The Princess’ Shadow Guard – Chapter 12
by Little PandaLunar New Year’s Eve Drunken Confession (Exchange of Tokens)
On Lunar New Year’s Eve, the Capital blazed with trees of silver flowers and fireworks1 — every gate and every household was dyed in the festive red of celebration. Even from a distance, one could feel the warmth of the voices rising from the streets and alleyways.
In the distance, the fireworks were brilliant and dazzling, burst after burst of splendor blooming in the night sky, framing the solitary figure of a beautiful woman in the high tower, her silhouette desolate.
Murong Yan lay at an angle in the darkness. Colorful points of light illuminated the clear sake in her hand; on the table lay a sumptuous feast, completely untouched. She simply stared blankly out the window.
This kind of loneliness — she ought to be used to it by now.
Murong Yan swirled the wine cup in her hand. Watching the brilliant lights in the distance mingling with the silhouettes of joyous people, she found it piercing to her eyes.
The entire Capital’s jubilation covered the winter cold, yet it did not reach her heart.
She only felt her chest remained hollow. Even with warm wine in her belly, her body still felt cold.
She gave a soft snort, self-mocking.
Knowing clearly what she was longing for now, Murong Yan felt only a sigh rise within her.
She had always been calm and self-possessed — yet now it seemed she had contracted an addiction she could not shake. Was it because she had been immersed in cold for too long, or because that person’s embrace was too warm?
The fireworks scattered.
Tilting her head back, she drained the cup. Murong Yan reached out to close the window — but a figure clad entirely in black night-walking clothes2 appeared at the opening. Her gaze suddenly met a pair of bright, sparkling eyes.
“I’ve come to pay a New Year’s call!” Ming Qin grinned, happy as an innocent child, her chin resting on her arms as she leaned on the windowsill. “Happy New Year!”
Before Murong Yan could recover her senses, Ming Qin climbed in, hands and feet scrabbling over the ledge.
“How did Ah Qin suddenly have free time today?” Murong Yan did not realize the surprise rising in her own heart. One hand pressed to her chest, the other brushing snow from Ming Qin’s shoulder, she asked softly.
“Shixiong — Cao Yun-shixiong — said he was willing to cover my shift today!” Ming Qin answered while catching Murong Yan’s hand, stopping her from continuing. “Don’t touch! The snow is cold.”
“Willing to give up rest on Lunar New Year’s Eve?” Murong Yan was surprised inwardly, but her tone was deliberately restrained, indifferent. “Your Cao Yun-shixiong is truly good to you.” She smoothed Ming Qin’s collar.
“He is! Ah-Yun-ge is truly a tremendously good person!”
Ming Qin did not catch the subtle shift in the woman’s tone. She just continued excitedly, “Cao Yun-shixiong is much better than Lin Yan-shixiong! Lin Yan-shixiong is always nagging — he won’t even practice with me, and he’s always going to the teahouse.”
“Is that so?” Murong Yan’s hand moved to Ming Qin’s neck, unconsciously tightening. Then she gently pinched, as if unwilling to let the person before her continue speaking.
Abruptly anxious to change the subject, she asked, “Are you hungry?”
Oblivious Ming Qin nodded, looking at the dishes on the table, then grew a bit embarrassed. “I came straight from the palace as soon as my shift ended. I was afraid of missing the time to keep watch for the New Year3 with you, so I didn’t have time to eat anything.”
“This…” Murong Yan’s hand stilled. Joy showed on her face as she asked, “Does Ah Qin mean to keep watch for the New Year with me?”
“Of course.” Ming Qin picked up the chopsticks without hesitation. “You’ll eat with me too? This is the New Year’s Eve feast!”
Though she felt a bit sorry toward shimu, compared to going to Master’s house to eat shimu’s cooking and being teased by everyone, Ming Qin preferred staying with Murong Yan and eating the sumptuous food at Cangyue Tower.
Murong Yan, who had had no appetite before, also picked up her chopsticks and served herself a little. Watching Ming Qin eat with such relish, she felt a rare appetite and ate half a bowl more than usual.
“This is so much better than what Shiniang usually makes!” After a whirlwind of eating, Ming Qin patted her belly in satisfaction.
Murong Yan smiled at her blissful expression.
If the imperial chefs in the palace knew their painstaking work was being compared to the wife of a Shadow Guard commander, they would probably weep into their sleeves in despair.
“Oh no!”
Ming Qin suddenly exclaimed. In her haste to eat, she had taken a large gulp from the jade pot nearby without thinking. Only now, smelling it carefully, did she detect a faint scent of wine. “I really can’t drink alcohol.”
“It’s fine for Shadow Guards not on duty to have a little wine. His Majesty won’t blame you.” Murong Yan was slightly puzzled by Ming Qin’s inexplicable nervousness, and comforted her gently.
“But… Master repeatedly warned me never to drink alcohol.” Ming Qin twisted her hands together, anxious. “Shijie also always tells me I absolutely must not drink with anyone.”
“It’s all right. Only I know about this — I certainly won’t tell anyone.” Murong Yan drew Ming Qin’s hand into hers, soothing gently. “Besides, I’m not just anyone, am I?”
Ming Qin was just about to say something when crackling firecracker sounds came from outside. She froze, looking toward the window.
Streaks of white light and smoke coursed through the Capital’s streets and alleyways, radiating festivity.
About one stick of incense4 later, after Ming Qin had cleared away the bowls and chopsticks, Murong Yan sat lazily in Ming Qin’s embrace, watching the lights of the Capital’s households and the curling wisps of smoke from chimneys. A smile touched her lips. “It’s a pity. I didn’t know you were coming today, so I didn’t prepare any New Year’s gift money5 for you.”
Ming Qin’s face flushed slightly. She shook her head vigorously. “Shadow Guards get plenty of pay. I don’t need money.”
Then, after a beat, she added slowly, “Besides, only children need New Year’s gift money. I’m nearly twenty-three. I don’t need it!”
A long while passed — so long that Ming Qin grew drowsy and sleepy. Only then did Murong Yan raise her head to gaze at Ming Qin and ask softly, “If you don’t want money, then what does Ah Qin want?”
Looking at the incomparable beauty in her arms, Ming Qin’s eyes went misty, her head growing heavy. She felt her brain growing hot, her temples throbbing.
“What does Ah Qin want?” The woman pressed, both hands wrapping around Ming Qin’s neck, her beautiful face drawing closer.
What must I give you to make you stay for me?
Their lips were only inches apart. Ming Qin’s consciousness seemed veiled in thin mist as she stared blankly at Murong Yan’s face, which seemed somehow urgent.
A pleasant floral scent came to the tip of her nose — peonies, perhaps.
“Yanyan.” The thought in her mind slipped out unbidden. She smiled brilliantly. “Yanyan, so beautiful.” The back of her hand stroked the woman’s cheek, nuzzling gently.
Such sudden, direct words, such rare intimacy — Murong Yan colored slightly, not knowing how to respond.
Yet she was also surprised in her heart. The person before her, every breath laced with the scent of wine — was this why Ming Qin’s Master and shijie wouldn’t let her drink?
Because Ah Qin got tipsy from just one cup, all muddled and confused?
Truly adorable.
She forced herself to steady her thoughts. Looking at this person who had completely let down her guard, Murong Yan coaxed patiently, “Does Ah Qin want Yanyan?”
Ming Qin’s face was completely red, her expression dazed as she nodded. “Want Yanyan. Like.”
“Ah Qin likes Yanyan, doesn’t she? And will never leave Yanyan, right?” Murong Yan’s breathing grew rapid, her voice lifting, urgent to hear the person before her affirm it.
“Like Yanyan. Never leave.” Ming Qin answered in a low voice. Such direct words made Murong Yan’s heart tremble.
She had said it. Said the promise Murong Yan most desperately needed.
Possessiveness, higher than she had realized, was satisfied in this moment.
Murong Yan raised her hand, tightly gripping Ming Qin’s palm that was pressed to her own cheek.
Ming Qin kept speaking. “…Like Yanyan. Also like candy, like baozi, like shaobing, like Shijie, shimu, Master…”
After a string of mumbling, she let out soft snores.
Listening to Ming Qin’s sleep-talk, the emotional Murong Yan fell silent for a moment, then laughed softly, a little helpless in her heart.
Fine. At least she personally said she liked me, said she wouldn’t leave.
Though right now she’s placing me alongside candy, baozi, and shaobing, she still has time.
Be patient. Absolutely cannot rush, she told herself.
Someday, she will become the person Ah Qin cares about most.
Someday.
When Ming Qin woke and realized she had slept past the time for the New Year’s vigil, her face went pale with panic. She nearly fell to her knees and kowtowed — until Murong Yan gently patted her cheek and coaxed her back to calm.
“I’m so sorry.” Ming Qin looked guilt-stricken, the corners of her mouth drooping almost to the ground.
Murong Yan adjusted her position in Ming Qin’s arms and comforted her. “Ah Qin, staying by my side counts as keeping the New Year’s vigil with me. Don’t blame yourself anymore.”
As if to distract Ming Qin, she asked, “Since there’s no New Year’s gift money tonight, think about what in this room you like. Take it.”
Her entire room — even a spoon or a bowl — was no ordinary thing. Let alone the landscape paintings on the walls, the furniture and decorations.
But if Ming Qin liked it, even something worth ten thousand taels would be worth it for her to smash for fun.
Ming Qin looked around, frowning as she thought hard. Then she looked down at the woman in her arms and asked, “Is this all right?”
Garnets6 hung from Murong Yan’s earlobes, gleaming with a red so deep it was almost black.
Murong Yan touched her ear and asked, “Just this pair of earrings? What about that scroll painting over there?”
Ming Qin shook her head. “I only want one. I can’t wear the others on my body, but this one I can.”
“If Ah Qin likes gemstones, she can take whatever she wants from the box in front of the dressing mirror.” Murong Yan spoke as she removed the garnet earring from her right ear.
“I only like this one!” Ming Qin said stubbornly, holding her hand straight out.
Murong Yan smiled and placed the item in her palm.
Ming Qin, who had no pierced ears, took the earring and forcefully thrust it through her right ear. She seemed to feel nothing as she wiped away the bead of blood on her earlobe with her finger.
Ming Qin said softly, “The garnet color suits you especially well. If I carry your color with me, I can think of you all the time.”
Murong Yan’s movements stilled as she gently wiped Ming Qin’s finger with a handkerchief. She looked at the only color now on Ming Qin’s body — that deep red garnet, from herself.
It was as if Ming Qin’s entire body now bore only her mark.
“Then what about mine? What is Ah Qin’s color?” Murong Yan’s throat felt dry.
Ming Qin scratched her head, thinking. She undid her bound hair and took down a cord nearly two feet long — a knot braided from three strands of black cord.
“I only have this! I wove this hair cord myself. It’s very sturdy.” She spoke proudly.
But then, Ming Qin looked at Murong Yan, then at her own rather humble belonging. She felt it wasn’t quite suitable. Just as she was about to stuff it back in her pocket, the woman snatched it away.
“Hey… don’t!” Ming Qin was embarrassed, reaching to take it back. “That black thing… it doesn’t suit you at all.”
“But I like it.” Murong Yan turned her head and tied the slender cord onto the hairpin that secured her falling horse bun7. “This is my New Year’s gift.”
“Absolutely not! I’ll buy something better for you later!” Ming Qin said in sudden panic.
“But I want this one.” Murong Yan’s eyes held a smile, but her tone was firm.
She only wanted this one. This one was the best.
The author has something to say:
Ahhh, finally! The token exchange!! I’ve been waiting to write this scene for so long! The garnet earring and the hair cord — they’re wearing each other’s tokens now. Ming Qin literally pierced her own ear for Murong Yan, and Murong Yan tied that humble black cord onto her hairpin without a second thought.
Also, Cao Yun is the MVP of this chapter for taking the New Year’s Eve shift so these two could be together. He really is a good shixiong!
Thank you all for reading and commenting — I read every single one. See you next chapter!
Footnotes
- A poetic description (huǒshù yínhuā) evoking a spectacular fireworks display, as if trees were blooming with silver flowers.
- Night-walking clothes (yèxíngyī) — stealth attire worn for covert movement at night.
- Shousui (守岁) — the tradition of staying awake through the night on Lunar New Year's Eve to welcome the new year with one's family.
- One stick of incense (yīzhùxiāng) — a traditional measure of time, roughly 15 to 30 minutes.
- Yasuiqian (压岁钱) — money traditionally given to children during Lunar New Year's Eve to ward off evil spirits and bring good fortune in the coming year.
- Garnet (shíliúshí) — a deep red gemstone, named for its resemblance to the seeds of a pomegranate (shíliu).
- A jì mǎ jì is a traditional Chinese hairstyle where the hair is coiled high on the head and secured with a hairpin or cord, named for its resemblance to a horse's tail.
whoa there author
cuteness overload omg
They’re way too cute. That’s so adorable, I think murong yan was getting a lil jelly at the start there