The Princess’ Shadow Guard – Chapter 20

Ah Qin doesn’t enjoy watching beautiful people?

Ming Qin concealed herself, following Murong Wan as they left the Imperial Study.

She had just overheard a conversation between the Emperor and the Crown Prince from behind a pillar, and her heart was tossed in turbulent waves.

The Crown Prince had killed Murong Yan’s mother.

Princess Yu, the Prince’s consort, met her demise because of the engagement with Murong Yan.

Does Murong Yan know? Shouldn’t Murong Yan be aware?

Should she tell Murong Yan herself?

But if Murong Yan finds out, what would be her reaction?

How heartbroken and self-blaming would she be?

This is the mother who used to lull her to sleep and play the Guqin for her. The kind of mother whose name, if spoken ill of, would make her blood boil.

Thinking about Murong Yan, who would be devastated and self-condemning upon learning this, Ming Qin couldn’t help but feel a profound sadness.

She had always known the Crown Prince was a villain, aware of his fratricide and patricide, but Ming Qin, living in her own simple world, only knew the Crown Prince as the ‘villain.’

Now, as she contemplated the various wrongs the Crown Prince had done to Murong Yan, an unnamed fire surged within Ming Qin’s heart.

Not only did he imprison Murong Yan in a tall tower, but he also killed her dearest mother. Now, he was arrogantly claiming her as his possession, one mouthful at a time.

Ming Qin, who had never been prone to anger, felt fury rising from within, clenching her fists tightly.

She forced herself to take a deep breath.

She was determined to fulfill her master’s mission, overthrow the Crown Prince and his faction. Before that happened, she didn’t want to see Murong Yan hurt and distressed again.

Ming Qin hadn’t seen Murong Yan for seven days.

When she arrived at Cangyue Tower, Murong Yan was engrossed in a book and hadn’t yet returned to reality when Ming Qin, as swift as lightning, embraced her with open arms.

Murong Yan set the book aside on the tea table and reciprocated the embrace.

“I missed you so much.”

Ming Qin half-knelt on the bed, supporting herself against Murong Yan’s waist, her face against her softness, smelling the familiar fragrance. With a hint of grievance, she spoke.

As soon as she finished reporting to her master, Ming Qin hastily rushed to Cangyue Tower, so anxious that she hadn’t even eaten.

Murong Yan rested her chin on Ming Qin’s head, gently patting the person in her arms with one hand while embracing her head with the other. Her lips curved up as she responded, “I missed you too, Ah Qin.”

Just seven days, but they felt so prolonged. Only when she looked at Ming Qin again did she feel the weight of time flowing once more.

Taking a satisfied deep breath, she unexpectedly caught a whiff of an unfamiliar fragrance. At the corner of Ming Qin’s lips, she noticed the crimson imprint of lip balm.

This caused Murong Yan’s initially cheerful expression to freeze momentarily.

Ming Qin, completely unaware, deepened the embrace. After a few breaths, she released her arms, straightened up, and glanced at the book covered with an unreadable title lying by her feet. Curiously, she asked, “What were you just reading?”

Murong Yan’s expression remained composed. “Just a leisurely book,” she replied vaguely.

Looking into Ming Qin’s innocent eyes, she added with a hint of profound meaning, “Perhaps a book that’s a bit early for Ah Qin.”

Ming Qin nodded, not fully understanding, assuming Murong Yan was simply reading some legendary tales and felt hesitant to share.

“Where has Ah Qin been these days?” Murong Yan looked at the red marks on the person’s skin, suppressing the restlessness in her heart. With a seemingly indifferent expression, she sipped her tea and inquired tentatively.

Naturally, she picked up the small pastry from the tea table and sat beside the woman. “Baihua Tower,” Ming Qin honestly replied.

Upon hearing this, Murong Yan almost spat out the tea she had just sipped. She forced herself to swallow it down, relying on the exceptional manners and etiquette cultivated since childhood.

Her voice trembled slightly as she asked, “…Ah Qin went to that…flower and fireworks place for what reason?”

After all, that was the most famous brothel in the capital.

“It’s all because of Senior Sister!” Ming Qin exclaimed.

Being questioned by the woman, Ming Qin, as if finally finding a floating log, complained to Murong Yan with a stream of grievances, “Clearly, the intelligence gathering in Qinzhou and Chuguan has never been my responsibility.”

Ever since her master mentioned that she could share anything with the princess without reservation, Ming Qin had held nothing back from Murong Yan.

As a result, Murong Yan was now well-informed about the activities of the Shadow Guard Camp – from the number of cats to the hiding places of wine and even the romantic inclinations of certain martial brother and sister.

“I can’t dance or play the zither, yet Senior Sister had others apply rouge on my face and forced me to infiltrate to gather information.” Recalling that painful experience, Ming Qin felt like burying her head and crying.

As the top expert of the Shadow Guard Camp, her life’s learning revolved around stealthy killings, yet she found herself mingling among dancers, performing for a crowd of intoxicated patrons.

Fortunately, her remarkable memory and barely adequate hand-eye coordination allowed her to keep up with the rhythm; otherwise, she might have had to sacrifice her looks to pour drinks.

She could have easily assigned this task to other martial sisters, but Song Shuqing, for some reason, persuaded her, claiming the mission required exceptional auditory acuity. She reluctantly agreed.

“I have to stay up every night, sneakily climbing onto the beams to eavesdrop on other people’s affairs,” Ming Qin grimaced.

If she had known that her extraordinary hearing would be used to eavesdrop on the intimate sounds of men and women, she would never have agreed to her senior sister’s request.

The sticky moans and bull-like gasps made her want to plug her ears the whole time.

If it weren’t for the master saying that the information brought back this time would be highly useful, she might have been so upset that she wouldn’t eat for three days and nights.

“I see, Ah Qin, you’ve truly endured a lot,” Murong Yan sighed with relief. Then, in a composed manner, she moved the unknown book on the tea table away from Ming Qin.

So, that was why she had makeup on her face.

“This mission was really too difficult. Next time, I’d rather face a hundred strong men in a fight than go to the brothel again,” Ming Qin grumbled. “I really don’t understand why some people like wandering in the flower streets and willow alleys.”

Her innocent self truly couldn’t comprehend why someone would go to great lengths, even risking bloodshed, just for a beautiful woman. She also didn’t understand why the pleasures of the bedchamber and the captivating sounds of passion were deemed so alluring.

“Oh?”

Murong Yan raised an eyebrow, her tone intriguing. “Does Ah Qin also not enjoy watching beautiful women play music and dance?”

Ming Qin tilted her head in thought. “Perhaps it’s because I’m not a man, and I don’t appreciate the charm of those beautiful women. I always find the powder there too overpowering, and their faces are painted so white, resembling ghosts.”

As she thought of those scenes, she furrowed her brow. “Besides, I don’t understand music either. I used to doze off while listening to my senior sister.”

Watching Ming Qin’s disapproving expression, Murong Yan smiled, her lips curving downward.

After a moment of silence, Murong Yan spoke softly, “Ah Qin, perhaps you haven’t seen truly enchanting young ladies, and that’s why you don’t understand the beauty of a woman’s charm. Just as one who has never heard truly moving music cannot distinguish between good and bad melodies.”

Her voice was low.

Ming Qin felt a bit puzzled by her words. “But I’ve seen many good-looking people.”

Then, she tilted her head and earnestly began counting on her fingers. “Senior Sister, Master’s wife, Miss Jiang—they are all beautiful. And you, you’re the most beautiful.”

“How can that be considered?” Murong Yan said softly, her tone carrying a hint of bitterness.

The self that had been imprisoned for many years had long lost its sharpness, and there was hardly any peerless beauty left.

However, witnessing Ming Qin’s earnest expression and tone, as if a child proudly showcasing a cherished candy, left her momentarily speechless.

After contemplating for a moment, she suddenly revealed an interested look and asked, “Ah Qin, if you have time tomorrow, could you help me bring back a few things before coming again?”

She casually wiped away the red mark at the corner of Ming Qin’s mouth with her thumb.

“Of course,” Ming Qin replied without hesitation.

Previously, Murong Yan could procure whatever she desired to eat, overcoming any obstacles with ease. It was not a difficult task.

“But this time, it’s not about food.”

Murong Yan sighed as if understanding the thoughts of the person before her. Then, with a hint of indulgence, she gently stroked her hand, fingers tightly interlocked.

“You need to help me find some black bean paste.”

The author has something to say:

When I initially chose which character will be in the cover, Ming Qin or Murong Yan, I unhesitatingly chose Ming Qin.

It’s not because I’m biased! It’s just that, for me, Murong Yan’s charm is something that no matter how I try to depict with a brush, I cannot capture.

So, in the upcoming Chapter 21, I will attempt to use words to convey my vision of the princess for everyone to imagine (and then happily sugarcoat).

I hope everyone will enjoy it.

P.S. So, is the princess really reading legendary tales? It truly piques one’s curiosity (laughs).

LP: Re-translated on January 29, 2024