The Princess’ Shadow Guard – Chapter 14

His Majesty the Emperor is a Good Man

After the New Year, Ming Qin would accompany the Eleventh Prince to the Imperial Academy every morning, and her escort duty would only end when he returned to the palace after the noon class.

The Eleventh Prince had no study partner, and eunuchs were not allowed to enter the Imperial Academy, so besides Ming Qin, who secretly protected him, the Eleventh Prince was always alone.

As she listened to the old man with a white beard spitting and spraying saliva as he spoke, Ming Qin squatted on the rooftop, bored, silently counting the drops of saliva that came out of the old man’s mouth.

She watched the Eleventh Prince, whose back was straight and upright, and admired how he could listen attentively without falling asleep.

It wasn’t until the morning class ended that the Eleventh Prince stood up, and Ming Qin, who had tears streaming down her face and was yawning, quickly vanished and followed him.

Watching the Eleventh Prince eating alone from the food box brought by the eunuch, Ming Qin, who was squatting in the distance and nibbling on a bun, felt her stomach grumble.

She really wanted to go find the Princess.

Murong Wan ate very little, and half of the evening meal brought by the maidservant would end up in Ming Qin’s stomach. The dishes were made by the palace kitchen and tasted so good that even the picky Ming Qin would finish them all.

In the distance, a group of young men dressed in elaborate clothing approached, making a clamor.

The tall and imposing young man at the forefront cast a sideways glance at the lonely figure of the boy eating by himself. As he passed by, he forcefully swung his sleeve, causing the food box to crash to the ground, and all the food spilled out.

“What a waste,” Ming Qin frowned.

“Oh, isn’t this the Eleventh Prince, Murong Wan? I thought it was some little mouse. My apologies, my apologies,” the young man said with exaggerated politeness, bowing with a light and teasing tone, which made the people behind him chuckle.

Murong Wan’s chopsticks remained suspended in mid-air, and he remained silent.

His mother had a humble background; she was just a maid before she became pregnant with him.

After his mother’s death, he grew up alone in the harem, despite being an imperial successor, he had no powerful backing. Neglect from the servants often resulted in irregular meals, causing him to grow up with a short and weak stature, meal after meal.

“Hey! Are you mute? I’m talking to you!” The arrogant young man stepped on Murong Wan’s clothes, displaying his arrogant demeanor.

“Are you ready for Master’s assessment later, Zhang Yurong?” Murong Wan spoke coldly.

Ming Qin tapped her head, realizing that it was the youngest son of the current Duke Zhang, Zhang Chi!

No wonder he was so arrogant. According to her master, as the spoiled eldest son of Duke Zhang, he was known for being unruly and domineering. When he encountered someone he couldn’t handle, he would quickly run away.

“Mind your own business!” Zhang Yurong looked nervous. If he failed the assessment, he would be punished. The strict rules of the Imperial Academy didn’t allow for any leniency. Otherwise, he wouldn’t have to endure beatings on a regular basis.

“In the afternoon, meet me at the martial arts hall!” Zhang Yurong said, then hurriedly left with the people behind him, seeking a last-minute solution.

Ming Qin was still lamenting the wasted food on the rooftop when Murong Wan silently packed his belongings and returned to the school.

The assessment was about reciting books, and as Ming Qin watched Murong Wan fluently recite a long string of things she couldn’t understand, she almost clapped her hands on the rooftop.

Could this Eleventh Prince be a genius?

Ming Qin was surprised that her mission this time was so easy. She didn’t have to endure hunger without regular meals or engage in dangerous fights. She could even finish work on time.

Moreover, in the past few days of observation, the Eleventh Prince has been extremely well-behaved and diligent in his studies. He doesn’t stir up trouble nor does he try to secretly leave the Imperial Academy like the previous bodyguards I’ve encountered.

This must be the so-called “plum assignment” that all the Shadow Guards compete for, and it shouldn’t have fallen on my shoulders.

The Emperor is truly a good person.

Ming Qin thought.

It wasn’t until they arrived at the martial arts hall with the other students that Ming Qin started to feel a bit troubled.

As she watched the Eleventh Prince being beaten brutally, Ming Qin was unsure whether or not to intervene.

Zhang Yurong’s large fists fell on Murong Wan’s body. Today, he had already received three beatings from the Master, yet Murong Wan remained calm and composed, which infuriated him. Taking advantage of the martial arts training session, he vented all his anger on the frail Murong Wan under the pretense of sparring.

“Do you think you’re impressive? Once the Crown Prince becomes Emperor, there will be no place for you to roam,” Zhang Yurong cursed as his fists continued to rain down.

Murong Wan was unable to resist, only protecting his head in silence.

“You, a mixed-blood with a lowly lineage, dare to set foot in the Imperial Academy,” Zhang Yurong angrily spat out, “Your mother was nothing but a dirty servant who gave birth to a wretched creature like you.”

Murong Wan fell to the ground, his eyes bloodshot upon hearing those words. Seizing the moment when Zhang Yurong was off guard, he sank his teeth into Zhang Yurong’s calf. “Don’t you dare insult my mother!”

“You! How dare you bite me?” Zhang Yurong kicked Murong Wan in anger, trying to make him release his grip.

“I won’t let you defile my mother!” Murong Wan, with blood streaming from his nose, gritted his teeth and said in a muffled voice, “I may be a mixed-blood, but your supposedly great Crown Prince shares half of his bloodline with me. What does he amount to?”

The people around Zhang Yurong rushed forward, dragging Murong Wan away and kicking him while blood flowed.

Even though some people in the distance couldn’t bear to watch, considering the influence of the Duke and Zhang Yurong’s arrogance, they didn’t dare to step forward and intervene.

Ming Qin was somewhat puzzled. She received the order to protect the Eleventh Prince, which meant ensuring Murong Wan’s safety. Although he was being beaten by a group of people, it was unlikely to result in a loss of life. It was just a minor scuffle between children.

That being said, there was indeed a palpable malice emanating from those people towards the Eleventh Prince, indicating a genuine desire to harm him.

In that case, should she intervene to stop it?

But if she were to intervene, should she capture Zhang Yurong and the others and take them back tied up, or should she kill them?

If she were to tie them up and take them back, she had a feeling that her master would not be pleased. On the other hand, if she were to kill them, it seemed even more likely that her master would be displeased.

Why would the Emperor assign such a difficult task to her? Ming Qin was filled with distress. If her senior martial sister were here, things would be so much better. Her senior martial sister would surely know what to do.

While Ming Qin was caught in her dilemma, Zhang Yurong had already led the others and left, leaving Murong Wan all alone.

As she looked at the Eleventh Prince lying dirty on the ground, his hands covering his face, his muffled sobs growing louder, Ming Qin felt increasingly uneasy.

Forget it, if she get scolded, so be it.

Ming Qin jumped down from the tree, unsure of how to comfort him. She squatted beside Murong Wan and handed him a handkerchief, saying, “Here, take this.”

Murong Wan stared wide-eyed at the masked woman who appeared suddenly and silently. He hastily wiped away his tears and took a step back. “You, you, who are you?”

“I am Ming Qin, appointed by His Majesty the Emperor to protect the Eleventh Prince,” Ming Qin replied, while she tucked the handkerchief into Murong Wan’s hand.

“That’s impossible!” Murong Wan clenched the handkerchief tightly as tears mixed with blood and dust streaked across his face. He shook his head in dismay. “Father would never send a Shadow Guard to protect me.”

Ming Qin tilted her head. “But I am not lying to you.”

“If you are here to protect me, why didn’t you intervene earlier?” Murong Wan skeptically questioned, using the handkerchief to wipe his face.

“The Eleventh Prince was not in mortal danger earlier,” Ming Qin said honestly, extending her hand to indicate the bloodstains on Murong Wan’s nose.

Murong Wan couldn’t help but laugh at her words. He was about to ask the woman in front of him what constituted being in mortal danger, but his stomach chose that moment to growl.

Upon hearing the sound, Ming Qin took out a few steamed buns from her embrace and handed them to the slightly embarrassed Murong Wan.

Leaning against her cheek, Ming Qin watched as Murong Wan devoured the snacks voraciously. She thought to herself that before going to find the Princess later, she would need to buy some more food to fill her own stomach. Otherwise, she might end up eating all of the Princess’s dinner.

The author has something to say:

Taking this opportunity to explain to everyone,

The name of the Princess, Murong Yan, the character “Yan” is pronounced the same as “flame” in Chinese. It signifies the appearance of water overflowing with waves.

(Reference: Poem by He Xun in the Southern Liang Dynasty: “The water in the old pool ripples, the vast sunset glow.”)

I like this character because its pronunciation is similar to “flame” but it is actually used to describe rippling water.

The contrast of “seeming like fire but actually being water” is quite interesting and feels similar to the Princess herself. (laughs)

As for Ming Qin, the character “Qin” means infiltration or seepage.

(Reference: Poem by Sun Xin in the Tang Dynasty: “A well was newly dug in the fairy courtyard, and the spiritual fluid seeped and became a spring.”)

As for who or what Ming Qin has infiltrated into someone’s heart or bones, I won’t say much about it. (giving you a meaningful look to interpret on your own)