The Princess’ Shadow Guard – Chapter 54
by Little PandaDon’t die outside
When Ming Qin took the chamber pot Murong Yan had used and the basin of water from her sponge bath out of the room to hand to the maids, she saw her Shimu and the familiar Imperial Physician Ren1 walking over from a distance.
She blinked her eyes, trying to make out the shape of their mouths.
『The situation is really not optimistic.』
『If this goes on, we can only maintain her condition. Recovery is completely impossible.』
『The poison the Commandery Princess was afflicted with is truly tricky. It’s not like a common poison, and there are no records of it in books or history.』
『If this continues, what will we do when the time is up…』
『Ai, if only we could find Wang Wei2』
『Wang Wei? You mean that mad Imperial Physician who was kicked out of the palace a few years ago?』
『Yes, although Wang Wei is a bit mad and always spouting nonsense, he has extensive knowledge of pharmacology. He might have a way, it’s just…』
『Just what?』
『I heard he was sent to Jingzhou3, but I don’t know where in Jingzhou. Besides, he has a strange temper. Even if the emperor issued an edict to recall him, I’m afraid he wouldn’t be willing…』
“Let me go!”
A sudden voice interrupted the two’s conversation.
“Qinqin?” Gu Yun4 looked at the black figure that had suddenly appeared.
“Shimu, let me go find Imperial Physician Wang and persuade him to return to the capital.” Ming Qin blocked the two’s path, her face full of sincerity and anxiety. “I can do it.”
Gu Yun tilted her head and thought for a moment. “I remember you were the one who escorted Imperial Physician Wang to Jingzhou five years ago?”
“Yes, Imperial Physician Wang should still recognize me.” Patting her chest, the young Shadow Guard’s tone was earnest. Without waiting for Gu Yun and Imperial Physician Ren to reply, Ming Qin continued, “If I go to find him, there’s a better chance of bringing Imperial Physician Wang back to the capital.”
“Let me try!”
Her tone was resolute.
“But Qinqin, you haven’t rested for many days.” Thinking of how her beloved child had not rested since rushing from the Shu region5 to the capital, Gu Yun was a little worried. “How about we choose a few Shidi6 and Shimei7 from the Shadow Guard camp to accompany you on the road?”
“To travel from the capital to Jingzhou and back within twenty days, one must travel at top speed8.” Ming Qin shook her head, analyzing the pros and cons with a clear tone. “Shiniang9, the Shidi and Shimei are not yet accustomed to such hardship, this kind of day-and-night, sleepless travel. Only I can do it.”
Ever since last winter, when He Jingshou was injured protecting Murong Wan from the deposed crown prince’s troops, Lin Yan, as the Da Shixiong10, had taken on the training duties and had no free time. And Song Shuqing had to stay in the capital to take care of Murong Yan and assist with making medicine, so it was impossible for her to go with Ming Qin.
Besides…
Ming Qin thought to herself.
I was already the fastest in the entire camp. If it’s just me alone, I’ll be even more confident that I can bring Imperial Physician Wang back to the capital within the limited time to treat Yanyan.
I can definitely do it.
No.
I must do it.
“Alright.” Looking at the insistent Ming Qin, Gu Yun, who was completely unaware of her physical condition, relented. “It’s true that you are the best candidate for the journey. Get a copy of the Commandery Princess’s pulse records and medication log from Shuqing, and tomorrow morning…”
“I’ll leave tonight.” Ming Qin interrupted her Shimu, turning to leave as if she couldn’t stay a moment longer, saying, “I will definitely bring Imperial Physician Wang back.”
When Ming Qin rushed into the pharmacy and urgently asked her Shijie11 for the items, Song Shuqing just crossed her arms and stared silently at the newcomer.
“Shijie! I have to leave the city at once. Quickly copy a record for me.” Seeing the person before her not moving, Ming Qin grew anxious. “The road to Jingzhou is long, I have to set off quickly.”
Song Shuqing casually took something out of a wooden box on the wall, stuffed it into Ming Qin’s muttering mouth, and asked, “Is it tasty?”
“Hmm?” Not quite understanding her Shijie’s intention, Ming Qin just chewed perfunctorily a few times and then said, “Tasty, tasty. Shijie, the pulse and medication…”
“Hmph.” Song Shuqing sneered, her hands clenched into tight fists. “You even say Huanglian12 is tasty. Are you going to wait until you die on the road to realize how terrible your physical condition is? Give me your wrist.”
“I… I…”
Ming Qin choked, taking a resistant step back. “I still have time. I must make a trip to Jingzhou.” Her determined eyes were illuminated by the candlelight. “Shijie, I already made my choice, didn’t I?”
“You… you… you idiot.”
Gritting her teeth, the veins on Song Shuqing’s forehead throbbed. “If you die because of the Commandery Princess, she won’t be happy even if she wakes up. You save her life, but you strangle her heart, do you understand?”
Originally, I was still somewhat optimistic that the extra month we got from the deposed crown prince would allow the Commandery Princess to recover smoothly, and then the entire Supreme Medical Court could turn to detoxifying my Shimei together.
But now, so many days have passed, and even with all the manpower gathered, the Commandery Princess’s condition hasn’t improved at all. How could they possibly focus on treating Qinqin?
Damn it, in my past life, I only took biology as a university elective. I know nothing about the rest of the advanced medicine of the 21st century, damn it!
“But this trip to Jingzhou, only I can go. Imperial Physician Wang has a peculiar personality, but he is familiar with me. Only if I go is there the best chance to persuade him.” Ming Qin looked at Song Shuqing’s ashen face and spoke calmly.
She lowered her head, her voice pausing for a moment. “I know, I know Yanyan will definitely be unhappy when she wakes up. A good person like her wouldn’t want someone to die for her. So Shijie… you must not tell her. You have to help me keep it a secret.”
Ming Qin raised her head, her tone unwavering. “No matter what, don’t let her find me. Just let her think I’m still missing.”
Seeing the person before her remain silent, refusing to answer, Ming Qin grew anxious. She stepped forward and wheedlingly took the woman’s hand. “Shijie, I’m begging you, you’re the best at lying, aren’t you? Since we were little, you’ve never been caught by Shifu. Although Yanyan can always tell if I’m lying, you’re so amazing, you can definitely fool her…”
“Shut up!”
“Do you even know how to talk? What do you mean, best at lying…” Song Shuqing petulantly shook off her Shimei’s hand and, in a gesture of compromise, took out a jar of pills from her sleeve. “Take two pills daily with a meal. It should be enough for about a month.”
She turned away impatiently, picked up a brush pen to copy the medical records, and muttered irritably, “Time is tight, these are crudely made. I don’t know if they’ll be useful. They probably won’t be, but you’d better take them properly for me.”
“Shijie!” Taking the wooden jar, Ming Qin jumped up excitedly and threw her arms around her Shijie, about to spin her in a circle. “I knew you were the best!”
“Don’t, don’t, don’t…” Song Shuqing hurriedly pushed away Ming Qin, who seemed to have transformed into a clingy large dog, afraid of getting her hands stained with ink. She quickly said, “I’m writing, you donkey!”
She stared intently at her brush, her face a picture of concentration.
Just as Ming Qin was happily circling the pharmacy for the fourth time, Song Shuqing spoke faintly, “Don’t die outside.”
Ming Qin, who wasn’t looking at the woman’s mouth, was completely unaware and just continued to bounce around in high spirits.
“If you’re going to die, you’d better at least die in front of me, so I don’t feel like I can’t help with anything, so powerless.”
Song Shuqing blinked her feverish eyelids.
I just hope I don’t smudge the ink that’s not yet dry before me.
The author has something to say:
I’ve already finished writing the main text, 70 chapters~
As for the extras, I have all sorts of ideas in my head right now. They’ll basically be pure tang13 of the two of them, and will be updated irregularly.
Also, I’ve suddenly been wanting to listen to Chinese songs lately, the kind that aren’t too noisy and have very moving lyrics. So if you have any good songs, you can recommend them to me (one per person is fine! Please secretly tell me your treasured songs~)
Happy weekend!
LP: Re-translated on March 22, 2024
Footnotes
- 任太醫 | Rèn Tàiyī | A surname (Ren) and a title. ‘Taiyi’ (太醫) is an Imperial Physician who serves in the Imperial Medical Academy.
- 王衛 | Wáng Wèi | 王 (Wáng) is a common surname, and 衛 (wèi) means “to guard” or “protect.”
- 荊州 | Jīngzhōu | A historical province in southern China, covering parts of modern-day Hubei and Hunan provinces. It was a strategically important region throughout Chinese history.
- 古芸 | Gǔ Yún | 古 (gǔ) means “ancient,” and 芸 (yún) is a type of fragrant herb (rue).
- 蜀地 | Shǔ Dì | The lands of Shu, a historical region corresponding to the modern Sichuan Basin. It was known for its difficult terrain.
- 師弟 | shīdì | Literally “junior brother apprentice.” A term used to address a younger male peer who joined a martial arts sect or similar organization later.
- 師妹 | shīmèi | Literally “junior sister apprentice.” The counterpart to ‘shijie’. It is used to address a younger female peer who joined a martial arts sect or similar organization later.
- 快馬加鞭 | kuài mǎ jiā biān | Literally “fast horse plus whip.” An idiom meaning to travel or work at the fastest possible speed.
- 師娘 | shīniáng | A more colloquial and affectionate term for one’s master’s wife, similar to Shimu but perhaps carrying a warmer, more familial tone.
- 大師兄 | dà shīxiōng | Literally “big senior brother apprentice.” A title for the most senior male disciple in a sect or school, who often takes on leadership and training responsibilities.
- 師姐 | shījiě | Literally “senior sister apprentice.” A term used in martial arts sects or similar organizations to address a female peer who joined earlier. It denotes respect and a degree of familiarity.
- 黃蓮 | huánglián | Coptis chinensis, or Chinese goldthread. A traditional Chinese medicinal herb known for its extremely bitter taste. It is used to clear heat and detoxify.
- 糖 | táng | Literally “candy” or “sugar.” In fanfiction and web novel communities, this is slang for sweet, fluffy, or romantic moments between characters.
What does that last line mean exactly? Lmao the road to recovery is worse, I’m getting a little worried about a bad end but I’m sure it’ll be fine, we are like halfway there. I’d guess the doctor could somehow heal her? Maybe.
What does that last line mean exactly? Lmao the road to recovery is worse, I’m getting a little worried about a bad end but I’m sure it’ll be fine, we are like halfway there. I’d guess the doctor could somehow heal her? Maybe.