A Drunken New Year’s Eve Confession (Exchange of Trusts)
On New Year’s Eve, the capital city is adorned with vibrant fireworks and red decorations, creating an atmosphere of joy that permeates every household. Even from a distance, one can feel the excitement conveyed by the bustling streets and alleys.
The distant fireworks are dazzling, bursting into brilliance in the night sky, casting a lonely shadow over a solitary figure in a high-rise building..
Murong Yan, lying diagonally in the darkness, is illuminated by colorful lights as she holds a glass of clear liquor in her hand. The table is adorned with untouched sumptuous delicacies, but she simply gazes out the window, lost in thought..
This loneliness… I should have grown accustomed to it.
Murong Yan sways her wine glass, watching the distant, vibrant lights mingling with the lively figures of people. It feels piercing to her eyes.
The festive atmosphere engulfs the entire capital, dispelling the winter cold, but it fails to reach her heart alone.
She could only feel the emptiness in her chest, even though the warm wine had gone down, her body still felt icy cold.
She let out a self-mocking hum.
She was well aware of what she yearned for now, and Murong Yan couldn’t help but sigh.
She, who had always been calm and composed, seemed to have acquired an irresistible addiction. Was it because she had been immersed in the cold for too long, or was it because that person’s embrace was too warm?
The fireworks scattered.
She tilted her head back and finished the drink in her cup. Murong Yan reached out to close the window when a figure dressed in all-black night attire suddenly appeared, their gaze meeting her bright, shining eyes.
“I’ve come to wish you a Happy New Year!” Ming Qin grinned, looking like an innocent child, resting her head on her arm against the window sill. “Happy New Year!”
Before Murong Yan could react, the figure swiftly climbed in, using both hands and feet.
“Why do you suddenly have free time today, Ah Qin?” Murong Yan, unaware of the surprise in her heart, covered her chest with one hand and brushed off the snow from Ming Qin’s shoulder with the other, asking softly.
“Senior Brother, Senior Brother Cao Yun said he’s willing to cover my shift today!” Ming Qin replied while holding Murong Yan’s hand to prevent her from continuing her actions. “Don’t touch! The snow is cold.”
“Is Senior Brother Cao Yun really willing to give up his rest on New Year’s Eve?” Murong Yan was internally surprised, but her tone suppressed her emotions as she casually remarked, “Your Senior Brother Cao seems to be very good to you.” She straightened Ming Qin’s collar.
“Yes! Brother Ah Yun is truly a great person!”
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Ming Qin couldn’t detect the subtle change in the woman’s tone and continued excitedly, “Senior Brother Cao Yun is much better than Senior Brother Lin Yan! Senior Brother Lin Yan is always nagging and never spars with me, always going to the tavern instead.”
“Is that so?” Murong Yan’s hand reached up to Ming Qin’s neck, involuntarily tightening, and then lightly pinched it, as if she didn’t want the person in front of her to continue speaking.
Feeling an inexplicable urgency to change the topic, she asked, “Are you hungry?”
Unaware, the carefree Ming Qin looked at the dishes on the table and nodded slightly, feeling a bit embarrassed. “As soon as I finished my duties at the palace, I rushed over immediately, afraid of missing the time to celebrate the New Year with you. I didn’t even have a chance to eat anything.”
“Well…” Murong Yan paused in her actions, her face lit up with joy as she asked, “Does that mean Ah Qin wants to spend New Year’s Eve with me?”
“Of course.” Ming Qin didn’t hesitate as she picked up the chopsticks, “Will you eat with me too? This is the New Year’s Eve dinner, after all!”
Although she felt a bit guilty towards her Mistress, compared to going to her master’s house and enduring everyone’s teasing while eating her Mistress’s cooking, Ming Qin would rather accompany Murong Yan and enjoy the sumptuous feast at Cangyue Tower.
Murong Yan, who had previously lost her appetite, also picked up her chopsticks and picked a few bites for herself. As she watched Ming Qin relish the food, she unexpectedly found herself with a slightly increased appetite, eating nearly half a bowl of rice more than usual.
“This is so much more delicious than what Mistress usually makes!” Ming Qin patted her satisfied belly after a gust of wind blew past.
Murong Yan smiled as she watched Ming Qin’s blissful expression.
If the palace chefs knew that their hard work was being compared to the head of the Shadow Guards’ wife, they would probably shed tears in secret.
“Oh no!”
Ming Qin suddenly exclaimed, realizing too late that in her haste, she had taken a big gulp of the nearby jade pot liquor. Now, she could faintly smell the scent of alcohol. “I can’t drink alcohol.”
“It’s not a big deal for an off-duty member of the Shadow Guards to have a drink. His Majesty won’t blame you,” Murong Yan said, a little puzzled by Ming Qin’s inexplicable nervousness, as she gently reassured her.
“But… Master has repeatedly cautioned me not to drink,” Ming Qin fidgeted, anxiously saying, “Senior Sister also always tells me not to drink with others.”
“It’s alright. Only I know about this, and I won’t tell anyone,” Murong Yan embraced Ming Qin’s hand, gently comforting her, “Besides, I’m not just anyone, am I?”
Ming Qin was about to say something but was interrupted by the crackling sound of firecrackers outside. She looked out the window in a daze.
Streaks of white light and smoke drifted along the streets and alleys of the capital, filled with festive joy.
After approximately the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, once Ming Qin finished tidying up the dishes and utensils, Murong Yan lazily sat in Ming Qin’s lap, gazing at the flickering lights and chimneys of the various homes in the capital, a smile playing on her lips. “It’s a pity. I didn’t know you were coming today, so I didn’t prepare your New Year’s gift.”
Ming Qin’s face blushed slightly as she vigorously shook her head. “The salary of the Shadow Guards is plentiful. I don’t need money.”
Then, with a delayed understanding, she added slowly, “Besides, only children need New Year’s money. I’m almost twenty-three, so I don’t need it!”
A long while passed, so long that Ming Qin started feeling a bit drowsy. It was only then that Murong Yan lifted her head, gazing intently at Ming Qin and softly asked, “If you don’t want money, then what does Ah Qin want?”
Looking at the breathtaking beauty in her arms, Ming Qin’s eyes became hazy and dazed. She felt her head become hot, her temples throbbing.
“What does Ah Qin want?” the woman pressed, her hands embracing Ming Qin’s neck, her enchanting face drawing closer.
What do I need to give you to make you stay with me?
Their lips were just inches apart, and Ming Qin’s consciousness seemed to be veiled in a mist as she stared blankly at Murong Yan’s slightly eager face.
A pleasant floral fragrance, reminiscent of peonies, wafted to her nose.
“Yan Yan,” the thoughts in her mind slipped out involuntarily, accompanied by a radiant smile. “Yan Yan, so beautiful.” The back of her hand gently caressed the woman’s cheek.
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Caught off guard by such direct and rare intimacy, Murong Yan’s face blushed slightly, unsure of how to respond.
Yet, she was also surprised in her heart. The person before her exuded the scent of alcohol with every breath. Could it be the reason why Ah Qin’s master and senior sister forbade her from drinking?
Because Ah Qin became tipsy and muddled after just one cup?
How adorable.
Forcing herself to regain her composure, Murong Yan patiently coaxed while looking at the person who had completely let down their guard. “Ah Qin, do you want Yan Yan?”
With a face flushed red, Ming Qin nodded with a dazed expression. “Want Yan Yan, like.”
“Ah Qin likes Yan Yan, right? Will never leave Yan Yan, right?” Murong Yan’s breath became slightly erratic, her tone rising, eagerly anticipating affirmation from the person before her.
“Like Yan Yan, never leave,” Ming Qin replied in a low voice. The straightforward words shook Murong Yan’s heart.
She said it, she uttered the promise Murong Yan desperately needed.
Her possessiveness, stronger than she realized, was satisfied in this moment.
Murong Yan raised her hand and tightly grasped Ming Qin’s hand pressed against her cheek.
Ming Qin continued to speak, “…like Yan Yan. Also like candy, like steamed buns, like pancakes, like senior sister, mistress, master…”
After a series of mumblings, she let out a faint snore.
Listening to Ming Qin’s sleep-talk, Murong Yan’s agitated emotions suddenly turned into a helpless smile. There was a sense of resignation in her heart.
Well, at least she had said she liked her, said she wouldn’t leave.
Although she is currently on par with candy, steamed buns, and pancakes, she still has time.
She told herself to be patient and not rush.
One day, she will become the person Ming Qin cares about the most.
One day.
When Ming Qin woke up and realized she had slept through the New Year’s Eve, panic filled her face, and she almost wanted to kneel down and kowtow. It was only when Murong Yan gently patted her face and reassured her that she finally calmed down.
“I’m sorry,” Ming Qin said with a guilty expression, her mouth almost drooping to the ground.
In her embrace, Murong Yan adjusted her posture and comforted her, saying, “Ah Qin has been here accompanying me for the New Year’s Eve, so don’t blame yourself.”
Seemingly trying to divert Ming Qin’s attention, she asked, “Since I didn’t have New Year’s money for you tonight, think about what you like in this room and take it.”
In this room, even a spoon or bowl was extraordinary, let alone the landscape paintings on the walls and the furniture arrangements.
But if Ming Qin likes it, even if it’s something worth a fortune, it’s worth letting her play with it.
Ming Qin looked around, furrowing her brow in deep thought. Then she looked at the woman in her arms and asked, “Can I have this?”
A pomegranate stone dangled from Murong Yan’s earlobe, emitting a dark red luster.
Murong Yan touched her own ear and asked, “Just this pair of earrings? What about the hanging scroll over there?”
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Ming Qin shook her head. “I only need one. I can’t wear the others, but this one I can.”
“If Ah Qin likes gemstones, then you can take the box in front of the dressing mirror,” Murong Yan said, while removing the pomegranate stone earring from her right ear.
“I only like this one!” Ming Qin stubbornly declared, extending her hand straight out.
Murong Yan smiled and placed the item in her palm.
Ming Qin, who didn’t have pierced ears, forcefully pierced her right ear with the earring, seemingly unfazed as she wiped away the blood droplets from her earlobe with her fingers.
Ming Qin softly said, “The color of the pomegranate stone complements you. If I wear something with your color, it will remind me of you all the time.”
Gently wiping Ming Qin’s fingers with a handkerchief, Murong Yan’s movements paused as she looked at the only color on Ming Qin’s body now, the pomegranate stone that had turned dark red due to her.
It seemed as if she had left her mark on every part of Ming Qin’s body.
“What about mine? What color represents Ah Qin?” Murong Yan’s throat felt a bit dry.
Ming Qin scratched her head and thought for a moment. She untied her bundled hair and took off a nearly two-foot-long rope, which was a braid made of three strands of black rope.
“I only have this! I made this hair tie myself, and it’s quite sturdy,” she said with a proud tone.
“Uh… no!” Ming Qin felt a bit embarrassed and was about to reach out to take it back. “That dark, black… it doesn’t suit you at all.”
“But I like it,” Murong Yan tilted her head and tied the delicate knot onto the hairpin that secured her bun. “This is my New Year’s gift.”
“No, absolutely not! I’ll buy you something better later!” Ming Qin said anxiously.
“But this is what I want,” Murong Yan smiled in her eyes, her tone resolute.
She only wanted this. This was the best for her.
The author has something to say:
I did a little research, and I found that the standard length for “chi” (a Chinese unit of length) varied in different dynasties.
In my estimation, the hair tie that Ming Qin gave to Murong Yan is approximately 30cm to 50cm long, which is a length suitable for tying various things. (laughs)
LP: Re-translated on December 22, 2023
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They’re way too cute. That’s so adorable, I think murong yan was getting a lil jelly at the start there
cuteness overload omg
whoa there author