The Princess’ Shadow Guard – Chapter 77
by Little PandaShijie Arc, Chapter Seven
Stop Deluding Yourself (Moving into the Tea House)
On the day Zi Yan left Spring Breeze Pavilion, the sky was somewhat gloomy.
But looking at the black-robed figure waiting outside driving the carriage, the “former” head courtesan’s mood remained unaffected.
When the other girls at Spring Breeze Pavilion learned Zi Yan was leaving, some cast envious looks her way, while others made snide remarks in the shadows, believing she would step back into the wind and dust1 within half a year.
Zi Yan didn’t know if their words were right or wrong, nor did she know where her future self would find a footing. The road ahead, lit by the sun, was incredibly blinding to a woman who had stayed in a green building2 for years.
But as long as she could stay by Song Shuqing’s side, she was willing to try.
To chase after her.
Even if her naked feet were scorched by the sunlight.
Helping lift the somewhat heavy zither onto the carriage, Song Shuqing took the woman’s bundle, looking surprised. “You have so few things? Ah Yun and I were originally planning to close up shop to help you move; good thing we didn’t do that.”
She opened the door and naturally reached out to help the woman board.
“Those were all gifts from guests. Very few things truly belong to me.” Lips devoid of makeup parted slightly as Zi Yan took back her bundle, gazing at the entrance of Spring Breeze Pavilion with no lingering attachment in her eyes.
“Is that so? It’s fine, you’ll slowly get more later.” Smiling, Song Shuqing closed the door, hopped onto the front seat, and lightly flicked the whip. The wheels slowly began to turn.
In less than the time it takes to burn a stick of incense3, the two arrived at Housheng Hall4. Parking the carriage at the back door to bypass the crowd in front of the shop, Song Shuqing led the woman upstairs.
Damn it, why isn’t the Qinqin who has strength as great as an ox5 here? This kind of heavy lifting isn’t suitable for the delicate me.
Carrying Zi Yan’s zither—Song Shuqing, who wasn’t actually delicate but simply lazy and chatty—resigned herself to climbing the attic stairs. Suppressing her habitual grumbling, she carefully set the item down.
“This place, well, is your residence from now on.” Stepping aside to let the woman pass, Song Shuqing pointed to the room where Ming Qin used to live, then spoke as if suddenly remembering something. “Your wardrobe will have to wait until Ah Yun is free tomorrow to assemble it; the wood in the yard hasn’t been planed yet.”
She could act benevolently and reluctantly help with moving, but Song Shuqing was truly helpless when it came to technical skills like carpentry.
Entering the spotless room, Zi Yan looked around.
The quilt on the single bed board was washed white and laid out neatly. A handmade table and chair were placed on the other side of the room, with some paper, ink, and an inkstone atop them. In the corner against the wall, a brand-new vanity mirror and several small drawers had been thoughtfully placed.
The unlatched window let in gusts of breeze, gently blowing up the light-blocking bamboo curtains.
“…Although it’s not as big as your place at Spring Breeze Pavilion, this whole floor is yours. Technically speaking, you can decorate it however you want.” Seeing no reaction from the woman, Song Shuqing added, “Umm… just be careful not to set it on fire.”
“This place… is very good.”
Zi Yan’s eyelashes trembled slightly as she replied faintly.
No annoying smell of cosmetic powder, no cloying stench of alcohol, no choking smoke. The only thing present was a faint, barely-there scent of tea.
Clean. It was very good.
“Is that so? As long as you like it.” Crossing her arms, Song Shuqing leaned casually against the doorframe and pointed downwards. “I live on the second floor, right next to the warehouse. Ah Yun’s room is on the first floor; he never comes up here.”
“When we light the fire for dinner every night, we’ll heat up some water along the way. You can use the tub behind the kitchen to bathe.”
“Ah Yun and I both agree you can use the water first after dinner. Especially since the weather is getting colder recently; you are so thinly dressed and your body is weak. It would be troublesome if you accidentally caught a cold.”
Suddenly remembering something, Song Shuqing spread her hands helplessly and smiled bitterly. “By the way, I told you meals are included here, right? I didn’t lie to you; Ah Yun and I take turns cooking every night.”
“It’s just… Ah Yun’s cooking is barely passable, but as for me, um, if you can stomach it, go ahead. If you don’t want to eat it, I won’t blame you.”
No matter how much time passed, accustomed to using gas stoves in the 21st century, she just couldn’t learn how to manage a wood fire stove. Every time she cooked, it was either half-raw or burnt to a crisp. She could only rejoice that Qinqin and Ah Yun weren’t picky eaters before and could stomach whatever it was.
But for Zi Yan, an ordinary woman who hadn’t been trained in the secret guard camp, it might be a different kind of torture for her stomach.
“Anyway, just rest well today.” Waving her hand, Song Shuqing pulled the door shut. “Good luck at work tomorrow, Miss New Employee.”
In less than half a month, Zi Yan had mastered the work at the tea house.
She not only knew every tea leaf like the back of her hand, but her tea-brewing and water-boiling skills were also twice as good as Song Shuqing’s, who had been at the tea house for a year and a half.
The only thing that could be called a flaw was that Zi Yan’s expression was simply too stiff and cold. No matter how one teased her, she remained serious and solemn, leaving many guests who visited the tea house hoping for a smile from the beauty feeling somewhat regretful.
After eating Cao Yun’s boiled vegetables that lacked salt and were bland to the point of demanding one’s life6, and Song Shuqing’s rock-hard scorched rice that made one’s jaw ache, Zi Yan, whose culinary skills were tentatively acceptable, was speechless and silently shouldered the burden of the tea house’s meals.
Relying on a few home-cooked dishes she learned from her mother, the former courtesan suddenly radiated a holy halo in the eyes of the other two, practically worshipped as a goddess by the two secret guards.
Currently, Zi Yan’s status in the tea house had skyrocketed like a jet, second only to the major shareholder, Murong Yan, who was traveling far away and held absolute ruling power.
(Non-objective Tea House Pyramid: Murong Yan > Zi Yan > Cao Yun > Ming Qin > Hu’er > Song Shuqing. Although Murong Yan’s status is absolute, Ming Qin can act as a check on Murong Yan, and Song Shuqing can subtly counter Ming Qin and Zi Yan, so the situation can be said to be quite complex.)
Today after closing, Cao Yun was clicking away at the abacus doing the accounts in the shop, while Song Shuqing was like a little tail following behind Zi Yan’s butt, face full of flattery.
“Zi Yan, look! This is the radish I bought at the market early this morning. Isn’t it fresh?”
Revealing an ingratiating smile, Song Shuqing held up the vegetables and meat, extending them before Zi Yan’s eyes as if asking for credit. “And this pork belly… I told the older lady it was for my dear Zi Yan7 to make braised pork, so it had to be the best cut. Aren’t I super awesome?”
“…You are so noisy.”
Turning her head to avoid the woman constantly leaning in, Zi Yan rolled up her sleeves and looked down to mix the marinade. “And you’re really in the way, you’re blocking me.”
“Eh, Zi Yan, how can you despise me!”
Because she was the one who suggested eating braised pork, Song Shuqing really hoped to make at least a tiny contribution so her scant remaining conscience wouldn’t be so uneasy.
“Don’t chase me away, let me help you.”
She stood behind Zi Yan acting shamelessly, resting her chin on the shoulder of the person in front of her, frowning with a face that owed a beating8 as she feigned grievance. “Don’t despise me, dear Zi Yan. At least let me cheer you on from here.”
“…I don’t despise you.” Feeling the warm breath against her neck, Zi Yan’s ears hidden under her black hair burned. Her body was stiff, yet she spoke in an incredibly normal tone, “If you have nothing to do, go wash the vegetables and cut them. Don’t touch things randomly in the kitchen and take up space.”
“Yes, ma’am9.” Receiving the order, Song Shuqing straightened up with a look of obedience, gave a standard 21st-century salute, and took the vegetables to the well.
Seeing the person walk away, Zi Yan finally breathed a sigh of relief, trying hard to regulate her breathing, but her heart continued to beat violently uncontrollably.
She instinctively glanced outside at Song Shuqing, who was happily waving a sword to cut the meat. She gently stroked her chest, hoping only to quell the yearning and adoration filling her heart as soon as possible.
If she didn’t stop it, she feared that in the next moment, the dammed-up rippling spring water would overflow until the dike collapsed10.
Forcing herself to look at the task in hand, she dipped a finger to taste the seasoning of the marinade in the bowl, hoping she would no longer focus on the unreachable figure outside, and hoping the savory saltiness in her mouth could neutralize the sour ache in her heart.
Thoughts in her mind were chaotic; the woman continued to admonish herself in her heart.
Zi Yan, what are you doing?
Stop deluding yourself.
It is already lucky enough to be able to stay by her side.
What more do you want to ask for?
This is enough.
Wake up…
Wake up.
The author has something to say:
Thank you everyone for supporting Shijie Song’s side story as well~ She is really happy, looking triumphant in my head, very much asking for a beating (Of course, I am super happy too!). The Shijie side story has 17 chapters, which is quite a lot, enough for everyone to read to their heart’s content! You are welcome to recommend it to others who also love reading~
My OCD makes me want to write the side stories a bit longer, so it officially ends at Chapter 90 or Chapter 100 (Does it feel more complete stopping at a round number?), I hope everyone doesn’t think I’m too long-winded.
Even though it’s an inverted V11, many familiar old friends still chose to buy the full set. I am pleasantly surprised and very grateful for this; it is an affirmation of me, and it also means you guys like this story enough to read it a second time (right?).
(PS. I used the money you sponsored to buy a cover for the new book. I hope to have a beautiful cover for everyone to enjoy when reading the new book.)
At the same time, there are many cute people who throw mines and hand grenades12 to me. Actually, I am already extremely happy that you subscribe to the VIP chapters. The New Year is coming soon; I hope you all have enough money to buy snacks and drinks to make yourselves happy. Taking care of yourself is the most important thing! Just throw Overlord Tickets13 if you really have extra money~ Regardless of whether there are donations or not, I will finish writing this properly, it doesn’t matter!
I sincerely thank everyone who supports this story~ I am currently working hard on saving up drafts for the next story! Although real life is still a bit busy, your positive comments really encourage me greatly and are my motivation for writing!
The Lunar New Year is coming soon. Is everyone ready to celebrate happily?
Wishing everyone in advance big red envelopes, that you won’t meet relatives who love to interrogate you, and that even if you eat and drink a lot, you won’t gain too much weight~
Sincerely thankful, rejoicing with you.
LP: Re-translated on November 20, 2025
Footnotes
- Hanzi: 风尘 | Pinyin: fēngchén | Explanation: Literally “wind and dust”. A metaphor for the hardships of travel or the vicissitudes of life, but in this context, it specifically refers to the world of prostitution or the “red-light district”.
- Hanzi: 青楼 | Pinyin: qīnglóu | Explanation: A blue/green building; a traditional Chinese term for a brothel or courtesan house.
- Hanzi: 一炷香 | Pinyin: yī zhù xiāng | Explanation: A traditional unit of time measurement, approximately 15 to 30 minutes.
- Hanzi: 后生堂 | Pinyin: Hòushēng Táng
- Hanzi: 力大如牛 | Pinyin: lìdàrúniú | Explanation: An idiom meaning very strong.
- Hanzi: 淡的要命 | Pinyin: dàn de yàomìng | Explanation: An expression meaning extremely bland or tasteless.
- Hanzi: 亲亲紫嫣 | Pinyin: qīnqīn Zǐyān | Explanation: “Qinqin” is a cutesy, affectionate term meaning “kiss-kiss” or “dear”.
- Hanzi: 一脸欠揍 | Pinyin: yī liǎn qiàn zòu | Explanation: An expression describing a facial expression that is so annoying or provocative that it makes one want to punch it.
- Hanzi: 遵命 | Pinyin: zūnmìng | Explanation: Literally “Obey command” or “At your command”.
- Hanzi: 封堵住的荡漾春水会溢满，直至溃堤 | Pinyin: fēng dǔzhù de dàngyàng chūnshuǐ huì yìmǎn, zhízhì kuìdī | Explanation: A metaphor describing suppressed emotions (often romantic or sexual, as “spring” implies) bursting forth uncontrollably.
- Hanzi: 倒v | Pinyin: dào v | Explanation: A term used on the publishing platform JJWXC where previously free chapters are retroactively made into VIP (paid) chapters.
- Hanzi: 雷…手榴弹 | Pinyin: léi… shǒuliúdàn | Explanation: Types of virtual currency/donations on JJWXC.
- Hanzi: 霸王票 | Pinyin: bàwáng piào | Explanation: A general term for the donation system on JJWXC which ranks stories.
Aaaaah I love Zi Yan and Song Shu Qing, and I want more!!! Thanks Translator!!!
Aaaaah I love Zi Yan and Song Shu Qing, and I want more!!! Thanks Translator!!!
Why is it so short broo 🥹
Why is it so short broo 🥹