The Princess’ Shadow Guard – Chapter 22
by Little PandaLP: Hey, everyone! I apologize for my absence this past few days. The previous site got permanently suspended and so has been busy moving everything to this new site and fixing links. I have already requested for Novelupdates to fix the affected links because of this. I apologize for the inconvenience caused, and happy reading!
Senior Sister and the Oblivious Couple
When her Shifu entrusted Ming Qin with the task of delivering a letter out of the city, she was willing.
To be more precise, it would be no exaggeration to say that Ming Qin accepted this month-long mission with tears of gratitude, scrambling out of the city like a fugitive.
On this scorching summer day, the Shadow Guard, dressed in a long black robe, was sweating profusely on horseback, her mind a jumble of chaotic thoughts.
Ever since that kiss, Ming Qin’s mind, which rarely dwelled on or agonized over things, had not stopped spinning.
She had never heard that the completeness of one’s makeup had to be tested with a kiss.
Even after asking every junior sister in the entire Shadow Guard Camp, not even Junior Sister Qin, who was the most skilled in rouge and powder and often went undercover in brothels, had ever heard of such a method being some kind of exclusive royal secret technique.
From that day on, whenever Ming Qin saw Murong Yan, she would think of that silk-like touch and lick her lips uncontrollably.
The young Shadow Guard couldn’t help but clutch her head. By being so audacious and reckless, aren’t I just like one of those frivolous flower-plucking scoundrels?
When she bid farewell to Murong Yan before leaving the capital, the woman had remained impassive and unresponsive, even upon hearing she would be gone for a month. Just before she left, Murong Yan had silently handed her a jade jar containing a scented balm she had mixed herself.
Feeling the jar tucked in her sleeve, the person on the horse felt completely baffled, unable to understand why Murong Yan would suddenly give her such a thing.
Ming Qin never used scented balms.
A Shadow Guard must move stealthily, blending into the crowd, and it was best for their body to be clean and free of any scent.
But Murong Yan’s scented balm exuded a peony fragrance as gorgeous as the woman herself, its bold aroma seeming to announce its presence to everyone nearby. As a Shadow Guard, she could never use it.
Ming Qin was vexed, feeling an urgent need to vent.
A sharp sound sliced through the air.
Looking up without a hint of surprise, Ming Qin turned and reached out, catching the arrow that had been shot at her.
She looked at the dozen or so masked men behind her, each holding a weapon with murderous intent in their eyes, and couldn’t help but sigh.
“What a terrible pity.”
She leaped off her horse and moved with swiftness.
With a swish, Ming Qin, sword in hand, suddenly appeared before the man holding the bow. A smile played on her lips as she slashed upward, cutting through his chest before he even had time to react.
Seeing the woman close the distance in a matter of breaths, the surrounding crowd immediately raised their weapons and charged at her with a roar.
Amidst the glint of blades and the spray of blood, Ming Qin nonchalantly kicked up a cloud of dust. The once-clear field of vision suddenly blurred. A dark shadow brandished its sword wantonly through the crowd, and cries of pain rose and fell one after another.
In less than half a quarter-hour, she was the only one left standing in a pool of blood.
Ming Qin rolled her shoulders, which made two crackling sounds, and then let out a long, deep sigh.
“It’s such a pity for you all.” Ming Qin wiped her sword on the sleeve of one of the corpses. “My mind was in utter chaos just now, and I happened to be in desperate need of a fight.”
Splattered with dots of crimson blood, her face was calm despite her apologetic tone, and she revealed a pure, innocent smile as if she couldn’t care less.
“My sincerest apologies.”
Murong Yan stared out the window, bored. The book in her hand had been open for half an hour, yet she hadn’t turned a single page.
Ah Qin had been out of the city for over half a month, and she truly missed her dearly.
Murong Yan couldn’t help but smile when she thought of how Ming Qin had looked the last time they met.
Still at a loss, not daring to look me in the eye, her gaze wandering and her fingers tightly clutching her cuffs.
But as if worried that I would be concerned by her long absence, she rambled on for ages about how simple the mission was, then nervously reminded me to eat well and sleep well.
Occasionally, she would stare blankly at my lips, but her eyes would quickly dart away the moment I looked at her.
As adorable as if she were committing some monumental crime.
Murong Yan’s heart filled with delight as she recalled the image of Ming Qin unconsciously licking her lips after looking away.
Her mind may be slow, but her body is quite honest.
A low chuckle escaped her.
Returning to her senses, Murong Yan found she could no longer focus on the book. She was about to blow out the candle and retire for the night when she heard several strange noises from outside the window.
It can’t be Ah Qin, Murong Yan thought.
Not only because Ah Qin was on a mission, but also because Ah Qin came and went without a sound.
Who else would climb Cangyue Tower in the middle of the night?
The number of people in the capital who could scale Cangyue Tower could be counted on one hand. Who could it be?
Could it be a lecherous thief?
Murong Yan pulled the hairpin1 from her hair and gripped it tightly, holding her breath and preparing to stab the intruder the moment they made a move.
As the window was pushed open, just as the hairpin in Murong Yan’s hand was about to pierce the visitor, she heard a woman shield her neck and say urgently, “This subordinate official is Qinqin’s Senior Sister! Commandery Princess, show mercy!”
The sharp point remained pressed against the climber’s skin, not moving an inch.
After a few breaths, Murong Yan asked in a heavy voice, “Under which tree in the Shadow Guard Camp is Senior Brother Li’s wine hidden?”
“Qinqin doesn’t have a Senior Brother with the surname Li. If you mean Senior Brother Lin, his privately brewed plum wine is buried under the third tree to the right of the Shadow Guard Camp’s west gate. Although Qinqin found it, this one has almost finished drinking it all,” the woman said, her tone rushed.
After a pause, Murong Yan, who was holding the weapon with a fierce expression, finally said, “You really are Ah Qin’s Senior Sister.”
Scanning the woman before her, Song Shuqing, from head to toe, Murong Yan withdrew the hairpin and loosely pinned up her hair. Her body, which had been propped up by sheer will, swayed as if about to fall. Just as Song Shuqing was about to reach out and help, she snapped.
“Don’t touch me!”
Then, using her own arm strength, she slowly moved herself to the chaise lounge, maintaining the dignity of a Commandery Princess even so.
Only then did Murong Yan raise her eyes to look at Song Shuqing and ask, “What urgent matter brings you to This Palace so late at night?”
Seeing her stern attitude, Song Shuqing was not offended. She simply offered a respectful bow and said with a composed expression, “This subordinate official’s name is Song Shuqing, and I am Ming Qin’s Senior Sister. This one is deeply sorry for being so presumptuous today, but there is a letter that must be delivered to Commandery Princess Chongwen.”
She reached into her sleeve, took out a secret missive from a bamboo tube, and handed it to the Commandery Princess.
Taking the letter, Murong Yan read it carefully, her brows slightly furrowed.
After the time it takes to drink a cup of tea2, she used the flame from the oil lamp to light the letter, extended her arm out the window, and only released her grip when it was nearly burnt to ash, letting the embers drift away with the night wind.
After pouring herself a pot of tea, Murong Yan suddenly spoke.
“It seems the Fifth Prince passed away from illness today?”
Song Shuqing paused, then nodded slightly.
“He passed during the Shen hour3. The news has not yet leaked.” She had always known that her own intelligence was so great as to be almost demonic4, and with the memories of a past life, her thinking was unconventional. Her master had always called her a monstrous talent.
Usually, it was Song Shuqing who amazed others. But now, this Commandery Princess Chongwen, who had lived her entire life bound by feudal traditions and confined within a tall tower, was able to deduce the court’s situation from just a few words in a letter and the urgency of the Shadow Guard Camp. Such intellect and shrewdness, in no way inferior to her own, were truly astonishing.
“No wonder,” Murong Yan said in a low voice.
She took a sip of tea calmly before giving her instructions. “Tell your master not to panic. As long as the Emperor’s life is protected, the Crown Prince won’t act rashly for the time being… This Palace understands him, more or less.”
She let out a cold, mocking snort.
“Then, my master asked this subordinate official to inquire about the matter the Commandery Princess previously agreed to?” Song Shuqing probed.
“This Palace is not one to go back on her word. If it truly comes to the final moment, there is naturally no reason to give up.”
Murong Yan waved her hand, a little impatient. Then, as if a thought occurred to her, she narrowed her eyes and her tone suddenly turned severe. “You’d best tell your master to believe This Palace’s words and not get any funny ideas about Ah Qin.”
“Thank you, Commandery Princess.” Song Shuqing bowed with her hands clasped. “Junior Sister Ming Qin is a member of the Shadow Guard Camp. We would never dare to plot against her.”
A silence fell.
It lasted so long that Song Shuqing’s back began to ache before Murong Yan finally spoke again, her voice cold. “So you are the Senior Sister who often takes Ah Qin to the pleasure quarters5 to listen to music?”
“…Currently in the Shadow Guard Camp, there is only one person whom Junior Sister Ming Qin calls Senior Sister, so I believe the Commandery Princess is indeed referring to this subordinate official.” Hearing the Commandery Princess’s faint question, Song Shuqing felt her scalp tingle for the first time in a long while, and she answered with her head lowered and eyes downcast.
Staring intently at Song Shuqing for a long time, Murong Yan spoke again. “Then you must also be the Senior Sister Ah Qin praises daily as clever and beautiful?”
Her tone seemed even more hostile.
Song Shuqing’s back bent lower and lower. She felt that not only was her body breaking, but her lifespan was about to be cut short as well.
She braced herself and said, “This subordinate official was not aware that Junior Sister Ming Qin praised this subordinate official to the Commandery Princess in such a way. The junior sister’s description is truly an overstatement.”
“It is.”
Murong Yan frowned, seemingly troubled. “It is indeed an overstatement.”
Damn it!
Is this what they call an 『oblivious couple6』?*
A little couple who disregards the feelings of others, immersed in their own world with eyes only for each other.
A public nuisance.
Suppressing the deeply disrespectful monologue in her heart and the urge to roll her eyes, Song Shuqing’s mind raced, trying to figure out how to respond to the Commandery Princess without appearing rude.
Fortunately, Murong Yan didn’t mind her silence. As if struck by a thought, she continued on her own, asking, “Speaking of which, you’re also the Senior Sister who made Ah Qin work as a dancer in a brothel?”
Alarm bells screamed in Song Shuqing’s mind, and a thin layer of sweat broke out on her forehead.
She stammered out an explanation, “The… the brothel matter… was a requirement of a Shadow Guard mission.”
“Is that so?”
Unexpectedly, Murong Yan didn’t seem annoyed at all. Instead, a slight smile appeared on her face. “Then This Palace must thank you properly.”
“Huh?”
Song Shuqing’s face, which had been panicked just a moment ago, now showed a rare look of confusion.
Late that night, when Song Shuqing left Cangyue Tower to report back, although her arms were filled with heavy gold and silver jewelry, she felt as if at least five years of her life had been left behind in that place.
Cangyue Tower was not only difficult to climb, but despite being fully prepared, she had still nearly fallen to her death.
And the Commandery Princess inside was truly a formidable woman.
If she hadn’t been quick-witted just now, her neck might have already been pierced.
When talking about Qinqin, the protectiveness and possessiveness in her eyes looked like they could devour her whole. Then, she had inexplicably smiled and bestowed a special reward upon her, making her hair stand on end.
How on earth did Qinqin get along with such an unpredictable woman as the Commandery Princess?
As expected, Shifu was right.
Even if Prince Yu had ten, no, a hundred daughters, she would have fled from that place no matter what.
The author has something to say:
The collection count broke a hundred?! What an unexpected surprise.
I only started writing this out of necessity.
After all, it’s not a popular genre, and I feel my style and pacing aren’t like some of the big, popular works, so I didn’t have high expectations.
I never thought so many people would actually like it in such a short time. It makes me a little emotional, hehe~
I don’t know if it’s because of the genre or the writing, but I always feel that the readers who are drawn to support me are particularly mature and gentle (?). They always give me encouragement and warmth, and this mutual feeling is really wonderful~ Everyone is welcome to recommend this to friends who also enjoy reading!
PS. In the drafts I have now, written up to chapter 40, basically every chapter has sugar7. Some are very subtle, some are very direct, so I won’t specifically mark whether there’s sugar in each chapter’s summary!
As a detail-obsessed fiend, I suggest everyone read slowly and savor the details~
Also, I don’t know why, but the further I write, the more I can make very ordinary things sound very lewd. I’m both worried about being punished by the green app and find it quite amusing.
What kind of useless talent is this~ (facepalms with a wry smile)
As always, I hope you have a pleasant weekend!
LP: Re-translated on June 23, 2025
Footnotes
- 簪子 | zānzi | A traditional Chinese hairpin, often ornate and made of materials like jade, wood, or metal. They were not only decorative but could also be used as a makeshift self-defense weapon in emergencies.
- 一盞茶的時間 | yī zhǎn chá de shíjiān | A common Chinese expression denoting a short period of time, roughly 10-15 minutes.
- 申時 | shēn shí | An ancient Chinese time unit corresponding to 3-5 PM.
- 多智近妖 | duō zhì jìn yāo | An idiom meaning someone is so intelligent that it seems unnatural or supernatural.
- 煙花之地 | yānhuā zhī dì | Lit. “land of smoke and flowers.” A poetic euphemism for red-light districts or brothels.
- 笨蛋情侶 | bèndàn qínglǚ | Lit. “idiot/dumb couple.” A slang term for a couple so absorbed in their own world that they are oblivious to the people and situations around them.
- A term used in fandoms, especially for Chinese web novels, to refer to sweet, fluffy, or romantic moments between characters.
Thank you for the chapter !!
Thank you for the chapter!
Glad you’re back. I was really worried when the links to the site weren’t working and when searching on google didn’t work.
Thank you for the chapter !!
Thank you for the chapter!
Glad you’re back. I was really worried when the links to the site weren’t working and when searching on google didn’t work.
Really stark difference of treatment from the princess between Senior Sister and Junior Sister lol. No lie tho, MQ’s pretty scary having that “innocent” side whilst still having the ability to easily kill men. Her and the princess actually match each other
Really stark difference of treatment from the princess between Senior Sister and Junior Sister lol. No lie tho, MQ’s pretty scary having that “innocent” side whilst still having the ability to easily kill men. Her and the princess actually match each other