The Princess’ Shadow Guard – Chapter 11
by Little PandaI’ll Press Gently, It Won’t Hurt
The next evening, Ming Qin crouched patiently on a treetop. She waited until the servant girl who cleaned and delivered meals had left the room before lightly pushing off the branches to ascend the tower.
Murong Yan, whose face had originally been expressionless, set down the book in her hand the moment she saw her visitor. A soft smile touched the corners of her lips as she reached her hand out slightly. “Ah Qin.”
Ming Qin stepped forward and grasped the outstretched hand, half-hugging and half-supporting Murong Yan to help her sit upright.
Then, as she uncorked the bamboo tube in her hands, she rambled on, “There were so many people going to Jiang-dage’s place today, I almost didn’t make the cut! Good thing I woke up early.”
Yesterday’s icy chicken soup had ultimately all ended up in Ming Qin’s stomach. Today, taking advantage of the fact that the soup was still piping hot, Ming Qin quickly ladled out a bowl and pushed it in front of Murong Yan.
Watching Murong Yan scoop the soup in small, delicate sips, her lips catching a glossy sheen of oil, Ming Qin used her chopsticks to debone the meat, placing tender shreds of chicken into Murong Yan’s bowl.
Gazing with satisfaction at the eating woman, Ming Qin then turned toward the exquisite tiered food box that the servant girl had delivered—which Murong Yan hadn’t touched at all—and began wolfing down its contents.
“Slow down, slow down.” Seeing Ming Qin devouring the food like a starving wolf, Murong Yan feared she would choke. She reached out and scooped the remaining soup from the bamboo tube, giving it entirely to her.
“Don’t, that’s for you.” Ming Qin’s hand didn’t stop wielding her chopsticks; her words were muffled around her mouthful.
“I couldn’t drink any more even if I tried.” Murong Yan licked her lips and set the bowl in front of Ming Qin, speaking in a soothing tone.
The two shared the meal in comfortable silence. Only when their eyes met could one see the relaxed joy in their gazes.
After clearing away the bowls and chopsticks, Ming Qin let Murong Yan lean back into her embrace, using her warm palms to heat Murong Yan’s icy fingertips.
“Master entered the Imperial Palace today. When he came out, he was beaming from ear to ear. He probably found time to speak with Shiniang,” Ming Qin chattered. “From tomorrow until the third day of the new year1, I have to take Shiniang’s place, entering the palace to stay by His Majesty the Emperor’s side. It’s a rare chance for Shiniang to return to the camp and spend Lunar New Year’s Eve2 with Master. It’s just a pity that I won’t be able to keep you company.”
“It’s no matter.” Murong Yan’s voice paused. “His Majesty… is he doing well?”
Ming Qin frowned and shook her head. “Shiniang said His Majesty’s body suffered early on. Between his day and night toils and the gold poison accumulating in his body, I’m afraid his prognosis is not very optimistic.”
Murong Yan lowered her eyes, silently turning her palm to tightly interlock her fingers with Ming Qin’s.
Nuzzling Murong Yan’s temple soothingly, Ming Qin noticed the faint weariness beneath her eyelids. She blew out the oil lamp by the window, carried Murong Yan to the water basin to wash up, and then settled her onto the bed.
After helping let down Murong Yan’s hair, Ming Qin lowered her head and skillfully detached the prosthetic limb. Then, she pulled a small jar of ointment from her robes, scooped out a dollop, and applied it to the scraped skin at the amputation stump of Murong Yan’s right leg.
The icy ointment made Murong Yan flinch involuntarily.
Ming Qin lifted the woman’s skirt a little higher. Pressing both hands against the remaining upper thigh of Murong Yan’s right leg, she slowly began to massage it back and forth.
A tingling numbness spread from Murong Yan’s tailbone to the nape of her neck. Beneath her sleeves, goosebumps broke out along her arms.
Seeing the slightly trembling woman, Ming Qin thought she had hurt her. She lightened her force and offered comfort, “Relax a bit. I went back to camp and asked around. Martial Uncle Wang and the others said pressing like this will make it feel better. If you don’t ache as easily at night, you’ll be able to sleep better.”
She shifted her hand positioning. “Look, it’s a bit swollen here. I’ll press gently, it won’t hurt.”
Looking at Ming Qin’s deeply earnest face, Murong Yan only felt a rush of embarrassed frustration with nowhere to vent. Her chest grew incredibly tight, and her fingers seized the blanket in a death grip, desperately trying to ignore the strange sensations coursing through her body.
Fortunately, Ming Qin’s technique was indeed exceptional. Feeling the waves of warmth spreading across her leg, Murong Yan, who had been holding herself rigid, gradually relaxed as she grew accustomed to the touch. Her body sank softly against the pillows.
After roughly one stick of incense3, Ming Qin finally withdrew her hands upon hearing Murong Yan’s steady, rhythmic breathing.
Pulling down the lifted skirt, Ming Qin quietly tucked the covers over the woman. “Sleep.”
She added more charcoal to the brazier, then sat gazing at Murong Yan’s peaceful sleeping face for a long while.
“Sweet dreams.”
Ming Qin crouched silently on the roof tiles of the Emperor’s bedchamber, rubbing her eyes in mild boredom.
I really want to crack some melon seeds.
It was just past the third watch4. The surroundings were deathly still. Only the distant silhouettes of patrolling soldiers swaying with their lanterns could be seen beyond the palace walls.
Since she had remained motionless for a long time, a layer of white snow had already accumulated on her shoulders. As a cold wind blew past, Ming Qin fought hard to suppress a sneeze.
Clatter. A faint noise drifted out from within the bedchamber. Ming Qin’s ears twitched. Tensing, she leaped down from the roof and slipped through a window into the room.
A half-white-haired old man in thin nightclothes looked at the intruder and made a shushing gesture. Without calling for the palace eunuchs, he reached out, trying to right a toppled candlestick.
Ming Qin stepped forward in silence to help. Afterward, she offered the old man a quiet bow with cupped hands, preparing to leave.
“Wait,” the old man said, his voice somewhat weak and breathless.
Ming Qin didn’t dare to move. She bowed respectfully, her hands resting at her sides, not daring to look at the food box full of pastries sitting on the table.
“We have heard that you are acquainted with Commandery Princess Chongwen?” the Emperor asked as he slowly sat down, looking toward Ming Qin.
“Yes, Your Majesty. This subordinate and the Commandery Princess are friends,” Ming Qin replied obediently.
Hearing this, the Emperor seemed to find it somewhat unbelievable. After a moment of deep thought, he nodded. “Is that so.” Then, with a hint of hesitation, he asked, “Then, the Commandery Princess… is she doing well?”
Tilting her head to consider everything that had happened recently, Ming Qin answered honestly, “The Commandery Princess is not doing very well.”
“Yes, yes. How could she possibly be well?” The Emperor shook his head and sighed. “It is We who have wronged her, and let down the Prince of Yu as well.”
Ming Qin felt a bit displeased hearing this.
Facing the Emperor, she spoke with a touch of stubbornness. “The Commandery Princess will get better.”
Even though her health was poor, and she had almost been angered to the point of vomiting blood by Ming Qin before, the Commandery Princess had seemed to be in a very good mood when they were together these past few days.
“She will get better!”
Stunned by the Shadow Guard’s straightforward words, the Emperor froze for a moment. Instead of getting angry, he pointed to the wooden chair opposite him, gesturing for Ming Qin to sit down.
A smile then touched the corners of his lips. “We heard your master say that you are a kind and simple, good child. Seeing you today, it truly is so.”
Ming Qin had never expected the lofty and supreme His Majesty the Emperor to have heard of her. She was somewhat surprised.
“Good child, will you do Us a favor?” The Emperor opened the food box and pushed it toward Ming Qin. His tone was gentle, yet it carried an air that brooked no refusal, prompting Ming Qin to nod with a bit of flustered awkwardness.
“If there comes a day when We are no longer here, could you help Us protect the Commandery Princess? To safely bring the Commandery Princess back to the Northern Borders?”
Hearing the Emperor’s words, Ming Qin breathed a sigh of relief.
“Of course! This subordinate will protect the Commandery Princess well and won’t let bad people hurt her.” Ming Qin clenched her right fist, her tone resolute. “Even if it costs my life, I will not hesitate.”
After finishing her declaration, Ming Qin suddenly remembered the palace rules her master had painstakingly drilled into her. She added stiffly, “…However, Your Majesty must absolutely not say such unlucky things. Your Majesty… Your Majesty… possesses a precious dragon body that will enjoy ten thousand years of longevity5. How… how could there ever be… a day when you are no longer here?”
Looking at Ming Qin—who was blushing furiously, stammering, scratching her head, and fumbling with flowery words—the Emperor waved his hand in amusement. “Enough, enough. Don’t play those games with Us; it doesn’t suit you.”
Hearing the Emperor say this, Ming Qin finally let out a breath of relief. Swallowing hard, she looked at the food box and began to pick out a treat.
The author has something to say:
So magical, favorites actually broke forty.
There are also some lovely friends who leave comments to cheer me on, which makes me really happy~
It gives me a sense of happiness knowing that something I like is also liked by others.
Thank you to everyone who has the fate to read these words. Wishing you all a pleasant week.
Footnotes
- Refers to the third day of the first lunar month (chūsān), part of the traditional Chinese New Year festivities.
- The traditional Chinese Lunar New Year's Eve (chúxī), a vital time dedicated to family reunions and bidding farewell to the old year.
- A traditional Chinese measure of time (yīzhùxiāng), referring to the duration a single incense stick takes to burn down — roughly 15 to 30 minutes.
- The third watch (sān gēng) of the night in traditional Chinese timekeeping, spanning roughly from 11 p.m. to 1 a.m. It indicates the dead of night.
- In imperial China, the emperor was associated with the dragon, and his physical body was reverently called the 'dragon body' (lóngtǐ). Wishing the emperor 'ten thousand years of longevity' (wànshòu) was the standard formal blessing for his eternal health and reign.
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!!