The Princess’ Shadow Guard – Chapter 25
by Little PandaI Will Listen to Ah Qin (Playing Go)
It was the Double Ninth Festival1 once again.
As Song Shuqing was half-dragged, half-pulled along by Ming Qin, her heart screamed with a thousand shades of reluctance.
Today was the “double ninth,” but Song Shuqing, who cherished her life dearly, wouldn’t have chosen to ascend Cangyue Tower even if every other high-rise and mountain on earth exploded.
It all started a few days ago when Ming Qin heard that she had met the Commandery Princess. With a face full of excitement, she just had to know who would win if the two of them played a game of Go.
Song Shuqing rolled her eyes internally.
She thought of Commandery Princess Chongwen’s face—an unapproachable mask of authority that kept everyone at a thousand-mile distance. She probably finds the very idea of meeting me a chore, so why on earth would she agree to a game of Go?
Song Shuqing gave a perfunctory reply. “I was in a hurry to complete a mission that day. There was no time to play.”
Who would have thought that a few days later, Ming Qin would come to her again, beaming with joy, and announce that the Commandery Princess had been very happy to see her and warmly welcomed her to visit again for a game of Go on her next day off.
The Commandery Princess?
Happy?
Welcomed?
Are you sure you heard that right?
Song Shuqing was deeply skeptical, but when her gaze met Ming Qin’s sparkling eyes and that ‘My Commandery Princess is the best person ever, isn’t she!’ expression, she opened her mouth but found she couldn’t say a word.
Qinqin is a fool. As her Senior Sister, all I can do is indulge her.
She was helpless.
Utterly helpless.
But when she saw Commandery Princess Chongwen, her feeling of helplessness was replaced by sheer, dumbfounded shock.
That smile that felt like a refreshing spring breeze, that voice as gentle as flowing water, and the alluring curl at the corner of her eyes when she looked up… Was the woman currently speaking with her Junior Sister truly the same Commandery Princess Chongwen who had made her hair stand on end at Cangyue Tower that day?
Unbelievable!
Oh, my god, this world is truly incredible!
Is this what they call becoming a bottom for love2?
Pushing the petrified Song Shuqing toward the already prepared Go board, the Commandery Princess was already seated on the opposite side. Ming Qin then diligently poured tea for them both.
Murong Yan had a snow-white fox fur draped over her lap. Her face was full of smiles, and her eyes reflected only the sight of the busy figure before her.
Once Ming Qin finally settled down, she naturally reached out, pulling Murong Yan into her lap. “Her legs can’t take sitting upright for too long. Leaning against me is better.”
She explained this to Song Shuqing while stroking the small of the woman’s back in her arms, helping her get comfortable.
Song Shuqing stared at the pair, feeling that she must not have checked the almanac3 before leaving the house. Why else would she be so unlucky as to have to sit here like a giant lightbulb4 in front of this lovey-dovey couple?
The brightness of this lightbulb could probably solve the energy crisis of my past life.
While her mind was wandering, Murong Yan turned to her and spoke in a gentle tone she had never heard before. “Senior Sister, please begin.”
Who the hell is your Senior Sister!?
Song Shuqing’s head throbbed, but she maintained a calm expression as they guessed for the stones
5.
Murong Yan took black, playing first.
Her very first stone was placed in her own top-right corner (the corner on the Commandery Princess’s side, near her left hand).
Just as I thought.
All that talk about being happy and welcoming was an act. Deep down, she’s as provocative as ever.
Song Shuqing sighed internally and braced herself with her full attention.
After an initial, standard opening, Murong Yan began to place her stones all over the board in a seemingly random fashion.
She even allowed Song Shuqing to seize territory and establish a solid formation early on.
Song Shuqing was a bit surprised to have gained an advantage so easily at the start, but she wasn’t smiling for long.
An army has no constant form; water has no constant shape
6. What had seemed like scattered, random placements turned out to be an ambush in the making, a chaotic tangle that caught her completely off guard.
The black stones then began to sacrifice small for large, seizing the initiative and instantly annihilating the stable influence Song Shuqing had built in the center of the board.
Song Shuqing sat up straight, her mind racing with calculations. Seeing traps everywhere, she adopted an unconventional strategy, attempting to lure the enemy in while waiting for an opening to strike at Murong Yan’s core.
They were just wooden pieces on a stone board, yet it felt like a battlefield veiled in smoke, with the glint of flashing blades. Every move was a product of meticulous calculation, each step a cautious advance.
The pace of their moves grew slower and slower, yet beads of sweat had formed on both their foreheads.
The intense struggle continued until the sun had set. When there were no more places left to play, before Ming Qin could even begin to count the score, Song Shuqing offered a wry smile. “It would be an unfair victory for me. Let’s call it a draw.”
She had noticed long ago, in the latter half of the game, how physically taxing it was for Murong Yan.
“A loss is a loss, even if by half a point,” Murong Yan said calmly, her head resting lightly against Ming Qin’s chest. She looked weary; the long match had taken a heavy toll on her body.
Ming Qin wiped the sweat from her brow with one hand while rubbing her lower back with the other, shaking her head in regret. “No more games. We’re not doing this again.”
Murong Yan looked up at her, a hint of amusement in her eyes. She reached out with a cool hand and placed it on Ming Qin’s neck as if to soothe her. “Didn’t Ah Qin say you wanted to see it? It’s a pity I couldn’t win this one for you.”
“The match was wonderful to watch. Winning or losing isn’t important,” Ming Qin said with a frown, lowering her head to touch their foreheads together. “I was worried you’d be too tired,” she mumbled.
“Don’t worry, I’m fine.”
Murong Yan squeezed her fingertips reassuringly before turning to Song Shuqing. “This Palace was thoroughly entertained today. It has been a long time since I’ve had an invigorating match.”
Still immersed in the afterglow of the game, Song Shuqing snapped back to her senses and cupped her hands in a gesture of respect. “The Commandery Princess is the true master, difficult to find. This subordinate official has benefited greatly from our exchange today.”
Murong Yan smiled genuinely. “When time permits another day, would Senior Sister Song be willing to play again?”
“It would be this subordinate official’s honor,” Song Shuqing replied, her tone now a bit playful. “However, next time, we should probably start much earlier.”
The sky had not yet fully darkened. Seeing the Commandery Princess’s fatigue, Song Shuqing stood up and took her leave.
After a maidservant delivered the evening meal, Ming Qin, who had been waiting discreetly in the treetops, vaulted back into the room.
Though physically exhausted, Murong Yan’s mind was still replaying the match. She held her chopsticks, motionless, and didn’t even respond when Ming Qin called her name several times.
“Ah! Ah Qin…”
Feeling her body being lifted into the air, Murong Yan, who had been lost in thought, snapped back to reality. She didn’t know when it had happened, but her prosthetic leg had been removed, and Ming Qin was holding her up with one arm, a look of dissatisfaction on her face.
“This won’t do.” Jiggling the weight in her arm, Ming Qin frowned and grumbled, “How can you be so light and still not eat properly?”
Murong Yan looked down at the complaining face before her, and her tone suddenly turned cheerful. “Is Ah Qin trying to manage Yanyan?”
Ming Qin froze, then hurriedly explained, “No, not at all! I just think it’s not good to skip meals.”
“It’s okay if Ah Qin wants to manage me.”
Murong Yan lowered her head until their foreheads touched, their noses brushing against each other. “I will listen to Ah Qin’s words.”
Their breaths mingled.
After a long moment, the woman being held high was the first to give in, tilting her head down. Having not eaten yet, her mouth held no other taste, only the rich, domineering fragrance of peonies that poured into Ming Qin’s mouth, demanding to be swallowed whole.
Ming Qin obediently accepted everything the woman offered. Knowing the woman was prone to shortness of breath, she was always considerate enough to pull back whenever her breathing became too ragged.
Understanding the temperament of the precious woman in her arms, Ming Qin, as always, remained considerate. Just as Murong Yan was about to lose her breath, she kept their lips lightly touching, refusing to part completely.
“Let’s eat, alright?”
Ming Qin’s voice was hoarse as she nuzzled Murong Yan’s chin. Fearing the woman might slip, she adjusted her arm, lifting her a little higher.
Murong Yan’s cheeks were flushed as she looked down at the person before her, her eyes glistening like surging tides.
But seeing the worried look on Ming Qin’s face, she let out a soft sigh, reined in her own aroused desires, and compromised in a soft voice.
“Okay. Together with Ah Qin.”
The author has something to say:
I don’t know how to play Go. I just looked up some information and watched a few AlphaGo game records and made it all up, so please don’t take it too seriously.
However, I did hear that it’s better for Black’s first move to be on the inner side of White’s left hand. It’s a silent courtesy and leaves the convenient positions for the opponent to play.
I also checked with a friend who plays Go (and with search engines), and for the Commandery Princess to play directly on her own side like that at the beginning is a bit of a naughty move. (It’s fine, the Commandery Princess can be as naughty as she wants and still be forgiven.)
The Commandery Princess to Ming Qin: 『I’ll listen to Ah Qin, but why can’t you see that I still want more kisses?』
The Commandery Princess to Senior Sister: 『This Palace was thoroughly entertained, but you can leave now.』
Ming Qin when playing against her Senior Sister and losing: 『Damn it, I can’t win.』
The Commandery Princess when playing against Senior Sister and losing, according to Ming Qin: 『Winning or losing isn’t important! You’re too tired. No more games, we’re not playing ever again!』
Conclusion: Both of them have outrageous double standards.
LP: Re-translated on June 27, 2025
Footnotes
- 重陽節 | Chóngyáng Jié | A festival observed on the ninth day of the ninth month in the Chinese calendar. Traditions include drinking chrysanthemum wine and climbing to a high place to avoid misfortune.
- A reference to the modern Chinese internet slang 為愛做零 (wèi ài zuò líng). 零 (líng), meaning ‘zero’, is slang for the receptive partner (the ‘bottom’) in a same-sex relationship. The phrase implies someone dramatically changing their personality or giving up a dominant role for the sake of a loved one.
- 黃歷 | huánglì | A Chinese astrological calendar that, among other things, lists lucky and unlucky activities for each day.
- The original text uses 電燈泡 (diàndēngpào), which literally means ‘lightbulb’. It’s common slang for a ‘third wheel’ in a romantic situation, implying they are awkwardly and brightly illuminating the couple’s intimacy.
- 猜子 | cāi zǐ | The ritual to decide who plays first in Go, also known as nigiri. One player grabs a random number of white stones, and the other guesses if the number is odd or even. A correct guess means the guesser can choose their color (and turn order).
- 兵无长势，水无长形 | bīng wú cháng shì, shuǐ wú cháng xíng | A famous quote from Sun Tzu’s The Art of War, specifically Chapter 6: Weak Points and Strong. It emphasizes the importance of adaptability and unpredictability in strategy.
Is Senior Sister a reincarnator? It’s twice now that she mentioned about a previous life. First she said something about not reading enough parenting books. Now she thought about light bulbs and power shortage issues. Far as I gathered they are still using oil lamps here and likening herself to a light bulb is a chinese slang for being a third wheel, right?
Is Senior Sister a reincarnator? It’s twice now that she mentioned about a previous life. First she said something about not reading enough parenting books. Now she thought about light bulbs and power shortage issues. Far as I gathered they are still using oil lamps here and likening herself to a light bulb is a chinese slang for being a third wheel, right?
senior sister being fed dog food.
senior sister being fed dog food.
Lol at Senior Sister being resigned to watching two people flirting in front of her
Lol at Senior Sister being resigned to watching two people flirting in front of her