The Princess’ Shadow Guard – Chapter 11
by Little PandaI’ll Be Gentle, It Won’t Hurt
The next evening, Ming Qin crouched patiently on a treetop. She waited until she saw the maid who cleaned and delivered meals leave the room before she pushed off her toes and ascended the tower.
The moment she saw her visitor, the usually expressionless Murong Yan put down the book in her hands. A faint smile touched her lips as she extended a hand toward her. “Ah Qin.”
Ming Qin moved forward to grasp the outstretched hand, half-supporting and half-hugging Murong Yan to help her sit up properly.
Then, while opening a bamboo container, she began to chatter. “So many people went to Jiang-dage’s place today, I almost didn’t get a spot in line! Good thing I woke up early.”
Yesterday’s ice-cold chicken soup had ended up in Ming Qin’s stomach. Today, while the soup was still hot, Ming Qin quickly ladled a bowl and pushed it in front of Murong Yan.
Watching Murong Yan take small sips of the soup, her lips gaining a slight oily sheen, Ming Qin used her chopsticks to debone the chicken, placing the tender shreds of meat into Murong Yan’s bowl.
After watching the woman eat with a satisfied look, Ming Qin turned to the exquisite, untouched food box the maid had delivered and started to dig in.
“Slower, slower.” Seeing Ming Qin wolfing down her food, Murong Yan was afraid she would choke. She reached out and poured all the remaining soup from the bamboo container into a bowl for her.
“No, that’s for you,” Ming Qin said, her mouth full, her chopsticks never stopping.
“I can’t drink that much anyway,” Murong Yan said, licking her lips and placing the bowl in front of Ming Qin in a placating manner.
The two ate in silence. Only when their eyes met could the ease and joy in their gazes be seen.
After they had tidied up the bowls and chopsticks, Ming Qin let Murong Yan lean against her, warming her cold fingertips with her own warm palm.
“Master went into the palace today. He came out beaming, so he probably got a chance to talk with Mistress,” Ming Qin prattled on. “From tomorrow until the third day of the new year, I have to enter the palace to stay by His Majesty the Emperor’s side in Mistress’s place. It’s a rare chance for Mistress to go back to the camp and see Master for New Year’s Eve,1 but it’s a pity I won’t be able to accompany you.”
“It’s no matter.” Murong Yan’s voice paused. “Is… His Majesty well?”
Ming Qin frowned and shook her head. “Mistress said His Majesty’s health was damaged in his early years. Combined with the gold poison accumulated in his body from years of tireless work, I’m afraid the outlook is not optimistic.”
Murong Yan lowered her eyes, silently turning her hand over to tightly clasp Ming Qin’s fingers.
Ming Qin reassuringly nuzzled Murong Yan’s temple. Noticing the slight weariness under her eyelids, she blew out the oil lamp by the window, carried Murong Yan to the water basin to wash up, and then placed her on the bed.
After helping Murong Yan let her hair down, Ming Qin lowered her head and skillfully removed the prosthetic limb. Then, she took out a jar of medicinal paste from her robes, scooped some out, and applied it to a scraped wound on the stump of Murong Yan’s right leg.
The cool ointment made Murong Yan flinch involuntarily.
Ming Qin lifted the woman’s skirt a little higher and placed her hands on the remaining upper part of Murong Yan’s right leg, beginning to slowly press and massage it.
A tingling numbness spread from Murong Yan’s tailbone2 to her neck, and goosebumps rose on the arm hidden beneath her sleeve.
Seeing the woman trembling slightly, Ming Qin thought she had hurt her and lightened her touch, comforting her, “Relax. I asked back at the camp. Wang-shibo and the others said massaging it like this will help. You won’t be in as much pain at night and can sleep better.”
She changed her hand position. “Look, it’s a little swollen here. I’ll be gentle, it won’t hurt.”
Murong Yan looked at Ming Qin’s earnest face, feeling a sense of shame and vexation with no outlet. A tightness constricted her chest, and her fingers clutched the quilt, trying to ignore the strange sensations in her body.
Fortunately, Ming Qin’s technique was indeed exceptional. As she felt the waves of warmth on her leg, Murong Yan, who had been propping herself up, gradually relaxed and sank softly against the pillows.
After about the time it takes to burn one stick of incense,3 Ming Qin heard Murong Yan’s regular breathing and finally stopped.
She pulled the skirt back down and quietly covered the woman with the quilt. “Sleep now.”
She added charcoal to the brazier and then watched Murong Yan’s peaceful, sleeping face for a long while.
“Sweet dreams.”
Ming Qin squatted quietly on the roof tiles of the Emperor’s Bedchamber, rubbing her eyes in boredom.
I really want to crack some melon seeds.
It was just past the third watch,4 and all around was silent. The only thing visible was the distant silhouette of a patrolling soldier outside the palace walls, his lantern swaying.
Having not moved for a long time, a layer of white snow had already accumulated on her shoulders. When a cold wind blew past, Ming Qin fought back a sneeze.
Clang. A faint sound came from within the bedchamber. Ming Qin’s ears twitched. Tense, she leaped from the roof and vaulted through the window into the room.
An old man with half-white hair, dressed in a single layer of robes, saw her enter and made a hushing gesture. Without calling for the palace attendants, he tried to right the candlestick he had knocked over.
Ming Qin silently went forward to help, then softly cupped her hands in a salute to the old man, preparing to leave.
“Wait,” the old man spoke, his voice somewhat weak.
Ming Qin froze, respectfully bowing her head with her hands at her sides, not daring to look at the food box of pastries on the table.
“Zhen has heard that you are acquainted with the Chongwen Commandery Princess?” the Emperor asked, slowly sitting down and looking at Ming Qin.
“Yes, Your Majesty. This subordinate and the Commandery Princess are friends,” Ming Qin answered deferentially.
The Emperor listened, seeming to find it a little incredible. After a moment of contemplation, he nodded. “Is that so.” He then asked with some hesitation, “Then the Commandery Princess… is she well?”
Tilting her head, Ming Qin thought about all that had happened recently and answered honestly, “The Commandery Princess is not doing well.”
“Yes, yes, how could she be well.” The Emperor shook his head and sighed. “It is Zhen who has wronged her, and Zhen has failed the Prince of Yu as well.”
Hearing this, Ming Qin became a little unhappy.
She spoke to the Emperor with a touch of stubbornness, “The Commandery Princess will get better.”
Although her health is poor, and she almost coughed up blood from anger because of me, her mood seemed so good when we were together a few days ago.
“She will get better!”
Hearing the Shadow Guard’s blunt words, the Emperor was taken aback. But far from being annoyed, he pointed to the wooden chair opposite him, gesturing for Ming Qin to sit.
He then said with a slight smile, “Zhen heard from your Master that you are a kind and simple good child. Seeing you today, it is indeed so.”
Ming Qin was a bit surprised, not expecting that the lofty Emperor would have even heard of her.
“Good child, will you do something for Zhen?” The Emperor opened the food box and pushed it toward Ming Qin. His tone was gentle, yet it held an air that brooked no refusal, making Ming Qin nod, flustered.
“If one day, Zhen is no longer here, can you help Zhen protect the Commandery Princess? And bring her safely back to the Northern Border?”
Hearing the Emperor’s words, Ming Qin breathed a sigh of relief.
“Of course! This subordinate will protect the Commandery Princess well and not let any bad people harm her.” Ming Qin made a fist with her right hand, her tone resolute. “Even if it means sacrificing my life, I will not hesitate.”
After she finished speaking, she suddenly remembered the palace etiquette her Master had repeatedly drilled into her. She said stiffly, “…However, Your Majesty must not say such inauspicious things. Your Majesty… Your Majesty’s… esteemed dragon body5 can enjoy ten thousand years of life, how… how could there… be a day when you are no longer here?”
The Emperor looked at the red-faced Ming Qin, who was scratching her head and stumbling over her words, mincing them so carefully.6 He waved his hand in amusement. “Enough, enough. Don’t play that game with Zhen. It doesn’t suit you.”
Hearing this, Ming Qin finally relaxed, swallowing as she looked at the food box and began to choose a pastry.
The author has something to say:
It’s amazing, my collection count has actually broken forty.
Some lovely friends have also left me messages of encouragement, which makes me really happy~
It’s the kind of bliss you feel when you find out others also like the things you like.
Thank you to everyone who, by fate, has read these words. I wish you all a pleasant week.
LP: Re-translated on June 08, 2025
Footnotes
- Chúxī (除夕), the last day of the lunar year, is a crucial time for family reunions in Chinese culture.
- The original text specifies the wěizhuī (尾椎), or coccyx, indicating the sensation starts from the very base of the spine.
- A traditional time measurement, usually lasting about 15 to 30 minutes.
- Sān gēng (三更), the third of five night watches in traditional Chinese timekeeping, corresponds to Zǐshí (子时), which is from 11 PM to 1 AM.
- The lóng tǐ (龙体), or ‘dragon body,’ is a respectful term for the emperor’s person, linking him to the divine dragon and emphasizing his sacred status.
- The original is yǎowén jiáozì (咬文嚼字), an idiom that literally means ‘to bite texts and chew words,’ describing someone being overly pedantic or speaking in a stilted, unnatural way.
The emperor is a cool dude it seems
Her dad (the emperor’s brother) and her brother have a bunch of military troops there.
Basically if the current emperor was dead and the princess returned to the north they’d be all set to overthrow the crown prince.
Wait, what’s gonna happend if the princess is in the north? I forgot something, any way thank you for the chapter!!