The Princess’ Shadow Guard – Chapter 1

WARNING: MTL

Intruder on the Tower

Noisy, startled cries, and a frantic push up the stairs.

“Princess!”

A maid urgently reported from behind the door, “An official said that a wanted criminal has escaped and they want to come up and search.”

The tea needle tapped slowly against the windowsill, making a piercing sound.

“They are from the Prefect of Jingzhao…” The maid explained, afraid of the woman inside getting angry.

“Mm.” A soft hum, somewhat languid.

The iron chains were unfastened, one link at a time, but the sounds of their collision couldn’t drown out the commotion outside the door.

As soon as the iron lock hit the ground, the impatient officials rudely pushed open the door. Four or five men filed in noisily, giving a perfunctory bow behind the folding screen. Without waiting for any response, they immediately began rummaging through boxes and overturning cabinets.

Inside the room, rows of books and miscellaneous notes were neatly arranged. Landscape paintings hung on the walls, and several boxes of jewelry and hairpins were placed on the dressing table. Silken robes were carelessly scattered about. Even the most shallow-minded officials could tell that each item was far from ordinary, causing them to grow increasingly apprehensive as they searched.

Wasn’t she supposed to be a disabled Princess imprisoned in the capital, merely a hostage used to restrain Prince Yu? Yet now they were witnessing her possession of such wealth and treasures, completely contradicting the image of an abandoned Princess rumored within the royal family.

Now, let’s put aside the thief for the moment. Despite the grandiose search, not even a single trace was found. Thinking about their previous impudence, all of them felt somewhat ashamed.

The maid moved aside the folding screen, and the leading official, feeling guilty, bowed slightly and raised his head with a humble expression. “Princess, please don’t be angry. This thief is very cunning. I was only worried that they might have climbed up to Cangyue Tower and disturbed you, so I came to check.”

The woman lying on the bed had her back to the window and had shown no reaction to the noise created by the group of people. But now, she finally raised her eyes.

Leaning against the tea table, she toyed with the tea utensils. Though it was still early autumn, her lower body was already covered in thick fox fur.

Her cheeks were so thin that they appeared slightly sunken, devoid of heavy makeup. Only her delicate lips were lightly colored with a reddish-black lip balm, making her complexion even more fair and snowy white.

Strands of silver were mixed into her ink-black hair, loosely held in place by a golden hairpin. Apart from the deep red garnets hanging from her ears, there were no other adornments.

Yet even so, her brows and eyes were like a painting, resembling a solitary plum blossom branch in the deep snow, tempting one to reach out and experience its cold, intoxicating fragrance.

The group of men stared, somewhat stupefied.

“Is that so?” The woman’s lips, no longer tightly sealed, uttered a sound.

“This…” The officials choked up, exchanging fidgety glances.

As if she had long anticipated that the officials would be unable to provide a definite answer, she spoke softly, “You are quite enthusiastic.” Her voice was light, as if it could be blown away by the wind.

“However… I truly have no idea when apprehending fugitives became the responsibility of the Prefect of Jingzhao.”

Seemingly unconcerned about the silence of the others, she smiled sarcastically and said, “The Crown Prince is diligent in his governance, managing affairs across the realm even before ascending the throne. So, tell me, are you all… following suit?”

One of the seemingly youngest officials blushed, his tone filled with excitement as he retorted, “It has nothing to do with His Royal Highness the Crown Prince. We only received intelligence and were concerned about the safety of the Princess.”

As if to prove his words, he looked towards the large south-facing window and shouted, “This thief must have entered and exited from here.” After speaking, he leaned out of the window, but his arm slipped, nearly causing him to tumble down. The people around him rushed to stabilize him, causing a flurry of frantic movements.

The officials heard the Princess’s unrestrained chuckle, and their faces turned beet red.

No one had expected the bricks and tiles of this building to be so polished and slippery that not even sparrows could find a foothold. Cangyue Tower was the tallest building in the capital city, second only to the Imperial City. If one were to accidentally fall, not even a deity could save them.

The leading official felt a hidden anger within, but he could only leave empty-handed with his group, feeling dejected.

The Princess leisurely took a sip of tea, waiting for the maid to finish descending the stairs before the heavy iron chains outside the door were locked, layer by layer.

Until there was complete silence, she finally set down the teacup she had been playing with, and lifted the fox fur cloak draped over her lower body.

Beneath the fur cloak, a crouched woman appeared. She slowly rose, being careful not to touch the Princess. She made an effort to swallow the blood that had risen in her throat and respectfully bowed to the Princess when she stood by the bed, sincerely speaking, “Thank you, Princess, for lending a helping hand.”

“If I hadn’t known that you are the Emperor’s trained hawk, I wouldn’t have helped you,” the Princess replied in an indifferent tone. As she poured herself a new cup of tea, she gently smoothed her skirt, which was covered tightly with golden-threaded silk.

Upon hearing her words, Ming Qin, dressed in night attire, widened her eyes in astonishment.

When she suddenly appeared at the window with a suspicious expression, she had expected the Princess to scream or cry in fear.

To her surprise, the Princess simply looked at her calmly, continuing to brew tea with composure. Upon hearing the commotion, the princess silently pulled up her fox fur cloak, gesturing for her to hide inside. It was unexpected that the Princess could accurately deduce her origin.

Ming Qin lowered her head and took the tea from the Princess’s hand, pretending not to be astonished. She waited until the tea cooled and drank it all, intending to leave once the officials had gone.

Foolish, the Princess thought.

If someone had the ability to ascend Cangyue Tower without falling to their death, they couldn’t be an ordinary thief.

This Cangyue Tower was specifically built by the Crown Prince as a prison to confine oneself. Each layer of tiles had been meticulously polished by skilled craftsmen, and there wasn’t even a foothold slot. If an ordinary thief could come and go freely, it would render the Crown Prince’s painstaking efforts futile.

Moreover, if there were truly malicious intentions, she would have struck at the first encounter, rather than hiding beneath the fox fur cloak and obediently allowing her neck to be pressed by her tea needle.

There was not a trace of odor on her entire body, dressed in night attire within the capital, familiar with royal etiquette and possessing such skills. She could only be one of the Emperor’s personal Shadow Guards.

If it weren’t for some lingering affection towards the Emperor, who happened to be her uncle, and coincidentally encountering the mad dog Crown Prince, she would not have impulsively intervened.

Both of them pondered their own thoughts, silently sipping their tea.

Ming Qin felt somewhat uneasy as she looked out the window, gazing down upon the lights flickering in the houses below Cangyue Tower.

With keen eyesight, the Shadow Guard could even see the signboard of the teahouse in the Eastern Market. The night market was not as bustling as during the day. Several young men pushed carts to close their stalls, and the oil lamps hanging in front of the carts swayed with each step.

She was lost in her thoughts, and the Princess followed her gaze, but couldn’t discern anything peculiar.

“What are you looking at?” the woman on the bed spoke up.

Ming Qin shifted her gaze away from the window and instinctively replied, “I’m looking at the Eastern Market. The pastries sold in front of Tianfu Hall are delicious.” Realizing that her response might be inappropriate, she added, “I mean, from here, you can see the entire capital.”

“Yes,” the Princess set down her teacup and said calmly, “the entire capital. There is perhaps no better cage with a view than this one.”

Ming Qin felt at a loss as she listened, unable to find words, so she silently tightened her grip on the empty teacup and pursed her lips.

“I am tired. You may leave now,” the woman removed the golden hairpin from her hair without even sparing an extra glance. Her tone was full of dismissal.

Ming Qin understood and placed the teacup down, bowing deeply once again without hesitation. She then gathered her breath and jumped onto the nearest windowsill, disappearing into the ink-like darkness in the blink of an eye.

It turned out she truly wouldn’t fall to her death.

Murong Yan withdrew her gaze downwards and casually discarded her earrings onto the tea table.

Supporting herself with her arm, she slowly sat up straight on the bed. Taking small steps, she moved towards the nearby dressing table and began removing her makeup in front of the mirror. Her thin face and striking white hair were reflected in her pupils.

How ugly, Murong Yan thought.

As she touched her cheek, she felt irritated.

But shortly after, she couldn’t help but burst into laughter.

Perhaps only she would end up in such a predicament and still care so much about her appearance.

Murong Yan had always been fond of beauty, and she was fortunate to possess an attractive appearance.

Those around her knew this well.

If it weren’t for the fact that they understood she wouldn’t willingly throw herself down and be reduced to minced flesh, and that she wouldn’t want to die like a tongue-sticking-out hanged ghost, how could the Crown Prince dare to imprison her alone in this tall tower, merely posting guards at the door and tolerating her refusal to let anyone come close and serve her?

The Crown Prince, that ungrateful wretch, deserves to die.

At the thought of that man, Murong Yan’s right leg began to ache faintly.

She struggled to reach the bedside, lifting her skirt to reveal her legs. Although the wooden prosthetic had been meticulously crafted by a carpenter and was no longer easily distinguishable, upon removing her shoes and socks, the prosthetic on Murong Yan’s right leg still displayed a cold luster different from her skin tone.

Roughly pulling off the leather straps, she revealed the stump that ended at her knee. Prolonged wear had caused the wooden prosthetic to rub against her skin, resulting in swelling. She bit her lip, not wanting to look at the ugly remnant limb, but the increasingly intense pain screamed at her, forcing Murong Yan to confront its existence.

In fact, it would be better if she were truly an evil person.

Since she had the ability to enter Cangyue Tower and the ability to kill her without shedding blood, right?

To free herself from pain, to no longer be marred, and to die with dignity and beauty, ending the endless torment and nightmares of the past five years.

She collapsed onto the bed, feeling drowsy and covered in cold sweat. Before losing consciousness, Murong Yan’s mind echoed…

Anyone will do.

If it can put an end to all the pain, then take me away, please.

I’ve had enough.

Kill me.

The author has something to say:

The author writes for happiness, so everyone can enjoy reading it with joy~

The names “Murong 『Han (灩)』” and “Murong 『Yan (焰)』” have the same pronunciation.

LP: Hello~ This novel will be re-translated starting from November 28, 2023.