spring outing?”
Jiang Yao stood up straight and asked the lazily lounging Song Muyun.
Song Muyun then opened her eyes slightly, nodding with a soft voice, “Okay, you’ve been going out on your own these days. Have you finally thought of me today?”
“I’ve been busy helping to find Meng Xia’s whereabouts.”
Meng Xia was cautious, likely blending into the capital, but the leads had broken several times, and Jiang Yao herself had gone to check several times.
“Carry me, I want to go inside and change clothes.”
Song Muyun sat in the recliner, stretching out her arms and commanding lazily.
Jiang Yao, somewhat helpless but still obedient, bent down, one hand supporting her back and the other under her knees, lifting her up horizontally.
Song Muyun hooked her neck, her sleeve slipping down to reveal her snow-white, smooth arm.
The young girl, with a smile in her eyes, said, “In the future, even if you’re going to capture someone, can you take me with you? Don’t leave me at home alone.”
Even though the people at the Jiang residence were very kind, she still wanted to be with her, sticking to her.
Jiang Yao naturally couldn’t resist her, initially refusing firmly but after being coaxed for a short while, couldn’t help but agree.
How could she resist when the beauty was rubbing her lips against hers? She admitted defeat right away.
“If I take you out, I’ll only place you somewhere safe when I’m busy. You must remember not to run around, so I can find you, okay?”
She asked.
Being able to follow her and see her was already great, so Song Muyun naturally had no objections, quickly nodding her head.
Jiang Yao then carefully placed her on the bed to change clothes, but her eyes were fixed on her, scrutinizing her thoroughly.
Song Muyun’s face became even redder, and as she shed her outer garments, revealing the bruises underneath, it looked as though she had been mistreated.
Jiang Yao’s gaze deepened, forcing herself not to look at her to barely suppress the desires stirring within.
The young girl was still softly complaining, “It’s all your fault, my legs are still weak.”
“It’s because you seduced me.”
She only realized how husky her voice was when she spoke, like how it sounded when she whispered in her ear at night.
Song Muyun bit her lip, muttering, “It’s because you insisted on putting that bracelet and anklet on me. The bracelet was supposed to be for you.”
Jiang Yao raised an eyebrow, “Isn’t what’s mine also yours? We’re so close, yet you’re making such distinctions, you’re really breaking my heart.”
She feigned disappointment.
The young girl slipped on a dress, saying softly, “Who’s making distinctions? I’m just afraid one day you’ll find me too expensive to keep.”
Jiang Yao
, who had just turned her head away, immediately turned back, her eyes filled with displeasure, and spoke up, “I would find you burdensome??? Why would you think that? Who has been talking to you? I, who am rough and know nothing about poetry, am actually worried you would find me lacking!”
She had always known her temperament wasn’t the best, often scolding her, and her lifestyle was rough, not as delicate as a young girl like her, often making her uncomfortable. She worried that Muyun might one day dislike her, never imagining Muyun also secretly worried she would find her burdensome.
What’s there to worry about, dummy? She’s so wonderful; I’m incredibly lucky to have her as my wife.
Jiang Yao thought, looking down into the eyes of the girl who wouldn’t lift her head, demanding, “Why do you think I would find keeping you too expensive?”
Song Muyun turned her head away, barely audible, “It’s just that… every time you take me to buy jewelry, it’s so expensive. Two hundred taels is several months of my father’s salary, and you spend it just like that.”
“Two hundred taels might be several months of your father’s salary, but it’s nothing to me. Don’t you know about my assets?”
From the age of fourteen, her mother had given each of them two shops to manage on their own. Jiang Yao, not fond of studying but skilled in business, had made quite a profit. To her, two hundred taels was trivial.
Song Muyun, of course, didn’t know, but she wasn’t interested in Jiang Yao’s assets, only saying, “Every day you keep me at home, don’t you find me useless?”
Her voice was soft and tender, but underneath was a woman’s insecure heart.
Jiang Yao hadn’t realized she felt this insecure, but then again, those poetry-loving ladies were often overly sensitive. Perhaps her Yun’er was the same.
“Don’t belittle yourself. You keep me company every day, how could you be useless? Are you thinking too much because you’re bored at home?”
Song Muyun fell silent, lifting her bright eyes to look at her.
After thinking for a moment, Jiang Yao suddenly had an idea, “Then help me manage the accounts. I always get a headache looking at the account books. From now on, you look after them for me, okay? You’re my wife, and my shops are yours to manage. It’ll give you something to do, so no more overthinking.”
Jiang Yao stepped forward and embraced Song Muyun fully.
Song Muyun’s eyes lit up, but then she hesitated, “But I’ve never really looked at account books. What if I mess it up…”
What if she made a mistake in the accounts?
But Jiang Yao said, “It’s okay if you mess up. I’ll find someone to teach you, and I’ll be by your side to help you, okay?”
“Okay!”
Song Muyun was happy, her lips curling slightly. Having something to do at least made her feel she wasn’t just taking from Jiang Yao without contributing.
Seeing her happy, Jiang Yao’s expression also relaxed, feeling relieved. One, for Muyun’s happiness, and two, for not having to deal with those thick account books anymore. That truly was a life-saver.
With Song Muyun happy, Jiang Yao also had a good time. The two went out to the countryside for a spring outing and horseback riding. Not only was she allowed to ride the same horse as her beloved girl, but she also occasionally leaned down to kiss her, nibbling gently on the soft cheeks of the girl in her mouth. When she let go, the area was flushed red.
Song Muyun, breathing softly in her arms, told her not to do that again, worried about being seen by others.
Just as she said it, they heard someone calling her, a young, delicate female voice, calling her “elder sister.”
The only one who would call her that was the youngest sister of the Song family, Song Yusheng.
Song Muyun, her face flushing, hurriedly looked around for the caller, eventually spotting her somewhat anxious sister in a pavilion not far away.
“Jiang Yao, my sister is out for a spring outing too. Let’s go see her.”
“Okay, sure.”
Jiang Yao smoothly dismounted, then, ignoring the astonished looks of bystanders, carried Song Muyun down as well, leading the young girl towards the pavilion behind the lush trees.
Not only was Song Yusheng there, but also several other brothers from the Song family had come along.
Song Muyun, circling around the tree, called out, “Sheng’er, Yingdong, Qingdong, Xuandong, are you also out for a spring outing? And this is…”
A tall man had been standing with his back to them and didn’t turn around upon hearing her voice.
Only when she inquired did Song Yusheng run to hide behind Song Muyun, and he leisurely turned around.
The moment she saw Murong Qing, Song Muyun’s pupils tightened sharply, and her mind was filled with images of Murong Qing smiling deceitfully while whipping her. She swayed slightly, instinctively gripping Jiang Yao’s hand tightly.
Murong Qing, who had a gentle and scholarly smile on his face, froze when he turned and saw the red marks on Song Muyun’s face and neck, his expression gradually turning very dark.
Jiang Yao, feeling the grip on her hand, glared at Murong Qing without hiding her feelings, then hugged the wavering Song Muyun, asking softly what was wrong.
Song Muyun’s face was as white as paper, her mind flooded with images. In those scenes, she was covered in blood, hiding a knife in her embrace, waiting for an opportunity to kill Murong Qing.
Of course, she didn’t succeed and was shot through the heart by someone, dying in front of a shocked Murong Qing.
Why, why did she always see these things?
Either Murong Qing was beating her, or she was plotting to kill Murong Qing.
What kind of deep hatred did she have with Murong Qing?
Song Muyun wanted to see more clearly, but her head hurt terribly, scenes flashing by like a shadow play, so fast she sometimes couldn’t keep up, only feeling an excruciating headache.
She could hear Jiang Yao and her siblings’ urgent voices, seeming to carry her horizontally, ready to take her back for a doctor immediately.
She suddenly mustered a bit of strength to hold Jiang Yao’s hand, shaking her head with difficulty, “No need, I’m just a bit headache, it will be okay after a while, don’t worry.”
Jiang Yao, frowning more urgently, “How can I not worry when you look so pale? Is it because you saw Murong Qing and felt upset? Since there aren’t many people here, should I beat up Murong Qing to vent your anger?”
The Song siblings were stunned, and just as Murong Qing was about to speak, he heard her say this and became furious. How could Jiang Yao dare to say such things with him present?!
What right did she have, what was she being so arrogant about?
“Jiang Yao! Don’t you dare disregard the royal family!”
Jiang Yao truly didn’t regard him at all!
Why was she so arrogant? Murong Qing couldn’t understand. A mere daughter of a subject, yet she dared to command a prince. Where did her courage come from?
“Feeling any better? Want some water?”
Song Muyun collapsed into Jiang Yao’s embrace, her legs too weak to stand without support. She refused to lift her head, her brain buzzing with pain like it was splitting open. This was the most severe pain she had ever experienced, gripping Jiang Yao’s wrist so tightly she nearly left marks.
Jiang Yao, ignoring the pain in her hand, held Song Muyun close, gently patting her back and massaging her head, continuously asking, “Does it hurt? Does it still hurt?”
After a while, the person in her arms finally spoke up with a trembling cry, “Tell Murong Qing to leave. I get a headache just seeing him, wuu…”
Her voice was so pitiful; how could Jiang Yao not comply?
Her expression immediately turned cold.
She turned her head to face Murong Qing, who also harbored a killing intent beneath his cold demeanor. The Song siblings had already huddled together, too afraid to breathe loudly, fearing the conflict might extend to them.
Jiang Yao then said, “Seventh Prince, did you hear that? Muyun doesn’t want to see you. Please leave.”
Her eyes, filled with coldness and ferocity, signaled Murong Qing to leave before she took action.
Murong Qing’s face alternated between pale and flushed, “I merely wanted to inquire if Miss Song had any discomforts returning to the capital, Miss Jiang and Miss Song need not treat me as if I were a flood or savage beast.”
Now he didn’t call Muyun by her name?
Hearing this, Jiang Yao felt slightly better, but it didn’t quell her desire to drive Murong Qing away. What right did he have to scare her family member like this? Could he compensate if something went wrong?
“Hmph, Sheng’er has been away from the capital for only half a year. If there’s anything she’s unaccustomed to, I, as her sister, am here to take care of it. Why are you meddling? Moreover, there’s a distinction between men and women. You’re about to marry the daughter of the Chengguo Duke; you should pay more attention to Miss Li.”
Jiang Yao’s disdain was evident, leaving Murong Qing looking even worse. Still, he refused to leave, “Miss Song says she gets headaches seeing me, can’t I even ask why? I don’t know when I’ve offended Miss Song to such an extent that she detests me so.”
Murong Qing’s gaze was fixed on Song Muyun.
Song Muyun buried herself deeper in Jiang Yao’s embrace, her voice filled with pain and the first time in front of others, she lost her composure, increasingly repulsed by Murong Qing, chokingly saying, “Jiang Yao, tell him to leave. My head hurts so much, seeing him reminds me of things in my dreams, it’s terrifying.”
The young girl was on the verge of tears, how could Jiang Yao bear it?
The next second, she drew her soft sword, frightening Murong Qing pale, “Leave, don’t make me say it a second time. It’s quiet here, even if I beat you, no one will know.”
It was precisely because Murong Qing sought out the Song sister in such a secluded place, fearing others would know he was there, that he had no witness to Jiang Yao’s disrespect.
Frightened and furious, Murong Qing glared at Jiang Yao, his scholarly facade collapsing.
“I’m counting to three!” Jiang Yao declared, thrusting her sword into the ground. Murong Qing, not wanting to lose face but fearing a beating from Jiang Yao, a prince being beaten by a woman would be too shameful, hesitated and then, at the moment Jiang Yao counted to three and drew her whip, coldly turned and left.
After he left, Jiang Yao carried Song Muyun into the pavilion, placing her on her lap, with the four younger siblings following closely, concerned for their elder sister.
“Yun’er, does your head still hurt? Want to drink some water to feel better?”
After Murong Qing left, Song Muyun’s headache mysteriously vanished, though her eyes were still sore. She nestled obediently in Jiang Yao’s arms, nodded, and gently opened her lips. Jiang Yao fetched a gourd, carefully feeding her water, then massaged her head, asking how she felt now.
Her face remained pale, but she felt much better, though her voice was weak, clutching Jiang Yao’s sleeve, sounding somewhat aggrieved, “This is the first time it’s hurt so much. I thought I was going to die QAQ”
Jiang Yao was heartbroken, no longer caring about the younger siblings present, hugging her tightly and comforting, “Don’t talk nonsense about dying. How could you die? You won’t. I won’t let you, nor will I let anyone bully you. Stop saying such things.”
Song Muyun’s eyes welled up with tears, moved almost to the point of crying, until Song Yusheng uncertainly called out, “Elder sister?”
Hearing this tone, it was as if they doubted if Muyun was really herself.
But it indeed gave them a scare, and Song Muyun almost jumped out of Jiang Yao’s arms, gripping her collar, her eyes full of panic as she looked at her silent younger siblings, then whispered to Jiang Yao, “I forgot they were here. How embarrassing.”
“What’s there to be embarrassed about? They’re family.”
Jiang Yao, while comforting Song Muyun, invited the four siblings to sit down.
Seeing Muyun too embarrassed to speak to them, she took it upon herself to ask, “How come you were with Murong Qing?”
By now, the Song family had gotten used to Jiang Yao’s disregard for rank. Compared to pointing a sword at a prince, simply calling him by name was nothing.
The second eldest Song, Song Yingdong, honestly replied, “The Seventh Prince said he hadn’t seen Sheng’er for a long time and wanted to invite her for tea. We were worried, so we followed.”
Jiang Yao frowned, looking at the reserved Song Yusheng, “Murong Qing and I don’t get along, it might have affected you. Next time he invites you, there’s no need to go. Just tell me, and I’ll take care of him.”
With that, Jiang Yao made a threatening gesture, which scared them.
Song Muyun quickly stopped her, whispering, “What are you doing? He’s still a prince, you shouldn’t say things like that.”
“I know.” Jiang Yao responded, not with words but with actions.
Holding Song Muyun’s shoulder, she saw her younger siblings’ innocent and clear eyes and felt embarrassed to continue clinging to Jiang Yao, attempting to sit elsewhere.
However, whether it was the headache or she stood up too quickly, her vision blackened, and she nearly fainted, caught swiftly by Jiang Yao.
The panicked calls of her siblings echoed in her ears as she barely opened her eyes, admitting she felt unwell and probably couldn’t join them for the outing, prompting Jiang Yao to
leave instructions with them to seek her at the Jiang residence if needed, before carrying Song Muyun back on horseback.
The family physician was called to Hengwu Courtyard again, now familiar with the route unlike in previous years. He was summoned not for Jiang Yao but for the frail Miss Song, who frequently suffered from headaches and fevers.
“Miss Song’s condition baffles me. Her body shows no signs of illness, yet she frequently suffers from headaches. Did she sleep well last night?”
“She slept fine.”
The physician suggested another tonic, to which Jiang Yao, frustrated with ineffective remedies, declined.
Forced to lie in bed, Song Muyun appeared even more frail. Jiang Yao, concerned, asked if her activities the previous night had caused the headache.
Song Muyun, embarrassed, denied any correlation, insisting that she found it pleasurable and not exhausting.
Jiang Yao, reassured by Song Muyun’s response, felt proud of her efforts to ensure her comfort.
The night passed with intimate activities, accentuated by delicate adornments on Song Muyun’s wrists and ankles, highlighting her beauty.
Despite Jiang Yao’s consideration for Song Muyun’s condition, promising a gentle approach, the night was intense, leaving both drenched in sweat. The aftermath was comforting, with Jiang Yao taking care of Song Muyun, who fell asleep immediately after a soothing bath.
Together, they slept, unaware of the moment when Song Muyun’s body trembled and her eyes, filled with deep resentment, suddenly opened in the darkness.